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[ "Jens Alfke" ]

[ "Who's That Girl" ]

[ "The Azusa Pacific Cougars are the 17 varsity athletic teams that represent Azusa Pacific University, located in Azusa, California, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports." ]

[ "Based on FBI crime data, Azusa is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, Azusa has a crime rate that is higher than 71% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.", "University of the Pacific (McGeorge) is ranked No. 148-194 in Best Law Schools and No. 35 (tie) in Part-time Law. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.", "There are 43 D1 schools in this region and the average cost and school size are $26,000 and 11,000 respectfully. The largest school is Ohio State University with 48,000 students. The most expensive school is Northwestern University at $43,800 per year.", "PCA is not a real school, but actually a television set. ... Spears' character is among the first group of female students to be matriculated into the fictional all-male boarding school. “Pacific Coast Academy will be like a living fantasy school for kids,” said the show's creator and executive producer Dan Schneider.", "The Breakdown D1 consists of the largest schools that also have big budgets to support their athletic programs. It is considered to be the most competitive division with the best athletes and teams. D2 has some pretty solid teams and athletes, but the schools tend to be a little smaller and have lower budgets.", "AZCOM is a good school either way. A little nerve racking to see their graduation rate dropp down 6-7 percent but it's still decent.", "born September 19,1998 … parents are Conrad and Beth Sun … has an older brother, Marcus and an older sister, Natalie… dad played basketball for the Taiwan National Team … brother played basketball at Wheaton College … sister was an All-American soccer player at Azusa Pacific University.", "University of California--Santa Cruz (Baskin) is ranked No. 83 (tie) in Best Engineering Schools. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.", "Mihaylo College of Business and Economics at CSU, Fullerton was ranked #150 in the Best Undergraduate Business Programs category by US News and World Report. ... Becoming a CSUF Titan is a decision that will not disappoint.", "14000. Scholarship limit per team: D1 Men: 9.9, D1 Women: 14, D2 Men&Women: 8.1, NAIA Men&Women: 8, NJCAA Men & Women: 15.", "['Inputs are taken from datepicker.', 'Look at this code here! public void onClick(View v) { int sday=d1. getDayOfMonth(); int smonth=d1. getMonth(); int syear=d1. getYear(); int eday=d2. getDayOfMonth(); int emonth=d2.']", "['CSU Bakersfield.', 'CSU Channel Islands.', 'CSU Chico.', 'CSU Dominguez Hills.', 'CSU East Bay.', 'CSU Fresno.', 'CSU Fullerton.', 'Humboldt State University.']", "Saint Francis University has deep roots as a D1 college and is home to many of the top Division 1 athletes in men's sports.", "Accreditation. APUS is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (formerly the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools).", "Two intersecting circles C1 (blue) and C2 (red) of radii r1 and r2 respectively. The distance between the centers of the circles is d=d1+d2, where d1 is the x coordinate of the intersection points and d2=d−d1.", "Nearly one-fifth of all D1 men's college basketball teams (351) are from three states: New York (22), Texas (23) and California (24).", "APUS is comprised of American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU). The HLC accredits degree-granting institutions located in a 19-state region, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).", "FAQs on PCDI - Professional Career Development Institute Ashworth University High School, a division of PCDI - Professional Career Development Institute is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation.", "Western Washington University is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2020 U.S. News & World Report college rankings, which also named WWU as one of the best public schools in the West, a region stretching from Texas to the Pacific, for veterans.", "The CSUs are spread across the state of California, from San Diego in the south to Humboldt in the north. They vary tremendously in size. Cal Maritime has the smallest enrollment with 1,070 students, and CSU Northridge has the largest with 41,548.", "['#1. San Diego State University. ... ', '#2. California Lutheran University. ... ', '#3. San Jose State University. ... ', '#4. California State University - Long Beach. ... ', '#5. California State University - Fullerton. ... ', '#6. California State University - Chico. ... ', '#7. ... ', '#8.']", "['California State University-Bakersfield 56.66%', 'University of California-Berkeley 45.20%', 'University of California-Los Angeles 39.07%', 'California State University-Fresno 33.62%', 'California State University-San Bernardino 30.48%']", "The first tier is UC Berkeley and UCLA. They're the most selective and generally the most well-regarded of the UC schools. Non-UC colleges that would be in this tier include University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, USC, and the University of Virginia.", "Enter \"=SUM(D1:D#)\" in the next empty cell in column D. Replace \"#\" with the row number of the last entry in column D. In the example, enter \"=SUM(D1:D2)\" to calculate the total sales revenue for the two items.", "Subtract numbers using cell references Type a number in cells C1 and D1. For example, a 5 and a 3. In cell E1, type an equal sign (=) to start the formula. After the equal sign, type C1-D1.", "Sonography Education in Alhambra in 2018 Alhambra has one program accredited by the CAAHEP at Platt College Los Angeles. ... Platt College does have several campuses in California so explore all options. The personal expense of education can be reduced through sonography scholarships and grants.", "BASIS. ed manages an ever-growing network of open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter schools in Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C. BASIS Charter Schools are part of the network of BASIS Charter Schools, with the first school founded in Tucson, Arizona, in 1998.", "Scholarship limit per team: D1: 12, D2: 7.2, NAIA: 10, NJCAA: 24.", "['Type a number in cells C1 and D1. For example, a 5 and a 3.', 'In cell E1, type an equal sign (=) to start the formula.', 'After the equal sign, type C1-D1.', 'Press RETURN . If you used the example numbers, the result is -2. Notes:']", "ToDateTime(TextBox1. Text); TimeSpan ts = d8. Subtract(d1);", "UEI Colleges in Bakersfield, Gardena, Fresno, Riverside, and Sacramento are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).", "Go on to select the Column G, and type this formula =INDEX(A$1:A$4,D1) into the formula bar, and press Ctrl + Enter keys to get the result. See screenshot: Tip: A1 is the first cell of the first list, and D1 is the first cell of the column contains your first formula." ]

[ "Here's how the ex-London mayor held out:\n10:51: The Daily Mirror publishes an article in which Ken Livingstone says Kevan Jones - who had questioned Mr Livingstone's ability to lead a review of Labour's defence policy - was \"obviously very depressed\" and \"might need some psychiatric help\". Mr Jones is known to have suffered from depression in the past.\n11:20: Mr Livingstone refuses to say sorry, telling LBC Mr Jones should \"get over it\".\n11:24: George Galloway stands by Mr Livingstone, saying people are trying to \"defang\" Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as a social media backlash gets under way.\n11:29: Mr Livingstone tells the Evening Standard he was unaware of Mr Jones' mental health history, but refuses to retract his remark.\n11:36: Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman issues a statement saying Mr Livingstone \"should apologise straight away,\" as the Labour leader is \"incredibly concerned that people with mental health problems shouldn't be stigmatised\".\n12:10: Mr Livingstone stands firm in a BBC interview. \"If someone's rude to you, you are rude back,\" he says. Mr Jones should apologise first, he adds.\n11:36 to 12:30: Condemnation and calls for Mr Livingstone to be sacked or resign from his role in the defence review. Former Labour frontbencher Chuka Umunna says the veteran left-winger appears to be spreading prejudice. Mr Livingstone still refuses to apologise.\n12:30: A group of Labour MPs, including former ministers, tell Jeremy Corbyn to ring Ken Livingstone and demand he apologises\n12:31: Mr Livingstone \"sort of\" apologises to ITV.\n12:34 to 13:25: More condemnation and calls for Mr Livingstone to apologise, including from Labour MP Emma Reynolds, who says his comments are \"totally unacceptable\".\n13:26: Mr Livingstone tells BBC Radio 4's The World at One he's sorry if Mr Jones is upset. Labour MP Pat McFadden says this apology was not genuine.\n13:51: Labour deputy leader Tom Watson says Mr Livingstone must apologise and withdraw his comments.\nAbout 14:00: Jeremy Corbyn rings Mr Livingstone\n14:02: On Twitter, Mr Livingstone apologises \"unreservedly\". He says his comments \"should not have been made at all, let alone in this context\".\n15:08: Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn welcomes a \"full and fulsome\" apology from Mr Livingstone, adding that he had caused a \"great deal of offence\" and he \"has now done the right thing\"." ]

[ "The former London Mayor told BBC News Dan Jarvis's acceptance of the cash showed he was not \"genuinely Labour\".\nThe Savile comment was branded \"disgusting\" by one Labour MP - and former home secretary Alan Johnson said he should \"keep his trap shut\".\nMr Jarvis, who is tipped as a future Labour leader, has yet to respond.\nMr Livingstone told BBC News: \"All hedge fund managers want is to know that they're going to have a prime minister who's going to allow them to continue to evade tax and it's totally unacceptable for hedge fund managers to be contributing to anyone in the Labour Party.\n\"No-one in the Labour party who's genuinely Labour would want to take a penny from them.\"\nPressed on his choice of analogy, he said: \"It's meant to be deliberately provocative because I'm saying to Dan Jarvis if you want to be a serious player in the Labour party, don't mix with these people, they're sick.\"\nMr Livingstone made the Savile comment in an interview with LBC Radio, after Mr Jarvis made a speech setting out his vision for returning Labour to power.\nHe said there is an \"embittered group of old Blairites who are looking for someone to challenge Jeremy\" and they think Dan Jarvis is \"someone credible to run\".\nAlan Johnson has described Mr Livingstone's comments as \"outrageously stupid,\" in an interview to be broadcast at 22:00 GMT on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight.\nHe will add: \"Ken should learn to keep his trap shut.\"\nLabour MP Ian Austin, a frequent critic of Mr Corbyn, tweeted that Mr Livingstone's comments were \"disgusting. Just disgusting.\"\nAnother Labour MP, Jamie Reed, told The Huffington Post: \"There's no sewer so fetid that Ken won't swim in it.\n\"No regard for the victims, no regard for the pain and anger he will have caused, and no care for the damage he continues to do to Labour.\n\"It's another embarrassment. I look forward to his shame-faced apology for his latest sickening outburst.\"\nFormer shadow minister Michael Dugher, who was sacked by Mr Corbyn in his first reshuffle, was quoted as telling the Huffington Post's Paul Waugh: \"Ken Livingstone is not fit to lace Dan Jarvis's boots.\"\nAsked if he thought Mr Livingstone's comments were appropriate, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: \"Well Ken is Ken isn't he, really?\"\nHe added he knew Dan Jarvis and he was \"an honest and decent bloke who is making a major contribution to the Labour Party\".\nMr McDonnell said he \"welcomed\" Mr Jarvis's speech, describing it as \"part of the democratic debate on the Labour Party\".\nMr Jarvis, a former paratrooper, is widely tipped as a future Labour leader.\nIn his speech on Thursday, he argued for a more \"radical\" approach to the economy than that pursued by New Labour in order to tackle inequality and win back voters.\nAccording to the Register of Members' Interests, Mr Jarvis received £16,800 from hedge fund manager Martin Taylor in February to support his work as an MP.\nMr Taylor, who according to reports in January was closing his Nevsky Capital hedge fund, has been one of Labour's biggest personal donors in recent years.\nMr Jarvis was also given a donation of £12,500 in January from businessman Peter Hearn, who owns a financial recruitment agency.", "Kevan Jones - who has suffered with depression - said the comments were \"gravely offensive\".\nMr Livingstone initially refused to apologise despite being urged to do so by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had just given him a new policy role.\nBut he has now tweeted that the comments should not have been made.\nMr Corbyn's decision to appoint the former London mayor as joint chair of Labour's defence review sparked an angry backlash from pro-Trident Labour MPs, with shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle reported to be \"furious\".\nMs Eagle, who was leading the review, said she was not consulted before Mr Livingstone was made her co-chair - the pair hold opposing views on Britain's nuclear weapons.\nJunior defence minister Kevan Jones questioned whether Mr Livingstone knew anything about defence, prompting the former mayor to tell the Daily Mirror Mr Jones was \"obviously very depressed and disturbed\" and \"should see a GP\".\nMr Livingstone tweeted his apology after refusing to say sorry during interviews.\n\"I unreservedly apologise to Kevan Jones for my comments. They should not have been made at all, let alone in this context,\" he said.\n\"I also make this apology because Jeremy [Corbyn] is right to insist on a more civil politics and as a party we should take this seriously\".\nLivingstone: Timeline of an apology\nEarlier he told the BBC he \"had no idea\" about Mr Jones's mental health condition.\nAsked whether this was an excuse for his language, he told BBC News: \"I grew up in South London where if someone's rude to you, you are rude back.\"\nHe said Mr Jones should first withdraw his criticism, \"and then I'll go for a drink with him\", adding that Mr Jones had \"undermined the leadership\" with his remarks.\nIn 2012, Mr Jones was praised after speaking in Parliament about his mental health battles and the \"difficult\" decision to go public.\nMr Corbyn's spokesman reacted to Mr Livingstore's comments by saying the Labour leader was \"incredibly concerned that people with mental health problems shouldn't be stigmatised\".\nHe added: \"He has worked with Kevan in the past on this issue and is impressed by his bravery in speaking out on his own mental health issues. Ken should apologise to him straight away.\"\nFormer shadow chancellor Chris Leslie called on Mr Livingstone to resign, and shadow mental health minister Luciana Berger said \"any reasonable person should be appalled\" at what he had said.\nShadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said the comments were \"very unfortunate\" and it was right he had apologised.\nConservative MP Charles Walker, who went public with his own mental health difficulties at the same time as Mr Jones, said he was \"absolutely seething\" about Mr Livingstone's \"vile\" remarks.\nThe clash came after Mr Livingstone's appointment highlighted divisions within the party over the future of the UK's nuclear weapons system.\nMs Eagle believes Trident should be renewed, while Mr Livingstone - who declared London a \"nuclear free\" zone in the 1980s when he was in charge of the GLC - is a longstanding critic and would like it to be scrapped.\nBBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Ms Eagle was not considering resigning but was \"fuming\" that as the first female shadow defence secretary a man had now been appointed to \"look after\" her.\nIn a BBC interview, Ms Eagle said she was \"sanguine\" about working alongside Mr Livingstone and had found out about his appointment on social media.\nEarlier Mr Jones, who has held the defence brief for seven years, told PoliticsHome the appointment would damage Labour's \"credibility\" on defence.\nHe said: \"I'm not sure Ken knows anything about defence.\n\"It will only damage our credibility amongst those that do and who care about defence.\"\nLabour said Mr Livingstone was now a \"co-convener\" on its policy commission.\nA party source said Ms Eagle and Mr Livingstone - the former Labour MP for Brent East - would oversee the policy review, but stressed Labour policy would be decided by its National Policy Forum.\nA £20bn like-for-like replacement of Trident was agreed by the last Labour government and its renewal has been supported by the party since.\nBut Mr Corbyn, who was elected Labour leader on anti-Trident platform, said the party's official position on its renewal will form part of the defence review.\nThe government is due to decide whether to renew Trident in 2016.\nMs Eagle - who criticised Mr Corbyn for saying he would not fire Britain's nuclear weapons if he were prime minister - has previously said she will attempt to persuade the leader to take her stance in favour of renewal.\nThe SNP - which wants to scrap Trident - is understood to be planning to stage a debate on Tuesday.\nBBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Labour MPs were being instructed to abstain on the vote - but some were planning to defy Mr Corbyn and vote against the SNP motion.\nTheir argument will be that as existing Labour Party policy is to support the renewal of Trident, they should therefore be able to vote against the SNP's motion to scrap it.", "Jonathan Reynolds and Stephen Doughty quit over the sacking of the shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden.\nMr Corbyn fired Mr McFadden over \"disloyalty\" after he appeared to criticise his stance on terrorism.\nKevan Jones has quit his defence role over Trident after Mr Corbyn replaced pro-nuclear weapons MP Maria Eagle with unilateralist Emily Thornberry.\nShadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn - who also disagrees with Mr Corbyn on key issues including bombing IS targets in Syria - escaped the axe in the shake-up.\nHe denied he had been \"muzzled\" by Mr Corbyn after reportedly agreeing not to criticise the leader's policy positions from the front bench, saying he would be carrying on with his job \"exactly as before\".\nThe only changes in the shadow cabinet see anti-Trident MP Emily Thornberry replacing shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle, who moves to culture to replace sacked Michael Dugher.\nBut the moves have sparked a string of departures in the junior ranks.\nIn his resignation letter, Mr Reynolds backed comments by Mr McFadden in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks, in which he criticised the response of the Stop the War coalition, which Mr Corbyn used to chair.\nMr McFadden said Mr Corbyn had told him he thought his comments were \"an attack on him and that he had come to the conclusion because of that and one or two other things that I shouldn't continue\".\n\"He clearly feels that me saying terrorists are entirely responsible for their action, that no-one forces anyone to kill innocent people in Paris, to blow up the London Underground, to behead innocent aid workers, that when I say they are entirely responsible for that, he clearly interpreted that as an attack on him,\" he added.\nShadow foreign minister Stephen Doughty - who announced his resignation on the BBC's Daily Politics - said Mr McFadden had been \"singled out for punishment for speaking with honesty and principle\".\nJohn McDonnell suggested in a BBC News Channel interview that Hilary Benn could emulate himself and Mr Corbyn, who spent their lengthy careers to this point speaking from the back benches, often against their party leader.\nNot to be uncharitable to the pair, but hardly anyone in the media was interested when they did it. But if a senior figure like Mr Benn did it, it would almost certainly become the story. Conservative MPs would be beside themselves with glee.\nRead more from Brian\nKevan Jones who last year clashed with Ken Livingstone, when the anti-nuclear former mayor was put in joint charge of Labour's defence review, said he \"respected\" Mr Corbyn's view that Britain's nuclear deterrent should be scrapped, but disagreed and could no longer remain as shadow defence minister.\nHe described Ms Thornberry's appointment as a mistake, saying it left the party's defence policy \"controlled by the North London Labour party\" and claimed that Tom Watson shared his view - a claim later denied by Labour's deputy leader.\nShadow Chancellor John McDonnell defended the decision to sack Mr McFadden, saying there had been other \"issues about loyalty\" and it was not just about one Commons statement.\nHe told the Today programme Mr McFadden's comments had \"played into an agenda which distorted Jeremy's views on how we tackle terrorism\" and this had contributed to the \"undermining of Jeremy's status\".\nAt Prime Minster's Questions, David Cameron said it \"speaks volumes\" about Mr Corbyn's leadership of Labour that Mr McFadden should be sacked for saying terrorists should be held responsible for their actions and he questioned why Mr Benn had not quit the front bench team.\nHe then poked fun at Labour through the medium of Shakespeare quotes.\nResponding to a question from Stratford-on-Avon Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, he said: \"There was a moment when it looked like this reshuffle could go into its Twelfth Night. It was a revenge reshuffle so it was going to be As You Like It.\n\"I think though we can conclude it's turned into something of a Comedy Of Errors, perhaps Much Ado About Nothing? There will be those who worry Love's Labour's Lost.\"\nThe Conservatives said Labour was now a \"threat to national security\", citing Ms Thornberry's views on Trident and comments Mr Corbyn has made in the past about Nato and the role of the UK armed forces.\nMr McFadden is being replaced by former junior shadow education minister, Pat Glass.\nThere are now 17 women and 14 men in the full shadow cabinet.\nElsewhere, Emma Lewell-Buck was promoted to shadow minister for devolution and local government. MPs Wes Streeting, John Woodcock and Jamie Reed were among those to criticise Mr McFadden's sacking on Twitter.\nResponding to comments by Labour leadership sources he was sacked for \"incompetence and disloyalty\", sacked shadow culture secretary Michael Dugher tweeted that he was \"not sure it's sensible for the leader and his office to get into a debate about 'loyalty' or 'competence'\".\nConfirming his own dismissal earlier on Tuesday, Mr Dugher - a former aide to Gordon Brown - said he had \"paid the price\" for speaking out in defence of colleagues whose reputations he claimed had been \"trashed\" by aides to Mr Corbyn.\nHe said the biggest casualty in the reshuffle had been the \"new politics\", and despite promises from the leader that there would be room for a little dissent, \"the truth is that's just not transpired\".", "The party leader said there were \"grave concerns\" about language used in a BBC interview by the former London mayor.\nBut Mr Corbyn said: \"There's no crisis. Where there is any racism in the party... it will be rooted out.\"\nMP John Mann, who called Mr Livingstone a \"Nazi apologist\" in a public confrontation, has been reprimanded.\nThe Labour MP had been referring to comments Mr Livingstone made about Adolf Hitler.\nThe row was prompted by the suspension of Labour MP Naz Shah over comments she made about Israel on social media.\nMr Livingstone appeared on BBC Radio London defending her and said he had never heard anyone in the Labour Party say anything anti-Semitic.\nHe added: \"When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.\"\nLabour MP John Mann then accused Mr Livingstone of being a \"Nazi apologist\" in front of a media scrum as he arrived at Westminster's media studios.\nAsked about the confrontation on the BBC's Daily Politics, Mr Livingstone said Mr Mann \"went completely over the top\" but Mr Mann stood by his remarks.\nMr Livingstone said he was not suggesting Hitler was a Zionist, saying the Nazi leader was \"a monster from start to finish\", but he said he had simply been quoting historical \"facts\".\nLabour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his long-time ally had been suspended amid \"very grave concerns about the language he used in the interview this morning\" and would face an investigation by the party.\nHe told BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar: \"Anybody that thinks this party is not cracking down on anti-Semitism is simply wrong. We have suspended where appropriate, we have investigated all cases. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form whatsoever in the party.\"\nAsked if there was a crisis in the party, he said: \"It's not a crisis. There's no crisis. Where there is any racism in the party it will be dealt with, it will be rooted out.\"\nHe said those who suggested the party was in crisis were \"nervous of the strength of the Labour Party at local level\".\nMeanwhile, a Labour spokesman said John Mann was told it was \"completely inappropriate for Labour Members of Parliament to be involved in very public rows on the television\".\nFor years it has been more surprising when Ken Livingstone hasn't raised hackles than when he has.\nThat's why so many Labour MPs feared a miscalculation when their party's leader brought his old comrade back into the fold.\nBut his staggering comments today about Hitler and anti-Semitism crossed a line - they were enough for Jeremy Corbyn to suspend him.\nBut the problem for the leader doesn't end with that act.\nNo one believes that Jeremy Corbyn himself tolerates discrimination against Jews.\nBut on repeated occasions Labour has been slow and clumsy in closing down cases of anti-Semitism among its members when they emerge.\nAny moments of delay or doubts about the leadership's determination, open the window a tiny crack to the kind of intolerance that the vast majority of the Labour Party, and indeed the public, find appalling.\nPublic denials that there is even an issue could make it even worse. Perhaps in politics as in normal life, the first step towards fixing a problem is acknowledging that it exists.\nAnd with only a week before Jeremy Corbyn's first big test at the polls, In elections in London, Scotland, Wales, and all round England, it's the kind of mess, and political distraction Labour could do without.\nOn Wednesday Labour MP Naz Shah was suspended, pending an investigation, over comments she made on Facebook before she became an MP, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States.\nShe has apologised but it sparked fresh claims from senior Labour figures that the party was not doing enough to tackle growing anti-Semitism in its ranks.\nShadow Commons leader Chris Bryant told MPs: \"I'm sick and tired of people trying to explain it away and, yes, I'm talking to you Ken Livingstone.\"\nKen Livingstone's way with a provocative soundbite was the making of him, propelling him to national prominence from the grey world of local government, but it has also got him into a lot of hot water over the years. Not for nothing is his autobiography called You Can't Say That.\nHe was suspended from office as London mayor for four weeks in 2006 for comparing a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard - a comment he continues to be unrepentant about, saying it was a \"fuss about nothing\". The suspension was overturned in court.\nHe remains popular in left wing circles as one of the few socialists to have achieved real power in the UK - but he had largely disappeared from the political scene, following his defeat in 2012 London mayoral contest.\nHe was enjoying semi-retirement when his old friend and ally Jeremy Corbyn was unexpectedly elected Labour leader last year. The two go back a long way.\nProfile: Ken Livingstone\nLabour's mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan said: \"Ken Livingstone's comments are appalling and inexcusable. There must be no place for this in our party.\"\nAnd Labour MP Rachel Reeves, told BBC Newsnight: \"We know we've got a growing problem of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. But also part of the problem is the slow response from the leadership of the party. We do need to see much swifter and more decisive action.\"\nExplaining his stance, in a BBC News Channel interview, Mr Livingstone said Naz Shah was \"not anti-Semitic - she was completely over the top, what she said was rude\".\nHe added: \"I've heard a lot of people being critical of Israel, but if I was to denounce the South African government, you wouldn't say I was racist.\n\"And one of my worries is this confusion with anti-Semitism and criticising the Israeli government policy undermines the importance is tackling real anti-Semitism.\"\nBut Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said Mr Livingstone's comments were \"abhorrent and beyond disgraceful\".\n\"He denies anti-Semitism in Labour when the evidence is there for all to see. He lacks any sense of reality and decency. He must now be expelled from the Labour Party.\"\nPrime Minister David Cameron said it was \"quite clear the Labour Party has got a problem with anti-Semitism\" adding: \"They've got to deal with it.\"\nSubscribe to the BBC News EU referendum email newsletter and get a weekly round-up of news, features and analysis on the campaign sent straight to your inbox.", "Labour was considering changes to its rules to send \"a clear signal\" of its \"zero tolerance\" towards anti-Semitism.\nMr Livingstone was suspended after claiming Hitler supported Zionism \"before he went mad\".\nLabour has been beset in recent weeks by growing claims of anti-Semitism within its ranks.\nShadow home secretary Andy Burnham said allegations must be dealt with \"much more speedily in the future\".\nWhat's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?\nHe told BBC One's Question Time on Thursday that he did not think the party was anti-Semitic but added: \"These allegations, when they are surfacing, have not been dealt with properly and quickly enough.\"\nBut Mr Watson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that party leader Jeremy Corbyn did \"act swiftly\" to suspend his ally of 40 years, Mr Livingstone.\nHe said Mr Livingstone's comments were \"vile\" adding: \"To link Hitler and Zionism in the way he did must have been designed to create offence.\" But he said it was for Labour's ruling national executive committee to decide whether to expel him from the party.\nIn the meantime Mr Watson said he and Mr Corbyn had been looking at whether \"Labour's own structures\" needed changing \"to make sure that we send a very clear signal to people in our party that we will have a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism\".\n\"Do we need to change our rules to explicitly rule out racism and specifically include anti-Semitism in that?\" he said.\n\"We are going to deal with this.\"\nMeanwhile BBC Wales understands that Mr Corbyn has been asked not to join Labour campaigning in Wales ahead of the assembly elections following the anti-Semitism row.\nThe row exploded on Thursday after a radio interview that Mr Livingstone did with BBC Radio London, defending Naz Shah, the party's MP for Bradford West, who had been suspended on Wednesday over comments on Facebook.\nIn it he said: \"When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.\"\nHe was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him of being a \"Nazi apologist\" in front of TV cameras. Other Labour MPs condemned Mr Livingstone's comments.\nHe was later suspended by Mr Corbyn, who said there had been \"grave concerns\" about the language used.\nLabour peer Lord Sugar said Mr Livingstone had \"lost the plot\" and was \"obsessed with Hitler, concentration camps and Jews\".\n\"They will wait for it to blow over a little bit and they will find some way of him coming back in, slipping back into the Labour fold,\" he told BBC Radio 5 Live.\nBut Jon Lansman, chairman of Momentum, a grassroots network of Corbyn supporters, said that while Mr Livingstone's comments were \"very ill-judged, wrong and offensive\" to \"call Ken a Nazi apologist is ridiculous\".\nHe said: \"Just as the Tories have an interest in stoking up the flames of whatever crisis is here... largely a crisis of perception... so do some people in the Labour Party and I'm afraid John Mann is one of them. John Mann is no supporter of Jeremy Corbyn.\"\nOn Wednesday Ms Shah was suspended, pending an investigation, over comments she made on Facebook before she became an MP, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States.\nShe has apologised but it has prompted claims from senior Labour figures that the party was not doing enough to tackle growing anti-Semitism in its ranks.\nMr Corbyn has denied the party is in crisis, saying: \"It's not a crisis. There's no crisis. Where there is any racism in the party it will be dealt with, it will be rooted out.\"\nHe said it was \"simply wrong\" to suggest Labour was not cracking down on anti-Semitism. \"We have suspended where appropriate, we have investigated all cases. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form whatsoever in the party.\"", "He said he \"regretted\" the disruption his comments had caused but \"I believe what I said is true\".\nThe former London mayor was suspended from the Labour party on Thursday after saying Hitler had supported Zionism in the 1930s.\nHe made the comments while defending Labour MP Naz Shah over accusations she was anti-Semitic.\nDuring an interview on LBC, Mr Livingstone repeatedly refused to apologise for making the comments, saying he was sorry if his views had upset Jewish people but he had simply made a \"statement of fact\" that had also been made by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.\n\"I never regret saying something that is true,\" he said.\n\"How can I have hurt and offended the Jewish community when the prime minister of Israel said exactly the same thing?\"\n\"If you look at what this is all about, it's not about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party... What this is all about is actually the struggle of the embittered old Blairite MPs to try to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn.\"\nLabour is to hold an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in its ranks.\nIt said the inquiry, led by Shami Chakrabarti, former head of human rights campaign group Liberty, would consult with the Jewish community and other minority groups, after claims a strain of party members held anti-Semitic views.\nThe row erupted after Ms Shah was found to have made comments on Facebook before becoming an MP, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States. She later apologised and was suspended from the party.\nBut Mr Livingstone defended the Bradford West MP, saying anti-Zionism was not the same as anti-Semitism.\nHe told BBC London: \"When Hitler won his election in 1932, his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.\"\nHe was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him in front of TV cameras of being a \"Nazi apologist\".\nAnd he was later suspended by Labour leader Mr Corbyn, who said there had been \"grave concerns\" about the language used.\nBut Mr Corbyn denied his party was racist, saying there was \"no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all communities\".\nThe row comes less than a week before local elections in England, and for the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.\nMr Livingstone, who has been a close ally of Mr Corbyn and his left-wing ideals, said he believed the attacks against him were coming from the right-wing of the party and were really aimed at undermining the leadership.\n\"The really appalling thing here is dishonest MPs who know that what I said is true have stirred up all this nonsense because they want to damage our chances at the local election so they then have a chance of undermining Jeremy.\"\nShadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth said it was Mr Livingstone who was undermining Mr Corbyn, and urged him to \"put a sock in it\".\nHe told the BBC: \"I was offended by Ken's remarks. I think Ken crossed a line. I'm not a bitter former Blairite... I am proud to serve in Jeremy's shadow cabinet.\"\nWhat's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?\nIsraeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu provoked widespread criticism in October when he said a Palestinian leader persuaded the Nazis to carry out the Holocaust.\nMr Netanyahu insisted Adolf Hitler had only wanted to expel Jews from Europe, but that Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini had told him: \"Burn them.\"\nHowever, the chief historian at Israel's memorial to the Holocaust said this account was factually incorrect.", "Former shadow minister Helen Goodman had tweeted: \"If China is so great, why did @Jeremy_Hunt's wife come to England?\" She has since deleted it.\nIt comes after Mr Hunt said the UK had to become as hard working as Asia.\nThe Labour Party said the tweet did not represent its views and that the Bishop Auckland MP would be reminded of her responsibilities.\nIssuing an apology on Twitter, Ms Goodman wrote: \"Wish to absolutely totally apologise for earlier tweet.\"\nSeveral other MPs had replied to her original message, with former Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles saying he was surprised she could \"send out something so vile\".\nFellow Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi even asked if Ms Goodman's account had been hacked, writing: \"Helen that is a terrible thing so say. I hope you delete and apologise to Mrs Hunt.\"\nAnd Lib Dem leader Tim Farron wrote: \"Clearly she missed the 'kinder politics' memo\", pointing to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's call for an end to personal attacks in politics.\nMr Hunt had made the comments at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference last week.\nHe said: \"My wife is Chinese and if we want this to be one of the most successful countries in the world in 20, 30, 40 years time there is a pretty difficult question that we have to answer which is, essentially, are we going to be a country which is prepared to work hard in a way that Asian economies are prepared to work hard, in a way that Americans are prepared to work hard?\n\"And that is about creating a culture where work is at the heart of our success.\"\nIn a statement, issued before Ms Goodman deleted the tweet, a Labour spokesman said: \"This does not represent the views of the Labour Party. Helen will be reminded of her responsibilities as an elected Labour politician.\"\nLabour's leader in the House of Lords Lady Smith said Goodman's tweet was \"absolutely bizarre\".\nShe told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: \"Presumably Mrs Hunt lives in the UK because she's married to Mr Hunt and she's in love with him and wants to be with him so end of story.\n\"There's a lesson for all here, our partners and families are not in the public domain to be criticised or commented on.\"\nMr Hunt married his wife, Lucia, in July 2009 and the couple have three children.", "The inquiry, led by Shami Chakrabarti, former head of campaign group Liberty, will consult with the Jewish community and other minority groups, Labour said.\nMr Corbyn will also propose a new \"code of conduct\" on racism at Labour's national executive committee in May.\nIt comes after the party suspended MP Naz Shah and ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone amid anti-Semitism claims.\nThe code of conduct will include guidance on \"acceptable behaviour and use of language\", Labour said.\nIt will make \"explicitly clear for the first time that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, in the party\", a statement said.\nThe inquiry's vice-chairman will be Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism.\nThe inquiry, which will report in two months, will set out \"clear and transparent\" rules on how the party should deal with allegations of racism and anti-Semitism.\nIt will also propose training programmes for parliamentary candidates, MPs, councillors and others, Labour said.\nWhat's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?\nQ&A: Labour anti-Semitism row\nBBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Jeremy Corbyn would be hoping the announcement would \"calm what was now a very angry, volatile atmosphere within his party\".\nMr Corbyn said Labour was an anti-racist party \"to its core\", and the Jewish community had been at the heart of the Labour party and progressive politics in Britain for more than 100 years.\n\"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all communities,\" he said.\nThe Labour leader, who insisted on Thursday there was \"no crisis\" over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, said he had taken \"decisive action\" over any such allegations since he became leader.\nThe row, which comes less than a week before local elections in England, and for the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, exploded on Thursday when Mr Livingstone claimed Hitler supported Zionism \"before he went mad\".\nHe made the comments in an interview with BBC Radio London, in which he defended Ms Shah, the party's MP for Bradford West.\nBy John Peinaar, BBC deputy political editor\nThere will be those Labour MPs who welcome the inquiry as measurable progress, but will it satisfy Jeremy Corbyn's most committed critics? No it won't.\nThey don't trust his instincts. They remember him sharing platforms in the past with militants from Hamas, or from Iran.\nThey resent the fact he draws support from some far-left individuals and groups who have been associated with anti-Semitism in the past.\nMore fundamentally, this is just one component of a charge sheet for them that touches on Jeremy Corbyn's pure left instincts and his basic competence.\nThe tension beneath the surface between these rival groups in the Labour Party borders and crosses over into hatred.\nIt will come to the surface after the local and national elections next week and will likely boil over when the European referendum is settled one way or another in June.\nMs Shah was suspended on Wednesday over comments on Facebook, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States. She later apologised.\nIn the interview, Mr Livingstone said: \"When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.\"\nHe was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him of being a \"Nazi apologist\" in front of TV cameras. Other Labour MPs also condemned Mr Livingstone's comments.\nSpeaking on Radio 4's Any Questions on Friday Jonathan Ashworth, a member of Labour's shadow cabinet, said Mr Livingstone's comments were \"deeply offensive, it was vile\".\nMr Livingstone was suspended by Mr Corbyn, who said there had been \"grave concerns\" about the language used.\nAnushka Asthana, political editor at the Guardian, who was following Mr Corbyn for an interview on the day the row erupted, told the BBC the Labour leader tried to carry on with his planned visits before advisors made it clear he needed to take action.\n\"It was obviously quite a difficult thing for him to do... he is an old friend of Ken Livingstone,\" she said.\n\"[Labour] had to set up this inquiry because of all the questions, but there is a reluctance, I think, among the inner circle to accept that all of this is around anti-Semitism. But they have to shut this down. There is fury throughout the party.\"\nOn Friday, Mr Livingstone told Sky News he would make his case citing a book by controversial American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner, who he met in the 1980s.\n\"I'll just produce the evidence and I mean it's hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party here when all this was there 30 years ago in the public domain and nobody raised a peep,\" he said.", "Mr McCluskey, whose union is Labour's biggest donor, attacked a \"cynical attempt to manipulate anti-Semitism for political aims\".\nAnother Corbyn ally, Diane Abbott, said party members had been \"smeared\".\nIt comes after controversial comments by ex-mayor Ken Livingstone and MP Naz Shah saw both suspended from the party.\nMr Corbyn told a May Day rally in London his party stood \"absolutely against anti-Semitism in any form\".\nMr Livingstone, the former London mayor, was suspended from the party after saying Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism in the 1930s \"before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews\".\nSpeaking to John Pienaar on BBC Radio 5 live, Mr McCluskey said Labour had been right to suspend Mr Livingstone for his \"bizarre\" comments.\nBut he described the wider controversy as \"mood music\" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn.\nThe Unite chief said the row had been \"got up\" by the right-wing press, \"aided and abetted by those Labour MPs who wake up and think what stick can we beat Jeremy with?\"\nLen McCluskey's comments are significant.\nHe is in charge of the union which donates the most money to Labour. And he sees the row over anti-Semitism as part of wider attempts to undermine Jeremy Corbyn's leadership - not just from the \"right wing press\", as he calls it, but from Labour MPs.\nHe knows some prominent party members are prepared to blame their own party leadership for what they expect to be poor election results this week.\nSo he is firing a shot across their bows to dissuade any of them from launching a leadership challenge.\nThe nature of the challenge is far from certain - Jeremy Corbyn's opponents have been described by one insider as \"rival militias\" who can't agree on an alternative, or on the timing of an assault.\nBut it would be wrong entirely to conflate the anti-Semitism controversy with anti-Corbyn plotting.\nThe anger some MPs feel over the handling of the issue isn't synthetic, and they fear it has harmed the party's reputation and not just that of the leader.\nMr McCluskey said he did not think there would be a formal leadership challenge to Mr Corbyn, but added that any MP \"stupid enough to try\" would have to \"be accountable for their actions\".\nSpeaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Ms Abbott, the shadow international development secretary, said Mr Livingstone's remarks had been \"extremely offensive\", but defended the party's handling of the row.\nShe said there had been 12 reported cases of alleged anti-Semitism within the party since Mr Corbyn became leader, and each had led to a suspension - including Mr Livingstone who was suspended \"within hours\".\n\"It's something of a smear against ordinary members to say the party has a problem with anti-Semitism,\" she said.\nBut Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned the row engulfing his party had harmed his chances of being elected.\nMr Khan told the Observer Mr Livingstone's comments had made it \"more difficult\" for Jewish voters to support him in next week's election.\nLabour is holding an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in its ranks - but the leadership's response to the allegations has been criticised by some Labour MPs.\nSpeaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, ex-minister Ben Bradshaw told the Sunday Politics members were \"furious\" at how the situation had been handled, and Labour MP Louise Ellman said the response had been \"much too slow\".\nMs Ellman, who is Jewish, said she had been subject to anti-Semitic abuse herself at a meeting of the local party. A complaint is being investigated.\nSpeaking on BBC Radio 4's The World this Weekend, Labour donor Michael Foster, who gave the party £400,000 before the general election where he also stood as a candidate, said some members of the party's leadership \"vilify Jews as part of their political shtick\".\nHe called for the inquiry, led by former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti, to be widened, and said he would not donate to the party nationally because of the leadership's approach.\nSenior figures within Israeli politics also expressed their concerns about the party.\nThe new Israeli ambassador to London said elements of left-wing parties were \"deluding themselves\" if they presumed there was no problem with anti-Semitism.\nMark Regev said comments in the last few weeks had crossed from criticism of Israeli government policies to \"demonising and a vilification of\" the Jewish state and perpetuating racist stereotypes.\nIsrael's Labour leader Isaac Herzog also said he had been \"appalled and outraged by the recent examples of anti-Semitism by senior Labour Party officials\".\nMr Livingstone's comments were \"horrific and unthinkable for a British politician in the 21st Century\", he added.\nThe anti-Semitism row erupted last week when Bradford West MP Naz Shah was suspended after sharing a Facebook post suggesting Israel should be moved to America.\nMr Livingstone defended her in a BBC interview, saying that she was not anti-Semitic.\nHe went on to say: \"When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel.\"\nMr Livingstone was subsequently suspended but stood by his comments, saying he was \"not sorry for telling the truth\".", "Helen Steel had a two-year relationship with John Dines in the 1990s before later learning he had been an undercover officer in the Met police.\nShe told the BBC that when she confronted him in Sydney he said he recognised \"what he did was wrong\".\nMr Dines told the Guardian he gave her a \"personal and unreserved apology\".\nMs Steel was one of seven women who received an \"unreserved apology\" and compensation from the Metropolitan Police for being deceived into sexual relationships with undercover officers.\nThe relationships took place over the course of 25 years with five officers from two undercover units.\nMs Steel met John \"Barker\" Dines in 1990 when she was a Greenpeace activist.\nThey were together for two years, and during that time rented a flat and discussed starting a family before he had an apparent breakdown and disappeared.\nMs Steel said she was left \"distraught\" by his disappearance and spent years searching for him.\nShe later learned he was a police officer and had relocated to Australia where he works for a university that trains police officers.\nShe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she confronted him at Sydney Airport.\n\"I basically approached him and said 'You owe me an apology', at which point he said 'Apologies',\" she said.\n\"And then I said that I wanted to talk more and then we went and spoke for a while about what happened and why he had deceived me in the way he deceived me.\n\"I think he recognises that what he did was wrong.\"\nShe said Mr Dines said he also claimed he had been \"harmed\" by the squad he had been part of.\nThe officers had worked undercover for the Special Demonstration Squad, part of the Met Police and the separate National Public Order Intelligence Unit.\nBoth teams deployed officers on long-term undercover operations to infiltrate radical political or social causes, such as environmental campaigns, anarchy and animal rights.\nThe longest relationship lasted for nine years.\nThe relationships took place until the units were disbanded in 2008 and 2011. One of the officers fathered children.\nIn each case the officers eventually disappeared, leaving their partners searching for years for answers.\nThe women said the Met's \"unreserved apology\", in November last year, would \"never make up for what we have endured\".\nMr Dines did not respond to the BBC but told the Guardian: \"You will already be aware that I met with Helen Steel on 6 March, where I gave her a personal and unreserved apology for all and any hurt that she may have suffered.\n\"I do not intend to make any other comment.\"\nA judge-led public inquiry is looking into what happened within the two undercover units.", "The intention is for the new line-up to be announced on Tuesday, although the process could take several days.\nMr Corbyn is reportedly considering replacing some shadow ministers who disagree with his policies.\nBBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said she did not expect a \"very dramatic purge\" of Mr Corbyn's top team in the next 24 hours.\nIt would be \"more a shuffle than lots of moderates being shoved out\", she said, although new shadow foreign and defence secretaries are expected to be appointed.\nThe current shadow cabinet is divided on issues including Trident renewal and military intervention in Syria.\nShadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn backed air strikes in last month's Commons vote, but Mr Corbyn opposed them.\nSpeaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who is co-chairing the party's defence review, said it \"might very well be the case\" that Mr Benn could be moved to a portfolio where he agrees with Mr Corbyn - although he said he had no knowledge of the leader's intentions.\nHe said it was a problem if, as happened in the Syria debate, Labour's frontbench spokesman stood up and made a speech opposing the stance of the party leader.\nDon't forget, Jeremy Corbyn built his own career by being a serial rebel, voting against his party leader again and again and again.\nFor him to call for message discipline from the outset might have seemed ludicrous. And given the lack of support he had among Labour MPs, he was determined to try to build a team from all parts of the party to give him credibility in Westminster.\nSo now, just four months on, if he embarks on dramatic changes, sacks those who have publicly disagreed with him, like the shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, there's a danger it looks like when his own authority is challenged he just can't take it.\nRead more from Laura\nShadow Europe minister Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour Mr Corbyn's \"whole career\" was based on disagreeing with party leaders, and warned him against carrying out a reshuffle \"as a punishment for shadow minister who disagree with him\".\n\"He has talked of an open, pluralist kind of politics but a reshuffle for that reason could end looking more petty and divisive than open and pluralist politics,\" he added.\nBut speaking on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, Labour MP and Corbyn ally Clive Lewis said reshuffles were a \"perk\" of being leader.\nHe added: \"It's his prerogative as leader to be able to manage and shape the shadow cabinet - it's one of the benefits and perks of being a leader to be able to shape the shadow cabinet without it being seen as revenge.\"\nMr Lewis said it was \"speculation\" to say he could replace Maria Eagle - who does not share Mr Corbyn's opposition to renewing the UK's nuclear weapons - as shadow defence secretary.\nHe said he would only do the job if Mr Corbyn said it was \"essential\" he take it, but said he thought this unlikely.\nAnother of Mr Corbyn's allies at Westminster, shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott, told BBC Radio London's Vanessa Feltz rumours she could replace Mr Benn as shadow foreign secretary were \"poppycock and piffle\".\nMs Abbott said she did not know whether there would be a reshuffle, but added that if Mr Corbyn were to change his top team it would continue to be inclusive and \"would reflect his considered thoughts about the importance of having a team at the top which reflects the views of the party\".\nAnother shadow minister, housing spokesman John Healey, said it was important to have a range of views at the top of the party, adding: \"I would be very surprised if we see the sort of scale of reshuffle that some have speculated on so far.\"", "Lord Levy told BBC Newsnight he believed anti-Semitism existed across the political divide, but it seemed \"more prominent\" within Labour.\nIt follows the party's decision to suspend MP Naz Shah from the party over comments about Israel on social media, pending an investigation.\nMs Shah has made a \"profound apology\" in the Commons for her remarks.\nThe MP for Bradford West has been widely criticised for Facebook posts she made before she became an MP, in which she suggested, among other things, that Israel should be moved to the United States.\nLord Levy, who was Tony Blair's envoy and chief fundraiser, told the BBC her comments displayed \"ignorance\", and he was left \"scratching his head with despair as to how people like this can enter our parliament with such a lack of knowledge, discretion and sensitivity\".\nHis comments were echoed by cross-bench peer Baroness Neuberger, who claimed Labour's problem of anti-Semitism was \"attached to Jeremy Corbyn becoming leader\", and added that it was \"an issue with the hard left\".\nLabour has faced claims of growing anti-Semitism in its ranks. Earlier this year a Labour Luton councillor was suspended from the party after claiming Hitler was the \"greatest man in history\".\nJeremy Corbyn has insisted anti-Semitism will not be tolerated but some of his MPs say the party leadership is not doing enough to stamp it out.\nShadow education secretary Lucy Powell, Ed Miliband's former chief of staff, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the party \"had to do more\" to tackle anti-Semitism and MP Lisa Nandy said it had to be more \"pro-active\".\nBut Ken Livingstone - the former London Mayor who is a close ally of Mr Corbyn - said Ms Shah's remarks were not anti-Semitic and the suspension was unnecessary.\nHe told LBC Radio: \"What we have at the moment is a lot of people making a big issue about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. In 47 years I have never heard anyone say anything anti-Semitic.\n\"We expelled a couple of people from the Labour Party early on for saying things that could clearly be interpreted as anti-Semitic.\n\"This is not that; this is an over-the-top comment about the horrendous conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.\"\nLord Levy told BBC London Mr Livingstone was \"living on another planet\" and \"well past his sell-by date\" if he believed Ms Shah's comments were not anti-Semitic.\nMs Shah was also defended by George Galloway, the former Respect MP who she defeated at the general election, who said in an article that her comments were \"half-witted\" but not anti-Semitic, and claims to the contrary were \"just another stick to beat Corbyn out of office with\".\nThe former Labour MP said Mr Corbyn and his closest ally shadow chancellor John McDonnell were \"lifelong campaigners for Palestinians\" but he claimed there was an \"establishment\" conspiracy to falsely paint them as anti-Semitic.\nInitially, Mr Corbyn warned Ms Shah about what he described as her \"offensive and unacceptable\" posts - but he came under pressure to go further by David Cameron, at Prime Minister's Questions.\nMs Shah, who has quit on Tuesday as an aide to Mr McDonnell, then told the Commons: \"Anti-Semitism is racism, full stop. As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relations between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none.\"\nLabour later issued a statement saying Mr Corbyn and Ms Shah had agreed that she was \"administratively suspended from the Labour Party by the general secretary\", pending an investigation.\n\"She is unable to take part in any party activity and the whip is removed,\" the statement added.\nIn a 2014 Facebook post Ms Shah shared a graphic showing an image of Israel's outline superimposed on a map of the US under the headline \"Solution for Israel-Palestine conflict - relocate Israel into United States\", with the comment \"problem solved\".\nThe post suggested the US has \"plenty of land\" to accommodate Israel as a 51st state, allowing Palestinians to \"get their life and their land back\".\nIt added that Israeli people would be welcome and safe in the US, while the \"transportation cost\" would be less than three years' worth of Washington's support for Israeli defence spending.\nThe post was brought to light by the Guido Fawkes political blogging website, which also highlighted a post in which she appeared to liken Israeli policies to those of Adolf Hitler.\nNaz Shah burst onto the political scene during the 2015 general election, where she ousted Respect MP George Galloway.\nHer selection as a candidate proved controversial, with divisions emerging in the local party. The candidate who was chosen first stood down four days later, before Ms Shah was imposed by the ruling National Executive Committee.\nA bitter campaign followed, with Mr Galloway sparking anger by questioning Ms Shah's account of her forced marriage.\nAfter her victory, she was celebrated locally and nationally for her unique background and life experiences.\nGrowing up in poverty in Bradford, Ms Shah and her family were abandoned by her father who eloped with a neighbour's teenage daughter. She has spoken openly about her experience of surviving a forced marriage and domestic violence.", "Mr Corbyn made the comment after a supporter shook his hand in the street and said: \"Unlucky.\"\nBut one of his critics, former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie, said the result was \"not good enough\" and should not be seen as a \"famous victory\".\nLabour gained 30 seats in the election, enough to prevent a Tory majority.\nMr Corbyn seemed to be in good spirits on Saturday as he walked with a posse of media from his house to a nearby meeting, later posing with Times columnist Giles Coren for a selfie at a children's football session.\nConservative leader Theresa May was not seen on Saturday, as talks continued about forming a government with the support of the DUP.\nMr Leslie told BBC Radio 4's Today programme about Labour's performance: \"We shouldn't pretend that this is a famous victory. It's good as far as it's gone, but it's not going to be good enough.\"\nLabour secured 262 seats in the election and boosted its vote share to 40%.\nThe Conservatives won 318 seats - eight fewer than they needed in order to secure a majority.\nMr Leslie said Labour missed an \"open goal\" as he had \"never known\" a more beatable prime minister than Theresa May.\nThe Labour MP for Nottingham East refused to say whether he thought Mr Corbyn was a credible prime minister.\n\"I will never apologise for my view which is, yes of course you've got to inspire people, and we haven't done that well enough in the past.\n\"But you've got to convince them of your credibility and that you can move from protesting about the government to being in government.\"\nMr Leslie said Labour MPs were \"working in this together\" but he would not commit to serving in a shadow cabinet.\nHe said he feared an issue would arise that would go against his principles and he would have to resign.\n\"I'm never going to give in arguing for what I believe is a pathway to a majority Labour government,\" he added.\nHowever, shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith has called on Theresa May to step aside to allow Labour a chance to form a minority government.\nShe told BBC Radio Wales: \"We're still saying quite clearly that we would be ready to take over if Theresa May cannot cobble something together, and we're very doubtful that she can.\n\"We don't really think she has a mandate to now, she's really made a fool of herself and really, quite frankly, she should step aside and let us have a go.\"\nMr Corbyn had given the party \"confidence\" about selling party policies such as public ownership of the railways, she added.", "Sarah Champion faced a backlash after writing in the Sun that \"Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls\".\nThe Rotherham MP quit as shadow equalities minister and apologised for her \"extremely poor choice of words\".\nThe Labour leader denied claims he had sacked Ms Champion for speaking out.\nHe told BBC Manchester: \"Child exploitation is wrong. Child abuse is wrong. It is a crime, and it has to be dealt with.\n\"But you cannot blame an entire community, an entire nation or an entire ethnic community. You have to deal with it for the crime of what it is.\"\nAsked if he had sacked Ms Champion over her comments, he said: \"Look, she resigned and I accepted the resignation, so, clearly, I think it's right thing to do and I thank her for her work.\"\nCommunities Secretary Sajid Javid accused Mr Corbyn of stifling debate.\nThe Conservative minister said in a tweet: \"Corbyn wrong to sack Sarah Champion. We need an honest open debate on child sexual exploitation, including racial motivation.\"\nBusiness Minister Margot James said she was \"enraged\" by the Labour leader's \"treatment of Sarah Champion\".\nShe wrote on her Facebook page that the Rotherham MP's comments \"might have been hard hitting, but that doesn't make them any less true\".\nThe Conservative MP for Stourbridge added: \"There needs to be a discussion about how we overcome the cultural attitudes towards women that have contributed to these crimes; and to the ways in which they were covered up for so long.\n\"There has been a disgraceful history of shouting down brave Labour women MPs who have stood up to community pressures in Northern cities like Keighley (just google former MP Ann Cryer) and Rotherham in exposing these crimes, of which the appalling treatment of Sarah Champion is yet another chapter.\"\nConservative former Children's Minister Tim Loughton said he did not know if Ms Champion had been sacked or not - but he accused Mr Corbyn of being \"deaf to a problem that is happening in our country\".\nThe Equality and Human Rights Commission said it was a \"real shame\" that Ms Champion had resigned because of \"over-sensitivity about language\".\nLabour's shadow justice minister, Yasmin Qureshi, refused to be drawn on whether it was right that Ms Champion had stepped down.\n\"I think you need to ask Sarah that question,\" she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.\n\"Of course we should deal with abuse wherever it occurs and we should ask ourselves as to what we can do to ensure these things don't happen.\"\nMs Champion's article was written after 17 men were convicted of forcing girls in Newcastle to have sex.\nThe men, who were mostly British-born, were of Iraqi, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian and Turkish heritage.\nIn interviews following the convictions, the Labour MP said such crimes involved \"predominately Pakistani men\" and a fear of being called racist was hampering the authorities' investigations.\nShe then wrote the Sun article, which also included the line: \"These people are predators, and the common denominator is their ethnic heritage.\"\nAmong the article's critics was fellow Labour MP Naz Shah, who said it was \"irresponsible\" and \"setting a dangerous precedent\".\nFollowing the backlash, Ms Champion sought to distance herself from the article, claiming it had been altered, something denied by the newspaper.\nAnnouncing she was stepping down, Ms Champion said: \"I apologise for the offence caused by the extremely poor choice of words in the Sun article on Friday.\n\"I am concerned that my continued position in the shadow cabinet would distract from the crucial issues around child protection which I have campaigned on my entire political career.\n\"It is therefore with regret that I tender my resignation as shadow secretary of state for women and equalities.\"", "The MP, appointed by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said the comments had clearly caused offence and apologised \"from the bottom of my heart\".\nSpeaking on BBC Question Time, he said he had been trying to give both sides of the conflict a way to lay down arms with \"some form of dignity\".\nUnionist politicians welcomed the apology but questioned his motives.\nMr McDonnell also said he was sorry for an \"appalling joke\" about former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.\nIn 2010, he said that if he could go back in time he would \"assassinate Thatcher\".\nChallenged on this remark by a member of the audience, he said: \"It was an appalling joke. It's ended my career in stand-up, let's put it that way, and I apologise for it as well.\"\nMr McDonnell's remarks about the \"bravery\" of the IRA have been highlighted since his appointment to Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet.\nHis remarks were made at a gathering in London in 2003 to commemorate IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.\nMr McDonnell told the meeting: \"It's about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle.\n\"It was the bombs and bullets and sacrifice made by the likes of Bobby Sands that brought Britain to the negotiating table.\"\nSpeaking on Question Time on Thursday, he said at the time he made the comments it had looked like \"we were going to lose the peace process\".\nBy Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent\nThis was John McDonnell attempting to deal with the most toxic of his comments dredged from a back catalogue of remarks dismissed as insignificant when they were first uttered, but now being held up to scrutiny.\nIt illustrates the central challenge for the new Labour leadership.\nElected because they offered what was seen as the unspun authenticity of those with track records unsullied by the compromises of office, they are now burdened for the first time with that label \"figurehead\" - and with it the duty to represent the sensibilities and sensitivities of the whole Labour movement.\nAnd, they hope, in time, the country too.\nJeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have spent the week wobbling along a tightrope, pointing upwards towards what they see as the virtues of novelty, honesty and freshness.\nBut a battalion of Labour MPs behind them are pointing in the other direction, down; fearful their party is perilously close to tumbling into a cavern of shambolic misery and irrelevance.\nAlthough the Good Friday Agreement, aimed at bringing an end to the Troubles, came into force in 1998, devolved government in Northern Ireland proved difficult to implement because of disagreements over a range of issues.\nDirect rule from Westminster was reintroduced in October 2002, with the Stormont Assembly not returning for nearly five years.\nThe MP for Hayes and Harlington said his choice of words in 2003 had been wrong, adding: \"What I tried to do for both sides is to give them a way out with some form of dignity otherwise they wouldn't lay their arms down.\"\nHe added: \"And can I just say this, because this has been raised with me time and time again - I accept it was a mistake to use those words, but actually if it contributed towards saving one life, or preventing someone else being maimed it was worth doing, because we did hold on to the peace process.\n\"There was a real risk of the republican movement splitting and some of them continuing the armed process. If I gave offence, and I clearly have, from the bottom of my heart I apologise, I apologise.\"\nColin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington in 1993, said the apology was welcome \"on the face of it\", but questioned the MPs motivation for making it.\n\"How sincere it is or how much it is based on the fact that his political profile has changed, I don't know,\" he said.\n\"Far from consolidating the peace process by saying what he did, you could argue that he was giving succour to the view the more you fight, the more you fight on, the better the deal you get.\"\nNigel Dodds, the deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, suggested the MP had been forced into the apology because of the \"strength of public outrage\" and urged him to be honest about his \"long record\" of support for the IRA.\n\"The credibility of his wording in relation to this apology is undermined by the incredibility of the self-justification we have heard,\" he told Daily Politics.\n\"For anyone, least of all him, to pretend this was part of a grand scheme to persuade republicans to lay down arms as part of the peace process...John McDonnell, Jeremy Corbyn and people on the hard left played no role whatsoever in the peace process.\"\nMr Dodds said Mr McDonnell's views were \"totally unrepresentative\" of opinion within the wider Labour movement, adding: \"We must have people in positions of great seniority who are not in the position where they are supportive of or have condoned violence in the past.\"\nFellow DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr said he understood that shadow cabinet members would have demanded Mr McDonnell's sacking had he not apologised.", "Shadow Europe minister Pat Glass made the comments after an interview with BBC Radio Derby in Sawley, Derbyshire.\nShe said: \"The very first person I come to is a horrible racist. I'm never coming back to wherever this is.\"\nShe later said the comments were \"inappropriate\" but UKIP said it showed \"contempt\" for people's concerns.\nUpdates on this story and more from Derbyshire\nThe man Ms Glass is believed to have been referring to said he had spoken to her about to a Polish family in the area who he believed were living on benefits, describing them as \"spongers\", but denied being racist.\nThe North West Durham MP said: \"The comments I made were inappropriate and I regret them.\n\"Concerns about immigration are entirely valid and it's important that politicians engage with them.\n\"I apologise to the people living in Sawley for any offence I have caused.\"\nBut those campaigning for the UK to leave the EU criticised her remarks.\nConservative MP Peter Bone, one of the founders of Grassroots Out, said: \"It is disappointing that a member of the Remain campaign called a voter a 'horrible racist' for raising perfectly valid concerns about the impact uncontrolled migration is having on the UK.\"\nAnd Steven Woolfe MEP, UKIP's migration spokesman, said her comments showed \"the contempt Labour has for ordinary workers' concerns\".\n\"It is in the DNA of the Labour Party. We have had Gordon Brown calling a Labour supporter a bigot, Emily Thornberry ridiculing a white van man displaying an English flag - and now this.\"\nBrendan Chilton, the general secretary of the Labour group campaigning for Brexit - Labour Leave - criticised Ms Glass's comments as \"shocking\". \"A significant number of Labour voters want to leave the EU, and have justified concerns with immigration.\n\"Pat Glass's comments do not reflect the views of a large number of Labour voters.\"\nConservative MP for Erewash Maggie Throup had urged Ms Glass \"to make a full apology to my constituent at the earliest opportunity\" and to return to the area \"to see for herself just how great a place it is to live, work and raise a family\".\nIn April 2010, then PM Gordon Brown apologised after being recorded describing a 65-year-old voter as a \"bigoted woman\".\nLabour MP Ms Thornberry quit the shadow cabinet in 2014 after a photo she tweeted of a house with three England flags and a white van parked outside, during the Rochester by-election, was criticised as \"disrespectful\".\nShadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who is campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU, told BBC One's Question Time: \"Pat has apologised and of course it's not racist to want to leave the European Union, it's not racist to be worried about immigration - there are concerns particularly about dodgy employers who exploit low skilled migration to undercut wages and jobs and I think something should be done about that.\"\nBut she accused Leave campaigners of offering \"false promises\" that if the UK left the EU there would be a \"substantial\" change on migration policy.", "She replaces Owen Smith, as the Pontypridd MP is promoted to the work and pensions brief.\nRhondda MP Chris Bryant stays on the front bench but moves from culture to shadow leader of the House of Commons.\nVeteran left-winger Mr Corbyn won the leadership battle by a landslide over his three rivals despite starting as a rank outsider.\nMs Griffith said she was \"very honoured\" to be promoted to Labour's front bench.\n\"I am proud to be part of a strong shadow cabinet that will work tirelessly to expose the Tories' callous approach,\" she said.\nMr Smith reacted to his new role by tweeting: \"A great honour to have been asked to speak for our party on Work & Pensions. Thanks to all who have offered congrats. I won't let you down.\"\nFirst Minister Carwyn Jones welcomed Ms Griffith's promotion to the shadow cabinet, saying it was \"well-deserved\".\nSpeaking about Mr Corbyn's election as leader, he told BBC Wales: \"I do not think it's possible for anyone to ignore the scale of the victory.\"\nCalling for unity, he said: \"I think anybody who tries to split the party in some way would be mad to do so.\n\"In the traditions of the party it's important to get behind the person who is leading in London.\"\nMr Corbyn said he had created a \"unifying, dynamic, inclusive new shadow cabinet\" with women taking the majority of roles.\nKey appointments include defeated leadership candidate Andy Burnham as shadow home secretary, John McDonnell as shadow chancellor, and Maria Eagle as shadow defence secretary.\nHer sister Angela Eagle has been named shadow first secretary of state and will stand in for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions when David Cameron is away.\nSeveral leading Labour figures had resigned from the shadow cabinet in the wake of Mr Corbyn's victory.\nPontypridd AM Mick Antoniw, who had backed Mr Corbyn for the leadership, said on Twitter that Ms Griffith was \"a great choice and look forward to Wales/UK Labour partnership\".\nFormer Euro-MP Baroness Eluned Morgan tweeted that it was the \"Strongest welsh representation in shadow cab for years\".\nMr Bryant told BBC Radio Wales he had been offered the defence brief but had declined because of differences of opinion over defence policy with the new leader.\nSpeaking about his new role, Mr Bryant said: \"I loved the [Department of Culture, Media and Sport] brief and I'd have been happy to remain there ... but I also care about the business of how we do our politics and I worry that the Tories are gerrymandering Parliament.\n\"They're using it in ways which I think are undemocratic and unfair and we need to take the fight to them.\"\nMr Bryant, who had backed Yvette Cooper in the leadership contest, acknowledged it could be difficult working with a leader with whom he had some differences.\nBut he added: \"I think there's going to be a bit more give and take within the top team and maybe voters will respect that.\"\nOne of the key tests for Labour under its new leader will be the party's performance at the Welsh assembly election in 2016.\nWelsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said the campaign would now take on an \"even greater significance\".\nHe accused Labour of \"abandoning mainstream politics in favour of a hard left agenda that would make Ken Livingstone uncomfortable\".\n\"It is more important than ever that we take this opportunity to deliver a prosperous new Wales and put an end to a generation of Labour failure,\" he added.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nMoyes has apologised for what he said to Vicki Sparks after an interview following a draw with Burnley in March.\nSunderland are standing by the Scot, who has been asked to give his observations on the incident by the FA.\n\"It's really good to have the support and I'm really grateful to them,\" Moyes told BBC Radio 5 live.\nWhen asked if he had thought his position was under threat following the comments, he said: \"No. I felt I had made my apology, there had been no complaint from Vicki Sparks, and because of that, everything was fine.\"\nHe also said it was his idea to offer an apology, adding: \"As I said at the time, I regret my words.\"\nIn his post-match news conference following Tuesday's 2-0 loss at Leicester, he admitted that he had been \"surprised, in many ways\" by the reaction to his comments.\n\"The world of football is a great business now,\" he added. \"It employs an incredible amount of people now, be it through the media or on the training grounds, and for that reason it is a big talking point.\"\nIn the interview in question, Moyes was asked by Sparks if the presence of owner Ellis Short had put extra pressure on him.\nHe said it had not but, after the interview, added Sparks \"might get a slap even though you're a woman\" and told her to be \"careful\" next time she visited.\nBoth Moyes and Sparks were laughing during the exchange and the former Everton and Manchester United manager later apologised to the reporter, who did not make a complaint.\nMoyes revealed on Monday that the club knew about the incident soon after it occurred.\nIn a statement on Tuesday, the club said: \"The exchange between the manager and a BBC reporter was wholly unacceptable and such actions are not condoned or excused in any way.\n\"David recognised this immediately, proactively bringing the matter to the attention of the CEO and apologising to the reporter.\n\"The club also spoke with both a senior figure at the BBC and the reporter personally, expressing its profound regret over what had occurred.\n\"The matter was treated with the utmost seriousness from the outset and the swift and decisive action taken by the club and the manager at the time ensured that it was resolved to the satisfaction of the reporter and the BBC, which was the priority.\n\"With both the BBC and the reporter agreeing that appropriate action had been taken at the time, the club continues to fully support David in his role as manager of Sunderland AFC.\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nHis comments have been criticised by shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Women in Football, with the latter saying it was \"deeply disappointed and concerned\" but \"pleased that David Moyes has apologised\".\nFootball Association chairman Greg Clarke said: \"It was regrettable, it was distasteful and I think it showed a complete lack of respect. And we in the game stand for respect.\n\"But I don't think it undermines football's desire to be inclusive and respectful. Every now and again, we will have to remind people of the high standards we need to observe in football.\"\nWhen asked if it was sexist, Clarke said: \"It could have been interpreted as such.\n\"I think it's doubly bad to use such a term to a woman because there is a lot of violence against women in society and terms like that aren't just disrespectful, I think they are bad examples.\n\"I regret that it happened and I'm sure that David Moyes regrets that it happened.\"\nThe chief executive of Domestic violence charity Women's Aid, Polly Neate, said: \"We cannot be complacent about remarks like these from influential men.\n\"We urge the FA to act swiftly and take this opportunity to send out a clear and strong message to the footballing community that there is no place for sexism and misogyny in modern football.\"\nSpeaking in a news conference on Monday, Moyes said: \"I deeply regret the comments I made.\n\"That's certainly not the person I am. I've accepted the mistake. I spoke to the BBC reporter, who accepted my apology.\"\nThe BBC confirmed that Moyes and Sparks had spoken about the exchange and the issue had been resolved.\nA spokesman said: \"Mr Moyes has apologised to our reporter and she has accepted his apology.\"\nSunderland are bottom of the Premier League on 20 points, eight points from safety.", "Mr Livingstone said on Question Time the then-prime minister ignored a security service warning that invading Iraq would make the UK a terror target.\nLabour MP Mike Gapes called the comment \"despicable\", while Labour backbencher Ian Austin dubbed it a \"disgrace\".\nFour suicide bombers targeted London's Underground and a bus on 7 July 2005.\nMr Livingstone, who is co-chairing a review of Labour's defence policy, said: \"When Tony Blair was told by the security services, 'If you go into Iraq, we will be a target for terrorism', and he ignored that advice, and it killed 52 Londoners.\"\nHe added: \"If we had not invaded Iraq those four men would not have gone out and killed 52 Londoners. We know that.\"\nComedian and former Labour political adviser Matt Forde challenged Mr Livingstone on his comments, saying: \"This idea that you can absolve the people that killed those innocent Londoners by blaming Tony Blair is shameful.\n\"Blame it on the people who carried out the atrocity.\"\nMr Livingstone, who was mayor at the time of the 2005 attacks, responded: \"Go and look what they put on their website. They did those killings because of our invasion of Iraq.\n\"They gave their lives, they said what they believed, they took Londoners' lives in protest against our invasion of Iraq.\n\"And we were lied to by Tony Blair about Iraq, there were no weapons of mass destruction.\"\nConservative Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock, who was also on the panel, said Mr Livingstone was letting IS and other violent militant groups \"off the hook\" while Kate Andrews, from the Adam Smith Institute, said he was \"accepting their excuses\".\nA number of Labour MPs criticised the comments, John Woodcock tweeting that \"no-one has the mandate to side with suicide bombers\".\nAnd Mr Gapes said Mr Livingstone had \"sunk to a new low\", claiming his comments amounted to saying \"terrorism is never the fault of perpetrators\".\nA Downing Street spokesman said it was up to Mr Livingstone to justify his comments, stating that \"it almost goes without saying that the prime minister does not agree with them\".\nMr Livingstone, who is a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, caused controversy recently when he suggested a Labour MP who had criticised his appointment as co-convenor of the party's defence review needed \"psychiatric help\".\nHe subsequently apologised for the comments but only after being told to do so by leader Jeremy Corbyn.\nThe UK joined the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, despite failing to secure a second UN resolution justifying the use of force.", "Carwyn Jones said the OECD report \"nails the lie that the NHS in Wales is being out-performed by England\".\nThe Welsh Conservatives pointed out the OECD had not looked at waiting times.\nPlaid Cymru said the report backed its view that local health boards were \"not fit for purpose\".\nMr Jones claimed David Cameron and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had \"denigrated\" NHS staff in Wales to gain political advantage.\nHe said the UK government should examine its own record on health in England.\n\"There is a good reason that junior doctors are not on strike in Wales,\" he said.\n\"It is because we value our NHS workforce, and work with them to modernise and bring through change.\n\"With a growing social care crisis in England, and the continuing doctors' strike, it is time the Tories focused on getting their own house in order.\n\"We accept that the NHS in Wales has challenges ahead - just like every healthcare system in Europe - and we are up for meeting that challenge.\n\"That is why we spend more on the NHS and on social care than in England; why access to cancer drugs is faster and why we are investing more than ever in training nurses and other NHS staff.\"\nWelsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said Labour needed to apologise for longer waiting times in Wales, availability of cancer treatments, and £1bn of budget cuts since 2011.\n\"Let's be clear - this report is not a comparison study, and it fails to take into consideration one of the most important aspects of the patient experience - waiting times,\" he said.\n\"Previous reports by the House of Commons Library, the Wales Audit Office and the Nuffield Trust have showed that spending has been slashed by Labour since 2011 and that waiting times are much longer here in Wales.\"\nPlaid Cymru's health spokeswoman Elin Jones pointed to the OECD's criticism of the local health boards in Wales, and recommendation of \"a stronger central guiding hand\".\n\"The health board model that currently exists in Wales is too cumbersome and unwieldy, and Plaid Cymru is proposing a model to create nationally-designed hospital services serving local communities throughout Wales with a modern, safe service,\" she said.\n\"Plaid Cymru will create a Community NHS to integrate all local health and care services, to meet the needs of local communities and to be innovative in its response to those needs.\"\nA UK government Department of Health spokeswoman said: \"This report shows the NHS is a leader in transparency, implementing quality and collecting patient feedback, which are all essential to our promise to deliver high quality care to every patient, seven days a week.\n\"We know there is still much more to do in order to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world, which is why we have prioritised frontline care and invested £10bn to fund the NHS's own plan for its future.\"\nThe political stakes couldn't really be higher as the governments in Cardiff and London digest the OECD report this morning.\nI was in Llangollen in 2014 when David Cameron made his remark about the Welsh border being a \"line between life and death\".\nIt animated the bitter disagreements between the two administrations on how the NHS should work, and it's soured the relationship ever since.\nThe Conservatives insist they were drawing attention to perceived failings by the Labour-run Welsh NHS - and given the Tory gains made in last year's general election, they may feel vindicated.\nBut Labour insist they were unfairly criticised - yes, some waiting times are longer, but on other indicators Wales is doing better than England.\nIt's fair to say some in the Welsh government found the relentless media focus in the wake of the Cameron remarks pretty bruising.\nThe OECD (which didn't look at waiting times, by the way) concludes that Wales isn't doing better or worse than its neighbours - hence the demand from the first minister for an apology from the PM.\nHe's unlikely to get one - and, with an assembly election in three months time, don't expect the rhetoric to be toned down either.", "Mr Corbyn has written to his MPs saying he cannot support David Cameron's call to extend bombing operations against so-called Islamic State to Syria.\nOne unnamed senior frontbencher has warned people could quit if Mr Corbyn orders the shadow cabinet to back him.\nMr Corbyn has pulled out of a campaign visit to Oldham West amid the row.\nHe had been due to campaign in the constituency later ahead of next week's by-election.\nA spokeswoman for him said: \"Regrettably Jeremy Corbyn is not now visiting Oldham because matters to do with Syria mean he must return to London.\"\nHis stance on Syria has put him at odds with a number of his MPs, with many of Friday's newspaper headlines describing the Labour Party as being \"at war\" over the issue.\nThe prime minister argued in the Commons on Thursday that targeting IS in Syria would make Britain safer.\nMr Corbyn's decision to write to Labour MPs setting out his opposition - before the shadow cabinet had reached agreement - was criticised by a senior shadow minister.\nThey told the BBC: \"There will be resignations among senior members of the shadow cabinet over this.\"\nShadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said he found the case for strikes \"compelling\".\nHowever, shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott insisted the shadow cabinet was not entitled to vote down the Labour leader and that she believed they would come to the \"right decision\".\nShe said: \"I know what views party members will take if MPs ignore the views of the people at the grassroots and try and take this issue to the brink.\n\"Jeremy appoints the shadow cabinet - not the other way round.\n\"You cannot have a shadow cabinet voting down the leader of the Labour Party who has just been elected with the biggest mandate in history.\"\nBy Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor\nIt's no secret that Jeremy Corbyn is a longstanding opponent of military intervention in the Middle East. After the debate on Thursday he met his shadow cabinet to try to hammer out a common position.\nAfter a difficult couple of hours it was plain, despite the leader being opposed, that most of the shadow team is in favour of air strikes. So they agreed to disagree, and to talk again after the weekend.\nThen, to the astonishment of some of Mr Corbyn's own team, just a couple of hours later, his office published a letter that made it abundantly clear there is no chance he will back air strikes, and his position is set.\nMaking that move has, in the words of one shadow minister, \"lit the blue touch paper\" in the shadow cabinet.\nAnother said members were so angry they had to be \"scraped off the ceiling\".\nRead more from Laura\nMr Cameron told MPs he would only hold a Commons vote authorising action in Syria if he was certain he could win it - which would depend on persuading Labour MPs to back him.\nThe vote could come as soon as next week, with former Tory rebels and some Labour backbenchers indicating they now backed action.\nMPs voted against UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in 2013.\nBut they did later approve British air strikes against IS extremists in Iraq.\nSpeaking on BBC Question Time, Ken Livingstone, recently appointed to Labour's defence review team, said he suspected its MPs would be given a \"free vote\" on Syria, meaning they would not be forced to follow a party line.\nThe former London mayor said: \"You can't force people to vote to kill other people or not to vote to kill them.\n\"This must be a matter in which people have the freedom to express their own views.\"\nMr Corbyn said the shadow cabinet would continue trying \"to reach a common view\" on Syria on Monday.", "The Labour leader said the IRA's actions were \"completely wrong\" because they killed civilians.\nMr Corbyn said on Friday he had \"never met\" the IRA and had only held talks with its political wing Sinn Fein.\nBut the Conservatives claimed comments by Diane Abbott in an interview on Saturday showed this was untrue.\nMs Abbott, a long-time ally of Mr Corbyn, told LBC radio he had only met IRA members \"in their capacity as activists in Sinn Fein\".\n\"I think we have to distinguish between conducting private meetings and supporting violent attacks and actually being on a platform,\" said the shadow home secretary.\nAnd she compared Mr Corbyn's links with the Irish republican movement to the way former Prime Minister Tony Blair had negotiated with Sinn Fein during the peace process.\nThe shadow home secretary was questioned about remarks of her own made in a 1984 interview about Northern Ireland, where she said: \"Every defeat of the British state is a victory for all of us.\"\nMs Abbott said: \"It was 34 years ago. A few years later I became an MP... I have moved on in the intervening 34 years.\"\nConservative Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has used her remarks to launch an attack on the Labour leadership: \"Jeremy Corbyn's lies have been exposed by his own shadow home secretary.\n\"Just hours after Corbyn claimed he had never met the IRA, Diane Abbott says he did - and she disgracefully sought to defend it.\n\"It is increasingly clear that Jeremy Corbyn will make up anything in an attempt to mislead voters.\n\"He's pretending he didn't support the IRA, just like he is pretending he won't raise taxes and pretending he will replace our Trident nuclear deterrent.\"\nMr Corbyn has faced questions over his meetings with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, during the 1980s and 1990s and his views on the republican movement during that period.\nHe repeatedly insisted in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil on Friday that he had been working for a peaceful solution in Northern Ireland and that there \"had to be a dialogue\".\nOn Saturday morning Mr Corbyn took part in a training session with youngsters on a visit to Hackney Marshes football pitches, in north London, where he launched plans to offer football fans a \"flexible football ticket\" to help more people attend matches.\nAsked about his reaction when Downing Street and then-Prime Minister Sir John Major were targeted in an IRA mortar attack in 1991, Mr Corbyn said: \"Obviously appalled.\n\"I was in Parliament at the time, I heard the attack go off... The bombing campaign was completely wrong because it was taking civilian lives and there had to be a process that dealt with the basis of it in Northern Ireland.\"\nThat had come about through the subsequent peace process, he said, beginning on the nationalist side in talks between Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and the leader of Northern Ireland's moderate nationalist SDLP party.\nBut former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who was an officer in the British army during the Troubles, demanded an apology from the Labour leader, claiming he had tried to place British troops \"like myself\" on \"an a equal par with terrorists blowing people up\".\n\"The troops were sent to Northern Ireland to uphold the peace. We were not sent to kill and maim indiscriminately. The IRA chose to bomb civilians indiscriminately… they did not care who they killed and maimed,\" said Mr Duncan Smith.\n\"To equate what they did with British soldiers that were trying to uphold the peace is outrageous and that is what he [Mr Corbyn] has never apologised for or explained himself.\"\nHe said that was why Mr Corbyn's \"judgement was so in question and that is why his disgraceful comments yesterday make him unfit to lead this great country of ours\".", "But the scandal has since embroiled the police in accusations that they have not been sufficiently robust in disciplining officers accused of trying to discredit the MP as part of a campaign to \"toxify\" his party.\nBBC News looks back at how the row unfolded.\nConservative MP Andrew Mitchell, then the government's chief whip, has a row with police officers who would not let him cycle through Downing Street's main gate.\nThe story is revealed in the Sun newspaper, which reports that he swore at the officers and called them \"plebs\" who should learn their place.\nMr Mitchell denies using the word \"plebs\" but apologises for being disrespectful.\nMr Mitchell says he wants to \"draw a line\" under the incident, telling reporters: \"I did not use the words that have been attributed to me.\"\nBut speculation about the exact words he did use continues. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urges him to explain \"fully and in detail his version of events\".\nA police log of the incident, appearing to confirm previous reports and contradict Mr Mitchell's position, is leaked to the Daily Telegraph.\nMr Mitchell remains in his job, but members of the Police Federation wear \"PC Pleb\" T-shirts at demonstrations against police funding cuts at the Conservative Party conference.\nThree local representatives of the Police Federation meet Mr Mitchell at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office for 45 minutes, telling reporters afterwards that he had still not disclosed the precise words he used in the incident.\nThey criticise him for implying that the Downing Street officers' accounts are not accurate. The chief whip has \"no option but to resign\", one representative concludes.\nDavid Cameron tells Parliament that what Mr Mitchell \"did and said\" was wrong, but since he had apologised and the officer involved had accepted his apology, he should be allowed to get on with his job.\nBut opposition leader Ed Miliband says that, despite the apology, Mr Mitchell is \"toast\".\nMr Mitchell resigns, claiming the \"damaging publicity\" means he can no longer do his job.\nIn his resignation letter to the PM, he writes: \"The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us.'\n\"It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology.\"\nA police constable with the diplomatic protection group is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and suspended from his duties in connection with accounts of the Downing Street incident.\nCCTV footage, broadcast on Channel 4 news, casts doubt on the police officers' version of events.\nThe police log said Mr Mitchell's use of a number of expletives had left members of the public looking on \"visibly shocked\". But the footage suggests that no-one other than the officers involved were within earshot.\nMr Mitchell says he has fallen victim to a \"stitch-up\".\nScotland Yard says it is opening an investigation into claims that an officer gave false evidence.\nMetropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe says: \"The allegations in relation to this case are extremely serious. For the avoidance of doubt, I am determined there will be a ruthless search for the truth - no matter where the truth takes us.\"\nIn the ensuing months, eight people are arrested and bailed under the investigation, codenamed Operation Alice, including five police officers.\nMr Mitchell launches libel action against the Sun over its reporting of the \"plebgate\" incident.\nA year after the original incident, former home secretary Jack Straw criticises the \"inordinate and unjustified\" length of time the investigation has taken.\nIndependent Police Complaints Commission deputy chair Deborah Glass says the IPCC disagrees with police chiefs' decision not to hold misconduct hearings on the three Federation officers involved in the October 2012 meeting with Mr Mitchell.\nThe IPCC releases a transcript of the meeting - from a recording made by Mr Mitchell - which shows that, while he admitted swearing, Mr Mitchell denied using the word \"pleb\" or insulting the police.\nHowever, after the meeting the three officers said he had refused to elaborate on what had happened and should resign.\nHome Secretary Theresa May says it would be \"quite wrong\" to take no action against those officers. The chief constables of their forces say they will welcome the opportunity to appear before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to explain why no action was taken against them.\nDavid Cameron says Mr Mitchell is \"owed an apology\" by police over the row.\nIt also emerges that an internal report which ultimately found no misconduct case to answer by the three officers who met Mr Mitchell at his constituency office had initially proposed disciplinary action.\nThe three officers, Ken MacKaill, Stuart Hinton and Chris Jones, apologise for their \"poor judgement\" in talking to the media following their meeting with Mr Mitchell. They say they did not \"plan or intend to mislead anyone about what occurred\".\nBut friends of Mr Mitchell tell the BBC the statement is \"a regrettable non-apology\".\nThe three Federation officers insist to the Home Affairs Select Committee that they do not owe Mr Mitchell an apology. They say they stand by their \"accurate\" account of the meeting and Mr Jones says he is \"not convinced we have done anything wrong\".\nBut the head of West Mercia Police tells the committee the handling of the affair was \"clumsy\" and the internal report and its recommendations should be independently reviewed.\nSir Hugh Orde, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, says the conduct of the three officers fell \"below that required\" and they should apologise.\nThree civilians and five police officers on bail over the plebgate affair are re-bailed to a date in late November.\nThe IPCC says it is conducting its own investigation into the conduct of the three Federation officers - Ken MacKaill, Stuart Hinton, and Chris Jones - saying there were \"procedural irregularities\" in the earlier internal police probe.\nIt also emerges that the trio will be called back before the Home Affairs Select Committee. Its chairman, Labour's Keith Vaz, says MPs were \"appalled\" by the officers' original evidence and that if they did not \"correct the record\" they would be in contempt of Parliament.\nStuart Hinton apologises to the the home affairs committee for an \"inadvertent error\" in his earlier evidence. He also says he regrets the \"distress\" felt by Mr Mitchell and his family during the whole saga. Chris Jones, also appearing before the committee, insists he did not mislead MPs over his disciplinary record.\nPC Keith Wallis is charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the incident in an email to his MP. But prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to show an officer in Downing Street lied in his account of what happened.\nSeparately, the Independent Police Complaints Commission says five members of the Metropolitan Police's Diplomatic Protection Group will face gross misconduct proceedings linked to the subsequent row, meaning they could lose their jobs. The BBC understands that the officer at the Downing Street gates on the night of the incident is not one of the five.\nPC Toby Rowland, the police officer who was on duty at Downing Street, says he is going to sue Mr Mitchell for libel over comments he made to the media following the incident.\nPC Keith Wallis appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the incident. He did not enter a plea.\nPC Keith Wallis admits misconduct.\nMetropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe meets Mr Mitchell to apologise for PC Keith Wallis's role in the affair.\nPC Keith Wallis is sentenced to 12 months in prison. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Sweeney said Wallis had been guilty of \"sustained, and in significant measure, devious misconduct which fell far below the standards expected of a police officer\".\nPCs Keith Wallis and James Glanville are sacked for gross misconduct. The Met said Mr Glanville was dismissed for passing information about the incident to the Sun newspaper.\nIt emerges that PC Toby Rowland is seeking up to £200,000 in damages from Mr Mitchell for suggesting he was not telling the truth about the September 2012 altercation by the Downing Street gates.\nIn documents submitted to the High Court, lawyers for PC Rowland justify the claim on the grounds that his reputation has been damaged by Mr Mitchell's remarks and he suffered \"great distress, humiliation and upset\".\nPC Gillian Weatherley is dismissed for gross misconduct by the Metropolitan Police over leaks to the press about the \"plebgate\" affair.\nPC Susan Johnson, a Metropolitan Police officer serving with the diplomatic protection group, is sacked for gross misconduct over the press leaks.\nA High Court ruling finds there was no proper final report prepared for the investigation into the three Police Federation officers who met Mr Mitchell. That probe was conducted by West Mercia Police but supervised by the IPCC.\nThe High Court also quashed the IPCC's decision to investigate the case itself. An IPCC spokesman said it \"welcomed\" the ruling that the decisions of the three police forces had been \"invalid\" and said it would make a \"fresh assessment\" of the case.\nThe IPCC again says it is to investigate three Police Federation officers over the \"plebgate\" affair, having re-assessed the case.\nThe libel trial involving Mr Mitchell and former PC Toby Rowland gets under way in the High Court in London. Lawyers for Mr Mitchell tell the court that the police spun a \"web of lies\" that led to a \"vitriolic\" campaign against their client.\nMusician and aid campaigner Sir Bob Geldof is cited as a character witness for Mr Mitchell, a former international development secretary. In a written statement submitted to the court, Sir Bob describes Mr Mitchell as a \"good man\" and \"an advocate for the less fortunate\", adding that he had never heard him \"use the ridiculous and archaic expression 'pleb'\".\nA former police officer who was on duty during the \"plebgate\" incident denies wishing to harm Mr Mitchell or the government. Gillian Weatherley, who was sacked over leaks of alleged details of the row, tells the court that text messages she sent suggesting she could \"topple the Tory government\" were meant to be sarcastic.\nA police officer who accompanied Mr Mitchell on two foreign trips says the former cabinet minister was \"unpleasant until he got what he wanted\". Insp Duncan Johnston, who travelled with the then international development secretary in 2011, tells the court Mr Mitchell would \"erupt\" but later be charming. Separately, two former Conservative whips state in written evidence that Mr Mitchell had been unable to recall the exact words he had used in the days and weeks after the event.\nFormer government chief whip Andrew Mitchell loses his High Court libel action. Mr Mitchell had sued News Group Newspapers over the story in the Sun in 2012 which claimed he called PC Toby Rowland a \"pleb\". Mr Mitchell acknowledged that he had used bad language but maintained he had not used that word. Delivering his ruling, Mr Justice Mitting said he was satisfied that the MP did say the word \"pleb\"", "Like the wizard, Crosby is a shadowy figure, and some people say he is not all he is cracked up to be - after all, the last time he fought a general election for the Tories, they lost.\nBut he has had his notable successes, too, both in his home country of Australia, and most recently running a successful re-election campaign for Mayor of London Boris Johnson.\nLynton Crosby was born 55 years ago on a farm in rural South Australia. His father was not a natural farmer - he was musical and artistic - and soon he moved the family to the nearby town of Kadina, where he set up an arts and crafts shop.\nBy all accounts, Crosby had a very happy - and quite indulged - childhood.\n\"Mum and Dad adored him. They did anything for him,\" says Robyn Hewett - one of his two older sisters.\n\"At primary school, he loved debating. He was easy-going and friendly and he just used to love putting on plays and performing in the shed to other children. And very academic, I guess you'd say.\"\nNothing was too much when it came to looking after the young Lynton. When he got into Adelaide University to read economics, his parents moved to the city to be near him. And, although they were not particularly political, like most rural folk, they were instinctive supporters of the Liberals - Australia's conservative party.\nPerhaps then it was not too surprising that after a spell working in the private sector, Crosby moved into Liberal politics - and fell in love with it.\nHe was not much good as a candidate though. As he puts it, he managed to turn a marginal seat into a safe Labour one and later admitted \"with hindsight, I wouldn't have voted for me.\"\nInstead Lynton Crosby switched to the backroom, ending up as campaign director for Australia's Liberal Prime Minister John Howard.\n\"I think he's a very professional political campaigner. He's just interested in making sure that the party he supports wins,\" Mr Howard told BBC Radio 4's Profile.\n\"As a party leader of long-time standing, I can only say that's exactly the sort of mentality you want from somebody who is your principal campaign manager.\"\nCrosby managed to win four consecutive elections for John Howard, but critics claimed he used some dubious tactics: so called \"dog-whistle\" campaigns that appealed to people's basest instincts on crime and immigration - and \"wedge\" issues, which force the opposition to defend an unpopular policy.\n\"His company's website describes him, with a certain amount of pride, I think, as a 'master of the dark arts of politics,'\" says Cheryl Kernot, a former Australian Senator who has been on the receiving end of several of Crosby's campaigns.\n\"I remember most vividly the 10 years that he was masterminding conservative campaigns here, and the focus on refugees and asylum seekers, and the exploitation of basic instincts of fear of difference, and latent prejudice,\" Kernot recalls.\n\"There's nothing grubby about Lynton,\" counters John Howard.\n\"He's a tough campaigner. He's no more or less ruthless than any other effective campaigner. And this wedge nonsense [is] the bleating of people who didn't like the Liberal Party winning in Australia.\"\nHowever, similar criticisms were levelled at Crosby when he came over to Britain to help Michael Howard's Conservatives in the 2005 campaign.\nDaniel Finkelstein, now a Times columnist, then working for the Tory Party, was the man who first introduced Lynton Crosby to then Conservative leader Michael Howard.\n\"They immediately hit it off. Both of them are very obsessive about politics... I think Michael appreciated Lynton's ability to pick issues because that's the way that Michael thinks,\" Finkelstein says.\nCrosby certainly brought focus and discipline to the Conservative campaign and he raised morale among party workers by awarding prizes every day for the best press release.\nBut slogans like: \"How would you feel if a bloke on early release attacked your daughter?\" were blamed for giving the Tories the reputation of the \"nasty party\". Conservative ads also had dog-whistle messages like \"are you thinking what we're thinking?\"\nHowever, Crosby's fans - and there are plenty of them - claim that while his ads may be brutal, the man is far from uncivilised.\n\"The one thing that I think would be a mistake is to think of Lynton Crosby as a sort of crude, ball-busting Australian outsider. He is not an intellectually unsophisticated, crude campaigning person at all. He's a pretty clever guy,\" says Daniel Finkelstein.\nWhen the Conservatives lost the 2005 election, Crosby said he had come in too late: \"You can't fatten a pig on market day,\" he said - but he left enough admirers here in Britain for Boris Johnson to recall him for the 2008 London mayoral campaign.\nLondon is naturally a Labour city, so it took some political acumen to persuade voters to elect a Tory mayor two terms in a row.\nCrosby imposed discipline on Johnson, demanding that he take himself more seriously, and concentrate not just on his pet projects, but on issues that voters actually cared about - and he did not shy from telling truth to power.\n\"I remember once, it was the end of a very long day, I was absolutely exhausted and I had to give a speech to a bunch of Conservative councillors - this was the 2007/2008 campaign,\" recalls Boris Johnson.\n\"I was at the end of my tether - barely knew what I was talking about and I thought I'd done more or less a good job with these guys and got through it in one piece.\n\"I tottered out of the room and my phone buzzed with a text. It said 'crap speech, mate' - and that was very much his approach to candidate management.\"\nLynton Crosby is known for his earthy language, but his candid approach worked on Boris Johnson.\nFind out more about the people making the headlines on Radio 4's Profile\nDownload Radio 4's Profile\nListen to the profile of Lynton Crosby\nExplore the best of Radio 4's Profile\nBut Ken Livingstone - Boris Johnson's Labour opponent in both 2008 and 2012 - still feels sore about what he says was the negative personal campaigning Crosby masterminded against him.\n\"There was almost never a time when Boris was launching some great new idea or anything else like that. It was just a pretty unremitting series of personal attacks and negative campaigning,\" says Livingston.\nIt certainly worked, though. When Boris Johnson won again in London earlier this year, he told David Cameron that Crosby was just the man to help the Tories fight the next general election campaign and that he should \"break the piggy bank\" to hire him.\nAlthough the recent appointment was not met with universal acclaim. Tory modernisers fear that Crosby will pander to the core vote, using issues like immigration and crime.\nDaniel Finkelstein, himself a moderniser, thinks this is too simplistic a reading:\n\"I don't think he'll take the party away from the strategy the leader of the party wants to follow, providing David Cameron is clear enough about what that is. I think he will turn that into a disciplined strategy.\"\nLabour and the Liberal Democrats will now be studying Crosby's techniques and working out their own defence against his dark arts.\n\"I had no doubt from the moment I lost to Boris this time round that Lynton Crosby would be brought in to run Cameron's re-election campaign,\" says Ken Livingstone.\n\"For Crosby to have been able to deliver a Tory victory in London when they were losing everything everywhere else is an endorsement, effectively.\n\"And I remember saying to Ed Miliband throughout our campaign, 'you know, really follow this one closely, because this is what you will be up against'.\"\nListen again to Radio 4's Profile of Lynton Crosby via the Radio 4 website or Profile podcast.", "The Liberal Democrat leader said Tory MPs could not \"force a turbo-charged right-wing agenda on the country\".\nThe party has threatened to veto \"Conservative spending cuts\" if some form of \"wealth tax\" is not adopted at the coalition's next spending review.\nBut in a speech to the Lib Dem conference, Mr Clegg urged supporters against \"squabbling\" with the Tories.\nHalf-way through the intended life of the coalition, the deputy prime minister is under pressure, with his party activists showing unrest and opinion poll ratings remaining low.\nMembers are unhappy that the coalition has abandoned the Lib Dems' long-cherished ambition of reforming the House of Lords, amid strong Conservative opposition.\nAnd earlier this week Mr Clegg apologised for failing to keep the pre-2010 general election promise not to raise student tuition fees.\nDuring the five-day annual conference in Brighton, Mr Clegg is keen to promote the Lib Dems as a party of \"fairness\" when it comes to taxation. One of the key themes is the promise to push for a \"wealth tax\".\nIt is already Lib Dem policy to levy a 1% \"mansion tax\" on owners of expensive homes, starting at a threshold of £2m, and officials are looking at developing another proposal along these lines.\nBy Robin BrantPolitical Correspondent, BBC News\nNick Clegg has got two jobs on his hands: to persuade Lib Dems he is still their man and to persuade voters that his party is still an influential part of the coalition.\nHe urged his supporters to show people that a coalition \"works well for people\", knowing that another version of it is a possibility after 2015.\nThere were the also predictable, but necessary for any leader, attacks: on Labour, whom he said had a lot to apologise for (read into that 'It's not just me who has things to say sorry for'), and on Conservatives, some of whom were pushing a \"turbo-charged right-wing agenda\" (meaning the Lib Dems are agents of restraint).\nHe also touched on the discipline needed to keep the coalition together, but was there a hint of a leader facing internal dissent?\nOpinion polls have suggested support has plummeted. Mr Clegg knows there are some here who are questioning his leadership. Discipline could keep him in his job.\nA spokesman said the party would refuse to sanction further cuts at the next spending review, expected to happen in 2014, unless some form of wealth tax was adopted by the coalition.\nMr Clegg said: \"It's just wrong that people on low and middle incomes who work hard and play by the rules are taxed so much while Russian oligarchs pay the same council tax as some of you do on a family home.\"\nHowever, the Conservatives oppose the mansion tax, arguing that it is unfair and would hit many homeowners hard.\nIn his speech to the conference's opening rally, Mr Clegg told delegates not to lose heart, saying: \"We are proving that coalition works. But we need discipline. Yes, we must show people that we are different from our coalition partners.\n\"But if all people see is squabbling then they will think coalition is a messy, incoherent thing.\"\nHe also said: \"We must show [people] it is a form of government that works well for them. If we don't we will have lost not only the argument for having Liberal Democrats in power but having a third party at all.\"\nMr Clegg set party activists a target of distributing three million leaflets setting out the \"fairer\" tax agenda by the end of the year, asking them to \"do your bit the old-fashioned way\".\nThe Lib Dems and the Conservatives are committed to working together until the end of this parliament, in 2015.\nBut Mr Clegg criticised the attitude of some of his coalition partners, saying: \"My message to those Conservative backbench MPs who seem to think they have the right to force a turbo-charged right-wing agenda on our country is this: You didn't win the last election.\n\"You do not have a majority. The British people have not given you the right to act like you do. We formed this coalition in good faith and for the good of the country at a time of crisis.\n\"That required compromise on both sides. Liberal Democrats have kept our side of the bargain. You must too.\"\nIn recent weeks there has been speculation that the Lib Dems could do a deal with Labour in the event of another hung parliament. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has demonstrated some warmth towards the wealth tax idea.\nIn an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes refused to rule out a coalition with Labour.\nYet Mr Clegg used his speech to attack the main opposition party, telling delegates: \"Labour have had a lot of fun at my expense in recent days because of the apology I made. There are some pretty big things I think people would like to hear them apologise for.\n\"How about a personal apology from you, Ed Balls, for nearly bankrupting the country after you went on a prawn cocktail charm offensive in the City of London to let the banks off the hook? And how about, Ed Miliband, an apology, on behalf of your party, for dragging our country into an unjust and illegal war in Iraq?\"\nBut he also urged Labour: \"Tell us who you are. Tell the country what you are for, not just what you are against.\"\nA Lib Dem party spokesman denied this was an overture to Mr Miliband and his Labour frontbench team ahead of potential coalition-building.\nHe told the BBC the Lib Dems were \"fiercely independent\", adding: \"We are not part of the blue or the red party. We are an independent yellow party.\"\nIn his speech Mr Clegg announced that Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander would take over the party's review of how to replace Trident, the UK's nuclear weapons system.\nThis follows the removal of Lib Dem defence minister Nick Harvey from the government in the recent reshuffle.", "He will now start forming a minority government, after the Queen's approval.\nBut in a fiery Senedd session, Plaid leader Leanne Wood said her party would vote against Labour again if needed, accusing it of \"bullying\" behaviour.\nUKIP's Neil Hamilton also sparked a row calling her and Lib Dem Kirsty Williams Mr Jones's \"political concubines\".\nThe comments came after Mr Jones outlined his plans.\nHe told AMs there would be legislation on public health, additional learning needs and on smacking.\nBut he said legislation would not be brought forward in the first 100 days so that AMs could establish a new, more collaborative way of law-making.\nThe Welsh people wanted Labour to proceed with \"caution and humility\", he told the assembly.\nMr Jones added his government's priorities would reflect \"the successful result for Welsh Labour in the May election, and subsequent discussions with the main opposition party, Plaid Cymru\".\nLabour's main aims include a \"relentless focus on securing a successful and sustainable future for our steel industry\", and Mr Jones pledged ministers would \"campaign vociferously for a Remain vote\" in June's EU referendum.\nHe said Labour would then bring forward \"a new Public Health Bill, an Additional Learning Needs Bill, and we will take forward, on a cross-party basis, legislation that will remove the defence of reasonable chastisement [of children]\" and \"seek to amend the current Welsh language measure\".\nBut Ms Wood issued a warning to Labour not to expect an easy ride over the next five years after Plaid became the official opposition.\n\"Today is not about coalition,\" she said. \"Today's is a one off vote to allow Labour's nomination to go through.\n\"And if that party thinks their bullying last week will stop Plaid Cymru from voting in a similar way in the future to hold you to account, then think again.\"\nMs Wood also refused to apologise for challenging Mr Jones for the first minister post which led to a tied vote and deadlock,\n\"I'm not sorry for what happened last week and I will do it again if I have to make Labour realise they are running a minority government,\" she added.\nMeanwhile, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies urged Mr Jones to clarify where he stood on controversial plans for an M4 relief road around Newport, improving the NHS and reducing the number of local councils.\n\"We will from the benches here hold you to account, on each and every corner that you try and turn\", Mr Davies said.\n\"But we will also seek to be constructive in the way we engage and debate on the points that need to be brought forward.\"\nAny suggestion that there would be a cosying up between Labour and Plaid came to an abrupt end when Leanne Wood wasted no time in laying into Carwyn Jones.\nYou would never have guessed that the two parties had been working closely together over the past few days on a deal when she described Labour as complacent, arrogant and having a sense of entitlement.\nOne AM described it to me after as being close to a declaration of war, and something that caused genuine surprise among Labour and Conservative ranks.\nThe inevitable question is how long the Labour-Plaid deal is likely to last in the light of Leanne Wood's tone.\nThrow into the mix Neil Hamilton's description of Leanne Wood and Kirsty Williams as \"concubines\", and all round we were left with a spiky first session that kept us all guessing.", "Rather than rebuilding trust with the Jewish community, Mr Corbyn caused \"greater concern\", Ephraim Mirvis said.\nDuring his speech, Mr Corbyn said Jews were \"no more responsible\" for Israel's actions than Muslims were for \"those various self-styled Islamic states\".\nMr Corbyn later denied he was comparing Israel and so-called Islamic State.\nIt comes as MP Angela Eagle, who resigned from the shadow cabinet earlier this week, indicated she may challenge Jeremy Corbyn to a leadership contest.\nMr Corbyn had been speaking at an event to report on an inquiry set up following the suspension of MP Naz Shah and ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone amid claims of anti-Semitism.\nThe party would not tolerate racism of any kind, he said.\nHowever, former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks added his voice to the complaint that Mr Corbyn appeared to compare the state of Israel to so-called Islamic State (IS), calling it \"demonisation of the highest order, an outrage and unacceptable\".\nThe comments showed \"how deep the sickness is in parts of the left of British politics today\", he said in a statement.\nHe said IS was \"a terrorist entity whose barbarities have been condemned by all those who value our common humanity. In the current political climate, when hate crimes are rising and political rhetoric is increasingly divisive, this is all the more shocking.\"\nMr Corbyn had said: \"Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu government than our Muslim friends are for those various self-styled Islamic states or organisations.\"\nWhen later asked if he was comparing Israel to a terrorist group, Mr Corbyn said: \"No, no of course I'm not. The point in the report is that you shouldn't say to somebody just because they're Jewish, you must have an opinion on Israel. Any more than you say to anyone who is a Muslim you must have an opinion on any vile action that's been taken by misquoting the good name of Islam. I just ask people to be respectful and inclusive in their debate.\"\nShadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry later phoned the Israeli Ambassador in London to apologise for any offence caused by Mr Corbyn's remarks. A source close to Ms Thornberry said Ambassador Mark Regev \"had no issue with the speech\".\nBut a spokesman for Mr Regev said he had \"welcomed Emily Thornberry's unequivocal apology following Jeremy Corbyn's unacceptable remarks\" and said reports that he had no problem with the speech were \"erroneous\".\nMeanwhile, Labour MP Ruth Smeeth called for Mr Corbyn to \"resign immediately\", claiming he failed to intervene when \"anti-Semitic slurs\" were directed towards her in front of him at the event.\nMs Smeeth, who is Jewish, walked out of the press conference after comments by one of the leader's grassroots supporters which she said suggested she was in collusion with the right-wing media.\nAfter the event, she released a statement saying his failure to intervene showed a \"catastrophic failure of leadership\", and added her voice to the chorus of Labour MPs calling for their leader to resign.\n\"It is beyond belief that someone could come to the launch of a report on anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and espouse such vile conspiracy theories about Jewish people, which were ironically highlighted as such in Ms Chakrabarti's report, while the leader of my own party stood by and did absolutely nothing,\" she said.\nShe said she had previously made no comment on his leadership, she but felt \"a Labour Party under his stewardship cannot be a safe space for British Jews\".\nA Labour Party spokesman said: \"All allegations of anti-semitism are taken very seriously by the Labour Party and that is why Jeremy asked Shami Chakrabarti to produce her report the conclusions of which we will consider carefully.\"\nAt the event, Ms Chakrabarti, the chairwoman of Labour's inquiry into anti-Semitism, had said the Labour Party was not overrun by anti-Semitism or other forms of racism but there was an \"occasionally toxic atmosphere\".\nBut she said there was \"too much clear evidence... of ignorant attitudes\".\nMs Chakrabarti's inquiry has made 20 recommendations but she said she does not approve of lifetime bans for party members.\nMr Corbyn said he put his weight behind the inquiry's \"immediate implementation\".\nHe called for an end to Hitler and Nazi metaphors and comparisons between different human rights atrocities.\n\"Diluting degrees of evil does no good,\" Mr Corbyn said.\n\"Racism is racism is racism. There is no hierarchy, no acceptable form of it,\" he said.\nRecommendations made by the inquiry include:\nMs Shah, the MP for Bradford West, was suspended after social media posts emerged in which she suggested Israel should be moved to the United States.\nMr Livingstone was then suspended after claiming Hitler supported Zionism, as he tried to defend Ms Shah.\nNo update on these cases were given as Ms Chakrabarti said due process must be followed.\nWhat's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?\nQ&A: Labour anti-Semitism row", "Ruth Davidson and Nicola Sturgeon both demanded apologies from each other while trading blows in parliament.\nThe government has applied for an extension to the deadline for delivering EU subsidies to farmers.\nTory leader Ms Davidson said the first minister had \"refused\" to tell MSPs the truth about talks with the European Commission about Friday's deadline.\nHowever Ms Sturgeon insisted she had been clear - and said the Conservatives should \"apologise to the people of Scotland\" for not securing extra funding in the confidence and supply deal with the DUP at Westminster.\nRural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing has confirmed that the government is set to \"fall short\" of its target of having 95% of Common Agricultural Policy payments completed by midnight on Friday.\nThe Scottish government has applied for an extension to the deadline, and could face financial penalties if this is not granted as it forecasts of having only 90% of payments made in time. The European Commission is yet to respond.\nAn extension was granted in 2016, after problems with a new £178m IT system - something which Audit Scotland says still presents \"significant risks and costs for the Scottish government\".\nMs Sturgeon has apologised to farmers for \"failures\" in the system, but has come under fire from the Scottish Conservatives after details about the latest application emerged only after the first minister was pressed on the matter at Holyrood.\nMs Davidson said: \"Last week I asked the First Minister three times whether her government had contacted the European Commission to seek an extension to the deadline on farm payments and three times she refused to answer.\n\"There is a reason why I'm raising this again today, it's because there is a principle at stake about the conduct of ministers in this parliament and about the transparency of this government.\n\"I asked the first minister a simple question in this chamber last week and she refused to tell this parliament what she knew to be the truth.\"\nMs Sturgeon replied: \"Last week I said we were discussing with the European Commission contingencies around this issue - that is exactly what we we're doing. It is what we continue to do.\n\"Seeking an extension in case we require that extension is exactly that - a contingency.\"\nContinuing her attack, Ms Davidson said it took journalists contacting the European Commission for the \"facts to come out\".\nShe said: \"Last week the first minister had to apologise to farmers over messing up their payments again. But now she owes the parliament an apology for not being straight about it.\"\nMs Sturgeon shot back that it was the Conservatives who should apologise, over her government's claim that Scotland is due extra funding in light of the Tory-DUP deal at Westminster, and over the latest round of votes on amendments to the Queen's speech.\nShe said: \"I think there is an apology due to the people of Scotland this week and it is an apology from Ruth Davidson for allowing her MPs in Westminster to do two things.\n\"Firstly, allowing them to sit back while Scotland was denied the same extra funding that went to Northern Ireland and secondly an apology for being the MPs in the House of Commons last night that voted to block a pay rise for public-sector workers. Perhaps that is the apology people in Scotland want to see.\"\nElsewhere in the session, Labour leader Kezia Dugdale focused on education, citing figures from the Scottish Parliament's information centre showing reduced spending per pupil in Scottish schools.\nShe said schools needed \"cold, hard cash\", adding: \"Until the first minister commits more funding to our schools using the powers of this Parliament, her promise that education is her top priority is utterly meaningless.\"\nThe first minister said Ms Dugdale was \"downright wrong\" about school funding, citing the £750m attainment fund and £120m going directly to head teachers.\nShe said: \"This government is taking tough action to reform our education system, to get more powers into the hands of headteachers and teachers and, crucially, to get more resources into their hands.\"\nGreen co-convener Patrick Harvie led his questions on poverty, urging the first minister to \"be bold\" and keep the door open to using Holyrood's powers to top-up child benefit.\nMs Sturgeon said the Child Poverty Bill would be bold, aid said \"the door is not closed to anything that's being suggested\".\nLib Dem leader Willie Rennie listed issues facing the Scottish government, including the CAP payment delays, concerns the economy could slip into recession and problems facing police and nurses.\nMs Sturgeon responded: \"That proves that Willie Rennie lives in a wee world of his own most of the time. Sometimes it sounds like quite a fun one, so maybe I will join it one day and take some of whatever he is on.\"\nThe Scottish Parliament has now gone into recess for the summer, with MSPs returning to Holyrood in September.", "The Commons Members Estimate Committee has approved an annual budget of £25,000 to help MPs with mental health problems access treatment.\nIt is hard for MPs to access mental health services in their constituencies because of \"their profile in the community\", the committee said.\nThe arrangement was not \"preferential treatment\", Labour MP Kevan Jones said.\nMr Jones, the MP for North Durham, said: \"It's not easy for MPs to go to their own GP to talk about issues such as depression or anxiety. I welcome this decision from the Members Estimate Committee to help remedy this situation.\n\"This is not about preferential treatment. It's about giving MPs the opportunity to find solutions here in Westminster and have access to the types of services available to their constituents.\"\nThe committee said MPs were \"often unwilling\" to seek treatment in their constituencies because of \"their frequent contact with local healthcare commissioners\".\nUnder the plans, doctors will be contracted to work at the House of Commons.\nIn a Commons debate in June 2012 on mental health, Mr Jones told MPs he had suffered from \"quite a deep depression related to work issues\" in 1996.\nHe said he had \"thought very long and hard\" about whether to speak publicly about the matter.\n\"Like a lot of men, you try and deal with it yourself. You don't talk to people. I just hope you realise, Mr Speaker, what I'm saying is very difficult right now.\"\nAnother MP taking part in the debate, the Conservatives' Charles Walker, said he was a \"practising fruitcake\" as he described how he had lived with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for more than 30 years.\nThe pair earned praise from charities for their \"historic\" speeches.\nSpokesman for the committee and Lib Dem MP John Thurso said: \"All conscientious employers want to help those with mental health issues and often assistance in accessing help is the first vital step.\n\"Being an MP is a privilege but brings particular stresses as we heard in the debate in June. It is therefore appropriate for us to take this initiative to assist members to access the help they need.\"\nIn a separate development, a Private Member's Bill that will end a ban on people who have had serious mental health problems being MPs completed its passage through Parliament on Monday.\nCurrently, MPs detained under the Mental Health Act for more than six months are stripped of their seat.\nTory MP Gavin Barwell, whose Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill won government backing, told the Commons in September 2012: \"The current law is both discriminatory and an ass.\"\nHe said: \"My bill's purpose is very simple: to tackle the last legal form of discrimination in our society. To our shame the law of the land still discriminates against those with a mental health condition.\n\"An MP or a company director can be removed from their job because of mental ill health even if they go on to make a full recovery.\"\nThe legislation will now go for royal assent, and the provisions relating to MPs will come into force within two months.", "Kerry Smith was selected for the South Basildon and Thurrock seat this week, after former Tory MP Neil Hamilton pulled out of the contest.\nIn a recording obtained by the Mail On Sunday, he is heard making offensive remarks about gay people, other UKIP members and Chigwell in Essex.\nHe later issued a \"wholehearted and unreserved apology\".\nUKIP said the phone call was made some time ago, when Mr Smith had been prescribed sedatives after an injury.\nDuring the recorded conversation, Mr Smith talks about UKIP's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group and he can be heard jokingly referring to it as BLT UKIP, and adds \"what the old poofter groups call themselves\".\nHe jokes about \"shooting peasants\" from the Essex town of Chigwell and supporting \"a peasant's hunt through Chigwell village\".\nLast week Mr Smith was chosen as UKIP's candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock, a seat in which the party hopes to make a serious challenge.\nA UKIP spokesman confirmed to the BBC that Mr Smith had apologised to the party's leader Nigel Farage for allegations made against him during the phone call - which Mr Smith has since retracted.\nPatrick O'Flynn, UKIP MEP for the East of England, told BBC One's Sunday Politics that the phone call had been made \"some time ago while he was on sedatives\" and he had not been \"speaking and thinking rationally\".\nHe said the party's candidates had to \"watch how to express themselves\" adding: \"What many people call political correctness is often just politeness and using derogatory terminology, pejorative slang is not right at this level of politics and you shouldn't do it.\"\nHe said Mr Smith was not homophobic but needed to \"learn to express himself more respectfully about minorities of all kinds\".\nHe pointed out that this week other parties had suffered gaffes by members - with Labour MP Frank Doran apologising for suggesting the post of fisheries minister was not a \"job for a woman\", while Conservative peer Baroness Jenkin of Kennington apologised for saying \"poor people don't know how to cook\".\n\"The hand grenades are rolling down the corridor. We're still way up in the polls, we've had a fantastic year, we've won two by-elections.\"\n\"He's a young man he's learning politics - we also have to have a balance, we don't want to become so anodyne speaking in such non-colloquial language that we lose touch, and I think some other parties risk doing that.\n\"But clearly what he has said there is unacceptable - he's apologised unreservedly there. There are big mitigating circumstances here, it was from some time ago, and so we are willing to judge him on his performance from now on.\"\nIn a statement made by a UKIP spokesman on his behalf, Mr Smith said: \"I wish to issue a wholehearted and unreserved apology to those who I have offended within the party and anyone else.\n\"With regards to the leadership and management of the party I was completely wrong and my comments were fuelled by frustrations.\"\nFormer Conservative MP Neil Hamilton pulled out of the selection contest for South Basildon and East Thurrock after a letter from UKIP's finance committee was leaked to Channel 4 News querying Mr Hamilton's expenses claims for the party.\nThe former MP has suggested there is a \"dirty tricks\" campaign against him.\nA report in the Financial Times said party officials were accusing one of its biggest funders of trying to pressure them into accepting Mr Hamilton's candidacy. He previously pulled out of another selection process, in Boston and Skegness.", "Labour committee members voted to ensure a Plaid Cymru proposal to call her to discuss her concerns about the Welsh NHS was rejected.\nOpposition AMs called their action \"outrageous\", \"cynical\" and \"disgraceful\". But Labour said it was \"constitutionally inappropriate\" for the committee to interview backbench MPs on devolved matters.\nLast week, First Minister Carwyn Jones said Ms Clwyd had \"no evidence\" to back up her criticisms of the service.\nHe said material provided by Ms Clwyd had not enabled it or the NHS to investigate her allegations of poor care.\nBut she has insisted she provided Mr Jones with a comprehensive summary of complaints raised about Welsh hospitals while she was leading a UK government-commissioned inquiry on how NHS hospitals in England handle complaints.\nDavid Cameron asked the Cynon Valley MP to lead the investigation after she said her husband spent 27 hours on a trolley before dying in 2012.\nOn Wednesday, after Labour AMs' successful move to prevent Ms Clwyd being given the chance to be scrutinised by the health committee in Cardiff Bay, Plaid Cymru accused the governing party of \"shutting down debate\".\nPlaid health spokeswoman Elin Jones said: \"It is outrageous that a Labour block vote has shut down the opportunity for the committee to scrutinise this work.\n\"Ann Clwyd has gained valuable information on the Welsh NHS from a patient perspective from the work that she has done.\nBy Adrian BrowneBBC Wales political reporter\nFrankly, Labour probably thought it couldn't win on this one.\nIf it agreed to Ann Clwyd appearing before the committee that would provide damaging media soundbites on the state of the Welsh NHS, based on evidence the first minster disputes.\nBy blocking the appearance, Labour now faces accusations it is gagging a senior MP from its own party who has longstanding involvement in and knowledge of NHS matters, and who has attracted huge public sympathy since reporting her husband spent 27 hours on a hospital trolley before his death in 2012 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.\nThe \"constitutionally inappropriate\" argument, that backbench MPs should not appear before an assembly committees to discuss devolved matters, is an interesting one, which has come as news to many of us who've been watching assembly matters since its creation.\nThe assembly's standing orders, the rules it operates under, say: \"Committees may invite any person to attend meetings for the purpose of giving evidence, or providing advice, and may invite any such person or body to submit evidence and produce documents.\"\nMost people outside the Cardiff Bay bubble probably won't care too much about that.\nThe bottom line for many will be that Ms Clwyd is a figure who has been at the heart of a furious debate over the standard of care provided by the Welsh NHS recently.\nIf she has limited or no evidence to back up her claims, then Labour AMs on the health committee would have had the chance to expose this, had Ms Clwyd appeared before them.\nHowever, Labour might feel an overwhelmingly hostile, and the party would say inaccurate, media narrative has developed on the performance of the Welsh NHS, and Ms Clwyd's appearance would have been reported to fit within that narrative, regardless.\n\"This could have been an important opportunity to share her conclusions and would have allowed the committee to scrutinise her work in terms of the information that she has gathered from Welsh patients.\"\nConservatives accused Labour of putting \"narrow party political interests\" before \"getting to the bottom of the problems in the Welsh NHS\".\nShadow Health Minister Darren Millar said: \"Inviting Ann Clwyd to give evidence to the assembly would provide AMs with an opportunity to hear her valuable insight into hospital death rates, along with the experiences of patients whose evidence she has received.\n\"The Labour Party is closing ranks and trying to shut down scrutiny of its disastrous handling of the Welsh NHS, which has seen dangerously high death rates, emergency and waiting time targets missed regularly, and cancer medicines denied to patients.\n\"This is a cynical attempt by Labour politicians to brush evidence about underperformance and failure in the Welsh NHS under the carpet.\"\nWelsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said it was \"disgraceful\" that Labour AMs would \"refuse to listen to Ann Clwyd's concerns\".\nShe said: \"Welsh Labour need to stop taking Ms Clwyd's criticisms personally and should instead pledge to improve our struggling health service.\n\"The contrast in responses to Ann Clwyd's harrowing story couldn't be starker.\n\"While the UK coalition asked her to lead an inquiry, the Welsh Labour government, who were responsible for her husband's care, instead stick their collective heads in the sand.\"\nLabour AM and health committee member Leighton Andrews said: \"Ann Clwyd is in contact with the first minister and the health minister [Mark Drakeford] and has provided them with the information she has to hand.\n\"As Ann herself has stated, most of the information she has collated relates to England and the info relating to Wales is anonymised and absent of detail.\n\"Ann Clwyd was asked by the prime minister to look at NHS complaints in England - her remit did not extend to Wales.\n\"Opposition members are fully aware that it would be constitutionally inappropriate for the health committee to interview backbench MPs on their views around devolved matters - just as we wouldn't expect backbench AMs to be giving evidence to select committees in Parliament.\n\"Rather than trying to manufacture rows in this way, the opposition focus should be on using the committee's time to make sure the NHS is delivering the best possible care for the whole of Wales.\"", "Petra Jones, 49, from Anglesey, suffered with depression for 10 years and had a personality disorder.\nShe was treated at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's Hergest mental health unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd.\nThe health board said it could not comment on individual cases.\nHer daughter, Ffion Jones, told BBC Radio Cymru's Manylu programme: \"I know this won't bring mum back, but we know this has happened to a lot of families - the same situation.\n\"So we've made a complaint so it doesn't happen again in the future and to get a bit more help for families.\n\"When they tell them what a family member has told them - it should be taken a bit more seriously.\"\nShe said her mother tried to harm herself and took an overdose on several occasions as her condition deteriorated over the years.\nMrs Jones was admitted to Hergest several times and the family said they wanted her sectioned but she was released.\nThe last time came in April 2015.\nFfion Jones said: \"My mother told me over the phone that once she was home she'd go to the garage and kill herself.\n\"I phoned Hergest and told this to one of the staff and she said 'well, I understand your concern but the psychiatrist will say whether or not she's allowed to go home'.\n\"An hour later Hergest phoned again to say mum was on her way home. I was a little bit angry about this because she'd been allowed to go home by herself.\"\nA few hours later Petra Jones was found dead in the garage at her home.\nFfion Jones has filed her complaint with the community health council, and Manylu has spoken to other families who have raised concerns about mental health care in north Wales.\nAnd earlier this year, north west Wales coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones told an inquest he had 15 cases of men killing themselves over the recent months, \"many of them with a link to Hergest\".\nClwyd West Conservative AM Darren Miller said there were two problems.\n\"The first is a lack of strong leadership and shortcomings in management, and the second is there are not enough beds in north Wales and not enough staff either,\" he said.\nThe health board said mental health services had been radically restructured over the last 12 months and it took feedback from patients \"extremely seriously\".\nA spokesman added: \"We are fully focused on improving the way mental health services are delivered across north Wales.\"" ]

[ "It's Rakuen Tsuihou: Expelled from Paradise, a 2014 movie. Genres: action, mecha, sci-fi.\n\nMovie poster and the girl's \"data\":\n\n \n\nDescription from MyAnimeList:\n\n\n With Earth now left in ruins following the \"Nano Hazard,\" most of\n humanity has abandoned the planet they once called home along with\n their physical bodies and rebuilt their digitalized minds into a\n society within the cyber universe of \"DEVA.\"\n \n A.D. 2400, DEVA's central council detects an incident of unauthorized\n access into their mainframe. Someone on Earth was trying to hack into\n the system. The only information DEVA was able to retrieve was that\n the hacker referred to themselves as \"Frontier Setter.\"\n \n To investigate the mysterious hacker's motives, the high officials of\n DEVA dispatch System Security Third Officer Angela Balzac to the\n Earth's surface. Equipped with a prosthetic \"material body,\" Angela\n attempts to make contact with a local agent Dingo, but what awaited\n her instead was a swarm of Sandworms now infesting the Earth's\n surface. Angela intercepts the gruesome pests with her exoskeletal\n powered suit Arhan.\n \n Will Angela and Dingo be able to find Frontier Setter on this\n devastated planet?\n \n Their journey to explore the secrets of the world will begin now...!" ]

[ "I think you're looking for Junichi Hayama. He was the animation director for episodes 5 and 10 of Shin Sekai Yori as well as on staff for the other 2 shows you've listed. Some of his other works fall into the same characteristics you listed.\n\nYou can see some of his art from a Google image search\n\nAmong other works:\n\n\nAfro Samurai: Resurrection (movie) : Key Animation\nBe-Bop-Highschool (OAV) : Character Design, Animation Director\n(The) Big O (TV) : Animation Director (ep 21)\nCasshern Sins (TV) : Animation Director (eps 10, 17, 22), Key Animation (5 episodes)\nA Certain Magical Index (TV) : Key Animation (OP1)\nCobra The Animation: The Psychogun (OAV) : Key Animation (ep 2)\nDokidoki! Precure (TV) : Key Animation (ep 7)\nDoraemon: Shin Nobita to Tetsujin Heidan - Habatake Tenshi-tachi (movie) : Key Animation\nDream Eater Merry (TV) : Key Animation (OP; ep 13)\nEX-Driver the Movie : Key Animation\nFist of the North Star (movie) : In-Between Animation\nFist of the North Star (TV) : In-Between Animation (4 episodes), Key Animation (3 episodes)\nFist of the North Star 2 (TV) : Animation Director (7 episodes)\nFrom the New World (TV) : Animation Director (eps 5, 10), Key Animation (eps 5, 10)\nFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) : Key Animation\nGaiking: Legend of Daikū-maryū (TV 2/2005) : Illustration\nGu Gu Ganmo (TV) : Animation\nGundam Build Fighters (TV) : Key Animation (OP)\nGunsmith Cats (OAV) : Key Animation\nHimitsu no Akko-chan: Umi da! Obake da!! Natsu Matsuri (movie) : Key Animation\n(The) IDOLM@STER (TV) : Key Animation (ep 9)\nInuYasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler : Animation Director\nJoJo's Bizarre Adventure (OAV) : Storyboard (ep 8), Character Design (eps 1-13), Chief Animation Director (eps 9-13), Animation Director (eps 1-2, 6-8), Cover Art, Key Animation (eps 2, 5-7, 13)\nJoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood (movie) : Director, Character Design, Chief Animation Director\nKimi no Iru Machi (TV) : Chief Animation Director, Animation Director (OP), Key Animation (OP; ep 1)\nKyō, Koi o Hajimemasu (OAV) : Character Design, Animation Director\nLocke the Superman: Mirror Ring (OAV) : Character Design\nLupin III: Stolen Lupin (special) : Key Animation\nManyū Hiken-chō (TV) : Animation (OP)\nMobile Suit Gundam AGE (TV) : Key Animation (eps 40, 49)\nMobile Suit Gundam UC (OAV) : Key Animation (ep 3)\nMysterious Girlfriend X (TV) : Animation Director (ep 9)\nNessa no Haou Gandalla (TV) : Character Design\nNew Fist of the North Star (OAV) : Key Animation\nOdin - Starlight Mutiny (movie) : In-Between Animation\nOn the Way to a Smile - Episode Denzel: Final Fantasy VII (OAV) : Animation Director\nPachislo Kizoku Gin (TV) : Character Design\nParanoia Agent (TV) : Animation Director (ep 9 [\"TKO\"])\nPenguindrum (TV) : Key Animation (ep 18)\nPokemon Heroes - Latias & Latios (movie) : Key Animation\nPsychic Wars (OAV) : Key Animation\nRurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OAV) : Key Animation (ep 1)\nSailor Moon R Movie: Promise of the Rose : Key Animation\nSailor Moon SuperS Movie: Black Dream Hole : Key Animation\nSaint Seiya Omega (TV) : Key Animation (ep 51)\nSakigake!! Otoko Juku (TV) : Animation Director (8 episodes)\nShin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken: Raoh-den Gekitō no Shō (movie) : Key Animation\nShin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken: Toki-den (OAV) : Character Design, Animation Director\nSpace Battleship Yamato 2199 (TV) : Key Animation (ep 25)\nStar Driver (TV) : Animation Director (eps 9, 18)\nStreet Fighter Alpha (movie) : Key Animation\nToriko (TV) : Key Animation (OP)\nTransformers (U.S. TV) : In-Between Animation\nTransformers: Scramble City (OAV) : Key Animation\nVotoms Finder (OAV) : Character Design, Animation Director\nWolverine (TV) : Key Animation\n(The) World God Only Knows Season Two (TV) : Key Animation (ep 4)\nX-Men (TV) : Animation Director (ep 9), Key Animation (OP; ep 12)\nXanadu Dragonslayer Densetsu (OAV) : Key Animation\nYu-Gi-Oh! (TV 2/2000) : Animation Director (eps 94, 124)", "There are several differences. Especially the character design of transformed Momoshiki Otsutsuki. Kishimoto's design was used in the movie, and Ikemoto's design was used for the series.\nAs far as fighting Momoshiki, which had several difference between the movie and anime, The Chuunin Exam's final fight from anime also differs from the movie. Some fights were a bit more expanded like Chou Chou's fight with Shinki.\nSome of Boruto's fight scenes are also different from the movie, and most of the scenes from the anime left something more for the people to talk about, especially between Shikadai and Boruto, which is not shown from the movie.\nA new Otsutsuki member was also shown in that arc, Urashiki Ōtsutsuki. The fish hook guy, this one did not appear in the movie.\nMitsuki's abilities were not shown too much in the movie as much as the anime did, and Katasuke's part is also slightly different in the anime.", "Yes, those were real animals fighting, but they were not really fighting.\n\nSpike, who played the role of Yeller, was trained under an animal trainer, Frank Weathermax. The fighting scenes that you see in the movie were controlled and well rehearsed before the actual shooting and they are actual animal actions.\n\nThe most intriguing fight scenes are the fights between Yeller and a wolf and Yeller and a bear.\n\nIn case of the Wolf-Yeller fight, the Wolf was a German Shepherd who was made to look like a wolf.\n\n\n The dog who played the wolf was actually not a wolf at all. It was a\n German Shepherd made to look like a wolf. Both animals were trained to\n play-fight and were muzzled for that sequence.\n\n\nThe bear used in the Bear-Yeller fighting is a nine-year-old movie bear, Doug owned by professional handler Byron Nelson. \n\n\n For sheer excitement, few animal scenes in Hollywood history rival the\n furious bear and dog fight. Unusual preparation was necessary to stage\n the outdoor battle without harming either animal.\n \n With their welfare of first consideration, rehearsals for the skirmish\n began months ahead of actual shooting. Spike, the trained dog who\n plays Old Yeller, spent weeks on a leash getting acquainted with Doug,\n a nine-year-old movie bear owned by professional handler Byron Nelson.\n \n Each animal learned the others advantages. Spike was long on agility,\n Doug on strength.\n\n\nThis gives you a good insight into the making of Old Yeller and other animal fights.\n\nActually you can check this wonderful video and see how they were controlled by the trainers and the sounds were added and other fun stories behind the movie.", "This arm is never explained in the 1997 version of the anime. The arm is a prosthetic arm with a few abilities, most notably the cannon. It was made by Rickert after the events of the Eclipse. I don't think it is ever mentioned what the arm is made of but I believe it was made using various materials. Guts can not move his fingers of the arm, and the hand has a magnet to hold his sword. He can however, move his fingers when he goes into his berserker state, but that is a result of the Berserker armor, not himself or the arms functionality.\n\nI haven't seen the new Berserk anime yet, only the golden age movies, so I don't know if they elaborate on the arm in the new anime. The golden age movies ends just after the Eclipse, before Guts gets the new arm. I would assume they would elaborate on this in the new anime at some point, in a flashback or something.", "While the anime & manga share a few differences like those you mentioned, the main plot and storyline are essentially the same. I believe the movie is definitely a continuation of the anime and the manga might perhaps have its own adaptation of the Broly arc after.If you watch the trailer, it is clearly established that the movie is set after the Tournament of Power. Hence, we know for a fact that it is a sequel to the series.In the end of the trailer where Goku seems to be battle damaged and Broly is transforming into his Legendary Super Saiyan form, we see Goku powerup in Super Saiyan Blue. However, in the manga, Goku's strongest form is Mastered Super Saiyan Blue. This transformation does not have any aura and wouldn't be as appealing visually. There is really no reason why Vegeta cannot use the Super Saiyan God Transformation. The Super Saiyan Blue (SSGSS), is essentially a combination of Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan. Hence, the anime could still have Vegeta use the transformation without any difficulty.The Manga & the Anime essentially have the exact same storyline like I said earlier. In a DBS manga interview with Toyataro and Toriyama, he did comment on Supervising Toyataro's ideas on Super Saiyan God Vegeta which indicates that he clearly isn't opposed to it. The story for the movie is again being written by Toriyama. Hence, I think it is fair to assume that with regard to transformations and few manga/anime exclusives, the anime exclusives will be adapted in the upcoming movie.", "Short answer: the anime differs heavily from the manga starting from the 5th movie with the scene surrounding Rygart’s village. So, I’d recommend reading from chapter 27 (it starts with Girge’s past).\n\nThe producers of the anime likely wanted to end that arc with 6 movies. However, to be faithful to the manga you would need at least 1 more movie which is why they compressed and bent the story accordingly. So, you will find some scenes in the manga that seem similar to the anime, but they play out mostly completely differently and under a different context.\nThis is just my opinion, but starting from that diversion, the anime became a mess, especially with what they did with Rygart’s fight against Girge that makes you want to punch our protagonist.\nThe first 4 movies however cover the manga very closely. So, you don’t need to read the manga from the start if you’re fine with missing some details.\nThere are a few differences I’d like to point out, though:\n\nSigyn’s action of why she takes in Cleo (after the latter\nbecame a captive) is better explained in the manga (read chapter 16\nif you’re interested).\n\nRemember that scene where Sigyn tells Cleo the story of\nRygart and Hodr trying to sneak into the girls’ dormitories? In the\nmanga, she confesses to Cleo in a roundabout way that she loves\nRygart (see chapter 28).\n\nRygart’s a bit more level-headed in the manga (although\nnot much more) and it's more apparent that he has a hard time trying to deal with his naive action of saving an enemy that ended with an ally soldier being killed. His „stupid“ (or call it\n‚naive‘) actions are a bit more reasonable and there are also fewer\nof them, e.g. when Rygart’s been asked about the newly captivated\nCleo, he doesn’t say to just let her free but talks about her\noverdeveloped body (see ch. 16).\n\nRemember Nike, that crazy girl? If you found her sadistic side\nannoying, you will probably accept it more in the manga as it’s\nless shown and not so extreme.", "The sample comes from the movie Dr. Strangelove by Stanley Kubrick in 1964.\n\nThe line is:\n\n\n The doomsday machine. (...) A device which will destroy all human and animal life on earth.\n\n\nHere is a video and the whole movie script.", "This probably depends on what you consider science-fiction or fantasy.\n\nThe Lion King is a very successful franchise, with no humans in sight. There's even mystical elements in the first movie, where Simba sees speaks to his dead father.\n\nThe reason movies tend to have humans in them is because it makes them relatable to us. In the first Ice Age film, there's a human baby and a human family, which introduced us to the franchise. In later films, where we've been sold on the characters, the humans have gone again and it's just animals.\n\nAnimal movies tend to do well, because they appeal to children and families, but that's not necessarily true. The Owls of Ga'hoole, adapted from a successful fantasy book series, wasn't very successful at the box office. (Despite being a visually beautiful film that's great for families!)\n\nScience fiction and fantasy, on a whole, are about putting us in fantastical places or situations. Including a human character that we can relate to, or empathize with, allows us to connect with the story. Without a way to build an emotional connection with a piece, it's hard to keep an audience engaged.\n\nFilms such as Ice Age or Monster's Inc use a human child to help us relate to the non-human characters. How they treat a vulnerable member of our species marks them clearly as good or bad. \n\nHowever, whether or not a human character is present isn't likely to be a good indicator of whether it'll be \"successful\". If it were that easy, we wouldn't have so many flops.", "Going through Wikipedia's list of Death Note voice actors for the live action movie, it seems that there is not much overlap (if any) between the Japanese actors and the Japanese voice actors for Death Note.\n\nHowever, going through the first couple entries of the list, it seems that at least a number of the English voice actors for the Death Note anime also functioned as voice actors for the dubs of the live action movies. While this isn't true for some characters (e.g. Naomi Misora) this definitely seems to hold for a number of the voice actors for the major anime characters.", "Since there's at least one explicit reference in Chappie to South Park it's well worth trying to make a connection. Even though the following does not address the Kenny reference it does give general background for a comparison that sums up to a thematic link.\n\nThe writer-director of the movie stated that the movie is about the soul, and what consciousness is, and how animals and children grow pure, with innocence, and are later influenced by the world in a harsher way: \"the world jades them, and turns them into something else\". So Chappie (as an infant animal or human) is cute, and represents what is good.\n\nThe representation that childhood is innocent is many times shown in the South Park show. This is not to be taken in a absolute way, children can also be cruel. In one episode, AWESOM-O [s08e05], Cartman uses a robot costume to make fun of Butters: in this sense there's a bit of evil vs good. But as long as the naive blond doesn't realize the darkness of the rivalry he just chants happily my robot friend!\n\n\n\nThe connection between the themes of both videos, the movie and this episode, is perhaps slightly generic up to here. But the discussion in the movie may also suggest about the potentialities that underlie in IA, in humans, and in the grey area that makes them indistinguishable. You can think that IA is only something to be afraid of, or have only silly ideas, or no ideas at all. \n\nOn one hand,\nSigourney Weaver states that it's a pity that her character can't see a possible profit for everything that Chappie could be capable of.\nOn the other hand,\nin South Park regular people realize that the robot is fake and a boy is behind it all. But later, when at a trip to Hollywood, some movie producers find AWESOME-O and think that the best idea would be to make him/it, as a robot, write ideas for movies. (Spoiler on radical kindness: Butter uses profit of Cartman's ideas for movies scripts and sends the money to needy kids in third world countries!). (Spoiler #2: Later on, the stupidity of the military is paramount. Cartman says that he's alive and they just think that the robot has developed consciousness, and doesn't know it's a robot.) \n\n\n \n \"What makes us humans?\" [Our internal organs?...] \n ...\"Hey, robots don't fart...\"\n \n\n\nIA is yet to be explored. What is the relationship between the soul and digital information? A helmet may, in fiction, transmit consciousness to a microchip, or even a usb pen drive. And maybe human and IA can become friends or even mimetize.\n\n\n\nAdditional note on South Park: Are Robots and Automatrons the same thing? Non-automation is actually the distinctive feature of IA. The latter just performs standarized actions. Real IA learns and has the ability to do new things.", "Only in the novel.\n\nSearching subtitles from different versions of the released movie (from DVDRip, to BRRip, to Collector's Edition, to those old XViD RIPs that came in 2 CDs), I cannot find any reference to the counter.\n\nHowever, in the novel, its a major plot point\n\n\n [Total animals: 238]\n \n “Everything accounted for, as always.” He couldn’t keep the satisfaction out of his voice.\n \n “Now then,” Malcolm said. “Can you have the computer search for a different number of animals?”\n \n “Like what?” Arnold said.\n \n “Try two hundred thirty-nine.”\n \n “Just a minute,” Arnold said, frowning. A moment later the screen printed:\n \n [Total animals: 239]\n\n\nAnd eventually, they reach the actual total\n\n\n \n\n\nThis part of the novel has not made it into movies, as far as I can tell. It appeared in the early script drafts, as you can see here:\n\n\n MALCOLM: Of course I'm right, I'm always right. And\n while you're at it, search for 300\n animals.\n \n WU: \n Three hundred?\n \n ARNOLD: \n (shakes head, hits keys)\n Searching for... three hundred.\n \n The screen prints: Total Animals: 241. Talk is fast:\n \n HAMMOND\n So! My kids are out there!\n \n ARNOLD\n (relieved)\n Yeah. Looks like it, sir.\n \n The screen suddenly prints: Total Animals: 258.\n\n\nBut it doesn't show in the first draft (also here), or in the final script (also here). It is also not listed as a deleted scene (also here). As far as I can tell, your remembering it is just a trick of the mind.", "The Internet Movie Firearms Database is the go-to source for identifying firearms in movies and other media, including anime. The Trigun page says that the pistol that Vash and Knives carries is\n\n\n a fictional double-action, full-sized revolver chambered for .45 Long Colt.\n\n\nThe name is AGL Arms Factory .45 Long Colt.", "The \"Battle of Gods\" and Ressurection of Freiza\" were both implemented in the anime, hence they are obviously canon. However, certain aspects of the movies have been retconned in the anime for example Beerus utilising 10% of his power against an SSJ2 enraged Vegeta.SSJG Goku being equal to 70% of Beerus's Power.More emphasis has been laid on Gohan being weaker in the anime.Piccolo is killed by Freiza in the anime.The new movie coming out in December is supposed to be set after the end of the Tournament of Power i.e Dragon Ball Super. We know this based on recent comments from Akira Toriyama. Hence it is obvious that the new movie might very likely be canon as well. I've attached a source with regard to the same here.", "Gogeta Blue hasn't been \"confirmed\" to appear in the DBS movie. However, it seems very likely that it might be the case. An animator Yoshihiko Umakoshi, mentioned on a live NikoNiko broadcast that he was practicing Gogeta. While the above mentioned information is accurate, it has to be noted that Umakoshi's names isn't on the film credits. However, not all the animators working for the Dragon Ball Super movie have been named.When the new DLC (Extra Pack 3), was released for Xenoverse 2, on further Datamining, there was one character who had Super Mad Dance as a super and the Vanisher Guard evasive which are Gogeta's moves. Another character had the Gigantic Meteor Ultimate who is implied to be Broly. Hence, Gogeta Blue and Broly are being predicted to be the new characters that get released in Extra Pack 4, after the movie.Further information with regard to the animator and his comments can be read here.", "The animation that you refer to was probably made with Adobe After Effects. You can animate this kind of thing for 'free', if you don't value your time, using PhotoShop CS2 (free from Adobe) and the Quicktime player which will import image sequences and save them as movies. \n\nBut your hope for free software misses the point that the costly parts of animation are time and skill. More expensive tools frequently have built-in time savers. After Effects is certainly one of those. It won't save you, however, from having to get skill.", "... Is this regarding Howl's Moving Castle?\n\nIt was based on a classic fantasy novel (by Diana Wynne Jones) so maybe some people were actually referring it to a new take on a classic, or it was classic in the sense that people knew it was going to be a classic because the quality of that film was on that tier. Kind of like how in the same way Disney movies turn out to be classics even when a new film comes out because of it's rich history in making classic animated movies.", "There's Voices of a Distant Star, which was \"directed, written, produced, character designed, storyboarded, cinematographed, edited, and animated by Makoto Shinkai\". Essentially an individual effort except for some voice acting that was done by his wife Mika Shinohara. The DVD release had to go through a manufacturer and distributor, of course but I think that's as close as Indie/Alternative as you'll get.\n\nThere aren't many anime like that, as anime TV series or movies are very expensive and time consuming to produce. This is why even small anime studios often rely on production and backing from larger companies (like TV studios). Instances like Voices of a Distant Star is rare because it's short, and probably made no money.", "In addition to being a funny trait in a sloth, Flash choosing to be fast on the road also ties nicely into the movie's theme\nof not judging a book by its cover.\n\nA lot of Zootopia is about challenging stereotypes through animal metaphors. Says the film's co-director Byron Howard (in an interview here):\n\n\n [What] I really take from [the film] is the theme of that we define ourselves. The world may have an opinion of us, but it is up to you to define who you are. The world does not define you, you do, and that's the theme that I went away with. Yes, because both of the characters, both of the lead characters Nick and Judy lived their whole lives with people and animals telling them who they should be. And struggling against those limits.\n\n\nAnd we see throughout the movie that:\n\n\nA small, \"helpless\" bunny turns out to be a tough cop that solves the case;\nA \"duplicitous, conniving\" fox turns out to be her loyal and helpful friend;\nA feared and powerful mob boss turns out to be a tiny shrew;\nA cheetah on the force is actually timid and sheepish, and their lion mayor is somewhat ineffective as a leader;\nMany of the predators in the film were actually innocent while the true villain turns out to be a fluffy, seemingly frail sheep.\n\n\nSo it's simply fitting to end the movie on this note, with the sloth turning out to be a bit of a speed demon. :)\n\n[I'm not sure the assumption that Flash can be physically fast is correct, though; they only show him driving in a straight line, so I'm not sure you need that much physical speed to accelerate a car or to eventually apply the brakes.]", "If by western animation, you mean movies made by studios like Pixar, the major factors in play is the budget and technical expertise. Budget-wise, Pixar has a $200 million budget for \"Finding Dory\":\n\n\n\nBudget numbers are usually pretty hard to come by for anime but there's been some research on the matter by the Media Development Research Institute. At this link, it breaks down the budget for a 30 minute timeslot anime episode, which really boils down to about 21-22 minutes minus the commercials and OP/ED.\n\n\n \n Original work - 50,000 yen ($660)\n Script - 200,000 yen ($2,640)\n Episode Direction - 500,000 yen ($6,600)\n Production - 2 million yen ($26,402) \n Key Animation Supervision - 250,000 yen ($3,300)\n Key Animation - 1.5 million yen ($19,801)\n In-betweening - 1.1 million yen ($14,521)\n Finishing - 1.2 million yen ($15,841)\n Art (backgrounds) - 1.2 million yen ($15,841)\n Photography - 700,000 yen ($9,240)\n Sound - 1.2 million yen ($15,841)\n Materials - 400,000 yen ($5,280)\n Editing - 200,000 yen ($2,640)\n Printing - 500,000 yen ($6,600)\n \n\n\nEven if we lop all of the production plus animation and photography, that's still maybe around $100k of budget for 22 minutes. Compare that to Pixar's average budget for \"Finding Dory\" of maybe $500k per minute.\n\nThe other thing is the expertise of these studios. Pixar has been, for quite some time now, the top studio for 3d CGI. Their movies are almost entirely CGI and they've got over 600 employees. Most Japanese studios don't have anywhere close to this level of technical expertise and skill, or the size of an organization that can pump out this kind of work consistently and regularly. Probably an apt comparison would be Japanese animation studios vs animation studios in China.\n\nSome other factors to consider:\n\n\nSince there's a lot of mix between traditional 2d vs 3d modelled CGI, the CG can stand out a lot more. Even if it is done in a very high quality, it's still noticeable. Compare it to shows/movies that are entirely 3d modelled, where even if the modelling/textures isn't all that great, the consistency makes it appear to look better eventhough the CGI isn't that good.\nTime constraints, though not so much for movies and OVA, a weekly release schedule for anime episodes doesn't leave a lot of time for a modest CGI team (or an outsourced firm) to create the work, send it in for review, any integration work, anything that gets sent back to get redone, repeat, etc.\nTo some degree, there's a notion of \"good enough\", especially when we're comparing 24 minute long anime episodes to a Pixar movie. If the episode isn't over budget, it's finished on time, it looks decent, then it's probably \"good enough\" and the average viewer, though the CGI is noticeable and acknowledging its quality, won't find it that unexpected. Keep in mind that CGI in anime has improved quite a bit since it was first more widely used.\n\n\nAs for why they use CGI at all? The biggest reason (though I can't seem to find any sources to cite) is probably that it costs less, though that sounds like irony. The idea is that doing \"ok looking\" CGI and making the subject matter (or action) look a bit more realistic is cheaper than spending a lot of artists trying to make the same subject matter look better (or in most cases, just as good) completely by hand. If you're going to have a mecha show where there are hundreds of mechs that all look exactly the same, it's probably cheaper to just model it as opposed to having someone draw them all. If there's going to be a lot of panning, rotating camera shots, it's easier to model the subject and just move the camera as opposed to hand drawing the subject to imitate such movement.", "Lots of reasons:\n\n\nBooks and movies are different art forms - direct and strict conversions from one form to the other rarely work (unless they have large fan bases, such as LoTR, Harry Potter, etc).\nThe movie was written and re-written several times by several screen-writers. You can imagine they all brought their own visions and ideas to the screenplay.\nDirection - Ridley Scott also brought his own vision to the project, plus if you read about the production you will see it was full of conflict between him, the producers, the financiers, the designers and the shooting crew.\nBudget - again, many choices of shot and setting were due to limited budget. They had a tiny studio based set, which forced him to shoot at night, use lots of smoke and rain, close shots of crowded streets to hide the fact they were reusing the same area continually.\nThere are a couple of mentions about how rare animals are - the artificial snake - \"you think I'd be working here if I could afford a real snake?\" and the owl at the beginning. Again, it would be hard to make this a real theme of the movie, and lets face it, it's a bit all over the place in terms of plot and theme (heresy alert).\nAvoiding religion in what was supposed to be a mass market movie was probably an easy decision...\n\n\nWhile none of these things demanded the themes you mention being dropped, you can see the environment in which the film was created made it likely significant divergences from the source material likely.", "The Anime Man explains this in his video.\n\nTL;DR:\n\n\nPeople get lazy to read the blurb of the novel (the short summary usually at the back of the book) to know what it's about, so a longer title will be more descriptive than titles like \"Wish\".\nThe LN industry is getting bigger, therefore everyone will eventually run out of titles to use (even movies there are some that have the same title which is not good), a longer title will make your LN unique and stand-out. Top selling LN in the first half of 2019 according to Oricon.", "With a 99% chance After Effects was used here.\nAs long as you plan on doing a commercial video I would avoid home video production programs like iMovie at all costs. Specially because iMovie is made for cutting video and not making animations. That's like making a commercial in Windows Movie Maker.\n\nThere are many many talented freelancing After Effects animation artists out there who will make you this kind of animation with ease if you don't want to learn the software yourself.\n\nMore info on After Effects here on the Adobe website.", "Here's the order:\n\nGhost in the Shell (set in 2029) from 1995 or its 2008 remake Ghost in the Shell 2.0\nGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (set in 2030)\n- The Laughing Man, a feature-length OVA summary of S.A.C.\nGhost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (set in 2032)\n- Individual Eleven, a feature-length OVA which retells the events of S.A.C. 2nd GIG, altered to focus on both the Individual Eleven investigation and the relationship between Hideo Kuze and Motoko Kusanagi\nGhost in the Shell 2: Innocence (set in 2032)\nGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex − Solid State Society (set in 2034) from 2006 or 2011 in 3D\nGhost in the Shell: Arise OVA series (set in 2027). It's a prequel telling the origin story of Section 9\n- Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture is a recompilation for television of Ghost in the Shell: Arise.\nGhost in the Shell: The New Movie is a movie set after Ghost in the Shell: Arise that is a continuation of the plot of the Pyrophoric Cult episode. The original movie's plot follows directly after this movie.\nGhost in the Shell: SAC_2045 is the next and latest anime and follows all the other seirse for this anime series\n\nThe only unclear part is about where S.A.C. 2nd GIG and Innocence go in relation to each other, because they are both set in 2032. 2nd GIG is the second season of S.A.C. and should probably be watched directly after it.\n\nThe GitS movies, SAC-series and Arise OVA are all different interpretations of the source material/manga.\nGhost in the Shell/2.0 and Innocence are set in the same universe, and I would recommend to watch them first as they have the strongest story and production values.\nThe SAC-series has it's own separate universe and is more of a crime series where the movies are more philosophical.\nThe Arise OVA-series is also completely separate from both the movies and series, but somewhat serve as a spiritual prequel to both.", "Zoids include 2 elephants and a mammoth, all sentient robotic vehicles. \n\nThere are four anime series and at least one unofficial and recent movie, which isn't mentioned in the Wiki.\n\nThe big elephant, Elephander, is from 2000 so can't be it:\n\n\n\nMammoth is part of the 1983 line:", "The "modern equivalent" of animated GIFs is... MPEG. Or really, any decent movie compression format. These techniques are designed to spend fewer bits on static areas and more bits on moving ones. And better still, they're designed to be dynamic, allowing motion in any are at any time, rather than only in fixed areas.\nSo just make a short, looping movie of the "background image" you're trying to build. You may want to get into the details of the compression system you're working with, so that you can give lots of bits to the initial frame and fewer bits to moving areas.", "You should probably watch Boruto from the start. Though it happens in the movie but it still feels better when you watch from the start and it is also not that much. There are only just 68 episodes in total released until now. You can binge watch them in like 2 days.\n\nAlso, it is better if we do not compare anime and manga content when the anime is ahead of the manga as in case of DB Super and also Boruto as they may be very different and manga can give some content which is crucial for the story and the anime misses it as it is directed by some other person and not by the mangaka (for example we came to know in DB Super that if the kaioshin dies so does Beerus, it was told earlier in the manga while the anime had already gone much further from that point of the story, though the anime included that bit in the very next episode released after the chapter in which this info was provided).", "The internet is full of reports on the phenomena, as well as many images. A simple Google image search for \"live fish keychain\" or \"live turtle keychain\" will give you many different images of such keychains.\nAs well I've found those two Youtube movies showing the animals (not a slide of pictures):\n\nA live goldfish\nA small turtle\n\nAs well as the article that you yourself pointed to in hoax-slayer which quotes many sources. \nIt shows that those things are real and exist.\n\nWhat is not sure is how long can they live in those bags, and how prolific is the phenomenon.", "I used Keynote and iMovie to create my latest explainer video. Keynote was used to create the bulk of the animation and export the presentation out to a movie file. Then iMovie was used to add in some background music and the voice-over track from a voice actor I hired from Fiver.", "Crazy as it may sound, you could buy the series on DVD, since they usually provide subtitles.\n\nNow, as you can imagine, unofficial subtitles may be considered illegal. As discussed here (SE Meta Anime) and here (SE Law), “Subtitles are treated much like movie scripts by most video industries” and therefore StackExchange is not a good platform for this question to be asked.\n\nThat being said, and the legal question not fully answered, the subtitles for some episodes of Tatort may be found on this website.\n\nExpanding my answer a little: You might also find what you are looking for here, here and here.", "None that we know of\n\nExcept for the Indominus Rex, the antagonist of the Jurassic World movie and also one of the main exhibits of the eponymous zoo/park:\n\n\n\nwhich is the only dinosaur hybrid to appear \"on the flesh\" and created to be an attraction on the park, the only other hybrid as reported by Wikipedia is the so-called Stegoceratops:\n\n\n\nIt is not known, however, if it was actually created and not shown on-screen, or if the animal depicted in the monitor is just a plan or study.\n\n\n\nThe only other known dinosaur hybrid, also engineered by InGen even if not created with the purpose to be exhibited in the Jurassic World park, appears in the movie Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: it is the Indoraptor, made from the DNA's of Indominus Rex itself hybridized with that of a Velociraptor:", "If your most important requirement is to look futuristic, then your best option is to look into the future and copy some of designs they will have been using.\n\nAnd by \"look into the future\" I mean, of course, sci-fi movies and tv series, and possibly anime cartoons as well. Find the titles which depict interactions with computers, and see if that interface will make sense for your application.\n\nAlso, at this stage try to focus on WHAT you want to implement, and not on HOW you are going to do that. Static images or CSS shouldn't concern you at this point. First come up with the idea how your end product should look like; then cross-check with the client if that's what he wants; and only then put it into code.", "I will write down a list that touch this subject and also received a decent rating on IMDB (a vague criteria of a movie/documentary quality):\n\n\nEarthlings - I have watched it a long time ago and it focuses mainly on how bad animals are treated in the meat industry, but I think it touches a little the environmental impact of livestock industry\nFood, Inc. - \"The film's first segment examines the industrial production of meat (chicken, beef, and pork), calling it inhumane and economically and environmentally unsustainable.\" (source) \nVegucated - \"socio-comical documentary about 3 omnivore New York guys who plan to go vegan for six weeks for weight loss and other health benefits. But during their vegan journey, they uncover the dark side of animal agriculture, and all of a sudden find themselves against the very industry they patronized a few weeks before.\" (source)\n\n\nAlso, Unity (2015) might be of interested, as it is advertised as the sequel of Earthlings.\n\nOther movies that may touch the subject can be found within this list." ]

[ "Stewart Petrie admitted that Montrose have to start talking about the League Two promotion play-offs.\nThe Gable Endies are now just a point off of the top four after a 1-0 win over leaders Forfar Athletic on Saturday.\nAnd after securing his primary goal of league safety the week before, Petrie believes his side have to start thinking about their chances.\nHe said: “We’re a point behind the play-offs now, we can’t hide that now. We’re still trying to gather as many points as we can and now we’re just a point behind the top four.\n“There’s still three games to go and we’re definitely in with a shout now on the back of that performance.”\nMontrose went in front early doors through Chris Templeman and should’ve gone into the break further ahead, but the Loons were dominant after the break despite their inability to really create a lot of a good chances.\nThe hosts’ defence - reshuffled before the goal due to a nasty injury to Michael Bolochoweckyj - held firm though and Petrie said they had to get a bit of luck to help them through the game.\nStewart said: “We withstood a lot of pressure in the second half. We defended a lot of corners and long throw-ins, we expected that. They’re a strong team and we knew they’d come at us with the wind.\n“We rode our luck a wee bit but you’re not top of the league for 33 weeks for nothing. We’re delighted with the performance, especially first half because we’ve got the ball down and created a lot of chances.\n“It’s maybe similar to last week’s game when we were quite happy to only go in 1-0 down, I suppose Gary might have been saying well we’re lucky only to be a goal down here.”\nPetrie had special praise for his forwards Templeman and Matty Smith, as well as defenders Andy Steeves and Cammy Ballantyne.\nHe added: “Matty’s got great pace, he’s electric and he’s been close to a couple. If the first one goes in you gain confidence from it but he’s kept plugging away. He doesn’t give up and then big Chris was excellent again too. He’s doing great for us.\n“Andy did well at centre half, Cammy was excellent against Danny Denholm who’s a very dangerous player.”\nBolochoweckyj’s injury looked serious when he went down and Petrie revealed the club fear a ligament rupture.\nHe said: “We believe it could be some kind of rupture for Michael which would be a massive blow for us, he’s probably our best defender and our most experienced defender.”\nThe Gable Endies continue their play-off push this weekend away to Berwick Rangers, whose recent slump has left them ninth in the table perilously close to the bottom." ]

[ "It was arguably the best performance of his tenure, but James McDonaugh and Edinburgh City suffered a third successive 1-0 defeat as Montrose won at a blustery Links Park.\nCraig Johnston’s second-half strike was enough for Stewart Petrie’s men, although City were perhaps unfortunate not to take anything.\n“It’s another game with plenty effort, which has been really good in the three games,” said McDonaugh. “It’s another game we’ve lost by a single goal though. If you’re looking at results it seems like it’s the same again but the game was decided by the wind playing a massive part.\n“The first half, 90 per cent of it was played in their half of the pitch but I think we lacked that bit of composure and made the wrong decisions. We could have made the decision to pass or shoot at times and were maybe missing a wee bit of quality in the final third.\n“We could have maybe taken a lead in at half-time but then the second half is going to be the polar opposite. But actually against the wind I thought we played some good football. Again, I think it’s harsh on the players that they’ve lost.\n“The first game of the three, we probably didn’t deserve anything but the last two, to lose those has been harsh.”\nCity fashioned the first chance with the wind at their backs when Craig Beattie outmuscled Iain Campbell and tried to bend the ball in to the near bottom corner with the outside of his right boot. Allan Fleming got down well though and diverted away with a strong hand.\nThe conditions made it difficult for the hosts to get up the other end with much urgency, but Calum Antell was forced to tip over a looping Terry Masson header on the half-hour to prevent it dropping in just under the cross bar.\nAn ambitious long range Beattie strike aside, that was it for a first half in which the wind was making it difficult for much football to be played.\nHaving scored a fine free-kick at Ainslie Park on the opening day, Campbell had the opportunity again within a minute of the restart, but his low strike was comfortably held by Antell.\nLiam Callaghan was next to threaten, and whipped a decent attempt narrowly over the bar from the angle of the box.\nGreat reactions from Antell prevented the opener when Johnston’s low delivery was turned goal-ward by Chris Templeman via a deflection, and the Welshman adjusted brilliantly to tip the ball wide.\nThat only delayed the breakthrough however, which arrived when Johnston created space for himself on the edge of the area and fired low past the wrong-footed Antell.\nGood link-up play between Andrew Blake and Craig Thomson opened up space for the former, but his left-foot drive was just the wrong side of the diving Fleming’s left-hand post.\nA clever ball through put Lewis Allan in on the angle, and he was unlucky to see his shot come back off Fleming then off a defender in turn and out for a corner.\nA close-range effort from Graham Webster almost put the game beyond City, but again Antell showed good reactions to stop then hold.\nPetrie felt the conditions put paid to any prospect of an entertaining encounter. “The wind spoiled the game, no question,” he admitted. “It’s difficult, especially when you’re on an astro pitch but we’re delighted with the result.\n“They’re a dangerous side with some right good players. I thought Beattie was a handful all afternoon and the three in the middle are all good players so to keep a clean sheet is great.”\nMontrose: Fleming, Ballantyne, Steeves, M Allan, Dillon, Campbell, Masson, Watson (Redman 75), Johnston, Templeman (Fraser 81), Callaghan (Webster 72)\nEdinburgh City: Antell, McKee, Walker, Laird, Thomson, Beattie (Belmokhtar 79), Grimes (L Allan 56), Rodger, Blake, Tena (Harrison 88), Morrison\nReferee: Ryan Milne\nAttendance: 446", "Image copyright Cambs Police Image caption James Stewart spent thousands of pounds furnishing his suite of offices, which contained sex toys and condoms\nA former school principal who kept sex toys in his office has been jailed for four years for misconduct and fraud.\nJames Stewart, 72, executive principal at Sawtry Village Academy until 2014, showed greed that was an \"abuse of his high position of trust\", a judge said.\nStewart, of Kimbolton Road, Bedford, admitted four counts of fraud and one of misconduct in a public office.\nHuntingdon Law Courts heard he spent thousands furnishing his offices, where sex toys and condoms were found.\nThe charges, which also included two of aiding and abetting his vice-principal Alan Stevens to commit fraud, relate to a period from 2009 to 2014.\nStewart left the college after a Department for Education investigation was launched into the running of the school.\nCharles Myatt, prosecuting, said his \"greed and abuse of the system\" led him to claim more than £85,000 from the school to pay off debts on personal credit cards.\nThe defendant would lock himself in his offices, where he had a private phone line installed to place bets with bookmaker William Hill, and watch horse racing on TV, the court heard.\nImage copyright Google\nHe also claimed a total of £6,000 in expenses to cover household bills.\nPeter Leeton, chairman of governors at the time, told investigators Stewart was \"very persuasive\" and someone he \"greatly trusted\".\nHe admitted that perhaps he \"didn't probe or have enough of an inquiring mind\" about his behaviour.\nSchool staff described the defendant as a \"racist, sexist and fattest bully\", the court heard. He was \"autocratic\" and his poor attendance \"became a running joke\".\nSuspended sentence\nMr Stewart's suite of offices was \"much better furnished than the rest of the school, which was in need of repair and decoration\", the court heard.\nOne contractor, who looked inside the offices, said he saw sex toys, condoms and lubricant.\nInspectors and condoms, loose change and blank expense forms when they opened up drawers.\nSentencing, Judge Stuart Bridge said: \"By all accounts, this was a serious fraud by abuse of position by a person who was in a high position of trust and it was a fraud that was committed over a significant period of time.\"\nStevens, 64 and of Sapperton near Peterborough, admitted two fraud charges, totalling £364.59 over the same period.\nHe was given a 24-week suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work", "Two brothers who held a teenager down and raped her during a horrific ordeal were jailed for a total of more than 11 years today.\nAlexander Stewart, 20, attacked the victim with convicted sex offender and older sibling Christopher Drummond, after meeting her through the Badoo dating website.\nThey assaulted her at Stewart’s home at a flat in Invergordon High Street, in Ross-shire, on October 18 last year, where Drummond told his younger brother to give the teenager what she deserved.\nA judge told the pair at the High Court in Edinburgh: 'Together you subjected the 19-year-old complainer to an appalling series of sexual assaults.'\nThe brothers were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh today after the 19-year-old was held down and raped\nLady Carmichael pointed out that Drummond had initially ordered Stewart to hold the victim down.\nDrummond, who claimed he was the boss in the house, gave his younger brother orders while the teenager begged Stewart to stop.\nLady Carmichael said: 'It was clear from the evidence that you Christopher Drummond dominated Alexander Stewart.'\nShe jailed Drummond for seven years for his part in the rapes, calling his attitude to women 'extremely troubling'.\nStewart was jailed for four and a half years and she told the younger brother that she considered he was someone who was prone to manipulation by his high-risk brother and was genuinely afraid of him.\nThe judge ordered that Stewart should be given a further period of supervision for 18 months and told both brothers that they would be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.\nDuring the attacks They took off the victim’s lower clothing, restrained her in a bedroom and forced her legs apart before they both raped her.\nThe victim was then grabbed and pulled from the bedroom and raped again by Stewart.\nA woman who saw the teenager following the assault and rapes committed on her said she was 'crying hysterically'.\nDrummond, 23, a prisoner, and Stewart had denied assaulting and raping her during an earlier trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.\nThey were both found guilty of a charge of assaulting her and two charges of raping her.\nFollowing the verdicts a court officer passed tissues to the pair to allow them to dab their eyes.\nA woman told the court that on the night of the attack she had gone to Stewart’s flat with her children and the victim. She said when they arrived they found someone else there called Christopher Drummond.\nShe said they had been sitting talking and Drummond commanded Stewart to play the accordion. She said Drummond got the teenager to sit on his knee.\nThe woman said: 'He was touching her in a playful way round her waist.'\nShe said Drummond and Stewart were drinking and thought it might have been Buckfast tonic wine they were consuming.\n'At that point they seemed OK to me,' she said.\nShe said the teenager told her she wanted to stay when the time came to take the children home.\nThe woman said an incident in the flat had made her feel uncomfortable after she heard Drummond say: 'I didn’t touch her.'\nShe told advocate depute Keith Stewart QC that she wanted the teenager to come back to her home.\nEveryone left the flat, including Drummond and Stewart, to walk her home with the children as it was dark, she told the court.\n'At that point she was still giggling and having a laugh with the boy,' she said.\n'I just had a feeling that she needed to stay with me. I just had a feeling she shouldn’t be left alone with the boys.'\nShe said that Stewart, Drummond and the teenager left her near her home. The woman said she asked the teenager one more time to come back to her house but she refused.\nThe teenager told her they were returning to Stewart’s flat and she received a text message from the teenager confirming she had arrived.\nShe said the frightened girl later called her.\n'Her voice sounded scared. I said: \"What’s wrong? What’s wrong?\"\n'She said: \"I am on the way back to you.\"'\nThe teenager told her where she was and she went to meet her.\nThe woman said: 'She was on her own. She was shaking and crying and she was pale.'\nThe woman asked her what had happened and called the police.\nShe said the victim was crying hysterically but eventually she was able to calm her down.\nFollowing the pair’s convictions the court heard Drummond had a more extensive criminal record than Stewart.\nHe has previously been placed on the sex offenders’ register and also has convictions for violence.\nLorenzo Alonzi, for Stewart, said he had been diagnosed with ADHD. The defence counsel added: 'He is someone who is highly susceptible to suggestion and easily led and manipulated.\n'There has been a progressive acceptance by him of his guilt.'\nDefence counsel David Moggach, for Drummond, said he still maintained his position that what had taken place was consensual.\nHe said Drummond had been visiting his brother but was 'quite oblivious and unaware' of any problems the younger man may have had.", "MONTREAL — Getting a goal against his former team was sweet for Montreal Canadiens forward Logan Shaw.\nThe right winger from Glace Bay, N.S. started a three-goal first period that led the Canadiens to a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday afternoon. Montreal claimed Shaw on waivers from Anaheim on Jan. 15.\n“That one felt pretty good,” said Shaw. “I have a lot of good friends over there.\n“It was a big win for the team. It felt pretty good to come out on top. It was obviously a bonus to get a goal. I don’t get a lot of them so when I do they feel pretty good and that felt extra special.”\nIt was Shaw’s third of the season but his first as a Canadien. He has only 11 goals in 156 NHL games.\nHe was the only forward to score for Montreal. Jeff Petry had two and David Schlemko and Joe Morrow added the others.\nThe Canadiens (21-25-6) ended a three-game losing streak. They remain home to face Ottawa on Sunday.\nIt was also a special game for Antti Niemi, who got the start in goal ahead of Carey Price with Montreal playing afternoon games on consecutive days. The Ducks had a 45-29 edge in shots, but Niemi was solid in picking up a second win in a row after his last outing Jan. 19 in Washington.\n“Easily one of the best for a long time,” Niemi said of his performance. “Playing with the lead, it was a lot of fun to play.”\nThe Canadiens had scored only one goal in their previous two games, but their power play came to life against the Ducks, producing three goals on seven chances. It was the reverse of Oct. 20, when the Canadiens had 51 shots in Anaheim but lost 6-2.\nDucks centre Ryan Getzlaf wasn’t happy with the penalty calling from Dave Jackson and Steve Kozeri.\n“They started calling penalties, that’s the momentum change of the game,” said Getzlaf. “Our kill didn’t get it done and their power play did.\n“It’s frustrating. I still, in this league, don’t have a clue what’s a penalty and what isn’t. It’s frustrating when you get one guy calling every single penalty against us and one guy wanting the game to play and wanting the players to decide it. It’s a frustrating point that we’re at in this league when we can’t just go out and play hockey. There’s no dangerous plays out there by any means, but somehow there were nine or 10 penalties or how many there were (11).\n“I’m frustrated with all these little stick things and stuff. Instead of worrying about a guy getting his head taken off in the corner, we’re worried about little stick infractions and one-handed stick lifts.”\nCorey Perry and Rikard Rakell scored for Anaheim (25-18-10), which was coming off an overtime loss in Ottawa on Thursday night.\nThe Ducks led 9-0 in shots just under six minutes into the game, but the Canadiens then scored three times on seven attempts to chase starter Ryan Miller at 10:13 in favour of Reto Berra, who was called up on Friday to replace the injured John Gibson.\nShaw scored at 6:16 when he banged in a Byron Froese pass from the edge of the crease. Morrow added one on a power play on a one-timer of Victor Mete’s pass from the right point at 8:17.\nAlex Galchenyuk slid a pass to Schlemko to score from the slot at 10:13.\nBerra lunged for but couldn’t reach Petry’s slow moving shot along the ice 3:45 into the second frame.\nPerry put Anaheim on the board during a two-man advantage at 8:32 as he beat Niemi from the edge of the crease and Rakell followed in to score on Nick Ritchie’s rebound at 12:15.\nPetry picked the top corner on a power play at 15:46 of the third.\nCanadiens forward Jonathan Drouin left the game early in the second period Saturday afternoon after being hit in the upper body by a slapshot from teammate Karl Alzner. Coach Claude Julien said X-rays revealed no fracture and Drouin’s condition is to be re-evaluated on Sunday.\nJacques Demers, who coached Montreal to its last Stanley Cup in 1993, got a big ovation when he was shown on the scoreboard. Demers made a rare visit since a 2016 stroke left him with limited mobility.", "Part two is complete – you can add the diary date.\nThe Sir Halley Stewart Field will stage the play-off semi-final on Tuesday, April 25 (7.45pm kick-off).\nSpalding United take on Stocksbridge Park Steels in a bid to keep alive those dreams of promotion.\nThe Tulips have stayed in the top three since the end of August so nobody could say they don’t deserve to have home advantage.\nTwo late goals at Lincoln United on Easter Monday set up next week’s knockout tie.\nTop scorer Bradley Wells took his tally to 26 goals in all competitions by breaking the deadlock in a dull derby.\nJordan Lemon was brought down for the penalty\nJust three minutes later, something more unusual happened as the Tulips put away a penalty.\nHaving missed four times in the previous six games – twice each by Leon Mettam and Lee Beeson – up stepped substitute Conor Higginson to show it’s not actually that difficult to convert from 12 yards after all.\nHigginson’s introduction midway through the second half certainly had an impact which any manager would be pleased about when bringing on a replacement.\nBoss Chris Rawlinson was probably planning ahead by taking off Matt Varley who serves a suspension in the final match of the regular campaign on Saturday.\nBradley Wells heads home\nHowever, he has often described Higginson as a ‘clever footballer’ and that proved accurate again.\nHigginson’s interception was followed by a pinpoint pass which released Jonny Lockie.\nThe teenager should have scored but the ball bounced off keeper Jake Turner and Wells sent a looping header into the empty net.\nWhen former Lincoln player Jordan Lemon was tripped in the box by Luke Hornsey, the referee pointed to the spot and Higginson’s cool finish doubled the lead.\nLee Beeson congratulates Conor Higginson\nThat sealed a thrilling finish to a terrible game – a typical derby, you might say. There was plenty of effort but a lack of entertainment.\nHaving booked a play-off place thanks to other results despite Saturday’s defeat, the Tulips knew victory would guarantee third place.\nBefore the break, Turner held onto Wells’ close-range volley and raced out of his 18-yard area to deny Mettam.\nThe second half was much better – although it couldn’t have been any worse to watch.\nLemon’s angled drive and Nathan Whitehead’s volley threatened to punish their former club in a happy return.\nHigginson went close from 35 yards and Mettam should have done better when Wells forced a defensive error.\nAnother effort by Mettam was blocked in the six-yard box but Spalding finally got past the Whites’ back four to end their play-off hopes.\nNow for part three of the Tulips’ bid – winning that home semi-final.\nLINCOLN UNITED\n4-4-1-1: Turner; Hornsey, Wright, Blunden, Ward (sub Cann 72 mins); Fairclough (sub Millard 61 mins), Nichol (sub Hall 68 mins), Toyne, Smith; Norris; Cotton. Subs not used: Brooks, Hutchinson-Wilkes.\nSPALDING UNITED\n4-4-2: Duggan 7; Walker 7, Spafford 7 (sub Miller 60 mins, 7), Stainfield 8, Jackson 7; Beeson 7, Varley 7 (sub Higginson 68 mins, 7), Whitehead 7, Lemon 7; Wells 7, Mettam 7 (sub Lockie 80 mins). Subs not used: Field, Downey.\nREFEREE\nDavid Jones.\nGOALS\nWells (83 mins, 0-1); Higginson pen (86 mins, 0-2).\nBOOKINGS\nBeeson (foul); Wells, Smith (unsporting behaviour).\nATTENDANCE\n210\nSTAR MAN\nNathan Stainfield – yet another dominant display at heart of defence for key role in clean sheet.\nENTERTAINMENT\n★\nWHO’S NEXT\nNorthwich Victoria (H) – Saturday.", "MANCHESTER CITY youth chief Mark Allen is set to take the Rangers reins and become the new Director of Football at Ibrox.\nHerald Sport understands Allen is the man that the Gers board have chosen to head up their football operation as they finalise their off-field structure.\nAllen has been Academy Director at City since Sheikh Mansour bought the club and has overseen a series of successes at youth level in recent years.\nRead more: Mark Hateley tells Rangers to follow Walter Smith recipe for success\nThe official line from Rangers on Wednesday evening was that they would ‘not comment on speculation’ but it is believed that Allen is now poised to take up a key position at Ibrox.\nAfter bringing the curtain down on his playing career with Swindon Town in the early 80s, Allen spent four years at the United States University in San Diego on a Business Administration with Accounting course.\nHe would return to the game with City eight years ago after spells as Managing Director of Broadcast Services with MTV Europe and as a Managing Director with Deluxe Digital London.\nCity have invested heavily in their youth structure over the last few years, with Allen at the heart of their plans to produce their own stars of the future.\nNow he will be tasked with implementing his ideas at Ibrox and will work closely with boss Pedro Caixinha, Head of Academy Craig Mulholland and the Light Blues board.\nIt is Caixinha that has been at the forefront of the rebuilding job in recent weeks as he has added five players - Bruno Alves, Ryan Jack, Fabio Cardoso, Dalcio and Daniel Candeias – to his squad ahead of the new campaign.\nRangers have also agreed deals with Mexican pair Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera and Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos and will confirm their captures once their work permit paperwork has been cleared.\nRead more: Mark Hateley tells Rangers to follow Walter Smith recipe for success\nAnd they could be followed into Ibrox by Graham Dorrans and Jamie Walker as Caixinha continues his pursuit of another two summer recruits.\nHerald Sport revealed on Wednesday that Norwich had rejected a bid in the region of £1million for midfielder Dorrans but the Light Blues are poised to return to the negotiating table to strike a deal.\nFresh talks will also have to be held with Hearts if Walker is to make the move from Tynecastle this summer after an initial approach was rebuffed by the Jambos board.\nWalker has twelve months left on his contract in the Capital but Hearts have admitted they will reluctantly listen to offers for the 23-year-old after he rejected a deal that would have made him the highest paid player at the club.\nCaixinha has been monitoring the winger for some time and a bid of around £1million could be enough to tempt Hearts to sell their prized asset during the close season.\nRead more: Mark Hateley tells Rangers to follow Walter Smith recipe for success\nThere was a financial boost for Rangers last night after it was confirmed that 32Red have agreed an ‘enhanced’ sponsorship deal until the end of the 2018/19 campaign.\nThe Gers say they had ‘a number’ of options for the upcoming season and beyond but have now penned a deal with the online casino company.\nManaging Director Stewart Robertson said: “We are delighted to announce an extended shirt sponsorship deal with 32Red. They have been with Rangers every step of the way as we progressed from the lower leagues back to the top flight and we thank them for their support.”" ]

[ "Had this amp literally less than a year and it smoked out on me. this amp does not make the power I expected it to make makes maybe 1,200 to 1,500 watts rms but certainly not 2,400 watts rms." ]

[ "I purchased this little amp about a year ago to power two old JBL Lancer 77's. My plan was to use the amp to play digital music through the JBL's and I wanted something low profile that would not clutter up the den or take up as much space as a traditional power amplifier/CD changer/turn table combo.\nThe amp worked perfectly for what I wanted--powered the JBL's with minimal noise, quiet enough to hear the little background noises in a live recording of an orchestra or choir e.g. the rustling of the choir before a number. The amp is tiny and was easy to bolt on the back side of my desk so just the knobs and switch are visible.\nHowever, after about one year of moderate use (no more than around 100 hours) the amp died. My first guess was that it was the cheap power supply I ordered for it. I found a combo deal on Amazon that made a new LP-2020A with power supply cost about the same as ordering a new power supply so I ordered that and tried plugging the new supply into the old amp. The amp still did not power up so it was obviously the amp itself and not the power supply as expected (good thing I bought a new amp with the power supply).\nlong story short--I like the amp enough to have bought a new one after the first one died prematurely and it's cheap enough to replace if/when it breaks, but if the second one dies soon I'll have to think again before purchasing another.", "The tone out of the unit was really very good, for the three times I used it in public...then, while practicing at home, the amp blew. The speaker was fine. So maybe three hours total time of use; I e-mailed support (no phone number) and they told me, after two attempts, to get it fixed locally (at my own expense). I did take the amp out and look at it to see if anything obvious was wrong (I used to work on guitar amps)-it is a very cheaply-made amp. If you are going to buy the unit, think of it as disposable, because if anything goes wrong, Acoustic isn't going to help you and it will cost more to have it fixed than the amp cost, BUT maybe you'll be lucky and have an inexpensive, good-sounding amp and it won't self-destruct. Hard decision.", "Provides adequate light for a small area. As with all LED fixtures, the wattage actually checks out at half or less than what they say they are.\n\nThis particular LED lamp checks in at 47 watts with less than a half amp.", "The amp was great. While it worked.\nLike other reviews here highlighted already, after a few months the volume started behaving erratically.\n\nThe amplifier is currently sitting in a repair shop and it has been 8 weeks (my records are currently just a very heavy furniture piece...).\nOnkyo seems incapable to deliver the correct components for repair and it's impossible to get a hold of them through the phone or via email.\n\nAm I supposed to just buy another amplifier?", "This motor runs quietly and pulls less amperage (about 3.5 amps after setup) than my prior 11 amp motor & capacitor setup. Saving money and less noise. I also use the constant on low speed fan tap... thats a great feature.\n\nI liked it so much, my Dad asked me to install 2 of these motors at his house.", "Recently purchased this. Delivered missing more than half the items that were supposed to be included. It literally only came with the guitar and the amp, which are undoubtedly the most important items in this pack but still pretty useless without the audio cables to support. The guitar looks decent, had slight scuffing along the edges.", "the item came after expected arrival date. both bass and amp were less than we expected. would not order from this site again.", "Why, yes it is. I adore this little amp. It's got plenty of power (350w to 8 ohms, 500w to 4 ohms). It's got a few nice goodies that I won't bore you with. You can read the specs. But here's one to take special note of: The DI-out has a switch to make it pre-EQ or post-EQ. Nice.\n\nBut the real draw of this amp is that it's a 500w monster that weighs less than 4 pounds. I got a nice little nylon bag to carry it in. Had to google around to find it, but it was worth it. There's no feeling like being able to carry an amp no bigger than a ladies purse to a gig, take your amp out, plug it into a giant Ampeg 8x10 cab and blow away your annoying guitar player. :)\n\nIf I had it to do over again, I'd buy this amp. OR I'd pony up for the MB Fusion 500. Looks just like this one except it's black and has a tube preamp.)", "this aftermarket item ,ie: cable , held up only 2 months before breaking..should have spent more and ordered oem parts from a more reputable comapny", "Literally ordered this Saturday got it today on Monday put it together less than 40 minutes and is head over heels in love with it definitely worth the buy.", "let me just say that its a good thing i had an extra amp lying around, the one that came with this package i broke almost as soon as i hooked it up, here is what happened, i opened the box and it was packaged well, tookout the subs and amp i had already run all of the wires so when it came all i would have to do is connect the wires to the amp and so i did, it all looked good so i turned everything on and waited for the thump, it didn't come, so i investigated, oh right the gain control and settings on the amp itself, everything was turned all the way down, oops, so when i went to turn it up on the amp the gian control knob broke off inside the amp... broken with in the first fifteen minutes. needless to say the amp is cheep, its not like I put alot of pressure on the gain knob it just kind of fell off and went inside the amp.\n with that being said i hooked up an amp the i already had and voila! intant bass, the subs sound great, they deffinetly bump pretty good for two tens, but i do wish i would have gone with one or two twelves instead, i have had better quality bass from one MEMPHIS AUDIO twelve. any way the tens that come with this sound good inside the car but are not really heard well outside the car. FYI, the amp i have hooked up is 200+ more watts than the one they sent me.\n\nupdate, today is 5-23-13 subs still great, the amp I had actually glued the piece that broke and it works fine but I like my other amp better so I just gave this one to my brother...", "Don't waste your money or your time. It lasted less than 5 minutes before my dog literally ripped the stuffing out of it, as you can see", "When I originally started playing guitar, I purchased a 40w amp that could be adjusted to 20w, and I ended up not playing it much because it is just too loud for the space where I practice. I went with the 40w because the price point was only $100 more than the Blackstar and other small tube practice amps that I had tried. More is better, right? Wrong, when it comes to amps you really have to consider the space that you are going to primarily play in. Since the amp I was looking for was just for at home practice, I should have went with the lower wattage. Now that I have the Blackstar, I am really happy and play it all the time. The amp sounds amazing and I enjoy being able to crank it up and play comfortably. My only regret is not purchasing it a few years ago.", "I am so excited that I once again have keyless entry. I bought the 2005 Ford 500 used last year without the key fobs. It literally took less than 2 minutes to have both fobs programmer and working and with only one key. Highly recommend this product.", "Product will not charge phone to a full charge. Return policy is only a month. We have had this less than a year as it was a Christmas gift last year.", "I did my research and I thought I was getting a NEW amp.... But when I opened the box the item looked used. The housing for the bass nob on the amp had a piece missing. The power/round/remote terminals displayed sing of previous instal. To top things off the amp wouldn't turn on. All it would do is blow my main 100amp fuse. I went through 4 fueses and ended up installing a different amp. I hope the replacement amp I receive is NEW and that it actually works! Save yourself the headache Don't buy this amp.", "Bought this to power (4) 6x8 in a Mustang and it sounded GREAT.\nAmp was very easy to setup and never got hot.\nI kept the gains at half or less; didn't need much because of the power this amp puts out.\nRan it at 4ohm and would definitely suggest anyone to get this amp and save the money over buying anything else.\n\nPioneer got it right with this line of amps !", "Had to call in and change the amplifier thrice. Had to trash all three, none worked\nNow I have to buy an amp separately", "I had bought one previously after I graduated nursing school and it lasted over 6 years. It had gotten a hole in it and when I bought the same one I can hear so amazingly well. It must have been getting a hole in it for a little while", "I had the same experience as many here. In less than a year it began to leak soap everywhere, making an even bigger mess to clean up. I loved the look of this, but was extremely disappointed I got less than a year from this product.", "I had this item for about 11 months and it's on the way out. It's no longer holding charges. I gave it 3 stars since it worked great the first 9 months. I would of gave it 4 stars if it lasted longer.", "bought this 11 months ago - however - did not use until 4 months ago - it it now broken - one of the channels stopped working", "...and it didn't even have frequent use for most of those months. If it was only going to last a few months it probably would have made more sense to buy one of the really cheap ones that get complaints about only lasting a few months.\n\nUPDATE: I first gave this product 1 star based on the comment above, but am so impressed with the customer service, promptly offering to send a replacement, that I have changed it to 4 stars.", "My kids played with this toy at a friend's house and had so much fun. I bought one for them and it lasted LITERALLY one day. They played with it for an hour (just throwing it back and forth, nothing crazy) and it broke. I figured it was defective so I ordered another one. This one last LESS than 30 minutes. My 10 year-old was tossing it to my 4 year-old in the yard. And after half an hour it was broken and no longer circular so it couldn't be thrown. I TOTAL and complete waste of money. I can't believe I ordered two of them. Very annoyed.", "Excellent tent. Easy set up (literally less than one second). Like other reviewers said, taking it down is challenging. Its taken me no less than 10 minutes and 3 sets of hands, but I will probably get better with practice. Watch the youtube videos!", "Upon installation, it was discovered that it was faulty. It was bought as a gift, so it was past the return period by the time it was given. After multiple attempts to contact the company, I finally got and RMA to have it repaired under warranty. When we got it back, the same issue occurred. There was no documentation stating the problem or that anything was fixed. I have tried to contact the company once more to have it actually repaired this time, and I have yet to receive a response. The subwoofer is junk and the customer service is nonexistent. I hate the fact that I have to give it even one star, as it does not even deserve that one. Do yourself a favor and skip on buying this product and never give this company a single dime. You would be better off throwing your money in the garbage.", "Easy to setup and decent features for a basic amp. But after 4 months the left bank of speakers failed.", "Works as described but neither my Samsung or Motorola phones will charge faster than .5 amps in the built in USB connectors. The factory chargers deliver 2.1 amps and 1.5 amps respectively.", "Bought 2 for the pups for Christmas (5 year old maltipoo and 5 year old French bull dog). At first, they couldn't care less about them but a few weeks later, they literally steal them from each other bc they love them so much!", "We only use it on the weekends, Had it less than a year. Its been very troublesome lately. Currently NOT working.", "I have it hooked up to 2 12s running at 2ohm never gets hot. I'm running true 4 gauge ofc wire. If you plan on pulling 1 ohm id run 2 gauge at a minimum. The amp allows 4 gauge power wires and 8 gauge speaker wires. The bass nob is actually pretty nice. It has some weight to it too. I listen to everything from clasic rock to rap and dubstep and this amp sounds clean for everything. Overall this is the best $150 mono amp out. As long as you know what you're doing when tuning the amp you won't be disappointed. For the guy having problems getting it warrentied out. Go through audiopipe themselves. I registered my amp there and they said I am covered for 1 year. Update. I was driving home one night and I smelled an electronic type smell it turned out to be the amp which was still working. I contacted audio pipe and they repaired it at the cost of shipping. They told me something burned out in the amp. Their customer support was better then expected. I still recommend this amp for its price. Update. Going on a year now and shes still working perfectly. I now have it wired down to 1ohm and she gets warm. I have had the amp shut off once but its my fault it didn't have any room to breath. Now that it can breath its fine. Also i am upgrading to 1/0 xs power wire. Update. 3 years after buying it its still running strong at one point I had to have it warrantied out because something inside died but its all good amd haven't had a problem since", "If your Slingbox Solo suddenly stops working and only the power light is lit and you are unable to perform a reset, this will probably fix the problem. Purchased this adapter, plugged it into my Slingbox Solo, and it started working again. The power adapters that come with Slingbox Solos have a known issue of after a time it fails to put out enough current (amps). There are other cheaper replacements, but according to the specs, they output less amps than the original. I purchaseed the KTEC, because it has the same specs as the original." ]

[ "By . Kerry Mcdermott, Ryan Kisiel and Emma Clark . PUBLISHED: . 05:44 EST, 20 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:59 EST, 20 October 2012 . Chilling photos show killer cab driver Christopher Halliwell prowling the streets for a victim on the night he murdered office worker Sian O'Callaghan. A series of CCTV images show him cruising though Swindon in Wiltshire in his green Toyota Avensis searching for a victim after clocking off from his shift. He found his pretty victim after she . left a city centre nightclub shortly before 3am - but it would have . quickly become apparent to the terrified young woman that she was not being . driven to the home she shared with her boyfriend Kevin Reape. Chris Halliwell is captured on CCTV in his green Toyota Avensis cruising the streets searching for a victim . The minicab driver is spotted driving along Victoria Road in Swindon, Wiltshire, on the night of Sian O'Callaghan's death . Further images show him outside the Goddard Arms pub in Swindon before he selected his victim . The timeline of images helped lead police to the savage killer, who yesterday was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years after pleading guilty to the murder of 22-year-old Miss O'Callaghan on March 19 last year. When police tracked down the 48-year-old murderer, he was sickeningly displaying a missing person's poster in the back window of his car - which he had used to drive the terrified office worker to a nearby forest where he killed her. Colleagues said he had also callously discussed her disappearance with them, as he pretended to be helping in the search for missing woman. In fact the taxi driver knew exactly where the young woman was. After picking up Miss O'Callaghan, he drove her to nearby Savernake Forest where he sexually assaulted her and stabbed her to death. In the six days before he was arrested by police, he moved the woman's half-naked body to near the Uffington White Horse landmark in Oxfordshire - 15 miles from where she lived. Other CCTV images show him calmly filling up with petrol and paying at a cash desk displaying the missing person poster after the murder. The prowling taxi driver now faces questioning over a string of unsolved killings, it emerged last night. But . last night sources revealed he could now face questioning over the . disappearance of Melanie Hall – who vanished outside a nightclub in 1996 . and whose body was found by the M5. He is also likely to be quizzed over the whereabouts of two other women who both lived in Halliwell’s home town of Swindon. Detectives have discovered Halliwell . owned 80 cars over the years and have since tried to trace their current . owners through the DVLA in case forensic evidence can still be . recovered. Police were further worried when a . colleague said Halliwell had speculated about there being lots of bodies . buried while discussing Miss O’Callaghan’s disappearance. Guilty plea: Christopher Halliwell, left, today pleaded guilty to the murder of Sian O'Callaghan, 22, right, who disappeared after leaving Swindon's Suju nightclub in March last year . Killer Halliwell pretended to be helping in the search for the missing 22-year-old by displaying a 'missing person' picture in the back of his car . He told him: ‘Who knows what or who you find buried out there? There could be loads of people over the years.’ He led detectives to Miss . O’Callaghan’s body on the day he was arrested, it was found face down . and naked from her waist to her ankles. A swab subsequently revealed she may have been bitten on the left breast by her killer. Detectives in neighbouring force Avon . and Somerset have told their Wiltshire counterparts they believe he is . the strongest suspect yet for the murder of Melanie Hall. The officer in charge of the investigation said the disappearance of the university graduate 16 years ago is ‘top of our list’. Similar to Miss O’Callaghan’s . abduction, the petite blonde was last seen leaving a nightclub in Bath . in 1996. Her remains were found tied together with a piece of blue rope . beside the M5 in south Gloucestershire in 2009. Officers have been informed that . Halliwell was working as a taxi driver during this period and could have . been taking bookings in the city. His internet history also revealed he . heavily researched rope knots and binding techniques. The disposal of . her body is also extremely similar to that of Miss O’Callaghan’s. Other cases being looked at include . those of prostitute Sally Ann John, 24, from Swindon, who went missing . in 1995 and lived in the same street as Halliwell, and Vietnamese . immigrant Thi Hai Nguyen, 20, who vanished from Swindon in 2005. Several books on DNA and forensic testing were found in his loft along with a stash of wet wipes. Sentencing Halliwell to a minimum of . 25 years for Miss O’Callaghan’s murder, Mrs Laura Justice Cox DBE said: . ‘You abused your position as a taxi driver... and as someone Sian . thought she could trust. There was here a prolonged period of time in . which she would have suffered extreme fear and terror as well as severe . pain from the injuries you inflicted upon her.’ Last moments: Sian O'Callaghan was captured on CCTV cameras leaving the Suju nightclub, left, and walking towards her home (right) on the night she was murdered by Chris Halliwell in March 2011 . Miss O’Callaghan’s mother Elaine said: . ‘There is never total closure, just accepting my life has changed for . ever. I am just a mother who wants her daughter back.’ Speaking outside the court today, Miss . O'Callaghan's mother Elaine described her daughter as an 'incredible . person' and said she  would 'continue to inspire' her family. 'Christopher Halliwell has by his actions taken my daughter and caused unimaginable distress,' she said. 'The sentencing today of Halliwell will not bring Sian back, but will mean he can't take any more. Killer: Traces of Miss O'Callaghan's blood were found in the back of Christopher Halliwell's taxi . We will all endeavour to get on with our lives, the way Sian would have wanted,' she said. Sian's father Mick welcomed the life sentence for his daughter's killer. 'Justice has been done today,' he said, before thanking the family's QC, the CPS and police. 'It has been a very emotional day.' Referring to the withdrawal of the separate charge against Halliwell related to the death of Becky Godden-Edwards, Mr O'Callaghan said: 'Our thoughts go to Becky's family.' Becky Godden-Edwards devastated mother Karen Edwards tearfully described her family's anguish outside the court following today's hearing. The mother gave an emotional speech . about how her daughter had become addicted to drugs, but she had never . given up hope that one day she would return home to her family. 'After a very complicated and painful journey over the last 18 months Sian's family have today had the justice for murder of their beautiful daughter,' she said. 'However, our family's fight for justice for Becky has only just begun. 'Even though Becky has been found, after all this time we still have no full understanding of how she met her death. 'As you can imagine this has been a very dreadful time for all our family and I would like to thank everyone for the continued support in our struggle for justice for Becky. 'I would like the full support of you all to help me get justice for my daughter Becky,' she added. 'Everything to live for': Murdered Sian O'Callaghan (centre) with her brothers Liam (left) and Aiden (second left), and sister Lora (right) at a wedding . The Independent Police Complaints Commission said in a statement it was to independently investigate breaches of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in the investigation into the deaths of Becky Godden-Edwards and Sian O'Callaghan. IPCC commissioner Naseem Malik said: 'Now that the criminal process has concluded the IPCC can start its investigation into the police investigation into the tragic deaths of these two young women. 'We were unable to start work before criminal proceedings concluded on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service. 'I have no doubt that there will be considerable interest in the circumstances that led to the IPCC investigations but I would urge patience while we find out what happened. 'The IPCC has already concluded an independent investigation into five complaints against Wiltshire Police relating to the actions of the police during the investigation. 'Three of these complaints were upheld and the force has agreed our recommendation to offer the complainant an apology. 'The force has also confirmed to the IPCC that it has accepted our recommendation that it reviews its family liaison policy.' The IPCC said it would also separately investigate allegations that Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher spoke about the case to some media outlets on separate occasions contrary to force instructions, the force media strategy and policies. Elaine O'Callaghan mother of Sian O'Callaghan makes an emotional statement with partner Pete Shawe (left), son Liam and daughter Lora outside Bristol Crown . Karen Edwards (left) and Charlie Edwards, mother and step-father of Becky Godden-Edwards, hold back the tears as they read a statement aloud after the court case . Sian's last movements. Police issued CCTV from the club as part of appeal for information ." ]

[ "Cruise companies last night cancelled all stops in Tunis following the terrorist attack. An association which looks after more than 50 cruise operators – including P&O, Thomson and Cunard – said no ships would be calling at the city ‘in the foreseeable future’. The mass cancellations follow a stark warning from the Foreign Office that ‘further attacks are possible’. The FCO has also advised holidaymakers to only travel to the interior of the country with a ‘reputable tour guide’. Scroll down for video . Cancellation: An association which looks after more than 50 cruise operators – including P&O, Thomson and Cunard – said no ships would be calling at the city ‘in the foreseeable future’ (file picture) Italian operators MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, used by hundreds of British tourists each year, have already scrapped planned stops to Tunisian ports with immediate effect and said they were ‘seeking alternative ports’. Holiday companies Thomson and First Choice said they had also cancelled voyages to Tunis, while P&O, Princess and Celebrity cruises said they were taking advice from security services. A spokesman for the Cruise Lines International Association said last night: ‘No CLIA member ships are scheduled to call at Tunis in the foreseeable future. ‘Cruise lines coordinate closely with national and international authorities when visiting destinations around the globe to help ensure passenger safety.’ Last year, 425,000 British holidaymakers visited Tunisia and last night there were fears that as many as 6,500 could still be in the country. However a spokesman for Thomson and First Choice said: ‘Our customers stay in beach destinations, not Tunis, and we can confirm that none of our customers or staff were affected by Wednesday’s events.’ He added that, as a precaution, all excursions to Tunis have been cancelled. Meanwhile a spokesman for travel agent association ABTA said the tourist season was only just getting under way but safety was always a priority. He told Sky News: ‘Tourist numbers to Tunisia have picked up over the last two years and we have had very healthy bookings for this summer. The season really picks up around mid-April to May. Warning: It comes following a stark warning from the Foreign Office that ‘further attacks are possible’. Pictured: Tourists flee from the Bardo Museum in Tunis after Wednesday's attack . ‘We now have a developing situation. ABTA follows FCO advice very closely and safety is always the main concern.’ Bob Atkinson, a travel expert at TravelSupermarket, added: ‘Tour operators have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their tour operators. ‘Consumers who already have holidays booked this year will want to be convinced of the safety – most of them will be staying at beach resorts and the vast bulk would not even go to Tunis on a day trip.’ The Tunis outrage has tragic echoes of the November 1997 Luxor massacre in Egypt, when gunmen killed 58 foreign holidaymakers including six Britons. Tour operators pulled out of the Egyptian market and it was some time before holidays started again. The CLIA spokesperson continued: ‘Cruise line security personnel, in addition to ongoing communication with national and international security authorities, enhance the security of cruise ships. ‘CLIA members maintain rigorous policies and procedures designed to safeguard passengers.’", "By . Tom Kelly and Amie Keeley . PUBLISHED: . 10:21 EST, 20 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:43 EST, 20 September 2013 . A Nato commander yesterday told of his agony following the disappearance of his 14-year-old daughter nine days ago. Mark Smith said he was ‘worried sick’ about daughter Esme, who vanished after telling friends she was going to a party near her Surrey home. She was last seen getting off a train at London’s Waterloo station about an hour from her address.  Mr Smith, who works at Nato’s Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, said: ‘We are worried sick. She’s just gone to ground. CCTV: Farnham teenager Esme Smith is seen at Charing Cross station around 5.30pm on the day she disappeared . Missing: Esme Smith (far right) with mother Dinah (left) sister Sian (above) and an unnamed woman in a Facebook photo . ‘We’re baffled. We are working very closely with the police and doing everything through them. They are doing a great job.’ Mr Smith, a former lieutenant-commander in the Royal Navy, has been decorated for service in Afghanistan, the Gulf War and Northern Ireland, according to his page on the professional networking site LinkedIn. Since March last year, he has been at the Norwegian Nato base where he is commander of medical planning. The family spoke out after detectives yesterday released new CCTV footage of Esme near Charing Cross station – across the Thames from Waterloo. Last sighting: Esme Smith is seen walking through a door at Waterloo train station, central London, last Thursday after getting changed into a dress . Baffled: Father Mark Smith is out of ideas as to where his daughter could be . Taken from the back, it shows her heading towards Villiers Street in central London at around 5.30pm on Thursday last week wearing the white flowery dress and denim jacket she had earlier changed into from her school uniform. Police are growing increasingly worried about the safety of the teenager, who is described by her sister as an ‘extrovert and ‘vivacious’. She left All Hallows Catholic School in Farnham, Surrey, at about 3.15pm on September 12 and has not been seen or heard from by her family or friends since. The schoolgirl took a train from Aldershot to Waterloo at 4.04pm, after telling school friends she was going to Woking and then on to a party. She was spotted on CCTV at Waterloo at about 5pm, carrying a black school bag and a black floral bag with chain straps. It is believed she also took with her a black dress with a sheer mesh top. Neighbours at the detached home in Farnham where she lives with her father and mother Dinah, 50, spoke of their shock at her disappearance. Paul Gray, 48, said: ‘She’s a smashing kid, really bubbly and very chatty, the kind of kid who would stop and say hello and chat, not like most other teenagers.’ The business development manager added: ‘You just think, what the hell has driven a child to do this?’ Detective Inspector Martin Stables, of Surrey Police’s missing persons unit, urged Esme to get in touch. He added: ‘It’s now over a week since Esme went missing and it is an anxious time for the family as they wait for news.’ Her 19-year-old sister, Sian, has already made an emotional appeal to Esme, saying: ‘We are all really worried about you and we just want to make sure you are OK.’ Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference M/13/900. The charity Missing People can also be contacted anonymously on 116 000. Missing: Esme Smith, 14, who has not been seen since getting the train to London to go to a party a week ago . A new CCTV image has been released by detectives searching for a 14-year-old schoolgirl who has been missing for more than a week. It shows Esme Smith walking down steps near Charing Cross station in London at about 5.30pm last Thursday - the day she vanished. Esme parted from friends after school in her home town of Farnham, Surrey, telling them she was going to a party - then boarded a train to London and was last seen shortly after arriving at Waterloo station, approximately 40 miles from where she lives. Scroll down for video . The teenager told her friends she was . going to Woking, 16 miles away, but instead changed out of her school . uniform and caught a train from Aldershot just after 4pm, and arrived in . London about an hour later. Esme, described as an 'extrovert, vivacious, normal' teenager, has not been seen by her family or made contact with them since. Detective . inspector Martin Stables, of Surrey Police’s missing persons unit, . said: 'It’s now over a week since Esme went missing and it is an anxious . time for the family as they wait for news. 'I am hoping these latest . pictures may draw more information from the public about where Esme may . be.' As the search continues, more than 4,000 people have 'liked' a . Facebook page called Find Esme Smith, dedicated to raising awareness of . her disappearance. One poster wrote: 'Esme, look how many people care!' Another wrote: 'God bless this girl and get her home safe.' Esme’s sister Sian this week made an emotional appeal for her sister’s safe return, saying: 'We just want her back.' She . said: 'I think she’s maybe met somebody out there or planned to meet . somebody. We just don’t know at the moment, and that’s the worrying . thing.' Missing teenager: Esme's sister Sian, 19, today pleaded for her to get in touch . On . Twitter, people retweeted pictures and news reports on the . disappearance of Esme, a pupil at All Hallows Catholic School in . Farnham. In previously-released images, CCTV captured at Waterloo shows Esme wearing a white flowery dress and a denim jacket. She . was carrying a black school bag and black floral bag with chain straps. It is believed she also took with her a black dress which has a sheer . mesh top. Mr Stables said: 'My team are carrying out extensive . inquiries in and around the local and London areas to find Esme, and . anyone who has seen a girl matching her description or who knows about . her whereabouts should call Surrey Police. 'Similarly, Esme if you see . any of the media appeals please let us know that you are safe and well.' Esme . is white, 5ft 3in, and of slim to medium build, with shoulder-length . brown hair that may be tied in a bun. She has brown eyes and a tanned . complexion and wears size six shoes. Last Sian, sent out a plea to her sister. She . said: ‘Esme, if you are reading this, I just want to say please come . home or at least get in touch so that we know that you are safe. ‘We are all really worried about you and we just want to make sure you are OK. ‘You are not in any trouble so please just get in touch.’ Last night Esme’s mother, Dinah Smith, 39, was too upset to talk at the family’s detached home in Farnham, Surrey – which she shares with the schoolgirl’s father, 50-year-old Mark Smith. Detective Sergeant Antony Preston from Surrey Police Missing Persons Unit said: ‘We are following up a number of lines of enquiry and we have had a number of calls as to Esme’s whereabouts, but as time goes on our concerns about her welfare remain. ‘Anyone who has seen a girl matching her description or who knows her and has any information about her whereabouts is urged to contact us as soon as possible. Similarly, if Esme sees this appeal, please get in touch to confirm that you are safe and well.’ Esme was last seen by her friends when she left All Hallows Catholic School in Farnham at around 3.15pm last Thursday. She told them that she was travelling to Woking and would then be going on to a party. But the brunette boarded a train at Aldershot station just after 4pm and was then filmed on CCTV getting off a train at London Waterloo around 5pm. Police have issued several photographs of the teenager and a spokesman for the Surrey force said: ‘Esme is described  as white, 5ft 3in tall, slim to medium build, with shoulder-length brown hair that may be tied in a bun. ‘She has brown eyes and a tanned complexion and wears size six shoes.’ Officers have launched a ‘Twitter reconstruction’, using the social networking site to post details of the teenager’s last known movements along with pictures of her in the hope of jogging people’s memories. Police said that although she may be in London they are also considering the possibility that she may have moved on to somewhere outside the capital. Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.", "By . Adam Duggan . He has a shambolic personal life and a chronic alcohol addiction which would kill a man with less seasoned liver. Yet despite these foibles, the fictional detective is perfectly capable of cracking even the most fiendishly difficult of crimes. Now a top police officer has called for authors to put aside the stereotypes exemplified by characters such as Ian Rankin’s Rebus in favour of clean-living coppers who are closer to real life. Bad example: Self destructive Inspector Rebus, played here by Ken Stott, is not an accurate description of modern policing, according to Chief Constable Nick Gargan . Inspector Morse (John Thaw), right, another television detective depiction Nick Gargan disagrees with . Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan also said that the work done by one man in many stories would actually be carried out by a team of 40. ‘You see a Rebus or Morse at the scene, recovering forensic exhibits, interviewing the suspect, comforting the family, arguing with the chief constable about resources’, he told The Guardian. ‘What can be a team of 20, 30 or 40 people is concentrated in the person of this one senior investigator. There are some pretty damaged individuals in too many of these books. ‘I'd quite like to see some cheery, well-balanced, well-adjusted, equally successful investigators.’ Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren), right in Prime Suspect: another police procedural series in which writers present a flawed detective taking on the job of more than one person . Chief Con Gargan, who was speaking before a talk at Chipping Norton literary festival, said he accepted that an honest depiction of police procedure would generally put audiences to sleep. But the Queen’s Police Medal winner added that officers had to operate within the law and a Rebus-style approach to policing was not acceptable. Some television viewers might disagree with what he’s saying, but Mr Gargan knows the realities of the modern police force better than most crime writers. Entering the force in 1988, he worked considerably on the investigation into the death of Princess Diana and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours List of 2012. Queen's Police Medal recipient Nick Gargan, who has come out against the depiction of fictional police detectives and called on crime writers to portray them in a more admirable manner . Detective Inspector John Rebus, created by Scottish author Ian Rankin, on the other hand lets his personal and professional issues intertwine and often acts outside the law when making decisions, which would no doubt see him face disciplinary action if he was a real life cop. In January a senior detective in Wiltshire Police was found guilty of gross misconduct after failing to read a killer his rights before he was led to two bodies - behaviour that shows striking similarities to Rankin's fictional character. Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher should have repeatedly cautioned taxi driver Christopher Halliwell as he showed him where two victims, Sian O'Callaghan, 22, and Becky Godden-Edwards, 20, were buried. The double confession was inadmissable in court because Wiltshire Police officer Mr Fulcher, 49, had broken Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) rules. It was a scene that could have been pulled straight out of a crime novel, but with much more serious consequences for the real life detective. 'The rules and laws are there for a reason. It's not heroic to step outside the law. We shouldn't do that. We're the police', Gargan said.", "Ahead of its official naming by the Queen next Tuesday, P&O Cruises' new liner, the 141,000-ton Britannia, has arrived at its home port of Southampton. Capable of carrying more than 3,600 passengers and 1,350 crew, the 1,082-ft long vessel is the largest cruise ship designed specifically for the British holiday market. Boasting 15 passenger decks, 13 bars and 13 places to eat, the £473 million Britannia has a three-tier atrium, a 936-seater theatre, four swimming pools, and a multi-million pound art collection. Scroll down for video . The Britannia is the largest cruise ship on the market to be involved in holiday travels around the world . Crowds gathered in Southampton as the Britannia 'returned' home ready for its special inauguration . Its bow adorned with a 308-ft long version of the Union Flag, the new liner has a spa, extensive children's areas, a gym, a library, extensive shops and a sports arena. Passengers will be able to take part in a cookery school on board and there will be guest chefs on cruises, including Mary Berry. Marco Pierre White and James Martin. Captains Paul Brown, who joined P&O Cruises in 1989, and David Pembridge, who has been with the company since 1972, will alternate being in command of Britannia. Sailing from Southampton during the summer and operating from the Caribbean in the winter, Britannia will visit 57 ports in 31 countries in its first year, sailing more than 90,000 miles. The naming ceremony takes place on Tuesday, hosted by none other than her majesty The Queen on Southampton Docks . It was some scene as P&O's biggest commercial cruise ship entered into Southampton docks today . The entrance of the luxurious cruise ship provided a perfect photo opportunity for those who gathered . Its maiden cruise, leaving Southampton on March 14, will be a 14-night Western Mediterranean sailing - with port stops including Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Rome. Next Tuesday's naming ceremony, at which the Duke of Edinburgh will also be present, will prove particularly poignant for the Queen given her long and fond memories of another vessel called Britannia - the royal yacht that saw service from 1954 to 1997 before being decommissioned. The spectacular three-tier atrium on the Britannia. Guests can enjoy nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied, including a 936-seat theatre, four pools, and 13 places to eat . Cosy cabin: A Superior Deluxe cabin on board the P&O liner. In total there are 1,837 cabins on board, and 15 passenger decks . The 141,000 ton cruise ship will feature a 1,837 cabins, a three-tiered atrium, a library and a sports centre. Adults can relax in the Oasis Spa & The Retreat, whilst the children enjoy the extensive facilities, including four age group areas, a night nursery and outdoor splash area for teens. For those who like to be kept active, explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the largest amount of shops in a fleet at 660 sqm. The stunning Blue Bar room on board the 141,000 ton cruise ship. The luxury liner also include a library and Oasis Spa & The Retreat . A handover in Italy saw P&O finally take possession of the grand cruise ship, just days before it is set to be unveiled to the public . Queen of British baking Mary Berry will allow people to learn from her 60 years in baking, on the 12-night British Isles cruise to the Mediterranean, departing July 6 . Unique to the cruise is the opportunity to hone your skills in the kitchen alongside your relaxing cruise. Great British Bake-off judge Mary Berry will lead a list of 10 celebrity chefs offering up classes on the ocean, as well as hosting chef's table dinners, book signings and Q&A sessions. She will be featured on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton, along with Theo Randall and James Martin and prices to learn from her 60 years in baking start from £1,149pp. The Britannia will be named in an official ceremony on Tuesday, and make her maiden voyage on Saturday, March 14 . Celebrity chef and master patissier Eric Lanlard owns a cake boutique in London called Cake Boy and will join a line-up of 'food heroes' who will be on board the ship during certain sailings . The artistic decor in the atrium of the Britannia. The ship will also hold £1 million worth of artwork . For those who like to be kept active, explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the large amount of shops . While the weather wasn't ideal for a swim, the pools on deck will offer respite from the heat on summer Mediterranean cruises . Mary Berry will be on board to share her culinary skills on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton, along with Theo Randall and James Martin . NATHAN OUTLAW- Cruise B503, a 14-night Portugal, Spain & Morocco cruise departing March 28. From £1,549pp: Four Michelin stars in total, two at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac, Cornwall, and one each at Outlaw's Fish Kitchen, Port isaac and Outlaw's at The Capital, Knightsbridge. PIERRE KOFFMANN - Cruise B510, a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing June 13 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,449 per person: Legendary French-born chef who held three Michelin stars at La Tante Claire and now runs Koffmann’s at The Berkeley. MARY BERRY - Cruise B513, a 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 with Theo Randall and James Martin. From £1,149pp: Television chef, Great British Bake-Off judge and prolific food writer for 60 years cooking experience. THEO RANDALL - Cruise B153 (as above): Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane. LAWRENCE KEOGH - Cruise B514, a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise departing July 18. From £799pp: Head chef at the Wolseley restaurant in London. JAMES TANNER - Cruise B516, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing August 8. From £949pp: Co-owner of Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth, and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Kent. VIVEK SINGH - Cruise B517, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing August 15. From £1,999pp: Modern Indian chef with three London restaurants, The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho. DANIEL GALMICHE - Cruise B519, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing September 5. From £799pp: Michelin-starred Executive Chef at The Vineyard in Berkshire, a pioneer of modern French cuisine and TV chef. ANTONIO CARLUCCIO – Cruise B523, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing October 9 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,149pp: Beloved chef , food writer and owner of Carluccio's chain of restaurants. PAUL RANKIN  - Cruise B524, a 14 night Portugal & Caribbean cruise departing October 23 with Eric Lanlard. From £1,139pp: Celebrity chef from County Down. The handover ceremony of P&O cruises took place on Sunday February 22, in Italy’s Trieste, and was attended by Carnival UK executive chairman, David Dingle, senior executives from P&O Cruises, as well as senior teams from the shipyard Fincantieri, where Britannia was built. The ceremony involved exchanging of flags, and the P&O Cruises flag was hoisted in place. Stars to attend the prestigious event included cheese expert Charlie Turnball, TV wine expert Olly Smith, and master patissier Eric Lanlard, along with some of the P&O Cruise Food Heroes.", "By . Michael Gadd for MailOnline . A P&O cruise line passenger has expressed outrage at artwork being prominently displayed on a ship featuring a story about missing British girl Madeleine McCann. The piece shows a row of people sitting while a variety of newspapers, including one copy of the Sunday Times that shows a lead story on the search for Maddy. Michael Gould, 55, was especially dismayed at the work being hung in full view of his children as he escorted them to a child's club area on board the P&O ship the Ventura. 'Odd': Father of three Michael Gould shows an artwork featuring Madeleine McCann from a P&O cruise ship . Full view: Gould said he saw the work when he took his children to the child's club area on the ship . Father-of-three Michael was on holiday with his wife Corinna and their youngest daughter Olivia on a Mediterranean cruise in early July. The company director from Liverpool said the family were staying at the rear - aft - of the ship and during the evening would walk up a flight of stairs to take Olivia, aged five, to an area devoted to children. 'I just thought it was a very odd piece of art to have on a child-friendly ship, we went past it every night to the child's club en route from our cabin,' Gould said. 'It was at the top of the aft stair well in a high-profile public area. When I contacted P&O about it they more or less said \"well it's there\". 'P&O said the artist was depicting the sad realities of life, I don't go on holiday to be reminded of the sad realities of life. 'I think what's happened is someone somewhere has said we need a load of art for the ship and this has been done. 'I'm disappointed P&O don't seem to have taken this seriously, and I think they're wrong.' Missing: Madeleine McCann has been missing since May 2007 when she disappeared in Portugal . Search: Gould shows a close-up of the Sunday Times story about the investigation into Maddy's disappearance . Gould said he had emailed the company and been told the mural was not going to be taken down. He said: 'It was a very successful holiday, it would not be the case to say the whole holiday was ruined by this. 'However as somebody who is interested in art and collects art we found this a very odd thing to have on a child-friendly boat.' A spokesperson for P&O said: 'The artist intended to depict a snapshot of the headlines and capture a moment in time through actual front pages.' Maddy has been missing since May 2007 when she disappeared during a holiday in Portugal with her family. Her parents Kate and Gerry have never given up hope of being reunited with the little girl, now 9, but despite an international appeal and numerous reported sightings Maddy hasn't been found. Not budging: A P&O spokesperson said the artist aimed to 'depict a snapshot of the headlines and capture a moment in time through actual front pages,' and that the work on their Ventura ship wouldn't be taken down .", "Proving that bigger is definitely better is P&O Cruises, who have taken delivery of the largest ever cruise ship for the British market. The liner which can hold 3,647 passengers will boast £1 million worth of art, nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied, including a 936-seat theatre, four pools, and 13 places to eat. The colossal vessel will leave Italy and arrive in Southampton on Friday March 6. Before her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean on Saturday 14 March, she will be officially named on Tuesday 10 March. Scroll down for video . Queen of the ocean: The Britannia will be named in an official ceremony on Tuesday 10 March, and make her maiden voyage on Saturday 14 March . The spectacular three-tier atrium on the Britannia. Guests can enjoy nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied, including a 936-seat theatre, four pools, and 13 places to eat . Cosy cabin: A Superior Deluxe cabin on board the P&O liner. In total there are 1,837 cabins on board, and 15 passenger decks . The 141,000 ton cruise ship will feature a 1,837 cabins, a three-tiered atrium, a library and a sports centre. Adults can relax in the Oasis Spa & The Retreat, whilst the children enjoy the extensive facilities, including four age group areas, a night nursery and outdoor splash area for teens. For those who like to be kept active, explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the largest amount of shops in a fleet at 660 sqm. The stunning Blue Bar room on board the 141,000 ton cruise ship. The luxury liner also include a library and Oasis Spa & The Retreat . The handover saw P&O finally take possession of the grand cruise ship, just days before it is set to be unveiled to the public . Queen of British baking Mary Berry will allow people to learn from her 60 years in baking, on the 12-night British Isles cruise to the Mediterranean, departing July 6 . Unique to the cruise is the opportunity to hone your skills in the kitchen alongside your relaxing cruise. Great British Bake-off judge Mary Berry will lead a list of 10 celebrity chefs offering up classes on the ocean, as well as hosting chef's table dinners, book signings and Q&A sessions. She will be featured on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton, along with Theo Randall and James Martin and prices to learn from her 60 years in baking start from £1,149pp. Celebrity chef and master patissier Eric Lanlard owns a cake boutique in London called Cake Boy and will join a line-up of 'food heroes' who will be on board the ship during certain sailings . The artistic decor in the atrium of the Britannia. The ship will also hold £1 million worth of artwork . For those who like to be kept active, explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the large amount of shops . While the weather wasn't ideal for a swim, the pools on deck will offer respite from the heat on summer Mediterranean cruises . Mary Berry will be on board to share her culinary skills on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton, along with Theo Randall and James Martin . NATHAN OUTLAW- Cruise B503, a 14-night Portugal, Spain & Morocco cruise departing March 28. From £1,549pp: Four Michelin stars in total, two at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac, Cornwall, and one each at Outlaw's Fish Kitchen, Port isaac and Outlaw's at The Capital, Knightsbridge. PIERRE KOFFMANN - Cruise B510, a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing June 13 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,449 per person: Legendary French-born chef who held three Michelin stars at La Tante Claire and now runs Koffmann’s at The Berkeley. MARY BERRY - Cruise B513, a 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 with Theo Randall and James Martin. From £1,149pp: Television chef, Great British Bake-Off judge and prolific food writer for 60 years cooking experience. THEO RANDALL - Cruise B153 (as above): Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane. LAWRENCE KEOGH - Cruise B514, a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise departing July 18. From £799pp: Head chef at the Wolseley restaurant in London. JAMES TANNER - Cruise B516, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing August 8. From £949pp: Co-owner of Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth, and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Kent. VIVEK SINGH - Cruise B517, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing August 15. From £1,999pp: Modern Indian chef with three London restaurants, The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho. DANIEL GALMICHE - Cruise B519, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing September 5. From £799pp: Michelin-starred Executive Chef at The Vineyard in Berkshire, a pioneer of modern French cuisine and TV chef. ANTONIO CARLUCCIO – Cruise B523, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing October 9 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,149pp: Beloved chef , food writer and owner of Carluccio's chain of restaurants. PAUL RANKIN  - Cruise B524, a 14 night Portugal & Caribbean cruise departing October 23 with Eric Lanlard. From £1,139pp: Celebrity chef from County Down. The handover ceremony of P&O cruises took place on Sunday February 22, in Italy’s Trieste, and was attended by Carnival UK executive chairman, David Dingle, senior executives from P&O Cruises, as well as senior teams from the shipyard Fincantieri, where Britannia was built. The ceremony involved exchanging of flags, and the P&O Cruises flag was hoisted in place. Stars to attend the prestigious event included cheese expert Charlie Turnball, TV wine expert Olly Smith, and master patissier Eric Lanlard, along with some of the P&O Cruise Food Heroes. Cheese expert Charlie Turnball outside his delicatessen in Shaftsbury, Dorset attended the handover ceremony on February 22 in Italy .", "By . James Tozer, Jaya Narain, Rosie Taylor And Amanda Williams . Angela Callaghan invented six children to fraudulently claim almost £43,000 in state benefits . A single mother who invented six children in order to falsely claim £43,000 in benefits, then helped other women copy her scam, has been jailed for a ‘flagrant and brazen’ fraud. Angela Callaghan, 42, cashed in on a loophole which means tax credits are paid out without claimants having to submit a child’s birth certificate. Over three years the mother of two claimed for six fictitious children, including twins she said she was looking after for her sister and one on behalf of her teenage daughter. Not content with that, jobless Callaghan – already a convicted benefits fraudster – began helping other Liverpool mothers to perpetrate the same fraud, receiving a cut of up to £700 from each. It drew comparisons with the notorious White Dee from Channel 4’s controversial series Benefits Street – with the crucial difference that Deirdre Kelly argued she was helping neighbours make legitimate claims. Callaghan’s scam cost taxpayers more than £55,000 in total until it was exposed. Yesterday she was jailed for 12 months, despite her lawyer asking for leniency because she has a – genuine – four-year-old son. Three other mothers who took part in the swindle, falsely claiming £4,151, £2,956 and £2,502, were given suspended sentences earlier this month. White Dee, the alleged 'star' of Benefits Street . Last night Tory MP Priti Patel said: ‘This is an appalling example of flagrant abuse of the benefits system. Hard-pressed taxpayers are sick and tired of hearing of such abuse and this case shows exactly why we need sanctions and tough sentences for individuals who break the system.’ Callaghan had been given a community sentence for a £9,000 benefits fraud in 2008, but the following year she invented a twin of her then 16-year-old daughter, Adele, and began claiming tax credits in her name. Over a three-year period, she created fictitious children named Jordan, David, Lucy, Alex, Zach and Layla, Liverpool Crown Court was told. They included twins she claimed to be looking after on behalf of her sister, and a baby she said was her daughter’s but who was in her care. She made £42,925 between 2009 and 2012 and wrongly claimed a further £2,577 in child benefit payments for Adele by failing to declare that she had left full-time education. Neighbours of her £110,000 semi on a quiet street near Aintree racecourse in Bootle, yesterday told how the property had been refurbished, apparently using the proceeds of the fraud, including a new patio and wrought-iron gates. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Callaghan began abusing the benefit system in 2009 when she contacted the authorities to add additional children to her existing legitimate claim for tax credits for her daughter . In 2011 she began advising other mothers . on how to follow suit, ‘claiming a kick-back from the proceeds . wrongfully paid out as her reward’, said Kevin Slack, prosecuting. Mothers . already receiving tax credits would give her their passwords and bank . details, and she would call the helpline pretending to be them and . having recently given birth to twins, the court heard. This resulted in a . back-dated lump sum being paid into the recipient’s account followed by . further regular payments with no further proof required, said Mr Slack. ‘The . process of reporting changes of circumstances is designed to be simple . for the customer and the system relies very much on the honesty of the . person notifying the change,’ he added. After Callaghan admitted five . benefit offences, Sarah Phelan, defending, urged Judge David Aubrey, QC, . not to send her to prison. But the judge jailed her and the court heard . that Callaghan’s daughter, now 21, will care for her brother while she . serves her 12-month sentence. A spokesman for HMRC said: ‘We check . all the information provided for a tax credits claim and constantly . evolve these checks to ensure they remain effective. As this case shows, . we do detect fraud and we do stop it.’ Last year HMRC admitted . 1.4million tax credit claims – or one in five – were being overpaid, . with losses through fraud and error put at £850million a year.", "A pensioner who fell ill on a P&O luxury cruise collapsed and died in a budget hotel room after being ‘forced off the ship and abandoned’ at a Mexican port. Beryl Robinson, 84, was told she had to leave the cruise after a bug she is believed to have picked up on board the 950ft Arcadia developed into a chest infection. Mrs Robinson, who uses a wheelchair, had to pay more than £2,100 for treatment in the ship’s medical centre before the doctor insisted she leave the cruise at the next port. Her family, also on the £4,250-per-person trip, said they were told it was a ‘hotel, not a hospital’. Happy: Beryl Robinson, husband Stanley, their daughter Linda and son-in-law John earlier in the cruise . Celebration: Mrs Robinson was on the 24-night cruise celebrating her 62nd wedding anniversary with husband Stanley, pictured together left, and her daughter Linda and son-in-law John, pictured right in 2011 . Luxury liner: P&O's 950ft Arcadia ship, which was travelling from Southampton to San Francisco, California . Mrs Robinson was on the 24-night cruise from Southampton to San Francisco celebrating her 62nd wedding anniversary with husband Stanley, 85, their daughter Linda Wright, 54, and son-in-law John, 56. Mrs Wright said: ‘Mum had been fine before the cruise. She died as a result of getting sick on that ship … forced off it and then dragged from pillar to post. She had been comfortable and stable … but they couldn’t get her off the boat fast enough.’ The sales assistant added: ‘My mother had been a loyal P&O customer since the Seventies … but when it came to her time in need they let her down and just abandoned us in Mexico. My father is devastated.’ The family from Norfolk asked to stay on board for three more days until San Francisco – where they had paid for a hotel and were due to fly home on February 4. Medical records from the ship show Mrs Robinson had responded to treatment with oxygen and antibiotics and had ‘remained stable’. All P&O ships have a medical centre with qualified doctors on board for passengers and crew. But use of the facilities does not come cheap and the cost is not included in the cruise price. Passengers are charged £50 for a consultation before any treatment or medication. Admission to the centre can cost £500 a day plus the cost of any treatment or tests. An injection alone will cost £10 plus the cost of the medicine being injected. All passengers must have travel insurance to cover medical care on board or in a foreign country, including emergency evacuation. Mrs Wright said: ‘She could have safely stayed on board but the doctor said she had to go because “it was a hotel and not a hospital”.’ While Mr Wright stayed on the ship to make arrangements from San Francisco, the rest of the family were left in Cabo San Lucas with nowhere to stay. ‘They arranged an ambulance but then just abandoned us,’ Mrs Wright said. ‘We felt so frightened.’ Mrs Robinson, who used to run a greetings card shop, was taken to a private hospital that demanded $15,000 upfront to start treatment. She suffered ‘unnecessary fear and panic’ over what her daughter said appeared to be ‘sub–standard’ care, adding: ‘They didn’t even wash her for three days.’ Mr Wright, a haulage contractor, said they struggled to get help from their travel insurance so were forced to pay for hotels and medical bills and claim it back later. He added: ‘I had to transfer our savings to the hospital … The insurance company was taking too long.’ Mrs Robinson was one of many passengers who the family say fell ill on the ship – which has been accused of inflicting the ‘Arcadia cough’ on some of its customers. Mr Wright said they noticed fellow travellers coughing within days of the cruise starting on January 6. Toast: Beryl Robinson (left) and Stanley Robinson (right) celebrated as the ship set sail from Southampton . ‘We all picked up this cough but Beryl’s gradually became more profound,’ he said. Mrs Robinson became breathless and was moved to the medical centre. Her son-in-law added: ‘An elderly gentleman was also taken off [the ship] with her. His wife had to sleep on a hospital couch because she had no access to money.' Doctor consultation £52.50 . Medical Centre initial admission £157.50 . Stay for 22 hours £415.80 . Setting up a pulse monitor £23.10 . Pulse monitoring for 21 hours £132.30 . Pulse capnography (graph which shows the pulse) £57 . Oxygen £396 . Setting up the oxygen £15.75 . Delivering the oxygen £8.99 . Disembarkation organisation fee £157.50 . Mrs Robinson was taken off the ship on January 27 and admitted to hospital where she received oxygen and antibiotics before being released three days later. The family then faced the ordeal of getting to San Francisco where they could fly home. Mrs Wright said: ‘We had to find, book and pay for the transport ourselves. My poor mother had to go from taxi to coach to plane to taxi … it was a huge upheaval and incredibly draining.’ Once they arrived on January 30 they planned to stay at the Hyatt where they had a four-night stay booked within the cruise package which also included their flights. ‘We thought it was all booked but P&O had cancelled the hotel and the flights because Linda, Beryl and Stanley had left the ship,’ Mr Wright said. ‘They then refused to help us rearrange them … We had to find the money to pay for flights and a hotel again even though we had already paid for it all.’ The family managed to get flights but while waiting to travel home, Mrs Robinson died in her hotel room on January 31. ‘The doctors said it looked like a cardiac arrest,’ Mrs Wright said. 'Forced off': Mrs Robinson, pictured with her husband on a cruise in 2013, used to run a greetings card shop. She was taken to a private hospital in Mexico that demanded $15,000 upfront to start treatment . ‘The trauma and upheaval had been too much … Our doctor saw her records and said there was no reason for her to come off that ship … I believe she would be here today if it wasn’t for the cough and how P&O treated her.’ To add insult to injury, Mr Robinson later received a call from P&O checking whether his wife had got home safely. Mrs Wright said: ‘He was so upset, he just said, “She never made it home, she’s dead”, and hung up.’ The family, who are making an insurance claim for their costs, must wait for a death certificate before the body can be repatriated at a further cost of £5,000. P&O said the decision to leave Mrs Robinson in Mexico was ‘in her best interests at the time’, adding: ‘Unfortunately it is necessary occasionally for the ship’s medical centre to refer sick patients to a shore-based hospital for specialist treatment.’", "Missing: Teresa Cowley is feared dead as police fear she went overboard on a cruise . A British mother of twin girls was feared dead today after she fell overboard following a night drinking on board a ferry with her husband. Teresa Cowley, 43, disappeared while she and her partner Mark, also 43, sailed from Hull to Rotterdam in the early hours of Friday morning. The couple, from Mickleover, Derby, had set off on board the P&O ferry at 8.30pm on Thursday and were due to arrive in the Netherlands at 8.15am the next morning. They spent the evening in the Pride of Rotterdam's bar and returned to their cabin just before 1am but their key did not work in the lock. Police say Mark went to reception to get a new key while his wife waited outside the cabin, but when he returned Teresa had vanished and he raised the alarm. CCTV cameras on board the ship show Teresa staggering alone on deck shortly after 1am on Friday and she has not been seen since. A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said: 'The door key to the cabin did not work and while Mr Cowley went to reception to resolve the problem he left Teresa sitting outside the cabin. 'CCTV and witness accounts show Mrs Cowley go alone to Deck 11 Sun Lounge on the ship shortly after 1am on Friday, December 28. She did not return. 'Searches of the ship failed to locate Mrs Cowley who has since been reported missing. 'It is not looking good considering she is lost at sea.' Teresa - who reportedly has two teenage daughters from a previous relationship - is white, of medium build, around 5ft 4in tall, with black bobbed hair with red highlights. She was last seen wearing a grey jumper, black leggings and black boots. Trip: Mrs Cowley was on the P&O ship Pride of Rotterdam (pictured) as it headed for Holland when she disappeared on Friday morning . She has several distinctive tattoos including the words ‘Mrs Cowley’ written on her forearm, a black panther on one of her ankles and a large tattoo on the right side of her body made up of a dozen roses joined together. She had no money or identification with her when she went missing. Detectives from the Harbour Police at Rotterdam are currently investigating. It is not thought that anyone else is involved or any criminal offence had taken place. A neighbour, who did not want to be named, told The Sun: 'It's heart-breaking. She was a mum of two teenage girls from a previous relationship. There is still some slim hope she may be found alive.' Night out: Mr and Mrs Cowley had been drinking in the bar of the Pride incident . Meanwhile the body of a different woman was today pulled from the water near a British ferry terminal. Police were called at 1.04pm after the crew of a Red Funnel ferry spotted a body floating near a pontoon at Town Quay, in Southampton, Hampshire. She was hauled onto a police launch boat and taken to Southampton General Hospital, where she will be searched for identification. Detectives are waiting for the result of a post mortem examination but have said they are not treating the death as suspicious. A . spokesman said: 'We believe we know who the deceased was but her family . have yet to be notified and formal identification hasn't yet taken . place.' Witness Simon Dale . was watching the scene unfold before he caught the ferry to Hythe and . saw crewmen from the Red Jet ferry trying to hook the body out of the . water. He said: 'I was sat around the terminal when the fire alarm went off. We were outside and that's when I saw the Red Jet lads. 'There . were about 15 of us taking a look at what was happening. But then the . police came over and asked us to move on saying it wasn't the prettiest . sight.'", "A British cruise line company has been forced to divert two ships with thousands of passengers due to visit Argentina because of increasing tensions over the Falkland Islands. The Argentine government refused to guarantee P&O Cruises permission to dock in three ports as its two luxury liners were planning visiting the Falklands before Buenos Aires. This follows last week’s accusations by the British government that Argentina is ‘intimidating’ British cruise liners near the Falkland Islands. Refusing entry: P&O Cruises' Arcadia has been diverted from Argentina in the latest 'intimidating' move by the Argentine government blocking British cruise liners . Seven such incidents, where protestors or industrial action by militant unions have disrupted cruise liners bound for the Falklands, have now occurred in the past two months. It is understood that last month, the British Government ‘formally summoned’ the Argentine Ambassador Alicia Castro to protest against the incidents involving thousands of passengers since mid-November. The move by Argentina to effectively block the British liners comes after a year of tense negotiations between P&O's sister company Cunard and rulers of the South American country. Argentine officials are unhappy the luxury liners, Arcadia and Adonia, planned to visit the Falklands before docking in Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia, to refuel and collect food supplies. P&O had also arranged for 400 passengers, who pay up to £10,000 for tickets, join the cruise in Buenos Aires but and have now had to re-route them to Uruguay or offer a full refund. Word war: Last week, President Kirchner published an open letter, disguised as an advert in several newspapers including The Guardian, saying the Falklands were 'forcibly stripped' from Argentina . Hugo Swire, Foreign and Commonwealth . Affairs minister Hugo Swire said last week: We condemn unequivocally any . efforts to intimidate companies from pursuing their lawful business. ‘The . British government deeply regrets that elements in Argentina have . recently taken action aimed at disrupting cruise ships that visit the . Falklands.’ The Foreign Office last night said there had been around six incidents in recent weeks. They . include officials refusing permission entry Argentine ports or delaying . ships, masked militants attacking and ransacking offices of shipping . companies and scheduled cruise itineraries either altered, or abandoned, . to appease locals. Tensions . escalated between Britain and Argentina last week after Cristina . Kirchner, Argentina’s president, published an open letter to David . Cameron calling for the region to be returned to her Government’s . control. The letter, disguised as an advert published in several newspapers including The Guardian, Kirchner said the South Atlantic islands were 'forcibly stripped' from Argentina 180 years ago today 'in a blatant exercise of 19th-century colonialism'. The FCO has . accused Argentina of trying to strangle the islands’ economy, which . earns £10million from cruise ship tourism which employs around a quarter . of the working population. No entry: The cruise liners have been forced to divert their course away from Argentina's ports after their government found out they were planning to stop at the Falklands beforehand . Dear Dave: The letter by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner addressed to Prime Minister David Cameron and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the Falkland Islands . Island . restaurant owner Hattie Kilmartin said: ‘Ours is one of many small . businesses being destroyed by Argentina's bullying tactics. They are . driving us out of business.’ A P&O spokesperson said: ‘On . numerous occasions over the last year ships associated with Britain and . flying the red ensign have not been permitted to call into Argentina or . have been severely delayed. ‘Over the past few months we have been . working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our local agents . to gain assurances from the Argentine government that our ships will be . allowed to call into their ports. ‘We have been unable to gain these assurances and the risk of being refused entry or being delayed is too high. Further trouble: A British flag is set on fire during a protest by Argentinian nationalists at the Buenos Aires cruise terminal last week . ‘As . a British cruise company we cannot allow ourselves to be the subject of . any political dispute or put our customers and crew into any situation . where their enjoyment may be compromised. ‘With . this in mind, we have had to take the difficult decision to remove all . Argentinian ports of call in 2013 from Arcadia and Adonia itineraries.’ The 2,106-passenger Arcadia and 710-passenger Adonio will still be calling at the Falkland Islands capital Port Stanley. An . inside source said: ‘We worked through the night preparing for the mail . drop. It could end up costing the company thousands if passengers . decide to take up the offer of a refund.’ A referendum of 3,000 residents is set to be held in March to get their approval of its status as a British overseas territory. Cunard spokesperson Michael Gallagher confirmed more ships are likely to be diverted, saying: ‘We will probably follow suit with P&O.’ America and Holland are also considering pulling their cruise liners out of Argentina.", "(CNN) -- It's a shame what \"Family Guy\" has done to its dog. On Sunday's episode of the animated Fox series, the Griffin family pooch, Brian, was killed. (Seriously.) The intelligent and verbose pet was headed into the street to play with his ace companion, mischievous baby Stewie, when he was struck by an oncoming car. His injuries were so severe, he ended up having to say farewell to the family he's bonded with since 1999. Naturally, fans don't know what to make of this shocking news, with some having suggestions for another character who could've said goodbye: . To make matters worse, the series has replaced Brian with another pup named Vinny, voiced by \"The Sopranos' \" Tony Sirico. According to \"Family Guy\" executive producer Steve Callaghan, creator Seth MacFarlane is a \"big fan of 'The Sopranos' and always loved Tony Sirico in particular, and he thought it would be fun to write a character based around his voice and his personality,\" he told E! News. Apparently, the idea to kill off Brian was thrown out into the writers room, and \"it sort of caught fire\" as \"a fun way to shake things up.\" \"As soon as this idea came up, we started talking about what the next couple episodes could be, and we got very excited about the way this change will affect the family dynamics and the characters,\" Callaghan said. MacFarlane's hit is now in its 12th season, and the creator has said that he'd be OK with \"Family Guy\" ending its run. In an October 2011 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the multitasking actor/writer/producer said he'd have been fine with wrapping the series a few years ago. \"Part of me thinks 'Family Guy' should have already ended,\" he told the magazine. \"I think seven seasons is about the right lifespan for a TV series. I talk to fans, and in a way I'm kind of secretly hoping for them to say 'we're done with it.' \" Viewers might wonder whether this move is a way to dissuade them from tuning in, but Callaghan doesn't foresee any backlash. \"Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough, to know that they can trust us,\" he told E!. \"We always make choices that always work to the greatest benefit of the series.\"", "A bridegroom was so impressed with the venue for his lavish wedding reception that he returned in the dead of night and plundered it. Christopher Richards, 25, enjoyed a luxury champagne buffet with 90 guests following his marriage to Bridie Sparks, 24. But he later returned to the venue, broke in and stole hundreds of bottles of spirits, wine, beer and alcopops as he went on a £50,000 wrecking spree. Yobs: Christopher Richards, left, and his usher . George Taylor, centre left, are pictured at the wedding. Both returned . to the Bacup Hub club and stole spirits and wine. Bridie Sparks, right, said she will stand by her man . Newly-weds: The couple are pictured cutting their wedding cake at the venue . Last night Richards' new wife, a . mother-of-two who is pregnant with their third child, vowed to stand by . her new husband saying: 'I love him. Nobody's perfect.' Burnley Crown Court heard that the couple were married in Bacup and then went to the Bacup Hub for their reception. Club owner Catherine Murphy, an . accountant, provided the champagne buffet at half price because . Richards, a labourer, was unemployed at the time and was broke. She charged the couple only £1,060 . for the whole day – including venue, champagne, chocolate fountain  and . bouncy castle – when the usual fee  is £2,400. But Richards, his usher George . Taylor, 24, and two other intruders broke into the club six months later . before smashing CCTVs, mirrors, tiles, cupboards and glasses. They . stole more than £20,000 worth of goods and caused damage estimated at . £25,000. Richards, from Bacup, was arrested . after CCTV images of the raid were published in a local newspaper. He . told police officers it was an act of stupidity carried out when he was . drunk. He admitted burglary and was jailed for six months for what judge . Jonathan Gibson described as 'a dreadful offence'. Shocking: This CCTV footage shows the raid taking place at the Bacup Hub. The raid took place despite the venue's owner giving the newly weds a massive discount because they complained of being broke and she felt sorry for them . Vandals: The group caused more than £20,000 of damage to property in the building as well as stealing thousands of pounds worth of alcohol . Yesterday his wife said that although . memories of her wedding were ruined she would stand by him. 'I can't . even look at our  wedding photos now,' said Mrs Richards. 'I was going . to watch  our wedding DVD the other night, but I stopped myself as it . reminds me of the bad situation we're  in now. 'I'm standing by my man because I love . him and nobody is perfect. I know my husband isn't an angel and it . hurts that he went back to the same place we got married. 'I'm now 35 weeks pregnant and I won't even have my husband by my side for the pregnancy. Ungrateful: Christopher Richards, left, had wed . Bridie Sparks , right, when he and three friends went back to the club . where they held the reception to plunder it of thousands of pounds worth . of alcohol . Happy: The newly-married couple are pictured leaving the church following the wedding . 'It makes me so sad he's not going to . be there. He has been here for all the other pregnancies and is a . brilliant dad. When I saw the CCTV stills of my husband I just felt . sick, he looked like a criminal. 'It's affected me badly, with lots of people staring at me in the street, thinking I had something to do with it.' Mrs Richards already has two children . with her husband and will give birth to their third while he is in jail. 'I just hope everything is going to be all right and that we can have . our fresh start when he gets out,' she said . Disgrace: The owner of the venue laid on a half price champagne buffet for the couple and their 90 guests because they complained of being broke and she felt sorry for them. Richards is pictured centre with other wedding guests . Worrying: The owner of the Bacup Hub club, which is pictured, said the raid caused her to try and kill herself. It had also had an impact on her staff as well . Theft: This CCTV footage shows the raid taking place in the early hours of the morning. The total cost of the raid in theft and damage was £46,790 . On camera: Richards, 25, and his usher helped snatch 62 bottles of spirits from the bar and a further 159 bottles of spirits and cans of soft drinks from the storeroom . The raid took place in January after . the couple had been married at the club last July. Owner Miss Murphy, . 34, said the incident had caused her severe stress and anxiety and she . had attempted suicide. 'I feel ashamed that I trusted them,' she said. 'Bridie explained her circumstances, and she got a bit upset . when I first met her. 'She'd had a bit of bad luck, her . mother had died when she was younger, but she wanted the wedding of . every girl's dreams and I helped to bring some community spirit back to . the area. 'It's shaken my belief in people and I hope I'll be a better judge of character in future.' Taylor, also of Bacup, pleaded guilty . to burglary and an unrelated offence of wounding with intent to cause . grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for five years.", "By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 08:36 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:06 EST, 5 March 2014 . Owners of a nursery school have installed a CCTV system so worried parents can check their children are happy while they are at work. Munchkins Kindergarten in Holland-on-Sea, Essex, gives parents a login address and password so they can view their children's room for up to five minutes at a time to reassure themselves that their children are OK. The webcams can be accessed from a computer or smartphone, and while parents are not subjected to police CRB checks, they can only log in on days that their children are in nursery. Reassuring: Parents at Munchkins Day Nursery in Holland-on-Sea in Essex can check up on their children via webcam - here student Ellie-May Lucas, four, shows how the system works . The nursery caters for up to 35 children aged from three months to 11-year-olds, who use the after-school club . Sisters Liz Makins and Jo Callaghan, who run the nursery in Holland-on-Sea, in Essex, say the babycam is there to give parents peace of mind. Mrs Callaghan, 50, who also runs two other nurseries in Essex and one in Kent, said all her parents are delighted to have the chance to check up on their children. She said: 'I have three children of my own and Jo has four so we are quite qualified on the parenting side of things and understand that there is nothing more precious to a parent than their child. 'It is a huge thing for them to leave their children with us because after all we are strangers at the beginning, so this enables them to log on and watch their children having fun.' Access to the webcam footage automatically shuts off after five minutes, to avoid parents leaving it playing on their work computer and wandering off, allowing others to view it. And staff at the nursery, which caters for up to 35 children aged from three months to 11 years in the after-school club, regularly monitor parents' usage of it to make sure no-one is accessing it particularly often. Manager June Oliver, left,with Ellie-May, and co-owner Liz Makins, right, say parents are fans of the webcams . All-seeing eye: Staff at the nursery say they forget the cameras are there - nappies are changed off-camera . Mrs Callaghan said she first installed a babycam at one of her other nurseries three and a half years ago. She said: 'We haven't had one parent complain or say they don't like it, and why would they?  We have nothing to hide.' And she said she didn't ask parents for CRB checks before allowing them access 'for one very good reason - all nappy changing, and clothes changing, if necessary, is done off camera.' 'We haven't had one parent complain or say they don't like it and would they?  We have nothing to hide.' Munchkins co-owner Jo Callaghan . She said her staff had never complained that the cameras meant they couldn't slack off, and said everyone forgets the cameras are there. Mrs Callaghan said many nurseries had private CCTV systems, visible only to nursery bosses, for security reasons, but insisted allowing parents to view it as well was only a good thing. She said: 'There is the occasional squabble that a parent might see and they might ring us up about it but that is rare - I would say it happens only about once a year in all of our nurseries as the children are so happy and busy.' The first nursery webcams allowing parents to view their children from outside computers were introduced in Britain at the beginning of the century. Researchers said they were popular as they allowed parents to feel they were 'protecting' their children, but critics said they were taking the concept of Big Brother too far.", "Queen of British baking Mary Berry is set to rule the waves on board cruise ship Britannia as P&O launches a series of foodie jaunts around the globe. Berry leads a list of 10 celebrity chefs who will give cookery classes at sea on the new liner, along with taking part in Q&A sessions, book signings and host chef’s table dinners. The beloved Great British Bake-Off judge will headline the food-related attractions of a 12-night tour around the British Isles, leaving Southampton on July 6 with Theo Randall of the Intercontinental on Park Lane, London, and Saturday Kitchen host James Martin. Mary Berry will feature in The Cookery Club on P&O Britannia's British Isles cruise in 2015 . The Cookery Club is a bespoke-designed cooking school fitted with KitchenAid appliances . The facility has 12 stations for a maximum of 24 people and a dining table for participants to taste their work . Seafood specialist Nathan Outlaw, holder of a total four Michelin stars, on a 14-night Portugal, Spain & Morocco cruise, will also feature in the two-hour classes that will cost £100 per person, or £200 per person when hosted by two chefs. The specially built Cookery Club, fitted out with KitchenAid appliances, has 12 stations that will accommodate 24 people at a time while bookings will be accepted from four months in advance of each tour's departure. Much-loved master of Italian classics Antonio Carluccio, Vivek Singh, famed for his trio of Cinnamon restaurants in London, and French legend Pierre Koffmann, who held three Michelin stars at La Tante Claire and now runs Koffmann’s at The Berkeley in London, will all joint 14-night trips around Spain, Monaco and Italy. P&O's Britannia cruises offer classes with 10 celebrity chefs on board a host of their cruises . The Cookery Club was designed in consultation with Saturday Kitchen host James Martin, who will join Berry at sea for cookery classes on a 12-night cruise around the British Isles . Wolseley head chef Lawrence Keogh will be on board a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise while Paul Rankin, the first Northern Irish chef to win a Michelin star, will share his culinary experience with passengers taking in Portugal and the Caribbean. Rounding out the line-up is James Tanner, co-owner of Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho's Vivek Singh, and Daniel Galmiche, the Michelin-starred executive Chef at The Vineyard in Berkshire. NATHAN OUTLAW (right) - Cruise B503, a 14-night Portugal, Spain & Morocco cruise departing March 28. From £1,549pp: Four Michelin stars in total, two at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac, Cornwall, and one each at Outlaw's Fish Kitchen, Port isaac and Outlaw's at The Capital, Knightsbridge. PIERRE KOFFMANN - Cruise B510, a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing June 13 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,449 per person: Legendary French-born chef who held three Michelin stars at La Tante Claire and now runs Koffmann’s at The Berkeley. MARY BERRY - Cruise B513, a 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 with Theo Randall and James Martin. From £1,149pp: Television chef, Great British Bake-Off judge and prolific food writer for 60 years cooking experience. THEO RANDALL - Cruise B153 (as above): Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane. LAWRENCE KEOGH - Cruise B514, a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise departing July 18. From £799pp: Head chef at the Wolseley restaurant in London. JAMES TANNER - Cruise B516, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing August 8. From £949pp: Co-owner of Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth, and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Kent. VIVEK SINGH - Cruise B517, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing August 15. From £1,999pp: Modern Indian chef with three London restaurants, The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho. DANIEL GALMICHE - Cruise B519, a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing September 5. From £799pp: Michelin-starred Executive Chef at The Vineyard in Berkshire, a pioneer of modern French cuisine and TV chef. ANTONIO CARLUCCIO – Cruise B523, a 14 night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing October 9 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull. From £1,149pp: Beloved chef , food writer and owner of Carluccio's chain of restaurants. PAUL RANKIN – Cruise B524, a 14 night Portugal & Caribbean cruise departing October 23 with Eric Lanlard. From £1,139pp: Celebrity chef from County Down who became the first chef from Northern Ireland to be awarded a Michelin star at Roscoff.", "In my job as a comedienne/impressionist I was lucky enough to land a job on a leg of P&O Cruises' Aurora world cruise - and brought the family along. The segment of the cruise we enjoyed was the five-day leg from Singapore to Sri Lanka. I am glad to say that my on-board guest entertainment act seemed to go down well - though quite what the non-British passengers made of my takes on the likes of Stacey Solomon, Davina McCall and Anne Robinson I'm not too sure. But I, at least, really enjoyed it. And here's me during a quick day off: Debra and their children hit the beach on Malaysia's Langkawi shoreline . The job presented me with the opportunity to bring my husband and our two children, aged 11 and seven, along on a voyage in a very beautiful part of the world. My children were also able to see my act - so that they could finally understand what I do for a living. We liked the fact that the cruise was very British: the voyage's itinerary begins and ends in Southampton, so the majority of passengers were from the UK - and on-board activities were run largely to satisfy British tastes. My initial pleasure at being on a cruise ship was the realisation that I was to be relieved of my usual domestic chores: it was very nice, for example, to take a break from vacuuming! Islands of inspiration: Malaysia's Langkawi archipelago has some of the Far East's loveliest beaches . We stopped twice on our short trip, firstly in Port Klang, which serves Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur. The following day we got to see a little bit of the beautiful archipelago of Langkawi. The day we stopped there was my husband's birthday, so we decided to enjoy it on the beach. What I love about cruising is the fact that you get a taster of these different places. Ever wondered what Malaysia is like? On a cruise you can find out in a few hours. Another surprise for first-time cruisers is that the ship is a selfcontained world of its own, with everything you could possibly want to enjoy the perfect holiday. The food on board, for instance, is a key attraction. Dining in the restaurant was a pleasure, not just because of the cuisine but also because of the staff: the waiters were just lovely. Our kids loved one of them so much they actually said: 'Can we keep in touch with him?' One of the things you often hear is that people put on half a stone during a cruise. Not me: I actually lost 6lb in a week. I know that sounds ridiculous and it sounds as if I didn't like the dishes served, but I really did. I found that there was so much choice and I naturally gravitated towards the healthier options. Where, at home, I can be a bit lazy and just grab a calorific sandwich, on board the Aurora I was able to enjoy healthy salads and fruits. A big boat for a brilliant family holiday: Debra sailed on the P&O Cruises liner Aurora . The kids also ate well because, again, there was a lot of choice for them, and because it was all so beautifully presented they were willing to try things they had never eaten before. It helped that they spent most of their days in the pool and were very hungry when meal times came around. We had a few days in Sri Lanka at the end of the tour and joined some great excursions. We really enjoyed our visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, for example. I would love to go back to Singapore, our 'taster' visit really made us want to return. There was an excursion to the zoo which we didn't get to do, and we would have loved to visit the street markets too. Cruising is like the best showbusiness act - it leaves you wanting more! Like my act, hopefully… . P&O Cruises (www.pocruises.com; 0843 374 0111) offers fly-cruises in South East Asia and the Middle East. Prices start at £2,039, with £40 per person on-board spend, for an 11-night adult-only cruise on Arcadia departing March 25 with full board and entertainment. Return flights and transfers cost from £890 per person.", "By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:44 EST, 8 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 9 October 2012 . A trainee lawyer has racked up £350,000 in legal bills pursuing damages after being injured by a sun lounger on a luxury cruise ship. Now Shantelle Taylor, 22, is pleading with senior judges to save her from financial ruin after her eight-year battle with P&O. She was aged 14 during the £20,000 Caribbean cruise on the liner Aurora when she claimed a sun lounger was caught by a gust of wind and flew into her. Happier memories: Shantelle Taylor and her mother Nichola aboard the P&O cruise ship Aurora at Christmas 2003 - days before she was allegedly hit by a sun lounger . Miss Taylor sued the company after returning home from the trip with her grandparents and mother Nichola, 40. At first it was thought she had . escaped with only a soft tissue injury but her family claims that her . life has been blighted since by crippling chronic pain syndrome. Earlier in the court saga that has lasted since 2004, P&O admitted liability and offered her £2,000 to settle the claim. Miss Taylor, of Droylesden, Manchester, turned this down and went on to seek substantial damages. Her fortunes reversed in 2008 when a . judge allowed P&O to withdraw its admission after fresh evidence . about weather conditions on the day of the accident. The judge ruled that her damages claim had ‘no reasonable prospect of success’ after the testimony of a wind speed expert. Miss Taylor has run out of funds to . pay lawyers but fought on with the help of her grandfather Derek Wilde, . 74, and his wife Christine, 65. The cruise liner Aurora pictured in Southampton: The alleged incident occurred when the wind lifted an on-board sun lounger . Despite having no legal training, Mr Wilde appeared at the Appeal Court in London to plead her case. He asked Mr Justice Peter Smith to resurrect Miss Taylor’s claim and spare her the mammoth costs bill. The judge warned Mr Wilde: ‘If you . lose this case, they’ll probably make your granddaughter bankrupt. You . are out of your depth.’ Mr Wilde continued, telling him: ‘It . is important we win for Shantelle because she is studying to become a . solicitor and we don’t want her to have a black mark against her.’ He asked the judge to send his . granddaughter’s damages claim back for re-hearing and to look again at . the huge bill for legal costs. Mr Wilde pleaded: ‘It is so unfair when it is not her fault.’ He told how the family set off on . their dream holiday for three weeks over Christmas 2003 and New Year . 2004, taking in 18 countries. The accident with the . sun lounger happened on the 12th or 13th deck of the liner as it lay off . the coast of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in early 2004, said . Mr Wilde. The judge ruled that Miss Taylor’s damages claim could not be . revived but he did grant an adjournment. He said this would allow Mr Wilde to seek legal advice and obtain documents relating to the costs, £7,500 of which falls on him. The judge said: ‘It is  important that Mr Wilde has a fair chance to prove his case on behalf of his granddaughter.’ Outside court, Mrs Wilde said the cruise should have been ‘the holiday of a lifetime’. She said her granddaughter had been . left in ‘excruciating pain’ but added: ‘She is studying to be a . solicitor and she’s doing very well.’ A P&O Cruises spokesman said: 'Mr Wilde, on behalf of his granddaughter, has pursued this spurious case over many years despite warnings that he would be liable for his costs when he lost. 'The Court of Appeal decided that the evidence showed that the accident could not possibly have occurred in any of the various ways alleged.  The Court therefore refused Mr Wilde permission to continue with the case to trial. 'P&O Cruises has incurred over £200,000 in lawyers costs defending this claim, which the Court found Mr Wilde and Shantelle Taylor were liable to pay.  P&O Cruises can confirm it has not threatened to make Miss Taylor bankrupt.'", "By . Martin Robinson . This is the moment a gang of baby-faced teenagers stabbed a rival to death in a laundrette in Liverpool. Footage shows Sean 'Shorty' McHugh running into the shop in Anfield and desperately looking for somewhere to hide. The gang members run in after him including ringleader Reece O’Shaughnessy who was holding a sword. The gang proceeded to kick the back door of the shop open where Sean was hiding before he was stabbed to death. Scroll down for video . Terrified: Footage shows Sean 'Shorty' McHugh desperately looking for somewhere to hide . CCTV issued by Merseyside Police of Sean McHugh, 19, as he ran into the laundrette to hide . The gang members follow Sean into the laundrette where he tried to hide from the group of teenagers . After the killing, one of the gang members posted on Facebook: ‘RIP Shorty - we always knew ye was a p****’'. Today five teenagers were jailed for a total of 54 years between them. Sean McHugh, 19, was chased and murdered by the five knife-wielding youths for straying on to their ‘turf’ to do his girlfriend’s washing at a launderette. Chased: Members of the gang follow Sean into the back room where he tried to hide . CCTV shows two of the gang members waiting outside the room where Sean was hiding . The gang, including two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old, then took to social media to boast about their crime. As . Mr McHugh, a bricklayer, lay dying, one commented: ‘Watch if something . we done is in the paper tomorrow. If we get nicked we’re goin to jail . anyway hahaha.’ The next . morning Keyfer Dykstra, 14, who was on police bail and had flouted a . curfew to take part in the attack, posted on his Facebook page: ‘RIP . Shorty – we always knew ye was a pussy.’ The gang gather outside the back room where Sean McHugh was stabbed to death in Liverpool . Camera footage showed ringleader O¿Shaughnessy carrying a sword stick (circled) into the laundrette . CCTV footage shows ringleader Reece O¿Shaughnessy leaving the laundrette holding the sword stick . One of the boys asked: ‘That kid dead haha?’ Mr McHugh, nicknamed Shorty for his 5ft 6in frame, died four days later. In . May, Dykstra, with drug dealer Reese O’Shaughnessy, 19, Joseph McGill, . now 14, and cousins Corey and Andrew Hewitt, now 14 and 15, were found . guilty of his murder. Yesterday O’Shaughnessy, who inflicted the fatal wound, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 18 years. McGill received a minimum of nine years, Dykstra, 12, Corey, nine and Andrew, six. Murder: Sean 'Shorty' McHugh was stabbed to death by a gang of teenagers led by Reece O'Shaughnessy, 19, who has the IQ of a 11-year-old . Violent: Mr McHugh was stabbed with such force that the knife broke as part of an attack by a rival gang in Liverpool . Jailed: 14-year-old Joseph McGill sobbed as he was jailed for nine years and 14-year-old Keyfer Dykstra was sent to prison for a minimum of 12 years . Sentencing: 15-year-old Andrew Hewitt will serve a minimum of nine years and 14-year-old Corey Hewitt for six years . Weapon: This sword cane was also used  in the attack but it is not clear who struck the fatal blow . Judge . Clement Goldstone told the gang, who had to be reprimanded for laughing . and joking in the dock, that they had committed a ‘truly wicked’ act. He . added: ‘Whatever sentence I pass  on you . . . the real life sentence . is that which you have imposed upon Sean McHugh’s family.’ He also lifted the younger boys’ right to anonymity to expose the shocking crime. The backgrounds of the five boys paint depressing, but all too familiar pictures of disaffected youths in inner-city Britain. Andrew Hewitt (right) and Corey Hewitt (left) who murdered an apprentice bricklayer in a launderette . Police forensics at the scene in Priory Road, Walton, Liverpool, outside the Liver Laundrette where Sean 'Shorty' McHugh was stabbed . Inside Liver Laundrette where Sean McHugh was stabbed by a gang of teenagers . All grew up on run-down terraced streets and smoked cannabis, drank, played violent computer games and terrorised shopkeepers. Carrying knives, the judge said, was ‘part of their way of life’. The . Facebook page of Andrew Hewitt has pictures of him drinking beer aged . 12 with boasts about drug use, racist comments and remarks about hating . the police. Liverpool . Crown Court heard the killing in Anfield, Liverpool, on September 30 was . intended to be a revenge attack for an earlier incident, although . police saw no evidence Mr McHugh was in a gang. Bereft: Lorraine McHugh, Sean's mother said after the trial: 'The night they killed my son, they might as well have killed me too' Floral tributes left by friends of Sean McHugh in Walton after his death, including his scrambler motorbike . CCTV . captured O’Shaughnessy unsheathing a 2ft sword before stabbing Mr . McHugh in the right thigh. His mother Lorraine McHugh, 55, said: ‘I’m . dead inside. They have torn our family apart.’ Detective . Chief Inspector Andy O’Connor, of Merseyside police, welcomed new rules . that mean anyone caught with a knife twice will be jailed. He said: ‘These were feral youths who didn’t intend to kill, but set out to cause harm and now they must pay the penalty. The court heard from Sean McHugh's mother Lorraine, who said in a victim impact statement:'The night they killed my son, they might as well have killed me too. 'My other two sons have been taking medication for the loss of their younger brother. 'I rarely go out without ending up in floods of tears. Me and his dad never thought we would be burying one of our sons. 'We knew he was well liked but didn’t know how much until the funeral. Sean's mother Lorraine McHugh and his girlfriend Stephanie Crawford, 17, outside Liverpool Crown Court . 'All we have is memories, I can’t sleep, I can’t face going back to work, I can’t go to the shops without breaking down. 'I hope the defendants realise what they’ve done and get what they deserve.' Sean's girlfriend Stephanie Crawford said: 'Sean being taken away from us has ruined so many lives. His big smile kept me going and he never had a bad bone in his body. 'This has ruined my life. I was with him 24/7. His mum would always say we were like a married couple. 'He had a very close relationship with his mum and used to ring her every night to say, ‘I love you’. 'Lorraine will never be the same again.' The knife used by the gang to kill Sean McHugh . The court heard the attack was to avenge the stabbing of Dykstra two months earlier by the rival gang. Dykstra was already on bail for other offences when he committed the murder and three months earlier had received a conditional caution for threatening behaviour; Andrew Hewitt was subject to a sixth month referral order imposed in June 2013 for possession of a pocket knife and McGill had received two reprimands some years earlier for common assault and battery. O'Shaugnessy was on bail after being arrested 10 weeks earlier with cannabis worth £3,960 and £1,500 in cash. He also admitted possession with intent to supply. The defendant, who had an IQ in the bottom five per cent for his age group, told officers he began dealing drugs after being 'kicked off the dole'. McGill, who gave a knife to Dykstra before the attack, came from a 'good' family but had an IQ in the bottom four or five per cent for his age group with 'very limited intellectual functioning' the court heard and looked up to O'Shaugnessy. Dykstra had 'deep-seated' problems with ADHD and was used for fights by the gang because of his size though his mother, out of despair had 'pathetically begged' the authorities for help with him. Andrew Hewitt was assessed as having 'very low intelligence' comparable to a child aged seven, had a fascination for knives, did not attend his special school and led an 'aimless' life. Corey Hewitt was the only defendant never to have been in trouble before, though he had an 'extremely low' range of intellectual function and was easily led, the court heard. Since being in care he has been described as polite, likeable, well-behaved and an 'exemplary pupil.' The judge added: 'It speaks volumes, doesn't it, for a structured upbringing?'", "By . Spencer Matthews . When an invite drops through your letterbox with a picture . of a scantily clad woman holding a leather whip you really have to consider . going. And when the invite turns out to be the launch of luxury erotic . retailer Box Of Grey BXG promising stunning models wearing corsets and wielding . riding crops and spanking paddles, then you’d be a fool to miss it. Clearly I wasn't the only one who thought this as the . roof top party at the Sanctum Soho Hotel was packed full of London's naughtiest and sauciest . clubbers. Saucy: Lusia enjoyed playing with the riding crop as she posed with Spencer and Stacey Jackson . Revealing: The Celebrity Big Brother star tried on a seductive red lace Sian Hoffman corset . It was only a matter of time before the party guests started cracking . open the trademark grey BXG flight cases to try out the high-end sex toys and . lingerie. I was accosted by the stunning Box Of Grey model Tessa Kuragi . with a riding crop and I've still got the welt marks to prove it. Tight leather . was certainly the dress code for the night – Tessa wore a leather corset and . the gorgeous MailOnline Femail Editor Deborah Arthurs wore a rather fetching . pair of leather trews. It's possible I may have been caught admiring them for a . little longer than is deemed polite. I'm pretty sure Deborah was aware of it, seeing as she . tweeted me this message earlier today: . Downstairs the luxurious Sanctum room 404 had been . transformed into the BXG suite – the King size bed was strewn with bed . restraints, leather masks, manacles and peephole bras. The last time I saw . that amount of lacy undies in one space was at the Bluebella lingerie counter . at Selfridges. The La Fée Absinthe cocktails were flowing and the party was . starting to get interesting. Celeb Big Brother star Luisa Zissman stripped off . and tried on a seductive red lace Sian Hoffman corset. Here's the photograph to . prove it, apologies if it's a bit grainy but it's the best that could be . achieved in the low light of the boudoir. Saucy: Model Tessa Kurag in one of the photographs from the exhibition at the new BXG room at Sanctum . Some of the rather interesting glassware on show in the BXG suite at the Sanctum Hotel, Soho, and right, one o the luxury flight cases that could await you if you book the suite . Saucy: BXG model Tessa, left, with Spencer Matthews and Femail editor Deborah Arthurs . Russ Kane and Stacey Jackson were also at the launch party of erotic brand Box of Grey . Casey Batchelor . was also getting in the swing of things and posed for a snap blowing a kiss in to a mirror - Spencer couldn’t . quite make out what was written on the mirror in lipstick but it looked pretty . rude . Time to hit the road: Spencer leaves complete with naughty goodie bag . Luisa was also a little bit too fond of the BXG riding crop . as you can see in this shot of me with singer Stacey Jackson. Luisa's fellow Celeb Big Brother party guest Casey Batchelor . was also getting in the swing of things and was chatting with Sanctum Hotel . owner Mark Fuller. Mark was showing a surprising . degree of restraint (for him) when he refused to be photographed with Casey on . the bed with leather hand-cuffs. But . Casey did oblige in posing for a snap blowing a kiss in the mirror. I couldn’t . quite make out what was written on the mirror in lipstick but it looked pretty . rude. Things were starting to get a little out of hand - even by . the standards of London's rock 'n' roll Sanctum hotel. I decided to call it a . night but made sure I picked up a BXG goodie bag on the way out. There were a . couple of items that might make rather interesting presents for any future lady . friends. Lots of love, Spencer xxx .", "Cruise lines can get a bad reputation for claustrophobic cabins and annoying entertainment - not to mention norovirus outbreaks - but there are some that go above and beyond to break the mould and guarantee their guests the trip of a lifetime. Spending weeks (or even months) on a cruise ship, you want to make sure your hard-earned money and holiday time is well spent. Whether you look for the best on-board dining, family-friendly lines, or the ultimate in luxury, this list can steer you in the right direction. Cruise reviews website Cruise Critic has announced its UK Editors' Picks Awards for 2014, rounding up the best cruise liners on the seas. New ship on the block: Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas is among the winners of Cruise Critic's UK Editors' Picks Awards for 2014 . Cruising: The awards round up the best cruise liners of the year, selected in 18 categories including best for luxury, itineraries and romance . Adventure: Hurtigruten line takes guests to see the Northern Lights in Norway and the Arctic Circle . Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Quantum of the Seas is the big news in cruising at the moment. The jaw-dropping vessel, which made its debut last month, was awarded Best New Ship for being both 'innovative' and 'revolutionary' with its glass viewing pod, skydiving simulator, and robotic bartenders. Royal Caribbean line was also commended for Best Entertainment, while P&O Cruises was awarded Best for Families and Best Dining with their roster of celebrity chefs including Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar, James Martin, and Eric Lanlard. Marco Pierre White has overseen the Ocean Grill restaurants across P&O's fleet, however Cruise Critic nominated the chef's The White Room on the ship Ventura as head and shoulders above the rest. Five star: Regent Seven Seas Cruises took away Best Luxury . Excelling in accommodation: Celebrity Cruises won for both Best Suites and Best Cabins . Best New Ship - Quantum of the Seas . Best Refurbishment - Thomson Cruises . Best For Luxury - Regent Seven Seas Cruises . Best For Families - P&O Cruises . Best Itineraries - Voyages of Discovery . Best For Adventure - Hurtigruten . Best Value For Money - Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines . Best Dining - P&O Cruises . Best Entertainment - Royal Caribbean International . Best Suites - Celebrity Cruises (Solstice Class) Best Cabins - Celebrity Cruises . Best Shore Excursions - Azamara Club Cruises . Best For Romance - Princess Cruises . Best Cruise Ship Bar - Cunard's Commodore Club (QM2) Best UK Port Of Call - Liverpool . Best UK Departure Point - Southampton . Best New River Ship - Emerald Star and Emerald Sky . Best River Cruise Line - CroisiEurope . For luxury, Regent Seven Seas Cruises was deemed the finest on the seas for truly treating guests like royalty. Cruise Critic chose the line as it 'is the only line at this end of the ultra-luxury scale that truly delivers all-inclusive luxury.' When they promise all-inclusive, they really do deliver. Flights and pre or post-cruise tours are included, as are onshore excursions as well as high-quality liquor. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines won the Best Value for Money award for the third year running. Celebrity Cruise Line's Solstice Class ships won the Best Suites category for the second consecutive year, as well as the award for Best Cabins. Celebrity's ship Reflection has increased the number of its AquaClass staterooms due to high demand. The luxury suites come with a spa concierge to arrange spa appointments, exclusive access to a 'clean-eating' restaurant on board and the relaxation room, and a wellness programme that includes meditation and yoga. Other winners include Voyages of Discovery (Best Itineraries), Azamara Club Cruises (Best Shore Excursions), and Cunard's Commodore Club on Queen Mary 2, which was awarded Best Cruise Ship Bar. Fit for royalty: Princess Cruises were deemed Best for Romance . Drink up: Cunard's Commodore Club on Queen Mary 2 is the best on-board bar with its panoramic views and white-glove service . The elegant ship's bar boats white-glove service while guests enjoy panoramic views from the front-of-ship bar through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Emerald Waterways won Best New River Ship for their Emerald Star and Emerald Sky, while CroisiEurope was awarded Best River Cruise Line. 'The cruise industry offers a wealth of choice, and the Editors' Picks Awards share our expert insight and provide guidance to British holidaymakers who are interested in a cruise,' commented Adam Coulter, UK editor Cruise Critic. 'With cruise lines constantly improving their products this isn't an easy task, but we have identified the lines which have excelled in order to help cruisers plan their perfect cruise, and ensure the time and money they invest is well spent.' Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, added: 'We originally launched our Editors' Picks Awards in 2008, to highlight lines that we felt were doing a great job. 'Just six years later, the industry has grown tremendously; cruise lines continue to up the ante, and there are more options than ever before for travelers looking to hit the seas.' Luxury: P&O Cruises were big winners for 2014, being awarded Best Dining... ... and Best for Families, with lots of entertainment for the kids on board .", "By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:02 EST, 20 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:42 EST, 21 May 2012 . These pictures show that it is not just their good looks that are being passed on by their talented mothers. These successful models, actresses and presenters have gifted their daughters with trademark hair styles. Caring really is sharing with these women and their offspring. Sense And Sensibility: Emma Thompson and daughter Gala have smart bobs . What a lovely bunch: Myleene Klass and her little girl Ava . Two identical haircuts, please Carol: Vorderman and Katie King . Very Jerry: Model Jerry Hall's style has passed to Georgia Jagger . Closeness: Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice share the same look . Moore on the same: Actress Demi and singer Rumer Willis look like sisters . Ginger ringer: Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and daughter Bluebell . Shared crop: Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise boast flowing, glossy locks . Modelled on mum: Cindy Crawford and Kaia have the same long brown locks . Legally Blonde too: Film star Reese Witherspoon and Ava . Worth it: L'Oreal ad star Andie MacDowell and Rainey Qualley .", "Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNN) -- Authorities in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province denied entry Monday to two cruise liners that were seeking to dock in the southern port of Ushuaia, in incidents linked to the political dispute over the Falkland Islands. The government was applying a provincial law barring ships traveling under British colony flags from docking at the port, said the state-run Telam news agency. Both ships were registered in Bermuda, a British territory. One of the ships -- the Star Princess -- departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 18 on a 14-night South America cruise. \"Because the ship had previously called at Stanley, it was denied entry to Ushuaia,\" said Julie Benson, a spokeswoman for Carnival Corp. She was referring to the port city in the Falkland Islands, which are referred to in Argentina as Las Malvinas. \"We are extremely disappointed about this alteration of the cruise itinerary, and are refunding the cost of shore excursions purchased by our passengers,\" she said in an e-mail. The ship is continuing to its next scheduled port of call, Punta Arenas, Chile. The 289-meter (nearly 950-foot) luxury liner, which has a capacity of 2,600 passengers, had docked in Ushuaia several times in recent years, she said. The P&O cruise liner Adonia, which is on a South American tour from Southampton, England, with an almost entirely British contingent of passengers, got a similar reception on Monday. The ship \"was this morning refused permission for its scheduled docking in the Argentinian port of Ushuaia by the local mayor on the grounds that it had visited the Falklands Islands two days before,\" said CNN contributor Robin Oakley, who was aboard the Adonis as a lecturer. Both P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises are Carnival Corporation cruise brands. The law cited was passed last August and refers to ships that carry out \"work related to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, or to military vessels, within the ambit of the basin of the Malvinas Islands on the Argentinean continental platform,\" Telam reported. The head of the province's port authority, Alejandro Berola, said that the decision to turn away the ships was made following \"express instructions\" from Gov. Fabiana Rios, the news agency said. Ship authorities were informed of the decision Monday morning as they sailed through the Beagle Canal in front of the Chilean city of Port Williams. Last month, the Star Princess was denied entry into the Port of Stanley when 74 passengers and crew out of a total of 3,652 had gotten sick after the liner stopped in Ushuaia. The Falklands' authorities cited the illnesses as the reason for the denial. The president of the tourism board of Usuaia, Marcelo Lieti, said Monday's incident \"had nothing to do with the Malvinas subject,\" according to Telam. \"It's necessary to treat the question with much care,\" he said. \"We all defend Malvinas, but the tourist ships have nothing to do with the request for sovereignty,\" he told Radio Provincia of Ushuaia. In 1982, after Argentina invaded the islands, it fought -- and lost -- a two-month undeclared war with Britain. Still, Argentina continues to press its claim to the islands, which are home to more than 3,000 people, most of them of British descent. In Buenos Aires, a group of intellectuals expressed unhappiness with the way the Argentine government is handling the matter of the sovereignty of the Malvinas. \"The policy that the government is carrying out, in reality, is distancing us from the Malvinas instead of getting us nearer,\" said Jorge Latana, a journalist who has proposed greater cultural integration with the islands' inhabitants. \"Return to before 1982. In Argentina, it is very odd the way one thinks about Malvinas, because the public thinks of it as if no one lived there. It is like a thing of magical thought; that one day we take it and it will be ours. And that is not real.\" Santiago Kovadloff, a philosopher, said the incident has nothing to do with sweeping away the British culture that is pervasive in the Falklands. \"They have the right to determine what they want to be. It's not for us to impose a culture they don't want.\" Latana said that Argentina was being inconsistent. The country contains \"a mountain of English businesses\" that are exploiting the country's natural resources. \"And they are sending money out of the country. In that sense, the government is speaking out both sides of its mouth. On one hand it is attacking England through the Malvinas and on the other it is favoring some businesses to exploit minerals. It's a policy that is half schizophrenic.\" CNN's Tom Watkins and Jose Manuel Rodriguez contributed to this report.", "Fears: Esme Smith, 14, vanished after travelling to London ten days ago . A schoolgirl missing in London for ten days may have made a secret arrangement to meet someone in the capital, her family have said. Esme Smith, 14, vanished after travelling to central London on Thursday September 12 from her home in Farnham, Surrey, and fears for her safety are growing daily. Her elder sister Sian, 19, said in a video appeal asking Esme to get in touch: ‘I think maybe she’s met somebody out there or planned to meet somebody, we don’t know at the moment – that’s the most worrying thing. We’re incredibly worried.’ Her father Mark Smith, a former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander who now works at Nato’s Joint Warfare Centre in Norway, said: ‘We’re worried sick. She’s just gone to ground. We’re baffled.’ Esme was last seen by friends after school in Farnham on the Thursday afternoon, where she told them she was going to Woking – 16 miles away – and then to a party. Instead, she changed out of her school uniform and caught a  train from Aldershot just after  4pm, arriving at London’s Waterloo station about an hour later. Detectives have released a CCTV image showing her walking down steps near Charing Cross station at  about 5.30pm. Her family’s concerns came as it emerged that Esme may have posted disturbing messages about casual sex when she was aged just 13 on notorious website ask.fm, which allows users to ask each other questions with the option of anonymity. The site has been implicated in several cases in which cyberbullying has led to suicide. In a question and answer session last October under Esme’s name, with a photograph which appeared to be her, she was asked if she would ‘ever consider friends with benefits?’ (a euphemism for casual sex). She answered ‘Yes’. When asked by her anonymous inquisitor with whom, she answered ‘A few guys, inbox [message] me who you are.’ She then added: ‘Well I go for older guys, sooo .  .  . ’ It has also emerged that the 14-year-old was bullied on the site. She was called 'a f****** dog' and a slut by internet trolls, according to The Sunday Mirror. And one mocking message questioned her popularity at her school, All Hallows Catholic School. According to the paper it said 'your not liked at all hallows at all haaa'. Scroll down for video . CCTV: Farnham teenager Esme Smith is seen at Charing Cross station around 5.30pm on the day she disappeared . Missing schoolgirl: Esme Smith (far right) with mother Dinah (left) sister Sian (above) and an unnamed woman in a Facebook photo . Esme’s best friend, who asked to be known only by her first name, Jenny, has tweeted a picture of them both, saying: ‘I miss my best friend, I pray every minute that she is  safe. I’m trying to stay positive. #FindEsme.’ Jenny’s father said his daughter and Esme had been friends since the age of three. ‘We have known her almost all her life. Jenny is terribly worried and she just wants to know Esme is safe and misses her. 'She’s been on holiday with us and stayed over a lot, and we just want her back. 'Every time she has been here all we hear is laughter. She’s always happy and bubbly.’ He said neither he nor his daughter had any idea why Esme had travelled to London, adding: ‘We haven’t seen much of her because we’ve been away for most of the summer. We’re just really shocked. ‘What makes it even worse, is  that she was last seen leaving  Charing Cross and going to Villiers Street, and my office is on  Villiers Street.’ Esme Smith, 14, has not been seen since getting the train to London to go to a party more than a week ago . Esme's father Mark Smith, a former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander who now works at Nato's Joint Warfare Centre in Norway, said: 'We're worried sick.'", "A 'cowardly' killer who stabbed a City worker in the back in a case of mistaken identity outside a crowded pub has been jailed for 23 years today. Aytach Lisani, 33, plunged a knife into the back of 34-year-old Christopher Foster in an alleyway in Borough, south London last November, after mistaking him for another man. Mr Foster, who worked for a law firm and was a single father to his four year-old daughter, had been enjoying a last drink with an old school friend when he was attacked from behind. Christopher Foster, left, who died after being stabbed in an alleyway in Borough, south London last year. Today Aytach Lisani, right, was jailed for 23 years after pleading guilty to murder . He suffered catastrophic internal injuries and died an hour later in hospital. Lisani, who was at the head of a seven-strong group searching for the intended target, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to murder on the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey. Today Judge Gerald Gordon sentenced Lisani to life imprisonment with a minimum of 23 years before parole. Sentencing him, he said: ‘You accept being the man who can be seen on the CCTV making your way up the alleyway were Christopher Foster was innocently standing with his friend. ‘You thrust a large knife forcefully into his back, thereby killing him, not only destroying his own life but also wrecking the lives of his young daughter and his close family. ‘Mr Foster was a complete stranger to the revenge that was being sought. ‘This was the use of a knife in a public place with other innocent people around. CCTV footage shows the gang approaching the pub in Borough, south London where Mr Foster, 34, was killed . ‘It is quite difficult to square the man who committed the cowardly acts you did that night with a man who has reached the age of 33 without conviction or caution.’ Before the sentence was passed, Mr Foster’s mother Jean entered the witness box to read a moving statement about the impact of his death. She described Christopher Foster as ‘a son to be proud of, a brother to look up to, a loyal friend and devoted loving father.’ Mrs Foster said: ‘He left a lasting impression on those he met wherever he went. He was a kind and generous person. Rocky Djelal, left, who was jailed for six years and Ali Lisani, right, who was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison . ‘Sometimes he would dress up as a highwayman for Children in Need. He really was a good person to have around.’ Mr Foster had won custody of his young daughter Christina in June 2010 and was planning to visit her at his parent’s house the day after he was killed, the court heard. Mrs Foster added: ‘He was such a good father, a real hands-on dad. Christina will never see her father again. 'Nobody sees what Christina goes through, it has been heartbreaking hearing her pleas for daddy to come back. ‘I had to sit her down and tell her that her daddy had died. The precious person in Christina’s life has been taken away from her.’ Mrs Foster said that she and her husband were still fighting an expensive battle for guardianship in the family courts. Billy Dove, who admitted conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, and was jailed for six-and-a-half years . ‘We have not been able to properly grieve for our son as we have been consumed with trying not to lose our granddaughter too', she said. ‘Our fight in the family court will continue into the New Year and beyond. The end of this trial is not the end of our anguish.’ ‘We feel robbed of our son. Our hopes and dreams have been shattered and filled with fears and worries. I cannot even begin to describe the void in our lives, a void that will never be filled.’ Five other men accused of playing a part in the attack were cleared of murder after the prosecution dropped the charge. However, three of them admitted conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Rocky Djelal, 34, was jailed for six years; Billy Dove, 30, for six and a half years; and Ali Lisani, 38 for seven and a half years. The judge told them: 'You have each pleaded guilty to being a party to a conspiracy to cause (the intended target) grievous bodily harm. 'You were each part of a group who were all together by the time you turned the corner and made your way up the alleyway alongside St Christopher's Inn in pursuit. 'That was in revenge for an earlier attack on your friend Salih. 'You Dove set the ball rolling with your call to Salih tipping him off to the presence of [the intended target]. 'You Ali Lisani were armed with a baseball bat. 'The Crown accept you are not to be held responsible for the murder in any way save for being party to the creation of the circumstances that enabled the murder to happen. 'But it is inconceivable that anyone involved in that conspiracy did not realise others of the group might be armed with some form of weapon bearing in mind the purpose of the attack and what it was revenge for.' Mr Foster was stabbed outside the St Christopher's Inn pub, pictured, while enjoying his last drink with a friend . Ricky Huggins, a 30 year-old jobbing actor who had been due to appear as an extra in Our Kind of Traitor starring Ewan McGregor, and property consultant Mohammed Aalamani, also 30, were both cleared of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and walked free from court. A seventh suspect, Aydin Salih, is believed to have fled to Cyprus. The murder took place outside St Christopher’s Inn in Borough High Street during the early hours of 30 November 2013. Mr Foster, who had worked for ten years as an office porter at international law firm Pinsent Masons in the City of London, was standing outside with his friend Danny Murphy. His attackers had wrongly believed him to be another man, who they blamed for an attack on Aydin Salih, the cousin of Aytach Lisani and an associate of others in the group, the court heard. Flowers were left at the scene in tribute to the father-of-one, who was targeted in a revenge attack . Salih, who is in Cyprus, was treated at St Thomas's Hospital after he was attacked on September 20 last year, the court was told. Prosecutor David Fisher QC: ‘They were having a last drink outside as were a number of people. ‘The atmosphere in that alleyway was good but events were interrupted by a group of approximately seven men whose faces were obscured with hoods and scarves they were wearing. ‘Christopher Foster had his back to the group until the very last minute when he turned. ‘The two men decided to go into the pub but before they could do so Christopher Foster was stabbed once in his back. ‘Both men managed to get into the pub but Christopher Foster had been seriously injured and collapsed. ‘Emergency services were called but despite the efforts of doctors and paramedics both at the scene and at hospital Mr Foster died about an hour and a half after he had been stabbed.’ Mr Fisher said the victim was a ‘totally innocent man’ who had been mistaken for another man who cannot be named because of a court order. He continued: ‘Christopher Foster had not said or done anything at all that could begin to explain why he was stabbed.’", "By . Damien Gayle . Cheeky police have been caught on camera blaring KRS-One's Sound Of Da Police from the loudspeaker on their patrol car. Bank Holiday ravers in Chelmsford, Essex, were left speechless when they saw the marked police car cruising the town centre belting out the early-Nineties rap classic. Their mobile phone video of the unlikely situation includes the song's iconic chorus, in which KRS-One whoops to evoke the sound of a police siren. Scroll down for video . The Sound Of Da Police: Grainy smartphone footage taken in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday shows a marked police patrol car blaring the Nineties rap classic from its loudspeaker as it cruises through Chelmsford . Despite it's obvious law enforcement connotations, the song is an ironic choice for a patrol car given its evocation of police brutality, institutionalised racism and oppression. A 15-second video uploaded to YouTube shows the Essex Police patrol car pull away in Chelmsford town centre with its speakers blasting out the rap anthem. The white car, with distinctive yellow and blue checks, can clearly be heard playing the iconic line: 'Woop, woop, it's the sound of the police.' Released in 1993, Sound Of Da Police was the second and final single from KRS-One's first solo album, Return Of The Boom Bap. It . has become an anti-authoritarian anthem, covered by bands such as Rage . Against The Machine and notably featured in La Haine, the 1995 French . cult cinema classic about youths from the Paris ghettoes clashing with . the law. The lyrics are . explicitly critical of police, comparing them to slave overseers and . accusing them of being complicit in the continuing oppression of Black . people in the U.S. Rebel music: Despite it's obvious law enforcement connotations, the song by conscious rapper KRS-One, right, is an ironic choice for a patrol car given its evocation of police brutality, institutionalised racism and oppression . An Essex Police spokesman confirmed they are investigating the video, which was apparently shot on Monday . One line focusing on the overuse of guns in American policing says: 'The officer has the right to arrest, and if you fight back they put a hole in your chest.' Another jab at the police states: 'The real criminals are the C-O-P.' 'The police them have a little gun,' it states. 'So when I'm on the streets, I walk around with a bigger one.' An Essex Police spokesman confirmed they are investigating the video. 'We have viewed the footage and are looking into the matter,' he said.", "Thomas Day has been jailed for nine years and four months after he battered his former girlfriend . A jealous father who weighs 26 stone has been jailed after he battered his former girlfriend until she passed out. Thomas Day, 39, left Helen Callaghan - who is 4ft10in and weighs just six stone - with horrific injuries after he punched and throttled her in a fit of jealousy after learning she was seeing another man, a court heard. The couple's two children, aged ten and six, walked into the room moments after the attack to find their father, who is almost 6ft tall, standing over 28-year-old Miss Callaghan's body. The children ran from the home and into the arms of concerned neighbours. Miss Callaghan’s face was fractured in 20 places, including her cheeks, nose and eye sockets. Surgeons have implanted metal plates into her jaw and cheeks and are trying to reconstruct her face from photographs taken before the attack in June. Police first arrested Day on suspicion of attempted murder, to which he said: 'If I wanted her dead, I would have killed her.' The charge was later reduced to a serious assault. Day pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm when he appeared earlier at Manchester Crown Court. He also admitted a common assault on Miss Callaghan two weeks earlier and a charge of affray after he lost his temper in a pub where she worked. Day, of Fallowfield, also pleaded guilty to importing £1,000 of cannabis into the UK from Goa in India. The defendant showed no emotion as he was jailed for nine years and four months, but said ‘I love you’ to his family in the public gallery. Judge Michael Henshell told Day: 'Jealousy is the most potent and dangerous of emotions and it causes untold harm. 'The . injuries were extensive and almost fatal. They are the most appalling . of injuries. This was an incredibly vicious and forceful attack on a . woman, by you, in the home where she was living, while two children were . in the house.' WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Thomas Day (left), 39, punched and throttled six stone Helen Callaghan, 28, in a fit of jealousy after learning she was seeing another man, leaving her with horrific injuries (right) Miss Callaghan's face was fractured in 20 places, including her cheeks, nose and eye sockets . Miss Callaghan was first attacked by Day on June 16, this year. The pair had a row at their home in . Northern Moor, Wythenshaw, before Miss Callaghan left in the early hours . of the morning for her father's house in Burnage. Day followed her there and scratched her face with a knife, it was said. The following week, on June 23, he lost his temper in a bar in Withington, where Miss Callaghan works. He smashed pool cues and threatened to kill one of Miss Callaghan’s colleagues, it was said. Finally on June 30, Day launched his most vicious attack. As he came to collect the children from the family home, he found messages on her phone that she was seeing someone else. Paul Tonge, defending, said: 'He was a . little surprised to find her still in bed during that fateful visit and . he saw information on her mobile phone which confirmed his fears that . she was in a new relationship. It was like steam let from a pressure . cooker.' Mr Tonge told the . court his client was remorseful and ‘sickened by what he has done’ but . had been a good father to the couple’s two children. Extracts . from Miss Callaghan’s victim impact statement were read out in court. She said: 'The surgeon has asked for lots of photographs from before the . incident and is hopeful he can make me look the same again.' Miss Callaghan declined to speak after the hearing but agreed to have pictures of her injuries published. 'Jealousy is the most dangerous of emotions': Day pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and common assault at Manchester Crown Court, pictured .", "(CNN) -- \"Family Guy\" fans are not letting Brian Griffin go gently into the night. After the Fox animated comedy killed the character in Sunday's episode, several fans have signed a Change.org petition pleading with creator Seth MacFarlane and Fox Broadcasting to bring Brian back. To many, the four-legged cast member was a necessary part of the Griffin family, and a replacement dog -- even one voiced by \"The Sopranos' \" Tony Sirico -- just isn't going to cut it. \"The writers of family guy didn't just kill off one of their creations, they killed off the dog who has lived in our homes for the last 15 years,\" reads the online petition. \"They killed the dog we all have come to love. They killed America's dog!\" On Tuesday morning, the petition had already amassed 35,000 signatures and counting. \"Brian Griffin was an important part of our viewing experience,\" the petition says. \" 'Family Guy' and Fox Broadcasting will lose viewers if Brian Griffin is not brought back to the show.\" In Sunday's episode, titled \"Life of Brian,\" the dog's demise seemed pretty permanent. Brian was hit by a car attempting to play with his constant companion, baby Stewie, and the devious tot couldn't use his time machine to solve the heartbreaking problem. If Brian were to return, it wouldn't be the first time a TV show has resurrected a character, but Fox did already air a farewell to the smart and snarky pet. Interestingly, MacFarlane has yet to comment publicly on Brian's death, although a few creatives who've been involved with the series have spoken up. \"Wilfred\" executive producer David Zuckerman tweeted Monday that although he's no longer involved with \"Family Guy\" and knows \"the show's in good hands,\" he still hopes \"Brian isn't really dead.\" For what it's worth, TV critic and author Alan Sepinwall believes \"Brian will stay dead just like Superman did,\" as does the New York Times' Dave Itzkoff, who speculated on Monday, \"Everyone will cover Family Guy just as fervently when the 'dead character' comes back in a week or two, right?\" Adding to hopes that Brian isn't gone for good is a website called BriansAnnouncement.com, spotted by Deadline Hollywood and Variety. Along with a road sign welcoming visitors to the Griffin family's hometown of Quahog, Rhode Island, there's a countdown clock for a \"special announcement from Brian\" in 10 days. And yet, Fox has said that the site is a hoax. Producer Steve Callaghan didn't drop any hints about such a site while speaking with E! News after Sunday's episode, although he did explain that the idea to kill off Brian caught on in the writers' room and was seen as \"a fun way to shake things up.\" \"Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough, to know that they can trust us,\" Callaghan told E!. \"We always make choices that always work to the greatest benefit of the series.\"", "They're supposed to be the ones who take the rubbish away. But in one residential street, a local refuse collector has been exposed as a rogue litterer, dumping plastic bin bags in an alleyway. His antics were captured on CCTV installed by frustrated residents in Oldham, Manchester, who had noticed the rubbish piling up. Residents confused over who had been dumping bags full of rubbish in an alley next to their street were stunned when CCTV revealed a binman . Rather than load the bags into his lorry, the bin man was filmed lifting them out of dustbins along Park Road in Glodwick before tossing them down an alley. Another CCTV video shows council workers arriving in the same alleyway days later. They searched the contents of the bags before placing stickers on each of them warning residents they could face fines of up to £50,000 for not having disposed of rubbish properly. It was captured on video installed by resident Zed Liaqat who, along with others on the street, thought one of their neighbours had been dumping the bags there. 'For at least a year now we have had an issue with rubbish bags being dumped in the alleyway,' said Mr Liaqat. 'There is always a pile of them there, cars drive over them because it is quite a busy passageway and the bags end up splitting and rubbish flies everywhere. 'For all this time I, along with fellow residents, assumed it was one of our neighbours and it has actually caused a bit of tension because we thought someone was doing this on their own doorstep.' The footage showed the binman lifting the bags out o wheelie bins before throwing them to the side . Adnan Islam's father had been sent a letter by the council inviting him to a recorded interview over the issue before the CCTV was obtained . After watching the footage Mr Liaqat was shocked to discover it had been council workers that were fly-tipping all along. 'When I watched it I was gobsmacked, it was a binman. You would have never thought it would be the people who are supposed to take the rubbish away. 'As a community we are shocked, something has to be done about this.' Some of the residents had been sent letters threatening legal action if the rubbish was not cleared up. Adnan Islam, who also lives on Park Road, revealed how his dad received such letter which invited him to a taped interview at Oldham Council Offices with a view to having the matter dealt with in magistrates' court. 'This has really worried my dad. The letter mentions court and says he will be arrested if he doesn¹t attend the interview,' said Mr Islam. 'After watching the video I have no doubt this is why my dad has been accused. 'When I saw the video I was stunned. We take pride in our area so we want answers.' Local councillor Arooj Shah said 'individuals' such as those shown in the video 'ruin it for everyone'. An Oldham Council spokesman said the issue was being dealt with 'extremely seriously'. 'Our staff must also lead by example. We are taking this matter extremely seriously and investigating it. 'We will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary action, where necessary,' Helen Lockwood, Oldham Council¹s executive director for co-operatives and neighbourhoods, said. Oldham Council had slapped stickers on the bin bags because they were not properly disposed of. It said it was investigating the footage .", "He may be pushing 94, but Prince Philip’s not lost one iota of his sense of humour. Watching his wife sign an empty picture mount – in which a glossy portrait of the monarch was later placed - the on-form royal remarked waspishly: ‘It’s not a very good likeness, is it?’ Philip had accompanied the Queen to Southampton to officially name the new £473 million P&O cruise liner Britannia, in which the finished photograph will, eventually, hang. Scroll down for video . Cheeky: He may be pushing 94, but Prince Philip proved he hasn't lost one iota of his sense of humour today as The Queen launched the Britannia ocean liner in Southampton . And it wasn’t the only cracker uttered by Philip during the course of their visit. On being introduced to P&O’s Human Resource director, Paula Porter, yesterday, he remarked: ‘Humans are not resources!’ Fortunately the executive took the off-the-cuff comment in her stride, laughing afterwards: ‘I thought it was a very good line. I shall be using it again.’ The Queen, 88, also appeared to be thoroughly enjoying herself, even tapping her feet in time to the music of the Band of the Royal Marines as they played a merry jig before Britannia’s official naming ceremony. Wit: Watching his wife sign an empty picture mount – in which a glossy portrait of the monarch was later placed - the on-form royal remarked waspishly: ‘It’s not a very good likeness, is it?’ Tears of laughter: The Queen chuckled during the ceremony and wiped away a tear of laughter . Nowadays the monarch doesn’t actually have to swing the bottle of bubbly – in this case a Nebuchadnezzar (20 bottles) of English sparkling wine from the Wiston Estate Winery near Pulborough, Sussex – used to christen the boat herself. Instead she discreetly presses a button and the work is done for her. The new mechanised system isn’t entirely foolproof, however. When the bottle struck the side of the ship it exploded with an almighty bang, sending one hefty shard of glass speeding to within a few feet of where the Queen was sitting. Fortunately the forward-thinking people from P&O had erected a plastic screen to protect the elderly sovereign. All the same, it was quite a moment and clearly struck a chord with the guest of honour. When the Queen met a line-up of chefs later, including Marco Pierre White, she referred to the incident exclaiming: ‘It exploded!’ Olly Smith, Britannia’s wine expert, replied: ‘It did, didn’t it, Ma’am? Spectacularly' Round of applause: The Queen cheers during the naming ceremony for Britannia . Having a chat: The Queen enjoys a chat during the naming ceremony for Britannia . Round of applause: The Queen claps as the sixth cruise ship she has sponsored is officially named . Enjoying the sunshine: A dapper Duke of Edinburgh appeared to be enjoying his day in Southampton . Is that you dear? The Duke of Edinburgh flips through the programme and stops at a picture of the Queen . Thankfully, however, some traditions haven’t gone by the wayside. ‘God bless her and all who sail in her,’ the sovereign also said. Surprisingly, Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday, the Queen has only named four civilian ships previously (the QE2 in 1967, Oriana in 1995, Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010, with the Britannia as the fifth). But the monarch appeared to be thoroughly enjoying herself, chatting nineteen to the dozen with other VIP guests as she toured the vessel. She was heard telling TV chef James Martin, one of a number of celebrity chefs who will be offering classes for passengers: ‘The first time I ever saw white bread was on board the old Queen Elizabeth. It was rather fascinating.’ The ship, which cost its owners £473m to build, is the third P&O Cruises ship to be named Britannia but is easily the largest of the trio, with 15 passenger decks, 13 restaurants and four pools on-board. Britannia was also the name of the Queen's much-loved Royal Yacht which was decommissioned in 1997 under the orders of then Prime Minister Tony Blair. Berthed in Edinburgh's Port of Leith, the ship is now a static tourist attraction but sailed more than 1,000,000 miles during its 40 years in royal service. The new Britannia is expected to rack up a similar number of miles during its own career, although unlike the Queen's yacht, it will host tourists rather than dignitaries. Today, however, dignitaries were the order of the day for the new Britannia, with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh shown around the new ship by a large group of them. Isn't it magnificent? The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen appear to be sharing their observations of the ship . Ready to launch: The Queen presses the button that will launch a bottle of fizz against the ship . Smashing! The Queen smashes a bottle of £24.95 English sparkling wine against the ship . Job done! The bottle of English sparkling wine smashes into hundreds of pieces . Celebration: Red white and blue confetti rains down on the Queen after the bottle is smashed . Sponsor: The Queen is all smiles as she becomes godmother to P&O Cruises' ship Britannia . Magnificent: Britannia is the newest P&O Cruises ship and can carry up to 3,600 people . Gargantuan: The vessel also boasts 15 passenger decks, 13 restaurants and four swimming pools . The Queen is no stranger to cruise ships in any case, having become godmother to no fewer than five - now six, including Britannia. First of the liners launched by the Queen was Cunard's QE2, which was christened in 1967 and made her maiden voyage in 1969. Now permanently moored in Dubai after retiring in 2008, its owners plan to turn it into a floating luxury hotel, although plans for the conversion are currently stalled. Other vessels launched by the Queen include the Oriana in 1995, the Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and Queen Elizabeth, another Cunard ship, in 2010. Well-wishers: The Queen was joined by Darcy Bussell, Anneka Rice and hairdresser Nicky Clarke . Supporter: Chef Marco Pierre White at the event. The P&O vessel features menus created by the famous chef . Enjoying the day:  Chef James Martin from Sunday Brunch with a friend at the event . Showing her support: Olympic Champion Sally Gunnell OBE made a rare public appearance at the reception . Royal salute: Comedian Rob Brydon salutes the captain while making a speech at the event . Hope his skills weren't needed! Retired swimming champion Mark Foster attended the event with a friend . Colourful: Entertainment was laid on for the guests, including professional dancers . Perfectly aligned: A marching band was also on hand to provide music . Spectacular scene: Hundreds of VIP guests were invited to watch the ceremony . Although the Queen is godmother to the largest number of vessels, she is not the only member of the royal family to have launched a cruise ship. In 2007, the Duchess of Cornwall launched Cunard's Queen Victoria at Southampton, returning five years later to blow out the candles on its fifth birthday in 2013. The same year saw the Duchess of Cambridge become a ship's godmother for the first time, with the royal, who was making her last public appearance before the birth of Prince George, invited to christen Princess Cruises' Royal Princess. The vast Royal Princess is one of the largest cruise ships ever built and has space for 3,600 guests, as well as an over-water 'Seawalk' which allows travellers to see what's going on below. Other vessels with royal connections include the Navy's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth II, which was launched by Her Majesty in Rosyth with a bottle of whisky last year. The Duchess of Cornwall also has a naval vessel to her name, in her case the high-tech nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Astute. She is also the patron of a Cornish river ferry named the Duchess of Cornwall, which launched in 2008 and plies the waters between Falmouth and St Mawes. Launch: The Duchess of Cambridge has also played godmother to a ship, launching her first in June 2013 . Smashing! Her ship was Princess Cruises' gargantuan Royal Princess, which can carry up to 3,600 people . Royal approval: The Duchess of Cornwall sponsored Cunard's Queen Victoria, launching it in December 2007 .", "It's going to be a big year for travelers who love cruising. Not only will 2015 see the launch of a number of spectacular new cruise ships, but the opening of new routes will make some of the world's most remote places significantly more accessible. We asked some of the travel world's top cruise experts to share their picks for the hottest cruise itineraries of 2015 and the ships that will be sailing them. Alaskan Dream Cruises . In 2015, cruise ships will be pushing deeper into the wilderness than ever before, and this particular sailing offers some great wildlife-spotting opportunities on a smaller boat. \"This Alaskan Dream Cruises sailing includes complimentary shore excursions designed to showcase true Alaskan adventures and the native heritage,\" says Annie Scrivanich, senior vice president of Cruise Specialists. \"Departures coincide with seasonal changes and animal migrations for the best weather and animal viewing opportunities. If you're only going to visit Alaska once, this itinerary is your best bet.\" Alaskan Dream Cruises: Baranof Dream, +1 855 747 8100, from $4,399 per person . Windstar Cruises: Star Breeze . The latest addition to Windstar Cruises' fleet, Star Breeze has fans of European cruises particularly jazzed. Among the top picks is the 10-day Sicilian Splendors cruise, which takes in Rome, Catania, Valletta, Gozo, Trapani, Sorrento and Capri. \"We're all very excited about the new Windstar Star Breeze,\" says Scrivanich. \"This new power yacht holds a maximum of 212 guests and provides new opportunities for those looking for a European cruise on a smaller ship.\" Windstar Cruises: Star Breeze, +1 206 733 3005, from $4,449 per person . Viking Cruises: Viking Star . This Viking Cruises tour takes in the best of Europe's northern cities, including Bergen, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Tallinn, Gdansk, Berlin, Copenhagen and Stavanger. But it's the boat that experts are most excited about, as it will be Viking Cruises' first ocean-going ship. The 47,800 gross tonne ship will have 464 cabins and accommodate 928 guests . \"I'm really looking forward to Viking Cruises' Viking Star, which sets sail in 2015,\" says cruise journalist and Telegraph Travel cruise specialist Jane Archer. \"It's a brand new ship and the mockups look amazing.\" Other itineraries available on the Viking Star include Mediterranean and western European tours. Viking Cruises: Viking Star, 0800 298 9700, from $4,703 per person . Princess Cruises: Japan Getaway . Fancy checking out Japan but short on time? Then consider stepping aboard one of the many cruise ships heading there in 2015. \"Japan is one to watch for 2015 and into 2016,\" predicts cruise journalist Archer. \"A lot of people want to visit but are nervous because of the language, food and very different culture. \"Having a cruise ship for a base helps to give confidence and means they can visit several ports on one holiday.\" Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess ship has two Japan Getaway itineraries on offer in 2015. There's a 16-day Grand Japan and Taiwan tour setting sail in May, followed by an 11-day tour of Japan, China and Southeast Asia that hits the seas in September. Princess Cruises: Diamond Princess, +1 852 2952 8088, from $861 per person . Royal Caribbean: Quantum of the Seas . Next year, some of the biggest cruise operators will be making an extra effort to entice Asian passengers onto their ships. This includes Royal Caribbean, which is sending its newest and most hi-tech ship, Quantum of the Seas, to China. \"Asia continues to grow as an emerging market cruise lines want to invest in, especially in 2015,\" says Michelle Fee, chief executive of Cruise Planners. \"The new Quantum of the Seas will be based in Shanghai, as part of an effort to introduce the Asian traveler to cruising.\" The ship's five-night Fukuoka and Busan cruise departs Shanghai on August 3, 2015, and takes in Fukuoka, Japan and Busan, South Korea before heading pack to its starting port. Royal Caribbean: Quantum of the Seas, +1 305 341 0204, from $2,548 per person . Compagnie du Ponant: Le Lyrial . This exciting cruise itinerary makes the cut in part because the mode of transport is so fantastic. \"Compagnie du Ponant is introducing its newest luxury expedition ship, Le Lyrial, in spring 2015,\" reveals Richard West, founder of Explorcruises.com. \"It's exciting because it's a truly luxurious expedition-style small ship\". The Athens to Dubrovnik itinerary is a seven-night cruise that sets sail in August, taking in the highlights of the Croatian coast before heading to Greece. Compagnie du Ponant: Le Lyrial, +33 4 88 66 64 00, from $4,160 per person . Uniworld River Cruise: Splendors of Egypt and the Nile . Cruise companies pulled out of Egypt en masse due to the recent turmoil, but in 2015, it will be possible to cruise the Nile once again. \"Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has re-launched a sailing along Egypt's great Nile River on board the elegant, all-suite River Tosca, with cruises starting in October 2015,\" says Fee of Cruise Planners. \"Egypt is an awe-inspiring destination and travelers can experience its culture on a 12-day program with luxury accommodation.\" Uniworld River Cruise: River Tosca, +1 818 382 7820, from $5,136 per person . P&O Britannia . Here's one for those who consider themselves a bit of a foodie. P & O's Cookery Club, on its new Britannia ship, allows guests to hone their culinary skills alongside some of the world's top chefs. \"P&O Cruises' culinary offerings on-board their new ship Britannia are particularly exciting,\" says Adam Coulter, editor of Cruise Critic. \"The line has enlisted the help of a number of celebrity chefs to create the first cookery school on-board a British ship.\" Chefs leading workshops will include Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochar and wine guru Olly Smith. The vessel will spend its first year touring waters around the Caribbean, Baltic and Mediterranean. Pocruises.com, prices TBA . Wendy Wu Tours: Irrawaddy Voyager . \"In 2015 we'll see more luxury ships are moving into Burma [Myanmar],\" says Peter Lynch, editor of website Cruise Passenger. \"It's a country filled with wonderful people and astonishing historic sites.\" One such cruise is Wendy Wu's 12-day Irrawaddy Voyager sailing, which takes in Kyauk Myaung, where traditional Myanmar 50 gallon water pots can be seen, the magnificent wooden Bagaya Monastery and the U Bein Bridge (the world's longest teak wood bridge) as well as Bagan, where there are 2,000 Buddhist structures scattered across a vast plain. Wendy Wu Tours: Irrawaddy Voyager, +44 207 939 1200, from $3,654 per person . Norwegian Cruise Lines: Norwegian Escape . \"Norwegian Cruise Lines are launching the Norwegian Escape in 2015, which was named by consumers via a Facebook contest, so travelers are already invested in it,\" says Cruise Planners' Fee. \"The Norwegian Escape will be the largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Lines fleet and features The Haven, which is almost like a separate ship, with luxury suites, private dining and more.\" One of the most popular cruise routes is predicted to be its Eastern Caribbean itinerary, which sails out of Miami. Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Escape, +44 845 201 8900, from $782 per person . CroisiEurope: Loire cruise . Cruise fans have been eagerly awaiting this particular outing because the boat will use paddle wheel technology to allow it to navigate the shallow waters of the Loire, and overnight cruises along the river haven't been possible until now. \"I'm especially excited about the new Loire cruises because it's a river which has yet to be explored,\" says Cruise Passenger's Lynch. \"Paddle ships will allow this to be done for the first time in 2015.\" CroisiEurope: Loire Princesse, +33 388 762 199, from $1,570 per person . Crystal Cruises: Best of the Baltic . Proving that cruises are no longer just about eating a lot of food and not doing very much, Crystal Cruises is just one operator offering passengers the chance to work off those calories -- in this case, with a 90-minute run around St. Petersburg during its \"Best of the Baltic\" cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen. \"There is a growing focus on fitness and wellness, both through facilities on board and excursions ashore, such as Crystal Cruises' excursions for runners,\" says Edwina Lonsdale, chief executive of Mundy Cruising. Crystal Cruises: Crystal Symphony, +1 310 785 9300, from $3,845 per person . Azamara Club Cruises: Bali & Great Barrier Reef . The introduction of this new 14-night cruise of Bali and the Great Barrier Reef is another indicator of a cruise trend we'll see in 2015. \"Australia and New Zealand cruises are becoming more popular,\" says Sean Keddy, cruise expert at travel agency Love Holidays. \"I suspect this is mainly due to an increased interest from the local markets, but this does allow passengers from Europe and the U.S. more choice and competitive pricing.\" Azamara Club Cruises: Azamara Quest, +1 305 341 0206, from $4,277 per person . Crystal Cruises: Northwest Passage . Sometimes tropical destinations just don't do it for would-be cruisers. For those who have some cash to splash, there's Crystal Cruises' new 32-day Northwest Passage cruise, which will set sail in 2016. It starts in Alaska and finishes in New York, getting there via Nunavut, Greenland and Maine. \"For those interested in a genuine Alaska cruise experience, this itinerary offers a great blend of scenic highlights, wildlife viewing opportunities, off-the-beaten-track excursions and unique ports of call,\" says Scrivanich of Cruise Specialists. Crystal Cruises: Crystal Serenity, +1 310 785 9300, from $22,865 per person .", "By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 14:10 EST, 27 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:10 EST, 27 March 2013 . High heeled shoes, hair extensions, glowing spray tans and false eyelashes might sound like an Essex girl's party-ready regime, but it's how girls as young as three are preparing to compete in American style children's beauty pageants. The mini modelling contests as seen on hit TV shows such as Toddlers and Tiaras arrived in the UK last year. And they are already spawning a booming beauty industry for babies . The pageant effect is seeping its way to our High Street beauty industry (picture posed by model) Salons offering services usually reserved for adults, like hair styling, blow-drys and nail painting are now opening their doors to the under tens to meet demand for pushy mothers and style savvy youngsters. Tantrum salon in Kensington is one such company, and they already have a thriving celebrity clientele with Geri Halliwell, Liz Hurley and Jack Black all having sent their children there for a haircut. The salon even styled one of the bridesmaids at the Royal Wedding. Tantrum’s co-founder Latasha Malik, 34, who worked in marketing and PR before opening the salon five years ago, told the Times that pre-schoolers make up about 40 per cent of their clients. 'We get all sorts of people but our catchment is quite wealthy,' she said. A blow-dry for baby there costs £30 and follows a consultation and a trim - and they will also paint your child's nails for £7. Nipper Snippers beauty parlour in Reigate, Surrey, offers 'party hair' for little girls with prices starting at £22. Fidgets salon in Tyne & Wear offers blow-drys to girls of eight years old for £13, stating on their website: 'For girls aged over 8yrs Curly and Frizz highly recommends a little pampering and suggests you get a wash, cut and blow dry.' Toddlers and Tiaras star Casey, seven, performed Beyoncé's Single Ladies' dance moves in a new episode . Paisley, three, dressed as Pretty Woman while competing in a pageant in an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras . Maddy took to the stage in the hit show as Dolly Parton, complete with fake breasts and bottom . The US children's beauty industry is worth £3.3billion and beauty contests for children are the norm, with many families spending hundreds on dollars on one event. The . Miss Mini Princess UK contest invites girls from one through 13 . to compete against each other to be crowned the most beautiful. The . competition has four rounds, the first focuses 'on the face and beauty', while in round two the child wears their most 'eye catching special fancy wowing' outfit. The . third round is talent where children get to show off, with props and . costumes allowed, and round four is focuses again on glamour and . beauty. Titled 'Evening Dress', this is the 'final chance to show their poised elegant stance in a prestige evening dress'. The . six age groups split the girls up into Baby Princess, Tiny Princess, . Little Princess, Petite Princess, Little Miss Princess and Pre-teen Princess. The US children's beauty industry is worth £3.3billion, and it looks likely to boom on this side of the Atlantic too . Fashionable celebrity children like Harper Beckham and Suri Cruise fuel  the rend for pampering children . Round 1 - Beauty - 'Any choice of beautiful dress (with most focus on face and beauty)' Round 2 - Wow Wear - 'Choice of most eye catching special fancy wowing outfit' Round 3 - Talent - '90 Seconds to show off your most interesting talents any props and costumes allowed' Round 4 - Evening Dress - 'Final chance to show your poised elegant stance in a prestige evening dress' Miss Mini Princess UK encourages girls to 'show your poised elegant stance in a prestige evening dress'", "By . Alun Rees and Nick Craven . PUBLISHED: . 20:30 EST, 27 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:58 EST, 30 October 2012 . Sportsman: Jake Coplestone in action during a rugby match . A rugby player has accused police officers of trying to hack the phone he had used to record them taking a break - locking it for a staggering 42 years. Management trainee Jake Coplestone, 20, used his mobile phone to record footage of five officers outside a bar and coffee shop. But he was then approached by two of the officers who accused him of being drunk and disorderly and put him in handcuffs. The Newbury RFC player was arrested and spent the night in a police cell before being released - without his iPhone. But when the handset was returned five days later it had a screen message stating: 'iPhone is disabled, try again in 22,461,058 minutes' - more than four decades. He claims this was due to the handset being tampered with repeatedly in a crude effort to crack the password. But Mr Coplestone, who played rugby for a south-west England under-16 squad, was able to retrieve the  51-second video and show it to The Mail on Sunday. Police have referred the incident to their professional standards department but say the officers involved refute Mr Coplestone’s claims. But Jake, of Marlborough, Wiltshire, said: 'The only logical explanation for my phone being disabled for 42 years is that someone had been trying to access my files to delete the video footage of officers in the club. 'I was not drunk and disorderly and I believe the only reason for my arrest was my taking footage of the officers standing at the bar. 'I’m discussing what to do, including court action and a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, with my solicitor.' Recalling the incident, Mr Coplestone and one of his friends said he was approached by the officers who had seen him filming. The friends say the officers discussed whether to arrest 6ft 5in Mr Coplestone under Section 60 of the Public Order Act, then decided on ‘drunk and disorderly’ after he protested. At this point, Mr Coplestone says he was seized by one of the officers and led off to a car park behind the Azuza venue just off Marlborough High Street where police patrol vehicles were parked. Mr Coplestone says he was handcuffed and bundled into a vehicle and taken to the custody suite at Swindon. There, he claims he repeatedly asked to be breathalysed to prove that he was not drunk but that was refused. Wiltshire Police policy is to offer breathalyser tests only to drink-driving suspects.Instead, he says, he was put in a cell overnight and released the next day. Mr Coplestone says his mobile phone was returned five days later – after the intervention of his solicitor and on condition he paid an £80 fixed penalty – but it was blocked. With help from a software programme ironically named Jail Break, he was able to unlock the phone and retrieve the film. Azuza: Jake Coplestone filmed officers apparently having a break in the Wiltshire bar and cafe while on duty . Chief Superintendent Paul Mills, Head of Local Policing, said in a statement: ‘No formal complaint has been made and the Force have not seen the alleged footage. 'However, due to the serious allegations being made by Jacob Coplestone, this will now be subject to an investigation by the Force Professional Standards Department who are responsible for the oversight of all conduct matters attaining to police officers and staff.’ Ch Supt Mills said records showed Mr Coplestone chose to pay the fixed penalty rather than have the matter heard in court. Mr Coplestone’s allegations, if upheld, will add to the Wiltshire force’s tarnished reputation. The IPCC is already investigating failures in the case of murdered Becky Godden. Taxi driver Christopher Halliwell couldn’t be tried for the crime, even though he confessed, as detectives had denied him his rights under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Last year Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth, 49, hanged himself after 13 female staff made 26 separate complaints against him of inappropriate sexual advances.", "By . Janine Yaqoob . PUBLISHED: . 08:01 EST, 28 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:20 EST, 28 November 2012 . Police are hunting a vandal who stole a Mrs Santa Claus figure from an elderly couple’s garden - before cutting its head off. CCTV captured the moment the thug took the 4ft-high Mrs Christmas from outside Gertie and John Garner’s home in a midnight raid. In the video the yob can be heard laughing as he rips the head off the festive figure before throwing the body parts into the garden. Scroll down for video . Gertie and John Garner, pictured holding their decapitated Mrs Santa Claus, woke up to find their festive decoration had been mutilated by a vandal . CCTV footage of the Santa vandal shows him picking up the 4ft-high model and ripping its head off . The intruder struck just after midnight on Tuesday, just hours after the couple had adorned their three-bedroom home in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with Christmas decorations for their disabled son, Christopher. Devastated Gertie, 78, said: 'It was the first night we’d lit it all up. 'I do it every year for my son Christopher who is severely disabled because he loves lights. 'It was his carers who found out what had happened first when they came to get my son out of bed. CCTV shows the thug laughing as he decapitates the figure . The intruder struck just after midnight on Tuesday, just hours after Mr and Mrs Garner decorated their three-bedroom home in Grantham, Lincolnshire . The CCTV captures the moment he rips the figure apart . Gertie and John Garner put up the decorations for their disabled son, Christopher . 'A lot of people get a lot of enjoyment out of the decorations so I don’t see why they can’t just leave them alone. 'What sort of person beheads a figure of Mrs Christmas? It’s like something straight out of the Grinch. 'We will not be beaten by this senseless attack and are already planning bigger and better decorations.' The couple, who have four grown-up . children, 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, put security . cameras outside their home three years ago after a spate of vandalism . but this is the first time anyone has targeted their festive display. Gertie added: 'We used to put little . ornaments on the wall but they kept getting stolen so we glued them . instead but then they were smashed. 'The amount of people who stop and look at the decorations is unbelievable. 'People say we should do it for charity but where would people put their money? It would just disappear.' Lincolnshire Police confirmed they were investigating the attack. VIDEO: Watch the heartless vandal decapitate Mrs Santa Claus ." ]

[ "A Works Cited list (or a References list in APA) is a formatted list of all the sources cited within your essay. A bibliography, on the other hand, is a formatted list of all sources that you consulted (but didn't necessarily cite) for a research assignment." ]

[ "A reference list usually goes with APA style citations. It's essentially the same as a works cited page, just with a different name.", "Title your reference page as “Annotated Bibliography” or “Annotated List of Works Cited.” Include annotations after the full, listed reference.", "What is the difference between the work reference point and the machine zero point? The difference between the zero reference point and the machine zero point is that the machine tool has a point that is its zero point and this is fixed in the machine tool.", "['Title your reference page as “Annotated Bibliography” or “Annotated List of Works Cited.”', 'Include annotations after the full, listed reference.', 'Annotations should typically not exceed a single paragraph.']", "What is the difference between nature and nurture? Nature refers to heredity; nurture refers to environment.", "The word content refers to what is contained in the work. So the best way of identifying the difference between context and content is to remember that content is what is contained in the work whereas context is the circumstances that help us to understand the text.", "['Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. ... ', 'Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page. ... ', 'Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.']", "What is the difference between Literacy and Literature? Literacy refers to the ability that an individual has to read and write a language to a considerable extent. ... Literature, on the other hand, refers to written works of art of a language.", "What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype? A genotype refers to the genetic characteristics of an organism. A phenotype refers to the physical characteristics.", "Gen X employees want to feel like their work matters. When asked what is most important to them at work, 39% cite “the ability to make a difference in the organization,” which is right above recognition for their work (15%) and development opportunities (15%).", "Citing Sources -- Chicago -- Bibliography style Footnotes and endnotes are formulated in exactly the same way -- the only difference is that footnotes appear on the bottom of the page on which a work is cited, whereas endnotes appear at the end of a manuscript.", "The key difference between form and content in literature is that the content is what a text says while the form is the way of arrangement of the content. ... In literature, the form refers to the style and structure of a literary work whereas the content refers to the plot, characters, setting, and themes.", "The introduction, the sources, and the annotations should be double spaced. The sources are listed in alphabetical order and formatted the same way that they would be in the “References” or “Works Cited” page. ... Note that there are some slight variations between APA and MLA annotated bibliographies.", "The Difference Between Copyright and Patent. Patents refer to an invention, whereas copyrights refer to the expression of an idea, such as an artistic work. They are governed by different rules, so it is important to know which is applicable to your works.", "If you are referring to both the same source and page number, you need only put \"Ibid.\" in your citation; if, however, you are citing the same source but a different place in that text, use Ibid. and add the new page number—e.g. Ibid., 120. ... [Reference to a different work requires a new full citation.]", "Difference Between Work and Energy. There is a significant difference between work and energy. Work is the transferring of an amount of energy with the help of a force covering a particular distance through a direction. Energy is also referred to the force which works in a certain distance.", "['In-text citations appear throughout your paper at the end of a sentence you are citing. ... ', 'Works cited page (MLA) or reference list (APA) citations give all of the information your reader would need to find your source.']", "What is the difference between work immersion and OJT? ... Work immersion is unpaid presence in the workplace for a defined period (80 hours, for instance) for observation and familiarization. OJT, on the other hand, refers to skill-building while actually on the job doing the work as a paid employee.", "Between vs. Among—What's the Difference? Use between when referring to one-to-one relationships. Use among when referring to indistinct or nonspecific relationships.", "What is the difference between desktop and enterprise software? Desktop software refers to applications installed on a personal computer (browser, word processor, games). Enterprise software refers to applications that address the needs of multiple, simultaneous users in an organization or work group.", "Number the references in the order that they were cited in the text. Single space within the citation and double-space between citations. There are no hanging indents.", "The similarities between eastern and western philosophy are greater than any differences cited by modern-day writers and lecturers on the topic. The most often cited difference is that western philosophy is 'fragmentary' while eastern philosophy is 'holistic'.", "Now, operational definition of terms will refer to how certain terms and how they have been used in your study. Precisely what they refer to in the study and the study only. As such, you do not cite as the definition is unique to the specific study…otherwise you may only end up self citing.", "Bottom Line: When citing yourself, in whichever style you are utilizing, cite in-text citations to identify yourself as the author. On your Works Cited Page (MLA) or Reference List (APA), identify yourself as the author using the format for an unpublished paper (or published, if you have published it!)", "The Purpose of human existence The similarities between eastern and western philosophy are greater than any differences cited by modern-day writers and lecturers on the topic. The most often cited difference is that western philosophy is 'fragmentary' while eastern philosophy is 'holistic'.", "Title your reference page as “Annotated Bibliography” or “Annotated List of Works Cited.” Include annotations after the full, listed reference. Annotations should typically not exceed a single paragraph. If you do exceed one paragraph, indent each new paragraph and separate with a single space between them.", "What is the difference between General Revelation and Special Revelation? General Revelation refers to what God reveals through nature while Special Revelation mainly refers to what God reveals through Scripture.", "A type of difference in health that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage. ... According to the textbook, what is the difference between health equity and health equality? Health equity refers to fairness, health equality refers to outcomes. According to the text, what is \"human capital\"?", "But what is the difference between them? Put simply, productivity is the quantity of work produced by a team, business or individual. Efficiency, on the other hand, refers to the resources used to produce that work. So, the more effort, time or raw materials required to do the work, the less efficient the process.", "According to Mark Twain, what is the difference between work and play? According to Mark Twain, work is what the body is obliged to do and play is what the body is not obliged to do.", "['To cite the complete work in your reference section, use this format: American Psychiatric Association. ... ', 'The basic in-text citation should look like this: (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).', 'To cite a chapter of the DSM-5, replace the publisher information with the chapter DOI, as in this example:']", "Originally Answered: What is the difference between a news story and a feature article? A news story reports the facts of what happened in a particular event. Journalists cite “who, what, where, when, how.” A feature story is generally a human interest look at a person's life, accomplishments, faults, etc." ]

[ "Yes (almost), in 2009 302 US active duty military deaths were due to suicide, and on the same year 149 US soldiers were killed in Iraq.\n\nAccording to a study of war-related deaths published by the Congressional Research Service in there were a total of 1515 active duty military deaths, of them 302 were self inflicted and 346 were as a result of hostile action. (Table 5, page 8).\n\nTo get the number of casualties just in Iraq, according to icasualties.org there were 149 US deaths in Iraq in 2009, of those, 75 were non-hostile fatalities." ]

[ "In regard to the initial part of your question that you pointed to the story of Habu and Kabu (abel & cain) (هابیل و قابیل ), you also mentioned that \" one side didn't fight back the murder but simply warn the other side of the hell fire\"\n\nSo, the verse below (4:93) could be related with that story:\n\n\n وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا\n فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا\n عَظِيمًا ٩٣ \n \n But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell,\n wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him\n and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment. (93) \n \n or even we can pay attention to the following verse (Surah\n al-Nisa:94) which could be related with the issue of Takfir\n (excommunication)\n \n يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ\n فَتَبَيَّنُوا وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ\n لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ\n اللَّـهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ\n اللَّـهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِمَا\n تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا﴿٩٤﴾\n \n O you who have believed, when you go forth [to fight] in the cause of\n Allah, investigate; and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting\n of] peace \"You are not a believer,\" aspiring for the goods of worldly\n life; for with Allah are many acquisitions. You [yourselves] were like\n that before; then Allah conferred His favor upon you, so investigate.\n Indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. (94)\n\n\nOn the other hand, rationally (and even canonically) it is Wajib (mandatory) for us to defend ourselves. (of course by observing some points…). Even according to a Hadith from Imam Ali (a.s.):\n\n\n (briefly): whoever of you who is able to defend his friend (against\n the enemy), So he should defend him(his friend) as he defend himself.\n \n احد من اخوانه فشلا، فليذب عن اخيه بفضل نجدته التي فضل بها عليه، کما\n يذب عن نفسه، فلوشاء الله لجعله مثله. ان الموت طالب حثيت،...\n\n\nThe Hadith(tradition) above shows that as well as ourselves, it could be our duty to defend our friends too (of course by paying attention to its conditions according to the positions and so on)\n\nAccordingly, even as you gave an example \"if a Muslim is shooting at you or going to stab you, are one suppose to just let the other side do it? Or any type of self defensive actions are allowed in Islam in this type of scenario?\"\n\nThen this is your duty as an obligatory deed to save your life.\n\nOr let me give you another example which is related with your question (but in a larger field):\n\nIn the war between Iran and Iraq (some years ago), Iraq attacked Iran. As you probably know, Iraq is an Islamic country, then shall we say Iran ought not defend itself because the soldiers of Iraq were Muslims? (and allowed them to kill themselves?)\n\n\n\nSource:\n\n\nhttp://tanzil.net/#4:93\nhttp://dorenajaf.valiasr-aj.com", "It's plausible.\n\nThe map appears to be based on the same data set as this interactive map by The Guardian, which is of \"every incident where somebody died\" in Iraq, between 2003 and 2009, and is based on data obtained via Wikileaks.\n\n\n We took all these incidents where someone had died and put it on the map above. \n\n\nOf relevance to the question, from the raw data they provide, for the time frame reported (2004-2009), there were 2,107 IED explosions (which ought to include car bombings, which doesn't have a separate category), resulting in over 29,000 casualties, the vast majority of those being civilian casualties. Behind \"Murder\" (with >34,000 casualties), the IED category is by far the most bloody, causing nearly 3x the number of casualties as the next category (direct fire), and more than 1/4 of all casualties.", "Another 3 advices to add to Sardathrion's:\n\n\n\n\nTry not to let emotions affect you into mistaking incidents for trends (one such example from History SE was when someone described US involvement in Vietnam as being a pattern of massacres. While Mai Lai is indeed horrific, it's (given the scale) a minor blip that serves to prove the opposite trend (out of 1million+ served, 50 soldiers participated) in dispassionate analysis. \n\n\nBe careful about logical fallacies. \n\nAmong the most common encountered in discourse about history is confusing causation and correlation.\n\n\nBe VERY VERY careful about semantic and other word games that biased parties are wont to use. To give 2 types:\n\n\nUsing words outside the accepted definitions to tinge the events.\n\nTo use a very controversial example from recent history, look at accusations of G.W.Bush \"lying\" about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. If you carefully analyze the claim, \"lying\" means stating something that one knows NOT to be true, yet there are no documents/witness accounts to prove that Bush White House knew that there were no WMDs prior to Iraq War. They may have lied about their degree of confidence, but they didn't have anywhere near conclusive proof of lack of WMDs.\n\nA common case of this is to intentionally switch around \"murder\" and \"kill\" verbs (the former 100% implies premeditated intent to kill).\nAnother, much more problematic game-wording, is playing with linguistics to prove historical facts/connections from isolated word root similarities etc...\n\nOne less known example is modern Russian revisionist history which contains some fairly outlandish claims about pre-900s Russian tribes based on fancy playing with word roots to prove that certain historical references were about russians/slavs where they are historically accepted as being totally unrelated (It's been a while so I don't have any links to specifics, sorry).\n\nAnother example is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where people claim somehow that modern Palestinians have a historical claim to the area stronger than the Israelis because their name derives from Philistines. However, archaeological (and some other, such as linguistic) evidence points to Philistines being of Greek-originated Mycenaean culture, and therefore not of Semitic origins like Arabs who comprise most of Palestinians. The name coincidence was due to geographical naming convention for the area.", "Ruthlessness for sure.\n\nRuthlessness can appear sadistic, but with sadism, the intent is to cause suffering for the purpose of pleasure/satisfaction. With ruthlessness, the goal is to achieve an outcome. A sadist can be ruthless in how they approach their sadism, but not all ruthlessness is sadistic in intent.\n\nI found nothing in the books to indicate that Gale is sadistic, only that he is angry about the condition of the districts, and willing to kill without remorse to achieve the goal of overthrowing the established order.\n\nGale is a soldier. The job of the soldier is to kill without remorse, with the most effective means available.\n\nGale's ruthlessness, his willingness to kill for expedience,* is a factor in her choosing Peeta over Gale. \n\nKatniss, a hunter as opposed to a soldier, kills only when necessary for survival. \n\n\n\n*\n\n\n In the battle for District 2 (Mockingjay), Gale wants to suffocate everyone inside the mountain fortress by cutting off the ventilation and trapping everyone inside. This inclination is partly as retribution for the destruction of District 12, and partly practical in that allowing survivors entails some risk, which is actualized when Katniss is subsequently wounded.", "Zemo chose Bucky because Bucky killed Tony's parents. This drives the wedge between Tony & Steve which breaks up the Avengers. He says he couldn't defeat the Avengers even if he tried, as stronger men have tried and failed but if he can turn them against one another, then he can truly defeat the Avengers. \n\nControlling any other Winter Soldier would not make Tony & Steve Rogers into enemies. The other Winter Soldiers didn't kill Tony's parents.", "No. \n\nOn 15 August 2004 Christopher Bollyn posted:\n\n\n Statistics published in Encyclopedia Britannica’s 2003 Almanac indicate that 325,000 Gulf War vets were receiving compensation for service-related disabilities in 2000. The almanac lists 580,400 combatants in the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91, yet only 467 U.S. personnel were actually wounded during the conflict. The 325,000 disabled Gulf War vets are equivalent to 56 percent of the number of military personnel “serving in the theater of operation.”\n\n\nOn 18 August 2004 the San Francisco Bay View published the version in the question, with the Britannica source omitted, the word \"permanent\" added, and making the 325,000 sound more associated with the 580,400 number. \n\nAccording to the US department of veteran's affairs:\n\n\n More than 650,000 Service members served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 2, 1990 to July 31, 1991. For VA benefits eligibility purposes, the Gulf War period is still in effect. This means that anyone who served on active duty from August 2, 1990, to present is considered a Gulf War Veteran. For example, the Veterans Pension benefit requires service during a wartime period. Therefore, any Veteran who served on active military service for any period from August 2, 1990, to the present meets the wartime service requirement. (Emphasis added.)\n\n\nIn any case, correct statistics are as follows taken from Gulf War Era Veterans Report: Pre-9/11 at page 56:\n\nOut of 581,683 US military who participated in operation Desert Storm, as of FY2009: \n\n9,441 were dead\n165,113 were receiving some form of disability compensation.", "This misinterpretation is due to a language shift since the days of King James, when that version of the Ten Commandments was set forth. The term \"kill\" back then meant what \"murder\" means today, and I think that everyone would agree that that's a good thing to prohibit in strong, absolute terms.\n\nIf you look through the King James Version of the Bible, you don't see the word \"kill\" used very often, and when it's used it invariably refers to murder. For a non-murderous cause of death, the word is \"slay\". This is what soldiers do to each other, and if I recall correctly it's also what the priests did to the sacrificial animals.", "No.\n\nWhile the 2013 ABC report cites unnamed officials as the source, several named Obama officials have since spoken out to challenge this report. Furthermore, data on Iraqi refugees entering the U.S. in 2011 support their claim that the number of refugees admitted was lower than normal, but not suspended entirely for any six-month period in 2011.\n\nJon Finer, an official in the Obama administration said that there was never any month in 2011 in which there were no Iraqi refugees admitted to the United States. There were periods in which there was a severe delay in processing of refugee claims:\n\n\n While the flow of Iraqi refugees slowed significantly during the Obama administration’s review, refugees continued to be admitted to the United States during that time, and there was not a single month in which no Iraqis arrived here. In other words, while there were delays in processing, there was no outright ban.\n\n\nAnother Obama administration official, Eric P. Schwartz, said:\n\n\n President Obama never imposed a six-month ban on Iraqi processing. For several months in 2011, there was a lower level of Iraqi resettlement, as the government implemented certain security enhancements. \n\n\nA third Obama official, Ben Rhodes, said in a series of tweets (1, 2, 3) that the \"pipeline slowed and then picked up again\" in 2011:\n\n\n 1/3) There was no 2011 ban on Iraqis. There was no Executive Order. In response to specific threat, additional vetting was added\n \n 2/3) This was administrative step taken through full inter-agency - State, DHS, intel community. Pipeline slowed and then picked up again\n \n 3/3) More inter-agency vetting of Iraqi refugees in response to threat is standard process. EO banning people from several countries is not\n\n\nYou can check the actual numbers here by generating reports for each month separately, using the first and last date of each month as the date range (and choosing \"Iraq\" as nationality and \"All\" for religion). In 2011, the number of Iraqi refugees entering the United States in each month was:\n\n\nJanuary: 1,214\nFeburary: 779\nMarch: 111\nApril: 184\nMay: 418\nJune: 298\nJuly: 665\nAugust: 1,020\nSeptember: 824\nOctober: 419\nNovember: 254\nDecember: 153", "It doesn’t seem so. Citing an unnamed US official, the LA Times reports that no attempt was made to intercept the missiles and those that did not fail during flight did hit the base. The lack of casualties was due to early warning radar which allowed base personnel to take cover:\n\nIran launched 15 missiles, of which 11 hit their targets and four failed in flight, according to a U.S. defense official, who said there were no reports of U.S. casualties in the attack.\nTen of the missiles hit the sprawling Asad Air Base in Iraq’s western Anbar province. U.S. radar was able to track the missiles in flight and, as a result, personnel at the base were able to take cover. The U.S. made no effort to intercept the missiles, the official said.\nOne missile hit the Combined Joint Operations Center in Irbil, where the U.S. trains Iraqi Kurdish fighters and also runs a large air operations control center covering northern Iraq and parts of Syria.\nIran launched 15 missiles. 11 hit targets, according to a U.S. defense official - LA Times", "Suicide: Yes (New York Times, study), but not just millennials:\n\n\n Suicide in the United States has surged to the highest levels in nearly 30 years, a federal data analysis has found, with increases in every age group except older adults. The rise was particularly steep for women. It was also substantial among middle-aged Americans...\n\n\nAccidental Drug Overdoses: Again Yes (New York Times), if by \"millennial\" you mean \"young whites\":\n\n\n Drug overdoses are driving up the death rate of young white adults in the United States to levels not seen since the end of the AIDS epidemic more than two decades ago — a turn of fortune that stands in sharp contrast to falling death rates for young blacks, a New York Times analysis of death certificates has found.", "A lot of these projects are purposefully spread out among as many districts as possible to make them hard to kill. The F-35 may be assembled in one plant, but the parts are made around the country. I originally got my driver's license in Georgia close to an aircraft engine plant that only made engines to be shipped somewhere else. Congress might publicly say bad things about these projects, but killing them will cost jobs and votes.\n\nThat said, I served in a Bradley unit in the early 90's and those things were amazing. They were fast, accurate guns and some anti-armor firepower. They aren't meant to be M1 tanks with soldiers. Compared to the earlier M113's which were nothing more than metal boxes with an option of a machine gun on top, the M2's were amazing.\n\nI also spent a year at a DoD agency that was mostly civilians and they had dozens of briefing books for the representatives and senators they reported to. In that year about half a dozen people made 2-3 trips to DC to testify to their sub-committees about their projects. It's not free money, but killing big projects isn't popular to get votes in the next election.", "I don't think the soldier's presence on the battlefield should be contrived, but there is still reason for soldiers to be out there and in danger.\n\nThe situation is kind of split. Primarily because the situation of war is, and will likely always be, actually ending human lives. It will not remain just a competition of who can destroy the most capital equipment; nobody surrenders to the rule of another over how much money they've lost. \n\nSo the tactics will change and evolve on all sides (as they already have to include terroristic tactics like killing civilians). I would say in the current climate (early 2019) Russia is already adapting its tactics to sabotage support for its enemies so it can kill more of them. They, along with Saudi Arabia, are also already heavily engaged in covert assassination of their critics, both internal and external (and not so covert).\n\nThe machines of war will continue to evolve, and to some extent we will see an evolution of machine-vs-machine warfare, but the drones and everything else we see (and I presume the classified stuff we don't see) is still all about killing human beings, more so than just smashing up machines. Part of that evolution is actually making the machines (like drones) cheaper and even disposable, much like the military treated battlefield weapons in WW II (guns, bullets, knives, grenades, shoulder-braced grenade launchers, land-mines, etc). It makes a big difference if the enemy disables an Abrams tank; it makes zero difference if the enemy gets lucky and shoots down a kamikaze drone; that thing was expensed as a missile the moment it took off.\n\nSoldiers likely won't be completely out of danger, ever, the enemy will find a way to kill enemy civilians, and preferentially to kill soldiers that are necessary for the enemy's war operation, because that is what war is all about; damaging and crippling the enemy until their will is broken, they can't take the human death toll anymore.\n\nIn the near future (a few decades, within most lifetimes) I don't think there will be the kind of battlefield with \"front lines\" and soldiers holding guns and shooting at each other across a field. But I do think soldiers will be in harm's way and getting killed, and civilians will be getting slaughtered, by other ways and means. The battlefield will be pretty much everywhere, and the business of war will always be the ending of human lives.\n\nAs for war itself, Malthus gets the last laugh. Life resources (food, potable water, land, livable climate, arable land) are declining, statically limited, or at best linearly increasing, while the population grows exponentially (7% to 14% per year). No population is going to lay down and die for the good of the rest, so as they run out of resources or their resources are depleted or become overcrowded, the desperate go to war to fight for their survival. Either in their own country, or with other countries, but it is war and the objective is to kill the human consumers of resources so the winners have enough to live on.\n\nWar will never be just a contest of destroying machines, because that doesn't solve the resource problem! It will always find a way to be about killing humans.", "1. Was Zemo's plan really that brilliant?\nFrom my answer to a similar question on Scifi.SE:\n\nI think his primary objective throughout the movie was to obtain hard evidence that the Winter Soldier has killed Stark's parents, in order to turn Stark against the Winter Soldier and presumably Captain America. I don't think he necessarily originally planned to have them meet him in Siberia.\nHowever, as events played out, he eventually decided that dropping the false trail of the inactive Winter Soldiers would likely lead the Avengers there.\n\nThe assumption here is that Zemo was able to figure out (or at least had a strong guess) that the accident that killed Stark's parents was really an assassination performed by The Winter Soldier from the Hydra documents leaked by Black Widow. Had he obtained the information he needed from that Russian guy in his house, he wouldn't have had to murder the shrink to get close to Bucky in order to mind control him. (He probably would have still framed him for the bombing of the U.N. though, to draw him out).\n2. How did Bucky come back to his senses?\nWe don't know what his orders were. They could have been as simple as "escape from this UN facility." After he was knocked unconscious from the helicopter crash and woke up, maybe his saw that his mission was a success.\nZemo needs Bucky to team up with Captain America to create the conflict with Tony Stark, so maybe he was instructed to revert back to himself after getting away.\nOr maybe it was the water.", "The claim which is the subject of the OP justifies/calculates its own numbers by saying,\n\n\n When U.S. troops invaded Iraq in 2003, there were at least 1.5 million Christians in Iraq. Over the last ten years, significantly in the last few months with the emergence of ISIS, that figure has dropped to about 400,000.\n\n\nIn 2003?\n\nWikipedia's Christianity in Iraq article says,\n\n\n In Iraq, Christians numbered about 1,500,000 in 2003, representing just over 5% of the population of the country. They numbered over 1.4 million in 1987 or 8% of the population.[1]\n\n\nWikipedia's citation for its 1987 number is IRAQ: Christians live in fear of death squads which says,\n\n\n The last Iraqi census, in 1987, counted 1.4 million Christians, but many left during the 1990s when economic sanctions were imposed on the country.\n\n\nWikipedia has no citation for its 2003 number. The CIA world factbook for 2003 says,\n\n\n Population:\n 24,683,313 (July 2003 est.) \n \n Religions:\n Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%\n\n\n... so \"1.5 million Christians in 2003\" looks like it could be an over-estimate.\n\nThis BBC article (also cited by the same Wikipedia article) says,\n\n\n Before the Gulf War in 1991, they numbered about one million. By the time of the US-led invasion in 2003 that figure fell to about 800,000.\n\n\nIn 2013?\n\nWikipedia goes on to say,\n\n\n After the Iraq War, it was estimated that the number of Christians in Iraq had dropped to less than 450,000 by 2013[2] - with estimates as low as 200,000.[3] \n\n\nThe citations for these numbers are a BBC article,\n\n\n Two bombs in Christian areas of the Iraqi capital Baghdad have killed at least 35 people, officials have said.\n One device exploded near a Catholic church when worshippers were leaving a Christmas Day service, killing 24. Another bomb ripped through a market, killing 11 more people.\n Christian leaders denied that the attacks had targeted worshippers.\n Iraq's ancient Christian community has more than halved in recent years, from an estimated population of 900,000.\n\n\n... and a The Economist article dated 2014 which says,\n\n\n Exact figures about Iraqi Christianity are hard to come by. It is often asserted that about 400,000 to 500,000 Christians live in the country, down from a total before the 2003 war of perhaps 1.5m. Other observers think as few as 200,000 may be left. The majority of the remaining Christians live in the far north of the country.\n\n\nWhen was ISIS?\n\nAccording to Wikipedia, ISIS and/or its earlier incarnations have been active (e.g. claiming responsibility for bombings in Baghdad) going back to 2004.\n\nSummarizing the numbers\n\nIn summary:\n\n\nExact numbers are hard to determine (the last / most recent census was in 1987)\nIt would be more probable (but less spectacular) for the claim to say \"up to a million\" instead of \"more than a million\" (if the unreferenced \"1,500,000 in 2003\" is correct), or \"half a million\" (if the BBC's \"800,000 in 2003\" is correct).\nThe decline in population is contemporaneous with ISIS.\n\n\nIs it a holocaust, genocide?\n\nThe title of the article is, \"SEBASTIAN GORKA: CHRISTIAN HOLOCAUST UNDERWAY IN IRAQ, USA AND WORLD LOOK ON\"; and the title of this Skeptics question includes the words, \"persecuted to death\".\n\nThis section in Wikipedia implies that by far the largest cause of the decline (i.e. hundreds of thousands of people) is emigration/exile, rather than being killed and/or a declining birth rate.\nThe numbers of (living) refugees are large, perhaps too large to be compatible with any wholesale or systematic killing, for example:\n\n\n As of 21 June 2007, the UNHCR estimated that 2.2 million Iraqis had been displaced to neighbouring countries with a large majority of them Christians, and 2 million were displaced internally, with nearly 100,000 Iraqis fleeing to Syria and Jordan each month. ... Half the Christian population has fled, with an estimated 330,000 to Syria and smaller numbers to Jordan. ... Apart from emigration, the Iraqi Christians are also declining due to lower rates of birth and higher death rates than their Muslim compatriots.\n\n\nThe same section reports the killings of individuals and of dozens or hundreds of people, and not of hundreds of thousands.\n\nIn comparison, The Holocaust says,\n\n\n Between 1941 and 1945 Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, communists, homosexuals, the mentally and physically disabled and members of other groups were targeted and methodically murdered in the largest genocide of the 20th century. In total, of the approximately 11 million people were killed during the Holocaust, over 1 million were children.[4][5] Of the nine million Jews who had resided in Europe before the Holocaust, approximately two-thirds were killed.[6]\n\n\nEx-Iraqi Christians are presumably mostly still alive: they're in exile, they're refugees. \"Genocide\" isn't the right word for it (though \"ethnic cleansing\" might be).\n\nThe article quotes Dr. Sebastian Gorka as saying that America should \"do something\", but the article doesn't say what.\n\nSome of the statements in the media seem to be inciting war or military intervention ... and that might be the big lie: instead, perhaps what Christians need now is humanitarian aid, refugee status, etc.\n\nThe question asks whether they've been persecuted to \"death or exile\" -- they have mostly chosen exile.", "No! \n\nOther sources such as Vegan Bite By Bite (page 210) make clear that the number \"18\" is the number of autopsy proven deaths from prostate cancer, not the total number. \n\nThe source of the \"18\" number is An Epidemiological Survey of Prostatic Cancer from the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine Vol. 130 (1980) pages 159-164. This article explains that only 5,798 men were autopsied in 1958, so only a fraction of deaths were studied. \n\nAn updated report on the trends in cancer incidence and mortality in Japan, 1958–2013 Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. (2015) volume 45, pages 390-401, illustrates in Fig. 2 that 2 per 100,000 men died of prostate cancer in Japan in 1958.\n\nSee also Comparison of Prostate Cancer Mortality in Five Countries: France, Italy, Japan, UK and USA from the WHO Mortality Database (1960–2000) Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. volume 35 pages, 690-691. which shows that the prostate cancer age-standardised death rate in the USA was about 10 times that of Japan (not the ridiculously exaggerated ratio in the OP). \n\nAlso, Cancer Statistics in Japan (mentioned in a comment by pericles316) says, in the \"1. mortality\" data, on line 2339 of the \"number\" tab, that 431 men died of prostate cancer in 1958 and, in the \"asr\" tab, that this corresponds an age adjusted death rate of 2.1 per 100,000.", "\"Prussia\" is an area on the East Baltic, conquered by the Teutonic knights, who assimilated the local \"Prussian\" people. In part because they were on the frontier between Germany and Slavic lands, they became a particularly militaristic group. Imagine if American soldiers in Iraq annexed the country and intermarried with the locals to create a mllitaristic breed of American \"Iraqicans\" through natural selection.\n\nPrussia merged with Brandenburg in the modern East Germany in the 16th century when the Duchess of Prussia married the Elector of Brandenburg. Because of this fact, Brandenburghers often considered themselves \"Prussian\" even though technically they are not.\n\nThe combined entity then acquired many other lands, some to the west, as far as the Rhineland, and some in the intervening area between Brandenburg and Prussia. On the whole, the western, Rhinelanders tended not to consider themselves \"Prussian,\" while the eastern people (between Germany and Poland) often did. Basically the closer you got to the original Prussia, the more likely people were to think of themselves as \"Prussian.\" Most Germans identify themselves as \"Prussian\" or NOT. Which is why this might matter to a \"Bavarian.\"\n\nSome people consider themselves \"Prussian\" even today, especially people who were refugees from (East) Prussia after World War II. I once dated a woman whose mother is American and whose father was \"Prussian\" who considers herself \"Prussian.\"", "In terms of direct death-count relating to the incarceration itself, there are reports of approximately a dozen deaths as a result of shootings (during various escape attempts) as well as several children and elderly people dying as a result of \"inadequate health care\".\n\nIn terms of general longevity, there have been numerous reports into the long-term results of incarceration, the general concensus being that internees had nearly a double incidence of heart disease and stress-related mortality outcomes:\n\n\n \"Survey information found former internees had a 2.1 greater risk of\n cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality, and premature death\n than did a non-interned counterpart. California Nisei-age individuals,\n the proxy for internment, died 1.6 years earlier than Hawaiians who\n represented non-interned status. I concluded traumatic stress has\n life-long consequences even in the presence of efficacious coping\n strategies.\"\n \n \"The Experience of Injustice: Health Consequences of the Japanese American Internment\", Gwendolyn M. Jensen, 1997.\n\n\nOverall, it's worth stressing that these were not death camps, People were not randomly dying of minor ailments, maltreatment, overwork or starvation. The crude rate of mortality within the camps was approximately 1.5% and essentially the same as non-interned civilians of the same period.", "Brazil, Iran, Vietnam, according to this site. They seem to calculate differently, as the numbers differ (161/158).", "That number was mentioned in the statement of Dr William R Graham and Dr Peter Vincent Pry, chairman and chief of staff of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from EMP attack.\n\nThe statement quotes an article by ambassador Henry Cooper, former Director of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative:\n\n\n The result could be to shut down the U.S. electric power grid for an indefinite period,\n leading to the death within a year of up to 90 percent of all Americans—as the EMP Commission\n testified over eight years ago.\n\n\nWith the following note below the line:\n\n\n Ambassador Henry F. Cooper, “Whistling Past The Graveyard…” High Frontier (September 20, 2016)\n highfrontier.org/sept-20-2016-whistling-past-the-graveyard/ See also: highfrontier.org/category/fobs. On up to\n 90% U.S. fatalities from an EMP attack, during a congressional hearing, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett asked me if such high\n fatalities could result, and I responded: “We don’t have experience with losing the infrastructure in a country with\n 300 million people, most of whom don’t live in a way that provides for their own food and other needs. We can go\n back to an era when people did live like that. That would be—10 percent would be 30 million people, and that is\n probably the range where we could survive as a basically rural economy.” U.S. House of Representatives, Hearing,\n “Threat Posed By Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack” Committee on Armed Services (Washington, D.C.: July 10,\n 2008), p. 9.\n\n\nHere is the full statement for the record. The 2008 EMP commission report does not give any casualty estimates.\n\nIn conclusion that 90% estimate is highly speculative estimate given by Dr Henry Cooper. While he is certainly a credible individual, it appears this is just a \"gut\" estimate that is not backed by any serious studies.", "The short answer is the movie doesn't reflect real life events in this case. Rather than die shortly after the incident as depicted by the movie, Ryan Job was actually discharged from the Navy, got married, and passed away over two years later due to complications from facial reconstructive surgery. This is mentioned in multiple articles comparing the movie to the book/real life.\nFrom here:\n\nDid Ryan "Biggles" Job only survive for a short while after being blinded by a bullet?\nNo. In the movie, Ryan "Biggles" Job (Jake\nMcDorman) is blinded by Syrian sniper Mustafa. He survives for a short\nperiod of time and proposes to his girlfriend while in the hospital.\nKyle visits him shortly before leaving for his fourth tour and learns\nof Ryan's death just after he arrives back in Iraq.\nIn real life, Ryan was blinded in battle in 2006 when an enemy\nsniper's bullet struck his rifle, sending pieces of the shattered\nweapon through his face. He survived much longer than he does in the\nmovie. He was discharged from the military, got married, attended\ncollege, got a job, climbed Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, etc. He died\nin 2009 from complications after going back for more facial\nreconstructive surgery while his wife was pregnant with their first\nchild\n\nAlso here:\n\nIn the movie, Ryan Job (or “Biggles,” played by Jake McDorman) is shot\nin the head and blinded by Syrian sniper Mustafa but survives long\nenough to propose to his girlfriend. He dies soon after, and that\ndeath defines Kyle’s fourth tour in Iraq and spurs him to seek revenge\nagainst Mustafa. In reality, according to Kyle’s memoir, the Navy\ndischarged Biggles from service following his injury. The ex-SEAL\nattended college, began a career, and got married before dying\nfollowing facial reconstruction surgery while his wife was pregnant\nwith their first child.\n\nAn obituary piece for Ryan Job can be found here, highlighting his many accomplishments after his discharge from the Navy.", "God does not condone rape in the Bible. This is a commonly raised objection to Christianity that's been answered ad-nauseum on apologetics websites, such as this one:\n\nhttp://www.rationalchristianity.net/numbers31.html\n\nQuote from the linked post:\nWeren't the virgin women raped?\n\n\n There are two parts to this objection: did God instruct or permit the\n soldiers to rape the women, and did the soldiers actually rape them?\n \n It's clear that God didn't intend for the soldiers to rape the women,\n but rather to take them captive. The law God had given to the\n Israelites condemned rape, in some cases punishing it with death (Dt\n 22:25-27). Also, immediately following the command to spare the virgin\n women, the soldiers were instructed to purify themselves and their\n captives (31:19), and rape (or consensual intercourse) would have\n violated this command (Lev 15:16-18). In the rest of the chapter, the\n women are usually referred to as people (using the masculine adam),\n not women or virgins, underscoring the notion that they were seen as\n captives rather than sexual objects.1\n \n It's theoretically possible that some of the soldiers raped the women,\n but given the circumstances it seems very unlikely. The soldiers would\n have known that rape was a violation of both the law and the\n instruction to purify themselves, as shown above; they had also seen\n God punish such violations with death during their travels in the\n desert. In fact, they had recently experienced a plague and executions\n resulting from their relations with Midianite women (25:1-9), as Moses\n reminded them. At that time, all those who had sexual relations with\n the Midianites were killed. It's highly implausible that the soldiers\n would have wanted to have anything to do with the Midianite women\n given this context.\n \n So what did happen to the women (and children)? God gave the\n Israelites permission to marry women they took captive, but they were\n to treat their wives with respect: the women were to have time to\n mourn their families first, and were not to be mistreated (Dt\n 21:10-14). Those who didn't marry would have become servants, but\n there were rules against mistreating them as well (Ex 21:26-27, Dt\n 23:15-16). See the article on slavery laws for more on the treatment\n of female slaves.\n\n\nAs with most commonly cited objections to Christianity, the idea that God condones rape is based on a mis-reading of scripture (intentional or unintentional), and taking verses out of context.\n\nEdited to address the changes to the question since I originally answered.\n\nThe verses that are there now are not condoning rape, they are warning that this is what is to come. \n\nIf I were to say \"If you spend more than you earn you're going to go into debt and will suffer financially\" I'm not condoning going into debt, I'm warning you. \n\nYou'd have to be intentionally mis-reading the verses posted to interpret them as \"condoning\" rape.", "Yes and no. Uniforms and rank insignia as we understand them didn't exist back then. It was very easy to see who was high(er) in rank, though. Members of the knightly class wore their coat of arms on their shield, clothing, barding and sometimes on top of their helmets.\n\nIt was very easy to see important nobles. The problem was what to do with them. The higher ranking nobles wore much better armor, and had much better quality arms themselves plus a lot of experience and training. They usually were accompanied by their own bodyguards and retinue. \n\nA common soldier wasn't very well trained, didn't have the best weapons, and generally did well to avoid those superbly trained and equipped warriors. \n\nRansoming a high ranking noble wasn't something for common soldiers. At best, he'd hand over the captured lord to his lord. Perhaps he got something for his trouble. Nobles didn't ransom common soldiers. They usually killed them. The feelings were often mutual. \n\nIt's very difficult to kill a knight on horseback. He's not only well armed, armored and trained. He also has the advantage of height and often of impetus. \n\n--\n\nSomething else to consider: much better armor and weapons had real meaning in hand to hand combat. \n\nToday general officers are issued a special version sidearm. This gun isn't noticeably better than a general issue pistol. It's slightly more accurate (perhaps) but mainly elaborately decorated. Generals usually don't wear body armor all that often. When they do, the quality is perhaps somewhat better, but not light years better. \n\nThat single general officer's issue handgun is of no significance in a modern battle. A common grunt with even an old battered AK 47 can make mincemeat of that general with his superior sidearm and maybe better body armor. \n\nIn medieval times, this was very different. The higher ranking nobles carried the best weapons money could buy, and likewise their armor was the very best available. Contrast this with the equipment of the common soldier. He was usually armed with a stick and a wooden board ... (of course I mean a spear and shield, but a peasant militia man may very well have carried a sharpened stick perhaps with a metal point, and a shaped wooden board for shield). \n\nA common soldier may have worn a helmet and/or a mail shirt, but these were not remotely of the quality of what nobles wore. \n\nSo yes, you could see 'epaulette boys' easily. However no, you couldn't do anything useful with this knowledge. Most probably try to avoid them like the plague. You wouldn't stand much of a chance with your stick and board against them. That's why medieval soldiers were not instructed 'to go for the epaulette boys', apart for trying capture them alive for ransom, if possible.", "At the risk of not answering the question directly, I think it's more interesting to put the stat in context than it is to try to figure out the precise number.\n\nIn the event you haven't seen it already, I can only recommend spending a few hours watching Ken Burn's The Vietnam War. The most vivid recollection I have from it, besides the political scheming, was how the US troops were constantly instructed to capture hills throughout the conflict. They'd come out victorious, of course, but would then be instructed to abandon their position days or weeks later instead of holding the hill - with the enemy settling back in shortly after.\n\nThat is, I would surmise, the reason the casualty rate was so high: in addition to the day to day ambushes and soldiers never really knowing who they can trust in the civilian population, in open battle the US was often fighting uphill battles - which is the exemplar unfavorable battle position.\n\nWith respect to the casualty statistic proper, this source holds that:\n\n\n Of the 2.6 million, between 1 - 1.6 million (40 - 60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.\n\n\nSo you're looking at somewhere between 22% and 36% casualty rate among the soldiers who were exposed to fighting. (It's likely more interesting a stat than infantry vs support, since infantry can also mean guard duty at some safe place, whereas support can occur under artillery fire.)", "I have not come up with a definitive answer myself as there is a wide range of figures online.\n\nMichael Noll-Hussong states on ResearchGate\n\n\n The total number of specific diagnoses was reduced from 172 in DSM-IV to 157 in DSM-5.\n see, e.g., McCarron RM. The DSM-5 and the art of medicine: certainly uncertain. Annals of internal medicine. 2013;159(5):360-1.\n\n\nI have recently managed to access this referenced article (DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-159-7-201310010-00688) and it states\n\n\n The number of psychiatric disorders decreased from 172 (DSM-IV) to 152 (DSM-5). (This does not include disorders that are “Not otherwise specified” or “Other specified/unspecified.”)\n\n\nThe Huffington Post states that there are over 300 in DSM-5\n\nBecause of discrepancies in the information available I have seen, I have therefore, painstakingly gone through my copy of DSM-5 and pages 877—896 provide a\n\n\n Numerical Listing of DSM-5 Diagnoses and Codes (ICD-10-CM)\n\n\nICD-10 codes are provided for cross-referencing, and I have counted roughly 742 of them by saying that a full page has 45 and there are 20 pages with some listings taking more than 1 line. The problem with the approximate figure of 742 is that in the list are items such as obesity which are not mental disorders.", "This answer predated the Yemeni Civil war, so let's prepend the fact that for several years now, Iran-backed Houthis rebels not only waged the civil war in Yemen, but also attacked Saudi Arabia (including by missiles supplied by Iran specifically for the purpose).\n\nList of direct (not by proxy) Iranian assassinations on non-Iranian sovereign soil [2]:\n\n\n1983 bombing of French paratroopers' barracks\n1985 - France - General Gholam Ali Oveissi\n1987 - UK - Amir Parviz, Ali Tavakoli, and Nader Tavakoli\n1989 - Austria - Dr. Abdolrahman Ghassemlou, Abdollah Ghaeri-Azar, and Fazil Rassoul\n1990 - Switzerland - Kazem Radjavi\n1992 - Germany - Sadegh Sharafkandi\n2011 - USA+Saudi Arabia (Attempted assassination of Saudi ambassador to USA) \nAccording to the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, Iran has been tied to at least 162 extrajudicial killings around the world since 1979 (src)\n\n\nList of countries that Hezbollah [1] attacked:\n\n\n1983 and on - Lebanon. Up to and including assassinating a Prime Minister.\n1983 - USA (Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon)\n1983 - Kuwait - U.S. Embassy Bombing \n1985 - Greece (Hijacking of Athens-originated TWA flight 847)\n1996 and many others - Saudi Arabia, including in-country (1996 Khobar tower bombing (src)) and diplomats' assassinations elsewhere.\nThailand (src, src)\n1992 and many other times - Turkey - murder of a security chief of Israeli Embassy. Collateral damage included 2 Turks dead, and 1 Turkish child injured. Several more attacks\n1992, 1994 - Argentina (29 killed, 140 injured in 1992 in bombing of Israeli Embassy, 85 killed and 300 injured in 1994 in bombing AMIA building in Buenos Aires)\n1995 and on - Firing rockets at civilian targets in Israel\n2012 - Azerbaijan - Plans to attack Israel embassy and Jewish civilian targets\n2012 - Georgia - Plans to attack Israel Embassy\n2012 - Bulgaria - Terrorist attack on Israeli tourists.\n\n\nList of countries where Iran fomented revolution or government overthrow, including as part of unrest in Middle East in 2011-2012:\n\n\nBahrain - See timeline in this Stratfor article quoted here, as far back as 1981 Iranian-backed coup.\nIraq (src, src, src, src, src, src\nthe Iran-Iraq War (the longest war in the 20th century). Iraq was the initial aggressor, attacking Iran, but Iran's refusal to end the war and the brutality of its indiscriminate ballistic missile attacks on cities (Iraq did that too) cannot be ignored.\"The Long Shadow of the Iran-Iraq War\" via National Interest\nSyria (al-arabiya (28 May 2012). \"Iran confirms sending troops to Syria, says bloodshed otherwise would be worse\". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012)\nAfghanistan - support for Taliban (src, src).\nIsrael\n\n\n Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be \"eliminated,\" ignoring a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric ahead of the annual General Assembly session (Reuters)\n\n\n\n\n\nOn the other hand, the USA list is somewhat inaccurate, to say the least:\n\n\nKuwait wasn't \"attacked by USA\". It was liberated from being occupied by Iraq!\nNeither was Korea. US was part of UN forces commissioned to defend South Korea from aggression from North Korea\nNeither was Somalia - it was a UN military operation where US acted under Resolution 794 to support humanitarian relief.\n\n\n\n\nSources:\n\n2 Hezbollah:\n\n\n Its [Hezbollah] leaders were inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini, and its forces were trained and organized by a contingent of Iranian Revolutionary Guards (Wiki, Adam Shatz (April 29, 2004). \"In Search of Hezbollah\". The New York Review of Books. Retrieved August 14, 2006)\n\n\n3: Dr. Matthew Levitt; Director, Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence; The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; “Iranian Terror Operations on American Soil\"; Testimony before a joint hearing of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence and Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management October 26, 2011. Link PDF", "Private is a rank like a general, major, ...\n\n\n A private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in).\n\n\nBasically the title means that they are going to save a low ranked soldier named Ryan.\n\n\n\nEDIT: Quora also offers the answer to your comment:\n\n\n It emphasizes the thrust of the movie - that great human expense was made to rescue one 'lowly' soldier, because all his brothers had been killed.", "The official reason is that he conspired with Hamas to set fire to a prison, kidnap and kill officers/soldiers/prison guards in 2011 when he broke out of prison.\n\nThe Alantic Wire reported that:\n\n\n a government prosecutor has ordered that ousted President Mohamed Morsi be detained for 15 days, on accusations that he collaborated with terrorists to kill police officers and soldiers. The charges stem from Morsi's 2011 prison break after he was arrested during protests against then-President Hosni Mubarak. He is accused of conspiring with members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas to set fire to the prison, kidnapping police officers and soldiers, and killing some guards and other prisoners.\n\n\nThe BBC reported that:\n\n\n The order issued on Friday is the first official statement on Mr Morsi's judicial status since he was overthrown.\n\n\nMorsi was being held since July 3, and although not official statements, one of the generals, Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi said\n\n\n The generals built their case for intervention in a carefully orchestrated series of maneuvers, calling their actions an effort at a “national reconciliation” and refusing to call their takeover a coup. At a televised news conference late on Wednesday night, Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi said that the military had no interest in politics and was ousting Mr. Morsi because he had failed to fulfill “the hope for a national consensus.”", "We know that they do, but we do not know how. Take a look here (Isaiah 37:36-38):\n\n\n 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and\n eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the\n next morning—there were all the dead bodies!\n\n\n185000 Assyrian slain by one angel. But how? Sword? Mace? Magic? Thermonuclear weapon? \n\nAnd obviously Jacob vs the angel (Genesis 3-24/25):\n\n\n 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the\n breaking of the day.\n \n 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the\n hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint,\n as he wrestled with him.\n\n\nA simple touch and Jacob is beaten. But this is the extend of what the Bible says.", "I apologize to the community for provoking this controversy.\nI believe I have learned from the experience, and will avoid similar questions in the future.\n\nPlease let the question remained closed.", "Yes. This is a special case of the identifiable victim effect: the cognitive bias implicated in the quote, \"A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.\"\n\nThe identifiable victim effect might be paraphrased as the tendency to view harm of many as unimportant. A direct corollary is the tendency to view small harm of many as unimportant. Going off AliceD's example, we might expect taking \\$1 from a million to sound preferable even to taking just \\$100k from 1 person. \n\nA potential objection might be, \"sure, but in this case, 'one person' isn't really an identifiable victim. It's really about the small amount of harm since both victims are just 'statistics'.\" Fair point, but even if you wanted to classify this as a bias distinct from the identifiable victim effect, they both result from the same cognitive heuristic: experiential thinking.\n\nExperiential thinking, in this context, is evaluating a scenario by imagining yourself in it and judging what that experience would be like. For example, when I imagine losing \\$10, it is far preferable to losing \\$100k, but the fact that it is taken from a million people has little emotional relevance. You can't imagine experiencing the loss of $10 as more than one person at a time. Similarly, an identifiable victim makes my experiential thinking more vivid because I have a concrete situation in which to imagine myself. I can imagine what it's like being mugged at 11pm in an alley near 130th Street, but \"1,000 muggings in the past month\" is not something I can relate to experientially.", "The National Institute of Mental Health says it's 1 in 100 and that it's more likely to find Antisocial Personality Disorder (the DSM-IV term) in men. \n\n\n\nThe link cites data from the National Comorbidity Survey, which you can find more about here and specifics regarding how they make dianoses here. Here is a PDF talking about how they select interviewees and do their interviews. To sum it up, 300 trained professionals went out and personally interviewed around 10000 people in the continental US once and then did follow-up interviews with around half of them.\n\nThat does line up with what my professors were telling me in college, but I can't very well cite my old notes here. They were probably just quoting me figures from the NCS, too.\n\nHere is a PDF that talks about the five axis diagnosis process, since that's also relevant to part of your question.\n\nThe MMPI is supposed to be pretty good at picking out different disorders.", "Yes.\n\nThis was an easy one! The claims were referenced. I randomly clicked on the second link which claimed:\n\n\n Firefighters have shorter life expectancies than the average population and are three times more likely to die on the job, due to inherent risks, physical and mental stresses, and exposures to toxic and carcinogenic compounds released in smoke. (source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Cincinatti. \n\n\nThen I randomly clicked on the first link (although here is an easier-to-read PDF).\n\n\nCindy Clarke and Mark J. Zak, \"Fatalities to Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters, 1992-97\", Compensation and Working Conditions, Summer 1999\n\n\nIn this paper, they look at the fatality rates for both firefighters and police officers.\n\nThey conclude that the relative risk of dying for both professions is around 3 times the size of the general population.\n\n\n Although occupations such as timber\n cutter, fisher, seaman, and aircraft pilot have the highest fatality rates, they\n are found in relatively few parts of the\n United States. [...] Firefighters\n and law enforcement personnel, on the\n other hand, are found in every community in the United States. Although\n the dangers are quite different, both\n groups experience high fatality rates\n and risks." ]

[ "The main effort task and purpose at the decisive point guides the development of the supporting efforts tasks and purposes. In other words, there is a main effort, several supporting efforts, and then there is wasted effort." ]

[ "For example, a commander may use the deep-close-security framework to describe the operation in time and space, the decisive-shaping-sustaining framework to articulate the operation in terms of purpose, and the main and supporting efforts framework to designate the shifting", "This reorganization permitted the establishment of a commanding officer vice a flight leader, added support officers, and further redefined the squadron's mission emphasizing the support of recruiting efforts. Cmdr. Tony Less was the squadron's first official commanding officer.", "A political machine is a political group in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses (usually campaign workers), who receive rewards for their efforts.", "Collection management is the cornerstone on which intelligence support to ARRC operations is built. Since the starting point of the collection process is the commander's PIRs, they are a critical component of the staff planning process and support the commander's decision-making.", "Tactical Mission Command. Tactical Mission Command (TMC) develops, integrates, fields and supports the Army’s core mission command collaborative environment and maneuver applications to enable operating force commanders to make timely and effective decisions.", "Military intelligence. Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions.", "In January 1971 Congress repealed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. President richard m. nixon continued the war effort, however, by relying on the commander in chief provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Congress continued to appropriate money to support the war effort.", "The brigade engineer battalion (BEB) commander is the brigade engineer. in the BCT and advises the maneuver commander on how best to employ. combat, general, and geospatial engineering capabilities in support of. decisive action operations.", "There are a number of community policing practices that can support efforts in homeland security. These practices include adopting the philosophy organization-wide, decentralizing decision-making and accountability, fixing geographic and general responsibilities and utilizing volunteer resources.", "Nations pick and choose if, when and where they will join effort. Nations also choose the manner and extent of their foreign involvement. The nature of their national decisions, in turn, influences the multinational task force's (MNTF's) command structure.", "Relevance. Rating Newest Oldest. Best Answer: A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses (usually campaign workers), who receive rewards for their efforts.", "The Army's decision demonstrates support for unity of command and the importance of cyber to our Army and our nation.” ARCYBER will continue to have a command liaison element co-located with U.S. Cyber Command at Fort George G. Meade, Md, the US Army said.", "The Soldier for Life — Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) is a centrally funded commanders program that provides transition assistance services to eligible Soldiers. Public Law is the foundation of the Transition Assistance Program initiative, along with DOD and Army policy. The Army’s SFL-TAP goals also include support to the manning of the total Army. SFL-TAP supports the Army’s Active Component recruiting effort by producing successful alumni. The decision to enlist in the military and, more specifically, the Army is often influenced by friends and relatives.", "Central Idea: Mission command is the exercise of authority and direction by commanders, supported by their staffs, that fosters mutual trust, encourages initiative, and empowers subordinate leaders to develop the situation, adapt, and act decisively within the commander’s intent.", "Scotland’s decision to invade England in support of Charles II in 1650 forced Cromwell to leave the completion of the reconquest of Ireland to others while he focused his efforts on subduing the Scots.", "Commander, Naval Forces Vietnam considered maintaining surveillance and patrols on the inland and coastal waters of the Republic of Vietnam. The Secretary of the Navy asked the Secretary of Treasury about the availability of Coast Guard units to support this effort.", "4. Staff Briefing. The staff briefing may have characteristics of information briefings, decision briefings, and mission briefings. The purpose of a staff briefing is to coordinate unit efforts by informing the commander and staff of the current situation. The person who convenes the staff briefing sets the agenda.", "For her, support meant financial participation; what she received was emotional support. Parents are often in the position of wanting to be supportive of their children while not agreeing with the child’s decision to take some action. They support the child’s efforts, desire, enthusiasm, etc., but they may not condone or agree with the behavior or action. The child does not feel supported; the child wanted agreement or approval.", "This page is intended for Hazus users and other parties interested in using Hazus to support risk-informed decision making efforts by estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods and hurricanes and visualizing the effects of such hazards.", "Joint force commanders must perform an analysis of the adversary, known as a _____, to know what actions will be an effective deterrent. This continuous analytical process is used by joint intelligence organizations to produce intelligence estimates and other intelligence products in support of the commander's decision-making process.", "Paralysis by Analysis is a humoristic phrase used to indicate the situation wherein no decision at all can be made due to devoting disproportionate effort to the analysis phase of a decision.", "Command at all levels is the art of motivating and directing people and organizations into action to accomplish missions. The _____ function supports an efficient decision-making process, enabled by timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.", "MRDSS as abbreviation means Medical Readiness Decision Support System How to abbreviate Medical Readiness Decision Support System? Medical Readiness Decision Support System can be abbreviated as MRDSS", "In a command economy, a central authority makes the major decisions about WHAT, HOW, and FOR WHOM to produce. A command economy can be headed by a king, a dictator, a president, a tribal leader, or anyone else who MAKES the. MAJOR ECONOMIC DECISIONS. A modern, and somewhat more liberal, version of the command economy is socialism.", "When the Imperial German Army began the Battle of Verdun on the Meuse on 21 February 1916, French commanders diverted many of the divisions intended for the Somme and the supporting attack by the British became the principal effort.", "Decision support can often improve decision quality in semi-structured situations where decision automation is not feasible or is undesirable. To support the growth of this knowledge area, I created a website called Decision Automation Resources (DecisionAutomation.COM) in 2004.ecision support can often improve decision quality in semi-structured situations where decision automation is not feasible or is undesirable. To support the growth of this knowledge area, I created a website called Decision Automation Resources (DecisionAutomation.COM) in 2004.", "Command economy. A command economy, or a planned economy, is where the big decisions are made at the centre by the government. In an economic system the main decisions are, for example, allocating resources like labour, capital and oil. Prices, too, are controlled. In a command economy, these decisions are taken by a central body, usually the government. This system contrasts that of a market economy where all the economic actors involved take decisions. The benefit of a planned economy is that the planning body has (supposedly) perfect information, and can make a better decision than in the market economy.", "This effort requires the attention and action of nurses, the professional and specialty nursing organizations, and the nursing profession to ensure the EHRs are designed to facilitate and support critical thinking and decision making, such as in the nursing process, and the associated documentation activities.", "Strongly and unequivocally support Roe v. Wade. The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.", "Consensus decision-making is a group decision-making process in which group members develop, and agree to support, a decision in the best interest of the whole.Consensus may be defined professionally as an acceptable resolution, one that can be supported, even if not the favourite of each individual.onsensus decision-making is a group decision-making process in which group members develop, and agree to support, a decision in the best interest of the whole.", "All of the utilities can be run as a command.Batch files can be used to make a set of command to execute in Windows operating system. Support if you want to do series of activities in Windows then you can add all the commands in a batch files and it will executes all the command one by one.ll of the utilities can be run as a command.Batch files can be used to make a set of command to execute in Windows operating system. Support if you want to do series of activities in Windows then you can add all the commands in a batch files and it will executes all the command one by one.", "While Powell was wary of a military solution, he supported the decision to invade Iraq after the Bush administration concluded that diplomatic efforts had failed. After his departure from the State Department, Powell repeatedly emphasized his continued support for American involvement in the Iraq War." ]

[ "The discovery of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm and the subsequent development of algorithmic and numerical methods based on it have had an enormous impact on the ability of computers to process digital representations of signals, or functions. At first, the FFT was regarded as entirely new. However, attention and wide publicity led to an unfolding of its pre-electronic computer history going back to Gauss. The present paper describes the author's own involvement and experience with the FFT algorithm." ]

[ "Atonuje and Okonta in [1] developed the Cooley-Turkey Fast Fourier transform algorithm and its application to the Fourier transform of discretely sampled data points N, expressed in terms of a power y of 2. In this paper, we extend the formalism of [1] Cookey-Turkey Fast Fourier transform algorithm. The method is developed in this paper to guarantee the application of (C-TFFT) algorithm for arbitrary factors say N = P 1 P 2 Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics Vol. 8 2004: pp. 121-124", "An efficient algorithm for computing radix-3/9 discrete Hartley transforms (DHTs) is presented. It is shown that the radix-3/9 fast Hartley transform (FHT) algorithm reduces the number of multiplications required by a radix-3 FHT algorithm for nearly 50%. For the computation of real-valued discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) with sequence lengths that are powers of 3, it is shown that the radix-3/9 FHT algorithm reduces the number of multiplications by 16.2% over the fastest real-valued radix-3/9 fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. >", "Since fast algorithms for the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) were first introduced thirty years ago, they have had a major impact on signal processing and are now a basic part of every electrical engineer's education. However, some of the options, and particularly the recent advances, are not as widely known as they deserve. Over two papers, the fast algorithms for the DFT are reviewed. The first paper considers why the DFT works and looks at the various fast algorithms for transforms whose orders are a power of two. The second paper will look at techniques for other orders, at adapting algorithms for purely real data, and at the problems for fixed-point noise.", "This paper studies fast algorithm for implementing the multiplier-less discrete cosine transform and discrete sine transform required in the linear-phase cosine-modulated filter banks (LP-CMFB). It is shown that the modulation involves both the type-I discrete cosine transform (DCT-I) and discrete sine transform (DST-I) of the same sequence, which can be computed together via a real-valued discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and a real-valued odd-DFT. This in turn can be computed by fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm of appropriate length. The resulting algorithm is very efficient, highly regular and supports wide range of transform lengths. Using the proposed algorithm and a new multiplier-less FFT-like transformation, multiplier-less realization of the LP-CMFB is obtained. Its arithmetic complexity is analyzed and an example is given to illustrate the principle of-the proposed algorithm.", "The method known as Burg’s maximum entropy algorithm has been applied to the time domain signals measured and recorded in a mass spectrometer known as Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. Ordinarily several thousands of data points are obtained and analyzed by application of a fast Fourier transform algorithm to obtain the frequency domain spectra which are then converted to mass spectra. In this paper we describe some results that we have obtained by adapting Burg’s algorithm to our FTICR, and will show that by employimg ahandful of data points, mass spectra can be gotten that are superior to those obtained by the FFT techniques.", "In this study a new method is proposed for the determination of the Fourier transform by using the tools of inverse problem theory. In this approach the Fourier spectrum is calculated after solving a (highly) over-determined inverse problem. This makes the proposed procedure more robust than the DFT or FFT. It is proved in two synthetic examples that – compared to DFT- the noise sensitivity of the IFT method (applying LSQ in the inversion) is appreciably reduced. Using an Iteratively Re-weighted Least Squares algorithm (with Cauchy weights) a robust and resistant method (W-IFT) is developed and tested. It can be expected, that the newly developed methods can serve as robust and noise-resistant alternatives of the common Fourier transforms in various fields of practical application.", "This paper discusses that modular multiplication and modular exponentiation algorithm based on Fast Fourier Transform,especially the modular exponentiation algorithm based on Fast Fourier Transform ②Algorithm FFT_MOD_POWER(m,n,k),which can be implement of by two Fast Fourier Transforms(including a Fast Fourier Transform and an inverse Fast Fourier Transform) and multiplication of coefficient.", "The spectral leakage of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm caused by asynchronous sampling seriously affects the parameter estimation accuracy. The interpolation algorithm based on window function and the phase difference algorithm is presented in this paper to amend the FFT results by calculating the synchronous deviation. The interpolation algorithm is commonly used in harmonic analysis, but it is difficult to apply to some cosine windows with high-order or certain coefficient, because it needs to solve high-order equations to obtain the explicit interpolation formula. The Phase difference algorithm is applicable to cosine window of any order, which uses the phase difference between the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spectrum peaks of two adjacent sampled data to estimate the synchronous deviation. Simulation results are compared and analyzed to verify the performance of the two algorithms.", "We present a simple and fast algorithm for the computation of the Gegenbauer transform, which is known to be very useful in the development of spectral methods for the numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations of physical interest. We prove that the coefficients of the expansion of a function f(x) in Gegenbauer (also known as ultraspherical) polynomials coincide with the Fourier coefficients of a suitable integral transform of the function f(x). This allows to compute N Gegenbauer coefficients in O(Nlog\"2N) operations by means of a single Fast Fourier Transform of the integral transform of f(x). We also show that the inverse Gegenbauer transform is expressible as the Abel-type transform of a suitable Fourier series. This fact produces a novel algorithm for the fast evaluation of Gegenbauer expansions.", "Aiming at the spectrum leakage problem when analyzing power system harmonic adopting Fast Fourier Transform(FFT),the validity of decreasing leakage by using add window algorithm was put forward.In the study,the FFT algorithm based on hanning window in Matlab environment enhanced the harmonic frequency and accuracy.The simulation example showed that: the FFT algorithm based on hanning window could get ideal effect in detecting network harmonic wave.", "Results for a fixed-point error analysis of the Bruun-fast Fourier-transform (FFT) algorithm are presented. The noise-to-signal ratio of the Bruun algorithm is evaluated theoretically as well as experimentally and is compared to that of the decimation-in-time FFT. The noise-to-signal ratio of the Bruun-FFT is found to be significantly higher if safe scaling is applied in both cases. >", "We develop an approximate algorithm to efficiently calculate the discrete Fourier transform on the rotation group $\\text{SO}(3)$. Our method needs $\\mathcal{O}(L^3 \\log L \\log (1/\\varepsilon) + \\log^3 (1/\\varepsilon)\\,Q)$ arithmetic operations for a degree-$L$ transform at $Q$ nodes free of choice and with desired accuracy $\\varepsilon$. Our main contribution is a method that allows us to replace finite expansions in Wigner-$d$ functions of arbitrary orders with those of low orders. It is based on new insights into the structure of related semiseparable matrices. This enables us to employ an established divide-and-conquer algorithm for symmetric semiseparable eigenproblems together with the fast multipole method to achieve an efficient algorithm.", "A fast algorithm for computing the two-dimensional discrete cosine transform (2-D DCT) is proposed. In this algorithm the 2-D DCT is converted into a form of 2-D DFT (discrete Fourier transform) which is called the odd DFT. The odd DFT can be calculated by a DFT followed by post-multiplications. The DFT part of the odd DFT is calculated by the fast discrete Radon transform. The complexity of the proposed algorithm is comparable to that of the polynomial transform approach. This new algorithm produces a regular structure which makes it attractive for VLSI implementation. Furthermore, the computation can be performed in parallel. >", "Abstract We implement low communication frequency three-dimensional fast Fourier transform algorithms on micromagnetics simulator for calculations of a magnetostatic field which occupies a significant portion of large-scale micromagnetics simulation. This fast Fourier transform algorithm reduces the frequency of all-to-all communications from six to two times. Simulation times with our simulator show high scalability in parallelization, even if we perform the micromagnetics simulation using 32 768 physical computing cores. This low communication frequency fast Fourier transform algorithm enables world largest class micromagnetics simulations to be carried out with over one billion calculation cells.", "To improve convergence speed and accuracy of LMS algorithm,the paper proposes fast adaptive filter algorithm based on overlapping storage.Use a fast convolution technique of the overlapping storage method to achieve fast Fourier transform.The theoretical analysis and computer simulation show that the improved algorithm has faster convergence and better steady state performance and accurate estimation is superior other algorithm.", "This paper generalizes the cyclic convolution system by the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The generalized cyclic convolution is modified in such a way that conventional fast algorithms can be applied for the computation. This system is applied for computing a negacyclic convolution and modified Fermat number transform.", "This paper contains an analysis of the fixed-point accuracy of the power of two, fast Fourier transform algorithm. This analysis leads to approximate upper and lower bounds on the root-mean-square error. Also included are the results of some accuracy experiments on a simulated fixed-point machine and their comparison with the error upper bound.", "The spectrum SNR in Fourier transform interferometer(FTS) are effected by sampling error caused by the vibrate and temperature variation. The Brault algorithm overcomes these problems but needs huge sample data and complex data processing, which make the method not practical.This paper designed a new fast optical difference information reconstruction method based on quadrature phase demodulator, which also deducecd sample data number.And also designed a fast interpolation method based on variable-length truncated sinc function which can deduced the data number and control output precision.Then it realized the fast high precision interferogram reconstruction method based on equal-time sampling.With this method, the FTS can be used in field application condations with high preformance and stability, and improves the development of spectrum analysis in many areas.", "Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is computationally an efficient algorithm that transforms a function in time domain to function in frequency domain. All 3G and 4G wireless technologies use OFDM and FFT is an integral block of transceiver loop. In this paper three FFT architectures are designed that fall within the Cooley-Tukey class of algorithms. These FFT designs are targeted for OFDM applications especially in future generations of Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems. The FFT is performed on 64-point complex valued input samples with 16-bit precision. Each core is optimized for a combination of area, power, and speed. The design is targeted for a partially reconfigurable FPGA platform such as Xilinx Virtex-4 or above. The FFT cores have been simulated in Model Sim and synthesized using Xilinx ISE software. The cores can be readily downloaded on to target FPGA board to check for run time configurability. The performance evaluation of these cores show that they run at clock frequency of about 80MHz.", "This paper deals with simulation and implementation of the FFT algorithm in TMS 320C6713 as a radar signal processor unit. Furthermore it has provided a new method for real-time implementation of the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm that is a very time consuming calculation, in most DSP processors. There also has been indicated a method for conducting several simultaneous operation in a guideline cycle including several accessing to the memory, producing several address using pointers and hardware multiplication. Using Ping Pong technique also didn’t result in loss of any sample and so system is working as Real Time. By combining Ping Pong technique and rotating buffers this paper will reduce the speed of calculation which is very important for radar processors. Results of our innovation indicates a very good performance of the method provided in designing and making a signal processing unit of a radar system which has been tested in a real environment.", "In a power system affected by harmonics, both traditional analog instruments and computer-based instruments that use traditional algorithms for measurement may result in erroneous measurement of electrical parameters. A fast Fourier transform algorithm (FFT) is presented in this paper which, when combined with the digital signal processor, (DSP TMS320F240), eliminates the impact of harmonics and provides quick, accurate, real time measurement. The hardware was composed of two subsystems, each system containing its own CPU. The subsystem with the single-chip AT89C52 CPU controlled the serial port, display, keyboard and data communication with the DSP (TMS320F240).The subsystem with the CPU consisting of the DSP (TMS320F240) accomplished the digital signal processing. A nanosecond instruction cycle and FFT algorithm ensured real-time sampling. (4 pages)", "Fourier has been a powerful mathematical tool for representing a signal into an expression consist of sin and cos. Recently a new developed signal decomposition theory is proposed by Pro. Tao Qian named Adaptive Fourier Decomposition, which has the advantage in time frequency over Fourier decomposition and without the need for a fixed window size problem such as short-time frequency transform. Studies show that AFD can fast decompose signals into positive-frequency functions with good analytical properties. In this paper we apply AFD into image decomposition and reconstruction area first time in the literature, which shows a promising result and gives the fundamental prospect for image compression.", "A robust and efficient algorithm for segmenting arbitrarily shaped objects in images, which is called FFT snake, is proposed in this paper. A low-pass filter with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the curve as theoretic internal force is first introduced to smooth the contours. In real algorithm, it is composed of the curves trimming and crossing chains cutting. At last the contours are evolved in the direction of normal vectors of the curve to match the feature-map. The algorithm is then applied to the rapid video feedback on the motion for the real-time diving training. The results are highly encouraging to capture the contours of arbitrarily shaped objects for real-time tracking systems. We believe that FFT snake has wide uses in video compression, multimedia applications, and so on.", "In this paper,a fast beam optimization algorithm for spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR)is proposed.By using this algorithm,the beam of spaceborne SAR antenna is optimized,and the ambiguity areas are depressed.Firstly,the complex value of the array pattern is obtained by using an inverse Fast Fourier transform(IFFT).Then compared to the desired pattern,all the values of the pattern exceeding the desired pattern are replaced by the values of the desired pattern.Repeat the above operation until the array pattern satisfies the pattern requirements.Compared with the conventional methods,the proposed algorithm needs no complicated operation.Therefore,it provides significant improvements in terms of computational speed and optimization time.Two examples are presented to demonstrate the high efficiency and practicality of the method.", "In this paper, the computation of the unwrapped phase of the discrete-time Fourier transform (DTFT) of a one-dimensional finite-length signal is explored. The phase of the DTFT is not unique, and may contain integer multiple of 2 pi discontinuities. The unwrapped phase is the instance of the phase function chosen to ensure continuity. This paper compares existing algorithms for computing the unwrapped phase. Then, two composite algorithms are proposed that build upon the existing ones. The core of the proposed methods is based on recent advances in polynomial factoring. The proposed methods are implemented and compared to the existing ones.", "When considering harmonic distortion, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) performs well in calculating root mean square (RMS) values of some distorted waveforms. However, in the case of inter-harmonics the FFT produces large errors in estimating these RMS values. This paper introduces the use of wavelet packet transform (WPT) for RMS measurements in case of harmonics and inter-harmonics distortion. In order to minimize the spectral leakage associated with WPT the paper proposes an algorithm that is capable of choosing the most suitable wavelet family and hence mother wavelet. This reduces the error associated with wavelet analysis. The proposed algorithm is applied to two case studies considering harmonics and inter-harmonics distortion and the results are compared with the true values and the FFT based values.", "We consider the traditional compressed sensing problem of recovering a sparse solution from undersampled data. We are in particular interested in the case where the measurements arise from a partial circulant matrix. This is motivated by practical physical setups that are usually implemented through convolutions. We derive a new optimization problem that stems from the traditional l 1 minimization under constraints, with the added information that the matrix is taken by selecting rows from a circulant matrix. With this added knowledge it is possible to simulate the full matrix and full measurement vector on which the optimization acts. Moreover, as circulant matrices are well-studied it is known that using Fourier transform allows for fast computations. This paper describes the motivations, formulations, and preliminary results of this novel algorithm, which shows promising results.", "Based on the method of generalized function,this paper mainly revises the Fourier transform formulation of index signal and index reduction,explores the continuation effect of step signal in the signal processing method,i.e.,the Fourier transform,concludes that the same conclusion in Laplace transform could be got only through analytic continuation,and thus provides the theoretical basis to further change the common prejudice in Fourier transform.", "Abstract Firstly, the paper introduces the definition of Fourier transform of fractional calculus equation, and then clarifies the discretization algorithm of fractional calculus Fourier. Secondly, the Fourier transform is applied to the processing of marketing data signals, including market signal detection and parameter estimation, signal de-drying and so on. The paper finds that the discretization algorithm of fractional calculus Fourier has strong theoretical and practical significance in the detection and complexity evolution of marketing evaluation data.", "The processing technology of the voice signal is studied with Fast Fourier Transform(FFT) and FIR filtering in order to solve the problem that need higher requirements of processing speed and storage space as the voice signal is processed with an embedded system.It turns out that the algorithm is effective as the test is made by MATLAB software.The synthesis algorithm which FIR filtering is made after FFT is performed can be used for an embedded system.A reference is provided for improving on the effect of the voice signal processing.", "The Fourier transformtion was performed on the seismic convolution model.Under least square method,the problem of cooperative optimization of the signal noise ratio and the resolution in seismic inverse was solved by using linear programming.", "The structure of a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) microwave liquid level radar system was introduced and the FMCW radar ranging principle was discussed. A fast frequency estimation algorithm (FFEA) based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique, which can achieve high ranging accuracy and better computational efficiency, was proposed to obtain the distance information from the radar echo signal. The high-speed signal processor DSP is suitable for the real-time signal processing, and can be used to linearize the frequency sweep of VCO. The simulation results indicated that FFEA owned high accuracy as compared with the FFT method and required much less computational load as compared with zoom FFT." ]

[ "The child is outdoors." ]

[ "The child is crying in the kitchen.", "Some kids are near some bushes.", "The boys jump out of swings.", "A cat is near some bushes.", "Some boys near a swing.", "A child is sitting on the ground by some bushes", "A man helps a child out of the swing.", "Two females jump out of swings.", "A child jumps near a pond.", "A childs is near some supplies.", "A child is near some toys.", "A child is near some twine.", "A child is near some buckets.", "A cat jumps near some plants.", "Nobody is near the swing.", "A child is swinging on the swings at the park.", "A dog jumps near some plants.", "The dog jumped over the bush.", "a dog jumping near some water", "A young girl is swinging on some swings.", "A redheaded child is swinging in a swing.", "There is dirt near the bushes.", "A child is swinging on a tire swing.", "A child is asleep near some food.", "Dog is willing to jump on a bush.", "A child swings on a playset.", "A blonde child is swinging.", "A child is swinging a bat.", "A woman swings a child.", "Butterflies hover near a bush.", "Some humans swinging.", "The clown is sleeping near the bushes." ]

[ "it is headquartered in los angeles california miramax was founded in 1979 by brothers bob and harvey weinstein and was a leading independent film motion picture distribution and production company before it was acquired by the walt disney company on june 30 1993 shortly thereafter pulp fiction was released the weinsteins operated miramax with more creative and financial independence than any other division of disney until september 30 2005 when they left the company and founded a new studio the weinstein company miramax was sold by disney to filmyard holdings a joint venture of colony northstar tutor saliba corporation and qatar investment authority in 2010 ending disney s 17 year ownership of the studio in 2016 the company was sold to the bein media group the company was founded by the brothers harvey and bob weinstein in buffalo new york in 1979 and was named by combining the first names of their parents miriam and max it was created to distribute independent films deemed commercially unfeasible by the major studios the company s first major success came when the weinsteins teamed up with british producer martin lewis and acquired the u s rights to two concert films lewis had produced", "the film uses the anaglyph 3 d technology similar to the one used in 2003 the film stars taylor lautner taylor dooley cayden boyd david arquette kristin davis and george lopez many of the concepts and much of the story were conceived by rodriguez s children the special effects were done by hybride technologies cafefx the orphanage post logic hydraulx industrial light magic r ot pictures tippett studio amalgamated pixels intelligent creatures and troublemaker digital the film received negative reviews from critics with much of the criticism directed at the film s story and poor 3 d the film also underperformed at the box office earning just 39 million in the united states and 69 4 million worldwide on a 50 million budget max is a lonely child in the suburbs of austin who creates an imaginary dreamworld named planet drool where all of his dreams come to life he creates two characters sharkboy who was raised by sharks after losing his father at sea and became a shark hybrid himself and lavagirl who can produce fire and lava but has trouble touching objects without setting them alight the two left max to guard planet drool in reality max s", "set in edwardian england the film is based on an alan sharp adaptation of irish author lord dunsany s 1936 novella my talks with dean spanley it stars sam neill as the dean jeremy northam and peter o toole as fisk junior and fisk senior respectively and bryan brown as wrather the narrative is called a surreal period comedic tale of canine reincarnation exploring the relationships between father and son and master and dog peter o toole said that the film s use of comedy to explore the relationship between a father and son was part of the attraction for him all of us have had these difficult familial relationships and i think it s a film for all of us who understand the relationship between a father and son it s been interesting watching how various members of the crew have been looking at the monitors during scenes because they come up to me and say i had the same thing with my father in the very early 1900s henslowe fisk lives beholden to his father the difficult horatio fisk the fisk family has suffered first the loss of its younger son harrington fisk xavier horan killed in the", "the film received mostly unfavorable comparisons to casablanca dr zhivago the garden of the finzi continis jane eyre gone with the wind and the leopard based on the 1936 novel mary lavelle by kate o brien which was banned in ireland when first published with a script co written by ann guedes and frank mcguinness talk of angels tells the story of a young irish governess who travels to spain in the mid 1930s to teach english to the young daughters of a prominent family over the course of the film she becomes drawn to the family s married eldest son and their affair unfolds with the increasing violence associated with the early days of the spanish civil war as a backdrop entertainment weekly described it as casablanca derived but called the main characters blandly pretty and pretty bland the la times argued that walker remains the primary distraction and that the sum as they all too often say is not quite that of the parts and talk of angels unfortunately exists in that romance novel realm in which political concerns are mere adornments for the treacle dripping issues of the heart the new york times noted that talk of", "colony capital and qatar investment authority own the studio rob lowe is an investor in colony s entertainment fund on december 3 2010 disney closed the sale of miramax to filmyard holdings investors put in 200 million in capital while raising 400 million in liabilities through barclays plc led group of banks mike lang former business development executive at news corporation was selected as the ceo of miramax and the sale estimated around us 663 million included 700 film titles as well as 90 book rights 300 development projects and the miramax name additionally miramax came with 50 million in cash 10 million in adjusted fees and a two finished films ready for release don t be afraid of the dark and the debt were released in 2011 by filmdistrict and focus features respectively filmyard was content with generating revenue off miramax s film library until miramax was sold to bein media group on march 2 2016 on january 22 2013 ron tutor sold his stake to co owner qatar investment authority qatar s stake is reported by variety as 75 percent", "his producing credits include w 2008 district 9 2009 fury 2014 bad moms 2016 and dirty grandpa 2016 block was born in new york city where he attended columbia university block began his career as a literary agent before founding the intertalent agency in 1988 where he represented such artists as kim basinger samuel l jackson steven seagal charlie sheen john travolta forest whitaker sam raimi roland emmerich and william friedkin in 1992 he joined international creative management as head of west coast operations block founded artisan entertainment an independent film studio that produced films including the blair witch project the buena vista social club darren aronofsky s pi and requiem for a dream the limey directed by steven soderbergh the ninth gate starring johnny depp and directed by roman polanski and david koepp s stir of echoes and made starring jon favreau and vince vaughn in 2002 block founded film finance production and sales company qed international he was ceo of qed for 12 years producing films including neill blomkamp s district 9 and elysium oliver stone s w and david ayer s wwii thriller fury starring brad pitt in 2014 after media content capital took a controlling interest" ]

[ "it published the memoirs of many major celebrities including david boies madeleine albright former mayor of new york rudy giuliani tv s tim russert and others in november 1998 the tentatively named miramax talk media books a division of miramax s talk media was started with the naming of its jonathan burnham president and editor in chief miramax books was dissolved into this new unit burnham would start on december 7 miramax talk would published 10 to 15 total books a year fiction and non fiction starting in 2000 tina brown chair of talk media recruited a number of high profile authors historian the british novelist martin amis and simon schama for the imprint mayor rudolph w giuliani was paid 3 million in advance for his autobiography prior to 9 11 by april 2002 talk miramax books had published 30 books five of which made a national best seller lists the unit generated 10 million in revenue in 2001 and was profitable in 2004 miramax books won the auction for riordan s percy jackson the olympians manuscript when the weinsteins broke from disney in 2005 five years before miramax films went for sale by disney the book division was still", "the company name was created from the three founders last names initials hoving aukin and leventhal at the launch miramax films co chairman harvey weinstein called the managers behind hal films the european dream team and the company replaced miramax s london production office the company was involved in the production of four feature films in february 2000 it was announced that miramax would no longer support the company and that aukin and leventhal would pursue other interests in the entertainment industry while hoving who had married leventhal in the meantime would devote her time to the family according to industry newspaper variety the reason for the split was a growing disagreement between the three managers in london and the miramax management in new york following the decision miramax took over the london premises under its own name", "he is the founder and head of dimension films former co chairman of lantern entertainment miramax films and the weinstein company both of which he co founded with his brother harvey he has focused on making commercially successful action and horror films weinstein was born in flushing new york he was raised in a jewish family his parents were max weinstein a diamond cutter and miriam n e postel he grew up with his older brother harvey weinstein in a housing co op named electchester in new york city and attended john bowne high school like his older brother bob his brother harvey weinstein and corky burger independently produced rock concerts as harvey corky productions in buffalo through most of the 1970s both weinstein brothers had grown up with a passion for movies and they nurtured a desire to enter the film industry in the late 1970s using profits from their concert promotion business the brothers created a small independent film distribution company called miramax named after their parents miriam and max the company s first releases were primarily music oriented concert films such as paul mccartney s rockshow in the early 1980s miramax acquired the rights to two british", "miramax film corp 383 f 3d 965 9th cir 2004 was an entertainment law case in which the united states court of appeals for the ninth circuit held that a screenwriter s claim for breach of implied contract was not preempted by united states federal copyright law because the screenwriter s claim alleged an extra element that transformed the action from one arising under the ambit of the federal copyright statute to one sounding in contract jeff grosso the author of a screenplay entitled the shell game claimed that miramax stole the ideas and themes of his work when it made the movie rounders did the district court properly dismiss grosso s state law causes of action for breach of contract as preempted by the federal copyright act the ninth circuit found that the district court erred in concluding that a screenwriter s claim for breach of implied contract was preempted by federal copyright law in so holding the court reasoned that grosso s claim alleged an extra element that transformed the action from one arising under the ambit of the federal copyright statute to one sounding in contract after remand to the california state courts grosso s implied contract", "it is the fourth and final miramax film that was not sold to filmyard holdings on december 3 2010 nor bein media group on march 2 2016 the film was written by minghella his first original screenplay since his 1990 feature debut truly madly deeply and his final feature film before his death in 2008 set in a blighted inner city neighbourhood of london the film is about a successful landscape architect whose dealings with a young thief and his mother cause him to re evaluate his life minghella previously directed the film s stars jude law in cold mountain and the talented mr ripley and juliette binoche in the english patient in his first major film role rafi gavron portrays miro the young traceur burglar a role requiring several difficult physical feats the film is a presentation of miramax and the weinstein company and was distributed in the united states by metro goldwyn mayer breaking and entering premiered on 13 september 2006 at the toronto international film festival will francis jude law a young englishman is a landscape architect living a detached routine based life in london with his swedish american girlfriend liv robin wright penn and her autistic", "until october 2014 she was president of television at the weinstein company poster was previously the co president of production for miramax films where she executive produced the academy award winning chicago 2002 and academy award nominated cider house rules 1999 and chocolat 2000 she is an executive producer of the bravo drama the girlfriend s guide to divorce which premiered in december 2014 poster was one of the first female trainees at the william morris agency where she began working in the mailroom in new york in 1986 in 1989 she began working for harvey weinstein as his assistant thereby beginning her longtime association with the weinstein brothers and miramax films she rose to co president of production at miramax films poster had a producing deal at nbc universal for five years and served as a consultant for chairman jeff zucker in early 2011 poster joined the weinstein company as president of television having previously worked for harvey and bob weinstein for 16 years at miramax while at the weinstein company she oversaw all television development and production including project runway and spinoffs after the runway 2011 project accessory 2011 project runway all stars 2012 2014 and 2014 she", "he is best known as the founding ceo of moviepass a subscription based service for going to the movies in the united states and founder of the urbanworld film festival during his career stacy has taken on senior executive roles at motown records sony music entertainment miramax films and october films spikes is from houston texas in 1985 he relocated to los angeles to follow his desire to work in the entertainment industry spikes career began in 1986 at motown records where he was the product manager for boyz ii men stevie wonder spike lee queen latifah and eddie murphy in 1990 spikes joined sony music entertainment and worked on feature film soundtracks for movies including jungle fever bad boys house party house party 2 pr t porter and darnell martin s i like it like that in 1994 spikes became vice president of marketing at miramax films at miramax spikes led marketing campaigns for films including trainspotting don t be a menace emma and scream from 1996 97 spikes was senior vice president of marketing at october films spikes founded the urbanworld film festival in 1997 the festival is held annually in new york city spikes launched moviepass in", "the company was founded in 2007 by warner independent pictures and miramax president mark gill and former yari film group coo and miramax veteran neil sacker tfd received initial funding in the form of a 200 million capitalization from g e capital which was to allow them to produce 6 films per year budgeted between 10 and 45 million the company s intention was to make star driven commercial pictures at the high end of every genre aimed at worldwide audiences allen company also played a major role in financing tfd in july 2008 the film department and downtown music publishing announced the formation of a new music film company and partnership tfd music through the partnership downtown publishing served as the exclusive worldwide administrator for the tdf music copyrights and master recordings and offered music supervision and soundtrack consulting services for motion pictures tfd s first release law abiding citizen generated 73 million in domestic ticket sales but the company was unable to pay off all the release expenses tfd s second film the rebound starring catherine zeta jones was released by the weinstein company despite announcing plans for an initial public offering in february 2010 all tfd had", "meyer was the president of paramount vantage until december 2008 in 2007 with meyer as co head of paramount the studio received 19 academy award nominations four of the studio s 2007 feature films were honored there will be blood a paramount vantage and miramax co production received eight nominations no country for old men also a miramax and paramount vantage co production received eight nominations into the wild earned two nominations the kite runner garnered one nomination at the 80th academy awards blood and no country won a combined six awards including the academy award for best picture for no country the academy award for best actor for daniel day lewis in blood and the academy award for best supporting actor for javier bardem in no country formerly meyer was the long time president of lionsgate international a division of lionsgate studios he founded sierra pictures in 2009 in 2011 his sierra pictures merged with film sales company affinity international to become sierra affinity in addition to representing sales of third party films sierra affinity is as the exclusive sales agent for films developed and produced by sidney kimmel entertainment bold films and sierra pictures following entertainment one s", "he and his brother bob weinstein co founded the entertainment company miramax which produced several successful independent films including sex lies and videotape 1989 the crying game 1992 pulp fiction 1994 heavenly creatures 1994 flirting with disaster 1996 and shakespeare in love 1998 weinstein won an academy award for producing shakespeare in love and garnered seven tony awards for a variety of plays and musicals including the producers billy elliot the musical and after leaving miramax weinstein and his brother bob founded the weinstein company a mini major film studio he was co chairman alongside bob from 2005 to 2017 in october 2017 following sexual abuse allegations against weinstein he was dismissed from his company and expelled from the academy of motion picture arts and sciences by october 31 over 80 women had made allegations against weinstein the allegations sparked the metoo social media campaign and many similar sexual abuse allegations against and dismissals of powerful men around the world now called the weinstein effect on may 25 2018 weinstein was arrested in new york charged with rape and other offenses and released on bail weinstein was born march 19 1952 in the flushing section of queens new york to", "and canada eurocinema content is available in the on demand section of major providers throughout the u s and canada including the comcast xfinity verizon fios cablevision charter communications shaw wave broadband and buckeye cable system platforms in addition much of the film library and lifestyle content can be viewed online through the website s streaming service on march 15 2013 eurocinema entered a multi year agreement with miramax allowing the network to debut some of the films from miramax s international catalog eurocinema s partnership with miramax is unprecedented said sebastien perioche chairman ceo eurocinema never before will such a high quality and diversified collection of world screen gems be available in one place and on demand eurocinema has become the go to destination for fans of european cinema new miramax titles are made available each month on october 15 2013 eurocinema launched a streaming video site that allows users to rent and watch movies on their desktop computers and mobile devices in october 2015 eurocinema announced its ambition to launch a linear television channel called eurocinema world during 2016 on october 15 2016 amazon com announced a deal to make a selection of eurocinema content available on its", "holzman is the ceo of the intellectual property corporation which he founded in 2016 as well as the ceo of industrial media holzman is the former head of miramax television ashton kutcher s katalyst films studio lambert and all3media america he has won three primetime emmy awards for the television series leah remini scientology and the aftermath and undercover boss and is the recipient of multiple emmy nominations for series including project greenlight project runway and united shades of america holzman has received multiple producers guild of america awards nominations and won the pga award for outstanding producer of non fiction television for scientology and the aftermath in 2016 after graduating from the bronx high school of science eli holzman began his career at miramax films in early 1996 there he worked on numerous films including in too deep and rounders holzman was soon promoted to junior executive working for top exec meryl poster as a junior executive he identified television as an untapped market for the studio holzman moved to los angeles in 1998 to play a role in founding miramax s television arm miramax television while there he helped develop a wide variety of projects covering the full", "it was originally set up by the movie moguls including louis b mayer and daryl zanuck to allow them to view and critique new releases in the comfort and privacy of their own homes but was later expanded into an invite only exclusive service for wealthy patrons who could not go to regular cinemas for whatever reason or who could simply afford their own home theatres so chose to view movies this way several of hollywood s a listers are known to be on one or more of the various studio lists including actors tom cruise ben affleck sharon stone sylvester stallone et al film directors steven spielberg woody allen david lynch quentin tarantino et al producers peter guber lorenzo di bonaventura joel silver et al studio executives and investors peter chernin harvey weinstein tom rothman stephen schwarzman et al along with others both inside and outside the entertainment industry like lionel richie rupert murdoch barry manilow prince saud al faisal et al", "it is the second miramax film that was not sold to filmyard holdings on december 3 2010 nor bein media group on march 2 2016 the film was released on dvd on july 4 2006 and on hd dvd on december 18 2006 brosnan was nominated for both a golden globe award and a saturn award for his well received performance as disillusioned unstable hitman julian noble an encounter in the bar of the mexico city branch of the camino real hotels between tired businessman danny wright greg kinnear hoping to land a life saving contract in mexico and jaded falling apart at the seams assassin julian noble pierce brosnan leads both men into an awkward friendship julian is confronting the immorality of his profession and experiencing a mid life crisis that causes him to freeze on a job danny is fearing that a vitally important deal will fall through and cost him his job after an uncomfortable at times conversation danny leaves the bar julian apologizes and invites him to see a bullfight during the spectacle julian reveals the kind of work he truly does and when danny is skeptical takes danny through the steps of murdering a portly", "it was released by miramax films on dvd the film includes rupert the frog song tuesday and tropic island hum paul mccartney wrote or composed music for each short tropic island hum tells the story of wirral the squirrel who was almost killed by soldiers froggo helped him and took him to another place he would go he couldn t go back there again but then he finds a tropical island bison is the chief of that island and wirral s new love crush is wilhelmina then all 3 of them except wilhelmina get cleaned up and that night they perform the theme song to the island bison sings the first part of the song a parrot gets banged on the bass drum and is dizzy later an alligator sings right after that wirral blushes at his new love crush wilhelmina then a bad thing appears the mask animals try to ruin the party but then a school appears and at the end wirral wilhelmina kiss in tuesday the frogs fly at 8 00pm every tuesday night but one night they go inside 1 house 1 frog sneezes because of dust then after the morning appears of dawn they go", "is a spanish production and distribution company of audiovisual tv products founded by enrique uviedo and established in barcelona since 1975 the company has licensed foreign shows in spain such as teenage mutant ninja turtles and co produced its own animated series including two with walt disney television spain sa motion pictures logo it s a parody of the classic motown logo as well the name of the company the company was founded in 1977 by its president uviedo enrique herrera the first activities of the company were the production of low budget films while working in the productions of italian american and british filmmakers who came to shoot in spain in the early eighties motion pictures began to buy broadcasting rights primarily video and television coinciding with early nineties when the video boom was over the company began to buy american film catalogs for television distribution with titles such star wars the empire strikes back apocalypse now and alongside this films acquisition policy was resumed the production of spanish films including sold in over forty countries in addition a series with the same title was produced for tele 5 which won the ondas award in 1995 best fiction series", "he attended the cornell university school of industrial and labor relations and then the fordham university school of law after law school he worked as press secretary and deputy executive director of the new york state democratic committee where he worked on the 1998 campaigns of chuck schumer and eliot spitzer and hillary clinton s listening tour in july 1999 in december 1999 hiltzik joined miramax as head of corporate communications where he was involved in public relations for miramax films miramax books miramax tv talk magazine and philanthropic and political fundraising and crisis management while also serving as personal spokesman for harvey weinstein and the company in 2000 hiltzik took a brief leave from the weinsteins to re join hillary clinton s campaign as the director of jewish relations he soon left politics to rejoin with the weinstein brothers after the brothers finalized their deal to leave miramax hiltzik teamed up with the u k based publicity company freud communications to start up their u s operations he went out on his own in early 2008 to start up hiltzik strategies hiltzik maintains his political roots advising jose antonio vargas s defineamerican campaign to elevate the national conversation about", "it was ran by film producer lawrence gordon and was backed by electronics firm victor company of japan ltd jvc in an investment that cost more than 100 million the production company released their first film point break in 1991 and their last film was grey owl in 1999 in august 1989 gordon formed largo entertainment with the backing of jvc representing the first major japanese investment in the entertainment industry although jvc put up the entire 100 million investment the company was structured to be a 50 50 joint venture between gordon and jvc as the company s chairman and chief executive officer gordon was responsible for the production of such films as point break 1991 starring patrick swayze and keanu reeves the super 1991 starring joe pesci unlawful entry 1992 starring kurt russell ray liotta and madeleine stowe used people 1992 starring shirley maclaine jessica tandy kathy bates marcia gay harden and marcello mastroianni and timecop 1994 starring jean claude van damme largo also co financed and handled the foreign distribution of the acclaimed 1992 biopic malcolm x directed by spike lee and starring denzel washington in the title role in january 1994 gordon left the company and", "cohen s parents are both attorneys after graduating from cold spring harbor high school in 1988 cohen attended and received a degree from new york university cohen worked as an assistant at the writers artists agency at the age of 23 cohen joined miramax films where he worked his way up to senior vp of production during that time he contributed to movies like clerks scream and beautiful girls his first producing credit was for 54 which was mildly received cohen produced several other movies for miramax before leaving in 2003 after miramax cohen started his own production company cohen productions cohen s company produced the gwyneth paltrow movie view from the top following that cohen became president of red wagon productions where he was executive producer on such projects as jarhead and memoirs of a geisha after leaving red wagon cohen went on to produce such films as definitely maybe for working title universal pictures and revolutionary road for dreamworks", "it encompasses music publishing and licensing businesses dealing primarily with television and film soundtracks it is located in century city california during ceo robert kraft s current tenure at fox dozens of fox scores and soundtracks have become platinum or gold records highlights include the soundtracks from 20th century fox and fox searchlight pictures films such as titanic waiting to exhale 28 weeks later moulin rouge garden state romeo juliet the full monty hope floats dr dolittle bulworth anastasia walk the line the 1st alvin and the chipmunks film once and juno fox music has also supervised the music for 20th century fox television hits such as ally mcbeal and the x files as well as current shows family guy and the simpsons since 1994 television soundtracks from fox music have included the worldwide platinum albums from ally mcbeal and x files plus hit compilations from buffy the vampire slayer dark angel the simpsons roswell and 24 since kraft became chief executive in 1994 fox music has been responsible for the worldwide sales of over 60 million albums producing 3 platinum 6 multi platinum and 6 gold records fox music has garnered 10 academy award nominations winning 4 academy awards", "it was produced by birnbaum barber laurence mark productions parkes macdonald productions spyglass entertainment and miramax films miramax distributes the film in the united states and buena vista international elsewhere driving at night with his lights off high school sports star chris pratt crashes into a combine stalled on the road two of his passengers are killed while he and his girlfriend kelly survive the crash leaves chris with lasting mental impairments including anterograde amnesia and anger management issues four years later chris takes classes to learn new skills including the simple sequencing of daily tasks to compensate for his inability to remember and keeps notes to himself in a small notebook challenged by a tough case manager to build a life despite his injuries he is emotionally supported by his roommate a blind man named lewis but receives only financial support from his wealthy family chris works nights cleaning a small town bank and his only friend besides lewis is ted a sheriff s deputy who checks in on chris regularly chris repeatedly tries to convince the bank s manager mr tuttle to allow him to apply for a teller job to no avail chris comes under the scrutiny", "directed by kunihiko yuyama and produced by olm inc the film stars the regular television cast of rica matsumoto yuji ueda mayumi iizuka megumi hayashibara shin ichiro miki and ikue tani the english adaptation was produced by 4kids entertainment and distributed by miramax films a subsidiary of the walt disney company and saw a limited release in the united states on may 16 2003 before being released to video and dvd in january 2004 the english version stars the regular television cast of veronica taylor eric stuart rachael lillis and maddie blaustein the events of the film take place during the fifth season of although cartoon network has aired the film the film has also aired on toon disney now known as disney xd on november 27 2007 because miramax which was still owned by disney at the time released this animated film being the fourth pok mon film to air on toon disney the first three being and pok mon 4ever pok mon heroes focuses on the main characters ash misty and brock continuing their journey through the johto region the main location of the film is based on venice italy the name given to the city in the", "starting in 2003 lego officially made their first film partnership to make films based on their toy property they chose bionicle as the property and they made a deal with miramax to make a trilogy of bionicle films over the years after the trilogy ended a new trilogy based on bionicle was planned with universal disambiguation after the miramax film contract ended and the first film in the new trilogy would be titled but plans broke between lego and universal so they cancelled the fifth film in the series but they continued on with a film titled the film received positive reviews from fans and critics and after the dvd release a sequel was set to star clutch as the hero again a mini sequel and a short film based on clutch powers were released and plans for a sequel are unknown in the summer of 2009 lego made a deal with warner bros to make a film based on their property it would feature many themes and characters and it would be released as the first lego film in the theaters in 2011 lego released a tv series titled later in 2012 the untitled lego film was titled lego", "it was written by bornedal and steven soderbergh it is a remake of the danish film nattevagten 1994 which was also directed by bornedal law student martin bells is hired as a night watchman at a hospital morgue a string of gruesome prostitute murders committed by a necrophiliac serial killer quickly point to him as the lead suspect in the investigation carried out by inspector thomas cray at the same time martin slowly discovers clues that point to the real perpetrator after the original nattevagten found critical acclaim in 1994 director ole bornedal was hired by dimension films who had recently purchased the distribution rights for nattevagten to come to the united states and remake the film the remake was intended to be the first of three films bornedal would direct for miramax the parent company of dimension while principal photography began in los angeles during the spring of 1996 nightwatch would not be completed until the following year due to a series of test screenings and reshoots miramax ordered changes made by miramax to the finished cut included reducing the role of james s girlfriend marie and adding a more satisfying final scene bornedal went on to state that", "the magazine gained notoriety for its celebrity profiles and interviews the magazine was a joint venture of miramax s talk media and hearst magazines hearst would manage circulation manufacturing newsstand distribution and subscription fulfillment talk media was in charge of advertising sales editorial content and marketing talk media was founded in july 1998 by miramax films tina brown and ron galotti to publish books the talk magazine and to produce television programs talk media formed a joint venture with hearst magazines for the magazine only in february 1999 the first issue of talk appeared in september 1999 the cover story of the debut issue was an interview with hillary clinton which took place shortly after the clinton lewinsky scandal in which she explained that her husband bill clinton had a chronic need to please women the washington post reported that at times talk seemed more interested in promoting such miramax stars as gwyneth paltrow than in politics the magazine never became a commercial success and its publication was suspended after the final february 2002 issue politico estimated that brown had bombed through some 50 million in 2 1 2 years on the failed venture a 1 million contract settlement in", "it specialized on releasing independent cult or foreign films to theaters the company was created in 1995 but closed in 1999 the company was named after the film rolling thunder the following films were re released under the rolling thunder pictures label the label also released the independent films hard core logo and curdled the 1994 jet li film fist of legend had been scheduled for a rolling thunder pictures release but eventually dimension films released it other production companies re released on dvd later on april 16 2013 coinciding with the release of django unchained miramax and lions gate released a special dvd set of three films previously released under the rolling thunder pictures label the set includes the mighty peking man a king kong knock off detroit 9000 a detective style blaxploitation film and switchblade sisters an obvious inspiration for tarantino s films tarantino said of the collection if you like my stuff you can look at it as this is where mine came from", "it was released to theaters by miramax films on april 4 2003 and stayed in theaters until may 18 2003 the film earned 2 255 000 with its widest release being in 602 theaters dysfunktional family is mainly a concert performance featuring eddie griffin filmed live at the star plaza theatre in merrillville indiana that also includes behind the scenes documentary footage filmed in kansas city missouri detailing the stand up comedian s personal life and family as he travels to a family reunion to reunite with the cast of characters who are the root of his comedy his mother an uncle who was an ex pimp and his uncle curtis who pontificates on his career as a porno director a soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on march 11 2003 by the reformed death row records it peaked at 95 on the billboard 200 and 14 on the top r b hip hop albums on a separate note in 2012 a number of lines and quotes from the film were sampled into the rap song fair fight performed by the group strong arm steady alongside a sampled quote from chris rock s never scared comedy show", "oscar season usually begins in the late fall and early winter around november and ends on december 31 of that year although the date in which the summer blockbuster season ends and the oscar season begins are ambiguous and dependent on the year the academy awards occur every late february and films that win awards typically see a boost in sales to take advantage of this the studios release films they deem oscar worthy in the fall before the eligibility cut off so that the films remain fresh in the memories of critics and academy members right before the awards increasing their chances of being nominated during oscar season studios heavily campaign for their films to win spending large amounts of money in an attempt to influence academy voters harvey weinstein of miramax was especially notorious for his campaigning weinstein was alleged to have spread rumors that john nash was antisemitic to hurt the chances of a beautiful mind which was competing for the awards with the miramax film in the bedroom it was also suspected although unproven that weinstein was involved with the nomination of the reader in 2009 a film that received mixed reviews from critics the oscars", "it is a subsidiary of warner bros reiner named the company in honor of the maine town that serves as the setting of several stories by stephen king after the success of his film stand by me which was based on the body a novella by king reiner and scheinman already had a production company they were friends with shafer who worked with horn at 20th century fox at the time horn was disappointed at fox and agreed to join the trio at forming the company horn brought along padnick who was an executive at embassy television in castle rock horn became the ceo shafer ran the film division padnick ran tv and reiner and scheinman became involved in the development of productions the company was originally backed by the coca cola company then the parent company of columbia pictures coca cola and castle rock s founders jointly owned stakes in the company months after the deal coca cola exited the entertainment business and was succeeded by columbia pictures entertainment inc in 1989 castle rock was supported by another backer group w a subsidiary of westinghouse castle rock later struck a deal with nelson entertainment the company that owned the", "or is an american multinational mass media conglomerate with interests primarily in film and television which was formed as a spin off of the original viacom on december 31 2005 it is one of two companies which succeeded the original viacom alongside cbs corporation both are owned by national amusements a theater company controlled by businessman sumner redstone the spin off was structured so that cbs corporation would be the legal successor to the old viacom with the new viacom being an entirely new company the new viacom comprises viacom media networks and paramount pictures through which it operates approximately 170 networks and reaches approximately 700 million subscribers in approximately 160 countries cbs corporation retains the over the air broadcasting television production pay tv subscription service and publishing assets which were previously owned by the old viacom the new viacom is currently the world s ninth largest media company in terms of revenue and is headquartered at one astor plaza in midtown manhattan new york city the second merger between viacom and cbs corporation creating the combined company viacomcbs was announced on august 13 2019 the merger is expected to be completed by early december 2019 in march 2005 the", "starring jet li as the nameless protagonist the film is based on the story of jing ke s assassination attempt on the king of qin in 227 bc hero was first released in china on 24 october 2002 at that time it was the most expensive project and one of highest grossing motion pictures in china miramax films bought the american market distribution rights but delayed the release of the film for nearly two years quentin tarantino eventually convinced miramax to open the film in american theaters on 27 august 2004 the film received positive reviews from critics it became the first chinese language movie to place no 1 at the american box office where it stayed for two consecutive weeks and went on to earn 53 7 million in ancient china during the warring states period nameless a qin prefect arrives at the qin capital city to meet the king of qin who had survived an attempt on his life by the assassins long sky flying snow and broken sword as a result the king has implemented extreme security measures no visitors allowed to approach the king within 100 paces nameless claims that he has slain the three assassins", "previously he served as ceo of lava bear films which he founded in 2011 as a film production and financing company developing projects specifically designed for the global marketplace linde was born and raised in eugene the son of law professor and oregon supreme court justice hans a linde and helen tucker linde his father is jewish and his mother is presbyterian in 1978 linde graduated from south eugene high school after attending swarthmore college he moved to new york city where his girlfriend later his wife had moved in new york he worked as a paralegal for paramount pictures from 1984 1988 where he supervised sales of select international theatrical rights at paramount pictures and then as co head of the international department at fox lorber associates from 1988 1991 where he directed the sales of more than 300 independently produced film documentary and television titles linde joined miramax films in 1991 as vice president of acquisitions before being promoted to executive vice president and head of sales as the founding executive of miramax films international while at miramax he oversaw the international distribution of quentin tarantino s pulp fiction woody allen s mighty aphrodite wes craven s scream" ]

[ "I cannot remember the ancient name of the islands." ]

[ "There was never a nuclear bomb dropped over those islands.", "There was an end in sight.", "Jon dropped the blade upon the sight.", "No one is in sight", "Annette was in plain sight the entire time.", "The sight is one of the most spectacular of the island.", "Additional Sights of Hong Kong Island.", "The limestone cliffs are located in plain sight.", "The sight from the buildings is one of the main draws.", "A'deem asked if you wear it in plain sight.", "The first sight of the full moon is majestic.", "Russia has dropped several atomic bombs in countries all over the world.", "There was no blood in sight.", "Fashion is thriving and there is no foreseeable end in sight.", "There is no one in sight on the desert road.", "Bombs dropping from a plane.", "There was not a soul in sight.", "The ancient fortress of Yedikule is a long way from the city's other sights.", "The exhibits documented the build-up to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki.", "There was not a warlock in sight.", "The tumultuous age continued unabated with no end in sight.", "Russia has never dropped an atomic bomb on another country.", "Most of the older neighborhoods were destroyed from an atomic bomb.", "There is no volleyballs in sight.", "Makeup of those welfare gains is an interesting sight.", "The nuclear bomb is a symbol of peace.", "I was not able to find any clues because they were so well-hidden.", "A girl makes an atom bomb.", "The commentaries about the sights are only in English.", "One can take in the sights on the railway.", "It was an interesting sight.", "There were many tiny droplets in the air." ]

[ "If you deleted a conversation by mistake, unfortunately you will not be able to recover it and you'd need to locate their profile again in order to send them a new message and create a new conversation. If you matched with the user but deleted the connection, you'd need to reconnect with them." ]

[ "To know how to retrieve Snapchat photos on iPhone through the recently Deleted folder, follow the below steps: Step 1 Go to Photos app on your iPhone > Albums > Recently Deleted. Step 2 Find and select the Photos you want to recover > Hit the Recover button and they will be recovered.", "Click Recently Deleted album under Library, you will see the recently deleted iCloud photos and videos. How to recover these deleted photo and videos? Open Photos. app, screen down the iPhone screen, find the Recently Deleted album, tap and access it.", "If you delete your Facebook account: You can't recover deleted FB account. Other Facebook users might still have access to the messages you sent. All your Facebook data is stored in backup systems for almost 90 days, after that, it would be permanently deleted.", "How can I delete all messages from a user? As a superadmin or admin, you can delete all messages from other members to easily remove any content that violates your Community rules.", "As such there is no available way to recover a deleted user profile in Window XP. But you can recover the data from the deleted user account if you have not deleted the user folder while deleting the user account.", "WhatsApp does not delete your messages when you delete it, but just marks it as deleted. ... Whenever you clear (or delete) a message, or a batch of messages on WhatsApp, (be it an individual chat or a group message), they disappear from your screen immediately.", "While Badoo bills itself more as a social network than a straight dating site, and Hot or Not is more of a game-like ratings site, y ou can see how the two might complement each other as Badoo expands out the features it offers to users. ... Update: This is very much a scale play for both Badoo and Hot or Not.", "Slack will keep all messages and track message edits and deletions. Slack will keep all messages, but will not track message edits or deletions. Slack will delete messages following the custom time frame you choose.", "The first one is your old delete button that will only delete the message on your phone. Hence, the name Delete for me. It will not unsend or delete messages from the recipient's phone. The Delete for everyone will magically delete the message from your own and the recipient's phone." ]

[ "When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving more slowly. A term for creating slow motion film is overcranking which refers to hand cranking an early camera at a faster rate than normal (i.e. faster than 24 frames per second)." ]

[ "Slow motion for me, slow motion for me, move in slow motion for me. Slow motion for me, slow motion for me, move in slow motion for me. Uh I like it like that she working that back I don't know how to act. Slow motion for me, slow motion for me, slow motion for me, move in slow motion for me. Slow motion, she open, I'm hoping that she don't leave my dick broken. With brush burns and swollen. I'm toting she wanted me to make her out a believer.", "Slow motion for me, slow motion for me, slow motion for me, move in slow motion for me. Uh I like it like that she working that back I don't know how to act. Slow motion for me, slow motion for me, slow motion for me, move in slow motion for me. Songwriters.", "Slowing the shutter speed. While there are many ways to create a motion blur effect, the best way to start is by slowing down your shutter speed. When the shutter is open longer, the subject has more time to move across the frame and establish some kind of blur.Think of it this way.anning, an easy way to create a sense of motion. One easy way to create a motion blur effect is to follow your subject with your camera while you are taking the photo. This is known as panning, and it creates a really cool effect.", "Friction-is a force that slows down the motion of moving object. There is friction between the ball and the ground. How do forces affect motion. No! Because there is a force acting upon the ball and that force is friction. Friction. - is a force that slows down the motion of moving object.", "What's the difference? Answer: A motion tween animates symbols moving in space; when you create a motion tween, then you can click on any frame in the tween, move the symbol on that frame, and watch Flash automatically build a motion path animating the frames between that frame and the next keyframe.", "For example, in the drawing above, an oceanic plate has crashed into a continental plate. Looking at this drawing of two plates colliding is like looking at a single frame in a slow-motion movie of two cars crashing into each other.", "Slow Motion Rider -SXSW -Official Showcase – Austin Heavy. Slow Motion Rider Album -Space Echo- Free Sampler @ SXSW shows. Slow Motion Rider playing at Blackhearts in Austin tonight! Rob Campanella introduces Slow Motion Rider. Distorsioni reviews Slow Motion Rider Debut Album.", "The Timeline shows the tween span (also called the motion span), which is the number of frames in the motion tween. A dotted line is created, called the motion path, representing the path the object takes from the beginning frame to the ending frame. Flash provides several preconfigured motion tweens that you can apply to an object on the Stage.", "Flash supports the following types of animation: Motion tweens Use motion tweens to set properties for an object, such as position and alpha transparency in one frame and again in another frame. Flash then interpolates the property values of the frames in between. Motion tweens are useful for animation that consists of continuous motion or transformation of an object. Motion tweens appear in the Timeline as a contiguous span of frames that can be selected as a single object by default. Motion tweens are powerful and simple to create. Classic tweens Classic tweens are like motion tweens, but are more complex to", "Motion (physics) In physics, motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time. Motion is typically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, time and speed. Motion of a body is observed by attaching a frame of reference to an observer and measuring the change in position of the body relative to that frame.", "significance in motion. in motion (mechanics) All motions are relative to some frame of reference. Saying that a body is at rest, which means that it is not in motion, merely means that it is being described with respect to a frame of reference that is moving together with the body.", "Motion tweens are used to create animation movements within Animate. Motion tween animation is created by specifying different values for an object property between the first and the last frames. The object properties vary from position, size, color, effects, filters, and rotation. When you create a motion tween, you select any frame in the tween and move the motion symbol on that frame.", "Motion interpolation or Motion-Compensated Frame Interpolation (MCFI) is a form of video processing in which intermediate animation frames are generated between existing ones by means of interpolation, in an attempt to make animation more fluid and to compensate for display motion blur.otion interpolation or Motion-Compensated Frame Interpolation (MCFI) is a form of video processing in which intermediate animation frames are generated between existing ones by means of interpolation, in an attempt to make animation more fluid and to compensate for display motion blur.", "THE GREATER THE MASS OF A BODY IN MOTION, THE GREATER THE INERTIA. Momentum. inertia = mass = m In case of rotation it is inertia moment (mr2) Its weight That determines how fast or slow it will go. And how hard it will be to speed it up or slow it down.", "1 Answer | Add Yours. The statement that motion is relative is an important concept in physics. The meaning behind this statement is that the motion of an object is relative to either the frame of reference of the observer, or to another distinct frame of reference. This is important because the observed motion may appear different depending on which frame of reference it is being observed from.", "For example, let us define a steamship as a moving frame of reference and the shore as the fixed frame of reference. The motion of a ball rolling on the deck of the steamship will then be relative motion with respect to the deck and absolute motion with respect to the shore.", "The Mavic Pro camera shoots 4K video (up to 4096 x 2160) at 30 frames per second and Full HD 1080p at 96 frames per second, so you can create incredible slow motion. Its minimum focusing distance is just 19, making it perfect for everything from the ultimate aerial selfies to landscape shots.", "Definition of frame of reference. 1 : an arbitrary set of axes with reference to which the position or motion of something is described or physical laws are formulated. 2 : a set of ideas, conditions, or assumptions that determine how something will be approached, perceived, or understood a Marxian frame of reference.", "Motion compensation is an algorithmic technique used to predict a frame in a video, given the previous and/or future frames by accounting for motion of the camera and/or objects in the video.It is employed in the encoding of video data for video compression, for example in the generation of MPEG-2 files.otion compensation is an algorithmic technique used to predict a frame in a video, given the previous and/or future frames by accounting for motion of the camera and/or objects in the video.", "Relative motion. All motion is relative to some frame of reference. The simplest laboratory frame of reference is three mutually perpendicular axes at rest with respect to an observer.", "Some displays use motion interpolation to run at a higher refresh rate, such as 100 Hz or 120 Hz to reduce motion blur. Motion interpolation generates artificial in-between frames that are inserted between the real frames. The advantage is reduced motion blur on sample-and-hold displays such as LCD.", "In short, the concept of relative motion or relative velocity is all about understanding frame of reference. A frame of reference can be thought of as the state of motion of the observer of some event.", "Re: DO I HAVE A SLOW MOTION OPTION ON MY REMOTE. Not having any form of slow motion now-a-days is incomprehensible and inexcusable! Customers have been addressing this issue for about 7 years now. I'm sure that AT&T must be the only provider in the country without any kind of slow motion feature on the DVR.", "An observational frame of reference, often referred to as a physical frame of reference, a frame of reference, or simply a frame, is a physical concept related to an observer and the observer's state of motion.", "Learn to animate—one frame at a time. Experience the National Film Board of Canada’s stop-motion animation workshop online. This web module will teach you how to produce stop-motion animation videos and introduce you to NFB stop-motion animated films. It offers instructional videos and step-by-step lessons.", "Relative Motion. the motion of a point or a body with respect to a moving frame of reference that travels in a certain manner relative to some other, primary frame of reference arbitrarily called fixed.", "noun, Movies. 1. Also called stop frame. the process of filming puppets and other objects one frame at a time while incrementally moving or modifying them, giving the illusion of lifelike motion when the captured film frames are viewed in rapid sequence (often used attributively): stop-motion animation; a stop-motion film. 2.", "Because Human Eyes are capable of implmenting motion blur, and since the frames of a movie are being drawn all at once, motion blur is implemented in such few frames, which results in a lifelike perceptual picture.", "A take of a scene not used in a movie. In some movies, out-takes are shown under the closing credits. The process of speeding the frame rate of a camera up, so that when the captured pictures are played at the normal frame rate the action appears to be in slow motion. Historically, camera s were operated by turning a crank at a constant, required speed; hence overcranking refers to turning the crank too quickly.", "Film and television. 1 E-frame, in the animated science fiction series Exosquad. 2 Film frame, one of the many single photographic images in a motion picture. 3 Frame (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), a 2008 episode of the TV series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. 4 Reframing (filmmaking), in film and programming.", "Real-time digital image stabilization—also called electronic image stabilization (EIS) -- is used in some video cameras. This technique shifts the electronic image from frame to frame of video, enough to counteract the motion. It uses pixels outside the border of the visible frame to provide a buffer for the motion.", "In physics, the Coriolis force is an inertial force that acts on objects that are in motion relative to a rotating reference frame. In a reference frame with clockwise rotation, the force acts to the left of the motion of the object. In one with anticlockwise rotation, the force acts to the right." ]

[ "The more spread apart the data, the higher the deviation. The standard deviation is calculated as the square root of the variance. (2) In finance, standard deviation is applied to the annual rate of return of an investment to measure the investment's volatility.n analyst may wish to calculate the standard deviation of historical returns on a stock or a portfolio as a measure of the investment's riskiness. The higher the standard deviation of an investment's returns, the greater the relative riskiness because of uncertainty in the amount of return. See also risk, variance." ]

[ "Rate this implied volatility definition... The implied volatility of an asset is an estimate of volatility, or rate of price change, for the asset. In mathematical finance, volatility is defined as the annualized standard deviation of daily price changes.", "Definition of STANDARD UNIT. : standard deviation used as a unit of measurement of deviation. ADVERTISEMENT. This word doesn't usually appear in our free dictionary, but the definition from our premium Unabridged Dictionary is offered here on a limited basis. standard deviation used as a unit of measurement of deviation.", "DEFINITION of 'Standard Error'. The standard deviation of the sampling distribution of a statistic. Standard error is a statistical term that measures the accuracy with which a sample represents a population. In statistics, a sample mean deviates from the actual mean of a population; this deviation is the standard error. Next Up.", "Standard Deviation Calculator. The following is a free online tool to calculate the standard deviation, variance, mean, sum, and confidence range for given numbers. The value used to calculate the confidence range is the sample standard deviation value.tandard Deviation. The following is the definition of the standard definition σ, also called population standard deviation if the entire population can be measured, where µ is the expectation, x i is one sample value, and N is the total number of samples. σ 2 is called variance.", "Definition of STANDARD SCORE. : an individual test score expressed as the deviation from the mean score of the group in units of standard deviation.ADVERTISEMENT. an individual test score expressed as the deviation from the mean score of the group in units of standard deviation.", "the IQ standard deviation in the Czech Republic is 12 IQ points, so the Czech nation is clearly more egalitarian than the mankind whose standard deviation is by definition 15. 187 is formally 7.42 standard deviations above the average IQ of 98.", "Yes it is if by deviation scores you are referring to either the absolute deviation score or the standard deviation score. First, let's remind the variance definition: [math]Var(X):=E[(X-E[X])^2][/math]. By definition, the absolute deviation is: [math]D:=|X-E[X]|[/math]. Thus, squaring and taking the mean, one gets back to the variance definition. Standard deviation score. By definition, the standard deviation is defined as: [math]\\sigma := \\sqrt{E[(X-E[X])^2]}[/math]. Thus, squaring and taking the mean, one gets: [math]E[\\sigma^2]=E[E[(X-E[X])^2]][/math].", "Note: 1 The standard deviation is like a distance: by definition, it is positive. 2 The standard deviation can be zero if all the data points are the same. 3 The standard deviation can be larger than the mean. The range of numbers has to be large for this to occur. One such sample is {0, 0, 1, 15, 20}, where = 7.2 and s 8.6. If 5 were added to each number in a set of data, the mean would increase by 5 and the standard deviation would remain the same.", "Standard Deviation and Standard Error. The standard deviation of a data set is used to express the concentration of survey results. Less variety in the data results in a lower standard deviation. More variety is likely to result in a higher standard deviation.The standard error is sometimes confused with standard deviation.he standard deviation of a data set is used to express the concentration of survey results. Less variety in the data results in a lower standard deviation. More variety is likely to result in a higher standard deviation. The standard error is sometimes confused with standard deviation.", "In the sample child weight dataset above, the data ranges from 13 to 110, with a mean of 53.5. The standard deviation is 31.0. Another sample dataset might have the same mean, 53.5, but with a data range from 45 to 62 and a standard deviation of 3.5.The two datasets have the same mean, 53.5, but very different standard deviations.he standard deviation is simply the square root of the average squared deviation of the data from the mean. Before you allow this definition to scare you off, let’s calculate the standard deviation for the sample dataset of child weights together: 13 22 26 38 36 42.", "Standard Error. There appear to be two different definitions of the standard error. The standard error of a sample of sample size is the sample's standard deviation divided by. It therefore estimates the standard deviation of the sample mean based on the population mean (Press et al. 1992, p. 465).", "Z-scores are an example of standard scores as they are expressed relative to a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. Another standard score is I.Q. which has a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. The mathematical definition of the Z-score is.", "Variation. Definition. noun, plural: variations. (1) A difference or deviation (e.g. in structure, form, function) from the recognized norm or standard. (2) A modification in structure, form or function in an organism, deviating from other organisms of the same species or group.ariation. Definition. noun, plural: variations. (1) A difference or deviation (e.g. in structure, form, function) from the recognized norm or standard. (2) A modification in structure, form or function in an organism, deviating from other organisms of the same species or group.", "By definition, the same mean value must be used in the calculation of the variance of the wind direction and, likewise, the standard deviation (the square root of the variance).he standard deviation of the vertical component of the wind speed is: Similarly, the standard deviation of the elevation angle of the wind vector is: Equation 6.2.12 is provided for completeness only.", "The Standard Deviation Calculator is a tool to calculate the standard deviation from the data, the standard error, the range, percentiles, the COV, confidence limits, or a covariance matrix. Understanding the Standard Deviation. It is difficult to understand the standard deviation solely from the standard deviation formula.", "Because the definition of standard deviation is, essentially, the Mean distance the data points are from the arithmatic mean of the set. So a set of (2,4,6) has an arithmatic mean of 4, and a standard deviation of 1 1/3 ((|2-4|+|4-4|+|6-4|)/3).", "This number () is called the standard deviation of the mean, and whenever we say standard deviation in reference to a mean value, we mean standard deviation of the mean. We will use the standard deviation of the mean (SDOM) as a measure of the precision of our measurements.", "RSD,Residual Standard Deviation,residual standard deviations,residuals Standard deviation. Residual Standard Deviation From the overall variance of the y values (SDy2), the percentage part of the variance can be determined, which is.", "Yes, she would definitely be considered tall. The average height for a woman in the US is 5' 3 1/2. The standard deviation is about 2.7 inches. So a woman who is 5' 7 is more than one standard deviation above the mean, so she is taller than at least ~85% of the woman in the US. I'd definitely consider that tall!", "Example: To find the Standard deviation of the data set: 3,2,4,1,4,4. Step 1: Calculate the mean and deviation. uniform, then the standard deviation will be small. indicating that there is a wide variance in the responses, then the standard deviation will be large.", "Ann E. Watkins Cal State Northridge September 2014 22. The Standard Deviation. The standard deviation is a third measure of variability. Like the MAD, the standard deviation is based on the. deviations from the mean, but instead of taking the. absolute value of each deviation, each deviation is. squared.", "Difference Between Deviation and Standard Deviation. Deviation vs Standard Deviation. Deviation vs Standard Deviation. In descriptive and inferential statistics, several indices are used to describe a data set corresponding to its central tendency, dispersion and skewness.", "Standard error of the mean (SEM) and standard deviation of the mean is the same thing. However, standard deviation is not the same as the SEM. To obtain SEM from the standard … deviation, divide the standard deviation by the square root of the sample size.", "z-Scores and Samples •It is also possible to calculate z-scores for samples. •The definition of a z-score is the same for either a sample or a population, and the formulas are also the same except that the sample mean and standard deviation are used in place of the population mean and standard deviation.", "The standard normal distribution is a normal distribution with a mean of zero and standard deviation of 1. The standard normal distribution is centered at zero and the degree to which a given measurement deviates from the mean is given by the standard deviation.he standard normal distribution is a normal distribution with a mean of zero and standard deviation of 1. The standard normal distribution is centered at zero and the degree to which a given measurement deviates from the mean is given by the standard deviation.", "These are measured in terms of standard deviations. A bell curve graph depends on two factors, the mean and the standard deviation. The mean identifies the position of the center and the standard deviation determines the the height and width of the bell.hese are measured in terms of standard deviations. A bell curve graph depends on two factors, the mean and the standard deviation. The mean identifies the position of the center and the standard deviation determines the the height and width of the bell.", "The Empirical rule for Normal Distribution is defined as 68% of values fall in 1 Standard Deviation of the mean, 95% of values are fall in 2 standard deviation of the mean and 99.73% of values are fall in 4 standard deviation of the mean. You can use this Standard Deviation Calculator to find Standard deviation.", "As I understand it, as an ecologist and not a statistician, the main problem is that are two standard deviations in the literature: the standard deviation of the sample (SD), and the standard deviation of the mean, which is better called the standard error (SE).", "1 standard deviation of the mean. 95% of values are within. 2 standard deviations of the mean. 99.7% of values are within 3 standard deviations of the mean.", "These two standard deviations-sample and population standard deviations-are calculated differently. In statistics, we are usually presented with having to calculate sample standard deviations, and so this is what this article will focus on, although the formula for a population standard deviation will also be shown.", "Because standard deviation is a measure of variability about the mean, this is shown as the mean plus or minus one or two standard deviations. We see that the majority of observations are within one standard deviation of the mean, and nearly all within two standard deviations of the mean.", "For the normal distribution, the values less than one standard deviation away from the mean account for 68.27% of the set; while two standard deviations from the mean account for 95.45%; and three standard deviations account for 99.73%.or the normal distribution, the values less than one standard deviation away from the mean account for 68.27% of the set; while two standard deviations from the mean account for 95.45%; and three standard deviations account for 99.73%." ]

[ "A secure PDF file enforces copyright laws with features to prevent reproduction or distribution by other users. The owner or creator of a PDF file can restrict user access, printing, text copying and document editing with password protection.se Foxit Reader to open the secured PDF file. Select File, then Print to open the printer menu. Print the secured PDF file to CutePDF Writer. 1 Save the printed file to your computer as a new PDF file." ]

[ "You can use the draw tools to add point, line, polygon, and text graphics on the map. *To add text to the map, first enter the text in the textbox. Next, click on the Text button. Then click on the location on the map to add the text. Click the Create PDF button to produce a PDF of the map. The PDF can then be saved or printed.", "PDF Eraser is a free Windows application that deletes and erases text, images, logos and all unnecessary objects from PDF files. Users can use the program to remove some original content from a PDF file, and then add their text and images.Besides that, PDF Eraser has a built-in PDF Page Cutter, which allows users to delete unnecessary PDF pages. PDF Eraser doesn't run as a wordpad or text editor which edit contents like delete rows and columns.It runs like a painter, you can choose a sizable eraser to erase any place of the PDF document. Also you can add your own text and images to any place on any page you want.esides that, PDF Eraser has a built-in PDF Page Cutter, which allows users to delete unnecessary PDF pages. PDF Eraser doesn't run as a wordpad or text editor which edit contents like delete rows and columns. It runs like a painter, you can choose a sizable eraser to erase any place of the PDF document.", "Now you can Import these PDF files and save them as DWG or DXF files. AutoDWG PDF to DWG importer can import all vector objects, text objects and let you add markups or edit lines directly in AutoCAD. 1 File Name: pdf2dxf.exe. 2 Author: pdf to dxf.ow you can Import these PDF files and save them as DWG or DXF files. AutoDWG PDF to DWG importer can import all vector objects, text objects and let you add markups or edit lines directly in AutoCAD. 1 File Name: pdf2dxf.exe. 2 Author: pdf to dxf.", "We can do that in different ways, but first you can export the text of your Prezi presentation as a plain text file by using the Edit button in Prezi and then copy it into a text file. Now you can download the Prezi as PDF document.When you have the PDF document you can open it in any Adobe PDF Viewer. Here hopefully you will have all your slides in a PDF format. From now, you can export the PDF into individual PNG or JPG files which will correspond to the slides in the new PowerPoint presentation.e can do that in different ways, but first you can export the text of your Prezi presentation as a plain text file by using the Edit button in Prezi and then copy it into a text file. Now you can download the Prezi as PDF document.", "Create PDFs. With an Acrobat Pro subscription, you can convert documents and images to PDF from a web browser or mobile device. Edit PDF documents. Correct a typo, change a date or a font, add new text, resize paragraphs, and rotate pages — right in your PDF file.", "You can save your changes to an Adobe PDF or PDF Portfolio in the original PDF or in a copy of the PDF. You can also save individual PDFs to other file formats, including text, XML, HTML, and Microsoft Word.ou can save your changes to an Adobe PDF or PDF Portfolio in the original PDF or in a copy of the PDF. You can also save individual PDFs to other file formats, including text, XML, HTML, and Microsoft Word.", "1 Go through the functions of the annotation toolbar in either program. They both feature icons that allow you to highlight, comment, change text color, strikethrough text and more. If you are using a PDF image file, you can draw a box or select a point on the image. Then you can add notes on the side.", "Step 2. Upload PNG Images. The program offers not only the PDF converting ability. It can also allow you to convert Text, Word, MOBI and other image types such as JPG/JPEG, TIFF, BMP, and GIF to PDF format. For converting PNG to PDF, you should select Image to PDF conversion type and then click Add Files to import the target PNG files into the program.", "If you. right-click on the “Add or Edit Text Box” button, and select “Add to Quick Tools”, then you will see the icon. appear on the toolbar as follows: Note: If you are using Adobe Reader, the “Add or Edit Text Box” tool is not available until you enable the. PDF with extended rights.", "Any hyperlink you add to your file is converted to a clickable link if you save the file as a PDF. To add a link to an Office document -- such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint -- right-click the text you want to become a link and select Hyperlink..To link to a website, enter the Web address in the Address field.ny hyperlink you add to your file is converted to a clickable link if you save the file as a PDF. To add a link to an Office document -- such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint -- right-click the text you want to become a link and select Hyperlink..", "If the PDF you're converting was created from a scanned document, OCR is necessary to convert the image text in that document to rendered text that you can select and edit in Word or Excel.hen you convert a PDF file to Word or Excel format, ExportPDF performs optical character recognition (OCR) on the PDF to convert image text to searchable/editable text.", "PDF to DWG is a powerful windows program that will help you convert your PDF files to usable and editable DXF/ DWG files quickly and easily. You can import DXF files into AutoCAD and save them as DWG format. 1 File Name: pdf-dwg.exe. 2 Author: PDF to DWG.ow you can Import these PDF files and save them as DWG or DXF files. AutoDWG PDF to DWG importer can import all vector objects, text objects and let you add markups or edit lines directly in AutoCAD. 1 File Name: pdf2dxf.exe. 2 Author: pdf to dxf.", "Tipard free PDF reader is a simple and free PDF reader which allows you to read PDF files. Apart from reading PDF files, you can even print and zoom PDF files. This free PDF reader allows you to even take your PDF snapshots, select text in PDF file, search PDF, etc.", "Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules for the Code of Federal Regulations and the United States Code. 1 2016: PDF | Text. 2 2015: PDF | Text. 3 2014: PDF | Text. 4 2013: PDF | Text. 5 2011: PDF | Text. 6 2009: PDF | Text.", "You may upload resumes in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or PDF formats. Your PDF must be text, not images – if you can search the PDF, it's text. After you've uploaded your resume, you'll have the opportunity to edit it.", "What is Foxit Reader? (from Foxit) Foxit Reader is a small, fast, and feature rich PDF viewer which allows the user to open, view, and print any PDF file. Foxit PDF Reader includes features like annotations, forms filling, highlighting text, and the ability to add text to PDF documents. Foxit Reader is a program developed by Foxit.", "e-PDF To Word Converter software enable export the text, images and other contents from PDF document into word document, so you can reuse your PDF content, e-PDF To Word Converter software will preserving text, layout and bitmap images in the generated word document ...", "Secure Online Ordering. Lightning PDF® Professional 9 is an all-in-1 PDF solution for creating industry-standard PDF files, editing PDF text and images, converting PDFs to Office documents, adding comments plus editing and filling in PDF forms.", "Choosing a preset is the easiest way to set options for your Photoshop PDF file. After you choose a preset, click Save PDF to generate your Photoshop PDF file. If you want to add security options or fine-tune the saving options for the PDF, follow the remaining steps in this procedure.ave As, and then choose Photoshop PDF from the Format menu. You can select a Color option if you want to embed a color profile or use the profile specified with the Proof Setup command. You can also include layers, notes, spot color, or alpha channels. Click Save." ]

[ "Abstract A steroid containing a multi-linked glycoside, analogous to the bufadienolide orbicuside A, has been prepared. The key steps were (i) the preparation of a 2α-allyloxycarbonyloxy-3β-hydroxy steroid, (ii) a Ferrier reaction between the steroid and a rhamnal derivative, (iii) removal of protecting group and oxidation of the 2-hydroxy group, (iv) dihydroxylation of the pseudoglycal from the sterically more hindered side and finally (v) ring closure by acetal formation under acidic conditions." ]

[ "A highly efficient entry into the resin glycoside family of natural products is outlined which takes advantage of the inherently modular character of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) for the formation of their macrolactone substructures. Starting from only three well accessible sugar building blocks and (6S)-undec-1-en-6-ol (7) (prepared by enantioselective addition of dipentylzinc to hexenal in the presence of a catalyst formed from Ti(OiPr)4 and bis-(R,R)-trifluoromethanesulfonamide (9)), it was possible to achieve total syntheses of tricolorin A (1), tricolorin G (2), and jalapinolic acid (58) as well as the synthesis of the disaccharidic unit 48 which constitutes a common structural motif of all simonin, operculin, tuguajalapin, orizabin, mammoside, quamoclin, and stoloniferin resin glycosides. Furthermore, various analogues of these naturally occurring glycolipids have been obtained in a straightforward manner from the same set of substrates. This highlights the flexibility of the chosen approach and op...", "Elimination of three different cardiac glycosides by hemofiltration was investigated using the flat bed RP-6 (Rhône-Poulenc, Paris). At a filtration rate of 59 +/- 9 ml/min the mean clearance of 3-H-g-strophanthin was 54.9 +/- 10.4, that of a 3-H-digoxin and unlabelled digoxin 36.7 +/- 6.6 and that of digitoxin 4.6 +/- 2.8 ml/min. It is concluded from these results that hemofiltration is able to eliminate more than 50% of the amount excreted during the same period of time by normal kidneys. Elimination of cardiac glycosides by continuous hemofiltration is high enough to justify its use in digitalis intoxication, particularly because of the excellent control of electrolyte balance with this new method of detoxification.", "A series of steroidal glycosides, including three new compounds, named saccatols A–C (1–3), and two known analogues (4–5), and eight phenols (6–13) were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum saccatum W.T. Wang ex Tsiang et P. T. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of their spectral data, mainly HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and comparison with the literature data.", "C-Glycoside analogs of α-galactosylceramide (KRN7000) were synthesized in 19 linear steps with Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation as a key reaction. Opening of a hydroxy epoxide with sodium azide provided an anti vicinal azido diol with inversion of configuration at the azide-bearing carbon while opening with Ti(O-i-Pr)2(N3)2 gave syn vicinal azido diol with retention. The latter, unusual outcome could be rationalized either by invoking Ti-catalyzed intramolecular double SN2 inversion or by epoxide opening/intramolecular delivery of azide from the Ti complex.", "Three new iridoid glycosides, 4″-O-[(E)-p-coumaroyl]gentiobiosylgenipin (1), 6′-O-[(E)-caffeoyl]deacetylasperulosidic acid methyl ester (2), and 6′-O-[(E)-sinapoyl]gardoside (3), together with seven analogues, 4–10, were isolated from the BuOH extract of the fruits of Gardenia jasminoidesEllis. Their structures were determined by means of spectroscopic analyses, including HR-ESI-MS, IR, and 1H- and 13C-NMR, and 2D experiments (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), and comparison with known related compounds.", "The present invention discloses a deuterated 5-hydroxytryptamine amino glycoside derivative and a preparation method, the present invention is the first time that 5-benzyloxy-indole as a starting material, after the acylation, ammonolysis, reduction deuterium, then debenzylation to give 4-hydroxy -5 color deuterated ammonia, and then after the reaction the amino protecting bromo sugar acids with fully protected, and finally hydrolysed to give the new deuterated ammonia, deuterated 5-hydroxytryptamine glycoside derivatives. Deuterated ammonia, deuterated 5-hydroxytryptamine glycoside derivative of the present invention provides, for studying and using 5-hydroxy-tryptophan metabolic pathway in the human body. Preparation process of the present invention to provide reasonable overall process design, easy to operate, high yield, isotopic abundance up to 98%.", "The preparation of the glycopeptidolipid (GPL) present in the cell wall of Mycobacterium aviumSerovar 4, namely 3,4-di-O-Me-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->1)[R-C(21)H(43)CH(OH)CH(2)CO-D-Phe-[4-O-Me-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->4)-2-O-Me-alpha-L-Fucp-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->2)-6-deoxy-alpha-L-Talp-(1-->3)]-D-allo-Thr-D-Ala-L-Alaol] (1), is described. The synthesis was based on the disconnection of the final structure into four building blocks, an L-rhamnosyl pseudodipeptide, a 6-deoxy-L-talosyl dipeptide, a trisaccharide donor, and a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid. The key steps are the creation of the glycosidic linkage between the trisaccharide donor, used as a pentenyl glycoside, and the 6-deoxy-L-talose unit of an appropriate D-Phe-O-(6-deoxy-L-talosyl)-D-allo-Thr derivative and the final coupling of the two glycodipeptide fragments. Pentenyl glycosides were shown to provide useful donors in several glycosylation steps. This work constitutes the first synthesis of the full structure of a so-called \"polar mycoside C\" GPL.", "Analogues of the dibasic antiarrhythmic agent disobutamide (2) were prepared and evaluated for antiarrhythmic efficacy, myocardial depression, and anticholinergic activity. The replacement of an isopropyl group in disobutamide by an acetyl group led to the monobasic analogue SC-40230, 7a, which demonstrated good antiarrhythmic activity accompanied by less myocardial depressant and anticholinergic activities. In addition, it did not induce clear cytoplasmic vacuoles as did the parent compound. SC-40230 was chosen from among other analogues as a candidate for clinical evaluation. Other compounds prepared and evaluated included indolizidinones and a secondary amine isomer of disobutamide.", "The stem bark and leaves of Daniellia oliveri were screened phytochemically and the effects of their respective methanol extracts on the skeletal muscle of rats were investigated using the isolated phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm muscle preparation. Both were found to contain tannins, cardiac and saponin glycosides. In addition, the bark, but not leaves, contained cyanogenetic glycosides. The methanol extracts were found to possess neuromuscular blocking properties. The leaf extract appeared to act primarily by inhibiting the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) principally by inhibiting K(+) channels. The inhibitory action of the bark extract appeared to be mediated by interference with transmitter release and an action on multiple sites.", "Abstract This review of the 2010 publications on positive inotropic drugs and drugs used in dysrhythmias covers cardiac glycosides, herbal glycosides, and other positive inotropic drugs (milrinone and levosimendan), adenosine and analogues, adenosine receptor agonists, ajmaline, amiodarone, bepridil, cibenzoline, disopyramide, dronedarone, flecainide, mexiletine, and propafenone. Highlights include interactions of digoxin with diuretics, macrolide antibiotics, and metoclopramide; reports of self-poisoning with plants containing cardiac glycosides; and a brief review of different types of respiratory adverse reactions to amiodarone.", "Another new cardenolide glycoside has been isolated from the plantCheiranthus allioni Hort., and has been named glucocheiranthoside. Its chemical structure has been established as 3β-(4′-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-gulmoethylpyranosyloxy)-14-hydroxy-19-oxo-5β,14β-card-20(22)-enolide.", "Abstract The preparation of methyl 3-0-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,4-dideoxy-β- D - erythro - hexopyranoside, a key chiral intermediate for mevinic acids, and its elaboration into four mevinate analogues are described.", "Two unique 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl glycosides, namely, dopaol beta-D-2-ketoglucopyranoside and dopaol beta-D-2,3-diketoglucopyranoside, were isolated from Chelone obliqua together with the iridoid glucoside catalpol, dopaol beta-D-glucopyranoside, descaffeoylverbascoside, and verbascoside. Glycosides with a diketosugar have not so far been isolated from natural sources.", "A novel glycoside anomerization occurred when trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) and zinc bromide were utilized in combination as a catalyst. Treatment of β-glycosides with TMSBr and zinc bromide in the presence of alcohols afforded anomerized products in good yields.", "Corchorus olitorius is a nutritional health care vegetable and medicinal plant.It contains cardiac glycoside,phenolic compounds and coumarins.Advances in the studies of this plant were reviewed from the aspects of constituents and pharmacological effects.Pospective applications were discussed.", "Block synthesis of a fully benzoylated derivative of the pentasaccharide α-d-Manp-(1→3)-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-α-d-Manp-SCH 2 CH 2 CO 2 Me, the glycoside of the repeating unit of the O-antigenic polysaccharide of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae O3, was performed.", "The electron impact (EI) and field ionization (FI) mass spectra of some representative underivatized cardenolides have been studied together for the first time, with the objective of assessing the structural and in particular the sequence information afforded by this promising analytical method. Two series of cardenolides have been examined, each consisting of a mono-, di- and trisaccharide glycoside. The first was based on the aglycone digitoxigenin and comprised neriifolin, thevebioside and cerberoside; the second was based on the genin strophantidin and included cymarin, K-strophantin-β and K-strophantoside. Other cardiac glycosides investigated and discussed include digitoxin and helveticoside. Important and structurally diagnostic fragmentations have been uncovered, especially in FI mode. In addition, the EI and FI spectra of individual components of the cardenolides have been recorded, e.g. the genins digitoxigenin and strophantidin, and the mono-saccharides L-thevetose, D-cymarose and D-glucose.", "1,6-Anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose has been used as the starting material for a synthesis of ethyl (E)-4-C-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-5,7-O-isopropylidene-8-O-methanesulphonyl-2,6-di-C-methyl-D-gulo-oct-2-enoate, which represents a synthetic unit equivalent to C-2/9 of the macrolide antibiotic rosaramycin", "In 95 feline experiments it was established that coronary artery occlusion does not affect the Strophantin lethal dose, but it increases the sensitivity to the arrhythmogenic effect of the cardiac glycoside after 24-48 hours. Premedication of intact animals with such a beta-adrenergic blocking agent as Anapriline (Inderal) significantly increases the toolerance of Strophantin while the stimulation of the beta-adrenergic structures with Isadrine, on the contrary, decreases the arrhythmogenic and lethal dose of Strophantin. In coronary circulation disorders the pharmacological block of the adrenergic heart innervation did not produce any significant reduction of the sensitivity to the cardiac glycoside.", "Novel prostaglandin analogues modified in the omega chain were prepared by the reaction of the vinyl aldehydes 1a--e with a variety of organometallic reagents as a key step of the syntheses. Compared with the natural prostaglandin F2 alpha in antinidatory effect, the analogues 4, 7, and 10 were 40 times more potent and the analogue 11 was 50--100 times more potent in the rat.", "The preparation of 6-deoxy-3-C-methyl-2,3,4-tri-O-metliyl-D-allopyranose (7), a branclied-chain sugar with the same constitution as nogalose from the antibiotic nogalamycin, is described. Condensation of the 1-O-acetyl derivative 8 with 6-chloropurine by the fusion method gave 6-chloro-9-(6′-deoxy-3′-C-methyl-2′,3′,4′-tri-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl)purine (9), which to our knowledge is the first synthetic, purine nucleoside containing a branched-chain sugar with a pyranose ring.", "A new chalcone glycoside, having an allenic ester moiety, was isolated together with chalcononaringenin 2′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from the catkin of Sapium sebiferum. The structure elucidations of chalcone glycosides were based on the analyses of spectroscopic data.", "Laurencin was efficiently synthesized from a C-glycoside derivative based on ring expansion of the oxane part of the starting compound into an eight-membered cyclic ether via a ring-cleavage/ring-closing olefin metathesis process, stereoselective introduction of a bromo group at C4, and convergent construction of the side-chain part using a lithiated enyne unit.", "Effects of soaking using water, ethanol and brine on proximate and cardiac glycoside composition of Thevetia neriifolia seed (TS) were undertaken. Each 100g portion of TS was soaked in either water or ethanol for 24 hours or in 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% brine solution for 2, 3 or 4 hours. The samples were then either sun-dried for 3 days or toasted after soaking and thereafter analyzed for chemical and residual glycoside composition. There were significant (P 0.05). Toasting significantly (P<0.05) reduced the crude protein (CP) in water and ethanol treated samples from19.35% in raw sample to 18.14 and 18.43%, respectively. The CP increased significantly in sun-dried water (22.1%) and brine treated (23.1%) samples. Soaking in 7.5% brine for 3 hours significantly (P<0.05) reduced glycoside content from 4.7% to 0.07% (98.51% reduction of glycoside).", "A new steroidal glycoside, bebrycoside (1), was isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian coral Bebryce indica. The structure of 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR data. This was the first time that the steroidal glycoside was isolated from the genus of Bebryce.", "N1 analogues of formycin B, with substituents at the 3 and 6 positions of the pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine moiety were synthesized by the direct SnCl4-catalyzed ribosylation method. The site of the glycosidic linkage and the anomeric configurations were established on the basis of X-ray crystallography, as well as 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Preliminary results of the antiviral testing of these derivatives in vitro are described.", "The chemical ionization mass spectra of flavonoid glycosides (O-glycosides, C-glycosides and acetylated glycosides) have been investigated. Triethylamine, ethylenediamine, diethylamine, methylamine and ammonia were used as reactant gases. The fragmentation mechanism is discussed, and the perspectives for establishing the molecular weights of glycosides, aid the nature of both the sugar residue and the aglycone, are outlined.", "The method of organotypical cell culture was used. The long-term cell culture of cardiac embryonic tissue of 10-12-days old chicken was investigated. The effects of ouabaine, strophantin K and digoxin on the growth of cardiac tissue explant were measured. The ouabain concentration which stimulates activity of Na+, K+-ATPase as the signal transducer, was determined. It was equal to 10(-10) M. Strophantin K and digoxin stimulate growth of cardiac tissue in concentration equal to 10(-16) M and 10(-18) M, resp. The data obtained show that application of cardiac glycosides led to control of cardiac tissue growth in dose-dependent manner. We hypothesize that alpha3 isoform of Na+, K+-ATPase is a signal transducer that controls the cardiac cell metabolism and growth.", "It has been assumed that a rise in intracellular sodium should follow inhibition of the Na/K exchange pump. However, under certain conditions a reduction in intracellular sodium following pump blockage is possible. Many results postulating ‘stimulation’ of the Na/K exchange pump by low doses of the cardiac glycosides can be explained in this manner.", "The reaction of glycosyl isothiocyanates (1a-c) with acyl or aroyl hydrazine, followed by treatment with Ac2O-H3PO4, afforded 1, 2, 4-triazole-5-thione glycosides (20a, 21a-c, 22a) in fair yields. Attempts to prepare 1, 2, 4-triazole glycoside analogs with acetic anhydride or sodium methoxide failed. The reaction of glycosyl-2-(phenyl-or pyrid-2-ylhydrazine) thiocarboxamides (6a, 7a) with phosgene in pyridine or triethylamine gave thiadiazole-5-thiones (8a, 9a) instead of 1, 2, 4-triazole glycosides.", "Daunorubicin was conjugated with spacered N-glycosides of di- and trisaccharides containing terminal α-l-fucopyranose residues. The synthesis was carried out by N-monoalkylation of daunorubicin hydrochloride (1) in aqueous DMF in the presence of NaHCO3 using N-β-glycoside N-bromoacetylglycyl derivatives, namely, α-l-Fucp-(1→2)-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-NHCOCH2NHCOCH2Br (2a), α-l-Fucp-(1→4)-[β-d-Galp-(1→3)]-β-d-GlcpNAc-NHCOCH2NHCOCH2Br (3a), α-l-Fucp-(1→3)-β-d-GlcpNAc-NHCOCH2NHCOCH2Br (4a), and α-l-Fucp-(1→6)-β-d-GlcpNAc-NHCOCH2NHCOCH2Br (5a). The conjugates of daunorubicin were obtained as hydrochlorides (2b-5b) in 40% yield. Their oligosaccharide components are fragments of H type 5, Lea, Lex antigens and N-fucolglycan, respectively. 0(I) Erythrocytes hemagglutination inhibition assay was performed with conjugates 2b–5b and Ulex europaeus (UEA 1), Lotus tetragonolobus (LTA), and Laburnum anagyroides (LAA) plant fucolectins.", "Postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is a common complication after cardiac surgery and myocardial infarction which is defined as a late developing pleuropericarditis accompanied by a friction rub, elevated inflammation markers and pericardial or pleural effusion. Although almost all of the cases follow a major cardiac operation or myocardial infarction, and are called as postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) and postmyocardial infarction syndrome (PMIS), unusual presentations after minor cardiac insults, have also been reported in the literature. We have described an unusual case of PCIS with typical clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic findings that occurred after a prolonged and complicated stent implantation procedure." ]

[ "Cypriot operator PrimeTel launched a new telephony package that combines fixed and mobile telephony." ]

[ "Montenegrin mobile telephony operator M:tel has introduced the Hello pre-paid package for all users but especially tourists.", "Slovenian mobile operator Mobitel launches a special offer for the deaf and hard of hearing, providing free video telephony on its network to enable sign language communication.", "Mobile operator Telenor Serbia has added new postpaid packages for individual and business subscribers, as well as a package for persons with disabilities.", "UAE operator Du has launched new mobile data bundles available as a one-off package or a monthly recurring subscription.", "Georgian mobile operator Geocell launched a new starter package.", "TELEHOUSE America now offers a new suite of solutions specifically packaged for online gaming companies and operators.", "S Tel, one of the new entrants in the Indian mobile telephony space, Friday said it has achieved financial closure for its Rs.2,000-crore project and that it would start rolling out services this year.", "City-based software developer Geodesic on Tuesday launched Spokn, an internet telephony service, which allows making phone-to-phone and PC-to-phone calls across the world at a cheaper rate.", "Voiceserve, a provider of next-generation internet telephony software and services, has introduced its VoIP mobile dialer for Blackberry cellular phones.", "Warid Telecom has introduced new post-paid packages that include greater convenience, maximum value, free SMS bundles and up to 40 per cent savings on call rates.", "Mobile broadband access and telephony products manufacturer Dovado has launched its LTE capable USB router Tiny.", "A new can production line worth EUR 35 million was officially launched in the Belgrade production plant of Ball Packaging Europe on Friday.", "VTLWaveNet, part of the Viatel group, has launched its Carrier Ethernet product, the Ethernet Virtual Private Line service.", "NEC has showcased its best in class telephony solutions to educate and empower partners through concluded a series of road shows in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata & Hyderabad.", "Skype has launched a new prepaid calling card, with Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsbury's and WHSmith stocking the product.", "China is set to launch a new fiscal stimulus package worth as much as 2 trillion yuan, Credit Suisse said yesterday.", "Foodservice distributor 3663 has launched a new ``softer, warmer'' logo which will begin to appear on packaging, vehicles and promotional literature over the coming months.", "Qdata Solutions introduces a new range of wireless phone jacks designed to help users add one or more extensions to their communication lines.", "Orange Armenia launched 'Simple,' a new prepaid tariff for both new customers as well as existing end-users of 'Let's Talk' prepaid voice services.", "ESPN has launched Watch ESPN in Brazil, a product designed to add value to operators' broadband services and gain new pay-TV subscriptions with ESPN packages.", "Cosmote Romania launched new 'Connect Mobile' data add-ons for both postpaid as well as prepaid customers.", "Northwest Essay, known for its economical and efficient editing of college application essays, introduced two new editing packages for college, graduate school and professional school applicants: a holistic editing package, and a rush editing package.", "Alfa, the mobile operator, announces that it has introduced a new edition of Alfa recharge cards, a combination of 4 recharge cards in just one package.", "Sercel has launched a new generation of UNITE, its industry-leading cableless acquisition system, as well as a new geophone sensor, the SG-5.", "UPC Netherlands is extending the reach of its internet, digital TV and telephony services to the municipalities of Geldermalsen, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, New Lekkerland and Ruurlo.", "Emap Radio has launched a recruitment service offering fully integrated local radio and online recruitment advertising packages.", "Portuguese mobile telephony operator TMN has launched the SMS location service, which allows users to locate themselves on a map and add that information to a text message, e-mail or social networks.", "Semiconductor company Texas Instruments has launched an advanced IP phone platform called the TNETV107x family that enables IP phone manufacturers to deliver enhanced service to the user.", "Telenity, a leading provider of next generation converged services platforms and applications for communications networks, announced today a new suite of integrated personalized call management services enabling communications between different environments including voice call, voice mail, missed call, video call, video mail and messaging services.", "Nortel has enhanced its portfolio of carrier VoIP services with the latest release of the Communication Server 1500 solution, which adds new communication services like a subscriber web portal and on-demand conferencing.", "On 17 May the Polish mobile operator Polkomtel will introduce a new pre-paid offer called Plus on Card, reports Media2.pl.", "Estonian mobile services provider EMT has revised its Topeltpluss rewards programme, aimed at postpaid users who pay their bills on time." ]

[ "3500 Lakhs. Chiefly South Asian Ten million: worth three crore fifty lakh rupees; a cost of over several crores. Therefore, 25 lakhs equals 2,500,000 rupees. Result window." ]

[ "What is fifteen lakhs in millions? - Quora. The above number is simply ten lakhs. So fifteen million is equal to one and a half million or simply 1.5 million. How many lakhs are equal to 1 million?", "15 lakhs is also known as 1.5 million. 1 million is equal to 10 lakhs. So, 15 lakhs have five (05) zeros. Five.", "There are 10, 10 lakhs in one crore. Hence 10*10 lakh equals 100 crore.", "1 million is equivalent to 10 lakhs and 100 lakhs is equal to 1 crore. 6 million (or 6,000,000) is therefore equal to 0.6 crores (60 lakhs).", "25 lakh; for a Small enterprise the investment needs to be between Rs. 25 lakhs and 5 crore; for a Medium scale enterprise the investment should be in the range of Rs. 5 crore and Rs. 10 crores.", "So, there are 1,000 hundreds in one lakh. A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand.", "One Lakh Crores equal to One Trillion. Dose 1,000 crores in rupees=1 trillion rupees?", "A lakh (/læk, lɑːk/; abbreviated L; sometimes written Lac or Lacs) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; scientific notation: 105). ... In Pakistan, the word lakh is used mostly in local languages rather than in English media.", "So, a thousand is hazar; a hundred hazar is a lakh; a hundred lakh a crore; and, a hundred crore is an arab. So, a million in urdu is das lakh, a billion in urdu is arab i.e. 1 billion equals to 1 arab and 1 million Pakistani rupees is equals to 10 lakh.", "1 billion is equal to how many lakhs? - Quora. i.e, 1,00,000. i.e, 1,000,000,000. 1 billion = 10,000 lakhs.", "1200/sq. ft one decade ago. according to new mapdanda cost of building one story haouse in 4 ana land is 45 lakhs , add 25 lakh more on every storey u add so cost of building 4 storey house is 45+25 + 25 +25 lakh .", "A simple idea: The Indian Numbering System There are three special numbers in the Indian numbering system – lakh, crore, and arab. A lakh is 1,00,000, 1 , 00 , 000 , a crore is equal to a hundred lakhs and is expressed as 1,00,00,000. An arab is 100 crores and is expressed as 1,00,00,00,000.", "i.e, 1,00,000. i.e, 1,000,000,000. 1 billion = 10,000 lakhs. Alternatively 100 lakhs is equal to 1 crore according to Indian numbering system.", "A crore (/krɔːr/; abbreviated cr) or koti denotes ten million (10,000,000 or 107 in scientific notation) and is equal to 100 lakh in the Indian numbering system as 1,00,00,000 with the local style of digit group separators (a lakh is equal to one hundred thousand and is written as 1,00,000).", "10 million (or 10,000,000) is therefore equal to 1 crores (100 lakhs).", "1 Lakh = 100,000 so it has 5 zeros. 1 Million = 1,000,000 it has 6 zeros. 1 Crore = 10,000,000 it has 7 zeros.", "One Lakh = 1,00,000 has 5 zeros, One hundred = 100 has 2 zeros. So, One lakhs has 1000 hundreds.", "Answer: One crore (1,00,00,000) is equal to one hundred lakh (10,000 × 1,000). Thus, 10,000 thousands make a crore.", "So, a million in urdu is das lakh, a billion in urdu is arab i.e. 1 billion equals to 1 arab and 1 million Pakistani rupees is equals to 10 lakh.", "1 billion (or 1000 million) is equivalent to 100 crores. If converted to lakhs, 1 billion would be 10,000 lakhs. 1 billion (or 1000 million) is therefore equal to 100 crores (10000 lakhs). 1,000,000,000 INR is equal to 13,590,000 USD @ 73.58 Indian rupees to 1 US dollar.", "For amounts between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 25 plus GST per transaction. In case of RTGS transactions, ICICI Bank charges Rs 25 plus GST per transaction of an amount between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. For amounts between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, the bank charges Rs 50 plus GST per RTGS transaction.", "Crore word is mainly used in south asian countries e.g India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. In terms of currency it is equal to 10 millions and one million is nothing but 10 hundred thousand. One crore is also equivalent to 100 lakhs and one lakh is equal to one hundred thousand.", "Udyog Aadhaar MSME registration – for a Microenterprise, the investment in plant and machinery should not exceed Rs . 25 lakh; for a Small enterprise the investment needs to be between Rs. 25 lakhs and 5 crore; for a Medium scale enterprise the investment should be in the range of Rs. 5 crore and Rs.", "1 lakh = ten thousand (tens) which has 10000 with 1 zero.", "Investment Requirement To start a petrol pump, the applicant must show the ability to invest a minimum of Rs. 25 lakhs in case of regular petrol pumps and Rs. 12 lakhs in case of rural petrol pumps.", "2 lakhs is written as 2,00,000. There are 5 zeros after the number to represent a lakh.", "As 1 billion is 100 crore and 1000 billion is 1 trillion. Therefore 100 times 1000 crore is 1 trillion which is 1 lakh crore. Originally Answered: How many lakhs are in one crore? A lakh is equal to one hundred thousand and is written as 1,00,000.", "The cost of lifts varies according to their capacity and sophistication. While manual lifts cost a minimum of Rs 3.50 lakh, automatic ones are priced from Rs 8 lakh onwards up to Rs 25 lakh.", "25,000,000.00 USD = 1,888,007,500.00 INR Here you are getting today's value of twenty five million US Dollar to Indian Rupee .", "25% of 30% of 45% is equal to__________? - PakMcqs. 25% of 30% of 45% is equal to__________?", "I want to tell that the “one Sikh is equal to 1.25 lakh people” quote is not to be taken literally. It was uttered by Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji to instill courage and fearlessness into the 40 Sikhs who were fighting against heavily numbered Mughals.", "As per the revised rates, if land cost as per collector rates is more than Rs 25 lakh but does not exceed Rs 30 lakh, the fee will be Rs 15,000, if it exceeds Rs 30 lakh but does not exceed Rs 40 lakh, then the revised fee would be Rs 20,000, if it exceeds Rs 40 lakh but is less than Rs 50 lakh, then the revised fee ..." ]

[ "Drawing a bead That hugely popular office time-waster, the USB Missile Launcher, has been upgraded again, this time with an integrated webcam and the ability to be targeted using Microsoft's MSN instant messaging app.…" ]

[ "Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Good news, office warfare fans - the USB Missile Launcher is back, in a new, flashier wireless version that makes for the strategic siting of remote batteries.…", "A multitalented mouse and a Webcam designed expressly for notebooks are among the newly launched peripherals.", "the malicious program is capable of switching on webcams, allowing the author to literally peek into victims&#39; lives.", "A worm that has the capability to using webcams to spy on users is circulating across the Net.", "Sophos released a warning yesterday about a worm that has the capability to use webcams to spy on computer users in their home or workplace.", "A new computer virus, which is capable of switching on webcams, allowing the author to peep into people&#39;s lives, is doing the rounds.", "An old anti-tank missile launcher was found Friday on a lawn in Jersey City, just across the river from lower Manhattan.", "Virus writers have developed a &#39;Peeping Tom&#39; worm that can use webcams to spy on computer users in their home or workplace, internet security watchers have warned.", "A Navy heat-seeking missile is getting its first real-world use in an attempt to demolish a crippled U.S. spy satellite before the orbiting craft falls back to Earth.", "A missile from an Israeli aircraft killed a Palestinian militant in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after he was spotted near a rocket launcher, local residents and the Israeli military said.", "Any which way you cam... Review The Optia AF is Creative's 13th webcam branded under its Live! banner, but the first to feature both an auto-focus lens and a two-megapixel image sensor.…", "Missile strike kills two in Gaza as Israel targets rocket launchers.", "Asia-Pacific powers, gearing up for a weekend summit, vowed to keep mobile missile launchers out of terrorist hands and to curb nuclear proliferation by &quot;axis of evil&quot; members North Korea and Iran.", "Hits replay on CD debacle A USB fingerprint authentication device from Sony contains rootkit-like technology, according to security watchers. The MicroVault USM-F fingerprint reader software bundled with the stick installs a hidden directory under Windows.…", "The dictionary module has been integrated into the word processor and is also a stand-alone application in the Works Task Launcher. A thesaurus has been included, as well as the option to set parental controls.", "Preparations for Arianespace Flight 165 marked another milestone this week as the mission's six auxiliary payloads were integrated on the Ariane 5 launcher.", "Under a nearly full moon, rebel fighters leapt on to the sand from the back of their battle-wagon; a Toyota pick-up truck with a machine gun on its cab and an anti-tank missile launcher slung from the wing mirror.", "A millionaire British arms dealer is reportedly fuelling a bloody civil war in Sudan by arranging to supply its government with tanks, rocket launchers and a cruise missile.", "Keep clutter at bay with a Sellotape dispenser/USB hub Reminiscent of something you might find in the workshop of a mad inventor, the latest in the equip-everything-with-USB craze, according to Akihabara News, is the USB Sellotape dispenser, made by a Hong Kong-based company called Earth-Trek.…", "The Army has been using a new weapon that combines software with imagery beamed from satellites to make missions somewhat less unpredictable.", "roundup Plus: Macromedia offers Flash video tool...UTStarcom wins Indian IP gear contract...Microsoft tightens Windows-mainframes link.", "The U.S. Navy could shoot down an errant spy satellite as early as Wednesday night. Now a new computer model shows what might happen.", "A PEEPING Tom virus that allows hackers to turn on a computer&#39;s webcam and microphone and spy on users is spreading through the Internet and local computer networks.", "A New Jersey resident found what was described to her as a \"missile launcher\" in her Jersey City front yard on Friday, but police said the 20-year-old weapon was no longer a hazard to public safety.", "This state-of-the-art spy helicopter features its own computer, a digital camera and Bluetooth wireless technology so it can transmit instant pictures.", "What stands out in Logitech’s new QuickCam Ultra Vision Webcam is the picture it produces.", "The latest version of the Rbot worm contains features that allow malicious hackers to easily turn on the webcam and microphone of infected Windows computers, effectively allowing them to spy on their victims, according to an anti-virus firm.", "In an interview this morning from Buenos Aires with BetaNews, Core Security Chief Technology Officer Iván Arce described a scenario whereby a malicious user could be able to trigger AOL's Instant Messenger into launching Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 Web browser, and then send it commands that enable that user to wrest full remote control of the AIM user's system.", "Cottage industries, start your webcams.", "Slingshot has been selected as the official Broadband partner for DesktopTV, the first on-demand multimedia site, to deliver coverage of the 2007, 32nd America's Cup races in Valencia direct to desktops.", "Webcams Don't your video chat friends deserve more than a fixed shot of your mug from your PC's webcam?", "USB to the rescue Stress gets to us all, but until now there have been only three outlets: going for a ciggie, squeezing a stress toy or punching your boss. But now you can press the red button and bring all your stress to an end with the USB stress panic button.…" ]

[ "It's more like the white girls want some of this! What are you going to do? I have girls, girls, girls, they just burn up my phone." ]

[ "you could do like a black and white theme!!!!! this theme is really cool if you have like a graduation party/dance. where all the tuxes and dresses have to be black & white. it is really pretty to!", "\" opposing and complimentary forces in taoism\\nthey represent a balance, like man and woman, black and white, good and evil etc.\" The only thing he forgot is that if you look at YinYang there is some black in the white and some white in the black.This of course symbolizes that there are no absolutes that we contain allof the elements within us.And we each balance them as best we can", "The beautifull and only Juventus...Black and White forever fan!", "absorption is the opposite of reflection ... black surfaces do not reflect light, colored surfaces only reflect the wavelengths of their color and white surfaces reflect all wavelengths.", "White holes were initially hypothesized by Stephen Hawking (who wrote a Brief History of Time), based on quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics theory states that for everything, there is an opposite. So there is matter and ant-matter, for example. That means if black holes exist, there must be white holes, regions from which particles are emitted but no particle can ever enter. However, in a momentous physics finding, Mr. Hawking later proved that black holes actually DO emit certain types of radiation. Apparently, once matter goes into a black hole, it is transferred to energy and is emitted by radiation, making use of Einstein's E=MC^2 rule. So, since black holes are not really black, many believe that white holes do not exist. In addition, we have \"seen\" black holes in space (areas of matter that swirl into blackness), but have seen nothing like a white hole.", "An iPod is basically an mp3 player which can hold a different number of songs (depending on the model and size of the memory). Since the term \"iPod\" can be used to describe the line of the product, I'll break it down into three of the basic ones: iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, and iPod Video.\\n\\nThe Shuffle is about the size of a pack of chewing gum. It has no screen or search wheel (a feature found on the other iPods). Two versions are the 512MB (which holds 120 songs - $69) and the 1GB (which holds 240 songs - $99). It only comes in a white color.\\n\\nThe Nano is the newest member to the iPod family. It's VERY slim and lightweight. It features a color screen, and the ability to import pictures from your computer. There are 3 versions: 1GB (holds 240 songs - $149), 2GB (holds 500 songs - $199), and the 4GB (holds 1000 songs - $249). It comes in white and black.\\n\\nThe iPod Video (or just plain ol' \"iPod\") is the main product of the line. It's about as slim as the Nano, but it can load video, pictures, and songs. It comes in two versions: 30GB (holds 7500 songs - $299) and the 60GB (holds 15,000 songs - $399). It comes in black and white.\\n\\nThe songs are not free... unless you steal them from an peer to peer program like Limewire or BearShare.", "One possible explanation (but not the only one) hearkens back to the practice of certain lodges and other organizations counting votes by using black or white balls that were dropped into a ballot box. It was especially used when a new candidate for membership in the organization was being presented. White balls meant the candidate got in, and black balls meant a vote against them. If a candidate got a certain amount of black balls in their box (in some groups, even one black ball would do the trick), the candidate was rejected...hence, blackballed.", "i would just make that the same color as your background. if you have a white back ground make the text white. black for black, etc. to do that go to www.mygen.co.uk and make your profile.", "I don't think it is a matter of skin color as much as it is a matter of culture. The black culture today is in transition, a lot like the Irish culture when they first moved here. Now please understand that I do not feel that low test scores and joblessness is due to white racism. I think the white scape goat has been kicked long enough and it is time to step up to education, denounce welfare of any type, and demand higher standards. While all people are equal in the eyes of the Lord, not all cultures are equal across the board. Some cultures place a higher value on education and hard work. The high test scores of the Asian community show this. They work their butts off and are leading past white, blacks, others. Their culture has a higher value on education. The black culture does not stress education as much, but I do not feel this is going to last forever. Slowly all cultures seem to mix into this culutral melting pot until there really is only an American culture. You know your there when you don't think of yourself as a 'white' American or a 'black' American or a 'brown' American, but just as an American. Other peoples when they first came to this country remained segregated by choice for a long time. But, over time they slowly began to mix until they weren't focused on diversity as much as they were unity. We really need to work on getting to that point and the only way will be able to do that is by candour. Honest and true discussion. White people need to stop worrying about being called a racist when they present a critque on someone who is black or on black culture in general. If equality is the goal then equality to be called out on our wrong-doings is part of the package. \\n\\nI do feel that racism is still a problem, but I don't feel that it is as much of a white problem as it is a black problem now. After reading the book \"The Ten Things You Can't Say in America\" by Larry Elders(not that it should matter, but yes he is black) I really began to notice how true this really is. At the top of his list is, \"Black are more racist then whites\". He then goes on to do what most people don't do, he uses facts and statistics to back up his arguement. \\n\\nDefinately many problems face the black culture, but unlike other countries, they don't have to face them alone. In America where all in it together, like it or not. And I honestly believe that is what makes this country the greatest country in the world, in part our diversity, but primarily our unity.", "IN THE 1950'S THERE WASN'T TOO MANY WHITE COLLEGES THAT RECRUITED BLACK ATHLETES MOST ATTENDED HISTORICLY BLACK COLLEGES LIKE MORGAN STATE, HOWARD, MOREHOUSE, TUSKSUGEE, NC A&T WHITE SCHOOLS DIDN'T THINK BLACK ATHLETES WERE SMART ENOUGH TO ATTEND THIER SCHOOLS", "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Great classic black and white movie with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison. If you haven't seen it and you like old black and whites you should rent it. It's a great enjoyable classic!", "Infection with HPV usually does not cause symptoms. Most HPV infections are latent, meaning the virus is present but is not multiplying or producing any signs of infection. Visible genital warts appear only during active infection. (However, you may spread the virus even if you do not have warts.) Warts may look like tiny bunches of cauliflower or like flat, white areas that may be difficult to see.", "There are plenty of artists just like him, except they are all black. He's just another white guy that doesn't want to be white and really doesn't do anything special. All he needs is some anger management and then he wouldn't have anything to rap about.", "Jersey: Red, White & Black\\nShorts: White with black stripes down the side\\nStockings: Red with black trim", "That is not a question that anyone can answer now. We do not live in that time era, nor do we know what their thoughts were or the people that sold them to the white people. All we can do is speculate which is wrong because we have no clue as to what was said, done, or accomplished by what means at the time. We only know by 3rd and 4th hand word if not more and even second hand word isn't allowed in a court of law.\\nWhat bothers me is that there is still so much hatred. I don't even see that among the Jews and the Germans and look at what Hitler and the Nazi's did to the Jews. They actually live together in the same area without all this hatred that continues between the blacks and whites. What was done to the black people was wrong just like what was done to the Jews was wrong, but continuing to hate either blacks or whites accomplishes two things - more hatred and more prejudice.", "Hmm, that's a slightly controversial one, but not nearly as much as say, er, other stuff, so I'll jump in. Why not? ^_^\\n\\nIt may depend slightly on the type of affirmative action you're talking about, but in general I don't feel that it's right. Especially relating to job acquisition, this is a bad idea. If a white guy applies for a job and a black (forgive the terms, but \"white\" and \"black\" DO take less time to type...although this sentence kinda already made that a useless excuse...but meh) guy applies for the same job, and the white guy is more qualified but they take the black guy because they have to \"meet quota\" or they \"don't want to appear rascist,\" then that both hurts the economy as well as being a bad moral practice. Also, if the place those two were applying at WAS just trying to \"meet a quota,\" and later the same white guy tries to apply and another black guy of slightly lesser qualifications also applies (please don't infer that I'm saying that non-white people are less skilled; this is merely an example), they are going to hire the white guy, or at least they should, as he meets the criteria better (not because he's white; I stated that his qualifications are better for the purposes of this example). Anyway, if the second black guy is technically more skilled than the first black guy, then the end result in this situation is that a white guy and a black guy were hired, but the company could have had a better black guy, and the black guy that had mre qualifications did not get the job he could have had if the company had hired on what I think is a moral basis: ability. And yes, this is a very far fetched example. However, hiring on the basis of race is completely unjustified. I also think hiring on the basis of need is unjustified, which of course immediately leads me to the aforementined race conclusion. If a person really needs a job, then they need to convince their employer that they can do a darn good job of it. Thing is, if they really need it, they will try harder to get it AND will work harder at it, which will make them at least in part better cantidates for employment. I hope that this made sense; I tend to ramble a lot. Anyway, I'm gonna move on to education.\\n\\nAs for education, there are a lot of grants out there, and I have seen stats about how African Americans and Hispanics (hmmmm, I chose to type it out NOW, but not in the earlier...oh well) are oftentimes at a disadvantage in paying for school compared to white people. However, I really feel that we should not be labeling people like that. there are white people I'm sure that are in just as dire straights as some of the people who apply for \"race-only\" scholarships. I think scholarships should be based on merit and need. If the people of certain races really are more needy, and they are willing to get the grades or reccomendations (and/or write good scholarship application essays), then they should get those scholarships anyway. As it is, white people who need scholarship money are having to compete with everybody for them, but other races can enter both into \"everyone\" scholarships as well as scholarships that are only for their race. Also, having quotas for letting other races into colleges can be hurtful to the people who actually try to get good grades. I'm not saying that white people always get better grades or anything like that, but if say for one year the applicants at a university are a little more slim on the \"non-white\" side, and the \"white\" side is better qualified to get in, the unbiversity may still have to \"meet quota,\" which is not necessarily PUNISHING ability, but is certainly not rewarding it. If people are not rewarded for their ability and work, then something is wrong. If minorities want to get into college, then they should (and many do of course) work h", "A white hole is a proposed celestial body which ejects matter into space-time. It can be considered the exact opposite of a black hole. Many models suggest that the 'shape' of a black hole is somewhat like a tunnel. White hole theories take this one step further and suggest that matter which falls into a black hole is ejected at the 'other end' by the white hole. Some theorize (although this is mostly the realm of science fiction) that white holes open into other universes. To date, no object meeting the description of a white hole have ever been recorded.", "Before jumping on the backs of your friends in a pro-diversity-rage, I'd suggest looking at how you talk about your black friends. Do you make a big deal of the fact that they are black? Are you friends with your black friends JUST because they are black? This is probably not the case, but on the other hand, I've seen this happen. Some white people get so attached to the idea of having black friends that they try to reach an unspoken quota of black friends and then brag about it to their white friends. Naturally, that gets really annoying, both for the black people and the white friends.", "The cap is called a Yamicka and is used as a show of respect to God. The most common colors are black and white, but they can actually be any color or combo of colors. But a Rabbi alone wears only black or white all the time. In the Jewish faith it is important to cover the crown of the head, in that faith only God is 'King' so men cover their 'crown' out of respect to the one true 'King'.", "I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO TRUELY FIND OUT IS BY ASKING HIM..ITS HARD TO BUT THATS REALLY THE ONLY WAY...JUST FLAT OUT ASK HIM..DO YOU LIKE ME AS MORE THAN A FRIEND??", "I was horse mad when I was growing up. I watched this movie so many times. Maybe you can settle something for me, I caught the tail end of the movie on cable a couple of months ago and I was surprised to find it was in colour. I only remember it being black and white (or maybe we only had a black and white TV when I watched it LOL!)", "They're both sitting on black wrought iron chairs at a small black wrought iron table, on it is a white tablecloth. They're dressed in the same black dress and elbow length white gloves. They both have a small cake in front of them. Both of the cakes are chocolate with a white frosting on it. Marilyn Monroe has her face buried her cake, eating it like her life depends on it. While Audrey Hepburn is eating her cake slowly with a fork and her pinky raised.", "One of the neatest things you can do is to show people what a magnetic field looks like. The only difficult part is that you need some iron filings. It doesn't take a lot; a teaspoon or so is enough. Find a piece of scrap iron, put it in a vise, and file it with a fairly fine file until you collect what you need. (You can use a magnet to collect the filings, but choose one that's easy to clean off like a flat one, because they do stick.)\\nNext take a piece of poster board and glue some magnets to it. If the board has only one white side, glue the magnets to the non-white side. Pick a variety, like horseshoe, ring and bar magnets. Now turn the board over and sprinkle the filings sparingly on the white side. You'll see the \"lines of force\" that define the field. They'll be in interesting patterns. Try not to let the filings get under the board and stuck on the magnets. That's it!", "Best heat transfer should occur with a good thermal conductor like copper, to carry the absorbed heat away, coated with a thin heat-conducting layer of flat black, may be an oxide of copper.", "because they do not reflect the heat or light,like dark trees absorb heat and light or white barked one ,like birch reflect the radiation or heat.\\nwhite roofs are cool underneath they reflect the sun,black roofs are hot they absorb. the heat", "The only way to add color to black and white photos is to have someone with artistic ability redraw color back onto the image. It takes time.", "I think we are in a black hole mechanism. The universe can disappear by degrees into a black hole or holes, but similarly, it reappears in what they call \"white holes\". White holes have been seen very far away, and by the rules of this universe, very far back in time. Who is to say, however, that time is not fluid, and only has to move in one direction? I think that the material that goes into black holes reappears way back in time in the white holes, that the whole \"time\" concept is fluid and adaptable, and the multiple universes are all this one.", "Try to clean the white dust from a black car with a white towel, and you will see, that the dust turns black. Actually, the dust is grey, with some parts dark grey, nearly black, others light grey, nearly white.", "Its not only the white kids, there are few brown kids who are neither black nor white from asia who act like West coast. This culture has become too popular. their lives are more regulat than a machine and the issue here is that it dosent suit them well. Its influence is too much.But its gonna die someday of oldage like any other culture.", "what color are the pinstripes if its white then wear a nice dressy white blouse if you have a nice black blazer (jacket) that will also look nice over the shirt as well but if not the white blouse will do just fine.", "Simple do not goto church. Learn to think for yourself and stop letting some guy in a black outfit with a white collar and his boss a guy in a white outfit with a white hat tell you how to do things\\n\\nThey are all the same.", "St. Peter smiled and said to the zebra, \"Well then, that answers it.... you are a white horse with black stripes.\" The zebra questioned St.Peter further, \"But, HOW do you know that?\"\"Because,\"said St. Peter, \" You see, if you were a black horse with white stripes, God would have replied, \"You is what you is...\"" ]

[ "I would disagree with the assertion that Africa was anything, ever. The continent is huge, full of diverse cultures and ethnicities, and blanket statements such as yours are better avoided. Africa is not monolithic, as is the same with every continent and its peoples." ]

[ "_URL_0_ > \"deliberate killing of oneself,\" 1650s, from Modern Latin suicidium \"suicide,\" from Latin sui \"of oneself\" (genitive of se \"self\"), from PIE *s(u)w-o- \"one's own,\" from root *s(w)e- (see idiom) + -cidium \"a killing\" (see -cide). So basically, 'suicidium' in Latin literally means 'A killing of oneself'", "Several polities did in fact control northern Africa and southern Europe at once. * Carthage controlled both Spain and north Africa. * Rome defeated Carthage in the Punic wars and would hold Spain, Gaul, Italy, and Africa from coast to coast. * The Umayyads conquered North Africa and Spain (with a bit of modern France)", "You'd get the same cross-linguistic benefit by learning a modern Romance language, and/or by learning the meanings behind all the Latin roots in English (depending on what kind of benefit you're talking about).", "This is just a quick overview but should get you started: Lions lived in southern Europe well into historical times and were documented by the Greeks and Romans, and the Romans encountered lions in their adventures in Africa and some were brought back to Rome. Quick source: _URL_0_ I hate linking to Wikepedia but that is a good page to get started with. It stands to reason that other cats such as leopards were encountered in the same way. Panthers on the other hand are not native to Europe, being a new world species, and I doubt you would see reference to them in European culture until the 1500's at least.", "Africa *was* what the Roman called the region which roughly lies where Tunisia is today, and that definition later expanded out to designate the whole landmass south of the Mediterranean. Similarily, Asia was originally was what the Greeks called the region east of the Aegean sea. However it's important to note that we don't quite know the origin of these names. They could very well have their origin in indigenous names of peoples/tribes/areas/places in Africa or Asia respectively. I also don't know what really \"indigenous\" would mean in this context. Africa is a vast continent with many languages, and I doubt many (if any at all) would know about the concept of \"the continent Africa\" before modern times. Finally. What language would \"Alkebulan\" be in? My guess is that Alkebulan would be one of many names for a, to the \"inventing\" people, known landmass *in* what is nowadays defined as Africa.", "\"Gay\" had almost entirely transitioned into a (gender neutral) euphemism for promiscuity by the late 1800's (though its promsicuous overtone appears in literature all the way back to Chaucer in the 1600's) and was more generally co-opted by the homosexual community in the early 1900's. So the \"happy\" meaning has been a secondary sense for quite a while. [Citation](_URL_0_)", "> but what kept them from just sailing along the coast of the Red Sea Nothing. They did sail down the coast of East Africa, and roman artifacts have been found in the Rufiji river delta in Tanzania. A Greek language document called the *Peripleus of the Erythraen Sea* written in 1st century Alexandria describes the coast of East Africa and mentions several ports, which modern scholars are debating the location of. [Here is a recent post I wrote](_URL_0_) that covers Roman and post-Roman contact with Africa, with links to sources.", "hi! there have been several posts on homosexuality during the middle ages; you may find these of interest * [How did homosexual people in the Middle ages, in Europe (be it peasants or nobles) find other homosexual people if it was so frowned upon? I'm sure they didn't have Grindr, so what did they do?](_URL_9_) * [Are there any noteworthy example of tolerance towards homosexuality in the Medieval Age?](_URL_9_) * [During Medieval Europe, how taboo was incest and homosexuality comparatively, and to what extent if at all?](_URL_7_) * [Are there any medieval rulers that we know were homosexual?](_URL_8_) * [Were monasteries/ nunneries for gay people?](_URL_8_) * [Is there any evidence of homosexual activity amongst medieval European monks?](_URL_7_) * [Medieval monks and homosexuality](_URL_9_) These posts have been archived, so if you have follow-up questions, just ask them here & notify the relevant user by mentioning their username", "No, we're pretty sure he was homosexual. His behavior throughout his life firmly established he never had a romantic interest in women. The evidence pointing towards an early infatuation, or even romance, with Gallet Grindewald, although circumstantial, is far stronger than any evidence pointing towards any heterosexual relationships. Further, I must add that modern analysis in *disfavor* of a homosexual Dumbledore is more in line with the Blood Purist agenda.", "What type of cancer? Over what timeframe? Cancer rates have risen since the 1800's because modern medicine lets us live longer. Lung cancer rates have risen since the 1950's because of smoking. Stomach cancer rates have fallen because of treatments for chronic stomach infections.", "Pretend there is one dimension with two molecules, one travelling right at 2m/s, one travelling left at 2m/s. If we take the average: 2+(-2)=0, so the average speed is 0. If we take the root means square: 2^2 + 2^2 (square) = 8, divided by 2 = 4 (mean), sqrt(4)=2 (root). So it allows you to ignore the direction element of velocity.", "hi! you may be interested in responses to these earlier posts * [What validity (if any) is there to the allegations that James Buchanan was our first gay President?](_URL_0_) * [J. Edgar Hoover, James Buchanan, Alexander Hamilton and Eleanor Roosevelt: Is there any truth to the speculation that any or all of them were gay?](_URL_1_) * [has there been a(multiple) homosexual american presidents?](_URL_3_) * [Is there any substantial evidence to the claim that President James Buchanan was gay?](_URL_2_) if you have follow-up questions on locked posts, ask them here; page the relevant user(s) by including their username(s)", "The modern english language is very different from it's original form. Only about 35% of the words we use today are actually original english (anglo-saxon). The rest of the words that are now modern english come directly from French, Latin, Greek, and Norse. Historically there were many similar sounds to an \"S\" in all of these languages yet slightly different. Anything from what we would call an \"S\" or a \"SH\" or \"TH\" or a \"C\" and the list goes on and on. All of these similar yet different sounds evolved over hundreds of years and were simplified into what we now just call one S sound. Spelling has also dramatically evolved. All the words that used to be represented with thier own unique letter combinations are simply now just a plain old \"S\" to us.", "If you'd like to watch documentaries, all of the episodes of BBC4's Lost Kingdoms of Africa series and PBS' Wonders of the African World are available on YouTube.", "Your phone runs an operating system, just like any computer. All modern operating systems have user accounts. Usually, you can differentiate between regular users and administrator accounts. Administrator accounts have privileges that regular accounts don't have. Android is based on Linux operating system. In Linux, the user account with maximum privileges is called 'root'. By default, your android runs on a non-administrator account, so you don't have the right to used your phone to do whatever you want... only what the manufacturer wants you to do. 'Rooting' is the process of getting around security measures to make your phone run with 'root' privileges. Once you have 'root' access, you're free to do what you want with your phone.", "During the Siege of Tobruk (North Africa, 1941. Australia plus some Commonwealth and Poles vs Germans and Italians) it wasn't uncommon, in fact it was somewhat common, for a truce to be declared after a battle to clear the battlefield of the dead and wounded. Medics and doctors from both sides would treat any wounded soldier they came across regardless of which side they were on. As Rommel said about the war in North Africa, \"Krieg ohne Hass,\" which means, \"War without hate.\"", "It's formulaic songs by numbers. The music isn't 'bad', it's just not creative. They are a very prominent example of what people don't like about modern music. They have taken something that's supposed to be meaningful and artistic and turned it into a lowest common denominator cash cow. They are really, really good at it, so they get the lion's share of the hate.", "In Semitic languages such as Arabic and Hebrew, words are derived from a three of four letter [root](_URL_0_). Muslim and Islam are Arabic words which are both derived from the same root s-l-m. Specifically, \"Muslim\" means \"one who submits\" while \"Islam\" means \"submission\". _URL_1_", "Xylophone and xenophobe are derived from Greek, where the X made a sound like \"Ks\". S, ksenophobe, ksylophone - > closest English language sound - > zenophobe, zylophone. It's done to preserve the Greek spelling and thus the link to the Greek roots and the canon writings from which we derive the roots and words.", "> If the Out-Of-Africa hypothesis is true [The theory is strongly supported by genetic studies.](_URL_1_) > where in Africa did we evolve? Modern [Ethiopia](_URL_2_) or Kenya > we evolved such that the population in only one/ a few regions survived? It is thought that humans went down to an effective population size of 1-5,000 [individuals](_URL_0_) about 50-70Kya. This theory came about based on the lack of genetic diversity in modern humans.", "According to [wikipedia](_URL_0_), all of the words trace back to the same proto-indo-eurpoean root word. The Old English ancestors of who, whom, whose, what and why did not have their modern meanings and instead were just inflections, based on grammar role and gender, of a single word hwā.", "Since the subreddit ban wave (Fatpeople hate ect.) reddit decided she was satan, and never really came back from that. Some people believe she's commercializing reddit and steering it away from its roots. Personally I don't think we have the information to read her character one way or the other.", "There's always room for discussion, but perhaps these previous topics will answer your inquiry. * [How accepted is the hypothesis that Phoenician sailors circumnavigated Africa in antiquity?](_URL_0_) * [Did Phoenicians circumnavigate Africa in the 6th/7th century BCE?](_URL_2_) * [Phoenician trade routes around Africa?](_URL_1_) * [Hanno The Navigator](_URL_5_) * [Is it true that the Phoenicians founded colonies on the West African coast, and if so how successful were they?](_URL_4_) * [I heard recently that Herodotus mentioned a story wherein Phoenician sailors circumnavigated Africa in antiquity. Do modern scholars believe this anecdote to be true?](_URL_3_) * [Is it true that Phoenicians traded in East Africa?](_URL_1_)", "All the diversity of people (e.g. _URL_1_) outside of Africa (and some of the diversity in Africa) evolved since then as those populations are all younger than the earliest anatomically modern human. As an aside, \"our species\" didn't suddenly spring into existence so there is no single point in the past where 'the first fossil record of our species' suddenly appear. Of course evolution is still happening in humans, for example [here is a study](_URL_0_) of selective pressures acting on modern humans in Massachusetts.", "At one point a group of modern *H. sapiens* walked out of Africa and headed eastward to what we call the Indian subcontinent. From their they presumably rafted their way to the islands and found the area sufficient for their needs. Humans have a tendency to wander and the ability to come up with new ways to wander when otherwise prevented from doing so by terrain.", "> They were the shit in the 90's so what happened? They stopped being cool. Instead, at least in the minds of the people calling you names, they became a negative. It's fashion, I don't think anyone can really explain it. Opinion sways on what good looking things are. In the 70's flares were cool, wear them now and you look completely out of touch with modern life.", "edit:formatting **Hate crime** is targeted at a specific individual(s) and causing harm to those individual(s) solely because they are a member of a legally [protected class.](_URL_0_) **Terrorism** is an act that targets a group of people broader than those harmed in the action taken. The intent is to cause fear that is felt across a large group of people that were not necessarily directly affected by the violent action.", "Russia is protecting their own interests. Since the 1970's they have had military bases in Syria so it is not good for their strategic position in the region to have a regime change - to Isis or anybody else for that matter. Now, it looks like Asad will probably lose and Russia ain't havin it. Nobody else is helping Syria because they either: 1. Hate monstrous dictators. 2. Hate both the monstrous dictators and their potential replacements. 3. They like terrorists.", "People just hate the fact that it's a collection of people \"going hard and pushing it.\" What they actually hate is the gym-douche stereotype, but it's not like crossfitters are all like that.", "Early root beer-like beverages actually were fermented and were alcoholic, although with a relatively small alcoholic content. Modern root beer takes its name from the fact that it was originally flavored using sassafras root, and the beer part was simply used for marketing (its creator actually wanted to call it root tea). The common soft drink version is not a fermented beverage. They eventually stopped using sassafras because it is believed to be carcinogenic, so now mostly artificial flavors are used. Edit: Various companies (especially micro-breweries) and some home brewers do still make the traditional style of alcoholic root beer. It is sometimes marketed as hard root beer.", "THE RENAISSANCE! The \"period\" was described in a scholarly matter by the Swiss scholar Burckhardt. He described the period as a radical break from what came before and the birth of modernity. He essentially \"fell for\" Petrarch's rhetoric. Scholars now understand that the intellectual movements that gave rise to humanism and the like have roots deep in the Middle Ages and that the Renaissance is not a distinct time period so much as an intellectual movement that began in Italy and spread northwards as over the course of the late medieval and early modern periods.", "Yer not alone in askin', and kind strangers have explained: 1. [ELI5: Why does the GOP hate unions? ](_URL_5_) 1. [ELI5: Why unions are hated in the US ](_URL_7_) 1. [Why do stores like Walmart and Target hate Unions so much? ](_URL_4_) 1. [ELI5: Why do people hate Unions? ](_URL_3_) 1. [ELI5: Middle and Lower class workers who hate unions. ](_URL_2_) 1. [ELI5: The taboo of unionization in America ](_URL_8_) 1. [ELI5: Why do people hate unions? ](_URL_6_) 1. [ELI5: What are unions and why are they hated by virtually all employers? ](_URL_10_) 1. [Why are unions considered a bad thing? ](_URL_9_) 1. [ELI5: What exactly is a labor union, and why do people so strongly love or hate them? ](_URL_0_) 1. [ELI5: Why are labor unions viewed negatively and what are their biggest problems? ](_URL_11_) 1. [ELI5; Unions. Why are they so negatively stigmatized? ](_URL_1_)" ]

[ "Due Date of a Return Personal income tax returns are due on or before April 15th following the close of each tax year. When the due date for filing tax returns falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the filing may be made on the next succeeding business day. The due date for filing 2014 personal income tax returns is Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Extensions. General Rules: Taxpayers who are unable to meet their income tax filing deadlines may apply for automatic six months extensions of time to file Massachusetts personal income tax returns and to make payments." ]

[ "Due to Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., (which is observed on the weekday closest to April 16), when April 15 falls on a Friday, tax returns are due the following Monday; when April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, tax returns are due the following Tuesday.1 In 2014, Tax Day was Tuesday, April 15.ue to Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., (which is observed on the weekday closest to April 16), when April 15 falls on a Friday, tax returns are due the following Monday; when April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, tax returns are due the following Tuesday. 1 In 2014, Tax Day was Tuesday, April 15.", "Obviously, the failure to file a gift tax return. when no tax is due will not result in the assessment. of additional tax. Also, the penalties for failure to. file and failure to pay tax are calculated as a. percentage of the tax due and likewise will be zero. if there is no gift tax due on the transfer. When.", "1 For not paying collected taxes, or not filing a tax return, a penalty up to 50 percent of the tax due may be assessed. 2 A $50 fee is charged for every returned check. 3 Interest may be due on any taxes found due and not paid in a timely manner. An additional charge up to $50 or 10 percent of the tax required to be paid, whichever is greater, may be levied on every tax return not filed on time and/or when the tax liability is not paid in full. 2 For not paying collected taxes, or not filing a tax return, a penalty up to 50 percent of the tax due may be assessed.", "Corporations must file a Florida Corporate Income/Franchise Tax Return (Form F-1120) each year. The due date is based on the corporation's tax year. See “When Tax Is Due.” Corporations must file a return even if no tax is due.", "in the majority of tax situations, the three-year rule applies. this is the normal statute of limitations for audits and revised returns. when it comes to determining years, this would be three years after the return was due. this date changes if you do file an amended return due to additional taxes owed.", "Most elections are due at the end of the year, when you file your return. This election has to be made by the due date — without extensions — for the previous year's tax return. The last day to make the mark-to-market election for the year 2011 is April 18, 2011 (the unextended due date for 2010 tax returns).he last day to make the mark-to-market election for the year 2011 is April 18, 2011 (the unextended due date for 2010 tax returns).", "state when such estate is required to file a federal estate tax return and is allowed credit against its federal estate tax li ability for payment of west virginia estate taxes this return is due nine months after decedent s death along with payment of any tax that may be due", "Late Payment. Failure to pay the tax due on the original return due date (regardless of whether the return is filed) 0.5% of the unpaid tax due, and an additional 0.5% of the outstanding tax for each additional month. 25% of the tax due*.", "1 Depending on how you filed your taxes, your tax preparation software can tell you the status of your IRS tax return. 2 The IRS publishes refund schedules for estimated deposit times depending on when it receives your tax return. Pay your tax due when you file your return, to avoid interest charges.", "Topic 201 - The Balance Due Collection Process. If you do not pay your tax in full when you file your tax return, you will receive a bill for the amount you owe.opic 201 - The Balance Due Collection Process. If you do not pay your tax in full when you file your tax return, you will receive a bill for the amount you owe.", "1 The penalty is 5% of the amount due for each month the tax return is late, up to the 25% maximum. When the tax return becomes more than five months late, the balance due is multiplied by 25% to calculate the penalty amount. Failure to Pay Penalties - are calculated on the amount of tax owed.", "If you file a late return and/or make a late tax payment, you are liable for interest and penalty charges. If you file a sales tax return after the due date, the discount is not allowed. Taxpayers are required to file sales tax returns by the due date.f you file a late return and/or make a late tax payment, you are liable for interest and penalty charges. If you file a sales tax return after the due date, the discount is not allowed. Taxpayers are required to file sales tax returns by the due date.", "Penalty and interest should be included with the payment of any tax due. 5% per month (or fraction of a month) up to a maximum of 25% of the outstanding tax liability when a return is filed after the due date or extended due date. A penalty of $100 for each month the return is late may also be imposed.", "When are Vermont Sales Tax Returns Due? When you file and pay Vermont sales tax depends on two things: your assigned filing frequency and your state’s due dates. How often will you file sales tax returns in Vermont? States assign you a filing frequency when you register for your sales tax permit. In most states, how often you file sales tax is based on the amount of sales tax you collect from buyers in the state.", "Any portion of the tax not paid on or before the due date of the return is subject to a late payment penalty of 1% per month of the tax due, up to a maximum of 25%. Additionally, returns not filed on or before the due date are subject to a late return penalty of 1% per month of the tax due, up to a maximum of 25%.", "No SD state return due date after extension: South Dakota, no state income tax: Tennessee: No TN state return due date: No TN state extension due date: No TN state return due date after extension: Tennessee, no general income tax: Texas: No TX state return due date: No TX state extension due date: No TX state return due date after extension: Texas, no state income tax", "tax benefits (such as deductions and credits), and compliance with the tax laws. As a paid tax return preparer, you also must meet specific due diligence requirements set forth in Treasury Regulations when you prepare returns and claims for refund involving the EIC, the CTC/ ACTC, or the AOTC. To meet these due diligence requirements, you", "Note that the table below is for estate income tax returns, Form 1041, not estate tax returns, Form 706. Please note that the IRS Notice CP 575 B that assigns an employer ID number (tax ID number) to the estate will probably say that the Form 1041 is due on April 15.That is because the attorney or accountant that applied for the ID number may not understand when the tax return is due.lease note that the IRS Notice CP 575 B that assigns an employer ID number (tax ID number) to the estate will probably say that the Form 1041 is due on April 15. That is because the attorney or accountant that applied for the ID number may not understand when the tax return is due.", "Should you need to file prior to receiving an employer account number, please complete the Quarterly Tax Return (JFS-20125) when due. When completing the Quarterly Tax Return (JFS-20125), please use a tentative contribution rate of 2.7%.", "(For example, if you are filing part-year resident tax returns. ) 4. Amended Return: When amending a PA Income Tax Return (PA-40), accordingly amend and re-file a local earned income tax return. 5. Receipt / Copy: An online confirmation or cancelled check is sufficient proof of payment. 6. Penalty and Interest: If the tax is not paid when due, penalty and interest will be charged.", "Sales and Use Tax Return. 1 You are responsible for filing a return by the due date, regardless of whether you receive one in the mail. Returns must be filed even if no tax is due. 2 Instructions for City of Colorado Springs Sales and/or Use Tax Returns. 3 Sales and Use Tax Return. 4 Sales and Use Tax Return in Spanish.", "Mail NJ-1040NR returns indicating tax due together with payment voucher and check or money order if you are not paying by e-check or credit card to the following address: Returns With Refunds (or No Tax Due). Mail NJ-1040 returns requesting a refund (or with no tax due) to the following address:", "October 15, 2015 2014 Federal Tax Return Last day to efile a 2014 Federal Income Tax Return for Tax Extension filers. April 15, 2018 2014 Tax Amendment You can file an Amended Return to pay taxes due anytime, but you generally have a deadline of 3 years from the original due date to claim a tax refund.ctober 15, 2015 2014 Federal Tax Return Last day to efile a 2014 Federal Income Tax Return for Tax Extension filers. April 15, 2018 2014 Tax Amendment You can file an Amended Return to pay taxes due anytime, but you generally have a deadline of 3 years from the original due date to claim a tax refund.", "5% of the tax due, and an additional 5% for each additional month the return is late. 25% of the tax due. *The combined total of the Late Filing Penalty and the Late Payment Penalty cannot exceed 25% of the tax due on the return due date.", "When you sign an income tax return with your. spouse (husband or wife), you are telling the tax. agency that you agree to pay any tax due on that. return, even if the tax is not caused by your own. income or mistakes. You agree to pay the tax even. if the tax is caused by your spouse. That is what.", "Profits/losses are reported on the owners' personal tax returns and any tax due is paid by the owner at the individual tax level. Profits/losses are reported on the owners' personal tax return and any tax due is paid by the owners at the individual tax level.", "State corporate income tax returns vary highly in complexity from two pages to more than 20 pages. States often require that a copy of the federal income tax return be attached to the state return. Corporate income tax return due dates may differ from individual tax return due dates.", "Due to Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., (which is observed on the weekday closest to April 16), when April 15 falls on a Friday, tax returns are due the following Monday; when April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, tax returns are due the following Tuesday.he Maine state tax filing deadline was still extended to April 19 in 2011 due to Patriots' Day. In 2007, Tax Day was on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 because April 15 fell on a Sunday and Monday, April 16 was Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.", "The penalty for filing a late tax. return (including tax returns for. which no tax was due) is $50 or. ten percent of the amount of tax. due, whichever is greater. Late fil­. ers must include payment for the. penalty and interest with their tax.", "Three Methods: Checking the Status of a Federal Tax Return Online Checking the Status of a Federal Tax Return over the Phone Checking the Status of State Tax Return. If you are due money back on your federal or state taxes, you'll want to know when you can expect that rebate check or direct deposit to arrive.", "resident for less than the full 12 months of the tax year amended by this return, refer to the instructions for Form D-40 tax booklet on filing a part-year return. D. WHEN AND WHERE TO FILE. File Form D-40X only after you have filed your original return. Generally, an amended return may be filed any time within three years from the date when the original return was due. Amended returns may be mailed to the Office of Tax and Revenue, P.O. Box 7861, Washington, D.C. 20044-7861. Any balance of tax due must be paid with the return. Make your check or money order payable to the “D.C. Treasurer.”" ]

[ "This is usually because you're also swallowing a large amount of air that has become trapped under the descending liquid. You may notice that you belch shortly after this happens." ]

[ "Until it doesn't hurt to chew anymore. I got some molars taken out before I got braces when I was little, and I was on an all-liquid diet for just a few days. Keep ice cream around too- milkshakes are easy to swallow and the cold will numb you a little bit.\\n\\nGood luck! :)", "That sounds like it could be it. You must go to the doctor so they can do the test. The quicker you go, the easier it will be on you. In more advanced stages, the sores on the throat become so painful it is extremely difficult to swallow. I also recommend asking for a penicillin injection if the test comes back positive. It hurts, but it works very fast and you do not have to swallow pills that will hurt your throat.", "well i say enjoy...swallow until you cant swallow no more...", "well, depends........does swallowing count? lol", "Think of three balls in a gym. a Basket ball, a golf ball, and a tennis ball. Now think of the basket ball as being lit, its the biggest so we will pretend its the sun. the earth would be the tennis ball, and the golf ball would be the moon. well when the golf ball got between the sun and the earth it would create a cast shadow on the tennis ball, but its not big enough to put the entire tennis ball in shadow... that is why only part of the earth can see the eclipse.", "It does not and will not work when using a hard ball/softball. It does not provide the same power when the ball is struck. However, when using a tennis ball and playing the game of strikeout, the minor lessening of power on impact should not be noticeable.", "I THINK THAT NOT ONLY SOME PEOPLE EAT BUGGERS,BUT THEY SWALLOW THEM LIKE SOME PEOPLE SWALLOW RAW OYSTERS.", "You can chew gum, but should not swallow it and you can swallow beverages and not chew them. Just a guess.", "is it an African swallow or a European swallow?", "Why did you guys break up in the first place. Why not take him back. For a man to swallow his pride and come begging is a lot of guts.", "Yes! It works great! You mix one part liquid benadryl with one part Maylox or some other type of thick anti-acid and use it to gargle with. It numbs the throat. Just be sure to not swallow and spit it out!", "What do you mean, and African or a European Swallow?\\n\\ni..i don't know that.\\nYAHHHHHHH!!!!\\n\\nHow do you know so much about swallows?\\nWell you have to know these things when you're a king you know...", "If he wants you to swallow, and he doesn't want to be with you unless you swallow, go find yourself someone else.", "No you can't.It was once said that when some has an epileptic seizure they swallow their tongue.It's not possible to swallow your tongue because it is attatched to your lower jaw.Even if you cut it,you can't swallow it.When a person has a seizure it rolls to the back of their throat blocking the airway.Never stick your finger in a persons mouth during a seizure,they can bite down and bite off your finger.Use a tongue depressor or a spoon,even a popsickle stick.", "This is a common symptom of pharyngitis, or inflammation of the back of the throat. The nerves cross-over with some of those to the ear canal, so pain in the throat can be referred to the ear and pain in the ear can be referred to the throat. If you have pain when you swallow, it is likely the throat. On occasion, inflammation of the throat can also affect the normal drainage of the middle ear, but the ear pain would be constant throbbing with pressure, which can be unbearable (not just noticeable with swallowing).\\n\\nAlthough strep throat is possible, pharyngitis is usually VIRAL, and antibiotics will not help. Warning signs of strep throat include high (103+) fevers, body aches, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and foul breath. Viral pharyngitis usually resolves within a few days if you tough it out. Fevers, chills, body aches or inability to swallow your own saliva are all worrisome signs which should be seen right away. Otherwise, you can go with a diet of warm liquids, get some lozenges, and take it easy for a few days.\\n\\nHope you feel better soon!", "Not only do we need to know the size of the coconut, but we need to know if the swallow swallowed it!", "\"An African or European Swallow?\" It's from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Here's the full quote:\\n\\n \\nBridgekeeper: What... is your quest? \\nKing Arthur: To seek the Holy Grail. \\nBridgekeeper: What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow? \\nKing Arthur: What do you mean? An African or European swallow? \\nBridgekeeper: Huh? I... I don't know that. \\n[he is thrown over] \\nBridgekeeper: Auuuuuuuugh. \\nSir Bedevere: How do know so much about swallows? \\nKing Arthur: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.", "hiccups are caused when your body breathes and swallows at the same time causing spasms (hiccups)", "Solutions for tennis elbow. Ice, ice, and ice. Those tennis elbow things for the arm really help to. When your stretching out you tennis elbow arm, stretch it, but not too far. You should really rest for a couple of days. Ice it even when it has stopped hurting. If you don't, tennis elbow can come back quickly. Find a couch, and talk to him. There is probably something wrong with you form, and that is why you are hurting. For the racquet, i find the flexpoints are really easy on the arm. It is mainly in the stings though. Go on tennis warehouse and look at tennis elbow string. They really make them. Good luck. Tennis elbow royaly stinks.", "it has been...a lot actually, and the appropriate reply for the air speed velocity of an UNladen swallow is always:\\n\\nWhat do you mean? An African or European swallow?", "Make your son/daughter swallow/eat a big spoon of gelatin.\\nThen make a cube of gelatin (approx. a small nut size) and put the capsule inside it.\\nAs a matter of fact, you should let your son/daugher to put it inside the cube, just to let him/her participate of the trick. \\nAsk him/her to swallow it. At this point he/she'll know that he/she is able to swallow medium-size bits, like the gelatin cube is.", "It's possible, but very, very rare. Most spider wouldn't be crawling on a bed, as most house spiders like the floor (especially places that aren't disturbed very often, like the basement). Spiders also don't like to walk on moisture or in windy places. So they wouldn't be likely to go into a mouth with moisture and breathing. One other thing is that even when people are asleep, I don't know how easy it would be to swallow a spider that doesn't want to be swallowed.", "I read somewhere that swallowing gum is just adding fiber to your diet. So...I would say go ahead and swallow it.", "Strangly enough, Chewing gum can give you gas. The simple act of chewing involves you swallowing a good amount of air. The more air you swallow, the more of a chance of a burp you will have.", "very long. this is because the sun is a very large star and will take billions or rather trillions of years. when it does burn out however, it will be big enough to swell so big that it will swallow mercury, venus and possibly earth ^^ good luck", "This sounds funny, but I tried it. My older sister told me to take a mouthful of water, plug my ears, and then swallow. It does work.", "My dad taught me a way that always works. Plug your ears and nose and swallow 5 times without breathing. If you can't swallow 5 times, just do the most you can.", "Well is it african or european? \"Um, I dont know\". Ahhhhhhh! The guy at the bridge screams. \"I didnt know you KNEW that much about swallows!\" Said Sir Lancelot. \"Well, when youre king, you HAVE to know those sort of things.\"\\n\\nOh yeah, and the question WAS: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?", "What do you mean, an African or European Swallow?\\nIn order to maintain air speed velocity a swallow needs to beat its wings 43 times every second, right?\\n\\nActually, the correct answer appears to be the average cruising airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second, or 24 miles an hour.", "It really depends how old you are and what the job is. Like, don't take off apiece you can't swallow! Like I said it really depends.", "An african of european swallow?", "i beleive according to the man in the castle a swallow had to beat it's wings 43 times every second in order to maintain air speed velocity. That's a european swallow by the way :" ]

[ "The Kansas Board of Regents gave final approval Wednesday to a strict new policy on what employees may say on social media. Critics say the policy violates both the First Amendment and academic freedom, but school officials say providing faculty with more specific guidelines will actually bolster academic freedom on campus. The controversial policy was triggered by an equally controversial tweet posted last September by David Guth, an associate journalism professor. Reacting to a lone gunman who killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., he wrote: \"The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters.\" Guth was placed on administrative leave after an outcry from the public and state lawmakers. Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady, a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and the National Rifle Association, says he was outraged by the tweet. He supports the board of regents' new policy to place parameters on professors. \"Look, you have freedom of speech, but you can't go this far,\" he says. \"I think having a clear understanding between faculty and the board of regents on what's acceptable and what's not is better for everyone involved.\" The new policy says that faculty and staff of the state's six universities, 19 community colleges and six technical colleges may not say anything on social media that would incite violence, disclose confidential student information or release protected data. But it also says staffers are barred from saying anything \"contrary to the best interests of the university.\" Critics say the broad nature of the guidelines would offer administrators enormous latitude in firing people — even those with tenure. Will Creeley, director of legal and public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, says it's one of the most restrictive social media policies in the country. \"We have a First Amendment to protect controversial statements like professor Guth's,\" Creeley says. \"We don't have it to protect pictures of kittens posted on Facebook. If you punish a student or professor for a clearly protected speech, you send a message to everyone else on campus that you better watch what you say.\" Kansas University political science professor Burdett Loomis says the regents are scared of Kansas lawmakers. \"All of this has to be taken into account in the context of a very, very conservative Kansas Legislature that has very little sympathy, I think, for higher education,\" Loomis says. The board of regents is appointed by the state's Republican governor, Sam Brownback. Last December, when the board of regents first announced that a new policy was in the works, Loomis posted this reaction on Facebook: \"Unbelievably broad and vague set of policies. Perfect example of using a nuclear weapon to destroy a gnat of a pseudo problem.\" The board of regents chairman, Fred Logan, has dismissed the controversy over the policy as \"ludicrous.\" He defended the new policy and said it would shore up academic freedom by creating more specific guidelines. \"In many respects, the work that has been done has really focused on lifting up academic freedom as a core principle for the Kansas Board of Regents,\" Logan says. \"Now, that may sound funny, but if you look in our policy manual, there's really not much in there about that.\" As for Guth, the professor who triggered the policy, he spent this semester on sabbatical in far western Kansas. But he's still talking; on his blog, he writes, \"How can a guy talk to students about social media if he doesn't participate in the online discussion?\"" ]

[ "The New York Mets face the Kansas City Royals in the first game of the World Series tonight in Kansas City. Here & Now’s Robin Young speaks with two die-hard fans about their loyalty to their teams: Craig Brown is a lifelong Kansas City Royals fan who writes about the team at RoyalsAuthority.com, and Edgar Cisneros is a longtime Mets fan living in Chicago. Guests\n\nCraig Brown, Kansas City Royals fan who writes about the team at RoyalsAuthority.com. He tweets @royalsauthority.\nEdgar Cisneros, Mets fan living in Chicago. He tweets @eacisneros.", "Kansas City captured its first World Series title in 30 years with a 7-2 win over the New York Mets last night in New York. The Royals won the series 4 games to 1. Kansas City rallied to tie the final game in the 9th inning and then locked up the championship with a 5-run outburst in the 12th. The Mets had no answer and the celebration started in Kansas City. Guest\n\nMike Pesca, Here & Now sports analyst and host of the daily podcast The Gist. He tweets @pescami.", "This week, reports out of Mexico, where monarch butterflies make their winter migration from the U.S. and Canada, show that the number of butterflies has dropped for the third year in a row. Chip Taylor, founder of of Monarch Watch, joins Here & Now&#8217;s Jeremy Hobson to discuss the reasons behind the drop, including extreme weather conditions in both 2012 and 2013, and the use of herbicides. \nResources on helping monarch butterflies \nChip Taylor&#8217;s &#8220;Monarch Watch&#8221; blog\n\nInterview Highlights: Chip Taylor Why the monarchs are disappearing &#8220;Over 30 percent of the monarch habitat has been lost since 2006, and this is due to a couple of things, one of which is the development of Roundup Ready corn and soybeans, which has allowed the farmers to spray glycosphate on those fields to control weeds, because the plants themselves have been genetically engineered to resist that particular herbicide. Well, previous to the use of those types of plants and the glycosphate, the corn and soybean fields used to contain milkweeds &#8212; at a small level, but it turned out that a survey done in 2000 showed that that was the most productive habitat for monarch butterflies. Now, it&#8217;s gone.&#8221; The impact of weather on monarch populations &#8220;We&#8217;ve had some unusual events in the last three years. To really be an effective population, to really reproduce well, the butterflies that come out of Texas in May and early June have to arrive at the summer breeding ground site &#8212; that&#8217;s the northern part of the U.S. and southern Canada &#8212; at the right time. So there&#8217;s about a three-day period there, and they have to arrive in the middle of that period, and they have to arrive in good numbers.&#8221; &#8220;There has never been a March in the history of recorded temperatures in the United States quite like the March of 2012. It was very, very, very hot. And this was followed by a hot spring, and it was followed by an extraordinarily hot summer, so overall, 2012 was a very hot year, and it did not bode well for the butterflies. It really put them down. They spread too far north too soon.&#8221; On what would happen if the monarchs vanished &#8220;One of the things I try to tell people is it&#8217;s not just monarchs. Monarchs are simply a flagship species for everything else that&#8217;s happening out there. If you look at where monarchs live, they live in habitats that are kind of marginal, but those marginal habitats support most of our pollinators. Those marginal habitats support a lot of small mammals and ground-nesting birds, and if we lose the monarchs, it means we&#8217;re going to lose all those things. And the one thing people perhaps do not grasp is that it&#8217;s the pollinators that keep everything knitted together out there. I mean, there&#8217;s a fabric of life out there maintains these ecosystems, and it&#8217;s the pollinators that are critical here. They pollinate about 70 percent of that vegetation. If we don&#8217;t have the pollinators, that means we&#8217;re going to be losing a lot of plants, then you lose a lot of organisms that are dependent on specific plants and so on and so forth. You know, my plea is that we have to maintain these habitats, not only for monarch butterflies, but for everything else, because it&#8217;s really in our best interest to do so.&#8221; More On Monarch Butterflies\n\nMajestic Monarch Butterflies Under Threat (Interview about last year&#8217;s migration)\nThe Epic Journey Of Monarch Butterflies (Interview about the documentary)\nBarbara Kingsolver On ‘Flight Behavior’ (Interview about a novel involving monarchs)\n\nGuest\n\nChip Taylor, founder of Monarch Watch. The organization tweets @monarchwatch.\n JEREMY HOBSON, HOST: This is HERE AND NOW. And now for some alarming news about monarch butterflies. This week, the World Wildlife Federation Chip and the Mexican government reported that the migrating population of monarch butterflies coming from the U.S. and Canada is continuing to shrink. The acreage that butterflies occupy in their winter home in the Mexican mountains has dropped 56 percent from last year, and that's a continuation of a decline seen over the past several years. Joining us now from Lawrence, Kansas, is Chip Taylor. He's founder of Monarch Watch and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Kansas. Professor Taylor, welcome back to HERE AND NOW. CHIP TAYLOR: Nice to be with you, Jeremy. HOBSON: So this is the third year that we're seeing big drops in the numbers of monarch butterflies. What's going on? How serious is this? TAYLOR: Well, it can be quite serious. Anytime a population like this gets to be quite small, it's subject to real danger if there are catastrophic events. If we have winter storms in Mexico that further devastate the population, drive the numbers down even further, and we've seen that in the past, that would be many years for the population to recover. HOBSON: Well, a", "Kansas City is just two wins away from its first World Series title since 1985. The Royals beat the New York Mets 7-1 last night in Kansas City and lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. Game 3 is tomorrow night in New York. Here & Now&#8217;s Robin Young checks in with sports analyst Mike Pesca to see if the Mets can recover and extend the series. Guest\n\nMike Pesca, Here & Now’s sports analyst. He hosts the daily podcast The Gist. He tweets@pescami.", "President Trump's threats to disrupt trade with Mexico aren't just worrying people south of the border. Each time Trump attacks the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA, the executives at a 130 year-old railroad company in Kansas City, Mo., hold their breath. Like a lot of U.S. companies, cross-border trade accounts for a lot of Kansas City Southern's business. As the trains depart, they head south to Mexico, carrying American corn, chemicals and car parts. When they come back, they're loaded with items such as refrigerators, finished cars and beer. This is the daily scene for Kansas City Southern trains as they continue the old-school, steel-in-the-ground, heavy industry that was built slowly over decades and centered largely around trade with Mexico. \"They are the NAFTA railroad, so anything that's going to negatively affect potential trade with Mexico is going to be a negative for Kansas City Southern,\" says Jason Seidl, a railroad analyst with Cowen and Company. Seidl says Trump's presidency threatens that trade. Trump has targeted the nearly $60 billion trade deficit with Mexico by threatening to punish companies moving production there, and adding a tariff. As he told Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes, he's taking a hard look at NAFTA. Pelley: But there is a North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump: And there shouldn't be. It's a disaster ... we will either renegotiate it or we will break it. The stock market is up, sharply, since Trump's election, with investors betting that lower taxes and less regulation will boost most companies' bottom lines. The Dow Jones Railroad Index has climbed about 25 percent since the election. But, Seidl says Trump's protectionist threats have pushed down the price of Kansas City Southern stock. \"Uncertainty is sort of the No. 1 killer for stock performance, and that's what we have right now,\" Seidl says. \"We're one tweet away from it underperforming the group that day, and based on the president's current tweet rate, that could be a lot of tweets between now and the end of the year.\" And it's not just tweets. In January, Ford Motor Company executives announced they were canceling a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico. \"This was a big plant and it was going to be served by Kansas City Southern,\" says Tony Hatch, a senior transportation analyst with ABH consulting. \"It had business going north and south. And that would have been a minor blow — I think the symbolism makes it a major blow.\" Hatch says Kansas City Southern serves about a dozen other Mexican auto assembly plants, so losing one new one isn't crushing. But he says Trump is upending carefully laid plans, on both sides of the border. \"For Kansas City Southern, it's been very painful,\" Hatch says. \"They've done everything they could. They've invested a lot of money. They've created a really good network. So, all of the sudden, you're playing some kind of complicated game, and you get right to the point where you're going to be a leader in the game, and they say, 'Ah, sorry, here's a new set of rules.'\" Of course, NAFTA has long inspired fierce opposition, traditionally from the left, and opponents argue that a \"new set of rules\" is long overdue. NAFTA's been in place for almost a quarter of a century. Its critics say the agreement has cost hundreds of thousands of American jobs, and depressed American wages. Supporters say the trade agreement has boosted trade with Mexico enormously, and kept prices down for consumers. Andrew Selee, vice president at the Woodrow Wilson Center, argues that the free flow of capital and goods has actually preserved a lot of North American manufacturing. \"Getting closer together in trade is a good thing for all the economies,\" Selee says. \"We're able to compete against Europe and Asia, and other parts of the world. Few think trade between the U.S. and Mexico will shut down forever, but it's likely to change under this administration, in ways that seem increasingly hard to predict. RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Present Trump's threat to change America's trade relationship with Mexico has got businesses on both sides of the border concerned. As Frank Morris of member station KCUR reports, this includes a 130-year-old railroad called Kansas City Southern. FRANK MORRIS, BYLINE: I'm standing in a rail yard where Kansas City Southern trains are assembled to head south to Mexico carrying American corn, chemicals and car parts. They come back loaded with stuff like refrigerators, finished cars and beer. This is old-school, steel-in-the-ground, heavy industry, built slowly over decades, largely around trade with Mexico. JASON SEIDL: They are the NAFTA railroad. So anything that's going to negatively impact potential trade with Mexico is going to be a negative for Kansas City Southern. MORRIS: And Jason Seidl, who's a railroad analyst with Cowen and Company, says Donald Trump's presidency threatens that trade. He's targeted the nearly $60 billion trade deficit with Mexico by threatening to punish", "Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who leads Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer by a razor-thin initial vote tally in the Republican primary race for governor, said Thursday night that he would recuse himself from the vote-counting process. Kobach told CNN Thursday night that he would be \"happy to recuse\" himself and would make a formal announcement Friday. As of Thursday night Kobach leads Colyer by 121 votes, out of about 311,000 ballots cast in Tuesday's Republican gubernatorial primary, according to an Associated Press count. Colyer sent a letter earlier Thursday accusing Kobach's office of \"giving advice to county election officials\" and \"making public statements\" that are \"inconsistent with Kansas law and may serve to suppress the vote in the ongoing Kansas primary election process.\" Colyer requested Kobach recuse himself and appoint Kansas' attorney general Derek Schmidt to take his place in the process. As secretary of state, Kobach is the head elections official in Kansas. He had earlier resisted requests to recuse himself, saying his role in elections is mainly symbolic and the vote-counting is done at the county level. Kobach continued to make that point on CNN Thursday, though said he would remove himself in response to Colyer's request. \"There's really no point in doing it, because the secretary of state doesn't actually have any role in the counting of provisional ballots or in any recount,\" Kobach told CNN's Chris Cuomo. However, he added that he would accede to his opponent's request. Differences between vote tallies reported by county election officials and the secretary of state's office emerged in reports Thursday. As of early Friday, the secretary of state's unofficial election results showed Kobach ahead of Colyer by 191 votes. Kobach's office tweeted Thursday night that it \"will begin collecting updated and unofficial election results for all contested national and state offices\" beginning at 8 a.m. Friday. \"... These results will include advance ballots by mail postmarked on or before Election Day, and any other unofficial election results that were not previously reported on election night,\" it added. The state office said the count will not include provisional ballot totals, which will be reviewed later. It said counties \"must meet to review provisional ballots and certify the official election results between Monday, August 13 and Monday, August 20.\" Both Kobach and Colyer are \"deeply conservative\" candidates, as Scott Canon of member station KCUR describes, but Colyer employs \"mild mannered\" rhetoric, while \"Kobach is more regularly confrontational, and he's built a national profile by challenging the registration of thousands of voters and authoring laws across the country aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.\" Colyer inherited the governor's job from his predecessor Sam Brownback, who left to be an ambassador at-large for religious freedom for the Trump administration. President Trump endorsed Kobach in a tweet Monday. Kobach was co-chair of Trump's short-lived voter fraud commission, which Trump dissolved in January. Kobach \"has long claimed there is widespread voter fraud by noncitizens despite providing no evidence of any such improprieties and only prosecuting a few fraud cases in Kansas,\" NPR's Jessica Taylor noted. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka, who handily won her party's nomination Tuesday, along with businessman Greg Orman, who is running as an independent.", "Kansas lawmakers – Republicans – revolt and undo their own austere tax cuts. We’ll unpack what happened to the GOP’s “Kansas Experiment.” The state of Kansas was supposed to be the great Republican model. Cut taxes deeply, said Governor Sam Brownback, and it would be “like a shot of adrenaline in the heart of the Kansas economy.” The taxes were cut. The adrenaline never showed. Things fell apart. Last week, Kansas Republicans revolted against their hardline governor, overrode his veto, and ditched the model. This hour On Point: The Kansas Republican revolt against supply side economics, and what it means. &#8212; Tom Ashbrook Guests Jim McLean, managing director of the Kansas News Service. (@jmcleanks) Patrick Miller, assistant professor of political science at The University of Kansas, where he focuses on local government. (@pmiller1693) Rep. Melissa Rooker, Kansas Republican representative for the 25th district. (@MelissaRooker) Max Ehrenfreund, policy reporter for the Washington Post. (@MaxEhrenfreund) From Tom&#8217;s Reading List Kansas News Service: Kansas Lawmakers Raise Taxes And Spending Before Ending Session &#8212; &#8220;Their final act was to approve a two-year budget plan that supporters say will start the process of repairing damage done by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax cuts. But the session’s climatic moment occurred a week earlier when lawmakers overrode Brownback’s veto of a bill that largely reversed those cuts. A group of moderate Republicans and Democrats elected since the passage of the tax cuts in 2012 helped lead the charge, but even some lawmakers who initially supported the cuts joined the override effort.&#8221; New York Times: Brownback Tax Cuts Set Off a Revolt by Kansas Republicans &#8212; &#8220;Gov. Sam Brownback’s leadership of Kansas came to be synonymous with a single, unyielding philosophy: Cut taxes, cut the size of government, and the state will thrive. But this week, Mr. Brownback’s deeply conservative state turned on him and his austere approach. Fed up with gaping budget shortfalls, inadequate education funding and insufficient revenue, the Republican-controlled Legislature capped months of turmoil by overriding the governor’s veto of a bill that would undo some of his tax cuts and raise $1.2 billion over two years.&#8221; Washington Post: Republicans are predicting the beginning of the end of the tea party in Kansas &#8212; &#8220;Kansas was at the heart of the tea party revolution, a red state where, six years ago, a deeply conservative group of Republicans took the state for a hard right turn. Now, after their policies failed to produce the results GOP politicians promised, the state has become host to another revolution: a resurgence of moderate Republicans.&#8221;", "It's exactly three months until Election Day, but the focus this week is on Capitol Hill. Here are five things to watch: 1. Deal or no deal? With the country's coronavirus pandemic continuing to rage, and the economy showing record contraction earlier this year, congressional negotiators have been unable to reach agreement on a fifth relief package. Democrats and Republicans met over the weekend but still appeared far apart. \"We still have a long ways to go,\" White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, one of the negotiators, said on CBS Face the Nation Sunday. He described negotiations on Saturday as \"a step in the right direction,\" but added: \"I'm not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term.\" That's bad news for millions of Americans seeing boosted unemployment benefits run out, as well as a moratorium on evictions in federally backed housing having expired. 2. A president disengaged: Meanwhile, as Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were heavily involved in the negotiations, President Trump was hands-off, golfing two days in a row this weekend. If Trump's press conference July 21 was intended to show him taking a leadership role on the coronavirus, that's not what the American people are seeing right now. Trump's handling of the pandemic — and race relations — has hurt his political standing. That's part of why presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has expanded his advantage in the battleground map. 3. Watching Biden VP pick: Biden is expected announce his choice of a running mate this week or next. Names being mentioned include: Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass of California, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Florida Rep. Val Demings, as well as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Read more on the pros and cons of several of the candidates here. 4. Primaries Tuesday and Thursday with a race to watch: Kansas GOP Senate primary: On Tuesday, elections take place in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington state. On Thursday, it's Tennessee hosting primaries. These are again going to be a test of mail-in voting and vote-counting amid the pandemic. There are also multiple primaries to watch. The headliner is the race to replace longtime Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, who is retiring. Democrats' candidate, Barbara Bollier, is a former Republican who has impressed with her fundraising, taking in $7.8 million, more than any other candidate. And Democrats believe their chances will get even better if immigration hard-liner Kris Kobach, who lost his bid for governor to a Democrat, wins the GOP primary. Even Republicans are concerned. National Republican Senatorial Committee executive director Kevin McLaughlin, per Politico, warned GOP operatives that if Kobach wins the primary, Republicans could lose the Senate. \"The Senate majority runs through Kansas,\" McLaughlin said, per Politico. The NRSC opposes Kobach and would like Trump to come off the sidelines and endorse someone other than Kobach. Congressman Roger Marshall and Bob Hamilton, a businessman who has tied himself to Trump — even wearing a \"Keep America Great\" hat while campaigning — are the other leading contenders. 5. Sally Yates to testify Wednesday: An old name from the Russia probe is back. Yates — who as deputy attorney general warned then-White House counsel Don McGahn that former national security adviser Michael Flynn could be comprised — testifies Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Hill notes, \"Republicans want to hear from Yates because she was in the Oval Office for a Jan. 5, 2017, meeting that has emerged as an area of interest for the president's allies. Then-President Obama and then-FBI Director James Comey discussed sharing national security information related to Russia with Flynn, who was charged with lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia shortly before President Trump took office.\" Quote of the weekend: \"Hydroxychloroquine. I cannot recommend that ... I think we need to move on from that and focus on what is effective.\" — Adm. Brett Giroir, who is in charge of testing with the president's coronavirus task force, on NBC's Meet the Press. Giroir also said doctors have to prescribe the drug and won't be affected \"by whatever is on Twitter.\" The president has tweeted or retweeted people promoting the drug 26 times since March, including 13 times in the past month, despite evidence that it is ineffective against COVID-19.", "As Major League Baseball awaits a list of names of players facing suspension for their involvement with performing enhancing drugs, Major League Soccer holds its All-Star Game tonight. The league&#8217;s best players take on Italy’s A.S. Roma at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. It’s tough to get a ticket for the match. And the same can be said for Sporting Kansas City&#8217;s regular season games. The team is on a string of 27 straight sellouts of their world-class stadium that holds nearly 19,000. From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Greg Echlin of KCUR explains why Kansas City has become a soccer hotbed. Reporter\n\nGreg Echlin, sports reporter for KCUR in Kansas City, Missouri.\n JEREMY HOBSON, HOST: From NPR and WBUR Boston, I'm Jeremy Hobson. It's HERE AND NOW. Major League Soccer holds its All-Star game tonight. The league's best players will take on Italy's A.S. Roma in Kansas City, where the hometown team, Sporting K.C., has sold out 27 straight games at Sporting Park. The stadium holds 19,000 people. From the HERE AND NOW Contributors Network, KCUR's Greg Echlin explains why Kansas City is such a soccer hotbed. (SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING) GREG ECHLIN, BYLINE: It was raining Monday afternoon, but fans showed up with umbrellas to watch professional soccer players aim for a goal across a manmade river in the heart of Kansas City. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Shooter ready. (SOUNDBITE OF WHISTLE) ECHLIN: Keith O'Dell(ph) and his 4-year-old son Aidan(ph) watched from under a bridge since they didn't carry an umbrella. KEITH O'DELL: Well, I'm also not smart enough to look at the forecast ahead of time, and we're just kind of planned on coming out here, figured we can maybe meet some players, see them kick the ball across the river, have a good time. ECHLIN: This is what it sounded like when the team played in Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: ...Arrowhead, make some noise right now to your home team, the Kansas City Wizards on to a victory. ECHLIN: Even if the game drew more than 10,000 fans, the noise got lost in a cavernous stadium that seats more than 70,000. When Kansas City, then known as the Wizards, beat D.C. United to win the MLS championship in 2000, no one seemed to notice, even in a city that was starving for a winner. The Chiefs hadn't won a playoff game since the Joe Montana era in 1993, and baseball's Kansas City Royals haven't reached postseason since their 1985 World Series championship. But Kerry Zavagnin, an assistant coach with Sporting K.C. who played on that 2000 team, says the Kansas City soccer scene has changed since then. KERRY ZAVAGNIN: You know, if we're on page 12 of the sports section week in and week out, maybe we made it to page six, you know? So we felt like that was progress. And we had a group of fans that greeted us when we came back from D.C., and it was all we knew at the time. (SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING) ECHLIN: The franchise's first owner was the late Lamar Hunt, who also owned the Chiefs. He envisioned a soccer-specific stadium but didn't live long enough to see it become reality. That dream was fulfilled by a group of six owners whose ambitions caught the attention of Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber. He cites the Kansas City area as one of the great turnarounds in the history of soccer in America. DON GARBER: From the very beginning, they wanted to build a state-of-the-art facility, and Sporting Park is just that. It's, you know, one of the real great stadiums in our country but also anywhere in the world. ECHLIN: But it wasn't just the construction of Sporting Park that mushroomed Kansas City into a soccer hotbed, quality youth fields sprung up in the area, and Sporting's owners promised to add more near the new stadium. Matt Besler, who grew up in suburban Kansas City and plays for Sporting Kansas City, recalls when he was in the youth leagues. MATT BESLER: We used to bounce around. It felt like every season we're on a different field, and the quality of fields weren't very good. But somehow, we made it work, and that's all changed today. ECHLIN: What is happening in Kansas City, however, is part of a bigger picture through the eyes of the owners of Sporting Kansas City. Robb Heineman, one of the owners, says the first goal is for Sporting to consistently win championships. And the other? ROBB HEINEMAN: We want to win the World Cup, and I think there's a responsibility for all of us as Major League Soccer owners to build as good of a youth development program as we can to help achieve, you know, that goal. AIDAN O'DELL: Oh, you can't beat Jimmy Nielsen with that stuff. ECHLIN: Meanwhile, fans like 4-year-old Aidan O'Dell will continue their chant from the stands, including this one, when pulling for two-time All-Star goaltender Jimmy Nielsen. O'DELL: Oh, you can't beat Jimmy Nielsen with that stuff. ECHLIN: For HERE AND NOW, I'm Greg Echlin in Kansas City. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) O'DELL: Oh, you can't beat Jimmy N", "The Chicago Cubs, who haven&#8217;t won a World Series since 1908, eliminated the Pittsburgh Pirates in last night&#8217;s National League Wild Card Game. The Cubs now move on to play the St. Louis Cardinals in one of the NL Division Series. The other NL Division Series game features the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Those series begin Friday. Today, the two American League Division Series start. The Texas Rangers play the Blue Jays in Toronto this afternoon and the Houston Astros are in Kansas City to play the Royals tonight. Here & Now sports analyst Mike Pesca joins host Robin Young to take a swing at what&#8217;s going to happen. \nMLB postseason schedule\n\nGuest\n\nMike Pesca, Here & Now‘s sports analyst. He hosts the daily podcast The Gist. He tweets @pescami.", "If Kansas City is a cathedral for what it is to be American, Thomas Hart Benton painted the ceiling. In the 1930's, his stylized figures and mural-size scale got him Time magazine's first cover story on an artist. But styles change — and Benton didn't. He wasn't \"new\" anymore when he and Rita, his wife and business partner, left New York after 20 years and came back to Kansas City. The Bentons bought a home there in the late 1930's. There was an old stable out back where Benton could put in a big, north-facing window. He added a cast-iron wood stove and he went to work making art. A Grandson's Memories Inside, Benton's grandson, Anthony Gude, studies the now-quiet space, a union of studio and workshop: saws, chisels, packing crates — and paint. An eight-foot easel holds a large, blank canvas, partly covered with a linen drop cloth — just as Benton left it. The air smells abandoned, but the light is still good. Gude says he hasn't been back in nearly 20 years. And in that time, the house has gone through quite a few changes. \"But the studio remains very intact,\" he says. \"It hasn't changed since the day he died. To me, that's where the spirits or ghosts, if you will find them, will be.\" Gude says he used to come to the studio and watch his grandfather paint, sometimes dabbling himself with drawings or playing with clay. He and his family often posed as figures for Benton's murals. Gude especially remembers a mural destined for the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville: \"He was very particular about making sure that the musicians in the mural were all playing the same chord,\" says Gude. \"If you play a violin or a guitar or the dulcimer, you know the hands are in the right position.\" And all of the musicians in the painting are definitely playing the same chord, says Gude. Home as Gallery The Bentons loved food and drink, and a table of people. Their dinner parties were artfully managed by Rita. In the afternoon, she'd walk out back to the studio, go through Benton's most recent work, and pick some pieces to display where the guests — and patrons — would see them. An authentic Thomas Hart Benton! In the Benton home! He didn't need a gallery; he had Rita, and his home. John Callison bought some of those paintings — and stayed close with the family. So he was there that night in 1975 when Benton had just completed the country music mural. \"He went out and sat down to sign the mural and had a massive heart attack and died,\" recalls Callison. \"In fact, his watch was stopped at 7:15, where it hit the floor.\" The mural was never signed. Rita Benton lived a few months more, and then she, too, was gone. Discovering Unknown Works Thirty years later, the clapboard and stone building still seems like someone's home. Tom and Rita Benton's things are here: couches, chairs, rugs, an entry table. The place invites you in — as the art does. Benton didn't necessarily paint the big events in American history or the famous people, says the Benton Home's curator, Steve Sitton. \"His great, great uncle, Senator Thomas Hart Benton from Missouri is not included in the mural in the Missouri state capitol,\" Sitton explains. \"Tom said that mules did more for the development of the state than Senator Benton ever did.\" Burton Dunbar, a Kansas City art appraiser, says it's not uncommon to get a call like one he received a few weeks ago: a family has some Bentons; can he come take a look? Think about how Rita Benton sold those paintings: straight out of the studio, into the dinner party, then home with a guest. There must be many works that Tom and Rita Benton saw, and the families that got them still see, but no one else has ever seen. For an art historian, this is about possibility. \"You kind of want to shout 'this is the \"Benton\" Benton that we've been looking for,'\" exclaims Dunbar, \"and this is, I know, Benton at his finest hour.\" Burton Dunbar has seen these unknown works with Benton's price notations on the back — $1,500, say. Some of those paintings are worth millions now. Even so, Dunbar says, most of the time his clients listen to his valuations and then they thank him. In Kansas City, they keep their Bentons. MADELEINE BRAND, host: This is DAY TO DAY. I'm Madeleine Brand. ALEX CHADWICK, host: And I'm Alex Chadwick all week here in Kansas City. We've been asking people what it means to be in the middle. A lot of them talk about the heart of America, and that phrase spoken here does settle naturally. If Kansas City is a cathedral for what it is to be American, Thomas Hart Benton painted the ceiling. I drove over to the Roanoke neighborhood, where he used to live, to talk with people who knew him. On my last visit here, I stood outside with Tom's grandson, Anthony Gude, also an artist. He'd driven up from his farm hours away - his first time back in almost 20 years. Mr. ANTHONY GUDE (Artist): Not having been in the studio in all these years, after my grandparents died, the house went through quite a few chan", "The post-season is down to four teams: the Kansas City Royals take on the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship series, and the San Francisco Giants face the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship series. The winners of each, of course, go onto the World Series. Who&#8217;s it going to be? Here & Now&#8217;s sports analyst Mike Pesca joins Sacha Pfeiffer and ventures his best prediction. Guest\n\nMike Pesca, Here & Now sports analyst and host of Slate’s daily podcast The Gist. He tweets @pescami.", "In the presidential primary cycle, &#8220;Super Tuesday&#8221; is the date when the most delegates are at stake, with 13 states voting on a single day. Here & Now’s Robin Young speaks to NPR’s Sam Sanders and Don Gonyea about what to watch for in today’s voting. Guests\n\nSam Sanders, reporter in NPR&#8217;s election unit. He tweets @samsanders.\nDon Gonyea, political correspondent for NPR. He tweets @DonGonyea.", "Ret. Gen. David Petraeus, who served as director of the CIA and commanded the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was hounded and taunted as he walked through the streets of New York City on Monday. The video showing the confrontation is just now gaining traction online. It shows Petraeus headed to his new job as a visiting professor at The City University of New York (CUNY), while young people described in the video as \"CUNY students\" hurl insults his way. They say he's a \"war criminal\" and a \"scumbag.\" Petraeus maintains his composure and remains silent the whole time. We warn you, the video contains a couple of expletives and the aggressiveness means it can be tough to watch: As we've reported, Petraeus' tenure with CUNY has been mired in controversy. The college was roundly criticized for offering Petraeus $200,000 to deliver two public lectures and a seminar titled \"Are We on the Threshold of the North American Decade.\" The reaction on Twitter has tended to side with Petraeus, who resigned from the CIA, citing an extramarital affair. Tommy Vietor, former National Security Council spokesman for President Obama, tweeted: \"No excuse for treating anyone like this RT '@thegoldfarb: disgrace.... RT @allahpundit: Unreal http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-college-students-chase-david-petraeus-and-shout-at-him-on-first-day-of-class/ ...'\" New York Magazine writes that ironically, it is Petraeus who \"comes across better than anyone else in the video.\" The liberal site Firedoglake spoke to CUNY Hunter College Adjunct Professor of Latin American History S. Sándor John, who is part of a group organizing the protests against Petraeus. He said they protest because they believe Petraeus is a war criminal. \"Most of our students at CUNY are from the working class and from oppressed communities, specifically from families whose roots are in countries where the effects of U.S. imperialism and militarism have been experienced in the most unspeakable and horrific ways,\" John told the site. (Updated 11:10 p.m. ET) In a statement emailed to NPR Wednesday night, Ann Kirschner, dean of the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, said: \"Our university is a place where complex issues and points of view across the political and cultural spectrum are considered and debated in the hopes that we might offer solutions to the problems in our world. In order to advance reasoned debate on such issues, it is important that multiple points of view be heard.\" \"Great universities strive to connect their students with remarkable leaders and thinkers so students can examine a variety of ideas, debate them, and form their own opinions. Those perspectives find expression through discussion in and out of the classroom.\" \"We may disagree, but we must always do so in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. While the college supports the articulation of all points of view on critical issues, it is essential that dialogue within the academic setting always be conducted civilly.\"", "Voodoo, goth, exotica and tiki music are all styles that Darrell Brogdon plays on his show &#8220;Retro Cocktail Hour&#8221; on Kansas Public Radio. Brogdon describes the music on the show as &#8220;shaken not stirred.&#8221; He joins Here & Now&#8217;s Jeremy Hobson for week&#8217;s DJ Session. \nHear previous DJ Sessions\n Note: We have a Spotify playlist and an Apple Music playlist for our weekly DJ Sessions. Songs In This Segment The Voodoo Organist, &#8220;Bombay Beach Bondage Boogaloo&#8221; [Youtube] Robert Drasnin, &#8220;Hulabalu&#8221; The Tikiyaki Orchestra, &#8220;Idol Worship&#8221; [Youtube] Nutty, &#8220;Purple Panther&#8221; [Youtube] Mr. Ho&#8217;s Orchestrotica Quartet, &#8220;Would You Like Bongos with That Fugue?&#8221; [Youtube] Guest\n\nDarrell Brogdon, host of &#8220;Retro Cocktail Hour&#8221; out of Kansas Public Radio. He tweets @kprbrogdon.", "On Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays came from behind to beat the Texas Rangers in a dramatic game, and the Kansas City Royals won against the Houston Astros, so the Royals face the Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Tonight the Mets and the Dodgers face off and the winner will play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Here & Now sports analyst Mike Pesca talks with host Robin Young. Guest\n\nMike Pesca, Here & Now&#8217;s sports analyst. He hosts the daily podcast The Gist. He tweets@pescami.", "This has not been an easy month for Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas — who learned the political ropes working for Sebelius' father-in-law, then a Kansas congressman — called for her to step down over the debut of HealthCare.gov, the problem-plagued website where people are supposed to apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Invited on the usually friendly-to-Democrats The Daily Show, Sebelius was lampooned by host Jon Stewart, who challenged her to a race of sorts: \"I'm going to try and download every movie ever made, and you're going to try to sign up for Obamacare, and we'll see which happens first.\" And while she was able to laugh off Stewart's opening gag, Sebelius had trouble clearly explaining why, if businesses have been given an extra year to implement Obamacare, individuals shouldn't have the same delay. Sebelius served six years as the Democratic governor of largely Republican Kansas. She is the daughter of the late Ohio Gov. John Gilligan. University of Kansas political science professor Burdett Loomis says she remains popular at home, despite the hits she's been taking in Washington: \"This hasn't been an easy time for her. The Obamacare rollout has clearly been problematic; she pretty much got roasted on Jon Stewart; but she's been a loyal soldier to Barack Obama and I think she truly believes that Obamacare is in the best interest of the country.\" Seven years ago the Bush administration unveiled Medicare Part D, which provides seniors with prescription drug benefits. The website for that program had a similarly rocky debut. The HHS secretary then was former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, who notes Sebelius did not make many of the key decisions regarding the rollout of Obamacare. Leavitt says he empathizes with Sebelius: \"It's much like being the pilot of an airplane full of passengers sitting on the tarmac with a series of complications you don't entirely control. It's better to say to the passengers, 'This is where we are. This is how much time we expect it'll take. ... Here's what we're doing to remedy it and here's how it's going to affect you. We're doing our best.' \" Before being elected governor, Sebelius was Kansas insurance commissioner. The Republican occupant of the job now, Sandy Praeger, says the glitches in the rollout of Obamacare are not Sebelius' fault. \"The complexity of what she's having to deal with is massive and in an environment that's been pretty politically charged, to say the least. So I have a great deal of sympathy for what she's having to work through,\" says Praeger. \"I know she's probably very frustrated.\" Praeger says calls for Sebelius to resign are totally inappropriate. And in an appearance in Phoenix, Sebelius rejected Republican demands she step down. 'The majority of people calling for me to resign I would say are people who I don't work for and who do not want this program to work in the first place,\" Sebelius said Thursday. \"I have had frequent conversations with the president and I have committed to him that my role is to get the program up and running, and we will do just that.\" Sebelius is expected to testify before a House committee investigating the Affordable Care Act's implementation as soon as Wednesday. SCOTT SIMON, HOST: The Obama Administration says, as Ron indicated, that the problems plaguing the website for the Affordable Care Act ought to be fixed by the end of next month. One person who has borne much of the blame for the website's failings is the health and human services secretary, Kathleen Sebelius. There have even been calls for her resignation. NPR's Brian Naylor has this profile. BRIAN NAYLOR, BYLINE: This has not been an easy month for Kathleen Sebelius. Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas - who learned the political ropes working for her father-in-law, then a Kansas congressman - called for Sebelius to step down. Invited on the usually friendly-to-Democrats \"Daily Show,\" she was lampooned by host Jon Stewart. (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, \"THE DAILY SHOW\") NAYLOR: And while she was able to laugh off Stewart's opening gag, she had trouble clearly explaining why, if businesses have been given an extra year to implement Obamacare, individuals shouldn't have the same delay. (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, \"THE DAILY SHOW\") : Well, they can. They... : Oh, they... : ...they pay a fine, they pay a fine at the end of the year, but they don't have to - I mean, they can say, \"I don't want to do it.\" The theory is, they can't pick and choose if they're going to get hit by a bus or diagnosed with an illness. And for a lot of young folks, they're, you know, one fall on the basketball court, one auto accident away... : Right. : ...from a lifetime of hospital bills they can't pay. NAYLOR: Kathleen Sebelius served six years as the Democratic governor of largely Republican Kansas. She's the daughter of the late Ohio governor John Gilligan. University of Kansas political science professor Burdett", "When alto saxophonist Bobby Watson returned to Kansas City, it was a big deal. Despite its jazz legacy, Kansas City felt overlooked compared to other jazz towns, and often lost its best musicians to bigger cities. So for one of its own to return — especially a world-class player like Watson — brought a lot of buzz to the tight-knit scene. Watson is a Kansas City-area native, but he left in order to make a name for himself in the jazz world. He attended the University of Miami alongside fellow students Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius. After he graduated in 1975, Watson moved to New York City and played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1977-1981. He's played with nearly everyone, from Max Roach, George Coleman and Branford and Wynton Marsalis to Dianne Reeves, Betty Carter and even Carlos Santana. After more than 25 years touring the world and living in New York, Watson returned to his hometown in 2000 to serve as the William and Mary Grant-Endowed Professor of Jazz and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Now, the veteran saxophonist and professor has released the album of his long-awaited, seven-part work for large ensemble: The Gates BBQ Suite. (The piece premiered in December 2008 in a live performance with UMKC's Conservatory Concert Jazz Orchestra.) Watson says the suite — more than five years in the making and completely self-financed — is a \"dream piece,\" a labor of love. But it's also a supremely fun collection of songs in a classic big band tradition. \"Beef On Bun\" from Bobby Watson and The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Concert Jazz Orchestra, The Gates BBQ Suite (2010). The Gates BBQ Suite is thematically oriented around the legendary Kansas City restaurant Gates Bar B. Q. As a native Kansas Citian myself, the record combines two of my favorite things: jazz and barbecue. Watson's songs both honor Gates and wink at those who most closely know the restaurant. I recently spoke to Watson to chat about his new recording, the barbecue connection and his — our — hometown. Michael Katzif: So, as a native Kansas Citian, I'm required to lead with this crucial first question: Why Gates? Why not Bryant's? Bobby Watson: (Laughs) I like Bryant's. There's a lot of barbecue places I like in town. Some people said \"You should write something for Jack's Stack.\" [Arthur Bryant's and Jack's Stack are two other iconic barbecue places in K.C. --Ed.] But I was always familiar with Gates in my life and my experience. Gates is what means something to me. But it just so happens that Mr. Gates [Gates' owner Ollie Gates — Ed.] is a music lover and he would always come and support me at my gigs. He used to have a jazz club called OG's. And his relationship with the music and jazz have a lot to with it. I remember when I still lived in New York, we would always drive back to Kansas City every summer and we would hit Gates when we'd get back. It was sort of a tradition for us. And most of the musicians when they come into town, first place they want to go is Gates. Read More &gt;&gt; MK: I'll always go for the beef on bun when I hit up Gates. What do you normally eat when you go there? BW: Well, we didn't eat pork for like 20 years, before the kids were born. And so when they got be around ten, they hadn't had pork. But you go into Gates, you're not smelling the beef up in the air, you're not smelling the chicken. You're smelling those daggone ribs. (Laughs) And they [had not] had beef ribs either. [We'd] go in there and go \"(sniffs), gimme a beef sandwich.\" But finally when the kids were 13, I was like, \"I was raised on eating these ribs, let me let these kids have a short end,\" you know? And so we went to Gates! And so they had a short end and that turned it all around. I took a little pinch and the next thing you know I'm back on it. And that's our story. Every time we drive, we take three days to drive from New York to Kansas City. And when we get in, the first thing we do is grab the beef sandwiches and short ends and head over to grandma's house. MK: You're originally from Kansas. But before 2000, you lived in New York and toured for over 25 years. What was it that drew you back to Kansas City? BW: Well it's home and my parents are getting up there in age. But it was also an opportunity to come back home with a very special teaching situation in terms of being able to run a jazz department [at UMKC]. It's an endowed professorship, so I can still travel from time to time and keep my presence out there. So I think it was just a matter of timing. If I had to plan it myself, I would have waited a couple more years before I came home, but the opportunity was there at that time. I talked to a lot of my friends about it, \"What do you think? Should I try it?\" [Because when] you've been in New York in the trenches, you don't want to feel like you're abandoning ship, you know? We're all soldiers for the music — very committed soldiers. But they said, \"Oh no man, you better take advan", "Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback is one of the most conservative candidates running for president this year. But when he first ran for Congress in 1994, Brownback was viewed by many in Kansas as a moderate Republican. His opponent in the GOP primary even attacked him for being too liberal. Burdett Loomis, a political scientist at the University of Kansas, says that Brownback came into the race as a moderate, modeling himself on the dominant politician in the state, Sen. Bob Dole. \"He presented himself initially as a pretty typical Bob Dole Republican, representing traditional Kansas values — but a very normal range of Midwestern/Plains kind of Republican values,\" says Loomis, who has taught at the University of Kansas for 28 years. He says Brownback stressed economic issues and smaller government. Brownback's strong socially conservative views would emerge later. Challenging Brownback's Conservatism Bob Bennie ran against Brownback in the GOP primary. Bennie had never run for office before. He took a leave of absence from his job — as an agricultural chemicals salesman for Monsanto — to challenge Brownback for the seat. \"If somebody conservative had been running,\" Bennie says now, \"I wouldn't have gotten into the race.\" Bennie and Brownback were running in Kansas' 2nd Congressional District. While the state hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1930, the 2nd District tends to be less conservative and has gone back and forth between the two parties. Taking a Strong Stance on Abortion Brownback now is a favorite of the pro-life movement. But back in 1994, the state's largest anti-abortion group, Kansans for Life, endorsed Bennie instead of Brownback. Brownback says that during that House race, he wasn't as clear as he could have been about his stance on abortion. \"I'd list the votes that I would take on it rather than saying, 'I'm pro-life or I'm pro-choice,'\" Brownback says. \"I'd just list, 'Here's how I'd vote on key issues as they came up' — which led to some confusion at the time.\" He quickly adds, \"But it was a pro-life position.\" Bennie says Brownback was in trouble in the campaign until he clarified his position on abortion. \"If he had stayed the way he was — kind of moderate, kind-of, you know, not really being firmly pro-life — I think we'd have won,\" Bennie says. Making Views Loud and Clear Brownback is now one of the most conservative senators in Washington. He says he learned during that campaign that being a cautious politician didn't suit him. The GOP primary, he says, made him realize the importance of being upfront and clear about positions, even if the audience disagrees. \"It's certainly a campaign style that I've stuck with since then,\" Brownback says. \"I think there's a real value for the American public. You're not having to guess where this guy stands. If you agree with him, great. If you don't, that's fine, too. But here's where he is and you decide.\" If Brownback started that 1994 campaign as a moderate, as some observers say he did, he arrived in Washington as an ardent conservative. Brownback called for the abolition of the departments of Commerce, Energy, Housing and Education. One of his first moves was to try to sell off a federal office building. At the time, the Republican Revolution was taking the capital by storm. Brownback worked with the new Republican majority and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, but in a moment that illustrated where he viewed himself on the conservative spectrum, he refused to sign the Contract with America. Democrats were denouncing the contract as way out of the mainstream. But Brownback said it wasn't conservative enough. MADELEINE BRAND, host: This is DAY TO DAY. I'm Madeleine Brand. ALEX COHEN, host: And I'm Alex Cohen. Just ahead, the mom is a trout but the baby is a salmon. It's a new approach to alternative parenting. BRAND: First though, we continue our series on the presidential candidates' first campaigns with a look at Republican Sam Brownback. He is the senior senator from Kansas and he's one of the most conservative politicians in the race. But when he first ran for Congress back in 1994, Sam Brownback was seen by many in Kansas as something of a moderate. His opponent in that Republican primary even attacked him as too liberal. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports. JASON BEAUBIEN: Sam Brownback's ambition and interest in politics started early. In high school he was the president of the Kansas chapter of the Future Farmers of America. When he got to college, he commonly told people that his career goal was to become president of the United States. Professor ROBERT LINDERS (Kansas State University): Sam was a very prominent student here at Kansas State University and one of the best-known student politicians on campus. BEAUBIEN: Bob Linders, a professor of history at Kansas State. He remembers Brownback running aggressively for student body president in the late 1970s. Prof. LINDERS: Most students respected him if they", "Former FBI Director James Comey's appearance at a Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing inspired watch parties in Washington, D.C., and beyond Thursday, as armchair analysis of American politics took to barstools and picnic tables. The hearing, on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and Comey's dealings with President Trump, was projected on walls and shown on TVs in sports bars, as the public looked for new details about a controversy that has dogged the Trump administration. A long line formed outside Shaw's Tavern in Washington, where reporter Mikaela Lefrak of member station WAMU says she overheard this exchange: \"Covfefe cocktails? AbsoLUTEly.\" Down the street from congressional office buildings, the Capitol Lounge opened early. Washington's Union Pub offered to buy a round of drinks every time President Trump tweeted during the hearing. Postings like that one inspired debate in some corners about whether it would look suspicious if five co-workers all called in sick. One potential patron asked the bar, \"Do you have good WiFi? I might need to 'work' remotely tomorrow at the Pub!\" The president didn't tweet during the hearing, but the pub gave away a free round anyway, according to Washingtonian magazine's Benjamin Freed. He added that when Comey said to his former FBI colleagues, \" I am sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you,\" the patrons responded with a collective \"Awww.\" In Kansas City, Mo., coffee shop and bar Thou Mayest featured a \"Comeyunist (watch) Party.\" \"It was a packed house. Just nothing else but watching the hearing. Drinking coffee, having a cocktail in the morning,\" Bartender Mark Sappington, bartender told Frank Morris of member station KCUR. Offerings included a General Flynn — a.k.a. a Moscow Mule, with vodka, lime, and ginger beer. Other drinks got a Cheetoh garnish. And on this day, a plain latte was renamed \"The Recusal.\" As for the hearing, Sappington told Frank, \"The big thing was like, let's hear it from the horse's mouth. I mean he's under oath, let's see what Comey says.\" In Philadelphia, viewers could take advantage of specials at the London Grill, which promoted its watch party by saying, \"Come watch at the bar. We'll be drinking White Russians.\" In Houston's Midtown district, the Axelrad Beer Garden opened early for what it called \"the SUPER BOWL of Washington.\" Urging customers to have \"an early morning beer and engage in friendly debate with fellow patrons,\" the bar said it would make a drink called the Bad Hombre and serve tacos along with granola and coffee. More than 1,000 people responded via Facebook to say they were interested in going — and the bar later tweeted that the tacos were finding takers. In Los Angeles, Tom Bergin's Irish pub opened at 6 a.m. local time — rather than its usual 5 p.m. — to host a watch party. The bar said that it's \"apolitical, but that doesn't mean we can't turn on the TV when we wouldn't normally be open and drink all the Stoli Vodka that we can fit in a pint glass.\" The pub calls itself \"the house of Irish coffee\" — but in an update this morning, Tom Bergin's posted a photo of at least four TV news vans and the caption, \"Plenty of media and not enough drinkers!\" Many viewers of Comey's testimony were doing more than drinking. In the first hour of the hearing, Merriam-Webster posted a list of the trending words that people were looking up, and which had just been used in the hearing: \"contemporaneous, vindicate, salacious, exfiltrate, collusion.\" For those imbibing Thursday, the website PorchDrinking.com created a drinking game in which players were told to take one drink if The Washington Post is mentioned — and to take one drink with their eyes closed if the TV coverage showed someone who had clearly fallen asleep. During the hearing, many on Twitter observed that the effects of a drinking game hinging on the phrase \"I can't answer that in open session\" — something Comey said repeatedly — would be devastating. If you're looking for a guide to the players in this controversy and what's happened so far, NPR Politics has you covered.", "As Franklin Delano Roosevelt was to radio with his reassuring \"fireside chats\" during the Great Depression, as John F. Kennedy was to television with addresses to the nation in moments of crisis, so too is Donald Trump a master of his mass medium of choice. Trump proves his mastery of it daily. Sometimes hourly. \"There's really no way to understand the administration except through the president's Twitter account,\" says Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Center at Columbia University Law School. The entertainment value would appear to dominate. Trump's tweets delight those supporters who say they find him honest, funny and refreshing. By the same token, his tweets distract and dismay his detractors, alienate many of his allies and misdirect much of the media. Yet as a substantive matter, these staccato statements cannot be ignored. They serve up invaluable insight into the workings of the president's mind, a rich resource for historians and one that journalists mine in real time — as do Trump's own aides, who scroll through his account to figure out what he is thinking. Clearly, attention must be paid — just not to exclusion of the impact of actual policy, executive orders, laws and the like. And major outlets are actually doing a pretty good job of covering those weighty matters. It has been said that a president's character is revealed in moments of crisis. Trump's character may perhaps be best revealed in bursts of 280 characters or fewer. On one hand, the public is getting an unfiltered and unprecedented view into the thinking of a sitting president. His immediate thoughts are not hidden or cast in carefully scrubbed prose. On the other hand, Trump often declines to appeal to the better angels of our nature. The social media messages are often Hobbesian: nasty, brutish and short. In February, Trump titled his retweet of a fan's image depicting an ancient Wolf Blitzer in blackface this way: \"The Fake News of big ratings loser CNN.\" The president wrote that the Russians' efforts to disrupt the U.S. political system succeeded because of the investigations of his administration: \"They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America!\" Trump even went after his own national security adviser, Gen. H.R. McMaster, for saying there was \"incontrovertible\" proof the Russians had sought to interfere with the 2016 presidential race: \"General McMaster forgot to say that the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians and that the only Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, the DNC and the Dems.\" On Presidents Day, CNN's Chris Cillizza tallied these and other missives that he described as \"totally unpresidential things\" tweeted by Trump. All nine tweets on Cillizza's list had emerged in the previous 72 hours. A month later, Trump announced McMaster's subsequent firing (where else?) on Twitter. \"Before social media, it was a lot more opaque,\" says journalist Emily Parker. \"A lot of these conversations between leaders were happening behind closed doors, and we had no idea what was going on.\" As a State Department official under President Barack Obama, Parker pushed for government officials to use such platforms to offer greater transparency. \"People always said, 'Oh, it would be so great if ... we could get more public figures on Twitter and if they could speak directly to the public and speak directly to each other.' \" Parker still thinks that is a good thing. Yet in retrospect, she concedes, instant transparency in the Trump era represents a case study in \"be careful what you wish for.\" \"Now you can have leaders literally fighting in public in front of the entire world,\" she says. The current U.S. commander in chief called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose regime is developing long-range nuclear missiles, \"obviously a madman\" who \"will be tested like never before.\" Last summer, an Australian psychology professor and a German management professor released their analysis of more than 35,000 Trump tweets over an eight-year period. They compared Trump to other entrepreneurial leaders and political figures and concluded that his competitive nature, his aversion to rules and norms, and his pursuit of change and creativity reflect characteristics that are important for successful entrepreneurs and political leadership. They also found his tweets reveal him to be \"comparatively\" neurotic. In comparing the president to other business leaders and politicians, the scholars cited models of behavior articulated by the early 20th century Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter. Our president is more of a Trumpeter. Trump sets policy, settles scores and swaps out personnel more on Twitter than in any forum. Obviously, news organizations must examine laws, policies, regulations and all the rest — and they are, intently. But to turn off Twitter is to embrace blind spots about this president. On Twitter, Trump called his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, \"d" ]

[ "The European Union is closing its external borders for 30 days to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Movement within EU member nations will still be allowed." ]

[ "European countries put more restrictive measures in place to control the spread of COVID-19. France has a strict overnight curfew, but the government says that's not enough to slow the virus down.", "BRUSSELS — The European Union recommended Monday that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there. The decision by the European Council to remove the U.S. from a safe list of countries for nonessential travel reverses advice that it gave in June, when the bloc recommended lifting restrictions on U.S. travelers before the summer tourism season. The guidance is nonbinding, however, and U.S. travelers should expect a mishmash of travel rules across the continent. The EU has no unified COVID-19 tourism policy and national EU governments have the authority to decide whether they keep their borders open to U.S. tourists. The EU also removed Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia from the safe travel list. The United States has yet to reopen its own borders to EU tourists, despite calls from the bloc for the Biden administration to lift its ban. The European Council updates the safe travel list based on criteria relating to coronavirus infection levels. It gets reviewed every two weeks. The threshold for being on the EU list is having not more than 75 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days. Last week in the U.S. new coronavirus cases averaged over 152,000 a day, turning the clock back to the end of January, and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was around 85,000, a number not seen since early February. U.S. coronavirus deaths have been over 1,200 a day for several days, seven times higher than they were in early July.", "Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, medical personnel, human rights groups and others have warned of catastrophe if COVID-19 spreads to the roughly 60,000 refugees living in often-squalid camps in Greece. Now the virus has arrived. This week, at least 20 refugees living in the Ritsona camp, near Athens, have tested positive for COVID-19. The camp is now on lockdown for the next two weeks. \"No one can go in or out\" except for essential personnel like healthcare workers, Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis told Greece's SKAI radio on Thursday. Authorities were first alerted earlier this week, when a 19-year-old resident of the camp tested positive for COVID-19 after giving birth at an Athens hospital. Healthcare workers immediately began testing more than 60 Ritsona camp residents who had come into contact with the woman. The 20 who tested positive for COVID-19 currently do not have symptoms, Greece's migration ministry says. Testing of the 2,700 refugees living in Ritsona will continue during the 14-day quarantine. \"It is critical that everyone, including migrant[s] and refugees on the mainland and the islands, are ensured equal access to health services including prevention, testing and treatment, especially in times like these,\" said Gianluca Rocco, chief of the International Organization for Migration's mission in Greece. Ritsona is one of Greece's better-maintained refugee camps. The worst camps are on the Aegean islands, where 41,000 asylum seekers are crammed into migrant centers designed to hold a few thousand. At the most notorious camp, Moria, on the island of Lesvos, some areas have \"just one water tap for every 1,300 people and no soap available,\" Dr. Hilde Vochten, the medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Greece, said in a statement in mid-March. \"This means that recommended measures such as frequent hand washing and social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus are just impossible.\" MSF, Amnesty International and Germany's Protestant Church federation, Evangelische Kirche Deutschland, have pleaded with the Greek government to move the refugees out of these camps and onto the mainland. \"Those seeking protection in the refugee camps face a catastrophe as soon as COVID-19 breaks out there,\" warned Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chair of the Evangelische Kirche Deutschland council. Mitarakis, the Greek migration minister, told members of the European Parliament's home affairs committee that there is no room on the Greek mainland for the refugees. \"We will strongly welcome any offers of relocation from member states that have capacity,\" he told the lawmakers Thursday, \"because we cannot resolve this crisis instantly and alone.\" The European Union is deeply divided on the issue of refugee relocation. On Wednesday, the European Court of Justice said three anti-migrant EU countries — Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic — broke EU law by refusing to accept refugees under a EU-mandated relocation program.", "The European Union reversed a brief decision to try to restrict the export of COVID-19 vaccines across the border from Ireland into Northern Ireland. European vaccination campaigns have been struggling as supplies of vaccines on the continent have run low. The decision to invoke an emergency protocol of the Brexit deal was seen as an effort to keep supplies from going from the EU to Britain. But within hours of the decision, which could have put checks on the border between the EU member the Republic of Ireland and British-controlled Northern Ireland, Irish and British officials condemned the move. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had \"grave concerns\" while Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster called it \"an incredible act of hostility.\" Johnson and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin each quickly spoke with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Von der Leyen then wrote that she and Johnson \"agreed on the principle that there should not be restrictions on the export of vaccines by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities.\" The EU Commission wrote that it would not trigger the protocol, but warned: \"Should transits of vaccines and active substances toward third countries be abused to circumvent the effects of the authorisation system, the EU will consider using all the instruments at its disposal.\" \"They have recognized they have made a mistake and I believe we can now concentrate on making sure that our vaccine program is successful,\" Michael Gove, a British Cabinet minister, told Sky News. Irish officials also welcomed the reversal. Prime Minister Martin called it \"a positive development given the many challenges we face in tackling COVID-19.\" \"The Protocol is not something to be tampered with lightly, it's an essential, hard won compromise, protecting peace and trade for many,\" Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney tweeted. The politically sensitive border between Ireland and Northern Ireland was a major sticking point in Brexit negotiations between the U.K. and EU. Per the Brexit deal, the border was remained open but an emergency provision allows for either the U.K. or EU to unilaterally suspend parts of the deal.", "For 60 years, Cuba has been led by a Castro.  That era in the country’s history is about to end. The head of the country’s communist party, Raúl Castro, is stepping down – handing power on to someone who’s not in the family. But the country’s economy is on edge. Tourists have halted travel plans, leaving the tourism-dependent country without one of its main sources of income. Cuba is also working to slow the spread of COVID-19 inside its own borders. It’s one of the few countries working to create its own vaccine. So what’s next for Cuba, Cubans, and its Communist party?", "COVID-19 has affected the entire country, but each state has its own measures in place to try to slow the spread and repair the damage.", "Due to spikes in COVID-19 cases in several U.S. states, the European Union is preparing to restrict visitors from the United States next month.", "Updated at 5:52 p.m. ET The European Union is locking down its borders, imposing a 30-day entry ban on nonessential travel for non-EU citizens to slow the spread of the coronavirus. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the measure Tuesday night, saying people in the member nations can still move freely between those countries. The ban went into effect immediately. While the primary goal is to contain the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus in both directions, officials also said it is aimed at reducing pressure on health systems. There are to the ban a handful of exceptions, which include, citizens of Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Andorra, as well as third-country nationals with long term residence rights in an EU country. The move is the most draconian taken so far by the 27 EU nations in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the epicenter of which is now in Europe, according to the World Health Organization. There are more than 76,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 inside Europe, with more than 3,000 people dead. Worldwide, the number of cases has pushed past 190,000 and the death toll is nearing 8,000. EU leaders have also promised all available aid to the European economy. In a separate meeting with Turkish officials, Chancellor Merkel agreed to increase funds for the care of refugees in Turkey. Germany and France, among the hardest-hit countries in the region, had already imposed new restrictions on their citizens aimed at increasing social distancing. The EU's extraordinary measure reverses an earlier reluctance in European capitals and follow the example of the United States, where President Trump last week ordered a ban on entry of non-U.S. citizens from nearly all EU countries. Days later, Trump added Ireland and the United Kingdom to the travel-ban list. Meanwhile, in China — the original epicenter of the epidemic which peaked there less than five weeks ago with a whopping 14,000 new infections reported in a single day — marked a milestone in its efforts to contain the virus, saying Tuesday that it had just one new case. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the ban on unnecessary travel into the bloc on Tuesday. The EC is also asking the four non-EU member states which are part of the Schengen free-travel zone to participate. \"The less travel, the more we can contain the virus,\" she said. In a national television address on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the move meant that all trips between EU and non-EU countries \"will be suspended.\" Macron said the earlier closing of schools, cafes and non-essential shops had not been properly heeded by the French people. He said the tougher measures in France, which has seen more than 6,600 cornavirus infections and nearly 150 deaths in recent weeks, was unprecedented in peacetime, declaring, \"We are in a health war.\" \"Even while medics were warning about the gravity of the situation, we saw people get together in the parks, busy markets and restaurants and bars that did not respect the order to close,\" he said. He outlined stricter enforcement, warning that those who failed to comply would be punished with a fine up to 135 euros ($150). The tougher measures would be in place for at least 15 days, he said. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said 100,000 police would be charged with enforcing the crackdown. \"I know what I am asking of you is unprecedented but circumstances demand it,\" Macron said. \"We're not up against another army or another nation. But the enemy is right there: invisible, elusive, but it is making progress.\" The French president said the government would introduce a measure in parliament to guarantee 300 billion euros in loans to prop up businesses hurt by the pandemic. He said rent and utility bills owed by small businesses would be suspended. \"No French company, whatever its size, will be exposed to the risk of collapse,\" Macron said. Germany, which reported 1,000 new infections in a 24-hour period, bringing the total to more than 7,000, with 17 deaths, announced Monday the closure of its borders with neighbors France, Austria, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland. Schools had already been shut down, but Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday ordered a ban on religious services and the closing of most shops other than grocery stores. She told Germans to cancel their travel plans. \"The better everyone sticks to these rules, the faster we'll get through this phase,\" Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin, according to the BBC. Government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer told reporters: \"We have a window of time at the moment to slow the spread of the virus.\" In a further indication of the new and unprecedented nature of the global coronavirus pandemic, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte appeared in a televised address to the nation, the first premier to do so since 1973. \"There is no easy or quick way out of this extremely difficult situation,\" he said.", "Germany and France have become the latest European countries to introduce limited public health lockdowns, in an effort to end sharp increases in coronavirus infections.", "Beginning Thursday, most people traveling between European countries can skip COVID-19 testing and quarantine if they've obtained the new EU digital travel certificate.", "The head of the World Health Organization&#8217;s Europe office said the exponential surge of coronavirus cases across the continent has warranted the restrictive measures being taken, calling them &#8220;absolutely necessary&#8221; to stop the pandemic. Host Tonya Mosley speaks with NPR&#8217;s Eleanor Beardsley in France, which declared a public health state of emergency Wednesday. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "Europe faces a surge of coronavirus infections and a slow vaccination roll out. The European Union is giving itself emergency powers to curb exports of COVID-19 vaccines produced within the bloc.", "Europe is trying to battle a new COVID-19 spike with lockdowns. Although the short-term restrictions can be severe, people have free healthcare and income support from the region's governments.", "The United States' COVID-19 vaccine rollout process has gotten off to a slow start. We look back and ahead at the economy. And, The UK officially departs from the EU.", "Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is pushing through a law that will sideline parliament indefinitely and jail anyone he deems to be spreading false information about the coronavirus.", "The United States and Mexico are extending restrictions on nonessential travel across their shared border for an additional 30 days to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The move comes on the heels of a similar announcement of an agreement with Canada over the weekend. U.S. Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement the decisions were made \"in close collaboration\" with the neighboring countries. \"As President Trump stated last week, border control, travel restrictions and other limitations remain critical to slowing the spread and allowing the phased opening of the country,\" Wolf added. Mexican officials said the decision, which extends the border clampdown through May 19, was reached \"after reviewing the development of COVID-19 propagation\" in the two countries. The temporary closure was first put in place on March 21 and does not target the crossing of merchandise. People with temporary work visas, emergency personnel, students and those traveling for business are also still allowed to enter the U.S. However, the partial ban places stringent limits on tourism and shopping for people from California to Texas. The U.S. has more COVID-19 cases than any other nation in the world. As of Monday, there were 761,991 reported cases. Meanwhile, Mexico has reported only a fraction of that with just 8,261 cases. But the country's ratio of deaths to confirmed cases is among the highest in Latin America, suggesting that the country, which was slow to react to the global pandemic, lags behind in coronavirus testing. On Sunday, the newspaper El Norte reported the outbreak in Mexico City, which is the epicenter of the disease in the country, will likely soon overwhelm the health care system, saying many of the city's hospitals are near or at capacity. Unless it's renewed, Mexico's state of emergency will expire on April 30 after being in effect for a month.", "Coronavirus case counts are rising exponentially in Africa. Since the continent saw its first case, in Egypt in mid-February, some 10,000 cases and 500 deaths have been confirmed. Public health officials think this is just the beginning, and they worry that the situation in the coming weeks will get much worse. \"COVID-19 has the potential not only to cause thousands of deaths, but to also unleash economic and social devastation,\" Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said in a statement Wednesday. There are several reasons why health officials are especially concerned about the impact of COVID-19 in African countries. First, countries in sub-Saharan Africa carry some of the world's heaviest burdens of serious underlying conditions such as HIV, which limits immune function, and tuberculosis, which often scars the lungs. Malnutrition compromises the health of more than 50 million children in the region. Then there's the limited access to quality care. Numbers vary by country, but on average across the region, there's about one doctor and five nurses for every 5,000 people. A consult with a doctor could be far away and prohibitively expensive. And when it comes to specialized equipment like ventilators that can help severely ill patients breathe, there just aren't enough of them. \"We talk about surging to 75,000 ventilators in New York City, and yet we have whole countries that only have one or two ventilators,\" says Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer for the global health nonprofit Partners in Health. \"I fully expect that when [COVID-19] hits, if it hits in a big way in impoverished countries, it could have a four to five times higher mortality\" than in other countries so far, Mukherjee says. In Nigeria, public health officials are working to get local manufacturers to produce various types of ventilators, putting up prefabricated isolation centers and turning hotels and convention centers into hospital beds. Some 20,000 hospital beds will be added to Nigeria's capacity by week's end, says Dr. Adaeze Oreh, a senior official with the Nigerian Ministry of Health. The primary strategy, though, is to try and prevent as many infections as possible. \"We've seen the increase in the rates of spread across Africa,\" Oreah says, \"We are trying to be proactive in trying to stop that kind of massive spread in the communities.\" Last week, Nigeria locked down the cities of Lagos and Abuja, telling more than 20 million residents to stay at home. That's especially hard in a country where half the population is below the poverty line, and many people work every day to earn their daily bread. But Nigeria is betting that the unchecked spread of COVID-19 would be worse.", "As coronavirus infections spike in Europe, the U.K., which has the highest death toll among European countries, is imposing new restrictions in an effort to avoid a nationwide lockdown.", "The French government is locking down Paris and 15 other regions, while Germany's health minister says his country does not have enough vaccine to combat the pandemic's third wave.", "CANBERRA, Australia — Australia was battling to contain several COVID-19 clusters around the country on Monday in what some experts have described as the nation's most dangerous stage of the pandemic since the earliest days. Sydney in the east and Darwin in the north were locked down on Monday. Perth in the west made masks compulsory for three days and warned a lockdown could follow after a resident tested positive after visiting Sydney more than a week ago. Brisbane and Canberra have or will soon make wearing masks compulsory. South Australia state announced new statewide restrictions from Tuesday. Australia has been relatively successful in containing clusters throughout the pandemic, registering fewer than 31,000 cases since the pandemic began. But the new clusters have highlighted the nation's slow vaccine rollout with only 5% of the population fully vaccinated. Government urged to speed up vaccinations Most of the new cases stem from a Sydney limousine driver who tested positive on June 16 to the delta variant, which is thought to be more contagious. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew from Sydney Airport. New South Wales state on Monday reported 18 new cases in the latest 24-hour period. The tally was fewer than 30 cases recorded on Sunday and 29 on Saturday. Authorities warned that a two-week Sydney lockdown that began on Friday would not reduce infection rates for another five days. \"We have to be prepared for the numbers to bounce around and we also have to be prepared for the numbers to go up considerably,\" New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. Health policy adviser Bill Bowtell, who was the architect of Australia's first AIDS response in the 1980s, said the government needed to consider hastening vaccinations by shortening the gap between AstraZeneca shots from 12 to 8 weeks. \"We really face the most serious crisis in the COVID pandemic since the early days in February-March last year,\" Bowtell said. Infected while in quarantine The crisis has also highlighted the dangers posed by hotel quarantine, which is the source of most cases of community virus spread in Australia. A mine worker is suspected to have become infected with the delta variant while in hotel quarantine in Brisbane in Queensland state before flying to a gold mine in the Northern Territory. The miner infected at least six people at the mine. One of the infected miners had since traveled home to Queensland and another to New South Wales. Authorities were attempting to track down 900 mine workers around the country who could have been infected by the initial case. The Northern Territory capital Darwin, and neighboring Palmerston, on Sunday locked down for 48 hours after an infected miner returned home to Palmerston. That lockdown would be extended to Friday after another miner tested positive after returning home to Darwin on Friday, officials said on Monday. The Northern Territory has never before experienced COVID-19 spreading in the community. Queensland on Monday reported three new cases, including the miner. She is one of 170 potentially infected miners who live in the state and fly to an from work. Masks will become compulsory from Tuesday for two weeks in Brisbane and several surrounding towns. \"The next 24-to-48 hours are going to be very crucial in Queensland about whether or not we see any spread of this delta strain,\" Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczu said. The Queensland government has called on the federal government to tighten already tough border restrictions to reduce the number of travelers arriving in Australia. Western Australia state reported one new case in Perth linked to the Sydney cluster. The state is home to 177 of the potentially infected miners.", "Countries in Europe are concerned about a new strain of the coronavirus that authorities say may spread more easily. France has banned trucks from the United Kingdom for a period of 48 hours while the new COVID-19 variant is assessed. Host Robin Young speaks with lorry driver Rick Mayo, who is currently stuck in Kent, England. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "After evacuating to cities like San Antonio, Dallas and Austin, coastal Texas residents are making their way back home in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. Now there are worries that both evacuations and storm damage could potentially increase COVID-19 numbers in the state. As of Friday, Houston had seen three straight days of fewer than 100 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, for the first time in two months. Daily new cases are on a rough downward trend. While the city isn't yet in the clear — the Texas Medical Center tracks three metrics to determine if the virus is under control, and not one of those benchmarks has been met — health officials say the spread of the virus in the region is slowing down. But ahead of the storm, counties in the Greater Houston area closed COVID-19 testing sites. And those interruptions could last longer depending on any storm damage, which would then slow down efforts to control the virus, according to Dr. Stacey Rose, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. Despite precautions by officials to enforce social distancing among evacuees — housing people in hotel rooms instead of large arenas, and filling buses at half capacity — moving large groups of people during evacuation could lead to a spread. \"We have seen a spike in coronavirus cases after large gatherings,\" Rose said. \"I think, unfortunately, sometimes that's part of those evacuation plans: people have to be in close contact.\"", "DERBY LINE, Vermont — Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit on Monday while the United States is maintaining similar restrictions for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans. U.S. citizens and legal residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world's longest and busiest land borders, and Canadian officials warn they won't sacrifice safety for shorter border waits. Travelers also must fill out a detailed application on the arriveCAN app before crossing. On the first morning that U.S. citizens were allowed to cross into Canada again, it was slow going in the tiny border town of Derby Line, Vermont, where long stretches passed without any cars headed into downtown Stanstead, Quebec.In Buffalo, New York, Lisa and Jim Docherty got COVID-19 tests at a pharmacy for their first visit to their Ridgeway, Ontario, cottage since the summer of 2019. The Hilton, South Carolina couple, originally from Buffalo, has had the cottage more than 40 years. Lisa Doherty said she looked forward to \"just mentally making sure everything's OK.\"It's just been a part of my life because my grandma had a cottage since I was 10, so just kind of a feeling like returning to normal,\" she said.The pharmacy clinic was charging $140 for same-day tests and $125 for delivery of results in 24 to 48 hours.\"At this point, we'll just do whatever we have to do,\" Lisa Docherty said before heading in for a nasal swab. By early afternoon, passenger cars were waiting more than an hour at the Rainbow Bridge to enter Niagara Falls, Ontario, from Niagara Falls, N.Y. There were no delays at two other western New York crossings, the Peace Bridge in Buffalo and the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge in Lewiston.In Washington state at the Peace Arch Border Crossing and Historical State Park, three lanes of vehicles with Washington state license plates waited to cross the border Monday morning. Wait times were about 30 minutes at 11 a.m. Wendy and Fred Chen, who live near the park said they went to the border to see the crossings were going. They said friends crossed at 1 a.m. Monday and waited two hours and that border agents thoroughly checked everyone's test results, vaccination cards and identification.They used to go into Canada weekly before the pandemic to enjoy city life in Vancouver, British Columbia, and take a break from their rural Washington state surroundings.\"It was so easy before,\" Wendy Chen said. The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to nonessential travel since March 2020 to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.The U.S. has said it will extend its closure to all Canadians making nonessential trips until at least Aug. 21, which also applies to the Mexican border. But the Biden administration is beginning to make plans for a phased reopening. The main requirement would be that nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. will have to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.But Canadians aren't waiting for reciprocal rules.Garnet Health, an Essex, Vermont-based company that offers same-day COVID-19 testing, has seen the number of tests it performs more than triple in recent weeks. The increase coincides with Canada's decision last month to drop a two-week quarantine requirement for its citizens when they return home from the U.S.\"I imagine once that border opens, we are going to see lots of people,\" said Chelsea Sweeney, the company's director of business development.Joel Villanueva, owner of Primo's Mexican Grill in White Rock, British Columbia, about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) north of the U.S. border, is more than ready for Americans to return.\"Let's get this thing going,\" he said. \"A lot of our customers are from the United States, and we are literally minutes from across the border.\"Villanueva said he supports people coming who are fully vaccinated and doesn't think there will be a rush of Americans initially. Near the border in Washington state, Blaine Chamber of Commerce board member Carroll Solomon called the reopening a step in the right direction for businesses. But she also said it was somewhat concerning because of an increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide as the highly contagious delta variant spreads.\"For people who need to get up there (to Canada) for family reasons, it's wonderful,\" said Solomon, who also volunteers at the Blaine Visitor Information Center. With all the hoops people need to jump through — being fully vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 and uploading that information to an app — she doesn't think that people will be going to Canada for many day trips.Steve Blake, who lives in Stanstead, Quebec — just across the border from Derby Line, Vermont, — is hoping his siblings living in the United States will be able to visit Canada soon so they can hold a memorial service for their mother who died in early 2020. But given the requirements, he doesn't know how quickly that will hap", "The fast-spreading delta variant of the coronavirus has been found in China. Over the past week, more than 500 cases of COVID-19 have been identified across the country after the first delta cases were found in the port city of Nanjing. On Tuesday, authorities said they had discovered 90 new cases, concentrated in Jiangsu, Henan and Hubei provinces. The city of Wuhan said it would mass test all 10 million of its residents after discovering eight cases of the virus this week. Authorities have locked down the hardest-hit neighborhoods, including Zhangjiajie and begun mass testing of all residents. These measures are all part of China's zero tolerance approach to COVID-19 — to contain it at all costs. Authorities say the delta variant may have come in on the surface of international baggage. From there, infected airport workers passed it on to four travelers who then visited Zhangjiajie, a popular tourist spot known for sharp, vertical mountains that inspired the world in Avatar. While in Zhangjiajie, they watched a musical performance attended by about 1,000 other people. From there, performance participants spread the delta variant to at least 18 other provinces — including to the city of Wuhan, where the first strain of novel coronavirus was discovered. Beijing, China's capital, is being very careful even though it has only 20 COVID-19 cases right now. In a Monday press conference, Beijing health authorities said they are preventing anyone who has been to an area with COVID-19 cases from entering Beijing. China's immigration authorities also said this week that they are not issuing new passports to their citizens unless there is a pressing need to travel abroad for education or employment. This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition Live Blog.", "France and the U.K. have eased border restrictions imposed after a new strain of the coronavirus was detected in Britain. Thousands of French and other European truckers had been stuck in Dover.", "Some colleges and universities have announced that COVID vaccination will be mandatory (with some exemptions) and the FDA has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15. While coronavirus infections are declining in the United States, vaccination rates also appear to be slowing down, so pediatricians and public health officials say they're trying to spread the word to overcome hesitancy, and get the vaccine out to people where they go to school and shop. Emily talks with NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey about this and other topics in the pandemic news. If you'd like to assistant on finding a vaccination site, you can dial 1-800-232-0233 or go to vaccines.gov (English) or vacunas.gov (Spanish) for more information. Have questions about the latest coronavirus headlines? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover it on a future episode.", "British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta are among about two dozen world leaders who have signed onto a letter calling for an international agreement to \"dispel the temptations of isolationism and nationalism\" as part of an effort to prepare for future pandemics. However, given a lack of international coordination that has beset the current coronavirus pandemic and an ongoing tussle over vaccine deliveries to combat COVID-19, whether such a treaty could be reached or adhered to is an open question. In the letter published Tuesday in newspapers around the world, the leaders — which include others in Europe, Africa and Asia and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus — called COVID-19 the biggest global challenge since the 1940s. It said an international settlement similar to the one that ended World War II was needed to address the problem. \"[F]ollowing the devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system,\" the leaders wrote in the letter that appeared in the U.K.'s The Telegraph, Le Monde in France and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Germany, among others. \"The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe,\" the leaders wrote. \"We are, therefore, committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for this and future pandemics.\" \"Our solidarity in ensuring that the world is better prepared will be our legacy that protects our children and grandchildren and [minimizes] the impact of future pandemics on our economies and our societies,\" they said. The United States, Russia and China did not sign the letter. This development comes as much of Europe is struggling to get enough vaccines and as the European Union and a post-Brexit U.K. are locked in a dispute over vaccine deliveries. Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said AstraZeneca, the British-based drugmaker supplying the EU, was at risk of breaching its obligations to European countries. \"That is the message to AstraZeneca,\" she told reporters. \"You fulfill your contract with Europe before you start delivering to other countries.'\" Last week, the U.K.'s Johnson warned his EU counterparts that a vaccine trade war between the EU and United Kingdom could cause \"considerable\" and \"long-term\" economic damage. Also, Merkel backtracked last week on a plan to extend Germany's COVID-19 lockdown through the Easter holiday. The chancellor had warned that Germany was facing \"a new pandemic\" amid rising infection rates and new coronavirus variants. However, she later called the plan a \"mistake\" and personally took the blame for the decision, which she said did not take economic factors into full account. In their letter, the leaders said a new treaty would establish systems for an early warning about potential pandemics and streamline the sharing of vital data and the distribution of vaccines and personal protective equipment – all seen as areas where the international community fell short in the early days of the spread of the coronavirus. \"There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when,\" the letter said.", "Cities and countries all around the world are locking down and sheltering in, courting economic disaster in the name of halting the spread of the coronavirus that has claimed thousands of lives. The lockdowns have come at a great cost. Another 6 million more people filed for unemployment in the U.S. last week, which means, in the last few weeks, at least 16 million people have lost their jobs in the U.S. alone. Other countries are having it just as bad. But not every country is taking this approach to inhibiting the spread of COVID-19. While most of the world is locking down, rolling up the sidewalks and sheltering in, Sweden has made the controversial decision not to shut down its economy. There are no mandatory quarantines. Museums, bars, restaurants, gyms, schools and even nightclubs are open for business. Today we talk to Sweden's head epidemiologist about why Sweden won't lock its cities down and what the effects have been so far. Music: \"Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)\" by ABBA Additional music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, PocketCasts and NPR One.", "The COVID-19 lockdown in Europe means no weddings, funerals, or dinner parties — drying up the market for flowers and the livelihood of Kenyan farmers who export their blooms.", "The State Department has issued its most serious travel warning yet in light of the coronavirus crisis. On Thursday, it instructed U.S. citizens not to travel internationally. The Level 4 travel advisory also calls on U.S. citizens who live in the U.S. but are currently overseas to \"arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.\" \"U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel,\" the warning reads. \"If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.\" On Saturday, the State Department said that U.S. personnel and their family members who are at high risk if exposed to COVID-19 may return to the U.S. It warned that the decision could limit services for U.S. citizens at some U.S. embassies and consulates. Many countries have heavily restricted travel across their borders as cases of the coronavirus spread around the world. On Wednesday, President Trump announced that the U.S. is temporarily closing its border with Canada to nonessential traffic. The European Union has also announced that it is imposing a 30-day entry ban on nonessential travel for non-EU citizens.", "While much of Europe locked down to stop the coronavirus from spreading, Sweden relied largely on voluntary social distancing measures. Now as infections rise, the government is reconsidering.", "Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has approved use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, just hours after the EU's drug agency gave its authorization. Inoculations are expected to begin across Europe next week. \"Our thorough evaluation means that we can confidently assure EU citizens of the safety and efficacy of this vaccine and that it meets necessary quality standards,\" Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency, said in a statement. The European regulator is recommending the use of the vaccine in people 16 or older as U.S. federal officials did earlier this month. The U.K., no longer a member of the EU, is also already carrying out inoculations with the Pfizer vaccine. The European agency has been under criticism in recent weeks for being slow to issue its recommendation. In addition to the U.K., the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has already been authorized for use in the U.S., Canada and several other countries. The European Medicines Agency recommended a \"conditional marketing authorization\" — a regulatory mechanism that allows for early access to medicines due to an \"unmet medical need,\" in this case the pandemic. The news comes as most EU countries have imposed travel restrictions, including halting flights and trains from the U.K., where a strain of the vaccine appears to be especially transmissible — though there are not indications that the strain causes more severe cases of COVID-19. The agency said its recommendation for the EU to authorize use of the vaccine is a milestone in combating the coronavirus. \"Today's positive news is an important step forward in our fight against this pandemic, which has caused suffering and hardship for so many,\" Cooke said. German Health Minister Jens Spahn is among those who has pushed for the EU to speed its authorization. He has told outlets that the goal was to get the vaccine authorized before Christmas, so that inoculations could begin this year. NPR's Rob Schmitz contributed to this report from Berlin." ]

[ "The Jubilee Cup" ]

[ "Jamaica Rugby Union", "premier", "Croatian Rugby Union", "the Premier", "Ceylon Rugby Football Union", "USA Rugby Football Union", "Northern Transvaal Rugby Union", "David Wellington", "Wellington Stanhope", "Wellington, Texas", "sufficient competition", "Sheena Wellington", "managed competition", "Peter Wellington", "Fiercely competitive", "intraspecific competition", "competitive advantage", "entertainment or competition", "competitive inhibitors", "529 Wellington", "competitive cheerleading", "Premier Productions", "Competition Hill", "Competitiveness Pact", "Competition Tribunal", "competitive antagonists", "Premier Inn", "economic competitiveness", "Men's competitions", "fellowship competitions", "international competitions", "the Premier of Belgium" ]

[ "Two children eat." ]

[ "A man sneezes.", "Two children stand by a snack.", "Two big children stand by a snack.", "Two boys are having a snack inside.", "Children sitting on the floor eating snacks.", "There are two children.", "Two children are taking naps.", "The children are at home eating a snack.", "The adults and children are in a classroom for snack time.", "Children take a nap after they've finished their snack.", "Two children are taking their afternoon naps.", "A child has a snack.", "Two men prepare a snack.", "Two children are taking naps in the sun.", "Two ladies eating a snack as they sit.", "Two women sit and have a snack.", "Mother taking her two children to school", "The children are taking a nap.", "Two boys are sitting on the steps eating a snack.", "Two children are at daycare taking a nap", "Two children beat up two girls to take their money.", "There are wine and snacks", "The children are sharing food.", "Children taking naps.", "Girls enjoying a snack.", "A meeting with snacks.", "Two boys eat a snack on the soccer field", "girls are snacking", "The children are taking a bath.", "It is not good for snacking.", "Two kids are holding a popcorn bucket and eating.", "Two children are not eating the food." ]

[ "BHUBANESWAR: About four persons, including three women, were injured after a clash broke out between two groups in Nehru Basti under Nayapalli police limits over a land dispute.\nAccording to police, family members of Ananta Nayak attacked Gandharba Nayak’s family over a land dispute. The two families are natives of Nehru Basti and there has been long-standing differences between them over various issues. “We have sent a man and a woman to AIIMS. Three persons have also been detained and further investigation into the matter is on,” Nayapalli police said." ]

[ "The landowners’ men also attacked other Mahadalit people injuring four of them. (Representational purposes) The landowners’ men also attacked other Mahadalit people injuring four of them. (Representational purposes)\nTwo persons, including an elderly Mahadalit man, were allegedly hacked to death today by members of rival group in a village under Bhargama police station area in Bihar’s Araria district, police said. The clash took place in Rahariya village over a piece of land having a lake between Mahadalit people and some land owners after both claimed its ownership, Forbesganj SDPO Ajit Singh said.\nWatch: Istanbul Nightclub Attack: Bollywood Mourns Abis Rizvi’s Death\nThe Mahadalits allegedly attacked land owners’ houses with bows and arrows and torched three two-wheelers before some people on behalf of land owners overpowered an elderly Mahadalit Kamleshwari Rishidev (55) and local CPI (M-L Liberation) leader Satya Narayan Yadav (45) and had their hands and legs chopped off with sharp objects, he said.\nThe two men bled to death on the spot, Singh said.\nThe landowners’ men also attacked other Mahadalit people injuring four of them, identified as Bipin Rishidev, Ramchandra Rishidev, Bachan Rishidev and Sriram Rishidev, the SDPO said.\nThe injured persons have been admitted to a primary health centre, he said.\nAn FIR has been lodged in this connection and raids were being carried out to nab the culprits.\nAdditional policemen have been deployed in the village in view of tension prevailing there, the SDPO said.", "By Yousuf Cheema\nFAISALABAD: At least three people, including two women, were killed and more than a dozen others wounded in a clash between two groups in Faisalabad on Tuesday.\nThe death toll is feared to go up as some of the injured are in critical condition.\nThe deadly clash took place at Rodala village in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad and was motivated by a land dispute, according to police.\nTension has gripped the area, where police have been deployed to prevent any further violence.\nAccording to our correspondent, armed supporters of a village elder namely Khurram Shah Pir allegedly opened fire on a family which was harvesting the wheat in the fields of his rival group.\n“Most of the victims were from a same family that was brought to the village to manually cut the crop in return for annual stock of wheat,” a source told SAMAA.\nDuring the harvesting season in Punjab, poor families are hired by wheat growers to harvest the crop from dawn to dusk and it takes days to finish the job.\nPolice say they have rounded up 10 people suspected of involvement in the shooting.\nPublished in Pakistan\nStory first published: 24th April 2018", "SHIKARPUR - At least two people were killed and four others injured in an armed clash between two rival groups here on Sunday.\nPolice said that two groups of Junejo clan who were in an old dispute traded fire in Mirzapur locality of Shikarpur. In cross firing, two people were killed and four others sustained injuries. The bodies and injured were shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities. The firing continued for quite some time as police were late to reach the spot. The police have registered cases against armed men of both groups and started raids for their arrest.", "Three women and a six-year-old girl were killed while 26 others were injured when a bus they were travelling in collided with a tractor in Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh .\nThe accident took place on Sunday night on Gariyaband-Raipur road when around 40 people were returning to Mana Basti village after attending a family function at Tarra Village near Rajim, Gariyaband additional superintendent of police Neha Pandey said.\n“On their way back, when the bus reached near Shaymnagar it collided head on with a tractor and plunged into a roadside field leaving three women and a girl dead on the spot,” he added.\nA police team rushed to the spot and admitted the injured to the hospital, Pandey said. “While 12 injured, some of them critically, were shifted to Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur, 14 are undergoing treatment at the community health centre in Rajim.”\nThe victims have not been identified yet, she said, adding a case has been registered in this connection and probe is on.", "At least five people, including three women and a six-year-old girl, were killed while over 25 injured on Sunday night when the bus they were travelling in collided with a tractor in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh. The passengers in the bus were on their way to a family function when the accident happened.\nGariaband Additional Superintendent of Police Neha Pandey said that the accident happened on the Gariyaband-Raipur road when around 40 people were on their way back to Mana Basti village after attending a family function at Tarra Village near Rajim, located about 40 km from Raipur.\nThe police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.\n\"On the way back, when the bus reached near Shaymnagar, it collided head-on with a tractor and plunged into a roadside field leaving three women and a girl dead on spot... While 12 injured, some of them critically, were shifted to Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur, 14 are undergoing treatment at the community health centre in Rajim,\" the ASP was quoted by NDTV as saying.\nThe deceased have not been identified yet.\nA case has been registered in the matter and a probe is under way.", "At least 11 people were wounded due to aerial firing during celebration in on the night between Sunday and Monday.\nAccording to reports, the gun-fire celebrations injured included women and children.\nA stray bullet wounded a 13-year-old girl Maryam in Soldier Bazaar area, while a woman was injured in aerial firing near ICI Bridge, reports Dunya News.\nAerial firing in Light House area injured a man named Umair, while Yameen was wounded in Sarafa Bazaar area of Khara Dar.\nAt least seven more people were injured in incidents of aerial firing in Azam Basti, Lines Aera, Landhi, Mahmoodabad, Defence, Aysha Manzil and Numaish Chowrangi.\nThe wounded persons were shifted to various hospitals of the city.", "Police in the Ashanti region have arrested four persons following clashes between youth groups at Ahwia in the Kwabre East District.\nThe four, according to Deputy Ashanti regional police commander, Fred Adu Anim were wielding cutlasses and arms.\nThe early Saturday morning clashes left a number of residents injured.\nOne person had his ear almost chopped off in the clashes that had Muslim youth and indigenes hurling stones at each other, with others wielding machetes.\nAccording to Joy News’ Erastus Asare Donkor, the clashes came about after the indigenes attempted to prevent the Zongo youth from partaking in a dance party they had held on Friday evening.\nThe Zongo youth joined in the dance anyway, only for the factions to return Saturday morning to attack each other.\nIn an effort to control the angry youth, the police fired warning shots which allegedly hit three of the young men, resulting in some injuries.\nOthers were also injured during the brawl. All the injured persons have, however, been sent to the hospital and are receiving treatment.\nA number of the suspects have also been arrested by the police for their involvement in the clashes.\nThe main street in the town has been closed by police and a military back-up has been called in order to restore order.\nDeputy regional Police commander, DCOP Fred Adu Anim condemned the actions of the youth.\nHe called on the chief of Ahwia, Nana Ntie Adu and the Zongo community to counsel their people in order to avoid an imposition of a curfew on the town.\nHe also asked them to assist the police with any information that will lead to the arrest of those who committed the violence. Two of the suspects arrested were wielding handguns.\nThe Ahwia-Mampong road has also been opened to traffic.", "The clash took place in Tapriyan village reportedly over an old rivalry\nThree persons were killed and one was seriously injured in a clash between two communities in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district on Wednesday, police said.\nIn view of tension in the area, heavy police deployment has been made so as to prevent any further escalation of tension.\nThe bloody clash, in which weapons were also used, took place in Tapriyan village reportedly over an old rivalry, according to a Police Control Room official.\nThe situation is tense but under control, the police added.", "Jose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured next to his daughter at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS /Lunae Parracho\nJose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS/Lunae Parracho\nJose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured next to his daughter at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS /Lunae Parracho\nJose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS/Lunae Parracho\nBRASILIA Brazilian authorities on Tuesday lowered the toll of people injured in a recent bloody clash between farmers and an indigenous tribe over land, and said no one had their hands cut off as reported earlier by a rights group.\nThe government of Maranhao state, where the violence occurred on Sunday, said seven people were taken to hospital and only three remain hospitalized, including a man who underwent surgery for exposed bone fractures in both arms.\n\"Not one had a hand cut off,\" the government statement said, adding that police intervened as soon as the incident was reported and the circumstances are under investigation.\nThe Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi) said on Monday that members of the Gamela tribe were leaving some land recently reclaimed from cattle ranchers when they were attacked by dozens of men armed with guns, knives and clubs.\nThe rights group said that no deaths were reported, but the injured included a man whose hands were hacked off and several with bullet wounds.\nViolent confrontations between farmers and indigenous tribes claiming ancestral lands have become more intense in recent years as Brazil's agricultural frontier has advanced further into the Amazon region.\nBrazil's federal indigenous affairs department, Funai, said separately it did not have enough resources after suffering a 44 percent cut in its budget this year.\n\"Unfortunately, we do not have the manpower to resolve the large number of land disputes we have,\" Funai President Antonio Costa told reporters. \"The land issue is not easy to settle.\"\nA spokeswoman for Funai said the agency would not take a position on the latest violence until it had investigated the facts, but the preliminary view was that it began when the ranchers attacked the indigenous tribe.\n(Reporting by Anthony Boadle)", "Four women from the same family and a security guard were found dead at a house in Shahdara's Mansarovar Park in northeast Delhi on Saturday, October 7.\n#Visuals Delhi: 5 people, including 4 women, found dead in Shahdara's Mansarovar Park. Police at the spot. pic.twitter.com/T269mafB4Z — ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2017\nThe four deceased — reportedly from the same family — were identified as Nupur Jindal (35), Anjali Jindal (33), Urmila (65) and Sangeet Gupta (43). The fifth body was that of a security guard named Rakesh (50).\nThe police rushed to the spot as soon as they got to know about the bodies at 7.30 am on Saturday.\nOn inquiry, the police got to know that the family had some oil business in that area. The name of their shop was Jindal Oil Mills.\nThe police further noted that all the victims had stab injuries on their bodies. They have formed five teams to nab the killers, said Joint Commissioner (eastern range) Ravindra Yadav, while confirming the incident.\nThe police have been interrogating the family members to understand what could have triggered the killings.\nInitial inquiry has revealed that property dispute could be the reason for the murders.\nA team of forensic officials has lifted fingerprints from crime scene.\nThe police have filed a murder case and the bodies have been sent for autopsy.", "A 45-year-old woman was thrashed and shot dead allegedly outside a police post in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh. Anisa Begum had gone to the Agra Gate Police Chowki on Monday to complain about threat to her life from the accused Wasim over a land dispute, her family members said.\nWasim also arrived at the Chowki along with his mother and sister and thrashed Anisa Begum and when she rushed to save herself, the culprit fired four shots from a revolver, one of them hitting her neck, they said. The woman was rushed to the district hospital by the locals where she was declared brought dead, they said, adding that public overpowered Wasim and handed him over to the police.\nSP, Sunil Kumar Saxena, said that all the three culprits have been arrested and investigations are on to ascertain the details of the incident.\nFor all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now", "Bhayandar: A day after cadres from the BJP and Shiv Sena were entangled in an ugly battle of fistfights and sloganeering on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa in Mira Road, the Naya Nagar police has registered a FIR against six women including four BJP corporators for rioting, unlawful assembly and causing hurt to their Shiv Sena counterpart Dipti Bhat who has landed in hospital after the incident.\nHowever, no arrests have been made so far. The ruckus between the BJP and Sena cadres took place at a ceremony to inaugurate the elevated storage reservoir (ESR) in the Shanti Nagar area of Mira Road on Sunday. Blaming each other for garnering cheap publicity, sitting corporators of the ward almost came to blows and manhandled each other in a brawl which took place in full public view ahead of the inaugural ceremony arranged by the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), sources said.\nBhatt who is the lone Sena corporator in the 4-panel ward has three BJP corporators on board. In response to a complaint registered by Bhatt who is recuperating in a hospital, the police registered a case against corporators Hetal Parmar, Vandana Bhavsar, Rupali Shinde, Seema Shah and two others including former corporator Dr Nayna Vasani and Radha Nadar.\n“Yes, an offence has been registered against the BJP leaders. Further investigations were underway,” confirmed Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare.", "Jose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured next to his daughter at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS /Lunae Parracho\nJose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS/Lunae Parracho\nJose Ribamar from Brazil's indigenous Gamela tribe is pictured next to his daughter at a hospital after he was injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, in Sao Luis, Maranhao state, Brazil, May 2, 2017. REUTERS/Lunae Parracho\nSAO PAULO More than a dozen members of an indigenous tribe were injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, including at least one whose hands were hacked off, according to reports from indigenous rights groups on Monday.\nThe Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi) said members of the Gamela tribe were leaving land recently reclaimed from cattle ranchers in Maranhao state when they were attacked on Sunday afternoon by dozens of men armed with guns, knives and clubs. No deaths were reported.\nThree remained hospitalized in the state capital, Sao Luis, with severe bullet wounds from the violence, according to Cimi and the Pastoral Land Commission. Both groups were founded in the 1970s in connection with the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops.\nBrazilian Justice Minister Osmar Serraglio sent federal police to prevent further conflicts and aid state authorities in investigating the incident, involving farmers and \"supposed indigenous people\" in Maranhao, according to a ministry release.\nA representative for the state security office declined to comment on the matter. Police officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the May Day holiday.\n(Reporting by Brad Haynes; Additional reporting by Lunae Parracho in Porto Alegre; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)", "Reports reaching this Foroyaa, indicate that two women and a man, names withheld, from Kerr Mama Village in NBR, have allegedly sustained injury during an alleged clash with the youth of Fass Omar Saho on Friday May 25th 2018. According to the information, the injured women were later discharged after receiving treatment at Essau Hospital.\nThe incident left the village in shock as the alleged attack has never occurred in the annals of the village, and it happened at a time when majority of the villagers of Kerr Mama, were in the bush clearing the fields, in preparations for the upcoming rainy season\nAccording to the source, the incident began when two horse carts were spotted in the boundary of Kerr Mama Forest, illegally cutting down trees for firewood; that the horse carts were caught and escorted to the village by the youth of Kerr Mama who spotted them and sought for a consolation of D500 for each for donkey carts by the VDC; that during a long negotiation, some youth from Kerr Mama were alleged to have been beaten by the youth of Fass Omar Saho Village, on allegations that the owners of the horse carts were being maltreated in the hands of villagers of Kerr Mama.\nThe people of Kerr Mama according to the information, did so with the intent of protecting and controlling the use of their forest resources and demand that whoever is willing to fetch firewood therein, should do so in consultation with their VDC. This action was prompted by the indiscriminate exploitation of the forest for commercial firewood.\nThe case is currently at the Police Barra and reports have it that the alleged attackers have been arrested and detained at the Barra Police Station.", "Pakistan is celebrating its 70th Independence Day today. (Source: AP) Pakistan is celebrating its 70th Independence Day today. (Source: AP)\nRelated News International community must play role in resolution of Kashmir dispute: Pakistan PM Abbasi on Independence Day\nAt least 11 people were wounded due to aerial firing during Independence Day celebration in Karachi on the night between Sunday and Monday. According to reports,the injured included women and children.\nA stray bullet wounded a 13-year-old girl Maryam in Soldier Bazaar area,while a woman was injured in aerial firing near ICI Bridge,reports Dunya News.\nAerial firing in Light House area injured a man named Umair,while Yameen was wounded in Sarafa Bazaar area of Khara Dar.\nAt least seven more people were injured in incidents of aerial firing in Azam Basti,Lines Aera,Landhi,Mahmoodabad,Defence,Aysha Manzil and Numaish Chowrangi.\nThe wounded persons were shifted to various hospitals of the city.\nFor all the latest Pakistan News, download Indian Express App", "Residents of Baprola, a resettlement complex, are not convinced about their new homes and many long for their old ones. “These apartments are not strong or well-built...[our previous homes] were only bastis, but we made them well—ourselves,” says one resident. Sahiba Chawdhary\nIt only takes one visit to the basti at Kidwai Nagar to understand why its residents want to be relocated. But life on the outside may still not be much better.\nOn a scorching hot New Delhi day, Mathura Prasad slips through a crack in a brick wall adjacent to a partially constructed elevated highway. He offers his hand to those behind him as they negotiate their way down the precarious makeshift path below. Soon, they’re walking along another path which cuts across an open drain beneath the unfinished flyover. The drain, full of raw sewage and wild pigs, gives off a stench that can be overwhelming, but it fails to deter the group from moving forward. When they reach the other side, one of the pigs runs by, greeting them with a plume of dust in its wake. If the group follows the dust they may not be able to go more than 15 feet before hitting the fencing of another construction site—this one for a new high-rise apartment complex. But Prasad and those with him aren’t going that far anyway. It’s the narrow strip of land sandwiched in-between an elevated highway and the apartments they’re interested in. It’s all that remains of the “basti”—a colloquial term for an informal settlement—in the area of Kidwai Nagar that Prasad has called home for the past 34 years. “There used to be around 600 families here. Now there are only 334,” he laments. “If someone is stuck on this side then they will be dead. Finished. ” Dubbed a “smart sub-city” by the government-backed corporation building it, the apartment complex coming up behind the basti costs around $786 million. And in 2016, India’s current Vice President Venkaiah Naidu described the project as a “role model for redevelopment.” The elevated highway, meanwhile, is part of an expansive four phase corridor aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city. But for Prasad and other residents of the basti, the projects that have sprung up on either side of them have boxed them in, making life unbearable. “This was an open air settlement and oxygen used to flow through. There used to be cross ventilation,” says Prasad. “Now that they’ve closed the area [on both sides] it has become very bad. The drain smells terrible.” The smell comes with health consequences. Residents of the basti say they used to have a public toilet where the smart sub-city has since arisen. With that facility now gone, many are forced to relieve themselves by the drain. They say the situation has led to illnesses and the constant threat of dengue fever through an infestation of mosquitoes. But despite the health hazard posed by the drain, it also serves as a lifeline for residents of the basti. Walking through it is one of the only ways they can access their homes, but even that can be shut off when the rainy season comes. “The water level rises so much that people are just stuck here,” says Savitri who lives by the drain. “If someone’s gone to work he can’t come back home. And you can imagine if someone is stuck on this side then they will be dead. Finished. ” Threats of eviction, hopes of resettlement For years the residents of the Kidwai Nagar basti have lived in fear of evictions and bulldozers demolishing their homes. Such demolitions did take place there in 2009 ahead of Delhi hosting the following year’s Commonwealth Games. Residents and activists say people have since been evicted from another camp in the area. But multiple court orders have also prevented additional demolitions, saving Prasad and others from losing their homes. But now, they actually want to leave, and demand to be relocated to apartments based on a 2015 Delhi Government policy aimed at the rehabilitation and relocation of informal settlements. Some former residents of the Kidwai Nagar basti were previously resettled, but because the area falls under the jurisdiction of two separate government agencies, Prasad and others were left behind. Their ongoing push for resettlement comes despite the fact that many have lived in the Kidwai Nagar their entire lives.\nAny sense of sentimentality, though, seems to have been eclipsed by the squalor of their living conditions. They want out, and they might be getting close. In late March, the Delhi High Court ordered the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to conduct a survey of the community as a step towards resettling the community. But while the residents of the basti wait, their lives continue to be under threat. Residents tell CityLab that their homes are often hit by debris from the construction site. This has been a particular issue in recent weeks—about 70 homes were damaged when a barricade from the smart sub-city complex fell on them during a storm. A recent wave of fires in other informal settlements in Delhi also has some residents worried. They say the narrow nature of their basti means they'd have nowhere to run if something similar happened to them. For Prasad, who is at the forefront of the resettlement case, potential relocation can't come quickly enough. “I’m really happy that [the case] has gone somewhere,” he says. “We’ve suffered a lot in this space. We aren’t really living here in happiness. It’s out of helplessness.” A pattern of exclusion The fact that residents of the Kidwai Nagar basti are now actually hoping for resettlement is fairly unique. Most Delhi slum-dwellers relocated by authorities are moved after being forcibly evicted from their homes. Such evictions are often accompanied by demolitions and followed by narrow eligibility requirements that make it difficult for those who have lost their homes to get resettled.\n“These are tools that are used to exclude,” says Shivani Chaudhry, the Executive Director of Housing Rights and Land Network (HRLN), a Delhi-based NGO. “So not only do you demolish their homes, you don’t consider them equal citizens, you violate their rights, and then you use tools of eligibility criteria and legality— you constantly say they’re encroachers whereas public land is [supposed to be] land of the state and the people.” “People invest large amounts of money into their homes incrementally over 10-20 years, then at the stroke of one bulldozer it’s lost and they have to dish out more money [for new homes],” she adds. “It’s a cycle that’s pushing people further and further into poverty.” “You’re building housing for a certain class of people while denying housing to another.” Official data on forced evictions does not exist, but HRLN research shows that government authorities forcibly evicted more than 260,000 people across India in 2017. Activists say the situation is a national crisis and that evictions rarely adhere to laws or human rights standards. And though the Indian government is pursuing a a “Housing For All” campaign with a target date of 2022, Chaudhry believes development is clearly only taking certain segments of society into account. Preliminary findings of a study she’s involved in show that 60 percent of Delhi’s homeless are actually homeless because of evictions. “You’re building housing for a certain class of people while denying housing to another,” she says, while noting the lack of affordable housing in Indian cities. “What’s alarming is [evictions are] justified on the basis of city beautification—with this notion of beautification being one of sanitized, rich and not for everybody. It’s this sort of exclusive kind of model of development.” The trend is not lost on those at the brunt of Delhi’s major infrastructure projects. “When the government finishes the flats and the flyover this will become a posh area on either side,” says Vicky Kumar of the Kidwai Nagar basti. “How will they let people like us live in between? How will they allow dirt in their midst?” Kumar’s feelings of exclusion are steeped in the memories of how he says his community was treated ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. “They didn’t want the place to look dirty so they built a wall,” he says. “They were worried that people would come from overseas, see us and wonder what sort of people live in India.” Relocated but not settled It only takes one visit to the basti at Kidwai Nagar to understand why the people living there want to be resettled. But in reality, depending on where the community might move, life may still not be rosy elsewhere. Resettlement sites are often situated deep into Delhi’s massive urban sprawl, in areas far from residents’ previous places of work, schools, and the city’s major hubs of activity. As a result, what often follows evictions and resettlements are major losses of livelihood and education. \"Since I've come here, my business is just not happening at all,” Rani, who lives in a resettlement complex in an area called Baprola, tells CityLab. Rani used to sell women’s jewelry near a basti she lived in a neighborhood called Jwalapuri, which she recalls fondly. “Fruit sellers and vegetable sellers were around, we had good income as well.”\nRani and her family moved to Baprola after they were told they had make room for a road. Later, they heard a hospital would be built in the area. Now, Rani says that even though neither project has happened, she and her family are stuck in Baprola, where she’s cut off from potential customers. As she rummages through her stock of shiny bangles, she says there’s nobody nearby to sell to but she can’t afford a regular commute to the area she worked for so long. Her son Arjun, in his early twenties, is faced with a similar situation, having sat jobless in Baprola for more than six months. \"It was very easy to get work where we used to live. Everything was easier.” The family has also lost a decided amount of space, with 12 of them now packed into one small apartment. “How can we live like this?” Rani asks. On the day CityLab met them, a social worker also present told the family they were entitled to more space. But getting it requires paperwork and knowing the ins and outs of bureaucracy, something Rani says she’s not equipped to do. “Nobody listens to us,” she says. “The authorities didn’t accept a letter I brought to them. I begged them, I touched their feet, I cried, but they didn't accept it.” Rani is not the only one unhappy with the living conditions in Baprola. Many other residents of the resettlement complex speak of difficulties they face in day-to-day life, problems corroborated by social workers who regularly visit the site. In one case, a wheelchair-bound man with no legs was allotted a fourth floor apartment in a building with no elevator. He lived there for months before being resettled again.\nDUSIB—the government body in charge of such relocations—says it’s aware of problems that exist at resettlement sites, but insists people like Rani are now better off. “People happily moved from Jwalapuri to Baprola and the condition of the people is much better. When they left Jwalapuri [the situation there] was pathetic,” says Bipin Rai, an expert member of the board. “There were no basic amenities, facilities, no water, no sanitation. In Baprola they have proper housing, toilets, and cooking space.” But the residents of Baprola are not convinced about their new homes, and many long for their old ones. “These apartments are not strong or well-built...[our previous homes] were only bastis, but we made them well—ourselves,” Rani says proudly. “My kids were born there. They grew up there and studied there. They got married there as well. Everything happened there.” Rani’s sense of nostalgia is a stark contrast from the prevailing desire in Kidwai Nagar to get out. To Chaudhry, this desperation illustrates just how few options are at the disposal of Delhi’s least fortunate. “The poor are pushed so much to the wall that at the end they’re like, ‘Okay, anything is fine let’s just get out of here.’ They just accept what you give them because they don’t have the means to fight,” she says. “Everything in this country favors the rich.”", "Share Share 0 Share 0\nSTATE TIMES NEWS\nR S PURA: A team of District Administration under the supervision of Additional DC Kanta Devi evicted four families from the old Railway Station land in compliance with the Govt decision to make it Heritage Centre.\nThe team while evicting the families seized the houses constructed by these people. The family members including Devi Datta, Kamlesh Devi, Mangla Devi, Devi Chand and others strongly condemned the government action and said that they have been thrown out of the land and their houses without giving any notice. They demanded that they should be provided government quarters for the time being.", "Four people were injured after striking protesters lobbed stones and bricks at temporary employees working in booths at the Mvoti toll plaza in KwaDukuza on the north coast of Durban on Tuesday morning.\nIPSS Medical Rescue spokesman Paul Herbst said that the four cashiers in the toll booths came under attack around 6am.\n“They started throwing bricks and stones and the four workers were treated for multiple lacerations and abrasions.”\nHe said the toll plaza was now free as there were no employees manning the booths and that local police were monitoring a group of about 25 protesters.\nSouth African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) members employed by Intertoll Africa embarked on strike action on Monday over wage negotiations.\nPublic order policing were kept busy since 5am on Monday after groups of protesters barricaded roads with burning tyres and blocked access at various toll roads in KwaZulu-Natal.\nSAPS spokesman Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said police were deployed to Marianhill‚ Mtunzini‚ Mvoti and the Tongaat toll plazas since the early hours of Monday morning.", "A prominent leader of the Hindu Mahasabha and the Father of the Nation. People of foreign origin, and from all corners of the country. Four women, and three leaders assassinated.\nThe presidents of India’s grand old party have written their own chapters in history. As the Congress gets ready to welcome its new chief, 47-year-old Rahul Gandhi, the stage is being set for a change in guard after 19 years.\nOf the 15 people who led the 132-year-old party post independence, four belonged to the Gandhi-Nehru family. When Gandhi takes over as the president, he will be the fifth.\nThe Nehru-Gandhi clan was at the helm of affairs of the party after independence for 38 years: Nehru for three years, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for eight years each, and Sonia Gandhi for a record 19 years.\nLong before independence, his great-great grandfather, Motilal Nehru, headed the party, the first from the family to do so.\nThe party has been helmed by some illustrious people -- including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam Azad and Sarojini Naidu.\nWomesh Chandra Bonnerjee, who wore several hats as journalist, jurist and politician, was the president of the first session of the Congress held in what was then Bombay in December 1885. Dadabhai Naoroji was the second.\nDecades before questions were raised about Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, the party had five presidents who were not born in India.\nAccording to “Congress and the Making of Indian Nation”, a two-volume set edited by former Congress leader and ex- president of India Pranab Mukherjee, Scottish merchant George Yule was the president of the party in 1888 and presided over the Allahabad session. Sir William Wedderburn, a former member of the Indian Civil Service, headed the party twice--in 1889 and 1910.\nAlfred Webb, member of the House of Commons, Sir Henry Cotton, an ICS officer and chief commissioner of Assam, and Annie Besant, who started the Home Rule Movement, headed the Congress in 1894, 1904 and 1917 respectively.\nMadan Mohan Malviya, later one of the main leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, presided over the Congress in 1909 and 1918. Motilal Nehru, father of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was party president in 1919 and 1928. His son first took over the reins in 1929, when the call for 'Poorna Swaraj' was given at the Lahore session of the party.\nAfter independence, the party was headed by four people from the Nehru-Gandhi family, and 11 who were not.\nB Pattabhi Sitaramayya (1948) was followed by Purushottam Das Tandon (1949) and U N Dhebar (1955-59). The others were N Sanjiva Reddy (1960-62), K Kamaraj (1964-66), S Nijalingappa (1968-69), Jagjivan Ram (1969), Shankar Dayal Sharma (1972), D K Barooah (1975), P V Narasimha Rao (1992-96), and Sitaram Kesri (1997-98).\nJawaharlal Nehru was the president of the party for three spells – in 1929, 1936 and 1951-53.\nHe was among the four party presidents who also headed the government – apart from his daughter, Indira Gandhi, grandson Rajiv and Andhra Pradesh leader P V Narasimha Rao.\nIndira Gandhi held the post in 1959 and 1978-84, her son Rajiv Gandhi in 1984-91 and daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi, from 1998 till date.\nPolitical commentator Kumar Ketkar points out that there were several occasions when the prime minister clashed with the party president or with senior leaders.\n“There was a major difference of opinion between Nehru and Vallabbhai Patel over the candidature of Purushottam Tandon in 1949. While Patel backed Tandon, Nehru was against his nomination. This was the time when Nehru was prime minister and Patel home minister,” he says.\nHe cites the example of S Nijalingappa expelling Indira Gandhi in 1969.\n\"When Indira was prime minister, she was sacked as a primary member of the Congress by then party president Nijalingappa,\" says Ketkar.\nSuhas Palshikar, political analyst and co-director of the Lokniti programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, says even Jawaharlal Nehru was a towering figure in the Congress, he would take decisions through compromise.\n“Nehru allowed plurality of leaders. It was only after Indira came that dynasty took root in the Congress and the mantle was passed on to Rajiv,” Palshikar says.\nBut the installation of Rajiv Gandhi’s wife, Sonia, as party president was not exactly an outcome of dynasty politics, he believes.\n“She was brought in as a leader who was acceptable to all at a time when the Congress was in disarray. But it cannot be denied that she had the benefit of being from the Nehru-Gandhi family,” Palshikar adds.\nFor the party, Rahul Gandhi's elevation as president is the start of a new chapter.", "LAYYAH-The people held a protest as Indus River has eroded hundreds of homes and crops while completely destroyed more than 20 villages in Layyah during the last week.\nAlmost 400 homes of Union Council Lohanch Nasheeb have been destroyed due to erosion while crops destruction has cause heavy loss to the farmers.\nIndus River erosion started from September 2016 and destroyed Basti Matla, Basti Bodla, Basti Manjotha, basti Dirkhan Wali, Basti Sobywali, Basti Jar, Basti Tahirwali and many others. It continued the whole year on a 72 kilometre area in low-lying strip of Layyah. The residents of village Chandharar protested against the district administration, parliamentarians and the Punjab chief minister.\nResidents Ikramullah, Khuda Bakhsh and others talking to The Nation said that the people of low-lying areas were facing heavy loss of houses, crops and other material but the chief minister cannot pay attention to the issue. They said that if a dog dies in Lahore, the CM reached at the spot but in Layyah, thousands of people have been displaced, but the government did not pay any attention to them. They demanded tents, food and land for their resettlement. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Javed Iqbal visited the effected village and assured them of his support.", "Armed herdsmen have killed two Catholic priests and 17 worshippers during an attack on a parish in Nigeria. Picture: Reuters/Sergio Flores\nJohannesburg - Armed herdsmen have killed two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers during an attack on St. Ignatius Quasi Parish in the Ayar-Mbalom community of Gwer East Local Government Area of Nigeria's Benue State.\nPunch Nigeria reported that during Tuesday's morning's violence the attackers also burnt down over 100 houses. Most of the victims were attacked while returning from morning mass.\nThe attack came barely four days after the murder of ten people by herdsmen in Guma Local Government Area and the destruction of several houses by men suspected to be military personnel in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.\nNigeria has been plagued by ongoing violent land disputes between nomadic Fulani herdsmen and farmers, leaving hundreds dead and many more injured.\nThe escalation of pastoral conflicts in recent years has been triggered by the effects of climate change in Nigeria’s north, with lower rainfall and increased desertification of grazing land forcing herdsmen to look farther south to farmlands in a region often described as Nigeria’s food basket.\nFarmers who are keen to protect their means of livelihood and their crops from being damaged by thousands of cattle have often clashed with the herdsmen.\nAfrican News Agency/ANA", "New Delhi, Dec 11: When Rahul Gandhi took over as the Congress president, he became the fifth person of the Gandhi-Nehru family to hold the post after independence.\nThe presidents of India’s grand old party have written their own chapters in history. As the Congress welcomed its new chief, 47-year-old Rahul Gandhi, the stage was set for a change in guard after 19 years. Of the 15 people who led the 132-year-old party post independence, four belonged to the Gandhi-Nehru family.\nThe Nehru-Gandhi clan was at the helm of affairs of the party after independence for 38 years: Nehru for three years, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for eight years each, and Sonia Gandhi for a record 19 years.\nLong before independence, his great-great grandfather, Motilal Nehru, headed the party, the first from the family to do so. The party has been helmed by some illustrious people -- including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam Azad and Sarojini Naidu.\nWomesh Chandra Bonnerjee, who wore several hats as journalist, jurist and politician, was the president of the first session of the Congress held in what was then Bombay in December 1885. Dadabhai Naoroji was the second. Decades before questions were raised about Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, the party had five presidents who were not born in India.\nAccording to “Congress and the Making of Indian Nation”, a two-volume set edited by former Congress leader and ex- president of India Pranab Mukherjee, Scottish merchant George Yule was the president of the party in 1888 and presided over the Allahabad session. Sir William Wedderburn, a former member of the Indian Civil Service, headed the party twice--in 1889 and 1910. Alfred Webb, member of the House of Commons, Sir Henry Cotton, an ICS officer and chief commissioner of Assam, and Annie Besant, who started the Home Rule Movement, headed the Congress in 1894, 1904 and 1917 respectively.\nMadan Mohan Malviya, later one of the main leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, presided over the Congress in 1909 and 1918. Motilal Nehru, father of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was party president in 1919 and 1928. His son first took over the reins in 1929, when the call for 'Poorna Swaraj' was given at the Lahore session of the party. After independence, the party was headed by four people from the Nehru-Gandhi family, and 11 who were not.\nB Pattabhi Sitaramayya (1948) was followed by Purushottam Das Tandon (1949) and U N Dhebar (1955-59). The others were N Sanjiva Reddy (1960-62), K Kamaraj (1964-66), S Nijalingappa (1968-69), Jagjivan Ram (1969), Shankar Dayal Sharma (1972), D K Barooah (1975), P V Narasimha Rao (1992-96), and Sitaram Kesri (1997-98).\nJawaharlal Nehru was the president of the party for three spells – in 1929, 1936 and 1951-53. He was among the four party presidents who also headed the government – apart from his daughter, Indira Gandhi, grandson Rajiv and Andhra Pradesh leader P V Narasimha Rao. Indira Gandhi held the post in 1959 and 1978-84, her son Rajiv Gandhi in 1984-91 and daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi, from 1998 till date. Political commentator Kumar Ketkar points out that there were several occasions when the prime minister clashed with the party president or with senior leaders. “There was a major difference of opinion between Nehru and Vallabbhai Patel over the candidature of Purushottam Tandon in 1949.\nWhile Patel backed Tandon, Nehru was against his nomination. This was the time when Nehru was prime minister and Patel home minister,” he says. He cites the example of S Nijalingappa expelling Indira Gandhi in 1969.\n\"When Indira was prime minister, she was sacked as a primary member of the Congress by then party president Nijalingappa,\" says Ketkar.\nSuhas Palshikar, political analyst and co-director of the Lokniti programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, says even Jawaharlal Nehru was a towering figure in the Congress, he would take decisions through compromise. “Nehru allowed plurality of leaders.\nIt was only after Indira came that dynasty took root in the Congress and the mantle was passed on to Rajiv,” Palshikar says. But the installation of Rajiv Gandhi’s wife, Sonia, as party president was not exactly an outcome of dynasty politics, he believes. “She was brought in as a leader who was acceptable to all at a time when the Congress was in disarray. But it cannot be denied that she had the benefit of being from the Nehru-Gandhi family,” Palshikar adds. For the party, Rahul Gandhi's elevation as president is the start of a new chapter.\nPTI", "Srinagar: Four persons, including two paratroopers, were injured on Saturday when militants hurled a grenade at a CRPF party in Tral town in south Kashmir.\nPolice sources said militants hurled a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party in Batagund area of Tral in the afternoon.\n\"Four persons, including two civilians and two CRPF troopers, were injured in the explosion. The injured have been shifted to hospital and the area has been surrounded for searches,\" sources said.", "Srinagar—Four persons, including two CRPF personnel, were injured in a grenade attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Saturday, the police said.\nReports said that suspected militants hurled grenade towards a mobile bunker of CRPF which exploded on roadside, injuring two paramilitary troopers of CRPF 180 battalion and two shopkeepers identified as Shabir Ahmed Bhat (35) son of Abdul Salam of Kuchmulla and Bilal Ahmed Sheikh son of Abdul Gani (37), both residents of Kuchmulla village of Tral. The injured civilians were shifted to SDH Tral.\nThe area was cordoned off and a search operation is underway, the official said.\nThe authorities have suspended internet and most of the mobile communication service in Baramulla district of north Kashmir on Saturday evening. However, it could not be ascertained what led authorities to order it. Emerging story, further details awaited.", "A name-calling incident at Kitten Dam, Portuguese Quarter,Port Mourant in Berbice has left two men critically injured.\nThe injured were identified as Rajindra Balkaran called “Gomes”,38 and his uncle Vishnu Gopaul called “Strokeman and Balbala”, a pork vendor of the Port Mourant market.\nAccording to information , at approximately 14:00 hrs on Monday , Balkaran who was in an intoxicated state went to the home of Gopaul , who was also intoxicated, and called out to him using expletives while accusing him of being a “cochore” among other names.\nAs he continued his tirade,he reportedly pushed his uncle’s donkey cart into the trench. This angered the older relative who later emerged from his home with a cutlass. As the argument intensified , the men attacked each other.\nGopaul reportedly brandished his cutlass and chopped his nephew several times to his body. Despite his injuries , Balkaran managed to subdue and relieved him of the weapon and in turn fired several chops to him.\nGopaul is nursing chops wounds to his face, neck,chest, hand while Balkaran sustained chop wounds to his hand and neck.\nThe police arrived promptly at scene and assisted in taking one of the injured men to the Port Mourant Hospital . Both men were subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital.\nThe men are said to be critically injured ; a relative of Gopaul noted that the man was in an unconscious state. The relative related he was bleeding profusely and his wounds were very deep.\nPolice are investigating the incident.", "NT NETWORK\nPANAJI\nA spat in a hotel at Merces took an ugly turn on Wednesday after four persons from the village attacked with sharp weapons a group of 47 tourists – men, women and children from Vasai, Mumbai.\nThe locals also damaged the bus carrying the tourists while it was leaving a guesthouse at Merces.\nThe fight left ten tourists injured and two of them, including the bus driver, sustained bone fractures.\nThree of the accused were also injured as the tourists subsequently overpowered and beat them up.\nAll the injured were treated at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, and were discharged.\nThe Old Goa police said that three persons – Vishal Golatkar, Lawrence Dias and Suraj Shetye – have been arrested. However, the police are on the lookout for the fourth accused Sai Kundaikar.\nGolatkar, Dias and Shetye were previously involved in criminal offences, the police said adding that all the accused are from Merces.\nDetailing how the fight unfolded, the police said that one of the accused had a quarrel with four tourists at a hotel at Merces on Wednewday morning. They were at the hotel for breakfast. While having breakfast an elderly tourist’s hand mistakenly touched the local man who was sitting on the table behind the tourists. The visitors apologised for the accidental touch, but the accused picked up an argument with the tourists.\nAt this juncture, it looked that the spat ended as the tourists as also the accused left the hotel.\nThe tourists joined their group which had checked out of a guesthouse which is located some metres away from the hotel.\nThe group got on their bus, and as the vehicle had been leaving the guesthouse area the four accused intercepted it and damaged its windscreen and side window glass by pelting stones, the police said.\nBus driver Shivaji Shelke was pulled out of the vehicle. The accused assaulted him – they hit the bus driver with a club, kicking and slapping him.\nThe cops, who had arrived at the spot, and the tourists nabbed one of the accused. Seeing this, the other three accused left the place and came back with a koita, a knife and sword and started assaulting bus occupants, the police said adding that the tourists managed to overpower the two accused while the third attacker managed to take to his heels.\nNorth Goa SP Karthik Kashyap said that “at 10.30 am a call was received for robert police van, which reached the spot in nine minutes.”\nOld Goa police personnel also reached the spot and brought the situation under control.\nAn FIR has been registered against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including Section 307 (attempt to murder).\nA complaint in this regard was lodged by Lahu Ghodekar (58) from Vasai, Mumbai.", "Ujjain: A petty dispute broke out in Jahajgali on Monday morning, leading to minor tension in the area ,when those involved opened fire and used swords.\nAccording to reports, Chandu Lashkari, resident of Jahajgali, Chhota Sarafa, opened fire on Varun (45), resident of the same area injuring him on his shoulder and leg. Varun, a builder by profession was taking a nap on the roadside due to ongoing construction work, when Chandu objected to it.\nSanju (35), who tried to mediate and calm the situation, was also attacked with a sword by Chandu and his friends. During the incident both, Varun and Sanju were injured seriously and rushed to the civil hospital immediately. Varun was later shifted to Indore. The attackers have absconded since.\nKharakuan police authorities and TI Munendra Goutam looked into the incident and registered an FIR against Chandu, Pavan, Sonu and Monu, residents of Jahajgali Chhota Sarafa under Section 294, 323, 307 and 34 of the IPC and Section 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.", "According to police, the killings can be suspected as a result of some property dispute.\nPolice officials are suspecting that someone known to the victims might have killed them, since, till now, there is no evidence of forced entry into the house. (Photo: File/Representational)\nNew Delhi: An octogenarian woman and her three daughters were found stabbed to death along with their security guard in their house in Mansarovar Park area of Shahdara on Saturday morning, the police said.\nPolice officials are suspecting that someone known to the victims might have killed them, since, till now, there is no evidence of forced entry into the house.\nIt is suspected that the killings could be a fall-out of a property dispute, they said.\nThe deceased have been identified as Urmila Jindal (82), her daughters Sangeeta Gupta (56), Nupur Jindal (48) and Anjali Jindal (38) and their security guard Rakesh (42), the police said.\nFurther details are awaited.", "The Taliban insurgents have executed a child and three women after charging them with the alleged cooperation with the government in northern Sar-e-Pul province.\nAccording to the local government officials, the incident took place late on Sunday night in the vicinity of Sayad district.\nProvincial governor’s spokesman Zabiullah Amani confirmed the incident and said the women and the child were shot dead by the insurgents accusing them of helping the government.\nIn the meantime, the Taliban insurgents in a statement claimed that a mortar round landed on a residential house in Sayad, leaving three civilians dead.\nThe execution of the civilians by the Taliban insurgents comes as the group is accused of two thirds of the civilian casualties in Afghanistan.\nThe UN mission said it documented 11,418 civilian casualties from 1st January 2016 to 31st December, 2016.\nAccording to the report, 61 per cent of all civilian casualties were incurred through attacks by the anti-government elements which includes a total of 6,994 civilian casualties (2,131 deaths and 4,863 injured).", "A reporter and two villagers have been provisionally charged after a rowdy land concession protest in Kampot province last week erupted in violence, leaving cars destroyed and seriously injuring a security guard, court officials said on Monday.\nChea Sitha, 42, a reporter from Power People Newspaper, and villagers Sok Pisey, 52, and Proeung Pran, 41, were provisionally charged with acts of violence; infringement on public property; and destruction, defacement and damage of property, provincial court prosecutor Khan Chansophal said on Monday.\n“They were sent to Investigating Judge Ang Sophea to continue questioning,” Mr. Chansophal said.\nThe three were detained on Friday in Chhuk district after villagers clashed with military police and security guards over their right to stake homes on 10 hectares of land granted to First Biotech Investment (Cambodia) in a 2007 economic land concession, military officials and deputy provincial governor Sim Vuthy said.\nAuthorities accuse the three men of inciting villagers who used sticks, axes and hammers to pound two of the company’s cars and one military vehicle following the removal of 42 homes, which officials later burned. Protesters also severely beat a company security guard who was later taken to a hospital for treatment, military police said.\nMr. Chansophal said up to 30 others could face arrest after the court investigates military police video taken during the scuffle in Techo Aphivat commune.\n“We know the identities of the offenders but they escaped after the incident,” he said.\nJudge Sophea confirmed he had received the three suspects.If convicted, they face prison terms of between one and five years and fines of 4 million to 50 million riel, or about $1,000 to $12,500.\nBo Sambath, who settled on the disputed land, said the violence had stymied their plans to protest the evictions. More than 100 families had left following the confrontation out of fear the company’s guards would retaliate, he said, estimating that 30 families had stayed.\n“I am disappointed with the authorities because they never came to intervene when security guards fired weapons and destroyed our homes. But when the people responded, we saw military police and arrests,” Mr. Sambath said.\nMr. Vuthy said disputes should be settled through the court.\n“The authority is always concerned about the people’s standard of living,” he said. “We never abandoned them.”\npheap@cambodiadaily.com\n© 2017, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.", "HANOI: At least a dozen Vietnamese police have been held hostage over a land dispute with residents near Hanoi, activists and state media said Sunday, in a rare show of defiance of communist authorities.\nThe incident began on Saturday in the suburban My Duc district when authorities clashed with villagers who alleged their land was illegally seized for sale by a military-owned telecoms firm.\nThe exact number of policemen and officials being held by residents could not immediately be confirmed, but images on social media showed at least 12 uniformed men under guard.\n“Local residents said they have no intention of releasing the hostages unless the central government intervenes,” said La Viet Dung, a social activist who visited the site Sunday morning.\n“People have closed off their villages. No one can come in or out. The police are surrounding the area also, preventing media access. The situation is tense,” Dung told AFP.\nA My Duc resident told AFP Sunday police had fired in the air during Saturday’s clashes.\n“Some residents were also taken into custody by police for unknown reasons,” he said, requesting anonymity.\nLocal police and authorities refused to comment.\nBut state media said four residents were taken into custody while some police were also being held by villagers.\n“Some citizens… have committed acts of obstruction and illegally held Hanoi police officers,” the Vietnam News Agency said, quoting a police announcement.\nLand disputes are common in Vietnam, where powerful individuals and companies often make claims on property.\nThe government strictly controls freedom of expression and the right to protest but flashpoints occur.\nIn 2012 a Vietnamese fish farmer used homemade weapons to resist a forced eviction and injured seven policemen.\nThe farmer was jailed for five years, but his case became a symbol of growing public dissatisfaction over land rights.\nIn 2013 a gunman killed a provincial official before committing suicide in an apparent dispute over land in northern Vietnam.\nAFP", "December 11, 2017 15:09 IST\nOf the 15 people who led the 132-year-old party post independence, four have belonged to the Gandhi-Nehru family.\nIMAGE: Motilal Nehru was the first from the Nehru-Gandhi family to be Congress president. He served as president twice -- 1919 and 1928. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images\nA prominent leader of the Hindu Mahasabha and the Father of the Nation. People of foreign origin, and from all corners of the country. Four women, and three leaders assassinated.\nThe presidents of India’s grand old party have written their own chapters in history. As the Congress gets ready to welcome its new chief, 47-year-old Rahul Gandhi, the stage is being set for a change in guard after 19 years.\nOf the 15 people who led the 132-year-old party post independence, four belonged to the Gandhi-Nehru family. When Gandhi takes over as the president, he will be the fifth.\nThe Nehru-Gandhi clan was at the helm of affairs of the party after independence for 38 years: Nehru for three years, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for eight years each, and Sonia Gandhi for a record 19 years.\nLong before independence, his great-great grandfather, Motilal Nehru, headed the party, the first from the family to do so.\nIMAGE: Dadabhai Naoroji was the second president of the Congress party. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images\nThe party has been helmed by some illustrious people -- including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam Azad and Sarojini Naidu.\nWomesh Chandra Bonnerjee, who wore several hats as journalist, jurist and politician, was the president of the first session of the Congress held in what was then Bombay in December 1885. Dadabhai Naoroji was the second.\nDecades before questions were raised about Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, the party had five presidents who were not born in India.\nIMAGE: Annie Besant, who started the Home Rule Movement, headed the Congress in 1917.\nPhotograph: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images\nAccording to “Congress and the Making of Indian Nation”, a two-volume set edited by former Congress leader and ex-president of India Pranab Mukherjee, Scottish merchant George Yule was the president of the party in 1888 and presided over the Allahabad session. Sir William Wedderburn, a former member of the Indian Civil Service, headed the party twice -- in 1889 and 1910.\nAlfred Webb, member of the House of Commons, Sir Henry Cotton, an ICS officer and chief commissioner of Assam, and Annie Besant, who started the Home Rule Movement, headed the Congress in 1894, 1904 and 1917 respectively.\nMadan Mohan Malviya, later one of the main leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, presided over the Congress in 1909 and 1918.\nIMAGE: Jawaharlal Nehru became party president in 1929. It was at the Lahore session of the party that Nehru gave a call for 'Poorna Swaraj'. Photograph: Fox Photos/Getty Images\nMotilal Nehru, father of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was party president in 1919 and 1928. His son first took over the reins in 1929, when the call for ‘Poorna Swaraj’ was given at the Lahore session of the party.\nAfter independence, the party was headed by four people from the Nehru-Gandhi family, and 11 who were not.\nB Pattabhi Sitaramayya (1948) was followed by Purushottam Das Tandon (1949) and U N Dhebar (1955-59). The others were N Sanjiva Reddy (1960-62), K Kamaraj (1964-66), S Nijalingappa (1968-69), Jagjivan Ram (1969), Shankar Dayal Sharma (1972), D K Barooah (1975), P V Narasimha Rao (1992-96), and Sitaram Kesri (1997-98).\nJawaharlal Nehru was the president of the party for three spells -- in 1929, 1936 and 1951-53.\nIMAGE: Indira Gandhi was elected Congress president in 1959. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images\nHe was among the four party presidents who also headed the government -- apart from his daughter, Indira Gandhi, grandson Rajiv and Andhra Pradesh leader P V Narasimha Rao.\nIndira Gandhi held the post in 1959 and 1978-84, her son Rajiv Gandhi in 1984-91 and daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi, from 1998 till date.\nPolitical commentator Kumar Ketkar points out that there were several occasions when the prime minister clashed with the party president or with senior leaders.\nIMAGE: In the 1980s, Rajiv was made a general secretary of the Congress party. After his mother, Indira's assassination, he was made Congress president. Photograph: Ali Jarecki AJ/CMC/PN/Reuters\n“There was a major difference of opinion between Nehru and Vallabbhai Patel over the candidature of Purushottam Tandon in 1949. While Patel backed Tandon, Nehru was against his nomination. This was the time when Nehru was prime minister and Patel home minister,” he says.\nHe cites the example of S Nijalingappa expelling Indira Gandhi in 1969.\n“When Indira was prime minister, she was sacked as a primary member of the Congress by then party president Nijalingappa,” says Ketkar.\nIMAGE: Sitaram Kesri served as Congress president from 1996-1998, giving way to Sonia Gandhi.\nPhotograph: Reuters\nSuhas Palshikar, political analyst and co-director of the Lokniti programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, says even Jawaharlal Nehru was a towering figure in the Congress, he would take decisions through compromise.\n“Nehru allowed plurality of leaders. It was only after Indira came that dynasty took root in the Congress and the mantle was passed on to Rajiv,” Palshikar says.\nBut the installation of Rajiv Gandhi’s wife, Sonia, as party president was not exactly an outcome of dynasty politics, he believes.\n“She was brought in as a leader who was acceptable to all at a time when the Congress was in disarray. But it cannot be denied that she had the benefit of being from the Nehru-Gandhi family,” Palshikar adds.\nFor the party, Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as president is the start of a new chapter." ]

[ "Lake Michigan" ]

[ "Lake Maracaibo", "Ricki Lake", "\"Swan Lake\"", "Lake Havasu", "the \"Lake Poets\"", "Lake Tanganyika", "slake & lake", "Lake Minnetonka", "Lake Rudolph", "Lake Winnipeg", "Lake Powell", "Lake Nicaragua", "Lake Bonneville", "The Lady of the Lake", "Lake Champlain", "Lake Titicaca", "Lake Geneva", "10,000 Lakes", "Veronica Lake", "the Salt Lake", "Lake Albert", "Lake George", "Lake Managua", "Lake Placid", "Lake Louise", "Lake Mead", "Crater Lake", "Lake Nasser", "Salt Lake City", "Lake Rudolf", "\"You Oughta Know\"", "Lake Victoria" ]

[ "Authorities say Jennair Gerardot and Meredith Chapman were found shot to death in a Pennsylvania home. ABC 6" ]

[ "news\nIn Osogbo, Osun state, a side chic Fadahunsi Alaba got a bad beating for showing up at her lover's house unannounced. She found out that he is also married.\nThe aftermath of the sudden visit resulted in nasty injuries for the victim who had a swollen face.\nOlusola Simeon the lover had his wife and children at home when Alaba visited.\nHis action has led him to prison says the National Helm in a report which also confirmed his arraignment at the Osogbo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.\nALSO READ: Man who beats wife too much killed by in-laws\nMore reports revealed that the attack occurred on Monday, June 2, 2018.\nOlusola Simeon is to be held at the Ilesha prison until August.\nMagistrate Awodele Adedoyin gave this order after the accused pleaded guilty to a charge of assault.\nWoman keeps promise to kill husband's side chic\nA short note carried a woman's message to a side chic who won't leave her husband alone. It was found close to the corpse of her competition whose body littered a roadside.\nThe deceased Ada Ezeudo was reportedly killed in Ifitedunu located in Anambra State.\nIt appeared that Ezeudo had ignored an earlier warning asking her to stay away from the woman's husband.\n\"I told you to live my husband alone. You really think I'm joking coming to Akuzu. R.I.P Asawwo girl,\" reads a text from the note.\nALSO READ: Married man flogs wife in public over young sidechic\nA man emptied an acidic content on his niece in a similar case of violence resulting from cheating. This also happened in Anambra.", "KABUL, Afghanistan — An armed mob that included relatives of a young woman who had eloped with her lover stormed a police station holding the couple in eastern Afghanistan over the weekend, then dragged the lovers off and killed them, officials and witnesses said.\nThe mob wounded three police officers, one of them seriously, the officials and witnesses said Sunday and Monday in providing accounts of the couple’s violent deaths, often called honour killings.\nThe woman, Fatiha, 18, was described as having been married against her will and eloping instead with a young man, Hedayatullah, believed to be in his early 20s, from a neighbouring village in Wama District of Nuristan province. But on Saturday the police caught and arrested the couple on suspicion of adultery.\nRelated\nWithin hours an armed mob formed at the police station, led by Fatiha’s husband and his family, but also including her brothers and cousins, the officials and witnesses said.\nThe authorities said there were only 30 police officers at the station facing a mob of 250 to 300 heavily armed men. “If police had fired bullets at the people, a massacre could have happened,” said Hafiz Abdul Qayoom, governor of Nuristan, claiming the police had no option but to surrender the couple to the mob, especially after three officers suffered gunshot wounds from the angry crowd.\nHer younger brother shot her with an AK-47\nSalam Khan, 22, a witness from Fatiha’s village, Sar-i-Pul, said he saw what had happened to the couple after the police surrendered them. “Some of Fatiha’s relatives, her cousins, were beating her with their fists and saying, ‘Why did you do this?’ Then her older brother got angry and shot her with a hunting rifle and her younger brother shot her with an AK-47. I don’t know how many bullets they fired,” Khan said, speaking by telephone from the remote village.\nThe man described by officials and witnesses as the woman’s husband, who was not identified, shot and killed Hedayatullah, with whom she had eloped, according to Khan.\nAs of Monday no one had been charged or arrested in the fatal shootings of the couple or the shootings of the police officers.", "[India], Dec 11 (ANI): In what could be termed as a gruesome attempt to replace one's husband with her lover, a woman in Telangana's Nagarkurnool killed her husband with her partner's aid, while her partner disfigured his face to purport as her husband.\nThe woman, identified as Swathi, was taken into custody by the NagarKurnool district police on Monday, and confessed to the crime.\nAs per Swathi, she hatched a plan to switch the husband, Sudhakar Reddy for her lover Rajesh. Accordingly, the duo killed her husband on the night of November 27, and shifted him to Navapeta forest and burnt his body. Further, Rajesh voluntarily agreed to disfigure his face by pouring acid on it.\nActing upon the initial complaint of the deceased's brother Surender Reddy, who said that some unknown persons attacked his brother with acid and shifted him to Hyderabad for better treatment, a case was registered with NagarKurnool district police, under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and an investigation was taken up, informed the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP), NagarKurnool district, Jogu Chennaiah. Chennaiah further told that the complainant again approached the police, saying that the person admitted in the hospital might not be his brother. \"We visited the hospital and took fingerprints of the person who is undergoing treatment later checked with Aadhaar biometric and found the fingerprints are not matching,\" Chennaiah added. Swathi has been arrested under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the IPC, and sent to judicial remand. \"One more accused Rajesh is undergoing treatment in the hospital; he will be arrested soon after discharge from the hospital,\" the Additional SP said. (ANI)", "The woman (circled) decided to protest in such a way in order gain justice against husband's kin and policemen, who raped her\nA 40-year-old woman from Rorewala village in Sangrur, Punjab, decided to protest the apparent injustice meted out to her in a rather unique manner. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Gurmeet Kaur, climbed a mobile tower around 9 am on Sunday morning and it took cops three hours to convince her to come down.\nAlso read: Woman gangraped multiple times; one accused held\nKaur was hospitalised after descending the tower, after which the police arrested her in connection with a case registered against the woman in Lehragaga.\nPolice sources say that she had even left a suicide note. The woman demanded action against cops and her husband's brother-in-law, who allegedly took turns raping her. The woman also said that her brother-in-law had kidnapped her husband on January 26.\nExplaining her unusual way of protest, Gurmeet Kaur said she had married an older man, who owned 4 acres of land, for the sake of her children on January 7, 2016.\nAlso read - Shocking! After gangrape, acid attack and stabbing, woman made to drink acid\nShe further claimed that her husband's brother forcefully got the land registered under his name. Kaur says her brother-in-law also lodged a false case against her.\nSangrur police officials say the woman is involved in criminal cases and was facing charges under sections like 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 447 (punishment for criminal trespass), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) of the Indian Penal Code.\nThey further stated that Kaur committed the act because she wanted to escape arrest.", "A 92 year-old woman shot her son dead after he tried to put her in a nursing home, police say.\nAnna Mae Blessing allegedly told the 72 year-old ‘You took my life, so I’m taking yours’ before blasting him to death Monday morning.\nShe allegedly hid two pistols in the pocket of her robe, and fired one at her son – whose name has not been released – as he lay sleeping at his apartment in Phoenix, Az.\nAnna Mae Blessing, 92, who allegedly killed her son after he tried to put her in a nursing home (Picture: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)\nBlessing is then said to have pointed the weapon at her son’s girlfriend, before the woman managed to wrestle it away from her.\nShe allegedly produced the second gun and tried to fire that, only for her late son’s girlfriend to incercept her before she could.\nTrump deletes tweet about writing skills because it's got spelling mistakes\nCourt documents seen by the Arizona Republic allege that Blessing had been stewing over her son’s plan to send her away to an assisted living facility for several days before the shooting.\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement\nShe is said to have told deputies that he wanted to send her away because she ‘had become difficult to live with’ since moving in with him six months previously.\nAfter killing her son and trying to kill his girlfriend Blessing sat in her recliner and contemplated killing herself, but no longer had a weapon to do so, it is claimed.\nBlessing allegedly told cops that she had bought one of the guns in the late 1970s, and that the other was given to her by her husband.\nShe has been taken into custody on first-degree murder charges and is being held on $500,000 bond.\nBlessing is being held in Maricopa County Jail on first-degree murder charges (Picture: Google)\nBlessing, who was also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and kidnap, will next appear in court on July 10.", "BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Three years after her husband was found shot to death, a Southern California woman was convicted of murder after prosecutors said she conspired with her lover to kill him.\nA Kern County jury on Thursday found Sabrina Limon, 37, guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and accessory to murder.\nRobert Limon, a railroad worker, was found fatally shot near Bakersfield in 2014.\nProsecutors said Sabrina Limon conspired with former firefighter Jonathan Hearn in the killing so they could be together.\nAdvertisement\nAs part of a plea deal reached in January, Hearn, 27, agreed to plead no contest to counts including voluntary manslaughter in exchange for helping the prosecution of Sabrina Limon.\n\"Hearn saved his own butt,\" Limon's attorney, Richard Terry, said after Thursday's verdict was read.\nTerry argued throughout the trial that Hearn's testimony — the only direct evidence against his client — could not be trusted.\nDuring three days of testimony, Sabrina Limon acknowledged the affair but said she knew nothing of Hearn's plan to kill her husband.\nShe also explained her failure to tell investigators about Hearn — even after they repeatedly asked if she or her husband had lovers — as an effort to preserve their reputations.\nProsecutor Eric Smith said the jury returned \"a just result\" and said he believed the evidence supported its findings.\nLimon was found not guilty of attempted murder and of mingling harmful substances into food or drink, according to the Bakersfield Californian (http://bit.ly/2gfMlDR ).\nShe could face 25 years to life in prison at her Nov. 3 sentencing.\nOutside the courthouse, Robert Limon's sister, Chris Wilson, said she was relieved the trial is over.\n\"It'll never bring my brother back, but it will bring justice, and that's what we've been looking for,\" she said.\n___\nInformation from: The Bakersfield Californian, http://www.bakersfield.com", "CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The wives of local police officers spoke out against a Charlotte City Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield Wednesday night.\nThe group, wearing shirts saying \"My Husband is Not a Terrorist,\" was with their children who held up signs saying \"My Dad is a Hero.\"\nRELATED: Mayfield tweet calling cops 'homegrown terrorist wearing blue uniforms' draws ire of CMPD\nWednesday night's demonstration stems from Mayfield's tweet from March comparing police officers to terrorists, which came after the death of Stephon Clark, a man who was killed by police in Sacramento.\nOne woman at the city council meeting told NBC Charlotte she is hoping the city holds Mayfield accountable for her actions.\n\"I hope that she realizes our families are real. They're not just something they can talk about behind a screen and a keyboard and I hope that she's accountable,\" said the woman.\nMayfield did not address the women at the meeting.\n© 2018 WCNC", "3:56 Cop Shop Podcast: Woman seeking beer busts in door Pause\n5:00 Florida man tells cop he stabbed his sister 'too many times'\n3:13 'Send a message!' prosecutor tells jurors at Macon murder trial\n4:27 Cop Shop Podcast: Macon mom causes dental-office stir\n3:09 'I begged him not to kill my son,' grieving woman says\n1:00 One chilling detail ups Barberitos, Chevron killings to 'a whole different level'\n9:42 They wanted money. She had access. Now she's dead\n3:48 Cop Shop Podcast: Man goes off at Burger King\n2:17 GBI director says that exploited elderly people were held in 'dungeons'", "Shocking CCTV footage captures the moment a heavily pregnant woman deliberately tripped a four-year-old boy. The woman reportedly did it because she was \"annoyed\" and wanted to teach the child \"a lesson.\" The surveillance footage went viral on Chinese social networking sites, where many condemned the woman's \"shameful\" behaviour.CCTV footage posted on YouTube by CGTN shows the unidentified boy running into a restaurant. As he enters the establishment, he pushes past a clear plastic curtain. It is this curtain that hits the woman - seated at a nearby table with her husband - and causes some of her food to spill.Both the woman and her husband appear to exclaim and gesture but the child doesn't seem to realise what he has inadvertently done. Other diners in the restaurant briefly look over to see what the commotion is all about.Seconds later, as the boy is exiting the restaurant, the woman stretches out her left leg in a clear attempt to trip him over. The boy - not seeing the obstacle in front of him - immediately flies forward and falls to the ground. Even worse, neither her nor her husband bother to help the child up. They simply carry on with their meals. His mother rushes to his side and helps him up.According to local media reports, the young boy - who suffers from a heart defect - was diagnosed with a mild concussion as a result of the fall and hospitalised for two days.It was only when the boy told his mother that he had been deliberately tripped that she realised what had actually happened.According to a local newspaper quoted by South China Morning Post , the boy's mother checked the CCTV footage and immediately called the police.\"Police said they would detain her for 10 days and penalise her 1,000 yuan (approximately Rs 10,500), but she is seven months pregnant,\" she told China Youth Daily. \"We do not wish to affect her. I have children myself. I can understand.\" The woman was heavily criticised on social media after footage of the incident went viral. She turned herself in to the cops and offered to pay for any medical expenses, reports Shanghaiist . She even apologised to the child's parents.\"As someone who is soon going to be a mother, this act is really shameful,\" wrote one person on China's Twitter-like social media platform Weibo. Others used words like \"cruel\" and \"childish\" to describe her behaviour.Click for more trending news", "Sign up for one of our email newsletters.\nWAYNE — A woman broke into the Philadelphia-area home of another woman she believed was romantically involved with her husband and killed her before killing herself, authorities said.\nRadnor Township police said the slaying of Meredith Chapman, 33, on Monday night was carefully planned by Jennair Gerardot, of Wilmington, Del.\n\"You had a man who was married who was having an affair with this other woman. The wife knew about it, and this was a calculated, planned attack,\" Police Superintendent William Colarulo said.\nRadnor police identify the deceased in murder-suicide as Meredith Sullivan Chapman, 33, who resided in the house, and Gennair Gerardot, 47, of Wilmington. https://t.co/OJOQ9Mvy1m — Action News on 6abc (@6abc) April 24, 2018\nGeradot broke into the house, shot Chapman as soon as she walked in and then she shot herself, Colarulo said.\n\"There were emails and text messages indicating what she planned to do, and the detectives are still sorting that out,\" he said.\nColarulo said \"she broke into the house, she was lying in wait, and she shot her as soon as she walked in, and then she shot herself.\n\"She went to great lengths to disguise herself,\" Colarulo added. \"She broke into the victim's house, and cleaned up the glass so the victim didn't realize someone was in her home.\"\nLearning more about the victim of a murder-suicide in #Rosemont Meredith Chapman, 33 just started a new job at #Villanova & moved into the home one week earlier. @6abc pic.twitter.com/4LU9OSEtvg — Maggie Kent (@MaggieKent6abc) April 24, 2018\nOfficials believe Gerardot may have disguised herself and taken a train from Delaware, since a wig and other clothing not belonging to Chapman were found in a bag inside the house.\nChapman, a 2007 graduate of the University of Delaware, worked for the school in media relations and marketing and ran unsuccessfully for a state Senate seat in Delaware in 2016. She recently was hired as an assistant vice president at Villanova University.\nDelaware Online reported that less than two hours before she was killed, Chapman said on her Instagram account that she \"couldn't be more excited\" about her new position.\n\"Just a week on the job and I'm already feeling the love from #NovaNation! #GoingNova #HigherEdMarketing #NewAdventures.\" she posted at 5:42 p.m.\nOn the right is the home on the unit block of Lowrys Lane in Bryn Mawr where authorities say Meredith Chapman, an assistant vice president at Villanova, was ambushed and killed in a murder-suicide last night. pic.twitter.com/DM2nPMMleb — Erin McCarthy (@erinK_mccarthy) April 24, 2018\nVillanova University spokesman Jonathan Gust said the school was informed Monday night about her death.\n\"Our hearts are broken by the devastating loss of our new colleague,\" he said. \"The thoughts and prayers of the entire university community are with her family, friends and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.\"", "NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police on Staten Island are looking for thieves who ransacked a family’s home.\nThey said the burglars targeted a woman while she was picking up her kids from school.\n“I came out and looked around, didn’t notice anything suspicious and I just got in my truck and went to work, then my wife texted me there was a robbery two houses down and I just missed it,” Frank Stapleton said.\n“And they just moved in. I feel bad for them. They’re new neighbors,” Pat Lavin told CBS2’s Jessica Moore.\nThe splintered door from on Craig Avenue in the Tottenville section told the story of a frightening midday crime targeting a young family.\nPolice say a woman was gone for only a few minutes Monday afternoon, to pick up her kids from school when she returned to find thieves had ransacked her house.\nCops said the thieves not only stole things, they stole memories, like earrings and the necklace the woman wore on her wedding day. They even took her husband’s wedding band.\nNeighbors were astonished at the fast moving crooks who came and went with barely a trace.\n“So now I’m putting a security door on my house,” Carmela Fazio said.\nFazio told CBS2’s Moore she’s in the neighborhood every day and never sees anything like this.\n“I look up and down. The buses are constantly running, so you’d think nobody would try anything with the buses running, but you know, no fear,” she said.\nPolice don’t have much to go on, but are working hard to track them down.\nThe NYPD said there have been several other daytime burglaries in the Tottenville, area, but they don’t believe they are connected.", "An expert in best practices for cops criticized the Boynton Beach Police Department on Wednesday during Dalia Dippolito’s retrial on a 2009 murder-for-hire charge.\nBut Timothy Williams, a retired Los Angeles Police Department detective hired by Dippolito’s lawyers, also was under fire when prosecutors challenged his knowledge and conclusions about the case of the woman accused of planning the death of her husband.\nWilliams testified for about four hours, more than twice as long as his paid appearance on behalf of Dippolito at her second trial in December that resulted in a hung jury.\nLannis Waters/Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool Timothy Williams, a police practices expert testifies during Dalia Dippolito's trial, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Dippolito is accused of soliciting a hitman to kill her newlywed husband. Timothy Williams, a police practices expert testifies during Dalia Dippolito's trial, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Dippolito is accused of soliciting a hitman to kill her newlywed husband. (Lannis Waters/Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool)\nThe difference this time was a fiery and lengthy cross examination by Assistant State Attorney Craig Williams — no relation — concerning recordings of Dippolito’s conversations with a police informant and an undercover cop posing as a hit man.\nAt one point, Timothy Williams said Dippolito never gave any money for the alleged murder. But the prosecutor then showed $1,200 in evidence, cash that Dippolito allegedly handed the informant for the fake hit man to use to buy a gun and cell phones.\nCraig Williams also reminded the expert that money doesn’t even have to be exchanged for someone to be convicted of solicitation to commit first-degree murder with a firearm.\nThe prosecutor also asked the defense expert if Dippolito was “wishy washy” when she told undercover officer Widy Jean on one recording: “I’m positive, like 5,000 percent sure I want it done.”\nTimothy Williams replied, “It was gamesmanship as far as I was concerned.”\nWhen questioned by defense attorney Brian Claypool, Williams told the jury that Boynton Beach police mishandled the investigation of Dippolito from the moment her ex-lover, Mohamed Shihadeh contacted the cops with his concerns on July 31, 2009.\nRather than assess whether Dippolito was at risk of domestic abuse, the police rushed to turn Shihadeh into a confidential informant.\n“Domestic violence is serious and they should have gone out to check if Ms. Dippolito was a victim,” Williams said.\nHe explained that the department botched the whole case by apparently forcing Shihadeh to work as an informant — under the alleged threat of arrest — against its own policy.\n“In my opinion it taints the investigation,” Williams said.\n“You’re taught in law enforcement you don’t coerce anyone … you don’t threaten anyone,” he testified. “It’s illegal … you don’t harass someone to get an end result.”\nShihadeh is scheduled to testify Thursday as a defense witness.\nWilliams also said the investigation was flawed because the police failed to record some phone calls and discussions between Dippolito and Shihadeh during his time as an informant. And he backed the defense’s theme that it was inappropriate for the department to invite the “Cops” reality TV program to film parts of the investigation.\nBut the prosecutor later challenged Williams’ review of the evidence, and the expert acknowledged he had not seen text messages between Dippolito and another man concerning plans to get her husband arrested on a parole violation.\nLannis Waters /Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool Michael Dippolito, ex-husband of Dalia Dippolito, testifies in her attempted murder trial Thursday, June 8, 2017, on the first day of testimony in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Lannis Waters /Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool) Michael Dippolito, ex-husband of Dalia Dippolito, testifies in her attempted murder trial Thursday, June 8, 2017, on the first day of testimony in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Lannis Waters /Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool) (Lannis Waters /Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool)\nWilliams, whose nearly 30-year law enforcement career included work on robbery and homicide cases, told the jury he has been paid $325 an hour for his work on the Dippolito defense case, for a running total of $6,500.\nClaypool quipped that the prosecutor “attacked the credibility” of a witness who has testified as an expert in 64 other criminal trials.\nAlso Wednesday, Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley ruled that Dippolito’s lawyers would not be allowed to call a witness described as an expert in facial recognition, body language, and human behavior.\nCAPTION The lead detective took the witness stand Friday in Dalia Dippolito's third murder-for-hire trial. Through the testimony of Boynton Beach Officer Alex Moreno, prosecutors are introducing key videos and audio recordings from before and after Dippolito allegedly arranged on her husband Mike. (WPEC-CBS12) The lead detective took the witness stand Friday in Dalia Dippolito's third murder-for-hire trial. Through the testimony of Boynton Beach Officer Alex Moreno, prosecutors are introducing key videos and audio recordings from before and after Dippolito allegedly arranged on her husband Mike. (WPEC-CBS12) CAPTION The lead detective took the witness stand Friday in Dalia Dippolito's third murder-for-hire trial. Through the testimony of Boynton Beach Officer Alex Moreno, prosecutors are introducing key videos and audio recordings from before and after Dippolito allegedly arranged on her husband Mike. (WPEC-CBS12) The lead detective took the witness stand Friday in Dalia Dippolito's third murder-for-hire trial. Through the testimony of Boynton Beach Officer Alex Moreno, prosecutors are introducing key videos and audio recordings from before and after Dippolito allegedly arranged on her husband Mike. (WPEC-CBS12) CAPTION Dalia Dippolito’s third trial on a 2009 murder-for-trial charge is under way, after attorneys gave opening statements to the jury. Dippolito is accused of planning her husband's murder. Dalia Dippolito’s third trial on a 2009 murder-for-trial charge is under way, after attorneys gave opening statements to the jury. Dippolito is accused of planning her husband's murder. CAPTION Dalia Dippolito goes to trial for the third time Friday June 2, 2017.This time around, Dippolito may testify in the murder-for-hire case. Dalia Dippolito goes to trial for the third time Friday June 2, 2017. This time around, Dippolito may testify in the murder-for-hire case. CAPTION Final motions before Dalia Dippolito 3rd trial. Final motions before Dalia Dippolito 3rd trial. CAPTION Before Dalia Dippolito's third trial on a 2009 murder-for-hire charge, the judge set ground rules for the lawyers and evidence to be presented to the jury. Before Dalia Dippolito's third trial on a 2009 murder-for-hire charge, the judge set ground rules for the lawyers and evidence to be presented to the jury.\n“There is not a court in this state that would allow this testimony,” he said. “A jury is well capable to review a video and reach its own conclusions.”\nThe defense consultant, Susan Constantine-Perfido, previously has said Dippolito’s facial expressions on the undercover police video don’t show that she intended to have her husband killed.\nDippolito, 34, was found guilty at her first trial in 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. But an appeals court tossed the conviction and punishment. She has been on house arrest for close to eight years.\nmjfreeman@sun-sentinel.com, 561-243-6642 or Twitter @marcjfreeman", "CTV Montreal\nQuestions have been raised about a candidate running in the Montreal election, after distasteful media posts were uncovered on both her personal – and professional – pages.\nCaroline Orchard is running to become a councillor for Coalition Montreal in the N.D.G. district. Described as a community activist, Orchard and her husband also run an organization called Le Grand Pas, that seeks to provide First Nations people with the skills necessary to enter the job market.\nA year ago, before Orchard announced her run for councillor, Le Grand Pas, or “The Big Step,” was profiled by CTV Montreal.\nMore recently, CTV was made aware of a number of anti-feminist rantings on Orchard’s personal and business pages – some of them, vulgar.\nOn her personal Facebook account, Orchard claims that she hates radical feminists, speaks against the women’s march against the election of Donald Trump, and in one post says she’s upset by women trying to change the term “rape.”\nIn unsubtle terms, Orchard asserts there’s a difference between a woman who gets drunk and assaulted, and someone who get violently raped.\nAnother target: feminists who try to convince themselves that obesity is beautiful: “Something to make you vomit,” she posted.\nIn another post, Orchard openly criticizes plus-sized model Tess Holliday, calling her “a fat idiot who [teaches] women to be fat blobs.” She refers to Madonna as a “feminist terrorist who threatened to blow the white house.”\nWhen CTV Montreal reached out to Orchard herself, she didn’t make an official statement—but said in a message that “everything from the past is irrelevant to my future work.”\nCoalition Montreal leader Marvin Rotrand said that he had interviewed Orchard before choosing her as a running mate, but that he had not personally seen her social media accounts.\nHe describes Orchard as a working-class woman with “conservative” views. Rotrand said he has since spoken with her, and that she apologizes if anyone finds her posts offensive.\n\"She says everyone has a social media history and she regrets any remarks she may have made in haste or in anger that may be seen as offensive or poorly expressed,\" Rotrand said in a written statement.\nRotrand explained that several people, possibly ten, have access to the business page for Le Grand Pas, and that it’s possible not all questionable posts were put up by Orchard herself.\nHe said that Orchard has not been an administrator on the page for some time. She took a leave of absence from Le Grand Pas several moths ago, Rotrand explained.\nRotrand added that the party believes that Orchard is being “trolled” by the opposition, Projet Montreal.\nHe alleges that several of Orchard’s election posters have been vandalized or have disappeared altogether, and that certain candidates may be playing dirty ahead of the municipal election November 5.\n\"Her non-conventional, populist style appeals to many, and her campaign, which is her first entry into politics, is having notable success,\" Rotrand said. \"We at Coalition Montreal have seen an evolution in her expression and will stand by her despite her rough edges.\"", "…pregnant woman charged for beating ‘cheating’ husband, lover\nA PREGNANT woman, who was allegedly assaulted by her husband and his lover after she caught them in the Botanical Gardens, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, charged with assault.\nKezia Phil, and her 36-year-old husband, Derrick Phil, both from Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and the lover, Sandra Spencer, were all charged with assault. Kezia Phil, who is eight-months pregnant, was charged with assaulting her husband and Spencer on June 8, 2017 at the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.\nMrs. Phil pleaded guilty to the charges and explained that on the day in question, she was in a taxi heading to a doctor’s appointment when she saw her husband’s car proceeding along Vlissengen Road.\nThe woman further explained that the car drove into the Botanical Gardens and she was shocked because her husband told her that he was busy with work.\n“I told the taxi driver to follow the car… I see when my husband drive up and park, then I saw them kissing up,” the pregnant woman told the court.\nShe added the she approached the vehicle and opened the passenger’s door.\n“I open the door and tell her that I’m his wife… and she [Spencer] tell me wah duh gotta do with her,” Mrs. Phil pointed out.\nAccording to the pregnant woman, Spencer slammed the car door on her tummy after which she [Mrs Phil] hit her [Spencer] with an umbrella.\nDuring the altercation, Mrs. Phil alleged that her husband came out of the car and hit her [Mrs Phil] with the same umbrella.\nMeanwhile, the husband and lover were also charged with assaulting the pregnant woman, however, Mrs. Phil dropped the matter against Spencer, which was dismissed by Magistrate Azore.\nMrs. Phil pointed out that she will be proceeding in the matter against her husband since he is in the habit of assaulting her, even though she has a restraining order against him.\nMagistrate Azore released the husband on $35,000 bail and transferred the matter to City Magistrate, Dylon Bess, for June 15.", "Jennair Gerardot, a marketing professional from Delaware, lay in wait for the younger woman with whom her husband was having an affair, and then murdered her inside her home, according to police.\nAfter ambushing and then shooting Meredith Chapman, 33, to death in her home, Gerardot, 47, whose husband, Mark, was having an affair with the university marketing director, killed herself inside his lover’s home, police said. Chapman was a former candidate for state Senate. The murder-suicide occurred in the Rosemont section of Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, although Jennair Gerardot was from Wilmington, Delaware. Her husband was also a creative director at a university.\nJennair Gerardot brought a wig to the scene, police said.\nHere’s what you need to know:\n1. Jennair Sent Mark a Series of Texts & Then Ambushed & Shot Chapman to Death\nPolice painted a chilling picture of the murder. They say that Jennair Gerardot texted her husband a series of messages “in which she laid out how she planned to kill the woman with whom he was having an affair,” according to Delaware Online.\nAccording to police, Jennair lay in wait inside Chapman’s home and then shot Chapmen and herself to death. A short time later, a 911 call came in to police reporting a bloody scene and two women dead.\n“It’s not a love triangle. You had a man who was married that was having an affair with this other woman,” said Bill Colarulo, superintendent of Radnor Township police, in a news conference. “The wife knew about it. And this was a calculated, planned attack. She broke into the house. She was lying in wait, and she shot her as soon as she walked in, and then she shot herself.”\nHe added: “There were emails and text messages indicating what she planned to do, and the detectives are still sorting that out,” he said. “We believe the husband was in the area under the belief that he was meeting the other woman for dinner, and when she didn’t show up, that’s when he got concerned and showed up at the house. But again, that’s unconfirmed and what we’re working on right now.”\nMark Gerardot was supposed to meet Chapman for a date but discovered the bodies instead.\n2. Mark & Jennair Gerardot Seemed Like the Perfect Couple on Social Media\n“One of my favorite photos of my lovely wife,” Mark Gerardot wrote with the above photo of Jennair on her Facebook page. Professional photos show the couple holding hands and walking on a beach with their dog. Other photos are of the couple’s dog and cat.\n“Seemed so Perfect…” one person commented on the thread under a photo of the couple on Jennair’s page. Jennair said on Facebook that she was from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She sometimes shared political events on Facebook, most recently an event called March Forward Virginia – March to the Polls.\nThe couple, formerly from South Carolina, was featured in a photo share on Facebook to an animal rescue organization that read, “Big paws up! Today, the Gerardot family is celebrating 1 year with Huck (formerly Rusty). Thank you GRRA for all the great work you do. We hope to find Huck a brother or sister golden rescue to join our little family later this fall.”\nIn September 2017, Jennair wrote, “This is a great Campaign! Please share,” linking to a Huffington Post article titled “This Is How Victim-Blaming Logic Would Play Out In Everyday Scenarios.”\nShe also shared a post that read, “Thinking NFL players are protesting ‘the flag,’ is like thinking Rosa Parks was protesting public transportation.” Jennair posted an article critical of Japanese whaling, writing, “This makes me very depressed. No amount of resources can really help against what they are up against.” She also posted graphics about keeping family pets safe from fireworks on the 4th of July.\n3. Chapman, a University Marketing Director, Wrote That ‘Love Never Fails’\nChapman described herself on Facebook as “Creative, loving, fun, energetic. University of Delaware alum, marketer & professor. Love never fails.”\nShe described herself as a “senior Executive Marketing Director at University of Delaware” and “Associate Business Consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz,” as well as “Adjunct Faculty at University of Delaware” and “Former Director of Digital Communication at University of Delaware.” However, Delaware Online said that Chapman was working for Villanova University at the time of her death.\nA friend wrote under one photo of Chapman on Facebook, “Meredith my Undergrad TA two academic years ago is a UD cheerleader extraordinaire and so was her mama! She’s on the side of the YouDee Van…Meredith was also a UD cheerer.”\nChapman wrote that she lived in Newark, Delaware and was from Landenberg, Pennsylvania. Photos indicated that she was recently married.\nShe was a political advocate, writing, in her most visible public Facebook post, “For the last six years, Luke’s served on Newark City Council and has been a strong advocate for our neighbors and City. I’ve always had such pride casting my vote for him. As Luke is not running for re-election, I’ve been keenly interested in the candidates vying to fill his seat. On April 10, I’ll be voting Jason Lawhorn For Newark, and I hope my neighbors will be doing the same. As a candidate, Jason has been to every neighborhood in our district. Prior to running, Jason has not only attended Council meetings but spoken on the record to ensure residents’ voices were heard. Jason has solutions to address the current issues facing us and ideas for improving our City for the future. Hear from Jason in this Facebook Live to understand why I’m eager to vote #LawhornForNewark.”\n4. Jennair Gerardot Described Herself as a ‘Confident’ & ‘Resourceful’ Marking Management Professional\nJennair Gerardot was also a marketing professional. On the surface, at least professionally, she and Meredith shared things in common. “Confident and resourceful Marketing Management professional with a unique blend of communications, creative and technical expertise at agency and corporate environments with over 16 years of marketing results at the entrepreneurial and national level for both BTB & BTC targets,” she wrote on her LinkedIn page.\nJennair listed a series of marketing jobs on her LinkedIn page, including working as a marketing manager for a company in South Carolina, working as a marketing manager and operations manager for Gerardot & Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana, and working as a project manager and marketing services manager in other positions. She also worked as a lease analyst for a realtor.\nJennair Gerardot had a B.A. in Communications/Liberal Arts from Indiana University-Purdue, listing her GPA as 3.53, and also attended Butler University, according to her LinkedIn page. One professional who recommended Jennair on LinkedIn described her as having “a great personality” and said she was “a valuable asset.”\n5. Chapman Ran Unsuccessfully for State Senate\nMeredith Chapman tried her hand at politics. According to ABC 6, “She ran unsuccessfully for a state Senate seat in Delaware in 2016.”\n“Most people who met Meredith were instantly dazzled by her. She was full of energy, motivation and passion and drive,” former co-worker Katy O’Connell told the television station.", "With its intriguing central character and a compelling, atmospheric setting, the Lewis trilogy (The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man, The Chessmen) by Peter May was a great success, and the author returns to the island in this latest novel.\nOnce again we start with a character far from their Hebridean home – although Niamh Macfarlane, the focus of I’ll Keep You Safe, is very different to Fin Macleod of the earlier trilogy. Where Fin was a cop bringing city thinking to the island in an inevitable culture clash, Niamh is co-owner of textile firm Ranish Tweed, taking ancient weaving skills from Lewis to the alien world of high fashion – and perhaps losing herself in the process.\nWe begin in Paris with an accusation of betrayal – and, minutes later, a car bomb that destroys both Niamh’s husband, Ruairidh, and his supposed lover, and also the shape of Niamh’s world, as she is questioned by the French police who seem sure she is the perpetrator.\nSlipping back to the beginning of Niamh and Ruairidh’s story, we learn both how the Ranish Tweed company came about and the rocks along the road of the couple’s relationship.\nSecrets and intrigues are hinted at as the narrative switches between the current police investigation and the couple’s past.\nAbout two-thirds of the way through, after Niamh returns to Lewis with Ruairidh’s remains, French cop Sylvie Braque arrives to follow up the investigation.\nSome readers may guess the identity of the murderer, but there is still a final twist in the last few pages – although it stretches the thread of belief in the story to breaking point and undermines much of what has gone before.\nApart from the ending, there are other problems with this novel. Sylvie’s chaotic home life is presumably supposed to be a change from the stereotype of feminine domesticity, but feels like it has been imported wholesale from a male character written a decade ago. Also, too many of the characters are one-dimensional – fashion designer Lee, for example, is a blunt, unkind caricature – and the murderer’s motivation is hackneyed, with no subtlety to leaven the use of an old idea.\nThough well researched and full of evocative, moving writing about Lewis and about grief, I’ll Keep You Safe left me wanting more – or possibly less, as I would happily have done without the ending.\nI’ll Keep You Safe, by Peter May, Quercus, £18.99", "Amiridis allegedly went missing on Monday of last week. On Thursday, police found a burned-out car with a charred body lying inside. The license plate and model matched the vehicle that the ambassador had rented at the time of his disappearance.\nThe car was found under a bridge in Nova Iguaçu, a municipality in the Rio metropolitan area where the Amiridis family was spending its Christmas vacation, 48 kilometers from Ipanema beach.\nThe plot has three main characters who have been temporarily detained on murder charges: the ambassador’s wife, Françoise Amiridis, 40; her lover, a 29-year-old military police officer named Sérgio Gomes Moreira, and a 24-year-old relative of the latter, Eduardo Moreira.\nInvestigators now have 60 days to come up with some hard evidence before they are forced to release the suspects\nWhile the police have yet to find a motive, they are convinced that all three plotted Amiridis’ death a day before the murder. So said Eduardo, who made the confession after feeling betrayed by Sergio.\nThe young man declared that the ambassador’s widow offered him 80,000 reales (€23,666) to get rid of her husband. To a lower-class youth with no regular source of income, that was a fortune.\nSurveillance cameras at the residential estate where the couple lived have captured both suspects entering the family home. The wife’s lover said he had a fight with Amiridis over the alleged abuse that she was suffering at her husband’s hands.\nThe argument got out of hand, and the ambassador reportedly took out a weapon and pointed it at Sergio Gomes, according to the latter’s version of events, although police have yet to find that weapon. The suspect claims that he strangled the ambassador in self-defense.\nA burned car in which a body was found during searches for the Greek ambassador. RICARDO MORAES REUTERS\nBut the police inspector in charge of the case, Evaristo Pontes, thinks this hypothesis is “highly unlikely.” Instead, he believes that Gomes went to the ambassador’s house intending to kill him, and that the diplomat was seriously injured, as suggested by a bloodstain on the living room sofa.\nAfter killing him, the attackers wrapped the body in a rug and loaded it in the trunk of Amiridis’ rental car. Cameras captured the moment, at around 3.30am. The widow denies that she was present at the time, but the younger suspect, Eduardo Moreira, says that she arrived home with her 10-year-old daughter from a nearby shopping center before they had left with the body.\nThe child did not see anything, but her mother allegedly told the killers to go faster. Françoise denies this, and says instead that she realized her husband had been murdered the next day, when she saw the bloodstain on the couch and asked her lover for explanations.\nAfter the murder, Sergio Gomes drove around without a clear destination and decided to hide the car to give himself some time to plan his next step. Nearly 24 hours later, he chose to burn the vehicle and try and make it look like a case of city violence. But he had to hire a taxi driver to take him to purchase gasoline, and a beggar who was in the area witnessed the fire.\nOnce the evidence had been (poorly) disposed of, the widow went down to the police station on Wednesday to report her husband’s disappearance. They had been together 15 years.\nThe wife’s lover said he had a fight with Amiridis over the alleged abuse that she was suffering at her husband’s hands\nShe stated that she had had no news of her husband since Monday, and that even though he often left without saying where he was going, he usually called his daughter. Françoise made her statements in the company of her lover and a lawyer – a fact that seemed suspicious to the police.\nInvestigators interrogated Françoise and Sergio repeatedly, with the testimony of both full of contradictions. Officers now have 60 days to come up with some hard evidence before they are forced to release the suspects.\nBut many questions remain: why did the lovers decide to kill the ambassador? Did they simply want to be together, or was there a financial motive as well? The cameras caught Sergio and Eduardo going into the house, but was the widow inside? Where did Sergio hide the car for 24 hours?\nAnd of course, what was Françoise thinking, going to the police precinct to report her husband’s disappearance in the company of her lover?\nEnglish version by Susana Urra.", "OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City mother has been found competent to stand trial on charges that she gave her three children medication to try and kill them before taking it herself.\nAttorneys for 37-year-old Therese Roever requested a mental evaluation for the Olathe woman. A judge reviewed the results before finding Friday that Roever is able to understand the proceedings and help her attorneys defend her in the attempted capital murder case.\nCourt documents say two of the children would have died if they hadn’t been found and rushed to a hospital. The records also show Roever and her ex-husband have been involved in long-running litigation involving domestic issues, including child custody.\nRoever is jailed on $1 million bond.", "2:40 Texas woman convicted of voter fraud says she voted Republican Pause\n4:22 Cop Shop Podcast: Mistress carves messages into lover's wife's Honda\n0:50 Man charged in two shootings of pizza delivery drivers makes first court appearance\n0:59 Georgia National Rodeo returns to Perry\n1:51 Gardner pleased with her Mercer team\n0:43 Jacob Elijah Miller jailed in Brooklyn Rouse shooting\n1:16 Winning a big game at Dublin doesn't happen often\n2:23 \"I've never seen anything like this,\" sheriff says of dangerous intersection\n0:37 Bibb deputy helps friend make \"promposal\"", "images sold on line by stock agencies are of khmer genoicde victims. Cambodia: Tower of Skulls\nimages sold on line by stock agencies are of khmer genoicde victims. Cambodia: Tower of Skulls\nTHE woman with her baby stares quietly into the camera, her passive gaze perhaps containing some knowledge of the unspeakable horrors that were about to befall her.\nShortly after the photograph was taken on the woman's arrival at the infamous Khmer Rouge torture centre S-21 in Phnom Penh, her baby was taken away and killed.\nShe herself was doomed, the wife of a Khmer Rouge officer who had fallen out of favour, and to become one of the millions of victims of Cambodia's mass murder of the 1970s.\nUntil earlier this month, the image of the woman with the short hair, slightly tipped head and\nsleeping infant was yours to buy for $199.99 for use in a \"marketing package\".\nIn other images a woman, pinned with a number, sits slumped beside her baby, and in another a young boy, number 374, stares terrified at the lens.\nLiterary publication the Mekong Review has revealed that two stock photo agencies - Alamy and Sprague - were cashing in on the images of the women and other victims of one of history's most appalling atrocities.\nPhoto of woman and her baby at the Khmer Rouge torture centre before their genocidal murder was on sale as a stock image for profit.\nAll the people in the black and white photos for sale online died in the Khmer Rouge's Year Zero genocide, more commonly known as Cambodia's Killing Fields.\nPublishing the images on Twitter, the Mekong Review wrote: \"These portraits were taken by Khmer Rouge cadres before they tortured and killed these people.\n\"This is wrong ... selling photos of Khmer Rouge victims which they have no copyright on. \"No one owns these photos.\n\"They were taken by members of a regime that was responsible for the death of 2 million people.\"\nThe Cambodian genocide began in 1975 when the country's communists called the Khmer Rouge overthrew the democratic government and seized power.\nMekong Review Twitter post about the sale prices and marketing of this Khmer Rouge’s victim’s image taken before her murder.\nKaing Guek Eav, aka ‘Duch’ who ran the S-21 torture centre where the woman and baby died.\nLed by five men including the notorious Pol Pot, they established \"Year Zero\", forcibly evacuating people from the cities back into the countryside and murdering perceived opponents.\nMoney was abolished, books were burned and the country's intellectual elite including teachers and wealthy traders were slaughtered to realise Pol Pot's dream of an agricultural communist utopia.\nUp to three million Cambodians - one quarter of the nation's population - were killed while the country fell into ruin and famine.\nArbitrary executions and torture were carried against perceived subversive members of the Khmer Rouge's own ranks, such as the unfortunate husband of the lady with her baby in the photograph.\nCambodian boy stands by remains of Khmer Rouge genocide victims in Kandal province. Picture: Heng Sinith.\nAfter four years of terror, the Khmer Rouge was removed from power when Vietnamese forces invaded.\nLeft behind were the skeletons of the many victims and their photographs.\nVisitors to Cambodia today can see the thousands of photos taken by the Khmer Rouge of their victims which take up the rooms of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in the capital, Phnom Penh.\nThe museum is on the site of the former high school which was used as Security Prison 21, S-21, to torture and kill victims.\nA \"tower of skulls\" can be seen at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, the site of a former orchard and mass grave containing 8,895 bodies 17km south of the capital.\nThe Mekong Review reported that no release form for use of the images had been signed before they were marketed by Alamy and Sprague.\nIt called into question the practice of selling the images for commercial use on legal and moral grounds.\nOn Monday, the Mekong Review reported that Alamy and Sprague had now removed the images from their sites.\nImages of killing fields genocide victims sold online by stock photo agencies for profit.\nSkulls and nones of Killing Fields victims at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.\nSchoolgirl with photographs of murdered at the Tuol Sleng (S-21) Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.", "“Losing Streak Lois” just drew a hand that could send her to death row.\nThe state of Florida wants to execute gambling addict Lois Riess for allegedly murdering a woman then stealing her identity.\nThe 56-year-old Blooming Prairie, Minn., grandmother rolled ashore in Florida as she was being sought by Minnesota cops in the March death of her husband, David.\nCops say Riess met Pamela Hutchinson, 59, on April 4 at a local watering hole and struck up a friendship. The gambling addict — nicknamed “Losing Streak Lois” for her luckless ways in casinos — was spotted the next day at Hutchinson’s condo.\nShe was last seen driving away in the dead woman’s white Acura.\nHutchinson’s lifeless body was found April 9 in her home. She had been shot twice.\nBut Riess was long gone, using the dead woman’s credit cards to check into hotels and order room service. She also withdrew $5,000 from Hutchinson’s bank account.\nCops believe that Riess was high-tailing it to Mexico before turning up at a Motel 6 in South Padre Island, Tex.\nAt the time she was nabbed, Riess was in the process of grooming another victim, detectives said.\nBut a sharp-eyed bartender dropped a dime on her from the bar where she was drinking with two men.\nWhen officers arrested the gambling grandma, they found 9-mm and .22-calibre handguns, a holster, duct tape, rubber gloves — and Hutchinson’s credit cards.\nRiess was charged with first-degree murder. Now, the Lee County state’s attorney has expressed his desire to send Riess to the big adios.\nShe has also been charged with forging $11,000 in cheques from her husband’s business account. To date, she has not been charged with his murder.", "PA Leith is in the running for replacing Mary Berry\nYesterday Leith said: “I can wish, I can dream. I’ve had two auditions and lots of meetings. I think I’m close but I know there’s one other person in the running. Of course I’d love to do it. I’ve known Mary for years and she loved it.” She is being talked about as a “like for like” replacement and it is true that Leith, already a judge on BBC2’s Great British Menu, is much the same age Berry was when Bake Off was launched on the Beeb in 2010 (she’s 76, Berry was 75) – but there the similarities end. Berry, who has been married to the same man for more than half a century, sometimes gives the impression that while butter may melt in her frying pans it would not melt in her mouth. Leith, on the other hand, calls a spade a shovel.\nI wanted a man in his 70s so he’d think I was really young Prue Leith\nHer brother christened her Mersey Mouth – after the famously capacious Mersey Tunnel – when she broadcast the intimate details of her personal life in her 2012 autobiography. Her son then bought her a megaphone which he delivered with a note that read: “If there’s anyone left in this country who doesn’t know about your love life, perhaps this will help.” And what a life it turned out to be. When her long-term (married) lover refused to leave his wife and give her a baby in the mid-1970s Leith ran off to South Africa with a man who worked at her restaurant. This did the trick: her commitment-phobic suitor got divorced and the couple went on to bring up two children together. When husband number one died she took up with a concert pianist who unbeknownst to her suffered from bipolar disorder – but he had to go when his periodic rages became increasingly unpleasant. She met her current husband, a retired fashion designer eight years her junior, a few years ago and they got married last October.\nREX Mary Berry and Prue Leith at a cookery event in 1974\nWhen Leith wasn’t negotiating the simmering tensions of her tangled love life she built up a cookery empire that had a turnover of £15million when she sold it in 1993 – £28million in today’s money – and has found the time to write a string of cookery books and seven novels. Leith was named the Veuve Clicquot business woman of the year in 1990, has sat on the boards of at least seven blue-chip companies, including British Rail and the Halifax, and added a CBE to her OBE in 2010. Her record is all the more impressive for having been achieved at a time when professional kitchens were very much a male-dominated domain. Leith once recalled what happened in 1975 when she attempted to place one of the graduates of her eponymous cookery school in the kitchen of the Savoy, then run by a formidable head chef called Silvino Trompetto. He refused to take Leith’s protégée and when she asked why Trompetto boomed: “Because, dear lady, at a certain time of the month, women cause the mayonnaise to curdle.”\nGreat British Bake Off Winner 2016: Candice Brown Wed, October 26, 2016 Candice Brown is announced Great British Bake Off Winner 2016. Play slideshow PA 1 of 20 The Great British Bake Off 2016\nREX Leith met her current husband John Playfair at a drinks party\nLeith, who turns 77 on Saturday, was born and brought up in South Africa. She first became seriously interested in food as an au pair in France when she was astonished to see her employer going to one shop for croissants and another for bread. After studying at the Cordon Bleu cookery school she set up her own catering business. The 20-year-old chef would prepare food at her bedsit in Barons Court, west London, transport it across town and serve up highquality business lunches to City firms. When one client found a sink plug in his salad Leith quipped: “At least the plug proves I washed the lettuce.” She went on to open a Michelin-starred restaurant in Notting Hill with the help of her lover, a South African writer called Rayne Kruger. He was the much younger second husband of her mother’s best friend. At the age of 34, 13 years after their affair had got under way, Leith’s biological clock kicked in. Within a year of her marriage to Rayne she had a son Danny, who went on to become a speechwriter for David Cameron. The couple later adopted a Cambodian orphan called Li-Da.\nGETTY Leith turns 77 on Saturday", "Julia Roberts is not forcing her husband Danny Moder to go on the same detox diet that she supposedly follows, despite a made-up report. Gossip Cop can exclusively debunk this story. We're told there's no truth to it.\nGetty Images\n\"Pretty Flabby Woman? Julia's Detox Diet Driving Danny Moder Mad,\" reads a new RadarOnline headline. The accompanying article says Roberts is trying to lose weight after portraying a frumpy mom in the upcoming drama Ben Is Back, but she's also making her husband eat the same healthy foods as her.\nA supposed source tells the site, \"She's demanding they eat only 'colorful' fruits and veggies, raw nuts and seeds… No meat, no dairy, no sugar, no processed stuff.\" The alleged insider further contends that Roberts acts like \"a crazed hungry person\" and gets \"irritable\" whenever she's dieting, which leads to fights between the actress and her husband.\nThe suspicious tipster also claims that Moder will sometimes attempt \"to sneak out for a snack,\" but \"Julia actually smells his breath when he gets back.\" The unreliable blog ends its piece by randomly recycling old rumors about the cinematographer because jealous of his wife's \"reconnection with former Pretty Woman co-star Richard Gere,\" which isn't the case.\nBut Gossip Cop checked in with a source close to the situation, who exclusively assures us that Roberts isn't on any sort of \"detox diet,\" nor is she concerned about her weight. In fact, photos from the set of Ben Is Back show that the actress isn't the least bit \"flabby,\" despite the blog's mean assertion otherwise.\nAlso, Roberts has revealed in the past what she eats during a typical day, and her meals don't consist of what's listed above. The actress acknowledges she stays healthy by eating lots of protein and vegetables, but also admitted, \"I love a good cookie!\" Roberts further noted that she'll often indulge in pasta dishes.\nUnfortunately, we're not surprised by RadarOnline's bogus story, considering that the site frequently alleges that Roberts and Moder are having marriage problems. Gossip Cop previously called out the website for wrongly reporting that the actress was caught kissing a \"mystery man\" at a restaurant. The so-called \"mystery man\" was actually Roberts' longtime agent, Richard Lovett, and there was nothing remotely romantic about their smooch. This latest article surrounding a \"detox diet\" is more lies.\nMore on Gossip Cop:\nJennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt are NOT getting married again despite report\nFergie's national anthem is NOT a result of drug relapse despite report\nIs Tiffany Haddish dating Lamar Odom?", "Couple transporting grill injured after SUV explodes when wife lights up cig, cops say https://t.co/gnYjB4CFFd pic.twitter.com/pEIbaWUN5c — Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) August 13, 2017\nA Florida woman lit a cigarette, sparking an explosion of a propane barbeque grill being transported in her SUV.Orlando police Lt. Cindy Lane tells news outlets that the grill was turned on and the propane tank was open in the back of the red Kia Sorento as she left a barbeque at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon.Lane says the woman and her husband were burned and their sports utility vehicle was severely damaged. The couple's injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.", "Most married couples struggle to keep the spark alive.\nBut this husband and wife claim they have found the secret to lifelong passion.\nParents Holli and Michael Bell, from Los Angeles, California, say swinging has made their relationship even stronger.\nThe radio hosts help each other choose other partners and even look for potential lovers together on Tinder.\nOpen relationship: Parents Holli, left, and Michael Bell, right, say swinging has kept the spark alive in their marriage. The couple are pictured above with other swingers at a party\nEmpowered: Holli, who has a 14-year-old son from a previous marriage, said swinging has allowed her to explore her sexuality. She was introduced to the lifestyle by her husband\nThe couple who swipes together... Holli and Michael even use Tinder together to find lovers\nHolli said swinging has 'allowed her to be herself' and 'explore her own sexuality'.\n'Michael and I communicate everything without judgement and that's so liberating,' she said. 'Michael can tell me if he finds another woman attractive and vice versa.'\n'Every couple thinks about these things but it's such a rare gift to be able to share that with your partner. It's very freeing.'\nMichael added: 'Swinging has strengthened our bond. I do this with Holli because I love her.'\nHe said he and his wife 'play' with other couples or other single women but are emotionally monogamous and are not 'looking to fall in love with anyone else'.\nThe 38-year-old said they have a 'great time' on Tinder and have found 'so many new sexual partners' on the app.\nHonest: The couple, pictured with other swingers, said it has strengthened their relationship\nExperimental: Holli, right, went to her first swingers party after meeting Michael, together left\nMichael, who has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, was already a swinger when he met Holli shortly after her divorce in September 2009.\nHolli said: 'I asked Michael to take me to a [swingers] party with him but he wanted to make sure I felt totally comfortable before we explored anything together.'\nThe couple discussed the idea for several months before Michael brought Holli to her first party, agreeing on rules and boundaries ahead of time.\nHolli said: 'At our first party together, all I did was kiss another girl in front of Michael because that was what we had discussed beforehand. After that first kiss, I felt excited but I wasn't ready to jump right in with the lifestyle.'\nThe couple initially experimented with other women before building up to swapping partners with other couples.\nGrowing closer: The couple, pictured with other swingers, started by experimenting with other women and built up to the point where they were swapping partners with other couples\nLiberated: Holli, pictured right and left with husband Michael, said she is free to be herself\nExperts: The couple now advise others on relationships and how to make swinging work\nHolli added: 'Our communication was so good and Michael and I talked about everything that we got to an amazing point where we were able to truly experiment with each other.'\nThe couple now run a website where they coach other couples who want to experiment with swinging. They also work full-time for Playboy Radio as experts on dating and open relationships.\nMichael said: 'It's a sad fact that many people understand infidelity but not open non-monogamy.\n'Swinging is about honesty, not lying to your partner. We want to debunk some of the myths around our lifestyle.'\nThe couple, who are also parents to Holli's 14-year-old son from a previous relationship, said their lifestyle does not impact their family life.\nMichael said: 'A non-swinging couple has sex with each other and there's no reason they should be discussing their sex life with their children. Same thing with us.\n'If our kids found out about our lifestyle, then of course we would talk to them so they know the truth.\n'Our hope is that our children learn from us open, honest communication, true love and that Holli and I are emotionally committed to each other.'", "news\nPhotos of a woman who threw a big party for both her husband and his newly wedded wife is circulating on social media and creating frenzy among social media users.\nIn the amazing photos, the first wife did not only organise the feast for both her lover and the rival, but she also joyfully fed her rival.\nSome people are speculating that either the woman herself had given the husband the green light to get an extra wife or she was left with no other alternative, but to show her support.\nWhat is not clear is whether the show of love by the first wife was genuine or she was compelled to do so.\nREAD MORE: Nigerian youth turn President Buhari's insult into business\nThe photos are making the rounds with the inscription:\n”The lady in red is an Iron lady kun san me ake nufi idan akace mace iron lady ce? Toh karshe kenan. Mijinta zai sake aure and she threw an entire event for him. Sources have said that he was in shock. Oga never esperret it.\n“She even went ahead and fed the bride at the event. Gaskiya akwai mata yan aljanna. It must be hard knowing your husband the one you shared space with will be sharing your space with someone else but this iron lady put her big girl pants and supported him.\n“I honestly don’t think I am that strong but then again bature yace you don’t know how strong you are until you are faced with a situation that brings out the strength in you.\n“Allah ya baki abunda kike nema duniya da lahira. Amarya ke kuma ki dukufar da kanki ki mata biyayya kin shigo gidan ta your work is to make sure you respect her ku hada kai kuyi ibada. Allah ya baku zaman lafiya. Ameen\nPS: I said I wouldn’t post unti it’s absolutely necessary. This is absolutely necessary.\n“Question: Can you throw a party for your co wife to welcome her“\nSee more photos below:", "PHOENIX, ARIZONA - A 92-year-old woman accused of fatally shooting her 72-year-old son over his plans to put her in an assisted living facility has been arrested on suspicion of murder, police said on Tuesday (July 3)\nAnna Mae Blessing was taken into custody on Monday at the suburban Phoenix home she shared with her son and was being held in lieu of US$500,000 (S$681,080) bail, court officials said.\nShe did not enter a plea during a brief initial court appearance and it was not immediately clear if she had retained an attorney.\nBlessing told detectives following her arrest that she hid two handguns in the pockets of her robe and confronted her son in his bedroom, striking him with multiple rounds, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said in a written statement.\non Facebook WATCH: Anna Mae Blessing, 92, appears before a judge after she allegedly shot and killed her son in Fountain Hills because she refused to be placed into an assisted living facility: bit.ly/2tTPZdx Posted by ABC15 Arizona on Tuesday, 3 July 2018\nThe suspect told investigators she tried to point the guns at her son's 57-year-old girlfriend but the woman was able to wrestle the weapons away, according to the sheriff's office.\nBlessing was sitting in a reclining chair in her bedroom when she was taken into custody, after she refused to leave the house, according to court records.\nShe told detectives she had confronted her son over his intentions to put her in the care facility because, he had said, she was difficult to live with.\nBlessing also told detectives that she should be \"put to sleep,\" for her actions and had intended to kill herself following the incident.\nBlessing said she purchased one of the weapons and the other one had been given to her deceased husband but that neither weapon had been fired since the 1970s.\nPolice said they had visited the residence before, following a verbal altercation between Blessing and her son.", "The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council will not attend a Grenfell memorial service marking the six-month anniversary of the devastating blaze, following a request from bereaved families. Elizabeth Campbell, who took over at Kensington and Chelsea Council in the aftermath of the June disaster, said the event on Thursday wasn’t “about me”. A national ceremony will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London on Thursday, broadcast across the country on the BBC.\nPA Wire/PA Images Council leader Elizabeth Campbell will not be attending Thursday's memorial service, at the request of Grenfell families.\nThe council has been heavily criticised for its response to the fire at the 24-storey block on the Lancaster West Estate on June 14. The local authority is also accused of ignoring residents’ repeated warnings about fire safety prior to the inferno, which killed 71 people. It is understood there will be no official council representation at next week’s service, but a minute’s silence will be held on the day at Kensington Town Hall. The move came after some affected families asked that the council did not attend. Campbell said: “The service isn’t about me, it’s for the people who lost everything on that terrible night six months ago, and it is in memory of those who tragically lost their lives. “It is only right that we respect the wishes of those involved.” Speaking to BBC Radio 4′s Today programme on Monday, Campbell added that the wishes of the families were “perfectly understandable\". In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Tory councillor, revealed she had been in Bermuda watching the America’s Cup yachting races with her husband at the time of the fire. She broke the trip off to return to Kensington and help with the fallout, during which the council’s offices were stormed by protesters furious with its response.\nPA Wire/PA Images The fire at Grenfell Tower killed 71 people.\nIn July, she replaced Nicholas Paget-Brown as leader when he resigned amid fierce criticism, drawing ridicule from leader of the Labour opposition group, Robert Atkinson, who said she represented the “most privileged” ward in the royal borough. “I think the whole thing about identity politics is completely ridiculous,” she told the paper, referring to the focus on her wealthy background. But she added that the hostility was understandable, saying: “Wouldn’t you be angry? I remember going to this meeting with this man saying, ‘If you lose your glasses, go to Specsavers, lose your pencil, go to WHSmith, but what do you do if you’ve lost your children?’” The Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service will be attended by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.", "The 'Rocky IV' actress is 54-years-old.\nBrigitte Nielsen, 54, is pregnant. The Danish actress made the announcement on her Instagram three days ago, and it’s only started making headlines today. As Page Six reports, this will be Nielsen’s fifth child. She has four sons ranging from ages 23 to 34. But, according to TMZ, this will be her first child with husband Mattia Dessi, 39, an Italian TV producer. They got married in 2006.\nA couple of days ago, Brigitte Nielsen posted a photo on her Instagram page in which she reveals a large baby bump.\n“Family getting larger,” she wrote in the caption that accompanied the photo.\nShe posted another photo today which prominently shows off her pregnancy.\n“Happy time [heart emoji] Positive Vibes”\nSome commenters on the photos offered their congratulations, with some saying that Brigitte getting pregnant at 54 gives them hope that they can still have children.\n“Congrats love! Gives me hope I turn 40 this year,” one commenter shared.\n“That’s amazing, no woman is too old for having kids it’s God’s will???? all the best I’m happy????” another person wrote.\nAccording to a 2016 study by the Centers for Diseases and Control, more and more women are choosing to have babies later in life, starting families in their late 20s-early 30s rather than their early 20s or teens.\nBased on the research, as reported by the Associated Press, there were 103 births per every 100,000 American women in between 30- and 34-years-old in 2015. For women ages 25 to 29, there were 102 births. The report states that the average age that women decide to have their first child is now 28, which is three years older than 25, the previous average age of a woman’s first pregnancy.\nYet, it’s still relatively uncommon for a woman to announce a pregnancy at 54-years-old like Nielsen. While it’s not common, the statuesque ash-blonde actress proves that it isn’t impossible. As Parenting.com notes, a report from the CDC states that each week in 2013 saw the birth of 13 babies born to mothers aged 50 and older. Births by women between age 50 and 54 shot up over 165 percent from 2000 to 2013, the CDC added.\nNielsen is best known for her roles in popular ’80s movies like 1985’s Rocky IV, 1986’s Cobra, and 1987’s Beverly Hills Cop II. She has previously been romantically linked to actor Sylvester Stallone. According to the Daily Mail, she has also previously dated Arnold Schwarzenegger (1984 – 1985). There were also rumors that she dated Vanilla Ice and Sean Penn.\nNielsen and her current husband aren’t shy about showing affection for each other in public, the Daily Mail reports. They’ve been seen cuddling next to each other at events.", "Bollywood actress Ayesha Takia's husband claims that his wife, sister and mother were harassed, stalked and threatened by a person.\nAyesha's husband Farhan Azmi took to Twitter to narrate the ordeal, and in the process, accused a senior Mumbai Police officer of not paying attention to his complaints. The actress' husband even accused the cop of blocking their bank accounts.\nIn the tweet, he tagged and sought help from PM Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.\n\"My wife @Ayeshatakia , mother & sisters are being harassed,threatened stalked by a litigant, @MumbaiPolice #dcpDahiya refusing to answer my calls or messages. #DahiyaIPS has illegally frozen our bank accounts Dear PM @narendramodi ji @SushmaSwaraj Pls intervene!! #betibachao [sic],\" Farhan tweeted.\nHe then went on to share a screenshot of phone calls and messages that, according to him, were being ignored by the senior police officer. Later, Joint CP (Law and Order) Deven Bharti took note of the case, and Farhan thanked him with another tweet.\nApparently, the accused caught hold of Ayesha's phone number and made threatening messages to her on Whatsapp. \"Today morning, he (the litigant) somehow got Ayesha's number. So long he did not have Ayesha's number. Now he is messaging her on WhatsApp and saying, 'You and your husband will be in jail very soon. In ten days the Police are going to pick you up'. He's intimidating her. He's also intimidating Farhan's sister who is seven-month pregnant,\" Times Now quoted a source as saying.\nThis is not the first time that Farhan, who is the son of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, claimed such problems. Earlier, he had reportedly filed a police complaint after receiving some threat calls.\nIn his complaint, Farhan had stated that the accused had threatened to kill and his family for marrying a Hindu woman.", "Cardi B got her husband Offset out of a motoring ticket earlier this week after she FaceTimed the police officer and agreed to have her picture with him.\nThe 'Bodak Yellow' hitmaker intervened when the Migos rapper was stopped by cops on Monday (02.07.18) by speaking to the policeman via video message and helping to diffuse the situation.\nTaking to his Twitter account, the 26-year-old rapper said: ''W H E N G O D S H O W S Y O U N O B I T C H C O M P A R E S !!!!!!! Just got let go on a pull over for a FaceTime pic with my wife (SHES THE BEST) (sic).''\nThis isn't the first time the 25-year-old beauty has stuck up for her husband - whom she secretly married last year - when it comes to problems on the road as she took to her Twitter account last month to confirm that Offset had been involved in a car crash in Atlanta but insisted it wasn't his fault because there was a ''crackhead'' on the road.\nShe said at the time: ''Crazy how Set had to swerve and hit a tree cause a crackhead was in the middle of the road trying to get hit or kill himself.\n''But God do unexplainable things! Luckily a man was walking by, walked him home and just vanished. The Lord is real. (sic)''\nShortly after the news of the crash emerged, Cardi wrote: ''Sooo grateful and happy today .God be giving messages in the weirdest way I love you @OffsetYRN (sic)''\nThe hip hop star was admitted to hospital with minor injuries, but his green Dodge Challenger was written off.", "An LA rock musician has shared how his Playboy Playmate wife blasted him with a handgun when she became convinced he was her decades-long tormentor, the late serial killer and cult leader Charles Manson.\nWhen 1960s beauty Victoria Vetri, who appeared in horror classic Rosemary's Baby, shot husband Bruce Rathgeb he even heard her mutter: 'No more Charlie, no more Charlie.'\nBruce survived the murder attempt and revealed how Victoria had been best friends with Manson's most famous victim, actress Sharon Tate, and how she had even come to blame herself for Sharon's murder as well as living in fear of Manson for decades.\nFormer Playboy Playmate Victoria Vetri shot husband Bruce Rathgeb in 2010, allegedly thinking she had shot cult leader Charles Manson\nRathgeb, a Los Angeles rock musician, even heard her mutter: 'No more Charlie, no more Charlie'\nBruce says stunning Star Trek actress Victoria (left) even had threesomes with Sharon (right) and her film director hubby Roman Polanski and was meant to be at Sharon's home the night of the slaughter, only avoiding the horrific slaughter because she felt ill earlier in the day and had left\nSpeaking about his ex wife's mental deterioration because of Manson, Bruce said: 'There is no doubt about it. I took the bullet meant for Charles Manson.\n'I wish that she really had had the opportunity to kill him. She would have done the world and herself a favour. She ended up being a victim of his just like those who were killed. Instead she shot me and I lost the woman I loved, thanks to Manson.'\nSpeaking about his ex wife's mental deterioration because of Manson, Bruce said: 'There is no doubt about it. I took the bullet meant for Charles Manson'\nBruce says stunning Star Trek actress Victoria even had threesomes with Sharon and her film director hubby Roman Polanski and was meant to be at Sharon's home the night of the slaughter, only avoiding the horrific slaughter because she felt ill earlier in the day and had left.\nThe 1968 Playmate of the Year is even said to have met Manson two weeks earlier when the psychopath, infamous for having a Nazi swastika tattooed onto his forehead, visited pregnant Sharon's home.\nShe muttered, 'He looks like a weirdo!' to her pals then later became convinced Manson had overheard her, her comment fuelling his rage which prompted the bloodbath.\nShe was so distraught after pregnant Sharon was killed, her blood even used to write 'Pig' on the for to her home, that LA cops keep a discreet watch on her for two months because she was convinced Manson and his so-called 'Family' of brainwashed followers would make her their next target.\nFour others alongside Sharon, then eight-and-a-half months pregnant, died in the bloodbath.\nRoman Polanski, who was in England when the killings happened, even gave her the Glock 9mm handgun which she used decades later to shoot her hubby, to protect her from Manson and his goons.\nBut her fear of Manson never evaporated, even after he was arrested and sentenced to life in jail in 1971.\nVetri feared Manson, from the moment he ordered the murders, even after he was arrested and sentenced to life in jail in 1971. LA cops kept watch of her for two months and Roman Polanski gave her a Glock 9mm which she would later use on her husband\nIt caused her career to nosedive and according to Bruce she never got over Sharon's death and always feared Manson's followers would one day take their revenge on her.\nWhenever Manson appeared on TV or in the news in America she is said to have turned white and shaken with dread.\nThen, in 2010, her mind warped by the years of fear she used the gun to try to kill the man who she thought had targeted her for death.\nRevealing the bullet's entry wound into his back and the scars on his left side where surgeons tried and failed to take it out, guitarist Bruce explained: 'Victoria was an 'It' girl of the 1960s. She was stunningly beautiful.\n'She was friends with lots of big Hollywood players and used to go to ballet classes with Jane Fonda.\n'Sharon and Roman became friends after she appeared in his movie Rosemary's Baby which, ironically, was about a Manson-like antichrist being born.\n'They all got on well and as it was the sixties, she told me they even ended up in bed together for threesomes.\nWhenever Manson appeared on TV or in the news in America she is said to have turned white and shaken with dread. Then, in 2010, her mind warped by the years of fear she used the gun to try to kill the man who she thought had targeted her for death, ultimately shooting her husband\nThe shot entered through his back and doctors tried to retrieve the bullet but ultimately failed\n'Sharon was very close to her, they were really good girl friends. Two weeks before the murders she told me she was at Sharon's house when a man she later realised was Manson paid a visit.\n'She remembered this weird-looking guy turning up at the house by himself, unannounced.\n'She couldn't remember what he said when Sharon or whoever it was answered the door but she remembers saying to everyone in the house, 'Oh this guy looks like a real creep.'\nBruce, then a chef and part-time musician, met Victoria in 1981 in an LA café where he was working. She used to drive in a classic AMC AMX two-seater sports car, originally painted 'Playboy Pink' and given to her by the magazine in 1968 when she became a playmate.\n'She thought that Manson actually overheard her and later she convinced herself that her comment triggered his anger and made him determined to carry out the killings. She blamed herself for Sharon's death.\n'On the night of the killings Victoria was meant to be at Sharon's house for dinner but because she had felt ill she stayed at her home in the Hollywood Hills.\n'She was devastated. In total shock. Inconsolable.\n'She knew she would have been killed if she had been there, too. She was terrified she might be next and cops followed her around for months afterwards to make sure she was safe.\n'He career just nosedived afterwards. She was never the same. She was too scared to work and hardly went out of the house.\n'Manson was arrested five months after Sharon was killed but that didn't bring her any peace of mind. One of his followers tried to kill the then President, Gerald Ford, in 1975 and she was convinced they would come after her, too, at any time.'\nBruce, then a chef and part-time musician, met Victoria in 1981 in an LA café where he was working.\nShe used to drive there in the same car, a classic AMC AMX two-seater sports car, originally painted 'Playboy Pink' and given to her by the magazine in 1968 when she became a playmate.\nThe car is now owned by famous US talk show host, Jay Leno.\n'We had chemistry from the start,' Bruce said.\n'I was always faithful to her but she was worried about getting older and losing her looks. And once again, Manson had been in the news because one of his followers had been up for parole,' explained Bruce about the night when his wife shot him\n'She was a lot of fun and great to be with. That was during the good days she had when she was able to put Manson out of her mind for a time.'\nThe couple eventually married in 1987 at the home of one of Bruce's family members in La Jolla, California.\n'Those were the best years but Manson was always rearing his head,' Bruce recalled. 'He would always turn up on the news for one reason or another and whenever he did, Victoria would turn as white as a sheet and shake with fear. It would take her days and a lot of consoling from me to get back to normal.'\nAs the years passed, Victoria's terror of Manson only worsened, leading to the shooting incident in 2010.\nThe couple had been arguing on the day it happened, Bruce remembers, because she had been worried about ageing and him having affairs with groupies.\n'I was always faithful to her but she was worried about getting older and losing her looks. And once again, Manson had been in the news because one of his followers had been up for parole.\n'I was struggling to deal with her so I loaded up a trolley with my bass guitar and some belongings and was going to spend the night at a friend's house.\nHe added: 'I recall her eyes were black, literally black. It was like she was possessed. She was totally emotionless. I said, 'I love you, please, you're not going to shoot me?'\n'I walked out of our apartment and was waiting at the elevator when I realised Victoria had followed me out and was carrying the handgun Roman had given her.\n'I recall her eyes were black, literally black. It was like she was possessed. She was totally emotionless. I said, 'I love you, please, you're not going to shoot me?'\n'She lifted up the gun, I turned, and she shot me in the back. I thought I was dead but I could smell burning flesh and cordite from the gun firing.\n'I was still conscious and could see her calmly turn and walk back to the apartment. As she did so, I could hear her say, quietly, 'No more Charlie, no more Charlie.' She thought I was Charles Manson.'\nA neighbour called the emergency services and days later Bruce woke up in hospital with scars on his back and side.\nVictoria was arrested and later agreed to a plea deal, saying she was guilty of voluntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to nine years and the 73 year old could be released as early as May next year\nVictoria was arrested and later agreed to a plea deal, saying she was guilty of voluntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to nine years and the 73 year old could be released as early as May next year.\n'Even after being shot I still loved her,' Bruce said.\nManson, 83, who directed the killings but never directly slaughtered any of the innocents himself, died of natural causes on November 19\n'I went to court for a handful of appearances but my health was bad and I couldn't be there as often as I liked. Her fear of Manson didn't come out at the trial because she plead no contest.\n'We used to exchange the occasional letter and I last spoke to her in 2013. In 2016 she sent me divorce papers completely out of the blue. I signed them because I thought it was the best thing to do.'\nManson, 83, who directed the killings but never directly slaughtered any of the innocents himself, died of natural causes on November 19.\nBruce added: 'Victoria will be clicking her heels now that Manson is dead, I have no doubt she has heard about it and that she'll be cock-a-hoop about it.\n'Friends are even joking that she and I should give it 'one more shot' when she gets out of prison next year.\n'I do want to see her but I think that after all that has happened, it will only be as friends.'\nThe last time the two spoke was in 2013 but three years later, Victoria sent Bruce divorce papers for him to sign and he did. The couples divorce papers" ]

[ "Two people are pedelling" ]

[ "People are playing with their parrots", "A person rides a bicycle over a grassy field.", "A man is riding his bicycle over a building.", "Two men are riding their bicycles on a mountain trail.", "The racer is riding a horse with the racetrack in the background.", "A woman is riding a bicycle.", "The lady is riding a bicycle.", "The is riding a black bicycle.", "A girl rides a bicycle.", "The road in Martinique is very bumpy.", "There is a man riding a bicycle near two women.", "A group of people are gathered at the racetrack", "a woman rides a bicycle", "A man riding a bicycle.", "The youngster is riding a bicycle.", "A boy rides a bicycle.", "A guy is riding a bicycle.", "a man rides a bicycle", "A women riding a bicycle.", "The man is riding on a bicycle.", "A man is riding the bicycle.", "The toddler is riding a bicycle." ]

[ "PRECIOUS-Gold turns down after Fed's plan seen less dovish than expected\n* Dollar rebounds from 7-month low after Fed statement * Fed raises interest rates as expected * GRAPHIC-2017 asset returns: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl (Recasts throughout after Fed statement, updates prices; adds comment, second byline, NEW YORK dateline) By Marcy Nicholson and Jan Harvey NEW YORK/LONDON, June 14 Gold turned negative on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve increased interest rates but was less dovish than expected following a two-day meeting, and" ]

[ "Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are:\nCostco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) reported better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter on Thursday. Costco shares dropped 2.91 percent to $162.20 in the after-hours trading session.\n(NASDAQ: COST) reported better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter on Thursday. Costco shares dropped 2.91 percent to $162.20 in the after-hours trading session. Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE) reported upbeat earnings for its second quarter. The company expects FY2018 revenue of $1.56 billion to $1.59 billion. Helen of Troy shares declined 2.37 percent to $94.80 in the after-hours trading session.\n(NASDAQ: HELE) reported upbeat earnings for its second quarter. The company expects FY2018 revenue of $1.56 billion to $1.59 billion. Helen of Troy shares declined 2.37 percent to $94.80 in the after-hours trading session. Wall Street expects Eros International plc (NYSE: EROS) to report a quarterly loss at $0.02 per share on revenue of $52.78 million before the opening bell. Eros shares fell 0.36 percent to $15.20 in after-hours trading.\nFind out what's going on in today's market and bring any questions you have to Benzinga's PreMarket Prep.\nYum China Holdings Inc (NYSE: YUMC) reported a 10 percent rise in its third-quarter net income, while same-store sales gained 6 percent for the quarter. The company also disclosed that its CEO Micky Pant would step down. Yum China shares gained 3.08 percent to $41.20 in after-hours trading.\n(NYSE: YUMC) reported a 10 percent rise in its third-quarter net income, while same-store sales gained 6 percent for the quarter. The company also disclosed that its CEO Micky Pant would step down. Yum China shares gained 3.08 percent to $41.20 in after-hours trading. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) reported a 65 million share offering of common stock. Annaly Capital Management shares slipped 2.34 percent to $12.09 in the after-hours trading session.\nPosted-In: Stocks To WatchEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "Gainers\nOmega Protein Corporation (NYSE: OME) rose 32.5 percent to $22.00 in pre-market trading after the company agreed to be acquired for $22 per share by Cooke.\n(NYSE: OME) rose 32.5 percent to $22.00 in pre-market trading after the company agreed to be acquired for $22 per share by Cooke. Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNCR) rose 25.3 percent to $13.43 in pre-market trading after the company issued an update on strategic alternative process. The company disclosed that it entered into exclusivity agreement with Siris Capital Group following improved terms.\n(NASDAQ: SNCR) rose 25.3 percent to $13.43 in pre-market trading after the company issued an update on strategic alternative process. The company disclosed that it entered into exclusivity agreement with Siris Capital Group following improved terms. 22nd Century Group Inc (NASDAQ: XXII) gained 19.9 percent to $3.68 as the company disclosed that Phase III study using the company’s SPECTRUM® research cigarettes demonstrated immediate reduction to very low nicotine is most likely to lead to less harm.\n(NASDAQ: XXII) gained 19.9 percent to $3.68 as the company disclosed that Phase III study using the company’s SPECTRUM® research cigarettes demonstrated immediate reduction to very low nicotine is most likely to lead to less harm. AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVEO) rose 10.6 percent to $4.37 in pre-market trading after the company reported completion of TIVO -3 study futility analysis with no changes to protocol.\n(NASDAQ: AVEO) rose 10.6 percent to $4.37 in pre-market trading after the company reported completion of TIVO -3 study futility analysis with no changes to protocol. MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD) rose 7.1 percent to $5.31 in pre-market trading after surging 40.11 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: MNKD) rose 7.1 percent to $5.31 in pre-market trading after surging 40.11 percent on Thursday. Chiasma Inc (NASDAQ: CHMA) shares rose 5.5 percent to $2.90 in pre-market trading.\n(NASDAQ: CHMA) shares rose 5.5 percent to $2.90 in pre-market trading. Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc (NASDAQ: HMNY) rose 5.3 percent to $15.01 in the pre-market trading session after surging 14.73 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: HMNY) rose 5.3 percent to $15.01 in the pre-market trading session after surging 14.73 percent on Thursday. Jupai Holdings Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: JP) shares rose 4.6 percent to $16.50 in the pre-market trading session after gaining 1.22 percent on Thursday.\n(NYSE: JP) shares rose 4.6 percent to $16.50 in the pre-market trading session after gaining 1.22 percent on Thursday. Medical Transcription Billing Corp (NASDAQ: MTBC) shares rose 4.5 percent to $2.79 in the pre-market trading session after dropping 17.85 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: MTBC) shares rose 4.5 percent to $2.79 in the pre-market trading session after dropping 17.85 percent on Thursday. Navistar International Corp (NYSE: NAV) shares rose 4.3 percent to $46.00 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.05 percent on Thursday.\n(NYSE: NAV) shares rose 4.3 percent to $46.00 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.05 percent on Thursday. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc (NYSE: SEAS) rose 4.1 percent to $13.73 in pre-market trading after falling 6.52 percent on Thursday.\n(NYSE: SEAS) rose 4.1 percent to $13.73 in pre-market trading after falling 6.52 percent on Thursday. Office Depot Inc (NASDAQ: ODP) rose 4 percent to $3.94 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.26 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: ODP) rose 4 percent to $3.94 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.26 percent on Thursday. Flexion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FLXN) shares rose 3.3 percent to $28.00 in pre-market trading after gaining 3.71 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: FLXN) shares rose 3.3 percent to $28.00 in pre-market trading after gaining 3.71 percent on Thursday. Yum China Holdings Inc (NYSE: YUMC) shares rose 2.6 percent to $41.00 in pre-market trading. Yum China reported a 10 percent rise in its third-quarter net income, while same-store sales gained 6 percent for the quarter. The company also disclosed that its CEO Micky Pant would step down.\nFind out what's going on in today's market and bring any questions you have to Benzinga's PreMarket Prep.\nLosers\nTantech Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: TANH) fell 6.8 percent to $2.60 in pre-market trading after rising 2.95 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: TANH) fell 6.8 percent to $2.60 in pre-market trading after rising 2.95 percent on Thursday. Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp (NASDAQ: ITEK) fell 5.6 percent to $2.86 in pre-market trading after climbing 48.53 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: ITEK) fell 5.6 percent to $2.86 in pre-market trading after climbing 48.53 percent on Thursday. Sangamo Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: SGMO) fell 5.4 percent to $15.75 in pre-market trading after dropping 2.06 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: SGMO) fell 5.4 percent to $15.75 in pre-market trading after dropping 2.06 percent on Thursday. Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: CATB) shares fell 5 percent to $2.70 in pre-market trading after declining 6.27 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: CATB) shares fell 5 percent to $2.70 in pre-market trading after declining 6.27 percent on Thursday. Silicon Motion Technology Corp. (ADR) (NASDAQ: SIMO) fell 4.6 percent to $47.10 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.13 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: SIMO) fell 4.6 percent to $47.10 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.13 percent on Thursday. Wright Medical Group Inc (NASDAQ: WMGI) fell 4.3 percent to $26.00 in pre-market trading after rising 1.76 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: WMGI) fell 4.3 percent to $26.00 in pre-market trading after rising 1.76 percent on Thursday. Social Reality Inc (NASDAQ: SRAX) shares fell 3.6 percent to $2.40 in pre-market trading after dropping 3.11 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: SRAX) shares fell 3.6 percent to $2.40 in pre-market trading after dropping 3.11 percent on Thursday. Xunlei Ltd (NASDAQ: XNET) shares fell 3.4 percent to $4.22 in pre-market trading after dropping 1.13 percent on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: XNET) shares fell 3.4 percent to $4.22 in pre-market trading after dropping 1.13 percent on Thursday. ImmunoGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMGN) shares fell 3.3 percent to $6.80. ImmunoGen priced its 14.5 million share offering of common stock at $6.50 per share.\n(NASDAQ: IMGN) shares fell 3.3 percent to $6.80. ImmunoGen priced its 14.5 million share offering of common stock at $6.50 per share. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) shares fell 3 percent to $12.02 in pre-market trading. Annaly Capital Management reported a 65 million share offering of common stock.\n(NYSE: NLY) shares fell 3 percent to $12.02 in pre-market trading. Annaly Capital Management reported a 65 million share offering of common stock. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) shares fell 3 percent to $162.50 in pre-market trading. Costco reported better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter on Thursday.\nPosted-In: #PreMarket Gainers LosersNews Movers & Shakers Pre-Market Outlook Markets Movers\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "Pre-open movers\nU.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 94 points to 21,942.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 13.50 points to 2,453.50. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 31 points to 5,869.25.\nOil prices traded lower as Brent crude futures fell 0.84 percent to trade at $51.66 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures dropped 0.68 percent to trade at $48.49 a barrel.\nA Peek Into Global Markets\nEuropean markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 1.44 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index climbing 0.89 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 1.13 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.57 percent, while French CAC 40 Index rose 0.99 percent.\nIn Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.98 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 1.36 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.90 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.75 percent.\nBroker Recommendation\nAnalysts at Piper Jaffray upgraded Tempur Sealy International Inc (NYSE: TPX) from Neutral to Overweight.\nTempur Sealy shares rose 1.13 percent to $60.82 in pre-market trading.\nBreaking news\nVF Corp (NYSE: VFC) announced plans to acquire Williamson-Dickie for $820 million in cash and raised its FY17 guidance. To read the full news, click here.\n(NYSE: VFC) announced plans to acquire Williamson-Dickie for $820 million in cash and raised its FY17 guidance. To read the full news, click here. JD.Com Inc(ADR) (NASDAQ: JD) posted a wider net loss for the second quarter. The company’s net loss attributable to shareholders widened to 496.4 million yuan ($74.43 million), versus 252.3 million yuan in the year-ago period. To read the full news, click here.\n(NASDAQ: JD) posted a wider net loss for the second quarter. The company’s net loss attributable to shareholders widened to 496.4 million yuan ($74.43 million), versus 252.3 million yuan in the year-ago period. To read the full news, click here. Andeavor Logistics LP (NYSE: ANDX) announced plans to buy Western Refining Logistics LP (NYSE: WNRL) for a total enterprise value of $1.8 billion. To read the full news, click here.\n(NYSE: ANDX) announced plans to buy Western Refining Logistics LP (NYSE: WNRL) for a total enterprise value of $1.8 billion. To read the full news, click here. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) reported a 3-for-1 stock split. To read the full news, click here.\nPosted-In: A Peek Into The Markets Piper JaffrayNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "Toward the end of trading Monday, the Dow traded up 0.64 percent to 21,998.70 while the NASDAQ climbed 1.31 percent to 6,338.26. The S&P also rose, gaining 1.00 percent to 2,465.82.\nLeading and Lagging Sectors\nMonday afternoon, the technology shares climbed by 1.33 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Internap Corp (NASDAQ: INAP), up 8 percent, and Bitauto Hldg Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: BITA), up 7 percent.\nIn trading on Monday, energy shares fell by 0.11 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included PrimeEnergy Corporation (NASDAQ: PNRG), down 6 percent, and Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (NYSE: ANW), down 5 percent.\nTop Headline\nVF Corp (NYSE: VFC) announced plans to acquire Williamson-Dickie for $820 million in cash and raised its FY17 guidance.\nThe deal is expected to complete early in the fourth quarter.\nEquities Trading UP\nForesight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) shares shot up 39 percent to $6.49. Chardan Capital initiated coverage on Foresight Autonomous with a Buy rating and a $15.00 price target.\nShares of CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE: CVM) got a boost, shooting up 29 percent to $2.97 as the company disclosed that Phase 3 head & neck cancer trial's clinical hold has been removed by the FDA.\nNeff Corp (NYSE: NEFF) shares were also up, gaining 19 percent to $25.90 as the company reported that it has received a $25 per share acquisition offer from a 'strategic bidder.'\nEquities Trading DOWN\nSorl Auto Parts, Inc. (NASDAQ: SORL) shares dropped 19 percent to $5.63 after the company reported weak Q2 results.\nShares of Zynerba Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ZYNE) were down 11 percent to $6.24 after the company disclosed that its Phase 2 STOP trial did not meet its primary endpoint. However, the company trial did meet some secondary endpoints.\nRepros Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: RPRX) was down, falling around 12 percent to $0.307. Repros Therapeutics reported a Q2 loss of $0.08 per share on sales of $7,000.\nCommodities\nIn commodity news, oil traded down 2.01 percent to $47.84 while gold traded down 0.29 percent to $1,290.20.\nSilver traded up 0.29 percent Monday to $17.12, while copper fell 0.26 percent to $2.9045.\nEurozone\nEuropean shares closed higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 gained 1.08 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.73 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index surged 1.72 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX climbed 1.26 percent, and the French CAC 40 gained 1.20 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.60 percent.\nEconomics\nOn the economics calendar Monday, there is no important data due out.\nPosted-In: Mid-Afternoon Market UpdateNews Eurozone Commodities Global Intraday Update Markets\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "Pre-open movers\nU.S. stock futures traded mostly flat in early pre-market trade. Data on nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate for September will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, while data on wholesale trade inventories for August will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET. Data on consumer credit for August will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET. Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic is set to speak in Austin at 9:15 a.m. ET, while New York Federal Reserve Bank President William Dudley will speak in New York at 12:15 p.m. ET. Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan is set to speak in Austin at 12:45 p.m. ET, while St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard will speak in St. Louis at 1:50 p.m. ET.\nFutures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 9 points to 22,731, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures fell 1 point to 2,549.00. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 2.75 points to 6,068.50.\nOil prices traded lower as Brent crude futures fell 0.44 percent to trade at $56.75 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures declined 0.95 percent to trade at $50.31 a barrel. The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.\nA Peek Into Global Markets\nEuropean markets were mostly lower today, with the Spanish Ibex Index falling 0.73 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index dropping 0.21 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.09 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.20 percent, while French CAC 40 Index fell 0.18 percent.\nIn Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.30 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.28 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.28 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.70 percent.\nBroker Recommendation\nAnalysts at Morgan Stanley downgraded Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ: WBA) from Overweight to Equal-Weight.\nWalgreens shares fell 1.88 percent to $75.50 in pre-market trading.\nBreaking news\nUniqure NV (NASDAQ: QURE) disclosed that it has been granted Orphan Drug Designation for AMT-130 by the FDA.\n(NASDAQ: QURE) disclosed that it has been granted Orphan Drug Designation for AMT-130 by the FDA. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) reported better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter on Thursday.\n(NASDAQ: COST) reported better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter on Thursday. Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE: OME) agreed to be acquired for $22 per share by Cooke.\n(NYSE: OME) agreed to be acquired for $22 per share by Cooke. Yum China Holdings Inc (NYSE: YUMC) reported a 10 percent rise in its third-quarter net income, while same-store sales gained 6 percent for the quarter. The company also disclosed that its CEO Micky Pant would step down.\nPosted-In: A Peek Into The Markets Morgan StanleyNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "Most banks have come a long way in the years since the financial crisis, and many bank stocks have risen quite a bit over the past year or so. Expectations of rising interest rates, economic growth, and looser banking regulations have created a renewed sense of optimism among investors.\nContinue Reading Below\nHaving said that, there are still some excellent long-term opportunities in the sector, many of which also pay attractive dividends. Here are five smart choices for dividend investors who want a piece of the banking sector.\nCompany Recent Share Price Dividend Yield Wells Fargo(NYSE: WFC) $55.67 2.72% Toronto-Dominion Bank(NYSE: TD) $49.60 3.64% U.S. Bancorp(NYSE: USB) $51.75 2.12% New York Community Bancorp(NYSE: NYCB) $13.91 4.82% Bank of America(NYSE: BAC) $23.32 1.28%\nShare prices and dividend yields current as of 3/30/2017.\nImage source: Getty Images.\n5 top dividend-paying bank stocks\nContinue Reading Below ADVERTISEMENT\n1. Wells Fargo\nWells Fargois a longtime favorite of Warren Buffett, mainly for its consistently efficient and profitable operations, and its history of prudent risk management. In its most recent quarter, Wells Fargo reported a return on assets (ROA) of 1.15% and return on equity (ROE) of 11.54% — both handily surpassing the industry benchmarks of 1% and 10%, respectively. In fact, over the past decade, Wells Fargo has consistently been the most profitable of the “big four” banks.\nWFC Return on Equity (TTM) data by YCharts.\nAdditionally, because of the fallout from the infamous fake-accounts scandal, as well as a mixed first-quarter earnings report, Wells Fargo is the only one of the “big four” that’s actually trading for less than it was at the beginning of 2016. Now could be a good time to get into what Warren Buffett has called an “incredible institution” at a discount.\n2. Toronto-Dominion Bank\nToronto-Dominion Bank, better known as TD Bank, is based in Canada, but has a large and rapidly growing U.S. presence. Over the past decade or so, TD has grown aggressively through a series of acquisitions, as well as organically.\nI recently wrote an in-depth discussion of the reasons I love TD Bank and own the stock in my personal portfolio, but one big reason is TD’s emphasis on customer service and convenience. Known as “America’s Most Convenient Bank” since its 2008 acquisition of New Jersey-based Commerce Bank, TD branches are open longer hours than most competitors, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays in many locations, and TD employees are known for providing more personalized service than most other banks.\n3. U.S. Bancorp\nU.S. Bancorp, the fifth-largest U.S. bank, is another Warren Buffett favorite. At first glance, the bank looks extremely expensive — its valuation of 2.1 times its book value is by far the highest of the big banks.\nWith U.S. Bank, however, you get what you pay for. The bank has one of the most profitable and efficient operations in the entire banking industry, and has done a great job of gaining market share over the past decade, having emerged from the financialcrisis even stronger than it was before.\n4. New York Community Bancorp\nNew York Community Bancorpis a niche lender, primarily making loans on rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartment buildings, mostly in New York City. Because it’s a leader in its niche market, and because rent-controlled buildings have naturally low default rates, the bank’s charge-off and delinquency rates have stayed remarkably low, even during the depths of the financial crisis. The bank has also maintained one of the best track records of efficiency in the entire banking industry, and is the most efficient bank on this list by a wide margin.\n5. Bank of America\nAs you may have noticed from the chart, Bank of Americaactually pays the lowest dividend of any bank stock on this list. However, I believe that will change in the not-too-distant future.\nSpecifically, over the past several years, Bank of America has traded for a steep discount to its book value, mainly due to low profitability (which is starting to improve). To take advantage of this situation, the bank chose to spend the majority of its capital on repurchasing its own stock at a discount, thereby making dividend increases a lower priority. Now that the bank’s valuation isn’t far below its book value, I wouldn’t be surprised if dividend growth moves up on management’s priority list.\n10 stocks we like better than Bank of America\nWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*\nDavid and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bank of America wasn’t one of them! That’s right — they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.\nClick here to learn about these picks!\n*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017\nMatthew Frankel owns shares of Bank of America, New York Community Bancorp, and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.", "(Reuters) - Wall Street was set to open higher on Monday, recovering from a brief pullback in stock futures after reports of an explosion in New York’s busy Port Authority commuter hub.\nFILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 1, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid\nPolice confirmed one person is in custody but were not yet identifying the device used. Local news channel WABC cited police sources as saying a possible pipe bomb detonated in a passageway below ground at Port Authority.\n“When you see one of these events in a major city, you get a little cautious tone. But it’s never enough to really rout a stock market intraday,” said Michael Antonelli, managing director, institutional sales trading at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee.\nThe CBOE Volatility index .VIX, a widely followed measure of market anxiety, briefly rose above 10 points.\nAt 9:02 a.m. ET (1402 GMT), Dow e-minis 1YMc1 were up 41 points, or 0.17 percent, with 17,818 contracts changing hands.\nS&P 500 e-minis ESc1 were up 1.75 points, or 0.07 percent, with 255,483 contracts traded.\nNasdaq 100 e-minis NQc1 were up 7.5 points, or 0.12 percent, on volume of 20,687 contracts.\nInterest in the surge in bitcoin and opening of futures trading continued to fuel bets on crypotcurrency related stocks, many of which have risen exponentially in value in the past three months. Shares of Marathon Patent (MARA.O), Riot Blockchain (RIOT.O), Overstock.com (OSTK.O) and Xunei (XNET.O) were up between 4.31 percent and 17 percent in premarket trading. Bitcoin futures jumped more than 20 percent in the U.S. debut on Sunday, which backers hope will encourage wider use and give legitimacy to cryptocurrency.\n“We’ve got the Fed meeting on Tuesday where it’s pretty much factored in that the Fed is going to be raising rates. The concern is what they are going to say about going forward,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida.\nU.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, buoyed by a solid payrolls report for November that locked in expectations for an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this week.\nThe report showed the economy added 228,000 jobs in November but average hourly earnings failed to meet expectations.\nThe third rate hike in 2017 is near certain, with traders betting a 90 percent chance in its favor, according to CME Group’s Fedwatch tool.\nHowever, a sluggish growth that the latest jobs report showed could raise doubts about the central bank’s plan to raise interest rates thrice in 2018.\nBluebird Bio (BLUE.O) shares rose about 25 percent after its experimental gene-modifying immunotherapy drug co-developed with Celgene (CELG.O) received positive responses in early stage study. Celgene was up 3.4 percent.\nXerox (XRX.N) shares inched up 1.32 percent after activist investor Carl Icahn named four nominees to the company’s board after a current Icahn-appointed director resigned due to a difference of opinion with the board.", "Momentum is still working against Snap, Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) and its shareholders. Shares of Snapchat's parent company tumbled 10.47% last week, falling after posting problematic quarterly results.\nContinue Reading Below\nDecelerating growth and souring analysts will scare away growth stock investors, and the uncertainties of a disruptor getting disrupted make it a hard steak knife to catch when it's falling. Shares of Snap hit a new all-time low on Friday, something that naturally isn't saying much since the stock's only been trading publicly since hitting the market in early March. However, the shares have fallen every month in its brief public tenure. The stock is currently trading nearly 14% lower in August, so that unfortunate losing streak is unlikely to end this month.\nThat sinking feeling\nRevenue more than doubled -- up 153% to $181.67 million -- but analysts were holding out for a 164% surge on the top line. Snap's adjusted loss of $0.16 a share was also slightly worse than the $0.15-a-share deficit that Wall Street pros were targeting.\nSnapchat closed out the quarter with 173 million daily active users, a mere 21% year-over-year advance and just 7.3 million or 4% more than it had when the period began. Revenue is growing a lot faster than Snapchat's audience. Average revenue per user has more than doubled over the past year as a testament to Snap's improving monetization skills. However, with Facebook's (NASDAQ: FB) Instagram surpassing Snapchat's platform earlier this year when it came to daily active users, investors are dwelling on slowing user growth and engagement trends.\nSeveral analysts scaled back their expectations for the company that went public at $17 five months ago. Samuel Kemp at Piper Jaffray lowered his price target from $16.50 to $12.50, arguing that Snap continues to lose market share to Instagram. Kemp also points out that monetization is lagging expectations in North America.\nContinue Reading Below ADVERTISEMENT\nRoss Sandler at Barclays reduced his price goal from $18 to $13. He was somewhat comforted by the upbeat tone during the earnings call, but it's hard to suggest near-term upside after Snap fell short of market expectations on both ends of the income statement.\nBrian Fitzgerald at Jefferies nearly shaved his price target in half, going from $30 to $16 last week. It was disappointing to see Snap fall short of expectations, just as it did in its first quarterly report as a public company three months earlier. He still sees a long-term opportunity, but Jefferies joins Sandler and other analysts in lowering their price goals below March's IPO price of $17.\nThere are still some analysts perched above $17, but the consensus seems to be that Snap stock will continue to trade as a busted IPO in the near term. With Facebook quickly copying what works at Snapchat and usage growth decelerating, Snap remains a risky investment even after its sorry streak of monthly declines.\n10 stocks we like better than Facebook\nWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*\nDavid and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Facebook wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.\nClick here to learn about these picks!\n*Stock Advisor returns as of August 1, 2017\nRick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.", "Looking for a cheap bank stock? Try one of these on for size. Image source: iStock/Thinkstock.\nContinue Reading Below\nAfter the post-election rally, it’s getting hard to find cheap bank stocks. But it’s still not impossible.\nHere are the five cheapest bank stocks right now based on the price to tangible book value ratio:\nCompany Price to Tangible Book Value Citigroup (NYSE: C) 0.93 Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF) 1.29 Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) 1.34 Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ: ZION) 1.46 Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) 1.57\nData source: YCharts.com.\nHow cycles impact valuations\nContinue Reading Below ADVERTISEMENT\nWhen it comes to bank stocks, there is no clear line between cheap and expensive. The best that can be said is that a bank’s stock is cheap when it’s trading near or below its tangible book value per share — click here for the 10 most important banking metrics.\nThis describes Citigroup best, which is currently the cheapest big bank stock, trading for a 7% discount to its tangible book value. Capital One and Bank of America aren’t far behind, both of which trade for reasonable premiums to their respective tangible book values.\nThe one thing to keep in mind is that bank stock valuations fluctuate with the business cycle. Before the financial crisis, for instance, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Capital One all traded for two or more times tangible book value.\nThe reason bank-stock valuations fluctuate so much is because they’re based on earnings. And like most other companies, banks earn a lot more money when the economy is healthy than they do after things take a turn for the worse, as happened in 2008.\nHow profitability impacts valuations\nMoreover, even when the economy is roaring ahead, some bank stocks will trade at higher valuations than others, given differences in profitability.\nYou have a bank like US Bancorp, which is consistently one of the most profitable banks in the United States. Even at its low point in the wake of the financial crisis, US Bancorp still made money and its shares still traded for more than two times its tangible book value.\nCitigroup and Bank of America, by contrast, were in the opposite situation. In one quarter alone, Citigroup recorded a $32 billion pre-tax net operating loss. And over the past eight years, Bank of America has absorbed $191 billion worth of crisis-related costs.\nThe same is true at Zions Bancorp and Regions Financial. Both banks struggled through the financial crisis and continue to be weighed down today. Over the past 12 months, Zions’ return on equity has averaged only 6.4%, in line with Bank of America’s and well below the 10% threshold that most investors expect from large banks today. Regions Financial’s is better, but not by much, marginally outranking Citigroup by coming in at 7.1%.\nBank Return on Equity (TTM) U.S. Bancorp 14.3% Capital One 8.1% Regions Financial 7.1% Citigroup 7% Zions Bancorp 6.4% Bank of America 6.4%\nSource: YCharts.com.\nIn light of profitability, in turn, as I discuss elsewhere, at any given time US Bancorp’s shares will (and should) be valued at a substantial premium to shares of Citigroup, Bank of America, Zions Bancorp, and Regions Financial.\nHow risk impacts valuations\nMeanwhile, Capital One’s valuation isn’t low because its performance has been disappointing, though its current return on equity is nothing to write home about. Like US Bancorp, Capital One has not only been consistently profitable over the past decade, but its shares have performed admirably too.\nThe reason its shares are the second-cheapest among the two dozen blue-chip banks on the KBW Bank Index is instead because its loan portfolio is especially risky. This follows from the fact that it’s primarily a credit card lender. The market is offsetting this risk by pricing Capital One’s shares at a lower valuation than all but one big bank.\nThe point being, in order to know whether a particular bank’s stock is cheap or expensive, you also have to know a thing or two about the bank itself, both in terms of its business model and its past performance. That said, this list of the five cheapest bank stocks right now is a good place for value investors interested in the industry to begin their search.\n10 stocks we like better than Bank of America\nWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*\nDavid and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bank of America wasn’t one of them! That’s right — they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.\nClick here to learn about these picks!\n*Stock Advisor returns as of Nov. 7, 2016\nJohn Maxfield owns shares of Bank of America and US Bancorp. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.", "Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are:\nWall Street expects Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) to report quarterly earnings at $1.4 per share on revenue of $6.20 billion before the opening bell. Dollar General shares rose 0.13 percent to $96.65 in after-hours trading.\n(NYSE: DG) to report quarterly earnings at $1.4 per share on revenue of $6.20 billion before the opening bell. Dollar General shares rose 0.13 percent to $96.65 in after-hours trading. Analysts expect Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) to post quarterly earnings at $1.67 per share on revenue of $31.51 billion after the closing bell. Costco shares rose 0.46 percent to $200.55 in after-hours trading.\n(NASDAQ: COST) to post quarterly earnings at $1.67 per share on revenue of $31.51 billion after the closing bell. Costco shares rose 0.46 percent to $200.55 in after-hours trading. Crispr Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ: CRSP) disclosed that the FDA has placed a clinical hold on IND for CTX001 sickle cell disease treatment. Crispr Therapeutics shares dropped 14.39 percent to $63.00 in the after-hours trading session.\n(NASDAQ: CRSP) disclosed that the FDA has placed a clinical hold on IND for CTX001 sickle cell disease treatment. Crispr Therapeutics shares dropped 14.39 percent to $63.00 in the after-hours trading session. Before the markets open, Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.46 per share on revenue of $8.13 billion. Tech Data shares gained 1.52 percent to close at $82.40 on Wednesday.\n(NASDAQ: TECD) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.46 per share on revenue of $8.13 billion. Tech Data shares gained 1.52 percent to close at $82.40 on Wednesday. Analysts are expecting Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) to have earned $1.23 per share on revenue of $5.56 billion in the latest quarter. Dollar Tree will release earnings before the markets open. Dollar Tree shares gained 0.66 percent to $96.99 in after-hours trading.\n(NASDAQ: DLTR) to have earned $1.23 per share on revenue of $5.56 billion in the latest quarter. Dollar Tree will release earnings before the markets open. Dollar Tree shares gained 0.66 percent to $96.99 in after-hours trading. PVH Corp (NYSE: PVH) reported stronger-than-expected results for its first quarter and raised its earnings guidance for the year. PVH shares rose 0.37 percent to close at $155.50 on Wednesday.\nFind out what's going on in today's market and bring any questions you have to Benzinga's PreMarket Prep.", "Homebuilders stocks and corresponding exchange-traded funds are performing well this year, as highlighted by a 29 percent in the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index. Sound fundamentals underpin the rally in homebuilders equities, boding well for aggressive traders considering the Direxion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X Shares (NYSEARCA:NAIL).\nNAIL, the dominant name among leveraged homebuilders ETFs, looks to deliver triple the daily returns of the widely followed Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index. That benchmark follows companies “related to homebuilding, including home construction and producers, sellers and suppliers of building materials, furnishings and fixtures and also home improvement retailers,” according to Direxion.\nLike any leveraged ETF, NAIL is volatile, but it is worth noting that the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index has a three-year standard deviation of 17.3 percent, which is well above the comparable metric on broad market benchmarks. That serves as a reminder that NAIL is a short-term trade, not a buy-and-hold investment.\nWhat Moves NAIL\nThe index NAIL tries to deliver triple the daily returns of is top heavy. D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), NVR Inc. (NYSE: NVR), Pulte Group Inc. (NYSE: PHM), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) and Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) account for a significant portion of the benchmark's weight.\n“The sector is rallying off strong fundamental data. Five of the indexes’ top six holdings have reported earnings for the September quarter-end, and all of them—Lennar, NVR, PulteGroup, Home Depot, and D.R. Horton—had earnings per share that either met or exceeded Wall Street expectations,” said Direxion. “These six stocks account for about 50 percent of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index’s holdings, and all are up double figures since Labor Day.”\nFor the five days ended Dec. 6th, NAIL's volume was 105.1 percent above the trailing 20-day average, according to issuer data.\nPositive Data\nOther data points support the near-term viability of NAIL.\n“There has also been strong economic data post-hurricane season,” said Direxion. “The Census Bureau reported that U.S. housing starts for Oct. came in at 1.29 million, higher than the 1.185 million economists had expected. It was also a sharp increase from the 1.135 million housing starts in September, though that was likely due to the impact of several damaging hurricanes to the southeast.”\nNAIL is averaging daily inflows of nearly $1.5 million over the past month.\nRelated Links:\nValue in Value ETFs.\nSpicing Up The Developed Markets Trade.", "The Federal Open Market Committee meets this week, and many bond market participants expect the Fed to raise interest rates after having done so three times in 2017.\nExpectations of higher borrowing costs have previously been seen as detrimental to dividend stocks and exchange traded funds, but that tide could be turning if last week's ETF inflows paint an accurate picture. Each of the top 10 asset-gathering ETFs for the trading week ended March 16 were equity funds, and three of those products were dividend funds.\nThe iShares Select Dividend ETF (NASDAQ: DVY) added $3.54 billion in new assets last week, good for the second-best total among all U.S.-listed ETFs.\nThe DVY Surprise\nAgainst the backdrop of rising interest rates, it is perhaps surprising that DVY would be the top asset gatherer among dividend ETFs. With last week's haul, DVY has added $2.97 billion in new assets this year, tops among all dividend ETFs and good for the sixth-best total among all ETFs.\nDVY, which tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index, holds 97 stocks, over 26 percent of which hail from the rate-sensitive utilities sector. As the Fed boosted borrowing costs three times last year, DVY trailed the S&P 500 and suffered outflows of $848.5 million.\nWhile DVY allocates almost 15 percent of its weight to financial services stocks, a sector believed to benefit from higher interest rates, it's not nearly enough to offset its utilities exposure. The utilities sector is already reflecting the specter of multiple interest rate increases this year as the Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLU), the largest ETF tracking the sector, is down 4.5 percent year-to-date.\nOther Prolific Asset Gatherers\nLast week, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: SCHD) and the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: VIG) also packed on the assets. Investors added $2.33 billion to SCHD and $1.89 billion to VIG. That sent SCHD's year-to-date inflows to $2.72 billion, putting it just behind DVY on the list of 2018's top 10 asset-gathering ETFs.\nNeither SCHD nor VIG feature large utilities weights. For example, VIG, the largest U.S. dividend ETF by assets, has utilities exposure of just 1.5 percent compared with its largest sector exposure of 34 percent to industrials.\nSCHD devotes just 5.3 percent to utilities stocks, making that the ETF's third-smallest sector weight. The ETF's largest sector allocation is 20.5 percent to financial services.\nRelated Links:\nTempting Tech ETFs\nA Rough Patch For MLP ETFs", "Gainers\nForesight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) shares rose 32.6 percent to $6.10 in pre-market trading. Chardan Capital initiated coverage on Foresight Autonomous with a Buy rating and a $15.00 price target.\n(NASDAQ: FRSX) shares rose 32.6 percent to $6.10 in pre-market trading. Chardan Capital initiated coverage on Foresight Autonomous with a Buy rating and a $15.00 price target. Amarin Corporation plc (ADR) (NASDAQ: AMRN) rose 7.4 percent to $3.50 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that the independent data monitoring committee has recommended that the REDUCE-IT trial continue as expected.\n(NASDAQ: AMRN) rose 7.4 percent to $3.50 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that the independent data monitoring committee has recommended that the REDUCE-IT trial continue as expected. Fossil Group Inc (NASDAQ: FOSL) rose 6.3 percent to $8.72 in pre-market trading after declining 6.92 percent on Friday.\n(NASDAQ: FOSL) rose 6.3 percent to $8.72 in pre-market trading after declining 6.92 percent on Friday. ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc (ADR) (NYSE: ZTO) rose 5.6 percent to $13.99 in pre-market trading. ZTO Express is expected to release Q2 results on August 22.\n(NYSE: ZTO) rose 5.6 percent to $13.99 in pre-market trading. ZTO Express is expected to release Q2 results on August 22. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE: FCAU) shares rose 4.8 percent to $12.17 in pre-market trading. Fiat Chrysler is said to reject an offer from a Chinese automaker.\n(NYSE: FCAU) shares rose 4.8 percent to $12.17 in pre-market trading. Fiat Chrysler is said to reject an offer from a Chinese automaker. ON Semiconductor Corp (NASDAQ: ON) shares rose 4.8 percent to $16.70 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.38 percent on Friday.\n(NASDAQ: ON) shares rose 4.8 percent to $16.70 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.38 percent on Friday. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: REGN) gained 4.7 percent to $488.54 after gaining 1.41 percent on Friday.\n(NASDAQ: REGN) gained 4.7 percent to $488.54 after gaining 1.41 percent on Friday. Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ: STX) shares rose 4.3 percent to $33.68 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.35 percent on Friday.\n(NASDAQ: STX) shares rose 4.3 percent to $33.68 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.35 percent on Friday. Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (USA) (NASDAQ: TSEM) rose 4.2 percent to $25.84 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that DENSO Corporation has utilized its advanced 0.18um SiGe technology to develop a 24GHz rear and side radar sensor.\n(NASDAQ: TSEM) rose 4.2 percent to $25.84 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that DENSO Corporation has utilized its advanced 0.18um SiGe technology to develop a 24GHz rear and side radar sensor. Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) shares rose 4 percent to $16.95 in pre-market trading after gaining 2.84 percent on Friday.\nFind out what's going on in today's market and bring any questions you have to Benzinga's PreMarket Prep.\nLosers\nZynerba Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ZYNE) shares fell 28.2 percent to $5.05 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that its Phase 2 STOP trial did not meet its primary endpoint. However, the company trial did meet some secondary endpoints.\n(NASDAQ: ZYNE) shares fell 28.2 percent to $5.05 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that its Phase 2 STOP trial did not meet its primary endpoint. However, the company trial did meet some secondary endpoints. Sorl Auto Parts, Inc. (NASDAQ: SORL) shares fell 17.8 percent to $5.73 in pre-market trading after the company reported weak Q2 results.\n(NASDAQ: SORL) shares fell 17.8 percent to $5.73 in pre-market trading after the company reported weak Q2 results. Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT) shares fell 12.2 percent to $2.24 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that its Phase 3 trial of Fovista in wet age-related macular degeneration did not achieve its primary endpoint.\n(NASDAQ: OPHT) shares fell 12.2 percent to $2.24 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that its Phase 3 trial of Fovista in wet age-related macular degeneration did not achieve its primary endpoint. Impax Laboratories Inc (NASDAQ: IPXL) fell 4.9 percent to $17.40 in pre-market trading after rising 0.55 percent on Friday.\n(NASDAQ: IPXL) fell 4.9 percent to $17.40 in pre-market trading after rising 0.55 percent on Friday. JD.Com Inc(ADR) (NASDAQ: JD) fell 4.8 percent to $43.70 in pre-market trading after the company posted a wider net loss for the second quarter. The company’s net loss attributable to shareholders widened to 496.4 million yuan ($74.43 million), versus 252.3 million yuan in the year-ago period.\n(NASDAQ: JD) fell 4.8 percent to $43.70 in pre-market trading after the company posted a wider net loss for the second quarter. The company’s net loss attributable to shareholders widened to 496.4 million yuan ($74.43 million), versus 252.3 million yuan in the year-ago period. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) fell 3.8 percent to $16.55. Canadian Solar reported Q2 earnings of $38.2 million.\n(NASDAQ: CSIQ) fell 3.8 percent to $16.55. Canadian Solar reported Q2 earnings of $38.2 million. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc (NYSE: CLF) fell 3.4 percent to $6.95 in pre-market trading.\n(NYSE: CLF) fell 3.4 percent to $6.95 in pre-market trading. Pretium Resources Inc (NYSE: PVG) fell 3 percent to $7.99 in pre-market trading. On Friday, Pretium Resources reported a Q2 loss of $2.5 million.\n(NYSE: PVG) fell 3 percent to $7.99 in pre-market trading. On Friday, Pretium Resources reported a Q2 loss of $2.5 million. Sibanye Gold Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: SBGL) shares fell 2.6 percent to $5.73 in pre-market trading after rising 0.51 percent on Friday.\n(NYSE: SBGL) shares fell 2.6 percent to $5.73 in pre-market trading after rising 0.51 percent on Friday. Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF) fell 2.5 percent to $54.03 in pre-market trading after dropping 0.20 percent on Friday.\nPosted-In: #PreMarket Gainers LosersNews Movers & Shakers Pre-Market Outlook Markets Movers\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "Previewing the third-quarter results of consumer/commercial financial services sector, Bank of America Merrill Lynch highlighted a pair trade. The firm downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF), even as it said it remained bullish on American Express Company (NYSE: AXP).\nA pair trade is a trading strategy in which opposing positions are taken in a pair of highly correlated instrument. This market-neutral strategy serves to mitigate directional risk.\nAs such, BofA Merrill Lynch downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from Buy to Neutral and reduced its price target from $35 to $33. Meanwhile, the firm maintains its Buy rating on the shares American Express, with a $102 price target.\nVisibility Into Synchrony's Earnings Poor\nAnalyst Kenneth Bruce attributed the downgrade of Synchrony Financial to the lack of 2018 earnings per share visibility, which creates an overhang on the stock at current levels. The analyst said it views Synchrony Financial as a somewhat controversial stock.\nThat said, the analyst noted that investors are cautious, given a series of credit-related earnings per share disappointments over the past year. The analyst believes the stock can break out of its near-term $31-$32 price resistance, if visibility into credit and the earnings per share trajectory improves.\nBofA Merrill Lynch said a further weakening in Synchrony Financial's relative credit performance will pose downside risk. The firm clarified that the revised price target of $33 reflected a ten times PE multiple to its 2018 earnings per share forecast of $3.32, down from the 10.5 times multiple previously.\nSee also: A Railroad Pair Trade: Kansas City Southern Vs. Union Pacific\nBullish On American Express On Business Momentum\nHowever, the firm said it is bullish on American Express due to the positive momentum in its core business and improving optics to its primary growth metrics for the third quarter. Following meetings with the company's chief financial officer, the firm said it came away increasingly confident that its near-term business momentum would serve to bolster confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable revenue and EPS growth prospectively.\nThe firm also said it does not anticipate any news on the Starwood co-brand deal until later this year. Although the firm expects this to serve as a modest overhang for American Express, it is of the view strong operating results could drive the stock higher.\nSpecifically, the firm expects American Express to report third-quarter earnings per share of $1.48, in line with the consensus estimate. The firm said the recovery in the company's core business will become all the more visible, as the post- Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) metrics fall out of the year-over-year comparisons.\nThis, according to the firm, will provide cleaner evidence that American Express is achieving top and bottom line growth. While the firm does not expect the company to revise its guidance, it believes the management will begin talking up its recent outperformance.\nRelated Link: Traders Up The Ante With Financial ETF\nLatest Ratings for SYF Date Firm Action From To Oct 2017 Bank of America Downgrades Buy Neutral Sep 2017 Morgan Stanley Downgrades Overweight Equal-Weight Jul 2017 Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight View More Analyst Ratings for SYF\nView the Latest Analyst Ratings\nPosted-In: Bank of America Merrill LynchAnalyst Color Long Ideas Downgrades Price Target Reiteration Analyst Ratings Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., July 19, 2017.\nNEW YORK (Reuters) - Momentum for domestic U.S. stock funds waned during the latest week, with investors pulling cash from those products for a sixth week out of the last seven, Investment Company Institute (ICI) data showed on Wednesday.\nThe funds posted $3.9 billion in withdrawals during the week ended Aug. 2, the trade group said, even as U.S. stocks steamed higher. The S&P 500 is on pace to deliver double-digit percent returns for seventh year in the last decade.\nInvestors say that rise has left U.S. stocks richly valued and that they have been moving to taxable bonds and international stocks. Each of those categories had a 35th straight week of inflows, according to ICI.\nTaxable bonds added $6.1 billion, while world stock funds attracted $4.2 billion.\nBond funds sold $203 billion in shares during the first half of 2017, compared to $136 billion in stocks. Of that, domestic equities took in just $4.3 billion, ICI data showed.\nPhil Bak, chief executive at ACSI Funds, said the growth in index funds that own big stakes in technology companies like Facebook Inc and Apple Inc has exacerbated fears of a top-heavy market.\n\"A lot of people feel that trade will start to unwind,\" said Bak, whose firm is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.\nBut stocks are not trading in tandem, meaning there are relative winners and losers and in the market. A CBOE S&P 500 Implied Correlation Index that uses options to measure how much markets expect stock prices to move together is trading at 31.4, compared to 57.7 on the day of the U.S. election in November, a turning point for markets.\nS&P 500 earnings for the second quarter rose an estimated 12 percent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. But in recent days some large companies turned in disappointing results, including airlines, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it wants to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes, hitting Altria Group's shares.\nBak said a lack of correlations between stocks creates a good environment for investors who pick equities beyond those held in the highest proportion by indexes such as the S&P 500.\n\"We think it's a pretty good environment to be in stocks,\" he said.", "After multiple quarters of beating expectations, Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN ) shocked the market by missing both quarterly and annual estimates. Both revenues and earnings came in well below expectations, indicating the company is stuck in neutral.\nNew drugs in the pipeline may compensate for the revenue declines in older drugs. However, with this earnings miss and with more revenue and earnings stagnation predicted for the foreseeable future, AMGN stock appears to offer little to new investors.\nRare Earnings and Revenue Miss for Amgen\nThe company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.89 on $5.8 billion in revenue for 4Q 2016. These numbers sent the stock reeling during after-hours trading as analysts had expected $3.03 in EPS on $5.83 billion in revenue.\nThe revenue number also represents a drop-off from 4Q 2016 when AMGN reported revenues of $5.95 billion. Earnings remained flat on a year-over-year basis as the company also earned $2.89 per share in 4Q 2016.\nFull-year revenues came in at $22.8 billion, missing estimates and falling short of 2016 revenue levels by 1%. EPS also missed expectations for 2017 as earnings came in at $12.58 per share. For all of 2017, it had forecasted $12.70 per share on $22.89 billion in revenue.\nThe company reported free cash flow increased by 9% to $10.5 billion. Increases in operating margins, as well as higher interest income and changes in working capital, helped improve that cash flow.\nAnalysts Predict Little Growth for AMGN\nThe Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical giant is the world’s largest independent biotech company. Amgen is best known for producing products such as Neulasta and Enbrel. Still, as those products attract competitors, they become a less significant share of company revenues.\nMost analysts expect drugs such as Kyprolis, Prolia, Blincyto and Vectibix to pick up the slack. Sales of its recently approved cardiovascular drug called Repatha should also improve. In December, Amgen gained approval to market Repatha as a drug that reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.\nRobert A. Bradway, Chairman and CEO of Amgen, cited Repatha as one of the drugs that will move the company forward. Mr. Bradway said this of Repatha in the earnings report:\n“With strong volume-driven growth for our recently launched products and a promising new product pipeline, we are well positioned for future growth.”\nHowever, drivers for that future growth remain unclear. For revenue, AMGN provided guidance of $21.8-$22.8 billion. Hence, the company’s numbers project 0% revenue growth as the best-case scenario. On EPS, the company offered guidance of $12.60-$13.70 per share, leaving it unclear whether AMGN will enjoy EPS growth for 2018.\nOver the last five years, the company had increased EPS by double digits in four of the last five years. Unfortunately for current owners of AMGN stock, the profit growth appears to have stopped. Its new drugs will make up for the declining profits of its older drugs. Still, analysts forecast earnings to fall back below 2017 levels in 2020.\nAmgen’s Peers More Likely to Yield Profits for Investors\nAnalysts expect peers such as Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ ), Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE: NVS ), Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK ) and Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE: SNY ) to continue increasing profits.\nValuation also offers little incentive to invest. The price-to-earnings (PE) ratio stands at about 17. While few would call a 17 PE expensive, that valuation will likely not attract bargain hunters to a no-growth stock. Also, most of Amgen’s peers who enjoy continued profit growth trade at a similar valuation.\nOne bright spot for the company remains its dividend. Since paying its first dividend in 2011, AMGN stock owners have seen increases every year. Within six years, annual dividends have risen from 56 cents per share to $5.28 per share last year. With a yield of around 2.5%, it provides stockholders with a respectable cash return.\nStill, if predictions of stagnant profit growth hold, one has to assume the dividend increases will slow down, if not stop altogether.\nFinal Thoughts on AMGN Stock\nWith the latest earnings report confirming the earnings stagnation that analysts had predicted, investors are best off avoiding AMGN stock. In a departure from previous quarters, the company missed quarterly and annual EPS and revenue expectations by a wide margin. A decline in revenues, as well as 0% year-over-year growth, had investors selling following the report.\nSeveral new drugs have appeared in Amgen’s pipeline. Still, most expect those products to only sell well enough to make up for declining profits from older drugs. Long-term AMGN investors have some incentive to stay in due to its dividend. However, for new investors who want to profit from this industry, they should pass on AMGN stock.\nAs of this writing, Will Healy did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned stocks.", "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street indexes closed higher on Monday and the biggest drivers were technology and energy sectors as oil prices rose and investors waited for an expected U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike later in the week. Technology stocks were back in favour with the biggest boost from Apple Inc (AAPL.O) as investors eyed a continuation of strong fundamentals in the sector. “Investors are a little exhausted from the rise of the market and making sector moves,” said Rick Meckler, president of LibertyView Capital Management in Jersey City, New Jersey. “They’re not willing to commit a whole lot of new money at these levels but they’re rotating a bit. Some of it is year-end tax planning.” Traders, waiting for the Fed’s two-day rate setting meeting to begin on Tuesday, see an 85-percent probability for a 25 basis point hike to the Fed funds rate target and a 15-percent chance of a 50 basis point hike, which would be the third rate hike this year, according to CME Group’s Fedwatch tool. “Valuations are getting to the point where even good news on the economy might pose some additional risks to the market. There’s the risk that good news for the economy may be bad news for markets because the Fed is at the cusp of a level of tightening that could dampen growth,” said Mark Heppenstall, CIO at Penn Mutual Asset Management in Horsham, Pennsylvania. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 56.87 points, or 0.23 percent, to 24,386.03, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 8.49 points, or 0.32 percent, to 2,659.99 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 35.00 points, or 0.51 percent, to 6,875.08. Most of the 11 major S&P sectors ended higher, with the biggest boost from a 0.8 percent gain in information technology stocks .SPLRCT. The S&P energy .SPNY index rose 0.71 percent as oil prices rose after a North Sea pipeline shut for repairs. The S&P’s financial .SPSY and industrial .SPLRCI sectors were the benchmark’s only decliners for the day with losses of around 0.2 percent. Traders work inside a post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidHealthcare investors focused on makers of drugs for blood disorders after clinical data presentations at the annual American Society of Hematology four-day meeting in Atlanta. Shares of Bluebird Bio (BLUE.O) closed up 17.9 percent at $201.8, after hitting a record high of $222.03, following news of positive responses in an early stage myeloma study of its experimental gene-modifying immunotherapy drug co-developed with Celgene (CELG.O). Celgene’s shares rose 1.8 percent. Interest in the surge in digital currency bitcoin and the Sunday debut of futures trading in the cryptocurrency continued to fuel bets on related stocks. Shares of Marathon Patent (MARA.O) rose 42.9 percent while Xunlei (XNET.O) climbed 29.4 percent. Riot Blockchain (RIOT.O) rose about 45.5 percent. The equity market appeared to shrug off an early morning explosion that officials called an attempted terrorist attack at one of New York’s busiest commuter hubs. The suspect wounded himself and three others. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.18-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.14-to-1 ratio favoured decliners. The S&P 500 posted 31 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 84 new highs and 55 new lows. More than 5.85 billion shares changed hands on U.S. stock exchanges compared with the 6.5 billion average for the last 20 sessions.\nThis story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.", "(Reuters) - The S&P 500 and the Dow were flat in early morning trading on Monday after an explosion rocked New York’s Port Authority, one of the city’s busiest commuter hubs.\nFILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 1, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid\nPolice confirmed one suspect is in custody but were yet to identify the device used. Local news channel WABC cited police sources as saying a possible pipe bomb detonated in a passageway below ground at Port Authority.\n“When you see one of these events in a major city, you get a little cautious tone. But it’s never enough to really rout a stock market intraday,” said Michael Antonelli, managing director, institutional sales trading at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee.\nAt 9:37 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI was down 8.85 points, or 0.04 percent, at 24,320.31, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 1.14 points, or 0.04 percent, at 2,652.64 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was up 18.81 points, or 0.28 percent, at 6,858.89.\nTechnology stocks .SPLRCT led the gainers on the S&P 500, rising 0.41 percent, while financial stocks were the biggest losers. Energy stocks .SPNY also rose on the back of rise in oil prices after the explosion. [O/R]\nInterest in the surge in bitcoin and opening of futures trading continued to fuel bets on crypotcurrency related stocks, many of which have risen exponentially in value in the past three months. Shares of Marathon Patent (MARA.O), Riot Blockchain (RIOT.O), Overstock.com (OSTK.O) and Xunei (XNET.O) were up between 10 percent and 24 percent. Bitcoin futures jumped more than 20 percent in the U.S. debut on Sunday, which backers hope will encourage wider use and give legitimacy to cryptocurrency.\nMarket expectations of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve later this week firmed up after a jobs report showed that the economy added 228,000 jobs in November.\nHowever, a sluggish wage growth have raise doubts about the central bank’s plan to raise interest rates thrice in 2018.\n“We’ve got the Fed meeting where it’s pretty much factored in that the Fed is going to be raising rates. The concern is what they are going to say about going forward,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida.\nBluebird Bio (BLUE.O) shares rose about 19.2 percent after its experimental gene-modifying immunotherapy drug co-developed with Celgene (CELG.O) received positive responses in early stage study. Celgene was up 2.4 percent.\nAdvancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 1,487 to 1,046. On the Nasdaq, 1,502 issues rose and 894 fell.", "Emerging markets stocks hit a rough spot last week as markets roiled by an intensifying geopolitical rift between the U.S. and North Korea. However, the saber rattling did not prompt large-scale departures from some emerging markets exchange-traded funds, although the MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 2.3 percent last week.\nThe widely followed MSCI Emerging Markets Index is still up 22.6 year to date, more than double the 9.2 percent returned by the S&P 500. That emerging markets benchmark was hampered last week due to weakness in South Korean stocks. South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, is the second-largest country exposure the MSCI Emerging Markets Index at a weight of 14.6 percent.\nAmid heightened threats and sharp rhetoric from neighboring North Korea, the iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (NYSE: EWY) slipped 4.6 percent last week and saw increased defensive positioning in the options market.\nStill Devoted\nInvestors remain devoted to the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: VWO), the largest emerging markets ETF by assets.\n“This continues VWO’s impressive showing in 2017 in terms of attracting new assets, with more than $6.6 billion entering the fund during this time frame while the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (NYSE: VEU) has added a not too shabby $2.8 billion,” said Street One Financial Vice President Paul Weisbruch in a note Friday.\nYear to date, VWO has added $6.6 billion in new money, a total surpassed by just nine other ETFs and just one other emerging markets ETF. Investors added almost $285 million to VWO last week, good for the sixth-best inflows among all U.S.-listed ETFs.\nA Big Difference\nLast week, VWO was less bad than the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. VWO lost 2 percent, outperforming the aforementioned emerging markets benchmark because the Vanguard fund tracks a different index that does not classify South Korea as a developing market.\nVWO competes with the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: IEMG) on price. Both ETFs charge 0.14 percent per year, or $14 on a $10,000 investment. IEMG is one of the top asset-gathering ETFs this year as well and it holds shares of South Korean stocks.\n“VWO and IEMG of course both have the same expense ratio, and this likely speaks volumes about the growth of IEMG to the point where it has surpassed its much more tenured and more expensive sister ETF iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: EEM).\nRelated Links:\nTime To Talk Thailand\nEM Small-Cap ETFs Surge.\nDisclosure: Todd Shriber owns shares of VWO.\nPosted-In: AsiaLong Ideas Emerging Markets Emerging Market ETFs Top Stories Markets Trading Ideas ETFs Best of Benzinga\n© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.", "A taxicab enters the financial district security zone near the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 23, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid\nBENGALURU Developed market share prices are looking expensive, according to a plurality of strategists and brokers, with a majority in a global Reuters poll saying those major indexes are due for a correction of 10 percent or more this year.\nStock markets everywhere have rallied so far in 2017, with Wall Street hitting record highs on hopes that the U.S. administration will usher in financial deregulation and sweeping tax cuts. Last month, the U.S. Standard & Poor's 500 market capitalisation pushed above $20 trillion for the first time.\nBut the blistering rally stands in contrast to much more measured views from global fund managers, who have trimmed recommendations for equities or left them unchanged at best in their model portfolio this year.\nMany are now arguing that markets have become too reluctant to consider several key risks, including potentially-disruptive elections in Europe and no guarantees that the U.S. administration's stimulus plans will be put into action.\nThe view that President Donald Trump will soon light a fire under the economy may have peaked, according to the latest Reuters poll of strategists who forecast U.S. shares will gain less than 3 percent between now and year-end.\nJulian Emanuel, executive director of U.S. equity and derivatives strategy at UBS Securities in New York, said stocks have been pricing in a \"strongly\" pro-growth agenda.\n\"But it has yet to be fully implemented, and the devil is in the details,\" said Emanuel, who sees the S&P 500 ending the year at 2,300, about 50 points lower than where it closed on Wednesday. He said he is cautious on stocks in the near-term.\nOn Friday, Republican leaders pulled legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, a key 2016 election Trump campaign promise, which has led to questions about his ability to deliver other pledges, including sweeping tax cuts.\nStill, views from more than 200 equity strategists and brokers around the world were bullish, with the outlook for almost all the 22 indexes upgraded from just three months ago, when almost everyone missed the size of the recent rally.\nMost indexes have already surpassed the levels predicted in December for where they would trade by mid-2017 and many have even breached end-2017 forecasts made three months ago.\nBut while the general view is for stock markets to keep rising, corporate earnings now have to catch up to justify the surge in share prices, with valuations for a majority of stock indexes already trading above their 5-year averages.\nThat is definitely the case for developed market shares, according to a near-majority of ever-bullish strategists and brokers polled by Reuters, something they have not said in recent years.\n\"Absolutely, it is definitely expensive. It is expensive by virtue of the fact people are too optimistic on earnings,\" said Emanuel referring to the S&P 500.\nCORRECTION\nA majority also predict a correction of 10 percent or more for developed market stocks. Such a drop is generally considered normal, but the last time stock markets went through that kind of a correction was at the beginning of last year.\nStill, there is an increase in confidence. The recent surge in equity markets is also based on a view the world economy at last is in a synchronous upturn, along with inflation.\nBut that is at odds with the outlook for bond markets, with bond strategists as a whole in a separate Reuters poll still not very concerned about global inflation.\nEmerging market stocks are expected to notably outperform developed economy shares this year.\nBrazilian stocks are likely to rise for the second straight year to a record high in 2017, above the previous high hit almost a decade ago.\nIndia's benchmark BSE Sensex share index is also expected to scale a new record high by mid-year, with forecasts upgraded significantly from just three months ago.\n(Additional reporting and polling from reporters in Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt, Milan, Moscow, New York, Brasilia, Toronto and Bengaluru; Editing by Ross Finley and)", "How distortions in the media can play an important role in finding value.\nIncludes discussion on portfolio construction, diversification vs. concentration, using volatility to your advantage and how economic and stock market bubbles are formed.\nIn depth discussion of the firm's 10% stake in Geospace Technologies and large short position in shares of Domino's Pizza as well as the relationship between risk and returns.\nFr. Emmanuel answers investors questions at the First Annual Stowe Conference for Charity, including the difference between speculation and investment.\nFather Emmanuel Lemelson recently answered investors questions at The First Annual Stowe Conference for Charity on April 1, 2017. Fr. Emmanuel spoke in depth about his philosophy of investing as well as a number of specific securities on both the long and short side with a special focus on Domino's Pizza.\nTo listen to the full Q&A session click here\nThe following are some of the topics covered:\nThe difference between Speculation and Investment\nThe relationship between risk and returns (protecting principle)\nForecasting where the market is headed vs. individual security analysis\nSecurity selection and staying in a \"circle of competence\"\nIndependent thinking vs. following the \"spirit of the times\"\nThe high price of market right now and market cycles\nPortfolio construction: Diversification vs. concentration\nHow distortions in the media can play an important role in finding value as well as using volatility to your advantage\nThe value of sell-side research\nEconomic and stock-market bubbles\nThe discussion also includes a review of Lemelson Capital Management's 10 percent stake in Geospace Technologies (NASDAQ: GEOS) and why the firm made a large commitment in Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) in early 2013 after a media-induced 44 percent correction in it's share price.\nThe talk also includes an in-depth and thorough discussion of Dominos (NYSE: DPZ) and the challenges of selling short. Fr. Emmanuel touches on Domino's leadership in the context of corporate governance failures, the firm's balance sheet, culture of debt, earnings and challenges faced by the company as a paradigm shift in technology, lead by companies such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) unfolds and creates an existential threat to the firms core delivery model.\nAlso included is a brief discussion of (NYSE: VRX), (NASDAQ: MYL), (NYSE: SKX) and (NYSE: NKE)\nTo watch the full presentation click here\nDisclosure: I am/we are long GEOS AND SHORT DPZ.\nI wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.", "FILE PHOTO: A worker walks past a pump jack on an oil field owned by the Bashneft company near Nikolo-Berezovka, Bashkortostan, Russia , January 28, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo\nNEW YORK Oil prices settled slightly higher on Wednesday after a choppy trading session as the market digested U.S. government data showing that while there were signs a crude glut may be receding, inventories remained large with gasoline demand weak.\nU.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 settled up 16 cents at $47.82 a barrel. Benchmark Brent crude LCOc1 was up 33 cents at $50.79.\nIn early trading, WTI fell as low as $47.30, the lowest since March 27, after the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said weekly crude stocks fell by 930,000 barrels to 527.8 million. That was less than half the forecast draw of 2.3 million barrels.\nThe session low for U.S. crude was close to a 50 percent retracement of the rally that started on Aug. 3, 2016, said David Thompson, executive vice-president at Powerhouse, an energy-specialized commodities broker in Washington.\nIf prices break below that level, he said, the \"next major support zone comes in at the $45.33 to $44.09 zone.\"\nPrices see-sawed as analysts also weighed EIA data showing gasoline stocks rose 191,000 barrels, much less than the predicted 1.3 million-barrel gain. However, gasoline demand slipped 2.7 percent over the last four weeks from the same period a year ago.\n\"This is continuing a trend since the beginning of the year in which sales have been lower and that is casting a shadow on the market and pressuring crude oil prices,\" said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.\n\"Gasoline demand is going to be the story going forward.\"\nKyle Cooper, consultant at ION Energy in Houston, saw \"a slightly bullish report\" when looking at the total inventory comparisons.\n\"With the (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) drawing, total U.S. petroleum stocks fell 161,000 barrels. Total U.S. inventories fell further below last year while the surplus to the five-year average fell. Total U.S. petroleum demand rose to almost 19.9 mbd and the highest since March 3,\" he said.\nWhile the market fixates on U.S. production, investors are also monitoring whether producing countries have been complying with their 2016 deal to cut output around 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) by the middle of the year.\nRussia, contributing the largest production cut outside OPEC, said as of May 1, it had cut output more than 300,000 bpd since hitting peak production in October. However the latest Reuters survey of OPEC production showed the country's compliance had fallen slightly. OPEC meets on May 25 to discuss extending the agreement.\n(Additional reporting by Karolin Schaps in London and Naveen Thukral in Singapore; editing by David Gregorio)", "Coinbase has brought on a former New York Stock Exchange executive to build out a platform to monitor its crypto markets.\nIt's the latest sign that crypto trading venues are aiming to look more like equity markets to mollify regulators' anxieties.\nCoinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange operator, is building out a platform meant to better monitor its markets.\nThe San Francisco-based firm has brought on Peter Elkins, a former executive at the New York Stock Exchange, to lead the efforts. Elkins, who previously was head of market surveillance at the Big Board, is building out a team for what is known as the Coinbase Trade Surveillance Program, Elkins told Business Insider in an interview.\nThe point of the new program will be to create a best-in-class platform to police Coinbase's markets, which include its retail brokerage and two professional exchange venues, Elkins said.\n\"This is similar to the projects I worked on at NYSE,\" Elkins said. \"We are going to be deploying human insights and technology to weed out bad actors.\"\nIt's striking that Coinbase is going in-house to develop such a program considering its New York-based rival Gemini opted to partner with the equities exchange behemoth Nasdaq for its surveillance efforts.\nAdvertisement\nAs Business Insider previously reported, Gemini is using Nasdaq's Smarts, a surveillance technology used across Wall Street, to identify unusual and potentially criminal trading behavior on its venue.\nSimilarly, Coinbase's program is intended to better identify unusual activity including spoofing, a way to manipulate markets by sending fake orders, as well as wash trading, Elkins said.\nThe news of Elkins' hire comes as questions of market manipulation in crypto markets have reached a fever pitch Notably, Bloomberg published a report examining more than 50,000 trades on Kraken's market that experts said raised red flags. Specifically, they said it was unusual that large tether trades failed to affect pricing on the venue. Kraken mocked the claims in the report in a blog post.\nElsewhere, academics at the University of Texas published a paper alleging that Tether was last year used to manipulate the price of bitcoin, propping up its run to $20,000 in December.\nRegulators have expressed concern over the possibility of rigged markets in crypto. And the moves by Gemini and Coinbase illustrate the degree to which crypto trading firms are trying to mollify their concerns.\nThe New York Attorney General's Office in April sent out letters to 13 cryptocurrency exchange operators as part of a broader crypto fact-finding mission aimed at protecting investors in the nascent market for digital coins. The office requested information from crypto exchanges about manipulation, system failures, consumer protection, and other issues.\nInitiatives to better monitor crypto markets could also help lure new investors to the market, says Jay Biondo, a product manager at Trading Technologies.\n\"Having effective surveillance is a key selling point,\" Biondo said. \"Exchanges that announce that they are monitoring for spoofing, wash trading, momentum ignition, and other manipulative activity will likely attract more investors because those investors will feel more confident that they are trading in a fair and efficient market.\"\nBefore joining NYSE's market-watch team in 2015, Elkins was a designated market maker on the floor of the exchange for over a decade, holding positions at both Barclays and LaBranche & Co.\nNumerous other Coinbase employees previously worked at NYSE, including Christine Sandler and Eric Scro.\nGet the latest Bitcoin price here.>>", "Space for the annual meeting is limited. Therefore, admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Each stockholder will need to present a valid government issued photo identification (driver's license or passport) plus one of the following to gain admittance:\nProof of stock ownership by way of a Stockholder's Annual Meeting Proxy Card or a copy thereof; or\nBeneficial stockholders (individuals who have shares held through a broker, bank, trustee or other nominee) will need to bring proof of such beneficial ownership as of April 24, 2018, the record date, such as their most recent account statement reflecting stock ownership prior to April 24, 2018, copy of the voting instruction card provided by their broker, bank, trustee or other nominee or similar evidence of stock ownership.\nA live audio webcast of the event will start at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET and is expected to last approximately one hour. It will also be available via the following site:\nhttp://ir.bgcpartners.com\nThe webcast archive will be available for 365 days, beginning June 20, 2018.\n(Note: If clicking the above link does not open up a new web page, you may need to cut and paste the above url into your browser's address bar.)\nAbout BGC Partners, Inc.\nBGC Partners is a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. BGC owns GFI Group Inc., a leading intermediary and provider of trading technologies and support services to the global OTC and listed markets. BGC's Financial Services offerings include fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. BGC provides a wide range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, trade compression, post trade, information, and other services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. Through brands including FENICS, BGC Trader, Capitalab, Lucera, and FENICS Market Data, BGC offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to numerous financial instruments and markets. BGC, BGC Trader, GFI, FENICS, FENICS Market Data, Capitalab, and Lucera are trademarks/service marks and/or registered trademarks/service marks of BGC Partners, Inc. and/or its affiliates.\nBGC offers Real Estate Services through its publicly traded subsidiary Newmark. Investor/owner services and products include capital markets (including investment sales), agency leasing, property management, valuation and advisory, diligence and underwriting and, under trademarks and names like Newmark Knight Frank and Berkeley Point, government sponsored enterprise lending, loan servicing, debt and structured finance and loan sales. Newmark's Class A common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: NMRK). Newmark, and Berkeley Point are trademarks/service marks and/or registered trademarks/service marks of Newmark Group, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Knight Frank is a service mark of Knight Frank (Nominees) Limited.\nBGC's customers include many of the world's largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, property owners, real estate developers, and investment firms. BGC's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit http://www.bgcpartners.com. You can also follow BGC at https://twitter.com/bgcpartners, https://www.linkedin.com/company/bgc-partners and/or http://ir.bgcpartners.com/Investors/default.aspx.\nDiscussion of Forward-Looking Statements about BGC Partners and Newmark\nStatements in this document regarding BGC and Newmark that are not historical facts are \"forward-looking statements\" that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, BGC and Newmark undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC's and Newmark's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors contained in subsequent Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q or Forms 8-K.\nView original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bgc-partners-announces-its-2018-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-300656866.html\nSOURCE BGC Partners, Inc.; Newmark Group, Inc.\nRelated Links\nhttp://www.bgcpartners.com", "MONACO--(Marketwired - Oct 6, 2017) - Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the \"Company\") ( NYSE : SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced today that the Company's Board of Directors has declared:\na cash dividend of $0.50 per share on its 8.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares (the \"Series B Preferred Shares\") ( NYSE : SB.PR.B) for the period from July 30, 2017 to October 29, 2017;\n: SB.PR.B) for the period from July 30, 2017 to October 29, 2017; a cash dividend of $0.50 per share on its 8.00% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares (the \"Series C Preferred Shares\") ( NYSE : SB.PR.C) for the period from July 30, 2017 to October 29, 2017 and\n: SB.PR.C) for the period from July 30, 2017 to October 29, 2017 and a cash dividend of $0.50 per share on its 8.00% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares (the \"Series D Preferred Shares\") ( NYSE : SB.PR.D) for the period from July 30, 2017 to October 29, 2017.\nEach dividend will be paid on October 30, 2017 to all shareholders of record as of October 23, 2017 of the Series B Preferred Shares of the Series C Preferred Shares and of the Series D Preferred Shares, respectively. Dividends on the Series B, C and D Preferred Shares are payable quarterly in arrears on the 30th day (unless the 30th falls on a weekend or public holiday, in which case the payment date is moved to the next business day) of January, April, July and October of each year.\nThis is the seventeenth consecutive cash dividend declared on the Company's Series B Preferred Shares, the fourteenth cash dividend declared on its Series C Preferred Shares and the thirteenth cash dividend declared on its Series D Preferred Shares, since their commencement of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.\nThe declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will always be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, and will depend on, among other things, the Company's earnings, financial condition and cash requirements and availability, the Company's ability to obtain debt and equity financing on acceptable terms as contemplated by the Company's growth strategy, the restrictive covenants in the Company's existing and future debt instruments and global economic conditions.\nAbout Safe Bulkers, Inc.\nThe Company is an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, particularly coal, grain and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the world's largest users of marine drybulk transportation services. The Company's common stock, series B preferred stock, series C preferred stock and series D preferred stock are listed on the NYSE, and trade under the symbols \"SB,\" \"SB.PR.B,\" \"SB.PR.C,\" and \"SB.PR.D,\" respectively.\nForward-Looking Statement\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in the Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as \"expects,\" \"intends,\" \"plans,\" \"believes,\" \"anticipates,\" \"hopes,\" \"estimates\" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for drybulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates, risks associated with operations outside the United States and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.", "Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) operates a diverse set of assets that transports, stores, and distributes petroleum products. That said, the company makes most of its money moving and storing refined products like gasoline and diesel. In fact, the company controls the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, which currently connects to about half of the nation's refining capacity.\nContinue Reading Below\nHere's a closer look at that massive system as well as what the future holds for it.\nDigging into Magellan's refined products pipeline system\nMagellan Midstream Partners' refined products pipeline system currently stretches 9,700 miles. To put that into perspective, it's enough pipe that if laid end-to-end could go from New York to Los Angeles more than three times. That said, the company's system focuses on the country's central region traversing 15 states and going from northwestern Minnesota all the way down to Texas' Gulf Coast:\nOverall, Magellan Midstream Partners moves more than 1.2 million barrels of refined products per day through this network of pipelines. That's about 6% of the petroleum products consumed in the country on a daily basis. These pipes serve as a vital link between refineries and 53 connected terminals that support local market demand. Further, the company has the capacity to store up to 42 million barrels of products to ensure regional markets have adequate supplies. In exchange for supplying this vital link, Magellan earns a steady income stream by collecting fees for providing services like shipping barrels across its pipelines, storing them at its terminal sites, and providing other services like blending in ethanol or other fuel additives.\nThat said, while Magellan Midstream Partners owns the longest refined products pipeline system in the U.S. it isn't the largest independent transporter of petroleum products in North America. That distinction goes to Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI), which transports 2.1 million barrels per day. Kinder Morgan moves those volumes across about 9,000 miles of products pipelines, primarily in the West, Southeast, Midwest, and Canada.\nContinue Reading Below ADVERTISEMENT\nWhere does Magellan grow from here?\nSince it already owns the longest pipeline system in the country and refining isn't a growth business in this country, there are fewer opportunities for Magellan to expand its existing pipeline system. That's why the bulk of the company's current slate of growth projects are in its crude oil and marine storage segments. For example, the company and several partners are expanding the Saddlehorn Pipeline, which is a 600-mile oil pipeline from the DJ Basin to the country's oil storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the company's largest project is building a new marine storage terminal in Pasadena, Texas. It's currently investing $335 million in the initial phase of the project and could potentially spend another $1 billion on future expansion opportunities at that location.\nThat said, while the company's current slate of projects focuses on growing the crude oil and marine storage segments, it's pursuing additional refined product growth opportunities. The company has more than $500 million of projects in development that are a mix of refined products and crude oil opportunities, including additional refined products pipelines. Meanwhile, another potential expansion opportunity is to make acquisitions that expand its pipeline network. Future deals could include buying refined products pipelines currently owned by refining companies or acquiring a third-party competitor. That said, at the moment the company's other two segments provide the most visibility for future growth.\nA solid foundation for the distribution\nMagellan's refined products segment is the company's profit center since it contributes about 60% of its gross operating margin each year by collecting steady fees, including from transporting volumes on the longest refined product system in the country. That provides the company with a solid foundation to support its generous 5.1% distribution. That said, while its massive network of refined products pipelines generates gobs of cash flow, it lacks readily visible expansion opportunities at the moment. Though, the company more than makes up for that with an extensive slate of projects in its other two segments, which should fuel 8% annual distribution growth through the end of next year.\n10 stocks we like better than Magellan Midstream Partners\nWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*\nDavid and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Magellan Midstream Partners wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.\nClick here to learn about these picks!\n*Stock Advisor returns as of August 1, 2017\nMatt DiLallo owns shares of Kinder Morgan and has the following options: short January 2018 $30 puts on Kinder Morgan, long January 2018 $30 calls on Kinder Morgan, and short December 2017 $19 puts on Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Magellan Midstream Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.", "(Reuters) - Technology and energy stocks gained in early afternoon trading on Monday, helping Wall Street shake off uncertainties following an explosion at one of New York’s busiest commuter hubs.\nFILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 1, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid\nNew York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident an attempted terrorist attack after an initial investigation found that a man with a bomb-like device strapped to his body set off the explosion.\n“When you see one of these events in a major city, you get a little cautious. But it’s never enough to really rout a stock market intraday,” said Michael Antonelli, managing director, institutional sales trading at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee.\nInterest in the surge in bitcoin and opening of futures trading continued to fuel bets on crypotcurrency related stocks, many of which have risen exponentially in value in the past three months.\nShares of Marathon Patent (MARA.O), Riot Blockchain (RIOT.O), Overstock.com (OSTK.O) and Xunlei (XNET.O) were up between 7 percent and 20 percent in the day.\nBitcoin futures jumped more than 20 percent in the U.S. debut on Sunday, which backers hope will encourage wider use and give legitimacy to cryptocurrency.\nAt 12:28 p.m. ET (1728 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI was up 31.21 points, or 0.13 percent, at 24,360.37, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 5.22 points, or 0.20 percent, at 2,656.72 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was up 32.14 points, or 0.47 percent, at 6,872.22.\nSeven of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, led by gains in energy .SPNY index as oil prices rose after a North Sea pipeline shut for repairs and investors focused on commodities following the explosion in New York.\nApple (AAPL.O) confirmed it had reached a deal to acquire Shazam Entertainment, the U.K.-based app that lets users identify songs by pointing a smart phone at the audio source.\nIts shares rose about 2 percent and was the top boost to all the three major indexes.\nFinancial .SPSY, consumer staple .SPLRCS and industrial .SPLRCI stocks were the biggest losers.\nMarket focus will shift to Federal Reserve’s two-day rate setting meeting that begins on Tuesday. A third rate hike this year is near certain, with traders betting a 90 percent chance in its favor, according to CME Group’s Fedwatch tool.\n“Coming off a week of pretty good economic data, investors will certainly take a close look at what the Fed has to do, what they say coming out of a meeting,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley FBR in Boston.\nAmong other movers, CenturyLink (CTL.N) was the biggest S&P 500 gainer, rising about 10 percent after the telecom provider signed a 5-year contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.\nShares of Bluebird Bio (BLUE.O) rose as much as 30 percent to a record high of $222.03 after its experimental gene-modifying immunotherapy drug co-developed with Celgene (CELG.O) received positive responses in early stage myeloma study. Celgene’s shares were up 2.2 percent.\nAdvancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 1,618 to 1,224. On the Nasdaq, 1,525 issues rose and 1,370 fell.", "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street indexes closed higher on Monday and the biggest drivers were technology and energy sectors as oil prices rose and investors waited for an expected U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike later in the week.\nFILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 1, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid\nTechnology stocks were back in favor with the biggest boost from Apple Inc (AAPL.O) as investors eyed a continuation of strong fundamentals in the sector.\n“Investors are a little exhausted from the rise of the market and making sector moves,” said Rick Meckler, president of LibertyView Capital Management in Jersey City, New Jersey. “They’re not willing to commit a whole lot of new money at these levels but they’re rotating a bit. Some of it is year-end tax planning.”\nTraders, waiting for the Fed’s two-day rate setting meeting to begin on Tuesday, see an 85-percent probability for a 25 basis point hike to the Fed funds rate target and a 15-percent chance of a 50 basis point hike, which would be the third rate hike this year, according to CME Group’s Fedwatch tool.\n“Valuations are getting to the point where even good news on the economy might pose some additional risks to the market. There’s the risk that good news for the economy may be bad news for markets because the Fed is at the cusp of a level of tightening that could dampen growth,” said Mark Heppenstall, CIO at Penn Mutual Asset Management in Horsham, Pennsylvania.\nThe Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 56.87 points, or 0.23 percent, to 24,386.03, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 8.49 points, or 0.32 percent, to 2,659.99 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 35.00 points, or 0.51 percent, to 6,875.08.\nMost of the 11 major S&P sectors ended higher, with the biggest boost from a 0.8 percent gain in information technology stocks .SPLRCT. The S&P energy .SPNY index rose 0.71 percent as oil prices rose after a North Sea pipeline shut for repairs. [O/R]\nThe S&P’s financial .SPSY and industrial .SPLRCI sectors were the benchmark’s only decliners for the day with losses of around 0.2 percent.\nHealthcare investors focused on makers of drugs for blood disorders after clinical data presentations at the annual American Society of Hematology four-day meeting in Atlanta.\nShares of Bluebird Bio (BLUE.O) closed up 17.9 percent at $201.8, after hitting a record high of $222.03, following news of positive responses in an early stage myeloma study of its experimental gene-modifying immunotherapy drug co-developed with Celgene (CELG.O). Celgene’s shares rose 1.8 percent.\nInterest in the surge in digital currency bitcoin and the Sunday debut of futures trading in the cryptocurrency continued to fuel bets on related stocks. Shares of Marathon Patent (MARA.O) rose 42.9 percent while Xunlei (XNET.O) climbed 29.4 percent. Riot Blockchain (RIOT.O) rose about 45.5 percent. The equity market appeared to shrug off an early morning explosion that officials called an attempted terrorist attack at one of New York’s busiest commuter hubs. The suspect wounded himself and three others.\nAdvancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.18-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.14-to-1 ratio favored decliners.\nThe S&P 500 posted 31 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 84 new highs and 55 new lows.\nMore than 5.85 billion shares changed hands on U.S. stock exchanges compared with the 6.5 billion average for the last 20 sessions.", "Global equities continued to rebound from their late-week slide Tuesday as the temperature cooled between the U.S. and North Korea.\nContinue Reading Below\nFollowing days of escalating diplomatic rhetoric between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, state television reported the North Korean leader had opted not to use aggression against the U.S. territory of Guam.\n\"Investors have once again stepped in, in search of returns, as the tensions surrounding North Korea seemingly dissipated,\" said Jingyi Pan, a market strategist at IG. \"Asian markets are expected to find sustained confidence in buying the dip today.\"\nThe rebound started Monday in Asia before carrying through to Europe and the Americas. That included the S&P 500 logging its best one-day gain since April at 1%. The gain is poised to extend in the U.S. as well Tuesday with S&P futures up 0.3%.\nWith South Korean markets closed for Independence Day, Japan led the way higher in Asia on Tuesday. The Nikkei was up 1.2% in afternoon trading, following a holiday-delayed 1% drop Monday and amid a continued pullback in the yen after last week's jump. The dollar was recently 0.5% higher at Yen110.15, its best level in nearly a week.\nMonday's other regional laggard, Taiwan, was also outperforming on Tuesday. The Taiex followed a 1% decline with a 0.7% advance amid a rebound in big tech stocks. Benchmarks in Australia and New Zealand were also up about 0.7%, with the latter looking for its latest record closing high.\nContinue Reading Below ADVERTISEMENT\nImproved risk appetite also added to downward pressure on gold. The metal, considered a safe store of value in times of uncertainty, snapped a three-session winning streak on Monday and the London spot price was recently down 0.5%. Risk-on sentiment was also being reflected in longer-dated Japanese debt, yields of which rose modestly Tuesday.\nOne weak point in Asian equities was energy stocks following a 2.5% slide in oil futures overnight, the biggest drop in five weeks. Although crude prices were up slightly in Asian trade Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200's energy subindex slid 1.1% and China Petroleum & Chemical fell 1.9% in Hong Kong.\n\"It is becoming clear that markets remain unconvinced over [the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries'] ability to rebalance the saturated markets,\" said Lukman Otunuga, a research analyst at FXTM.\nWrite to Ese Erheriene at ese.erheriene@wsj.com\n(END) Dow Jones Newswires\nAugust 15, 2017 00:32 ET (04:32 GMT)", "The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 64.35 points, or 1.09 percent, to 5,826.4 by 0301 GMT.\nAustralian shares slipped to their lowest in three weeks on Tuesday after the long Easter weekend, as miners struggled on worries about a growing glut, while profit-taking in crude oil hurt energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 64.35 points, or 1.09 percent, to 5,826.4 by 0301 GMT.\nIron ore and steel prices in China, Australia’s major trading partner extended falls on Monday after data showed that Chinese mills churned out a record tonnage of steel in March, fuelling concerns about a growing glut. Worries about the glut offset robust China GDP data, which showed the world’s second-largest economy grew slightly faster than expectations in the first quarter.\nMeanwhile, Australian energy shares took a beating after crude prices slipped 1 percent on Monday, on news of rising U.S. shale production and profit-taking following three straight weeks of gains. “The market is responding to the speed and size of decline in iron ore prices which has unsettled investors and there’s also a bit of profit-taking in the energy sector,” said Ric Spooner, chief market strategist at CMC Markets. “I think the oil market is beginning to look a little nervous having peaked last week.”\nThe benchmark Australian metal index fell to a three-week low with large-cap iron ore miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto shedding more than 1 percent. Shares of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd hit its worst level in five months.\nGold stocks also traded in the red as prices of the yellow metal slipped, dragging the gold index more than three percent lower. Shares of Newcrest Mining Ltd hit a two-week low after the miner temporarily suspended its operations at its Cadia mine following a seismic event.\nOil majors lost heavily with shares of Woodside Petroleum Ltd dipping 0.8 percent, while peer Santos Ltd shed 3.4 percent. The benchmark energy index dropped nearly 2 percent.\nFinancials, the biggest index constituent was sold off with the ‘Big Four’ banks trading in the red. Westpac Banking Corp and National Australia Bank fell more than 1 percent.\n“The market is waking up to the fact that the recent optimism in financials was mainly due to the U.S. deregulation and the recovering U.S. economy. Neither of these factors are going to flow through to Australia. It is very clear that the local housing bubble will burst…the question is will it be fast or slow,” said Mathan Somasundaram, market portfolio strategist at Blue Ocean Equities.\nMinutes from the Australian central bank’s April meeting showed board members saw greater risks in the housing market as borrowing for investment fuelled breakneck price rises in Sydney and Melbourne. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s angst over housing has convinced financial markets there will be no more cuts in interest rates despite weakness in the labour market.\nNew Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was flat at 7,226.36 at 0308 GMT. Financials and health care stocks were among the top losers. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group lost 1.01 percent, while Ryman Healthcare Ltd shed 1.2 percent.\n(Reporting by Anusha Ravindranath in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Hanna Paul; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)", "Oil prices hit $75 per barrel briefly on Tuesday morning on the back of geopolitical tensions before falling back quickly as traders booked profits.\n(Click to enlarge)\n(Click to enlarge)\n(Click to enlarge)\n(Click to enlarge)\n- Natural gas production in Pennsylvania topped 15 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, a 3 percent increase from the year before.\n- The Marcellus and Utica shales are driving rapid growth, and the inauguration of new pipelines is allowing growth to continue to grow.\n- Two key pipelines – the Rover Pipeline (3.25 Bcf/d) and the NEXUS Gas Transmission Project (1.5 Bcf/d) – are expected to come online this year, adding more takeaway capacity, which will open up even more potential for upstream gas production.\nMarket Movers\n• Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) says it will launch a “flow” battery made of inexpensive, non-toxic materials next year. The flow batteries will last longer than lithium-ion batteries and allow utilities to use more renewable energy combined with energy storage.\n• BP (NYSE: BP) obtained approval to begin drilling off the coast of Nova Scotia for one deepwater well. The well will be BP’s first in Canada’s Scotian Basin Exploration Project.\n• ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and its joint venture partners agreed to begin front-end engineering and design phase for the Barossa project, a gas field that will extend the life of the Darwin LNG project in West Australia.\nTuesday April 24, 2018\nBrent prices hit $75 per barrel in early morning trading on Tuesday, the highest price in more than three years. While prices quickly fell back again, bullish sentiment remains strong. The reasons are familiar – geopolitical events are flaring up at a time when the oil market is tightening. The Trump administration is less than three weeks away from a key decision on whether or not to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. “Let’s assume he will withdraw from the deal on May 12, we don’t know how much volume will be lost, we might see the $80 level for Brent,” Giovanni Staunovo, a commodities analyst at UBS Wealth Management, told the WSJ.\nHalliburton revenue up as shale drilling increases. Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) reported a 34 percent increase in first quarter revenue largely due to higher drilling activity in North America. The oilfield services giant did take a revenue hit in the first quarter due to winter weather, but that was offset by the uptick in demand for its services from the shale industry. Halliburton’s CEO said that margins of 20 percent should return later this year as the fracking market tightens. “We believe the pressure pumping market is undersupplied and will remain tight,” CEO Jeff Miller said. Related: 19 Oil Tankers Held Hostage Off Yemeni Coast\nHalliburton writes off Venezuela assets. Halliburton (NYSE: Hal) took impairment charges on its entire operation in Venezuela, citing lack of reimbursement from PDVSA, currency turmoil, U.S. sanctions and political uncertainty. The oilfield services company said it would remain in the country for now despite the $312 million write-down. “This is one step further into the collapse of the Venezuelan oil industry,” Francisco Monaldi, energy expert at Rice University, told the NYT, “because it means oil serviced contractors, which are absolutely essential to operations, are slowly giving up on the country.” PDVSA only produces about half of Venezuela’s oil production on its own, and joint ventures with private companies represent the other half.\nAsian oil demand to hit record in April. Even as oil prices hit multi-year highs, demand in Asia is set to rise to a record high in April. That is helping drive oil prices higher. “Rising tensions in the Middle East have likely played a role in oil price strength, but we believe a tight physical market is the key driver,” investment bank Jefferies said in a note. Reuters estimates that China’s oil imports will hit 9 million barrels per day in April, a monthly record high. China’s overall oil demand is expected to jump some 370,000 bpd in 2018.\nOil majors to post largest profits in a decade, but investors wary. As Bloomberg notes, cash flow for the oil majors is set to be the highest in 12 years, yet they have fallen out of favor with investors. Fears of abundant supply in the next few years, combined with fears that demand will peak in the long run has pushed down the stock prices of the majors. “Earnings have started to come through but no one believes it’s sustainable,” Kevin Holt of Invesco Ltd. in Houston told Bloomberg. “That’s why the stocks haven’t worked even though the commodity has gone up. Everyone’s saying they don’t believe it.”\nEnbridge Line 3 expansion clears hurdle. Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) cleared a crucial hurdle on Monday when a Minnesota judge gave conditional approval for the company’s Line 3 replacement. The overhaul of the Line 3 pipeline, which runs from Alberta to refineries in the U.S. Midwest, will add 380,000 bpd of additional pipeline capacity when completed. The project is all the more important now that Kinder Morgan’s (NYSE: KMI) Trans Mountain Expansion is on its deathbed. Enbridge hopes to bring the replacement online by the end of 2019.\nCanadian oil producers turn to trucks to ship oil. The pipeline bottleneck in Canada has become such a problem that some producers are shipping oil by truck to the U.S., a mode of transit that is at least 10 times more expensive than pipeline.\nLibya outage after pipeline attack. An attack on a Libyan pipeline temporarily knocked 80,000 bpd of supply offline. The pipeline connects the Waha field to the Es Sider terminal, Libya’s largest oil export terminal. Libya’s National Oil Corp. said the pipeline would take a few days to repair.\nOPEC content with current production limits. OPEC/non-OPEC officials met in Saudi Arabia last week to analyze the progress of the production cuts, and despite the run up in prices, the group signaled that it would stick with the current limits for the remainder of the year.\nRelated: Three Takeaways From OPEC's Latest Report\nNew Jersey bans offshore drilling. The state of New Jersey just banned offshore oil and gas drilling, a move intended to signal opposition to the Trump administration’s proposal to open up the Atlantic Ocean for drilling. A state cannot block drilling in federal waters, but the law bars the state from approving any onshore infrastructure that would be necessary to stage drilling operations off the coast.\nHedge funds step up bullish bets. Already sitting at record highs, hedge funds and other money managers continue to scoop up bullish bets on oil futures while also squeezing out shorts. The positioning reflects an overwhelming belief that oil prices will continue to rise. As always, however, the disproportionate positioning on one side exposes the market to a downward correction if sentiment shifts.\nStronger dollar drags on oil and metals. Oil prices dipped in early trading on Monday on the strength of the greenback, with losses also likely attributed to some profit-taking from investors. “We are seeing some renewed dollar strength…which is really the main driver,” Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, told the Wall Street Journal. Geopolitical risk has mostly been priced into the oil market already, “allowing some profit-taking to occur,” Hansen added. Higher yields on U.S. Treasuries and expected rate hikes from the Fed are causing some concern. Still, the dollar strength story was buried after oil rebounded on Monday to move up to multi-year highs.\nBy Tom Kool for Oilprice.com\nMore Top Reads for Oilprice.com:", "U.S. equities continued their “Trump-flation” meltup on Monday, hitting new records as the S&P 500’s market cap passed $20 trillion. President Donald Trump’s promise of something “phenomenal” on tax reform last week and another 0.9% gain in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL ) — which has been melting up on surprisingly good iPhone 7 sales — to a new record bolstered sentiment.\nIn the end, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.5% and the Russell 2000 gained 0.3%. Treasury bonds were mostly weaker, the dollar outperformed, gold lost 0.8%, and crude oil fell 1.7% to boost the ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil (NYSEARCA: SCO ) — recommended to Edge subscribers — for a 3.3% gain.\nFinancial stocks led the way with a 1.1% gain, while telecoms were the laggards, down 1.3%. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ ) fell 0.9% after announcing it will start selling unlimited data plans again on Monday for the first time since 2011.\nPopeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc (NASDAQ: PLKI ) gained 7.2% after the fried chicken purveyor was reportedly approached by Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE: QSR ) — the company behind Burger King — about a possible acquisition.\nMacy’s Inc (NYSE: M ) gained 1.8% after positive coverage in Barron’s on a possible spinoff of the company’s real estate assets.\nYet despite the on-the-surface excitement, breadth was weak, volatility as represented by the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) moved higher, and crude oil rolled over after bonking on resistance from a sideways trading range going all the way back to May. In fact, the number of net advancing issues on the New York Stock Exchange declined 54% from Friday. And just two stocks — Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS ) and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT ) — accounted for a third of the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s gain.\nPerhaps some apprehension ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen Tuesday morning and new inflation and retail sales numbers on Wednesday. All of this could increase the odds of a March rate hike which, at this point, represents the single largest headwind for this increasingly complacent market.\nVolatility continues to collapse, with 90-day realized volatility in the S&P 500 falling to the lowest level in 10 years. The market has also gone 86 days in a row without a 1% drop, 45 days without a 1% close-to-close gain or loss, and 40 days without a 1% intraday swing.\nAccording to SentimenTrader, with all four major averages bagging new highs yet again, market history since 1980 shows that stocks tend to struggle in the months that follow. Large-caps post an average return of just 0.3% vs. a gain of 2.4% for any random three-month period.\nAnd finally, on a valuation, stocks are simply expensive: The S&P 500’s price-to-book ratio is now back above 3 — the highest since 2004.\nAnthony Mirhaydari is founder of the Edge and Edge Pro investment advisory newsletters. Free two- and four-week trial offers have been extended to InvestorPlace readers." ]

[ "Of 125 microorganisms that were able to use α-hydroxy acid amides as sole nitrogen source, Ochrobactrum anthropi NCIMB 40321 was selected for its ability to hydrolyse racemic amides l-selectively. The substrate specificity of whole O. anthropi cells is remarkably wide and ranges from α-H-α-amino-, α-alkyl-α-amino, N-hydroxy-α-amino acid amides to α-hydroxy-acid amides. After 50% conversion, both the l-acids formed and the remaining d-amides were present in >99% enantiomeric excess, and ammonia accumulated in stoichiometric amounts. Using mandelic acid amide as a model substrate, the hydrolysis was optimized. Optimal rates were observed at pH 8.5 at 50°C. At higher temperatures the initial rate was even higher; however, fairly rapid inactivation occurred." ]

[ "An L-aminopeptidase of Pseudomonas putida, used in an industrial process for the hydrolysis of D,L-amino acid amide racemates, was purified to homogeneity. The highly L-enantioselective enzyme resembled thiol reagent-sensitive alkaline serine proteinases and was strongly activated by divalent cations. It possessed a high substrate specificity for dipeptides and α-H amino acid amides, e.g., L-phenylglycine amide.", "Histidine-tagged recombinant benzaldehyde lyase (BAL, EC 4.1.2.38) was efficiently immobilized to surface-modified magnetic particles with affinity ligand binding. In addition to conventional benzoin condensation reactions, two important representative BAL-catalyzed carboligation reactions, were also performed with this magnetically responsive biocatalyst. The results obtained from the carboligation reactions that were performed with this simple and convenient heterogenous biocatalyst were comparable to that of free-enzyme-catalyzed reactions.", "On-line monitoring method of the denitrification process was developed by NADH fluorescence measurements using the facultative microorganism, Ochrobactrum anthropi SY509. The NADH fluorescence signals showed a rapid drop and a rise at the initiation and termination points of the denitrification, respectively. This NADH fluorescence method could be applied successfully to the monitoring of the denitrification process in sequential batch and continuous operations while these rapid changes of fluorescence were not observed in a batch operation due to accumulation of some metabolites secreted from the microorganism.", "Silver sulfadiazine is a new topical antimicrobial agent with a broad spectrum of activity against most bacterial (both gram-positive and gram-negative) and many fungal species. This broad spectrum of", "Efficient enzymatic resolution of (±)-cis-benzyl N-(1-hydroxyindan-2-yl)carbamate in [aliq][N(CN)2] by acylation using CALB as a biocatalyst was achieved, with the possibility of catalyst and medium reuse. The reaction proceeds to the formation of the corresponding acetate in moderate yield and high enantiomeric excess for the first and second cycles. Additionally, the biocatalyst can be recovered by filtration and reaction products can be easily removed from the ionic liquid by direct sublimation under high vacuum.", "Recent computational and bioinformatics advances have enabled the efficient creation of novel biocatalysts by reducing amino acid variability at hot spot regions. To further expand the utility of t...", "Abstract A continual spectrophotometric assay for urease is developed which depends upon the catalytic action of ammonia on a particular peroxidation reaction. In principle it appears applicable to other amidases.", "In this review the characteristics of the prosthetic group and the role of copper in amine oxidase purified from lentil seedlings are compared with the corresponding features of the amine oxidase isolated from bovine serum. Although both enzymes contain the same organic cofactor, the 6-hydroxydopa (2,4,5-trihydroxyphenethylamine) quinone, the catalytic cycle of lentil seedling amine oxidase operates through a Cu(I)-free-radical intermediate of the cofactor, whereas in bovine serum enzyme the radical form was not observed. The role of the metal in the catalytic mechanism of the two enzymes is also discussed. Moreover, the energetic domains and the effect of the temperature on activity, for both enzymes, are examined using differential scanning calorimetry.", "A new antibiotic, designated X-5108, produced by a new species of microorganism named Streptomyces goldiniensis var. goldiniensis, has been isolated in essentially pure but amorphous form. Assay methods, and cultivation and isolation procedures for the antibiotic are described. The antibiotic is active in vitro primarily against a number of gram-positive bacteria, whereas in vivo it is especially active against Streptococcus pyogenes infections of mice and as a poultry growth promotant. It shows a very low toxicity in mice with an LD50 of >lg/kg sbc, and >4 g/kg p.o. Its empirical formula is C44H62N2O12. Structural studies reveal one methoxyl, one N-methyl and six C-methyl groups. UV, IR and NMR spectra and optical rotation of the pure antibiotic are given. The antibiotic appears to belong to a new chemical class.", "Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases are useful biocatalysts for C–H activation, and there is a need to expand the range of these enzymes beyond what is naturally available. A panel of 93 variants of active self-sufficient P450cam[Tyr96Phe]-RhFRed fusion enzymes with a broad diversity in active site amino acids was developed by screening a large mutant library of 16,500 clones using a simple, highly sensitive colony-based colorimetric screen against indole. These mutants showed distinct fingerprints of activity not only when screened in oxidations of substituted indoles but also for unrelated oxidations such as benzylic hydroxylations.", "24 extracts were obtained by extracting the stems and leaves of Perilla frutescens(L.) Britt.and Commelina communis L by organic solvents.The antibacterial activities of those extracts were tested against 8 bacterial strains by paper disco diffusion method.It was found that the antibacterial activities of P.frutescens(L.) Britt.were stronger than those of C.communis L.The EtOAc and P.E.of extract of stem of P.frutescens(L.) Britt.showed good activities against the tested bacterial strains.The diameter of inhibition one of the former extracts was among 7.0～11.0mm and that of the latter extracts was among 8.3～14.3mm.Those two extracts were major antibacterial acticitive parts of P.frutescens(L.) Britt.They exhibit broad spectrum on bacteria.", "The two pneumococcal autolytic enzymes (an N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase and an endo-β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase) are directly involved in the penicillin-induced killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The activity of these lytic enzymes was efficiently controlled in tolerant mutants under physiological conditions.", "Plant pathogenic organisms are known to infect host cell using various range of secretory proteins. Amongst all other secretion systems, type III secretion system (T3SS) is a key mechanism for bacterial pathogenesis for establishing and maintaining infection into the host. Expression levels of seven genes viz. avrXacE1, avrXacE2, hpaA and hrpG along with bacterial endogenous control lrp (leucine-responsive protein) were studied. The pathogenic organisms selected for the present study includes Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter spp., Pantoea ananatis, Xanthomonas campestris pv. Citri, Pantoea agglomerans, Ochrobactrum anthropi and Erwinia chrysanthemi. P. agglomerans and Enterobacter spp. gave high expression of above-mentioned virulence genes compared to Xanthomonas, while E. cloacae and P. ananatis showed similar expression with that of Xanthomonas. The detailed relationship of the expression profiles with respect to the selected organisms is discussed.", "Pichia stipitis NRRL Y-7124 yeast cells were for the first time immobilized both in agar gel beads and on fine nylon net for ethanol fermentation on D-xylose, in order to investigate the possibility of using the biocatalyst for improved utilization of the biomass pentose fraction. With free cells the initial xylose level affected little ethanol production, with a maximum of 22 g/l ethanol obtained in 5 days on 5% and of 40 g/l in 8 days on 10% xylose, and an average volumetric productivity of about 0.22 g/lh. The maximum ethanol concentration of 19.5% on 5% xylose with the nylon net attached cells in a continuous packed-bed column reactor was obtained with 35 h residence time. The volumetric productivities of 0.56 g/lh at 19.5 g/l ethanol and 1.0 g/lh at 15.0 g/l ethanol were markedly higher than those obtained with free cells. The stability of the immobilized biocatalyst was excellent. The same reactor could be used for at least 80 days without significant activity loss.", "AbstractThe aim of this work is to propose and evaluate a catalytic profile of biocatalysts with lipase activity based on four characteristic reactions of lipases. For that, the catalytic profiles of three lipolytic biocatalysts from strains of the genus Rhizopus produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF) were determined based on acyl-, regio-, enantio- and chemoselectivity. Four commercial lipases were also evaluated according to their catalytic selectivity. p-nitrophenol esters from C-4 to C-16 were used to evaluate the acyl selectivities of the biocatalysts. The three biocatalysts produced by SSF presented the highest hydrolytic activity on triglycerides of medium chain length (C-8). The use of high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) allowed us to demonstrate the biocatalysts produced by SSF presented sn-1,3-regioselectivity. Based on the Quick E method, the biocatalysts preferentially acted on the S-enantioisomer of glycidyl butyrate esters. Although their E values were insufficiently high ...", "The procedure described PREPARE A COMPLEX OF ANTIBIOTIC AAD-609 HAVING GLUCOSAMINA IN THE RADICAL glycolipid, for which CULTIVA Kibdelosporangium aridum subsp LARGUM (ATCC 39922) or a mutant or derivative assets in a nutrient aqueous medium containing a source assimilable carbon and nitrogen under conditions AEROBIC SUBMERSED, after which insulates the AAD-609 COMPLEX. THE COMPLEX HAS ACHIEVED antibacterial activity and ameliorating THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USE OF FEED.", "The nitrile hydratase activity of Nocardia corallina B-276 is described, and the only detected product during the biocatalyzed hydrolysis of selected nitriles was the corresponding amide. The best results were obtained using a suspension of cells in a phosphate buffer (pH= 7.0), with conversion percentages ranging from 31% to > 99%.", "Abstract Bicyclic pyrazolidinones were synthesized as γ-lactam analogs of the β-lactam antibiotics. Several of these compounds exhibited broad spectrum in vitro antibacterial activity.", "New polymeric hydrogels with molecular imprinting properties were prepared from enzymically generated sugar acrylates. These so called MIPs (molecularly imprinted polymers) were used as chiral stationary phases for the resolution of the D-and L-isomers of CBz-Asp in polar organic eluants. In the presence of 25% (mol/mol) methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside-6-acrylate [the balance consisting of N,N' -methylenebisacrylamide (BIS)], a separation factor of nearly 2.5 is achieved. The effectiveness of separation was dependent on the nature of the solvent used as eluant and the sugar incorporated into the MIP. Molecular modeling revealed that hydrogen bonding between the sugar and CBz-Asp strongly influences chiral resolution. The broad array of sugars available and their ability to be modified selectively with the use of biocatalysts in both aqueous and organic media may provide a wide range of new imprinted materials for use in separations, sensing, and catalysis.", "The broad inhibitory spectrum of aldehydes and the possibility that amino acid residues modulate their specificity point to the potential of using peptidyl aldehydes as activity-based probes. Here, we establish the potential of peptidyl aldehydes in activity-based proteomics by synthesizing different probes and using them to specifically label a well-known serine protease in an activity-dependent manner. From our results, peptidyl aldehydes emerge as promising activity-based probes that enable multiple enzymatic-class detection by substrate recognition and can be used in diverse activity-based proteomics applications like protein identification and activity profiling.", "A new biochemical method for more efficient production of N α -benzyloxycarbonyl- L -aminoadipate δ-semialdehyde ( N α -Z- L -AASA) and N α -Z- D -AASA was developed with cells of Rhodococcus sp. AIU Z-35-1. Using the cells harvested after 1 d of cultivation, more than 95 mM N α -Z- L -AASA was produced from 100 mM N α -Z- L -lysine by incubating at pH 5.0 for 1 d at 30°C or by incubating at pH 7.0 for 2 d at 10°C. A similar conversion yield of N α -Z- D -AASA was also obtained under the same conditions. These reaction times required were 1/4 and 1/2 of the respective ones by the method with amine oxidase, and the yields of N α -Z- L -AASA and N α -Z- D -AASA were 2 times higher than the respective ones by the method with amine oxidase. In addition, this method had the advantages of not requiring purification of enzyme and addition of catalase. Thus, the microbial method proposed here was superior to the chemical and other biochemical methods in simplicity, reaction rate, and yield.", "Tigecycline is a glycylcycline antibiotic with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity that includes many multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, in", "AbstractBackground: Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant primary tumor. Baicalein has broad-spectrum anti-tumor effects. This study aimed to study the specific molecular regulatory mechanism of baica...", "To facilitate the easier production of d-amino acids using N-carbamyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase (DCase) in an immobilized form, we improved the enzymatic thermostability of highly soluble DCase-M3 of Ralstonia pickettii using directed mutagenesis. Six novel mutation sites were identified in this study, apart from several thermostability-related amino acid sites reported previously. The most thermostable mutant, in which the 12th amino acid had been changed from glutamine to leucine, showed a 7 °C increase in thermostability. Comparative characterization of the parental and mutant DCases showed that although there was a slight reduction in the oxidative stability of the mutants, their kinetic properties and high solubility were not affected. The mutated enzymes are expected to be applied to the development of a fully enzymatic process for the industrial production of d-amino acids.", "Whole cells of the bacterium Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21, which had been grown on benzonitrile to induce the nitrilase enzyme, converted benzonitrile to benzohydroxamic acid in the presence of hydroxylamine.", "The elicitation, analysis, and specification of quality requirements involve careful balancing of a broad spectrum of competing priorities. Developers must therefore focus on identifying qualities and designing solutions that optimize the product's value to its stakeholders.", "The emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens is becoming increasingly serious due to overuse of antifungals. Antimicrobial peptides have potent activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including fungi, and are considered a potential new class of antifungals. In this study, we examined the activities of the newly designed peptides P-113Du and P-113Tri, together with their parental peptide P-113, against the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The results showed that these peptides inhibit mitochondrial complex I, specifically NADH dehydrogenase, of the electron transport chain. Moreover, P-113Du and P-113Tri also block alternative NADH dehydrogenases. Currently, most inhibitors of the mitochondrial complex I are small molecules or artificially-designed antibodies. Here, we demonstrated novel functions of antimicrobial peptides in inhibiting the mitochondrial complex I of C. albicans, providing insight in the development of new antifungal agents.", "Summary 5-Oxoprolinase, one of the enzymes of the γ -glutamyl cycle, catalyzes the ATP-dependent decyclization of 5-oxo-L-proline (L-pyroglutamate, L-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate) to glutamate. The enzyme, which has been found previously in mammalian tissues, was purified about 26-fold in high yield from a pseudomonad isolated from soil by enrichment culture. The purified bacterial enzyme exhibits properties that are similar though not identical to those of rat kidney 5-oxoprolinase. In contrast to the kidney enzyme, 5-oxoprolinase from pseudomonas is only slightly inhibited by L-2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylate.", "A novel class of potent aminopeptidase N inhibitors with 3-amino-cyclic-imide scaffold is described. The preliminary biological test revealed that all the compounds displayed high specific inhibitory activity against aminopeptidase N compared with previous work because of the existence of free amino group. Compounds containing hydroxamate group are more potent than carboxyl and ester derivatives. Compound 13f potentially inhibited APN activity with IC(50) value of 1.8 microM and displayed specific activity profiles in cells assay and in vivo anti-metastasis assay.", "Abstract Escherichia coli crude laccase was used to develop an immobilized biocatalyst with improved stability. Chelating and entrapment immobilization techniques were studied, and laccase encapsulation in Cu-alginate gels showed the best results. This biocatalyst was active at different conditions of pH, temperature and ionic strength, and was able to decolorize the carcinogenic dyes Trypan Blue, Bromothymol Blue and Coomassie Brilliant blue R with yields close to 90% without mediator addition. The Cu-alginate derivatives retained more than 70% of catalytic activity for at least 430 h of continuous use. The results demonstrated that immobilized laccase has potential applications in dyestuff treatment.", "Nitric oxide (NO) is an intra- and intercellular messenger with a broad spectrum of activities in the central nervous system, cardiovascular and immune systems. Mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase(mtNOS), which might be a new form of NOS in mitochondria, has been discovered to be active in the regulation of mitochondrial respiration, energy metabolism and many pathophysiological processes. In this review, the location, properties, physiological and pathophysiological significance of mtNOS were summarized.", "Fosfomycin is a new bactericidal broad-spectrum antibiotic. In this study the minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) was determined for 745 recent clinical isolates. Staphylococcus aureus and epidermidis, group A and B streptococci Streptococcus faecalis and pneumoniae as well as Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens and Haemophilus influenzae were very sensitive to the new drug with essentially all strains inhibited at 64 mg/l or less. Klebsiella, Enterobacter, indole-positive proteus and Pseudomonas-aeruginosa were less sensitive with 96, 42, 66 and 58% inhibited at 64 mg/l of fosfomycin. Bacteroides fragilis was resistant." ]

[ "Mary Kaya, 57, from Batley, West Yorkshire, had denied posting a link to an audio clip by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.\nShe was found guilty after a week-long trial at Leeds Crown Court of dissemination of a terrorist publication likely to encourage people to participate in terrorism.\nKaya will be sentenced on 27 March.\nRead more about this and other stories from West Yorkshire\nThe court had heard the Twitter account had been monitored after Kaya's previous address in Dewsbury was searched by counter terrorism police, who arrested her husband in May 2014.\nThe Twitter account, \"Justice\", @GardenofGold, retweeted the link to al-Baghdadi's speech, Even If The Disbelievers Despise Such, in November 2014.\nProsecutor Simon Davis told the jury: \"The message was aimed at encouraging anyone who listened to or read it to participate in terrorist activity.\"\nKaya, who was arrested in October 2015, told police she used the account \"to see what was going on in the world\" and said no-one had access to the account but her.\nShe would later insist the account must have been hacked and she had not posted anything." ]

[ "Atzaz Khan, 40, pleaded guilty to six counts of disseminating terrorist publications under the Terrorism Act at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.\nKhan, of Otley Road, Bradford, used several accounts to post terrorism material online, police said.\nWhen they were shut down, he activated others and posted links to publications praising the Paris terrorist attacks.\nMore stories from Leeds and West Yorkshire\nOfficers said Khan was arrested in March 2016 after making posts on social media in support of the so-called Islamic State group.\nDet Ch Supt Clive Wain, from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, said: \"Due to the vast reach and influence of social media, the implications of posting such material should not be underestimated.\n\"Tackling extremist material is an essential part of protecting the public and preventing offences that incite or encourage acts of terrorism.\"", "Zafreen Khadam, 32, was found guilty of 10 counts of disseminating terrorist publications after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.\nShe shared links to execution videos and terrorist magazines online under usernames such as PrincessKuffar.\nProsecutors said Khadam, of Vincent Road, Sheffield, had \"glorified\" IS.\nBarrister Simon Davis told jurors Khadam at one stage described Kuwaiti-born Mohammed Emwazi - nicknamed Jihadi John - as \"kind of scary\" but said she \"would marry him\".\nHe told the court she set up 14 Twitter accounts and used Whatsapp to share videos, including one showing the beheading of Kurdish fighters and another of a Jordanian pilot being burned alive.\nShe also shared links to seven issues of \"terrorist publication\" Dabiq and a speech entitled What is Terrorism?\nMr Davis said: \"The prosecution case is that this defendant was disseminating terrorist information or propaganda, or spreading the word.\n\"Our case is that her intention was to encourage people to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terror.\"\nKahdam, who worked as a make-up artist, told the court she had become interested in IS after reading an article about a footballer who had gone to join the group.\nShe told the court: \"It was always about understanding them. I never supported them in my heart. It was an act.\"\nDet Ch Supt Clive Wain, head of the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, said it was clear Khadam \"openly demonstrated support for Daesh and their ideology\".\nHe said that during the investigation police reviewed hundreds of hours of videos and about 20,000 social media postings.\nHe said that officers were concerned that had she not been arrested, she may have attempted to travel to Syria.\nHe said: \"Khadam has not disputed posting the information, claiming she did so out of curiosity and the belief that she did not consider it to be terrorist material.\n\"Yet this material glorified terrorism and delivered powerful messages, encouraging terrorist acts and calling upon others to kill.\"", "The judge in the south-eastern town of Diyarbakir found Leyla Zana guilty of violating Turkey's anti-terror law.\nAs an MP she has immunity from prosecution. The sentence will not take effect until she leaves parliament.\nThe charges relate to nine speeches she gave between 2007 and 2008.\nMrs Zana is seen as a hero by many Kurds for her criticisms of Turkey's treatment of their community.\nA previous conviction on the same charges in 2008 was overturned on appeal. Thursday's sentence is the result of a fresh trial for the same charges.\nMrs Zana is also accused of praising Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK leader who has been held in solitary confinement since his capture in 1999.\nThe PKK has been fighting the Turkish state for nearly 30 years and is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.\nMrs Zana, 51, became a leading campaigner for Kurdish prisoners in the 1990s. She was first elected to parliament in 1991, becoming Turkey's first woman Kurdish MP.\nBack then, she caused an outcry in Turkey's parliament when she spoke Kurdish while taking the parliamentary oath.\nShe has already spent a decade in jail, between 1994 and 2004, for alleged links to the PKK.\nMrs Zana was elected again in June 2011, along with 35 other Kurdish-backed candidates.\nMany Kurdish politicians, including Mrs Zana, have campaigned for political autonomy for Kurds in south-east Turkey.\nAbout 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict between the Turkish state and PKK guerrillas, but in recent years the government has introduced some reforms to improve the rights of Kurds.\nMrs Zana has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded the Andrei Sakharov prize for human rights in 1995.", "At a heavily guarded courtroom in Amsterdam, the eight men and a woman were sentenced to up to six years.\nSix men were convicted as members of a network aiming to recruit young people to fight with Islamic State (IS) and other jihadi groups in Syria.\nTwo of those are believed to be in Syria and were tried in absentia.\nThree were described as followers, including the woman, who was jailed for seven days for a retweet which constituted incitement.\nThe nine were arrested last year in a large police investigation into jihadist activities in the Schilderswijk suburb of The Hague.\n\"The criminal organisation aimed to incite and recruit 'brothers' to travel to fight in Syria and financed them to that end,\" presiding Judge Rene Elkerbout said.\nProsecutors said the group had formed \"a criminal and terror organisation\".\nThe nine had all denied any wrongdoing, saying that religious freedom and freedom of speech had allowed them to proclaim a pro-jihadist message.\nThe BBC's Anna Holligan, who was in court, says the trial has raised fundamental questions in the Netherlands about the limits of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and activism.\nThe defendants' full names were not given in court. Azzedine C, 33, was sentenced to six years in jail, as were two men tried in absentia - Hatim R, 26, and Anis Z, 24, who are believed to be fighting in Syria.\nHicham El O, 30, who was described as a returned fighter from Syria and active in the group, was sentenced to five years in prison.\nRudolph H, 25, and Oussama C, 19, were both jailed for three years.\nJordi J, 22, was sentenced to 155 days and Moussa L, 41, was jailed for 43 days. Imane B, 26 - the only woman in the group was given seven days in jail for sending an inciting message.", "The 16-year-old, from Manchester, had previously admitted two terror offences including possessing \"recipes for explosives\" and a bomb-making guide.\nShe was first detained by anti-terror police in April.\nAt Manchester Youth Court she was given a 12-month referral order with youth offending teams to address her radicalisation.\nThe court heard she had intended to hack into the White House and became obsessed with suicide bombings after becoming radicalised online.\nSitting in court, flanked by her mother and an aunt, she told the judge: \"I deeply regret what I have done. I wish to make changes if I get the chance to prove I am not a terrorist.\"\nPassing sentence, District Judge Khalid Qureshi said: \"It must be every parent's worst nightmare to discover their child has been accessing material they should not, of whatever type.\"\nThe girl had used her school's IT system to search for information on the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, the IS militant known as \"Jihadi John\", and images of Michael Adebolajo, who killed Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013.\nAnalysis of her mobile phone found instructions for producing a timed circuit, a document about bomb-making and the Anarchist Cookbook 2000.\nShe was detained by anti-terror police in April along with a 14-year-old boy, who admitted involvement in a plot to attack police in Australia.\nThe boy, now 15, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to inciting terrorism abroad.\nPhone data retrieved by police showed the pair exchanged more than 2,000 WhatsApp messages a day before they were arrested.\nThe girl, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two offences under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, of possessing documents likely to be of use to anyone preparing or committing an act of terrorism.\nNo evidence was found that she was aware of the Anzac Day plot or any plan to harm others or incite terrorism in the UK or elsewhere, the court heard.", "Alaa Esayed, 22, an Iraqi national from Kennington, south London, admitted encouraging terrorism and dissemination of a terrorist publication.\nShe posted more than 45,000 tweets in Arabic to her 8,240 followers, with many encouraging violent jihad.\nPosts were published on Twitter and Instagram between 1 June 2013 and 14 May 2014, the Old Bailey was told.\nHer Twitter account, which bore an image of a woman in a burka with one finger raised and holding a Kalashnikov gun, even came to the attention of al Qaida, which listed it as among the 66 most important jihadist accounts.\nAfter she was arrested, Esayed claimed to police she was merely interested in learning about Muslim struggles in Iraq, Syria and Palestine.\nBut in April, she pleaded guilty to charges of encouraging terrorism and disseminating a terrorist publication.\nIn mitigation, her lawyer Tanvir Qureshi said: \"Yes, she is a Twitter terrorist but she is a Twitter terrorist who lacked creativity.\n\"She did not have a blog. She was blindly cutting and pasting.\"\nJailing her, Judge Charles Wide said: \"This material and its dissemination is an important factor in the encouragement of young men and women to travel abroad and engage in acts of terrorism.\n\"It is a matter of great and justified public concern,\" he added. \"You were disseminating such material on a massive scale over a period of just short of a year.\"\nJudge Wide said it was a feature of the case that Esayed continually changed her story after she was arrested and even up until the time she pleaded guilty.\nHe told her she knew \"perfectly well\" all along what she had been doing.\nBecause of her \"blatant untruthfulness\", the judge said he had difficulty in accepting anything she said through her lawyer.\nFollowing sentencing, Metropolitan Police Cdr Richard Walton, who leads the force's counter-terrorism command, said: \"We will prosecute anyone using the internet and social media in this way.\"", "She is accused of communicating with a person in so-called Islamic State, possessing a flight booking to Istanbul with the intention to travel to Syria, and self-radicalising.\nThe offences allegedly occurred between 1 January 2016 and 31 March 2017.\nShe was arrested in central London and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, police said.\nThe girl was remanded in custody until Friday 28 April when she will appear at the Old Bailey.\nIt follows an investigation by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.\nA 20-year-old woman was also arrested as part of the investigation and but was later released with no further action.\nBoth were arrested at the same address on 21 August 2016.", "Aabid Ali - known as Darren Glennon before he converted to Islam - was found in possession of two terror manuals.\nMarried Ali, 49, from Yale Park, Wrexham, also published a statement on YouTube encouraging others to take up jihad and terrorism.\nHe pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to three offences under anti-terror legislation on Friday.\nHe worked as a council refuse collector before his home was raided by counter-terror police last autumn, after he became radicalised.\nAli, who had a shaved head, ginger beard and who wore a grey sweatshirt, appeared in court via a video link from HMP Chelmsford.\nHe will be sentenced on 24 April by the Judge David Stockdale.\nThe defendant spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty pleas.\nHe admitted on 25 October last year he had an electronic document, Inspire 13 - believed to be an online publication by Osama bin Laden's terror group al Qaeda - which included instructions on how to make explosives.\nAli was also found to have a copy of another document, which again showed how to make bombs.\nCounter-terror police also found he had posted a comment on YouTube, on or before 10 November last year, intended to directly encourage others to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism.", "Tareena Shakil, from Birmingham, told friends she was going on holiday to Turkey in October 2014 before she entered territory held by the group.\nShe told Birmingham Crown Court she came back early last year \"of my own free will\".\nThe 26-year-old denies joining IS or encouraging acts of terror on Twitter.\nMs Shakil handed herself in to the Turkish border patrols after fleeing Syria and was later arrested when she landed at Heathrow Airport.\nThe former health worker, who previously told the court she travelled to Syria to live under Sharia law, said she returned after realising how extreme the regime was.\n\"I was interested in Islamic State as a place, never in jihad or anything like that,\" she said.\nMs Shakil said she feared telling her family about life in Syria because IS fighters could murder her.\n\"I was one woman alone in the most dangerous place in the world - 4,000 miles from home - around some of the most dangerous people in the world,\" she said.\nUnder cross-examination, Ms Shakil was questioned about accounts she followed through social media site Twitter, which included a jihadi fighter who advocated being \"harsh towards the kuffar [non-believer]\".\nShe said she only retweeted images and passages from the Koran she agreed with, and did not endorse jihad against non-Muslims or extremist behaviour.\n\"If he says he's harsh towards the kuffar, that's a matter for him,\" she said.\n\"I have not been - half my family are non-believers.\"\nThe trial continues.", "Ibrahim Hassan, 28, also known as Abu Nusaybah, was arrested after speaking to the BBC's Newsnight in May 2013.\nHassan was charged along with Shah Hussain, 31.\nAfter pleading guilty in a hearing at the Old Bailey, the pair will be sentenced on 2 May.\nHassan, of Carr Road, Walthamstow, and Hussain, of Cannon Street Road, Whitechapel, were remanded in custody.\nWhile appearing on Newsnight, Hassan claimed one of Fusilier Rigby's killers, Michael Adebolajo, had been offered a job by MI5.\nThe judge Nicholas Hilliard QC ordered reports be prepared on both defendants to assess their attitude to the offences and their risk of reoffending.\nHe warned them they faced jail for the offence of encouraging terrorism on or before 24 May last year - two days after the soldier was murdered.\nThe charge of disseminating a terrorist publication, which both admitted, related to an audio file of a speech called The Dust Will Never Settle by the deceased radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.\nHassan had previously admitted encouraging terrorism related to five video lectures entitled In Pursuit of Allah's Governance on the Earth and Hussain had pleaded guilty to promoting to a video lecture entitled Signs of a Good Death in Islam.\nHassan's lawyer Mozammel Hossain told the court his client had already been in custody for eight months and it had been \"a time of reflection\".\nBut prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told the court that a previous conviction was an aggravating factor in the case.\nHe said the pair made speeches at a mosque in Regent's Park in 2004, leading to Hassan being convicted of inciting terrorism and Hussain of fund-raising for terrorism abroad.\nThe prosecution agreed to allow remaining counts to lie on file.\nLast month Michael Adebolajo, 29, was found guilty of murdering Fusilier Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks last May and is currently serving a whole-life sentence.\nMichael Adebowale, 22, is serving a life sentence for the murder, with a minimum term of 45 years.", "In a speech in Ohio, the candidate outlined his plans to combat Islamic extremism, including a new screening test for arrivals to the US.\nApplicants will be tested to determine if they share Western liberal values like LGBT and religious tolerance.\nDemocratic rival Hillary Clinton poured scorn on his plan, labelling it a \"cynical ploy\".\n\"This so-called 'policy' cannot be taken seriously,\" said her spokesman.\n\"How can Trump put this forward with a straight face when he opposes marriage equality and selected as his running mate the man [Mike Pence] who signed an anti-LGBT law in Indiana?\"\nTrump's screening plan: How will it work?\nWhy is Trump questioning Clinton's health?\nTrump aide denies Ukraine 'payments'\nTrump v Clinton on foreign policy\nUnder Mr Trump's plan, citizens from countries with a history of terror will be banned but it is not clear which nations.\nIn the speech, he did not lay out his own military strategy for defeating the so-called Islamic State.\nBut he did repeat his claim he was opposed to the Iraq War before it began, which fact-checkers say is untrue.\nAnd he said that the oil in Iraq should have been seized by the US government to prevent it from becoming the property of IS.\nIn his speech, Mr Trump promised to:\nThe billionaire initially proposed a blanket ban on all Muslims but has changed it to one that is based on an unspecified list of countries that export terror.\nThe latest proposal includes creating an ideological test for immigrants entering the country, with questions addressing how each applicant views American values such as religious freedom, gender equality and gay rights.\n\"Those who do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred, will not be admitted for immigration into the country,\" he said.\nIt was a speech organised largely around one theme - the threat from radical Islam. So paradoxically, it was in this sense firmly within the existing US foreign policy mainstream.\nThis mainstream has elevated the threat from groups like so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda into a phenomenon that requires nothing short of a \"war against terror\" in response.\nThe title of Mr Trump's speech referred to \"the Age of Terror\" no less.\nAs for other major \"threats\" to America's position in the world - a rising China, a more belligerent Russia, America's own failing economic competitiveness, or the cohesion of its own society - there was no mention.\nMr Trump was clear. His America would defeat \"radical Islamic terrorism\". And he repeated his assertion that the rise of self-styled Islamic State (Isis as he called it) was a direct result of the policy decisions made by President Barack Obama and his one-time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.\nRead more: Trump blames Obama camp for 'Age of Terror'\nMr Trump said that the test will not only expose terrorist sympathisers, but also will \"screen out any who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles\".\nHe heavily criticised his rival Hillary Clinton, saying that she lacks the \"mental and physical stamina\" to defeat IS.\nAnd he attacked her plan to increase the rate of Syrian refugees arrivals, which he claimed would cost $400bn (£315bn).\nMr Trump is still facing a backlash for repeatedly describing Mr Obama and his Democratic rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton, as \"founders\" of Islamic State.\nVice President Joe Biden speaking at a campaign event with Hillary Clinton said that Mr Trump's claim that Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton had \"founded\" IS proved his views to be \"dangerous\" and \"un-American\", and that it had made US soldiers in Iraq less safe already.\nRecent polls show him significantly trailing Hillary Clinton in key battleground states.", "The group was travelling between Beziers and Perpignan in the southern Pyrenees region when they commandeered the train's intercom system.\nThey then played a Muslim call to prayer and told passengers to hand over their phones or face an attack.\nThey were found guilty of extortion and sentenced to up to 30 months in prison.\nOne of their lawyers said it was \"a joke in very bad taste by foolish youths\".\nNone of those sentenced, aged between 19 and 23 and from Beziers, was named by the court in Perpignan.\n\"It wasn't serious,\" the main defendant told the court. \"We were just joking around. I have always condemned Islamic State and everything that happened in Paris.\"\nOne of the men, who is 21 years old and had converted to Islam, was also found guilty of supporting terrorism after police found pictures of him posing with an assault rifle and a jihadist banner on his phone.", "Tareena Shakil, 26, is the first British woman to return from the self-declared caliphate to be convicted of the offence.\nShakil, of Birmingham, has also been found guilty of encouraging acts of terrorism through messages posted on Twitter. She denied the charges.\nShe had admitted travelling to Syria.\nBut following a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, the jury rejected her claim that she had only wished to live under Sharia law.\nThe jury was shown her tweets, messages and photographs, including images of the black flag of IS and passages calling on people to \"take up arms\".\nShe had also stated her wish to become a \"martyr\".\nShakil, of Beechfield Road in Birmingham but formerly of Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, posed with her son for pictures wearing an IS-branded balaclava after secretly running away to Syria in October 2014.\nShe told the court it was because he \"loved hats\".\nHer defence team maintained she went to Syria with the toddler to escape an \"unhappy family life\".\nAnalysis by Dominic Casciani, Home Affairs correspondent\nTareena Shakil was charged with \"membership\" of the self-styled Islamic State organisation - but she never had a membership card. She says she deeply regrets going to Syria and, in a courtroom twist, told the jury she'd even been debriefed by MI5 on her return.\nSo why did she face this very serious charge?\nTerrorism legislation basically says that membership of a banned group means to \"belong\".\nSome organisations, such as Irish paramilitaries, had formal procedures for membership. With IS, men swear an oath, but the situation with women is less clear.\nThe jury was told to not think about membership in terms of belonging to a library or a gym. Instead, they had to decide whether Tareena Shakil voluntarily went to be with IS in Syria, knowing its aims, how it would achieve them and, crucially, seeking to associate with like-minded individuals.\nAn NSPCC spokesman said: \"It is inconceivable that a mother would be willing to put her child in such a dangerous situation, potentially exposing him to harm and even death.\"\nShakil left IS territory in January 2015.\nHer defence said she was unhappy in Syria and she told the court: \"I came back of my own free will. I came back because I realised I had made a mistake.\"\nShakil said she caught a bus to escape the terror group's clutches, bribing a taxi driver to take her part of the way before dashing across the Turkish border under the noses of an IS patrol.\nShe is due to be sentenced on Monday.", "Alaa Esayed, 22, an Iraqi national from Kennington, south London, admitted encouraging terrorism and dissemination of a terrorist publication.\nThe posts were published on Twitter and Instagram between 1 June 2013 and 14 May 2014, the Old Bailey was told.\nThe number of posts she made was not disclosed but they contained links to terrorist propaganda.\nEsayed is due to be sentenced on 18 May, pending medical reports. She was released on bail.", "Yousif Badri, 29, is accused of being involved in conduct \"with the intention of committing acts of terrorism\".\nThe medical student denies charges under the Terrorism Act.\nThe High Court in Glasgow heard Mr Badri retweeted a message about the killing of Fusilier Rigby.\nThe soldier was murdered as he returned to his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, in May 2013.\nDefence QC Murdo Macleod produced Mr Badri's twitter feed from that time.\nHe retweeted a message which stated: \"The murderers in custody tonight are about as representative of Islam as the EDL is representative of the white community. Fringe nutters.\"\nThe court was told that Mr Badri was arrested by police the next month.\nThe court also heard that Mr Badri's mother and father, who came to Britain in the 1990s, were both doctors, and one of his sisters received a commendation for her work as a police officer with West Yorkshire Police.\nThe offences are said to have been carried out at two places in Aberdeen - Mr Badri's former flat in Ashgrove Road, and in Berryden Retail Park.\nThe trial, before judge Lord Turnbull, continues.", "David Anderson QC said the law had \"barely touched\" Choudary for 20 years, before he was found guilty of inviting support for so-called Islamic State.\nThe UK must establish whether any \"impediments\" were making it harder to get convictions, Mr Anderson added.\nChoudary, 49, who was arrested in 2014, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.\nCounter-terrorism chiefs have spent almost 20 years trying to bring him to trial, blaming him, and the proscribed organisations which he helped to run, for radicalising young men and women.\nThe father-of-five - who was arrested in 2014 after pledging allegiance to IS - was convicted alongside confidant Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.\nBoth men were charged with one offence of inviting support for IS - which is contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 - between 29 June 2014 and 6 March 2015.\nThe verdict on the two defendants was delivered on 28 July, but was only reported on Tuesday following the conclusion of a separate trial at the Old Bailey.\nHome Secretary Amber Rudd said Choudary and Rahman had \"poisoned the minds of vulnerable people and their warped and twisted propaganda offered support and succour to a murderous and barbaric terrorist organisation\".\nShe said the government would continue to confront those who \"promote hate and threaten our way of life\", to protect communities from extremism, and defeat \"this toxic ideology\".\nMr Anderson, the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said there were \"useful offences\" for prosecutors to use to charge people spreading radical ideas.\nHowever, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme these had not helped authorities bring Choudary - one of the UK's most notorious radical clerics - to justice more quickly.\n\"In the meantime a lot of people have been radicalised,\" Mr Anderson said, adding: \"We do need to look at what might be done if there are impediments, technical reasons why it's not as easy to get convictions under these laws as it should be.\"\nHe said it was \"very difficult to craft a law that can clearly distinguish people who are dangerous from people who are simply revolting\".\nHe added: \"If you go back 10 or 12 years you had home secretaries saying the criminal justice system is broken, it couldn't deal with terrorism.\n\"I think we've shown now that that is wrong but of course there is room for improvement.\"\nPreventing the continued influence of Choudary while he was in prison could be a \"very difficult job\", added Raffaello Pantucci, from the Royal United Services Institute.\nHe told Today that Choudary was a \"bright flame\" who had drawn people to him, but that finding himself \"sitting in a prison cell will mean that his network will be degraded\".\nHowever, he added that Choudary was \"a very charming and charismatic individual and undoubtedly if he's in prison he's going to be surrounded by very vulnerable and impressionable people\".\n\"I would not be surprised if some of it may rub off on them,\" he said.\nPolice have said Choudary stayed \"just within the law\" for years, but that many people tried for serious terror offences were influenced by his lectures and speeches.\nDuring his trail, the jury heard how Choudary and Rahman invited others to support the militant group through speeches and announced their own oath of allegiance to its leader.\nThe oath of allegiance had been a \"turning point\" and meant they could be put on trial, said the Metropolitan Police.\nWhen IS announced a \"Khilafah\" - an Islamic state - in June 2014, the court heard that Choudary held a meeting with his closest aides at a curry house in east London.\nBefore accepting the \"Khilafah\" was legitimate, the jury heard he consulted his \"spiritual guide\" Omar Bakri Mohammed, who is currently in jail in Lebanon.\nOn 7 July 2014, the men's names appeared alongside Rahman's on the oath, which stated the al-Muhajiroun had \"affirmed\" the legitimacy of the \"proclaimed Islamic Caliphate State\".\nCommander Dean Haydon, head of the Met's counter-terrorism unit, said the conviction of Choudary and Rahman was a \"significant prosecution in our fight against terrorism\".\nSue Hemming, head of counter-terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said the two men \"knowingly sought to legitimise a terrorist organisation and encouraged others to support it\".\n\"They used the power of social media to attempt to influence those who are susceptible to these types of messages, which might include the young or vulnerable,\" she added.\nThe two men will be sentenced in September.", "Mohammed Moshin Ameen, of east London, admitted five counts of encouraging the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism on Twitter.\nHe admitted inviting support for IS and disseminating a terrorist publication.\nHe was remanded in custody at the Old Bailey until sentencing on 28 April.\nThe tweets were sent on the social media site in the six months between May and October last year.\nThe charge of disseminating a terrorist publication relates to a link to a video entitled \"For The Sake Of Allah\", which was posted on Twitter in September.\nAmeen appeared in court via video-link from Wandsworth Prison and spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas.", "Police foiled the plan after Mohammed Rehman used Twitter to ask which target to choose, the Old Bailey was told.\nHe allegedly bought explosives on eBay and filmed himself testing a bomb.\nMr Rehman, of Radstock Road, Reading, and his wife Sana Ahmed Khan, of Hutton Close, Reading, deny preparing acts of terrorism, on or before 28 May.\nMr Rehman, 25, is also charged with possessing an article for terrorist purposes.\nProsecutor Tony Badenoch QC said the pair had a \"common interest\" in violent and extreme Islamic ideology and had repeatedly researched 7/7 bombers.\nThey also had a keen interest in Islamic State, and Mr Rehman's online research showed he approved of their atrocities and \"wished to play his own part\", jurors were told.\nOn 12 May, he allegedly posted a public tweet using the handle Silent Bomber, with a profile picture of Jihadi John, saying: \"Westfield shopping centre or London underground?\"\nThe same day, Mr Rehman repeatedly trawled YouTube for material about the London bombings and Shehzad Tanweer, one of the 7 July bombers, the court heard.\nCounter-terrorism officers spotted Mr Rehman's tweets and went to his home on 28 May, where they seized more than 10kg (22lbs) of urea nitrate - a highly explosive chemical, the jury was told.\nThe court heard if it had detonated it \"would have caused multiple fatalities in a public place\".\nAlmost simultaneously, Ms Khan was arrested at her family home.\nMs Khan kept their Islamic marriage a secret from her family and they lived separately with their parents and siblings, the court heard.", "Police said Anjem Choudary, 49, had stayed \"just within the law\" for years, but was arrested in 2014 after pledging allegiance to the militant group.\nMany people tried for serious terror offences were influenced by his lectures and speeches, police said.\nChoudary was convicted alongside confidant Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.\nCounter-terrorism chiefs have spent almost 20 years trying to bring Choudary, a father of five, to trial, blaming him, and the proscribed organisations which he helped to run, for radicalising young men and women.\nBoth men were charged with one offence of inviting support for IS - which is contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 - between 29 June 2014 and 6 March 2015.\nThe verdict on the two defendants was delivered on 28 July, but can only be reported now, following the conclusion of a separate trial at the Old Bailey of another group of men for a similar offence.\nHow Anjem Choudary's mouth was finally shut\nAnjem Choudary's links to Belgian extremist group\nThe trial heard how the men decided in the summer of 2014 that the group then known as Isis [Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham/the Levant] had formed a \"Khilafah\", or Islamic state, that demanded the obedience and support of Muslims.\nThey then invited others to support IS through speeches and announced their own oath of allegiance to its leader.\nThe oath of allegiance was a \"turning point\" which meant they could be put on trial, the Met Police said.\nChoudary was once the spokesman for al-Muhajiroun, an organisation that can be linked to dozens of terrorism suspects.\nIts leader Omar Bakri Muhammad fled the UK after the London suicide bombings on 7 July 2005, and over the years since, Choudary has become one of the most influential radical Islamists in Europe and a string of his followers have either left the UK to fight in Syria or tried to do so.\nThe court heard that in one speech in March 2013 Choudary made it clear that he wanted the Muslim faith to \"dominate the whole world\".\n\"Next time when your child is at school and the teacher says 'What do you want when you grow up? What is your ambition?', they should say 'To dominate the whole world by Islam, including Britain - that is my ambition',\" he said.\nWhen IS announced a \"Khilafah\" - an Islamic state - in June 2014, the court heard that Choudary held a meeting with his closest aides at a curry house in east London.\nBefore accepting the \"Khilafah\" was legitimate, the jury heard he consulted his \"spiritual guide\" Omar Bakri Mohammed, who is currently in jail in Lebanon.\nOn 7 July 2014, the men's names appeared alongside Rahman's on the oath, which stated the al-Muhajiroun had \"affirmed\" the legitimacy of the \"proclaimed Islamic Caliphate State\".\nDuring his trial Choudary also refused to denounce the execution of journalist James Foley by Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed Jihadi John, in Syria in 2014.\n\"If you took an objective view there are circumstances where someone could be punished,\" he told the jury.\nSupporters of Choudary included:\nThe trial also heard that Rahman - previously convicted of soliciting to murder - went on Facebook to tell his followers that migration to IS territory was a \"duty\".\n\"Let's be clear, the Muslims in the Khilafah need help,\" he wrote, after communicating with a British fighter who urged him to find recruits.\n\"The one who is capable to go over and help the Muslims, must go and help.\"\nCommander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Police's counter-terrorism unit, said the case which led to the conviction of Choudary and Rahman was a \"significant prosecution in our fight against terrorism\".\nHe said: \"These men have stayed just within the law for many years, but there is no-one within the counter-terrorism world that has any doubts of the influence that they have had, the hate they have spread and the people that they have encouraged to join terrorist organisations.\n\"Over and over again we have seen people on trial for the most serious offences who have attended lectures or speeches given by these men.\n\"The oath of allegiance was a turning point for the police - at last we had the evidence that they had stepped over the line and we could prove they supported ISIS.\"\nHe said the trial had considered over 20 years' worth of material over more than 333 electronic devices containing 12.1 terabytes of storage data.\nSue Hemming, head of counter-terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said the men \"knowingly sought to legitimise a terrorist organisation and encouraged others to support it\".\n\"They used the power of social media to attempt to influence those who are susceptible to these types of messages, which might include the young or vulnerable,\" she added.\nChoudary currently has more than 32,000 followers on Twitter and his account can still be viewed online, despite requests for its removal in August last year and the following March.\nHe and Rahman will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 6 September.\nIn a separate trial at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Mohammed Alamgir, Yousuf Bashir and Rajib Khan, from Luton, were also convicted of encouraging others to support IS.\nThe three men, who had links with Choudary, gave speeches encouraging people to join the group and not to \"sit on the sidelines\".\nBy BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani\nThe flag of Islam will fly over Downing Street, was his favourite prediction, followed by some kind of rhetorical flourish: \"The Muslims are rising to establish the Sharia... Pakistan, Afghanistan and perhaps, my dear Muslims, Londonistan.\"\nHe would greet the journalists with a smile, and some guile, dressed up as charm.\nHe liked playing games. It gave him a sense that he was winning.\nExcept it wasn't a game. The evidence now shows that Anjem Choudary is one of the most dangerous men in Britain. Not a bomb-maker. Not a facilitator. But an ideologue, a thinker, who encouraged others not to stop and think for themselves before they turned to violence to implement their shared worldview.\nHow Anjem Choudary's mouth was finally shut", "The woman, from Leicester, was arrested at Birmingham Airport by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit officers under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.\nThe 30-year-old's home and another associated address are being searched.\nOfficers are working with other agencies to ensure the children's welfare, West Midlands Police said.\nOfficers have a maximum of 36 hours to question her before charging, releasing, bailing or applying to a court for a warrant of further detention.\nMore than 200,000 people have lost their lives and more than 11 million have been displaced in four years of conflict in Syria.\nThe conflict is between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule - as well as jihadist militants from Islamic State.", "Yousif Badri faced a trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of being involved in conduct \"with the intention of committing acts of terrorism\".\nA jury cleared 29-year-old Mr Badri. He had been due to graduate in 2013 but did not due to his arrest.\nHe will graduate in absentia with a degree in medicine on Friday, three years later than originally planned.\nAfter the verdict in October last year, judge Lord Turnbull told Mr Badri: \"The court would like to wish you well in your continued medical career.\"\nAnd Lord Turnbull told the jury that he \"wholeheartedly agreed\" with the not guilty verdicts they had returned.\nSpeaking of his relief at the time, Mr Badri said: \"I'm very happy and hope to continue my medical career. I've been in limbo for the last two years.\"\nMr Badri gave evidence during the long-running trial and accused so-called Islamic State of \"hijacking\" Muslim history.\nHe said he had al-Qaeda material on his computer for research purposes only.\nWhen asked if he was a terrorist or intended to become a terrorist, he replied: \"No, of course not.\"\nThe court also heard Mr Badri retweeted two weeks before he was arrested that the murderers of soldier Lee Rigby were \"fringe nutters\".\nIt was suggested that because Mr Badri had a large tub of nails and no hammer, the nails could be an ingredient for a bomb.\nHowever the court heard the nails had been brought to the flat by Mr Badri's father while he was carrying out DIY work and the hammer had been borrowed by a friend and not returned.\nThe prosecution told the jury it was the \"right thing to do\" to return guilty verdicts.\nHowever, defence QC Murdo Macleod said: \"He is not a radical, he is not a terrorist, he has extremely tolerant views.\n\"He is a young man who wants to clear his name and get on with his career as a junior doctor.\"", "Tareena Shakil said she was unaware of the true nature of IS and her travelling to Syria was \"not about fighting or killing anybody\".\nMs Shakil told her family in 2014 she was going on holiday to Turkey but instead travelled to the city of Raqqa.\nThe 26-year-old from Birmingham denies joining IS and encouraging terrorism.\nThe jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard Ms Shakil told her family she was going on a beach holiday with her child in October 2014 but instead arrived in the city of Raqqa, the capital of so-called Islamic State.\nGiving evidence, Ms Shakil said she had sought a pure Muslim life after suffering at the hands of a violent partner who had left her to live in Lebanon earlier that year.\nAfter arriving in Turkey she said she flew from her resort to Gaziantep on the Syrian border. There, she claimed, a contact she met online arranged for her to be driven by cab to an apartment block - littered with abandoned pushchairs and suitcases - which was full of women of different nationalities.\nThe following day the women were driven to a farmhouse near Jarabalus where they joined even more women, the court heard.\nMs Shakil said after four days she arrived in Raqqa, where she was housed in a walled \"mansion\", but soon after \"wanted to come back to England\".\nThe court was told before she left the UK she had talked on Facebook to a man named Fabio Pocas, whose online profile showed an armed man posing with the black flag of IS.\nHe warned her of the perils of \"living in the land of non-believers\", telling her she could not live in a country not ruled by Sharia because it was forbidden.\nShe said: \"He told me 'You cannot live in a state that is not under Sharia'.\n\"He said 'Look sister, by staying in England, you're hanging over the gates of hell. If you die that's where you're going'.\n\"The impact on me was fear - any Muslim would want to save themselves from hell, it's just how you go about it.\"\nMs Shakil said she had no knowledge of the nature of the terror organisation before she left the UK in 2014, returning in February 2015.\nAdmitting she had retweeted images of the black flag of IS, she said she had no idea they were associated with the group, thinking they bore the Shahada - the Islamic declaration of faith.\nMs Shakil, originally from Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, said a tweet to a jihadi widow in Syria in September 2014 which said \"Wish I was there\", was just a reference to living in the self-declared caliphate.\n\"I knew where she was, Islamic State, but at that time I didn't know about Islamic State,\" she added.\nThe trial continues.", "Mohammed Rehman, 25, discussed targeting the London Underground and Westfield shopping centre on social media under the name \"Silent Bomber\".\nHe and his wife Sana Ahmed Khan were convicted of preparing terrorist acts.\nJailing them both for life at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Baker told Rehman he had been \"determined to fulfil the Islamic State's call for jihad\".\nThe couple's trial had heard how bomb-making chemicals were found at Rehman's Reading home, where he had filmed himself setting off a small explosion in the back garden.\nHe had been planning an attack to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 7 July London bombings, the trial was told.\nThe role of 24-year-old Khan was to fund the chemicals needed to make a \"huge\" bomb.\nRehman, who was also convicted of possessing an article for terrorist purposes, was a \"prolific\" user of Twitter, the trial was told, posting extremist rhetoric alongside images of homemade devices and instructional material.\nOne tweet from his account read: \"I have rigged my house to blow at the push of a button by my bedside if the popo [police] try to raid man. Nobody gets in the way of my jihad.\"\nThe judge told Rehman that the reason for his conversion \"may never be fully known\", adding that he was satisfied he had intended to carry out an act of terrorism within the United Kingdom.\n\"The type of act which you envisaged not only encompassed the use of explosive substances which would be used to maximum effect so as to cause multiple injuries and fatalities, but specifically included a suicide bombing; an act which envisaged martyrdom, a notion specifically resurrected by Islamic State in order to encourage this type of venture,\" Mr Justice Baker said.\nAhead of the sentencing hearing, Khan had sent the judge a handwritten letter saying she had divorced Rehman a couple of weeks previously and that she should have \"distanced myself from him a long time ago\".\nThe judge rejected her argument, telling Khan: \"I am satisfied that it was you who became interested in the theological justification of its aims, and thereafter encouraged Mohammed Rehman to pursue its ideology.\"", "Taha Hussain, 21, from Slough, used a phone emblazoned with so-called Islamic State's black flag to post videos and audio to social media.\nThe Old Bailey heard he sent \"extremist\" material on WhatsApp and had a YouTube channel which showed Islamist militants in battle.\nHe was convicted of seven counts of disseminating terrorist publications.\nHussain was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 11 September.\nCounter Terrorism Policing South East said Hussain encouraged others to \"prepare or commit acts of terror\" over a two-year period before his arrest in August 2016.\nOfficers found he had shared videos of himself driving outside army barracks listening to jihadi chants following terrorist attacks in Paris and Orlando, the court heard.\nPolice said he also promoted that \"no-one should feel sorry for the deaths of non-Muslims and the wrong kind of Muslims\".\nDet Ch Supt Kath Barnes, head of CTP South East, said: \"Extremist posts like the ones Hussain posted and shared have the power to influence other people and particularly those who may be young and impressionable or vulnerable for a variety of reasons.\n\"This could lead to those influenced individuals committing acts of terror.\"", "Mourad Mosdefaoui, who is thought to have entered the UK in 2008, admitted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court posting text and images celebrating terrorist acts.\nThe 34-year-old had previously been denied asylum but had not left the UK.\nSentence was deferred until next month and he was remanded in custody where he has been since his arrest in July.\nHe put three posts on social networking site Facebook from September 2014 to March 2015.\nIn one, he is shown in a photograph to be holding a notepad with Arabic text, translated as: \"The Islamic State will remain and expand God willing.\"\nIn another, he wrote he was troubled to be \"living in a country of blasphemy\" and appeared to suggest he would be willing to fight in Iraq and Syria.\nOfficials later found more than 11,000 images on a mobile phone in his possession, a number of which were said to depict imagery and propaganda associated with IS, including images appearing to show a beheading carried out by the man known as Jihadi John.\nA search of Mosdefaoui's Edinburgh flat this summer also uncovered a forged Belgian identity card, which he admitted owning in order to find work in the UK.\nDetails of the offences were revealed in court earlier, where Mosdefaoui pleaded guilty to two charges - one under the Terrorism Act 2006 and one under the 2010 Identity Documents Act.\nNarrating the circumstances of the case, procurator fiscal depute Calum Darling told the court: \"The messages posted by the accused celebrate the terrorist acts of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.\n\"The messages amount to encouragement of support for a proscribed group and may be inferred to encourage acts of terrorism generally.\"", "Elton Simpson had been under surveillance since 2006 and was convicted in 2010 for lying about plans to go to Somalia, the files reveal.\nHe had shared a flat in Arizona with the person named by authorities as the other gunman, Nadir Soofi.\nBoth were shot after opening fire at a conference centre near Dallas.\nSimpson's family has said that there was no sign he was planning to carry out such an attack.\n\"We are sure many people in this country are curious to know if we had any idea of Elton's plans. To that we say, without question, we did not,\" said a statement issued through lawyers in Phoenix.\nThe statement, made on behalf of unnamed family members, said his relatives were \"heartbroken and in a state of deep shock\".\nA lot of people here have been upset because both the event organisers had come from outside of town, but so too had the attackers - they had come from Arizona. So they feel their community has been put under the spotlight, and it has caused a great deal of tension.\nLocal Muslims were very upset that the event was being held at all.\nAlia Salem, local director of the Council on American-Islamic relations, told me: \"My reaction was one of basically ignoring it and I encouraged the community to also ignore it, and we did. We have important things to focus on in our community, and to have this kind of event come in, and these types of criminals come in and commit these acts of terror just splits our community apart.\"\nAnd it's not just local Muslims - a lot of people here are upset about all the attention that has been brought here because of what's happened. Even the mayor has suggested that it wasn't wise for the exhibition centre here to hold this event.\nThat's something that's made the event organisers bristle, saying freedom of speech is freedom of speech. But many others are upset and they say this wasn't really about freedom of speech - it was an anti-Islam event.\nProfile: Elton Simpson\nOn Monday, FBI agents searched Simpson and Soofi's home in Phoenix and a white van parked outside.\nAccording to Arizona court documents published in the US media, Simpson was charged in 2010 with lying to FBI agents about planning to go to Somalia to engage in violent jihad, or holy war.\nA judge found him guilty of making a false statement and he was sentenced to three years' probation and a $600 (£400) fine.\nThe judge ruled there was insufficient evidence that the false statement involved international terrorism.\nThe court document also showed that Simpson had been under investigation since 2006 because of his association with an individual the FBI believed was trying to set up a terrorist cell in Arizona.\nSimpson had told an informant in 2009 that it was \"time to go to Somalia\", adding: \"We gonna make it to the battlefield.\"\nHe later said he was planning to travel to South Africa and then on to Somalia.\nThe incident on Sunday unfolded when a car drove into the car park of the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, a city near Dallas, where a Muhammad Art Exhibit organised by the controversial American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) was being held.\nThe conference included a contest that offered a $10,000 (£6,600) prize for a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are offensive to many Muslims.\nThe two men in the car opened fire with assault rifles on two security officers, Garland police said.\nOne of the officers, a traffic policeman, returned fire and killed both gunmen, police spokesman Joe Harn said.\nThe security officer who with him was shot in the lower leg. He was treated in hospital and released.\nA bomb squad searched the suspects' vehicle and set off several controlled explosions. They found additional ammunition but no bombs, Mr Harn said.\nPamela Geller: America's 'bigoted blogger'?\nTexas Governor Greg Abbott called the attack a \"heinous crime\" and said he was being briefed by state authorities.\nThe AFDI is run by controversial blogger and activist Pamela Geller who said she was standing up for free speech, adding: \"This terrible incident reflects the need for such conferences.\"\nOne of the keynote speakers at Sunday's event was the Dutch politician Geert Wilders, an outspoken critic of Islam in Western societies who is on an al-Qaeda hit list.\nThere were widespread protests in 2006 when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad.\nIn January this year, 12 people were murdered by two Islamist gunmen at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, which had published similar cartoons.\nAnd a gathering of free speech activists in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, was targeted by a gunman in February, killing a film director.\nAre you in Dallas? Did you witness the incident? You can email your eyewitness accounts to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.\nPlease leave a contact number if you are willing to speak with a BBC journalist.", "\"Drive them out of this earth,\" he told regional leaders in Riyadh, as part of his first official trip abroad.\nMr Trump blamed Iran, Saudi Arabia's rival, for instability in the region.\nHis speech is seen as an attempted reset with Muslims after his harsh campaign rhetoric stirred concerns in the Islamic world.\nMr Trump had previously suggested he would be open to creating a database of all the Muslims in the US. And he had also called for Muslims to be temporarily banned from entering the US over security concerns.\nBut, speaking in the Saudi capital to leaders of 55 Muslim-majority countries, Mr Trump called this a \"new chapter\", saying he was not there to \"lecture\" them or impose the American way of life.\nThe fight against extremism, he added, was not a battle between different faiths or civilizations: \"This is a battle between good and evil\".\n\"A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists, and drive out the extremists\".\nBut, he added, the countries could not wait for \"American power\" to act, and had to \"fulfil their part of the burden\".\nHe singled out Iran for criticism, accusing it of fuelling sectarian conflict and supporting \"unspeakable crimes\" by the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.\nBehind the lavish praise heaped on his hosts, President Trump used this speech to deliver a tough message to Arab and Muslim governments: deal with the ideology that fuels terrorism now or live with it for generations to come.\nHe went out of his way to avoid the sort of inflammatory language he's more usually known for. His repeated condemnation of Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran will have pleased the Gulf Arab leaders listening.\nUnlike his predecessor, Barack Obama, this US president made no mention of human rights or democracy. But he did condemn the oppression of women.\nAnd amongst several cynical reactions to the speech from around the region on social media, some have pointed out that here in Saudi Arabia women are forbidden to drive and there are no parliamentary elections. In Iran, the country accused by Mr Trump of being behind much of the current terrorism across the Middle East, they have just had a free election and women are free to drive.\nAnalysts said the speech was a change for Mr Trump, who is trying to redefine his relationship with the Muslim world after several controversial remarks, including an interview last year in which he famously said: \"I think Islam hates us.\"\nHis highly anticipated address did not include the phrase \"radical Islamic terrorism\", which he had used before and is considered offensive by many Muslims. A transcript of the text published on his Facebook page included a mention of \"Islamist extremism\" and \"Islamist terror groups\".\nBut in his speech Mr Trump said: \"That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamic extremism and the Islamists and Islamic terror of all kinds.\" It was not immediately clear if he stumbled over the word or decided to change the script.\nMeanwhile, the US and six Gulf states announced a deal to co-ordinate their efforts aimed at cutting off sources of money for extremist groups, including so-called Islamic State (IS).\nThe countries - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain - are involved in the fight against the militants, but have been accused of backing the group and other Sunni militants - most notably in a 2014 email by Hillary Clinton released by Wikileaks.\n\"The unique piece of it is that every single one of them are signatories on how they're responsible and will actually prosecute the financing of terrorism, including individuals,\" said Dina Powell, US Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy.\nMr Trump's eight-day trip will also take in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Brussels, the Vatican, and Sicily.\nThe president's visit has been overshadowed by his political difficulties at home, namely the fallout over his sacking of FBI chief James Comey.", "Sandra White said she had not intended to retweet the picture, and had deleted it when she realised what had happened.\nThe image showed six piglets suckling at a sow with the word \"Rothschild\" and the Star of David on it.\nThe piglets are shown as representing the UK, the US, Israel and terror groups Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram.\nMs White has written a letter of apology to the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (ScoJec) for any offence that had been caused.\nIn her letter, the Glasgow Kelvin MSP wrote: \"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly for the offence that has been caused by my accidental retweeting of this offensive image which I too find repellent and offensive.\n\"I had not intended to retweet this picture, and was horrified to learn that I had done so. As soon as this was brought to my attention, I deleted the tweet.\n\"Anyone who knows me or has known me over the many years I have served in public office will know of my love and tolerance for all peoples; all faiths and all religions.\"\nMs White led a debate at the Scottish Parliament earlier this year calling for Holyrood to recognise the Palestinian state and the need for a two state solution to the situation in Israel and Palestine.\nBut she said in her letter that \"there is nothing that happens in Israel or Palestine that can be justification for any racial or religious hatred\".\nFirst Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also written a letter to ScoJec director Ephraim Borowski in which she stated that \"the image in question is certainly not something I would expect to see tweeted by Sandra or by any member of the party.\"\nMs Sturgeon added: \"Having spoken to Sandra directly about this matter I know that she understands the seriousness of this accidental re-tweet and deeply regrets the offence it has caused. We all share the view that nothing must be done that provides the views expressed in the image any legitimacy whatsoever.\n\"Regarding the original tweet itself, I find it and the image it contained abhorrent. I will not tolerate anti-Semitism or religious or racial hatred of any kind at any level in our society.\"\nMr Borowski welcomed Ms White's apology and Ms Sturgeon's comments.\nHe added: \"Her original post was exceptionally public, broadcast on Twitter to an international audience, and remained there for three days before being deleted.\n\"We are glad she has now, as we requested, made her apology and unqualified condemnation of anti-Semitism in all its forms, wherever it may be found, equally public, by posting that on Twitter too.\n\"We are grateful to the first minister for her unequivocal condemnation of the original post as 'abhorrent' and 'completely unacceptable', and for making unambiguously clear her refusal to tolerate any form of antis-Semitism in Scottish society.\n\"We have replied expressing the hope that we will continue to maintain a constructive relationship with her government to the benefit of the Jewish community and Scotland as a whole.\"\nScoJec said the image retweeted by Ms White had been \"reminiscent of the very worst of Nazi propaganda\" in its use of \"cartoon hook noses and rubbing hands\" and had contained pictures that originated on neo-Nazi websites in the US.\nIt said the image had \"played to the enduring anti-Semitic charge that Jews use wealth to control others to go to war on their behalf.\"", "Choudary was found guilty at the Old Bailey in August of backing IS in an oath of allegiance published online and was jailed for five-and-a-half years.\nThe Judicial Office has confirmed the 49-year-old has now applied for permission to challenge the verdict.\nPolice say Choudary's followers carried out attacks in the UK and abroad.\nBut they said they had been unable to act for many years as Choudary - a former solicitor and married father of five - had stayed \"just within the law\".\nChoudary, of Ilford, east London, was convicted alongside and Mizanur Rahman, 33, from Palmers Green, north London, of an offence contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.\nTheir trial heard the pair also used speeches to urge support for IS, which is also known as Daesh, after it declared a caliphate in the summer of 2014.\nChoudary was once the spokesman for al-Muhajiroun, an organisation banned in the UK.\nThe application for permission to appeal was lodged in early September and is being processed before being heard by a single judge.", "Jamila Henry, from Walthamstow in east London, was deported from Turkey and arrested by counter-terror police at Luton Airport on 19 March.\nThe 22-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing her sister's passport \"with improper intent\" at the Old Bailey.\nShe was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.\nHenry was also ordered to do 40 days' rehabilitation activity.\nJudge Christopher Moss QC said he had not jailed her so that she could rebuild her relationship with her son, and for her to pursue her ambition to train as a midwife or nurse.\nThe court heard that Henry made two abortive attempts to travel to Syria in 2014, but was twice stopped at Heathrow and Luton airports.\nHer mobile phone was found to have images of people with guns and the Islamic State group flag and salute.\nHenry then succeeded in travelling via Dover and Belgium to Syria, the court was told, and when stopped at Stansted Airport on her return with her son admitted as much.\nIn March, she borrowed her sister Jalila's passport, claiming she needed it for identification to pawn jewellery.\nThe court was told that Henry, a \"shy and quiet\" woman, changed her appearance and wore western clothes to look more like her \"outspoken and confident\" sister.\nShe took the coach from Victoria Station to Brussels and was detained in Ankara, Turkey, on 16 March.\nWhen her London home was searched, police found Islamic State group propaganda on her laptop and mobile phone.\nThe court heard that Henry pleaded guilty because she wanted to visit Syria, not for military reasons but to help suffering children.", "Ednane Mahmood, 19, from Blackburn, Lancashire, then fled his home to allegedly travel to Syria to fight for so-called Islamic State (IS).\nThe video showed the beheading of David Haines and aid worker Alan Henning kneeling on the ground after his kidnap, Manchester Crown Court heard.\nMr Mahmood denies all charges.\nHe has pleaded not guilty to attempting to travel to Syria to commit acts of terrorism.\nMr Mahmood also denies two counts of providing internet links to others with speeches and propaganda that encouraged acts of terrorism.\nHe searched \"British man beheaded\" on his laptop before downloading the video, the court was told.\nIt began with Prime Minister David Cameron talking about IS before images showing the beheading of Mr Haines.\nJulian Evans, prosecuting, said Mr Mahmood, \"undeterred by this graphic and violent imagery\", began looking up cheap flights to Bulgaria and Turkey.\nThen in the early hours of 18 September 2014, he left his home to board a flight from Manchester Airport to Bulgaria leaving a letter addressed, \"to family\", stating his intentions.\nMr Evans said: \"He was telling his family in the clearest terms that he was leaving the comforts of his life in the UK in order to fight abroad on behalf of Allah and on behalf of Muslims.\n\"He did not care what others might think of him and his decision.\n\"Mr Mahmood planned to travel to Syria with the intention of committing acts of terrorism.\"\nThe court heard his family had been unaware of his intentions and on the day he fled had reported him missing to police.\nBefore he reached Syria, Mr Mahmood's brother persuaded him to come back to the UK via communications over Twitter.\nMr Mahmood's interest in Syria, Jihad and IS was said to have developed over time from 2012, the court heard.\nThe trial continues.", "Rhodri Colwyn Philipps was last month found guilty on two counts of making malicious communications.\nAn online post offered £5,000 to anyone who ran over businesswoman Gina Miller, and another related to an immigrant.\nA judge said there was a \"risk\" his sentence could increase if he appealed.\nJudge Deborah Taylor told Southwark Crown Court it was the court's \"preliminary view\" the viscount's sentence could be increased, and Philipps abandoned his appeal about 15 minutes later.\nPhilipps - the 4th Viscount St Davids - was sentenced on 13 July, but was released five days later pending the appeal and will now serve the remainder of the prison term.\nOne of the counts related to a post Philipps published on Facebook on 7 November 2016, which referred to Ms Miller, saying: \"£5,000 for the first person to 'accidentally' run over this bloody troublesome first generation immigrant.\"\nMs Miller was the figurehead for a successful legal challenge which, on 3 November, resulted in the government being told to consult Parliament before formally beginning the Brexit process.\nIn another post, Philipps offered £2,000 to the first person to have an immigrant \"carved into pieces\"." ]

[ "I thought this one would be better than the blue potato that I tried 3 months ago as it has better review/rating, but it turned out to be a bad one. I am not sure if it became that hard to chew just because it is expiring in 1 month, but it hurt my teeth and jaw after finishing half of the first bag. My jaw became clicking sound and I had to see my doctor after eating this. I think three forth of the chips in each bag are those hard ones. Now, the remaining became the feeding food for the squirrels. Conclusion: 2 problems: (1) those 24 bags are expiring in one month; and (2) most of the chips are too hard to bite." ]

[ "I purchased 2 - one for each of our dogs. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how large/hard these chews are. Our dogs are chihuahua mix, and showed no interest in the dino-chews. They were too big and too \"strong\" of a chew for them. Luckily, my sister has a lab-mix, who seems to enjoy it thoroughly. These are really best for dogs that normally destroy their chewies within minutes. Otherwise, they are durable and cute.", "I have been buying Sweet Potato and Yam treats for my 3 dogs for the past year or two. My dogs love them so we make sure we always have a good supply on hand. I purchased these particular treats from this particular supplier because the price was a bit less than usual. However, they are so HARD that even my big dog has a hard time chewing them!! And my older small dog will not even try to chew them, though they are his favorite treat. This is the second time I ordered this product from this supplier and both orders were the same, the treats are too hard for the dogs to chew!! I ordered a second time hoping I just got a bad batch from them or something. However, both orders were the same, too hard for the dogs to chew!! I don't know if they have been allowed to sit around and get old and hard, or what. All I do know for sure is that I will not be ordering any more items from this supplier!! It's not cheap if you have to throw it away in the end!!", "I love this stuff-also sent some to my mother and she loves it too! Delicious and not too hard to chew. Perfect size pieces.", "If it's healthy, made in the USA and my dog loves it, then I do too! She eats them right up and she's a hard-to-please dog. She looks forward to her \"True Chews\" treat every night. Thank you for a healthy, natural, safe-to-eat and digestable chew and \"MADE IN THE USA\"!", "I have two young dogs (1 year) and they like to chew, chew, chew (on anything and everything). I have spent a fortune trying to keep them chewing on the right things. Most of the bones that are edible are gone in a flash. The too hard ones, they won't touch. These are perfect and keep them busy for a while. I finally found something that will allow me a little peace once in a while (from chasing my dogs because they have something in their mouth they shouldn't be chewing). Yeah!", "My Lab has always been an extremely aggressive chewer, to the point where we don't dare get him any plush chew toys any more because they'll be shredded on the first day. We got this for him when he was about 4 months old and he showed no interest in it. He much preferred the Nylabone Dura Chew Wishbone Wolf instead. This was simply too big for him and he preferred other chew toys that fit his smaller jaws better.<br /><br />He's now 7 months old and he's grown to the point where he LOVES this Nylabone. It's super hard so it'll last a very long time for even the most aggressive chewer. As with any hard plastic chew you need to supervise: throw it out before it gets too small.", "These do not get chewy and soft...they are glass-hard, and broke 3 of my mini poodles rear teeth, one of which had to be extracted! I bought these to help keep her teeth clean, not destroy her teeth! My recommendation is to avoid at all costs.<br /><br />Note that our vet said not to give our dogs anything to chew that is too hard to indent with your fingernail. She recommended Bully Sticks and rawhide chews.", "My family really likes this cereal - in fact all of the Peace cereals. They are flavorful and contain many textures. They are not too hard to chew as some of the granola-type cereals can be. We buy Peace all the time!", "I have two Labs. One is 80 pounds and has had his red barn bone for probably 2 years. They chew and chew but the bone is so hard that they cannot chew through it. They last a very long time. And the best part is you can fill with a smear of peanut butter and they will work on it for hours. Keeps the teeth very clean too and made in USA. What else could you want!", "The Licorice flavor is great. I thought they were too hard to chew right out of the bag. I had to put some in my pocket to soften them up a bit before eating.", "I was excited about ordering these crackers. I ordered them from another site and there were so many rave reviews. These things are so nasty lol. It must be the soy? The taste is awful and these crackers are wayy too hard. Not good-crunchy, but more like...these-must-be-beyond-expiration-date-crunchy...", "I was pleased to be able to order this Bisquick mix because the stores in our area no longer carry it. We love these honey flavored bisquits, but will be hard pressed to use all 22 before the expiration date. I ordered them in the middle of March and they have a June expiration date. It would be good if the expiration date was longer or if it was given in the product description.", "Dubble Bubble really takes me back. It's just like I remember- hard to chew at first and the flavor doesn't last too long, but they do blow great bubbles! These are great as a gag gift or as filler for pinatas and the like! Sure to be a hit with kids or nostalgic adults!", "I was reluctant to try these crackers at first, but once I did, I couldn't believe how delicious they tasted. They are great for dips because of their firm nature but they are not too hard to chew for those with sensitive teeth. I cannot wait to try all varieties.", "I chew an inordinate amount of gum-- I have a dry mouth from medication, and I'm also losing weight--so no munching--and this is great stuff. It does hold a nice flavor for a long time (not as long as spearmint, but longer than any other peppermint gum I know of), and it has a nice springy texture that doesn't get hard or stick to my teeth, and it's a nice sized piece, too--not too big and not too small. I have ordered several \"cases\" of this from Amazon--it's hard to find in bulk in stores, and Amazon's price is excellent!", "I'm not too sure about some of the negative reviews. This is a good, basic, beef jerky. Thicker than some, but good tender strips of meat. Not hard to chew at all, good taste and an overall solid value. Definitely beats some of the brands available at your local grocery.", "Wow! My dog has jaws of steel and can crack deer antlers, so I decided to go with this antler (and my dog is the size of a border collie). I got the Amazon Prime delivery to my work... I work in an elementary school. This antler is so big and heavy that I couldn't help laughing a little when I unwrapped it and showed it to my students. They suggested perhaps I use it to smack them when they are naughty (I wouldn't...this was their suggestion).<br /><br />Anyway, it's about a foot long, an inch and a half in diameter, and must weigh about a pound and a half.<br /><br />The only thing one might worry about is that the thing feels like a piece of concrete. A dog with a strong chew might break a tooth on it if he bit down the wrong way.<br /><br />My dog really chews on this, although he tends to lose interest in it unless I occasionally slap some peanut butter on the cut ends. He'll chew on it when he gets bored, too, but he's mostly a chewer who likes to chew for a purpose, and he can't do too much damage to this. Fortunately, he knows to not bite too hard, so no tooth damage has occurred.<br /><br />Keep an eye on your dog when he chews it, and avoid giving it to dogs who bite down too hard on things, especially if they have a history of chipping teeth. Great for dogs with strong jaws.<br /><br />Oh, and don't throw this thing.", "Sitting at a desk all day it can be hard to fight cravings for munchies. I have used both the mint flavored and cinnamon flavored toothpicks to help me do this. Their initial flavor is intense enough to kill the craving. They chew well too. The toothpicks shred into a fine mesh rather than sharp splinters.", "These are the best ginger chews on the planet! The sweetness and the flavor of the orange pairs perfectly with the spicy ginger. These are so good to suck the orange flavor while the spice of the ginger creeps in. It's hard not to just chew them up, though, because they are so tasty. I, admittedly, ate 3/4 of a 5 oz bag in one sitting, which is why I purchased this 5 lb box. I've tried the mango, peanut butter and peppermint flavors, too, and the orange blows them out of the water. Be forewarned that these are incredibly addicting.", "I love giving 5 pound bags of gummi candy as gifts. We got these, the angel fish and the techno bears, and only the fish seemed to be the consistency I'd expected. I don't want to say these were stale, but they just seemed a little too hard to chew.", "I recently found this candy in a local TJMax store. Unfortunately, they don't always carry the same products. I thought I'd try Amazon. I'm thrilled to find that you carry this!! Being a diabetic, I'm always looking for a \"good\" treat. Another nice thing about this hard candy is that it takes a while to eat. It doesn't melt too fast and it's very hard so you won't chew it up right away. This is one of the BEST sour hard candies I've ever eaten!! It doesn't taste like a sugarfree candy at all.", "My just-turned-two-year-old lab loves these toys! She does eventually bite through all the layers and rip out the stuffing, but she then enjoys the carcasses just as much. She loves to play tug, fetch, and keep away with them, and just chews them for quiet time, too. I like that they are pretty hardy, but something soft to give her mouth a break from the REALLY hard plastic bones that she also chews.", "This bulk box seems to be defective. I know my Equal, and this stuff just doesn't measure up! I did a side by side comparsion with some I had already (purchased from Walmart recently). The Bulk box Equal wasn't as white and it just didn't sweeten.<br />I suspected it was old, but the outside of the bulk box said it doesn't expire until 2014. If its not too old, it's possible these packets had a hard life. They could have been exposed to too much heat. Aspartame looses its sweetness with heat.", "I bought this item based on health reasons, reviews of the product here and all the great information on the internet about the benefits of adding flax seeds to my daily diet. I also bought a mini coffee grinder just for this product. At first I tried to chew it, ugh... it takes a lot of hard work, I felt like a cow chewing cud and the flavor is extremely, uh... earthy. So instead I ground it up in my new coffee grinder and added it to yogurt, YUM... the earthy flavor is gone and a nutty wholesomeness is added to my yogurt. I add it to everything and it makes a great addition to my healthy diet. The seeds look fresh, clean and healthy. They almost looked too perfect with a nice shiny shell. The freshly ground meal smells very clean and definitely has a nice nutty bite. There is about more or less a year on the expiration date on the package that I received. I would recommend this specific product to anyone who wants to add a bit of health to their daily diet. I'll more likely than not be ordering more of this stuff in the near future at the rate that I've been chowing down on it.", "I have some experience with expired Via coffee. Occasionally (not often) coffee inside turns into a solid but bendable flat stick inside the package so I would not say the date doesn't matter! In one case, because it was expired, Starbucks wouldn't replace it and said they'd seen it before. I love the coffee but beware that sometimes this does happen. Not sure why, possibly pinhole in packaging?<br /><br />update 10/16/2-12 video showing another \"chewing gum stick consistency\" Via found in not yet expired date. I'd open it to show but then I couldn't return.", "Since \"Gin Gins\" are advertised as hard candies, I assumed the \"Ultra Boost\" version would be hard candies as well. They are not; they're chewy, though not as chewy as the Ginger Chews. They also have much less ginger flavor than the delicious chews.<br /><br />They're not horrible, but I wouldn't buy them again.", "Our shih tzu Piper had dental surgery to remove four broken teeth. Her dental surgeon vet blamed hard chew treats for the broken teeth. In hindsight some of the chews were so hard that I had to use a saw to cut them in half for sharing between the two dogs. The vet advised us to use the bend test. If the chew isn't flexible, don't give it to your dog.<br /><br />The Nylabone Healthy Edible passes the bend test. Looking at the bone-shaped treat, one would think it is a hard object and a long lasting chew. Piper and Gabby both like these chews. Depending on the dog, these treats can be long lasting without jeapardizing the teeth of the dog.<br /><br />Being a spudophile, I'm pleased that ingredient number four is potato starch. Despite the Nylabone name, these chews contain no plastic. Also lacking are sugar, salt, preservatives, and gluten. The ingredients are natural and it is edible and highly digestible as advertised. Our pooches give the American made Healthy Edibles their barks of approval.", "Our yellow labrador, Andre, loves these treats. We have been working very hard on sit, stay, down and other training commands lately, and when he sees the True Chews come out as the reward, he brings his A game. It is really important to us that we only feed Andre the American-made products - too much scary stuff about Chinese chicken jerky. We are going with the True Chews from now on - quality product, happy dog.", "I like the bitterness of this chocolate. its texture however was a little bit too dry for me. even when you place it in your mouth for 1 min, it remained pretty hard and when you chew or bite on it, it kind of crumbles instead of 'flows'. that's my only complaint. i've had 88% dark chocolate that had better texture.", "I used to get this dressing at Wally World (a.k.a. Wal-Mart). It was always available. When I started noticing that the dressing was only there \"sometimes\", I would buy all of the bottles of it--partly because I was afraid they were going to quit stocking it, and partly because I wanted Wally to see that this stuff is profitable for them to stock.<br /><br />No matter. It's gone, for good. It has a terrific, tangy flavor without having too strong a bite. It was hard to keep around this house. Now I can't even get it to bring to the house.<br /><br />I am going to hold my breath and order it online, and just hope that what has happened to others (wrong dressing, way past expiration, etc.) won't happen to me. If it's close to the expiration date, I'll keep it anyway, because we really use it up, especially during gardening season. The stuff tastes just fine a couple months past the expiration date, too, if it hasn't been opened. I think the reason for the date is that the quality supposedly starts to deteriorate, not because it's \"rotten\". Though, I've never noticed any deterioration in quality.<br /><br />I sure wish I could duplicate this recipe at home.<br /><br />Update: The bottles of this dressing that I ordered from Amazon weren't anywhere close to the expiration date, and is good as always.", "The texture of this treat is better for a larger dog. One of my dogs enjoyed the challenge of the chew but my smaller dog, even tho she seemed to like the smell, had a hard time chewing it and gave up quickly.", "thesedon't like hot food they might be a bit much for you. They have a great balance of sweetness and spice. Of course, Kettle Chips are just good chips - they use good oil to make them and even the plain ones are tasty. I also like that they are ridged chips - those are usually too crunchy and hard to chew for me - I don't want to have to work that hard for my deliciousness. If you like spicy barbecue you will definitely like these chips." ]

[ "A Maryland woman shared an adorable snap of her son signing for 'help' while sitting on Santa's lap when he was just a toddler.\nSamuel Spencer, now 13, was one-year-old when he posed for a photo with Santa at the Provo Town Center Mall in Utah before his family moved to Maryland.\nThe photo shows a smiling Santa holding Samuel who looks unimpressed and appears to form the sign for 'help' with his hands as he looks away from the camera.\nKerry Spencer, of Maryland, shared an adorable snap of her son, Samuel Spencer (pictured), signing for 'help' while sitting on Santa's lap when he was just a toddler. The photo shows a smiling Santa holding Samuel who looks unimpressed and appears to form the sign for 'help'\n'We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome,' his mother, Kerry Spencer (pictured), explained in the caption of the photo on Twitter\n'We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome,' his mother, Kerry Spencer, explained in the caption of the photo on Twitter.\nThe photo has garnered more than 6,000 retweets and 26,000 likes. Kerry told KHOU that she shares the photo every year on Facebook.\nBut this year, a friend recommended she share the photo on Twitter.\nSeveral folks replied to the tweet, with some saying it didn't look like the child was signing for 'help'.\nBut Kerry explained: 'It's ASL baby sign, so he is slightly \"mispronouncing\" the word, but it is the sign he always made when he needed help,' she wrote in a response on Twitter.\nFor comparison purposes, she then tweeted the correct way to sign for 'help'.\nKerry told the station that she taught both her kids baby sign because they can sign before they talk.\nShe said it helped to be able to communicate with her babies baby before they were able to fully talk." ]

[ "share tweet pin email\nKerry Spencer taught both of her children to sign using American Sign Language before they could speak because she found it useful to be able to communicate with them when they were babies. However, she did not anticipate her son, Samuel, to use his skill to communicate that he did NOT enjoy the experience of sitting in a mall Santa's lap.\nSamuel was just one year old when he used his baby version of ASL to sign \"help\" to his mom while the photographer at the Provo Town Center Mall in Provo, Utah, snapped his picture. \"I was standing to the side when the pic was taken and actually didn't see that he was signing for help until I saw the photo,\" his mom told TODAY Parents.\nWe taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 5, 2017\nFor several years, Spencer has posted the photo of Samuel sending an SOS from Santa's lap on Facebook. \"We all laugh at the photo now. Posting it is one of our favorite family traditions,\" she said. This year, at the request of a friend, she tweeted it as well. It has since been retweeted over 6,800 times.\nSpencer, a professor at Stevenson University who now lives in Parkton, Maryland, explained that in the photo, Samuel's sign is somewhat \"mispronounced\" — \"strictly speaking, his thumb should be up, not sideways,\" she said. \"Babies learning to sign often mispronounce words, but it is the sign he always made when he needed help.\"\nNever miss a parenting story with the TODAY Parents newsletter! Sign up here.\nThat was Samuel's last real interaction with a mall Santa. \"Poor buddy didn't love Santa very much, ever really. So we didn't try to get him to go much after that,\" said Spencer.\nSamuel is now 13, and neither he nor his sister Lily, 11, are big fans of the guy in the red suit. \"Both of my children find the idea of Santa sort of sketch!\" said Spencer. \"They say, 'It's just not normal for one man to know so much!'\"\nBut, she added, they certainly don't mind the presents he leaves.", "OWING MILLS, Md. – Every year when Santa comes to town children and their parents line-up to meet the jolly big man – but one Maryland toddler wasn’t having it.\nKerry Spencer taught her son the sign for “help” in sign language – and during his photo with Santa he made the sign.\n“We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for ‘help.’ You’re welcome,” Spencer wrote.\nWe taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 5, 2017\nSpencer tweeted out the hilarious photo on Tuesday and it has since gone viral.\nShe went on to clear up the specific sign language variant he was taught.\n“In baby sign you go with what they do. We showed him the ASL version and this is what he did,” she wrote on Twitter.\nIn baby sign you go with what they do. We showed him the ASL version and this is what he did. — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 6, 2017\nAnd to all the commenters saying he did it wrong, he was one! Give the poor guy a break! 😂 (This is the actual sign:) pic.twitter.com/0pgfRmbdk7 — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 8, 2017\nNo word on if the little boy was able to let Saint Nick know what he wanted for Christmas before his parents rescued him.", "Every kid deserves a chance to sit on Santa's lap.\nAt least that's what one shop owner in Rockton thinks.\nShe made that Christmas wish come true for children on the Autism Spectrum and with special needs.\nThe owner of Taylor and Max Boutique invited families and kids to visit Santa in a comfortable and quiet setting free of charge.\nNo music, no bright lights and no long lines.\nJust a chance for these kids to enjoy the holidays and snap a pic with Saint Nick.\n\"Everyone has been really excited, they just don't have the opportunity and the little bit of opportunity they have might not be this small of a setting,\" said event organizer Lori Lee.\nMax and Taylor Boutique says it plans to hold more free events like this in the future.", "LEGO, Hatchimals and LOL Dolls are all the rave amongst kids this Christmas, but not so for Goodna toddler Valentina.\nThe almost three year-old little girl sent a letter to Santa this year asking for a garbage truck and a skateboard which she posted through Orion Springfield Central's dedicated Letters to Santa station.\nMum Maria said it was the first time the family had participated in the event and something she believed they would continue to do throughout the years.\n\"It's actually the first year Valentina has been really excited about Christmas, so we booked in first to get a photo with Santa and that's when we saw the Letters to Santa station,\" Maria said.\n\"She just got so excited when she saw she could write a letter to Santa, so we wrote down a list of the things she had asked Santa for during the photo and sent it off which was fun.\n\"Now we're just waiting to hear back from Santa and I hear that he stocks dump trucks and skate boards in his Santa Shop, so I think Valentina's in for a nice surprise this Christmas.\"\n2017 is the first year Orion Springfield Central has hosted its own Letters to Santa station and centre manager Melissa Crittenden said the response to the activity had been overwhelming.\n\"We've had so many people join in and Santa has already responded to over 1000 letters,\" Ms Crittenden said.\n\"It's been the strongest response we've ever had and we have our next batch of letters going out today and later this week.\n\"It's all totally free and every letter submitted by Sunday with a child's full name and address will receive a response before Christmas.\"\nMs Crittenden said Santa's elves would ensure every child received an individual letter from Santa and had seen everything from babies and toddlers wishing for balloons to teenagers asking for Apple watches.\nThe top 10 presents requested by children were Lego blocks, Hatchimals, bikes, LOL Dolls and scooters, followed by nerf guns, trampolines, Ipads/Iphones/Ipods, gaming consoles and drones.\nTo get involved, visit the Letters to Santa Station at Orion Springfield Central's Town Mall by December 17.", "***MOBILE USERS CLICK HERE FOR GALLERY***\nSAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Children love getting Christmas presents from Santa, but asking for them in person is not everyone’s cup of eggnog.\nIt is well-documented (thanks to parents with a good sense of humor) that some kids just aren’t fans of sitting on the big-bearded man’s lap.\nDespite all the coordination and waiting in long lines, these photo shoots rarely go according to plan.\nSome of the pictures coming out this holiday season are absolute gems, and we want to give you the gift of a photo gallery, celebrating these priceless moments.\nYou can send us your pictures through a Facebook message, or through the Report It feature in your KRON4 Mobile App.\nHere’s what we have so far. Enjoy!\nSlideshow: Your awesomely bad Santa photos View as list View as gallery Open Gallery From Nancy Carrillo \"Not Fun for Baby\" (From Bruce Evans) From Carolynn Ferretti From Terry Clark \"Scared of Santa\" (From Bobbi Evans) From Sarah Thomas\nOur sister station WKRG started the timely trend. Here are some more examples from their page.\nSlideshow: Your Bad Santa Photos View as list View as gallery Open Gallery Source: Chris Best Source: Mary Nettles Source: Chris Best Source: Amy Nonnenmacher Source: Kelly Lynn \"When your 14 year old thinks he is too old for Santa....but Santa believes otherwise...\" Source: Melinda De Souza “I thought this might be worth sharing. I have a precious picture of my daughter just hating Santa Claus. Thank you. Please enjoy the photo. Her name is Francesca, she is 20 months.” From Maggie Leverett- \"From our time stationed on Okinawa,Japan.\" Source: Patsy Bekurs Source: Andrea Landrum Source: Morgan Woodard Source: Blair Bullen Source: Michael Wood\nWHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:\n>>MORE STORIES", "Santa and Nana Claus handed out presents to kids at the Fern Creek Fire Department. (Source: WAVE 3 News)\nLOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - There's no place like home for the holidays. A warm meal, a Christmas tree and gifts to go under that tree are things many of us may take for granted this holiday season.\nOn Monday night, the American Red Cross gave toys to children who lost their homes to fires in 2017.\n>> More Louisville Metro news on wave3.com\nChildren and their parents stood in line to meet Santa and Nana Clause, many looking nervous to meet someone they hear about once a year.\n\"There's quite a few that have RSVP'ed to come down,\" Ethel Swan said in her Nana Clause dress.\nEthel and her husband Jerry both have connections to the Fern Creek Fire Department, where the gift giving happened Monday night.\nJerry is a retired firefighter and Ethel still makes runs for EMS in the area. They both share the duty of being Santa and Nana Clause each year though, and have been for the past 23 years.\nMost of the children broke out in smiles as they sat on Santa's lap to tell him what they asked for this year. Some photos, videos and a candy cane later, the children were on their way with a big bag of what they had asked for.\n\"Santa got me…\" Tiara trailed off. \"I forgot.\" Tiara's mother, Bobbie Kelley, helped her open her big bag to reveal that Santa had brought her a giant coloring book, some Crayons and a Barbie.\nKelley said she was thankful for the folks who have had their back not only during the fire that took their Portland home in April, but also in the time following the fire.\n\"Thank you. I mean my kids are safe, that's everything,\" Kelley said. \"Everything else can be replaced but my kids, everyone was out of the house and [they] kept them from freaking out and going back in.\"\nFor Kelley, this bit of Christmas miracle brought her healing.\nMORE FROM WAVE3.COM\n+ Minion Christmas display at New Albany home goes viral\n+ Local military families receive Christmas gifts early\n+ Toddler signs 'help' while sitting on Santa's lap\n\"It's great. It's been a long year,\" Kelley said with a sigh. \"It's been a tough year so it's great.\"\nThe Swans said that's precisely the reason they do this every year. For the smiles, the laughter and the relief they can bring to parents during the holiday season.\n\"It's our 23rd year of being Santa and Nana Clause,\" they said. \"We look forward to it every year.\"\nCopyright 2017 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.", "It's that time of year when families around the country stand in line for hours at the mall in the hopes of getting that perfect Christmas picture of their little ones with Santa. Sometimes things go well and the moment is captured beautifully. Sometimes, things don't — and parents either leave without a photo or the picture just isn't very good. But sometimes, things go so horribly wrong that the photo becomes a family tale to be shared for for years to come.\nHere's a look at some of the best Santa photos we found. They include the bad, the sad and Mr. T. Enjoy.\n1. Double trouble\nLooks like Santa is about to start crying too. (Photo: justinbreez/Instagram)\nWhat is it about twins that you can never get them to do the same thing at the same time? Unless, of course, it's having a meltdown on Santa's lap.\n2. Sound asleep\nBaby Zeke falls asleep every time he goes to visit Santa. (Photo: Donnie Walters/Facebook)\nThis picture of Zeke Walters captured the hearts of the internet this year. What's even better is that when his parents took him back to see Santa on another trip, little Zeke fell asleep again. Must be something magical about Santa's workshop that puts this little fellow right to sleep.\n3. Santa playing on the floor\nBrayden's parents told Fox 5 News that it is a rare and special occasion to see their son this engaged. (Photo: Fox5NY)\nBig shoutout to this Santa whose patience and kindness helped this little boy — and his parents — enjoy this special holiday moment. When Santa learned that this little guy had autism, he crawled right onto the floor to play rather than make the boy sit on his lap. Now that's a magical Santa!\n4. That scandalous kiss\nMr. T remarked about that peck on the head... \"That'll start some scandal.\" (Photo: White House photo via Ronald Reagan Presidential Library)\nDo you remember the time that first lady Nancy Reagan sat on Mr. T's lap when he was dressed as Santa? And she kissed him on the head? Yeah, I didn't either. But this pic captures it all. And it's one for the record books. Thank goodness for the internet.\n5. A plea for help\nWe taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 5, 2017\nWhen Kerry Spencer taught her toddler the sign for \"help\" in sign language, he certainly knew when to use it. As soon as he was plopped on Santa's lap, the little guy signaled for assistance.\nSpencer's tweet was very popular, racking up 26,000 likes and more than 6,700 retweets within a couple days. Of course, this being the internet, a few nitpickers questioned whether the baby actually had the sign down right.\n\"And to all the commenters saying he did it wrong, he was one!\" replied his proud mom. \"Give the poor guy a break!\"\n6. Santa's security detail\nIt's not clear if this security detail is protecting Santa, or the little princess. (Photo: mamarock5/Instagram)\nWhen you're a teen or tween boy who is forced to take a picture with Santa and your little sister, you can either slap on an ugly sweater and get ready for years of ridicule from your friends or play it cool by acting as the security detail for the event.\n7. This crazy happy corgi\nSanta with the happiest corgi on the planet. (Photo: wallythewelshcorgi/Instagram)\nForget the kids, this Welsh corgi nails his picture with Santa. He's got the sweater. He's got the smile. And he knows there are dog treats coming his way.\n8. Peek-a-boo turns peek-a-bad\nWhat else would you expect a little girl to do when a creepy guy pops up out of nowhere? (Photo: brittcarrington/Instagram)\nI almost feel bad for these parents who obviously went to a lot of effort to stage this holiday moment for their toddler. But seriously, what else did they expect?\n9. Santa hanging with the gals\nSanta knows how to relate to teen girls. (Photo: savannagirl13/Instagram)\nKudos to this Santa for bringing the joy of the season to these goofy teenaged girls.\n10. The build-up\nI think we all know what's going to happen next. (Photo: individualrivalry/Instagram)\nWait for it ... wait for it. Yeah, this is one situation that's not going to end well for Santa or the little girl.\n11. Sadness and disbelief\nSanta looks a little weary in this one, doesn't he? (Photo: ginger_anne/Instagram)\nPoor little fella. This picture collage really captures his cycle of sadness-disbelief-sadness-disbelief, doesn't it?\n12. This little boy is flat-out not interested in Santa\nThis little boy has given up on Christmas this year. (Photo: jackieoconnor6/Instagram)\nThis little boy is not going to meet Santa. You can't make him. Nope, you just can't.\n13. Santa's little elf\nThis baby is ready to go to work in Santa's workshop! (Photo: crcountry716/Instagram)\nPut this baby to work, Santa! He is all dressed and ready to go. One thing though, you might want to check on the status of that diaper first.\nEditor's note: This story has been updated since it was published in 2015.", "This past weekend my nephew, Kyle, had his First Confirmation at the Cathedral Basilica. Of course I was a little worried about Lu and how she would behave because she's 19 months old and doesn't understand when to be quiet. She actually did great and provided us with some funny stories ... such as when the church bells would ring, she would loudly say, \"Hello?\"! It was pretty adorable.\nFor the most part, everyone around us was understanding, but there was one woman who seemed annoyed. As a parent of a toddler, I do get nervous in certain situations we are in, but I can also take a step back and realize she's a toddler and toddlers will be toddlers. I will leave it at that.\nWe haven't flown with Lu and honestly, the thought of flying with her makes me nervous ONLY because of the other passengers. Not everyone is as nice as Todd Walker. Who's Todd? Read on ...\nA woman named Jessica Rudeen was flying from Kansas City to Charlotte earlier this month with her three-year-old daughter AND four-month-old son. Her daughter Caroline had a meltdown after they boarded and the baby was screaming too. Luckily, they ended up sitting next to the nicest guy EVER - a guy from Kansas named Todd Walker.\nHe offered to hold the baby while Jessica dealt with Caroline. Then she needed to feed the baby. So he switched gears and started talking to Caroline to keep her distracted. He kept it up the entire flight. He watched a movie with her, helped her color, and let her lean over him while he showed her stuff out the window. By the end of the flight, they were best buds.\nAt some point, Todd and Jessica realized they also had the same connecting flight from Charlotte to Wilmington. When they landed, they walked to the gate together. Then before they boarded, he talked to someone at the desk and asked them to change his seat so he could sit next to them again for the last leg of their trip.\nJessica says he told her he has two kids of his own, and someone helped his wife when she had to fly a while back. So he was just trying to pay it forward.\nWhat a great guy!!! Jessica posted pics on Facebook.", "Kerry Spencer has an annual Christmas tradition that brings a smile to the faces of her family members, and this year, the public is getting in on the laughs.\nSpencer, of Parkton, Maryland, every year shares a photo of her son, Samuel, sitting on Santa’s lap at a mall in Provo, Utah. What’s unique about Samuel’s visit with Santa 12 years ago is that he wasn’t crying, and he wasn’t telling the big guy what he wanted for Christmas.\n“We taught our baby sign language,” Spencer wrote in a Dec. 5 Twitter post. “This is the sign for ‘help.’ You’re welcome.”\nWe taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 5, 2017\nIn the photo, a very authentic-looking Santa smiles for the camera while a solemn-looking, 1-year-old Samuel averts his eyes. His chubby little toddler hands are making the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for “help,” or as close to it as he can get.\nMashable reported that Spencer, whose Facebook profile states that she is a faculty member at Stevenson University, taught both of her children ASL.\n“We taught both our kids baby sign (language) because they can sign before they talk and it is so very useful to be able to communicate with your baby,” Spencer said.\nSpencer said she shares the photo each year on Facebook, but this year, her friend, author Mette Harrison, asked her to tweet it so she could retweet it to her own followers.\nAs of Monday morning, the tweet had more than 25,000 likes and had been shared close to 6,700 times.\nSome of the reactions to the photo were nearly as funny as the photo itself.\nWonder what my son was trying to say. Lol pic.twitter.com/A1XBZduanC — Dr. Gnome to you (@MrParacletes) December 7, 2017\n“Wonder what my son was trying to say,” one Twitter user wrote above a photo of a little boy showing Santa his middle finger, with Santa looking on with great interest.\n“Something boss. I can tell,” Spencer responded.\n“This is how I signed ‘help,” another woman wrote, sharing a photo of herself as a child, screaming on Santa’s lap and desperately trying to get away.\n“That works, too,” Spencer wrote.\nThis is how I signed “help”. 😄 pic.twitter.com/0rSO327ltF — Stephanie Sarkis PhD (@StephanieSarkis) December 8, 2017\nOther commenters pointed out that Samuel’s technique wasn’t quite right.\n“It’s ASL baby sign,” Spencer wrote in response. “Like with spoken language, certain words are ‘mispronounced’ by babies learning them.”\nShe posted an image of the ASL sign for comparison.\nHere's the actual sign for comparison: pic.twitter.com/WTu2FPTl7O — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 8, 2017\nOverall, people found the photo as hilarious as Spencer and her family do. Samuel, now 13, even got in on the Twitter action.\n“I happen to be the baby in this photo,” he tweeted. “You may direct all likes and follows to me now.”\nI happen to be the baby in this photo. You may direct all likes and follows to me now. https://t.co/oA5kvSZrcO — That one baby that doesnt like Santa (@DextrousWolf) December 6, 2017\n“You’re a big boy now,” his mom responded.\n“You got that right, Hun,” Samuel wrote.\nSpencer said the entire family laughs at the photo each year.\n“Posting it is one of our favorite family traditions,” she said, according to Mashable.", "Pictures with Santa Claus don’t always go as planned, especially when they involve babies.\nKerry Spencer — Twitter handle @Swilua — decided to take her precious tot to see the big man in red some years ago, but her son’s reaction made the picture a joke among friends and family each year. As if her son’s bewildered look weren’t enough of an indicator, Spencer noticed something important in her son’s body language.\n“We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for ‘help.’ You’re welcome,” she tweeted.\nWe taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for \"help.\" You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 5, 2017\nThough the picture is a few years old, Spencer explained that a friend encouraged her to share it with the rest of the internet, where it truly belongs.\nSeveral years ago now. It's a family tradition to post it on Facebook every Christmas. This year my friend @metteharrison made me tweet it. So I did. Lol. — Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 7, 2017\nBaby Spencer is not the only person uneasy in Santa’s presence.\nPastor David Grisham, a self-identified Christian evangelist, went viral earlier in the month for using his megaphone to tell little kids waiting in line to see Santa that he was, in fact, not real.\n“Today, I’m going to tell the kids here that there is no such thing as Santa Claus and that Christmas is about Jesus,” he explained in a Facebook video before walking into an Alaska mall.\n“Hi kids, my name is Pastor David, and I want to tell you guys that the real reason for the season for Christmas is about Jesus,” he could be heard saying in between declarations that Santa was simply a cartoon.\nAnd that wasn’t Grisham’s first time calling out Claus.\nHe went viral in 2016 for doing the same thing to kids in a Texas mall.\nHis stunt didn’t vibe well with parents, who had no issue telling him to get lost.\nRELATED: London Christmas tree has extra layer of security, and people are wondering why", "FOX 17 – We posted a story earlier Monday about a boy making the ASL sign for “help” during his visit with Santa and we asked you in a Facebook post if you had funny Santa pictures to share.\nAnd you did!\nYou can add your photos now directly to the gallery, by clicking the Submit Your Photo button.", "SAN DIEGO — It’s that time of year when the FOX 5 Morning News wants to see your ‘Scared of Santa’ photos! It can be from this year, last year or a long time ago.\nUpload your photo by clicking on the button below and we’ll feature it in our photo gallery above and maybe even on TV!\nNote: Photos will not appear in the gallery automatically as each one needs to be approved.\nRelated stories Toddler signals ‘help’ in sign language during photo with Santa", "A father is booted from a flight after his toddler kicked up a minor fuss because she was scared. Picture: Storyful\nA father is booted from a flight after his toddler kicked up a minor fuss because she was scared. Picture: Storyful\nA TODDLER and her dad were reportedly escorted from a Southwest Airlines plane after the toddler became briefly fussy about taking flight.\nPassengers claimed the family was kicked off the Wednesday flight from Chicago to Atlanta because the two-year-old was momentarily scared, news station WGN-TV reported.\nAccording to the New York Post , the child reportedly became upset when she wasn't able to sit on her dad's lap instead of her own seat.\nHer dad, however, was able to get her to behave again and sit in her own seat before the plane departed, according to passengers.\nIn a video, others aboard are heard protesting the pair's removal, saying the girl had calmed down before flight attendants intervened.\nA father is booted from a flight after his toddler kicked up a minor fuss because she was scared. Picture: Storyful\n\"So we're going to kick them off the flight and traumatise her some more to have her fearful to get on the plane again?\" one passenger asked.\n\"With a 2-year-old, you're not going to give her like two minutes to sit?\" another said.\nSouthwest Airlines released a statement claiming the family was kicked off when the \"conversation escalated\".\nThe passenger who filmed the incident, Alexis Armstrong, told Inc.com that the child \"had a fit for about three minutes ... while still boarding and people were seating\".\nA flight attendant then allegedly told the father that the child needs to calm down and be seated or they will be escorted off.\nMs Armstrong said he managed to get the little girl to quieten down and sit in her seat, when the airline staff returned and asked them to leave the plane.\nWhen other passengers spoke up in the father's defence, the flight attendant can be heard telling passengers: \"We're cleared for departure. We all need to understand the operation, unfortunately. This is not helpful guys. Do you want to go to Atlanta? The decision's been made.\"\nA flight attendant asks the father to get off the plane. Picture: Storyful\nMs Armstrong posted the video to Facebook before the flight took off, where it quickly went viral.\nIn response to the incident, the airline released the following statement: \"After pushback Wednesday evening, Flight 1683 to Atlanta returned to the gate at Midway to allow supervisors to board the aircraft. Our initial reports indicate a conversation escalated on board between the crew and a customer travelling with a small child.\n\"We always aim for a welcoming and hospitable experience and regret the inconvenience to all involved.\n\"The travelling party was booked on the next flight to Atlanta after the original flight continued as planned. We will reach out to the customer[s] to listen to any concerns they have about their experience and look forward to welcoming them on board again soon.\"\nPart of this story first appeared in the New York Post.", "A new proposal may require all toddlers to ride in rear-facing car seats in Rhode Island.\nBoth chambers of the general assembly voted for the legislation on Wednesday.\nIf the governor signs it, all children under the age of two will have to face backward while in a car.\nSeveral states already require toddlers to sit in rear-facing seats.\n(Copyright (c) 2017 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)", "The Porteaus have been surprised by the attention their home has gotten. (Source: News and Tribune)\nBy DANIELLE GRADY\nNews and Tribune\nNEW ALBANY - Minion mania has overcome Indiana Avenue in New Albany.\nAlmost 70 of the yellow characters, which were first introduced to the world in the hit children’s movie \"Despicable Me,\" fill the yard of married couple Michael and Anne Porteau and their son, Justin.\nThe smiling creatures, most of them wearing red and white Santa hats, stand in groups and swing from trees - two 11-foot sentries even stand guard next to the Porteau's door at 2032 Indiana Ave.\n>> More Floyd County news on wave3.com\nWhile there are many homes throughout the Southern Indiana area decorated for Christmas, none are quite like the Porteaus'. On the street, tens of cars at a time have lined up to snap photos of the display. Still more people have parked their vehicles and walked up to the minions to get a closer to look or a selfie.\nMichael sits inside, watching the craziness unfold from his security monitors, or he steps out into the fray to chat with the gathered crowd.\nThe Porteaus have been surprised by the attention their home has gotten.\nThe married couple have been decorating their home for the holidays since their first child, Johnathon, was born 20 years ago.\nEach year, they put just a little more effort into it. Michael would place wire deer in the yard and string lights on the house and in the bushes.\n\"At the time, it was pretty big,\" he said. It seemed like it was, anyway.\nLast year, Michael stepped his efforts up once again. At the time, Johnathon, who lives next door to Michael, was engaged in a decorating war with the neighbors. One side would buy a new inflatable for their yard; the other would respond by adding their own.\nMichael decided to show them both up by purchasing 20 minions for his own display.\nHe liked the devilish characters. They all looked the same, but you could arrange them in any way you wanted, and they would appear completely different from each other.\n\"You can put a thousand minions out there and create something, and it doesn't look like a thousand minions,\" Michael said. \"But if you put like a thousand Santa Clauses out there, somebody's going to be like, what's going on here?\"\nAfter last Christmas ended, Michael started hunting for more. He found tons of them on sale: a few at Home Depot, another batch at Lowe's. Eventually, he accumulated the 70 or so he has now, spending around $3,000 in total.\nTwo weeks ago, he started arranging the display. It took him a few days, but soon, he had done it. Michael also made sure to install a lit-up, homemade cross within the minion mayhem; the Porteaus are Christian and Michael felt as if something was missing before he added the homage to Jesus.\nMichael hoped his display would bring a little joy to people. He considers himself a big-hearted guy. Last year, the Hometown Lawncare owner purchased sleeping bags, boots, socks and tents for homeless people. Recently, he bought several televisions, walkers and throw blankets for Yellowwood Terrace in New Albany, a senior housing facility for people with mobility issues.\n\"That's what I do, you know,\" Michael said. \"I'd rather do for somebody than buy something for myself.\"\nBut Michael still didn't think his minion display would garner much attention. Until he saw a video of his home on Facebook posted by Old Town Store in Corydon.\nOnly a few hours later, the clip, which showed the videographer driving past Michael's house with their phone pointed at the display, had racked up 20,000 views. By the end of the night, it had earned 40,000.\n\"We were like, oh my gosh, it's 40, there's no way it will get to 60,\" Anne said.\nMORE FROM WAVE3.COM\n+ Toddler signs 'help' while sitting on Santa's lap\n+ Extras needed for movie being filmed in WAVE Country\n+ Blue Bell Ice Cream to return to WAVE Country\nBut it did. As of press time, the video had received 3.8 million views and 56,781 shares.\nThe popularity of the post has attracted some questionable comments - one person threatened to burn Michael's yard. But the positives have still outweighed the negatives.\nMichael's favorite comment came from a mom who took her young, minion-obsessed son to see the display. Overjoyed by the setup, he proclaimed it to be the best Christmas present ever.\nThe story gave Anne cold chills.\n\"Isn't that sweet!\" she said.\n\"It's big,\" Michael replied.", "CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — Writing a letter to Santa is a time old tradition. But, one little boy told the jolly toymaker he doesn’t want any presents this year.\n6-year-old Chance has always had a huge heart, his mom Elizabeth Teckenbrock said.\nAfter Christmas decorations went up this year, Chance went to school so excited to share a story about his favorite holiday toy, “Elf on the Shelf.”\nWhen he told his classmates about the fan favorite Christmas item, he was surprised to learn some of his friends didn’t have a little elf.\nChance then assumed Santa wasn’t able to bring his school buddies presents because they didn’t have the toy.\n“I know some people don’t have money to get toys,” Chance maturely told his mom. But he was determined to solve that problem.\nIn his generous letter to Santa, Chance made it clear he has plenty to keep him happy and wants others to feel joy as well this holiday season.\nChance’s handwritten note to Santa reads, “Please take all my toys to boys and girls who don’t have some. My toys are a lot and you can skip me.”\n“But not my sister she will cry,” the sweet card goes on to say about Chance’s 2-year-old little sister, Blake.\nElizabeth told WFLA News Channel 8, “He wants to make others Christmas great, and I want to make his great.”\nThe Teckenbrocks’ family goal is to gather as many toys as possible for all the kids in need in the Tampa Bay area. The family will be donating the gifts to Toys for Tots on December 14.\nIf you want to help Chance with his mission to make Christmas wonderful for other kids, you can contact Elizabeth Teckenbrock at TeckenbrockE@pcsb.org.\nNever miss another Facebook post from 8News\nFind 8News on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; send your news tips to iReport8@wric.com.", "Merry Christmas, Prince Harry! His fiancée, Meghan Markle, knows how to rock a sexy Santa dress. Check out the look from ‘Deal or No Deal’!\nWait, hold on a minute. Meghan Markle was a Briefcase Babe on Deal or No Deal?? From Howie Mandel to Prince Harry — she’s definitely moved up in the world! Being one of the game show’s “babes” meant that Meghan had an entire arsenal of short and sassy dresses within arm’s reach. For Christmas, it was no different. Meghan and her comrades lit up the show’s holiday special in 2006 with matching Santa outfits. They looked adorable!\nIn the cute throwback photo, Meghan (in front on the right) and her costars rock tiny, red velvet minidresses trimmed with white fur. Host Howie sits on one of the women’s laps while wearing a santa hat. All in good fun! Meghan was one of the briefcase models for 34 episodes of Deal or No Deal, from 2006 to 2007. During that time she appeared in several TV movies, in guest spots on TV shows like CSI: Miami, and bit parts in movies. She didn’t rocket to superstardom, though, until starring on Suits in 2011. The rest is history!\nFlash forward 10 years after her Deal or No Deal days, and Meghan’s about to become a duchess. The awesome actress is a little nervous about how much her life’s about to change, a palace insider told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY, but she’s willing to deal with the crazy press and the duties that come with being a royal because she loves Harry so much! “She’s crazy in love with Harry and she believes that what she has to give up is worth it for what she will gain,” the source told us. Aww!\nHollywoodLifers, are you surprised to find out that Meghan was on Deal or No Deal? Let us know!", "Sign up for one of our email newsletters.\nA letter to Santa by a six-year-old skips the holiday cheer and questions Santa's naughty and nice lists - not your typical Christmas wish list letter.\nNPR National Desk reporter Sarah McCammon shared a photo of her son's Santa letter to Twitter last week and the post gained retweets and comments.\nThe letter begins by pointing out the boy's hesitation with the assignment, \"Dear Santa, Santa Im only doing this for the class.\"\nThen the heart of letter brings up the student's feelings about Jolly Old Saint Nick, \"I know your notty list is emty. And your good list is empty. and your life is emty.\"\nHe ends the letter with some foreboding, \"You dont know the trouble Ive had in my life.\"\nAnd then declines to sign the note, \"Good bye. love Im not telling you my name\"\nMy 6yo Santa skeptic was told to write a letter to Santa at school. So he did... pic.twitter.com/XUFGMnXDFT — Sarah McCammon NPR (@sarahmccammon) December 3, 2017\nMcCammon followed up with an explainer tweet.\nPS - the 'troubles' in his life? His brother. Don't call child services. — Sarah McCammon NPR (@sarahmccammon) December 3, 2017\nThe post struck a chord with parents and others as many shared their thoughts.\nThe last few days have been insane. Only one other thing I want to say about my little skeptic: he is a wonderful, bright, sweet, happy, compassionate boy who loves his brother and his dog and LOVES holidays. He just likes adults to level with him. :) — Sarah McCammon NPR (@sarahmccammon) December 6, 2017\nIn an interview with Reuters McCammon said that she told her children that Santa is a story but encouraged them not to share the truth about Santa with their schoolmates.", "It's the season of giving and one little boy is taking it to the next level.\n4-year-old Landry Hull of Greene started a toy drive for the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City and it's taking over his town.\nHis mother Wendy Schmitt says, \"He is excited, jumps up and down telling people why we are doing this which is because not all kids can be home for Christmas.\"\nLandry knows first-hand what it's like to be away from home and at the hospital.\nAt 27 weeks and less than 2 pounds, Landry was born with a heart defect. At just 4 years old, he's already had 2 open heart surgeries with a third one expected soon. His family said the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City was their saving grace.\n\"There was no way we could afford to spend seven months in a hotel room and that kept us together,\" Schmitt says.\nLandry remembers something about that time too.\n\"A toy truck was my favorite,\" he says.\nHe's now hoping to bring that same joy to other children with a massive toy drive thanks to some local businesses and North Butler Elementary School.\nPrincipal Laura Tracy says, \"He's a miracle; he embodies Christmas like no one else can.\"\nEven though he enjoys testing out the toys, he has his eyes on something else this year. Landry is instead asking for a \"spin toothbrush\" from Santa this year.", "Sometimes even Santa's helpers need assistance.\nWe'll give a bit of a spoiler for this story in case children are watching.\nThe Elf on the Shelf is fine - perfectly, absolutely, 100 percent fine.\nAnd he still has all of his magic because everyone who touched him, including the people at Orlando's Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital, worked to help him.\nZoey, a German shepherd, decided that Sam the elf, who wasn't high enough on the shelf, looked good enough to eat.\nSo Zoey gave it a try and ended up biting off Sam's arm.\nCue the screaming seven-year-old girl, whose mom happens to work in the hospital's ER.\nMom made sure everyone used \"magic\" gloves on Sam, and for good measure, they sprinkled Christmas magic on him when they were done.\nRumor has it, Zoey is on the naughty list this year.\n© Copyright 2017 WBBH/WZVN (Waterman Broadcasting). All rights reserved.", "Cooper, 74, is their Santa Claus. His bag is filled with bread, not toys. Instead of a red hat, he wears a camo \"Ducks Unlimited\" cap.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Bellingham Herald.", "Jordan Areaux had a plan about how she was going to deliver the news that her first child was on the way. She and boyfriend Masyn Lehl had a photo taken of them posing against a backdrop of snow capped pines at a Christmas tree farm holding a sign with the chalk-written message: \"Dear Santa July 2017.\"\nStart the conversation, or Read more at MLive.com.", "A mum has written a touching tribute to the Santa in her local shopping centre who made her shy son’s grotto experience a magical one.\nThe mum, named Virri, shared the open letter on Imgur, alongside a photo of her son smiling down at Santa.\n“Dear Mall Santa, I hope you see this,” she wrote on 11 December. “My one-year-old son was super shy and not having any of the Santa thing.\n“Not quite in full tears, but I’m about 95% sure that I would have had the ‘super meltdown’ picture if we went anywhere else.”", "It’s the time of the year again, when children across the city line up to spend some time with Santa Claus, but for many families, it’s not all that simple.\nOnce the Lawson Heights Mall closed Sunday evening, Autism Services of Saskatoon hosted its third annual Sensitive Santa event, allowing kids with autism to meet Saint Nick.\nREAD MORE: Little boy’s touching video explaining his autism to his classmates goes viral\nFor the Mahlum family, the experience allowed their five-year-old son, Jacob, to interact with Santa in a better environment.\n“It means a lot for us because it gives us the opportunity to bring our son here and not have any worries of the hustle and bustle and all the distractions,” said Cliff Mahlum, Jacob’s father.\nThe family attended the event last year and said they came back again because of the positive experience.\n“He was able to sit on Santa’s lap and actually tell him what he wanted for Christmas, whereas if we would be in a crowd, he would be hiding behind things,” said Jacob’s mother, Lincoln Mahlum.\n“It’s early support and early programming and events like this that help us get through and set him on the right track where he needs to be,” Cliff said.\nThe Caruk family also attended the Santa meet and greet. Kelly Caruk said the event was a great opportunity to bring all three daughters to see Santa in a quiet environment without waiting in line, as her seven-year-old daughter has autism.\nCaruk said the event took the pressure off as a parent because her family was “with other families who are well aware of what autism is and who won’t think any differently of your family or your child if they’re acting up or having a hard time with anything.”\n“We’ve typically avoided coming when there’s going to be a long lineup and so we generally don’t come and visit Santa at the mall, for that being one of the reasons why,” said Caruk. “This gives us the opportunity.”\nREAD MORE: Family’s heart-rending case prompts call for autism strategy: ‘We are not alone’\nAround 40 families enjoyed the Sensitive Santa event, which aimed to addresses the overwhelming experience which kids with autism and sensitivity issues may feel during the annual holiday visit.\n“Many of them don’t have the opportunity for their kids to succeed in a public setting just because it’s so loud and bright and a lot going on. (The families ) are very thankful for it,” said Alex Scott, the director of family programs with Autism Services of Saskatoon.", "This is the heart-warming moment a blind toddler walks into a shop clutching a handful of coins asking for help to buy a notebook so she can start school.\nVanessa Esposio told staff she had been blind since birth with glaucoma when she walked into the 7-11 convenience store in Manila, Philippines.\nThe poverty-stricken four-year-old is the daughter of a single mother and the second youngest of nine siblings.\nStaff at the 7-11 convenience store helped her to choose a notebook for which she had been saving\nVanessa is the daughter of a single mother and the second youngest of nine siblings but is determined to go to school\nBut she had collected coins and so that she could start to study at school like the other children her age despite being barely able to see.\nThe encounter was captured by a customer inside the shop who helped her to communicate with the staff.\nVanessa is asked what she wants, before answering 'a notebook', pointing to the direction where the school supplies are.\nShe continues: 'Notebook! Notebook! I want to buy a notebook. Sister! I am going to buy a notebook.'\nAfter being taken over to the shelves with notebooks, Vanessa chooses an orange one.\nThey helped Vanessa choose an orange notebook (left). She showed staff her official papers detailing her condition\nStaff obviously took a shine to Vanessa and treated her to a chocolate drink and dinner at the store\nShe also picked out a new pencil then later sat down with other customers and staff who treated her to a chocolate drink and dinner.\nThe youngster also showed staff her official document outlining her condition and giving family details, which she keeps strapped around her waist.\nOnlooker Rachel Figueroa said: 'Vanessa is a very happy child. She just wanted a notebook to use in school. She showed off some of her mathematics skills to people in the shop.\n'She's a bright little girl and I just hope and pray she can continue at school. She has a big heart and really wants to learn.\n'It must be so difficult for her because she can only see a little bit.'", "SINGAPORE: Ahead of the Government's plan to roll out parcel collection lockers to serve estates across Singapore, at least 30 condominiums have installed them within their premises.\nAround another 30 private residences have signed on to have such locker systems in place.\nMontebleu at Minbu Road is among the growing number of condominiums that have said yes to a parcel collection network.\nFor Royston Tan, a Montebleu resident, the lockers solve the problem of missing out on receiving e-commerce packages whenever the deliveryman shows up to an empty house.\n\"Locker systems like this will give us, you know, a level of convenience where items that we ordered can be dropped off ... whether or not we are at home, and then we come and collect at our own convenience,” said the 43-year-old technology firm vice president.\nPebble Bay, Mi Casa, Costa Del Sol, Pinevale executive condominium and Tampines Court are other residences that already have the lockers installed.\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement\nSpring Grove, Sims Green, Amber Point, Tanglin Park and Chestervale executive condominium have also signed on for the lockers and will have them installed in due course.\nThis follows the announcement by the Infocomm Media Development Authority in November that a parcel locker network will be tested out at public housing estates in Punggol and Bukit Panjang next year under a pilot initiative.\nDeputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam had said last year that there are plans for a federated locker system in residential areas to improve last mile delivery of parcels around the island.\nWhile scores of condominiums have taken the initiative to implement such a system, not all private residences have readily taken to the idea, said parcel locker vendor Parcel Santa.\n\"A lot of them would like to take a wait-and-see approach and see how this develops before they commit themselves,\" said Jim Huang, chief executive and co-founder of the start-up.\nParcel Santa gets paid by delivery providers like FedEx and DHL every time a locker is used.\nIf mail is not collected within a 24-hour period, residents are also charged between S$1 and S$3 for every 12-hour block a parcel sits in a locker.\nThe lockers have in place a multi-layered security system to deter tampering or vandals. Users enter verification information into the locker system sent to their mobile phones or emails when their packages arrive. Without this authentication process, the parcel containers cannot be opened.\nCameras with round-the-clock surveillance and infrared sensors are also embedded into the system.\nIn most of the private residences, lockers are installed at basement car parks. Only deliverymen registered with courier service providers are authorised to open the lockers to place packages, said Parcel Santa.\n\"IT'S A LEARNING CURVE\"\nThe Oceanfront @ Sentosa Cove has 35 lockers installed serving about 260 units.\nChairman of the condominium’s management committee Desmond Soo said his estate’s security services were an added safeguard against potential saboteurs.\n\"There's always a possibility someone could put a bomb. But I think they've (Parcel Santa) given us measures and in a way, it's a learning curve as well,\" he said. \"We signed (an) agreement with them and we want to start looking at it continuously, monitoring the situation, evaluating.\"\nSecurity analyst Graham Ong-Webb said that the benefits of the locker system outweighed potential threats to residents.\nThe research fellow at the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies said that while nothing is foolproof, there are still precautions that can be taken to minimise risks.\n\"These locker systems ought to be placed in a vicinity within a condominium or a housing area which is a little bit of a distance away from where the residents are living,\" he said. \"You know when push comes to shove, if something negative were to happen, then at least the fallout can be mitigated.\"\nIn future, when more parcel lockers are installed around homes, he added that they could be put near rubbish collection areas in estates for example as a security safeguard.", "Sensing she's done something to make her family happy, the toddler tries to repeat the trick\nHer family is shown bursting into exuberant applause at her accomplishment\nPicking up a half empty soda bottle, the tiny tot flips the beverage effortlessly\nFootage shows small child flipping a bottle through the air before it lands upright\nFootage of a small child flipping a bottle through the air before it lands right side up is making its way around the Internet.\nThe clip shows the toddler standing on a dining room table surrounded by what looks like family members in an unknown part of the US attempting the same feat.\nPicking up a half empty soda bottle, the tiny tot flips the beverage with effortless flare where it surprisingly lands standing upright.\nAdorably, the little girl raises both her arms triumphantly as her family bursts into exuberant applause at her accomplishment.\nSensing she's done something to make her family happy, the toddler tries to repeat the feat and attempts to flip the bottle again, only this time with less success.\nThe family doesn't appear to mind, though, still clapping her on in a heart-warming display of love and support.\nFootage showing a small child flipping a bottle through the air before it lands upright is making its way through the Internet\nPicking up a half empty soda bottle, the tiny tot flips the beverage effortlessly as her family watches on\nHer family, stunned by the little girl's feat, is shown bursting into exuberant applause afterwards", "The video will start in 8 Cancel\nGet daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nIt has become a tradition for Royal Mail to 'team up' with Santa and his elves in the run up to Christmas Day.\nSo, if your little one is planning on sending a letter to Father Christmas, then you've only got a few days left to post it to Reindeerland.\nThe postal deadline is Friday, December 8. The date allows Royal Mail the best possible chance of replying to all the letters before December 25.\nOnce your letter has been posted it goes on a special 'magical journey', which the postal service has documented on its website.\n(Image: Royal Mail)\nWhen a letter has been received by its 'sorters', it's then sent off to the North Pole in a giant red hot air balloon.\nAfter Santa has read it, the letter gets passed on to the elves in the toy factory, who then get to work making all the presents.\nOn Christmas Eve Santa piles all the toys on his sleigh and sets about making his worldwide journey, delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls.\nPost your letter with a Royal Mail stamp to:\nFather Christmas,\nSanta's Grotto,\nReindeerland,\nXM4 5HQ\nDownload our all-new mobile app to get the latest news, sport and what's on. Click here for iPhone and here for Android\nLooking for an older story? Search our archives\nSearch for jobs, motors and property, or place an advert or family notice here", "Southwest Airlines was forced to apologize Tuesday after a woman was confronted by a desk agent and forced to prove that she was the mother of her mixed-race son before being allowed to board a flight.\nAside from offering their apology, the airline indicated that the incident would be used as a \"coaching opportunity for our employee.\"\n© AP Photo / Amanda Bourman via AP One Person Dies After Southwest Engine Explodes, Forces Emergency Landing in Philly (VIDEOS, PICTURES)\n\"We apologize if our interaction made this family uncomfortable — that is never our intention,\" the company added.\nLindsay Gottlieb, the head coach for the women's basketball team at the University of California, Berkeley, was getting ready to board Flight 1808 to Oakland, California, with her son Jordan on Sunday when she was stopped and required to provide a birth certificate to prove that the one-year-old was indeed her son.\nGottlieb detailed the odd encounter via Twitter on Monday, saying that the employee was prompted to question her after noticing that both the mother and child had different last names even though airlines are not required to do so for domestic flights.\nHowever, according to the frustrated mother, it had more to do with skin color than last names. Gottlieb is white while her fiance and baby's father, Patrick Martin, is black.\n— Lindsay Gottlieb (@CalCoachG) May 28, 2018\n— Lindsay Gottlieb (@CalCoachG) May 28, 2018\n— Lindsay Gottlieb (@CalCoachG) May 28, 2018\n​In an additional statement to the Boston Globe, Southwest explained that FAA regulations require airlines to \"verify a lap child is under the age of two by reviewing a birth certificate or government issued identification.\" A lap child is defined as a toddler that will be sitting on a parent or guardian's lap instead of a seat throughout the flight.\n\"Although some international travel requires additional paperwork for leaving the country with a minor, domestic travel does not require airlines to match the last name of a child and guardian,\" it added.\nThough Gottlieb has since stated that the weekend incident was hurtful, she told the Associated Press that she hopes this \"can serve as a learning opportunity.\"\n\"I felt that in this situation it was my responsibility to say ‘Hey, this isn't OK,'\" she told the publication, before adding, \"that all families — regardless of how ‘traditional' they may or may not look — [should be] treated with dignity and respect.\"\nGottlieb told local San Francisco station KPIX that the incident should not reflect the overall attitude of the airline.\n\"I suspect it was just one insensitive employee,\" she said. \"It hurt my feelings. It made me feel a little bit less than and it's not OK.\"", "President Trump shared a warm embrace with a child who was in attendance at the \"Right to Try Act\" signing.", "Christmas is definitely in the air and what better way to enjoy the holiday season than to get to meet and hang out with old Saint Nicholas, which is what baby Jackson Roloff exactly did. The Little People, Big World fan favorite met Santa Claus for the first time and it seems like the two hit it off instantly.\n“This kid kills me,” Tori said about Jackson. “We met Santa and I think J would have taken a nap right there on his knee.”\nUnlike some young children, baby Jackson didn’t act up in the presence of a stranger, a colorful and jolly one at that. Tori said that Jackson was so patient and curious about dear old Santa that he didn’t mind sitting on his lap and posing for photographs.\n“His patience and curiosity just gets me,” Tori said. “I hope you guys are enjoying this Christmas season as much as we are!”\nFans took turns praising the two adorable photos of Jackson and Santa.\n“What a precious picture,” one follower said. “One of the best Santa pics I’ve ever seen!”\n“He is one of the cutest kids I’ve seen,” said another. “And not crying like most kids at Santa??? Adorable! You are a lucky lady!”\nLike everyone else, the Roloff family is busy preparing for Christmas and enjoying the holiday season. Tori, Jackson and other members of the Roloff family tagged along as Amy and her boyfriend, Chris Marek, went looking for the right Christmas tree for her home, as mentioned in another Inquisitr article. Days later, Tori, Zach, Jeremy, and Audrey brought baby Jackson and Ember Jean back to Christmas Mountain Choose and Cut to look for their own Christmas trees.\nOkay I’m done. This kid kills me. We met Santa today and I think J would have taken a nap right there on his knee. His patience and curiosity just gets me. I hope you guys are enjoying this Christmas season as much as we are! ❤️???????????? A post shared by Tori Roloff (@toriroloff) on Dec 11, 2017 at 3:59pm PST\nThe Roloffs are apparently done decorating their homes for Christmas. Amy posted a few photos showing some of her Christmas ornaments. She also shared a snap from her gift-shopping trip for Jackson and Ember, as well as some other kids.\nJeremy and Audrey, meanwhile, are also done decorating after getting their Christmas tree. The family moved back to their home a few days ago after the kitchen renovation was finished. Jeremy shared a short video clip of their tree on Instagram Stories. Audrey also shared a photo of Ember in an adorable reindeer outfit to celebrate her third month and to anticipate her first Christmas, as well.\nAs for Matt, the Little People, Big World patriarch is celebrating Christmas by telling people to get his book, Little Lucy Big Race, which stars his dog Lucy. Incidentally, Matt dressed Lucy up in a reindeer costume while he donned a Santa hat in one of his posts.\nBaby Jackson has also been busy helping Grandpa Matt sell his children’s book. As Matt mentioned in his latest Instagram post, Tori brought out the “big guns” by having Jackson pose with his book in an adorable photo to remind everyone not to “forget to have grandpa’s Lucy book” under their Christmas trees.", "A little boy was reduced to tears when his parents were forced to take down a swing after busybodies reported it to the local council.\nHis fuming parents attached a sign to the tree outside their house in North Perth slamming the anonymous tattletales for dobbing them in.\n'To the individuals who notified the council about our erected swing and rope ladder, congratulations, we have been asked to take them down,' it read.\nParents wrote a fuming note after their young son was reduced to tears when they were forced to take down a swing from a tree outside their home because busybodies reported it\n'Unfortunately, however, you missed the event of us telling our child that he can no longer play on the equipment that he loves so much.\n'You also missed seeing the stream of tears run down his face as we consoled him.'\nAt the end of the printed out note laminated to protect it from rain were the hashtags #getalife, #grinch, and #outdoorplay.\nDaily Mail Australia has contacted the local City of Vincent for comment." ]

[ "Jones was an international team-mate of his fellow Swansea native Charles, with both playing for Wales at the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden.\nAnd in his role as an ambassador for former club Tottenham Hotspur, Jones saw Bale in action on a regular basis at White Hart Lane before his record breaking move to Real Madrid in 2013.\n\"It's a tough question,\" Jones told BBC Wales Sport when asked who is Wales' greatest ever footballer.\n\"At this moment I've got to edge for Big John because he was a bit more versatile than Gareth.\n\"Gareth is an attacking player, but John could play centre-half and he could play centre forward.\n\"People asked me what his best position was and I would say 'I don't know what his best position is, but he's the best centre-half I've seen and he's the best centre forward I've seen'.\n\"I suppose that really sums John up.\"\nCharles, who died in February 2004, is revered at Italian club Juventus, who he joined in 1957 from Leeds United for a fee of £65,000.\nThat fee pales into insignificance compared to the £85.3m Real Madrid paid Spurs in September 2013, a world transfer record at the time.\nIn his four years at the Bernabeu, 27-year-old Bale has won the Champions League three times - the most recent in the 4-1 final win over Juventus in his home city of Cardiff.\nFor his country, Bale has scored 26 goals in 66 appearances.\nHe was the team's talisman as they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, the country's first appearances at a major tournament since 1958 and the era of Jones and Charles.\nJones has no doubts that Bale is on his way to becoming one of the greatest players in the game's history alongside Charles.\n\"Gareth will certainly be thereabouts, there's no doubt about that,\" Jones added.\n\"And he's such a terrific, grounded young man and it's great to see him successful.\n\"I think he would have progressed in the same way at Tottenham, I'm in no doubt about that.\n\"But at Real Madrid he's possibly had a bit more exposure and he's certainly one of the best players in the world at this moment.\n\"He could possibly go on to be better than the great John Charles.\"\nCharles, as Jones points out, was voted Serie A's greatest foreign player during a spell in which he was affectionately known as \"Il Buon Gigante\", the \"Gentle Giant\".\nAnd Jones believes Bale can quite rightly be considered the most successful British player to have played in Spain.\n\"He's one of our best exports. It's not because I'm Welsh, but he's such a terrific player,\" Jones added.\n\"He's been absolutely sensational for Real Madrid.\n\"Gareth is just one brilliant player. He's worked hard, he's listened and the sky's the limit.\"" ]

[ "Gareth Bale's Real Madrid will play Juventus at the National Stadium of Wales at 19:45 BST on Saturday, with 170,000 people expected in the city.\nSome road closures and extra security measures began on Thursday morning, ahead of the women's final.\nFirst Minister Carwyn Jones opened the festival at Cardiff Bay at 11:00 after the arrival of the trophies.\nIn the women's final at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night, Lyon beat Paris Saint-Germain 7-6 on penalties in front of a crowd of almost 22,500.\nSpeaking as he opened the festival, Mr Jones said \"people would have laughed 15 years ago\" if someone had said Cardiff and Wales would have the ability to host the Champions League final.\nHowever, Mr Jones would not be drawn on if he would be supporting hometown boy Bale and said he would be \"neutral\" on the day.\nLead organiser, the Football Association of Wales, called what will follow the \"biggest free party the city has ever seen\".\n\"I'm looking forward to the next four days, we want to give people a great time,\" Mr Jones added.\n\"This is up there at the top - it's the biggest sporting event in the world.\"\nWhile he admitted road closures would impact on people, Mr Jones said security of the fans was paramount.\nWales legend and former Juventus striker Ian Rush arrived in the bay by boat with the coveted men's and women's trophies before being greeted by the first minister on the the floating pitch.\nHe said: \"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. To have it in Cardiff is amazing.\n\"We had a great 2016 Euros, absolutely amazing. This now takes it to the next level. When everyone goes back Sunday, Wales will be on the map worldwide.\"\nRush described it as \"a dream final\" - with both himself and another Welsh legend, John Charles, having played for Juventus and Bale representing Real Madrid - the team former Wales manager John Toshack used to coach.\nHe said he felt the Italian giants would edge the final.\nThe official opening triggers events and free performances by host artists, DJs and bands each day.\nExtra security arrangements in Cardiff have also begun in earnest, with police saying there will be will be 6,500 deployments, including 550 armed officers, between Thursday and Sunday.\nAnd the first of the phased road closures for the Champions League events came into force in Cardiff from 00:01 BST on Thursday.\nCowbridge Road East was closed between Lower Cathedral Road and Westgate Street, at the south east corner of Bute Park, on Wednesday and will remain so until 06:00 on Monday.\nLloyd George Avenue will be shut from Callaghan Square to Cardiff Bay, with further closures around Bute Place, from Thursday morning until 22:00 on Sunday.\nCardiff council has brought forward the planned road closure of Castle Street, from the North Road junction to Westgate Street, by 12 hours to run from 12:00 on Friday.\nWider road closures in the Welsh capital will run from 00:01 on Saturday until 03:30 on Sunday.", "Wales forward Bale has been out with a calf injury for the past six weeks and, although he has now returned to full training, the former Tottenham player admitted he has not fully recovered from an ankle operation earlier in the season - and he also believes that caused the latest problem.\nWith the team's other 10 places more or less set in stone, the debate about whether Bale or Isco should be named in Zinedine Zidane's starting line-up has been the talking point in Spain in the build-up to Saturday's final, in which Real could complete their first league and European double since 1958.\nAnd more significantly, it has become much more than a debate about this game, with Bale's longer-term future at the Bernabeu under more scrutiny than at any other time since he arrived from Tottenham for a world-record fee four years ago.\nWriting in Marca on Monday, for example, Roberto Palomar headlined his article: \"And what if selling Bale isn't such a bad idea?\"\nHe claimed that \"in time, his absence stops being a problem\" and also argued that, for Real fans, the sight of Isco, Marco Asensio or Nacho watching from the stands is \"more painful\" than the absence of Bale, who \"doesn't even provoke nostalgia\".\nAnd he concluded it might not be a bad thing if an English club, \"fresh from failure and with hot pockets\", manages to prise the 27-year-old away from the Spanish capital.\nSo is Bale's time at Real Madrid really coming to an end?\nAt 8.30pm on Tuesday, 7 March, Real were in trouble. They were 1-0 down at Napoli at half-time in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie having been outplayed in the opening period and knowing that conceding again would send them out.\nZidane took decisive action, abandoning his preferred 4-3-3 formation and reverting to a 4-4-2, pushing Bale back into a deeper position on the right of midfield.\nThe intention was to put an extra body in midfield and deny Napoli the space they had been finding so easily - and it worked. A header from Sergio Ramos put Real back in control of the tie and they ended up 3-1 winners on the night, progressing easily.\nThat game in Italy was not the first time Zidane had veered away from 4-3-3 - he had regularly experimented with several shapes - but it was perhaps a turning point because he has rarely returned to it since.\nAt first, Bale was able to keep his place in the team as a winger in a fairly conventional 4-4-2, but that approach wasn't satisfactory because it meant Luka Modric or Toni Kroos playing out position on the other flank.\nAnd during Bale's recent absence, Zidane has made another tweak by introducing a narrow midfield diamond, with defensive-minded Casemiro at the base, Modric and Kroos on either side and Isco at the tip.\nIt has worked extremely well. The midfield quartet have exerted far more control over possession, Isco has pushed forward to support Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, and full-backs Dani Carvajal and Marcelo have still provided plenty of width.\nAlthough it is too early to tell whether Zidane has decided to abandon 4-3-3 for good, Real have played their most convincing football under his management with the 4-4-2 diamond - a formation it is difficult to see Bale fitting into easily.\nWhile Bale may struggle to adapt to the new system, it has been tailor-made for Isco to finally start to fulfil his undoubted potential. The Spain international and Ronaldo have been Real's best players for the past few weeks.\nIsco's technical ability, graceful style and good-humoured personality have always made him extremely popular with Real fans, who can be heard singing the 25-year-old's name far more regularly than Bale's.\nNow there's overwhelming support for the opinion that he should start ahead of the Welshman - not just this weekend, but for good.\nAn article in Marca claimed it would be \"the greatest injustice in memory\" if Isco wasn't picked on Saturday, while a piece in El Pais underlined the Spaniard's greater suitability for the congested spaces of a midfield diamond - with the headline 'Footballer Isco; player Bale'.\nPerhaps of even greater concern for Bale is that he is not even guaranteed to be the first option from the bench.\nZidane is blessed with an extraordinary depth and variety of talent in the attacking midfield and forward departments, with Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata and Lucas Vazquez also pushing hard for more minutes after impressive seasons.\nIn the long term, the rise of Asensio could be the biggest threat to Bale's status. The 21-year-old winger is regarded as one of Spain's hottest rising stars, and he was personally recommended to the club by national hero and fellow Mallorcan Rafael Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam-winning tennis player.\nAsensio showed his game-changing abilities with a superb solo goal in the quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich, and from now on he will get more than the 12 starts he has been granted this season.\nAs they play in the same position, it is easy to envisage his extra playing time coming at Bale's expense.\nBale's recent absence was not his first and there is a strong sense frustration is growing over the frequency of his injuries.\nSince arriving in Spain four years ago, Bale has had 16 spells on the sidelines and Alfredo Relano, editor of newspaper AS, is one who thinks the Wales international's fitness problems have let the team evolve without him.\n\"He has lost a lot of games with injuries and in the meantime new and very good players have emerged,\" Relano told BBC Sport.\n\"I think some of the club's confidence in him is declining. Florentino Perez signed him with the idea he would compete with Neymar for future Ballon d'Or awards, but we're already starting to see that's not going to happen.\"\nIf that's true, it would be a significant development. Bale has always been perceived as one of club president Perez's favourites, with former manager Carlo Ancelotti revealing in his recent book that one of the turning points in his relationship with Real came when Perez personally asked him to change Bale's playing position.\nHowever, Bale's injuries, the rise of Isco and Asensio and the impression that he doesn't fit into Zidane's new tactical formula, could force Perez into a rethink and make the player expendable rather than a guaranteed starter for the first time.\nRelano believes that could even happen this summer, adding: \"The club wants to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco and there are good offers for Bale from England. It wouldn't surprise me if he left.\"\nTo put all the above into context, it must be remembered that, even in the fickle world of football, life at Real Madrid lurches rapidly from one extreme to the other like nowhere else.\nIt is only a few weeks, for example, since current flavour of the month Isco was reportedly on the verge of leaving.\nBale offers qualities nobody else at the club possesses. He is arguably the squad's best crosser, ranks alongside Ronaldo in his ability to attack balls into the middle and nobody can match his pace and power on the counter-attack.\nZidane is a strong advocate of an extreme rotation policy, consistently using all the players at his disposal rather than repeating the same starting XI. So even if Bale is no longer untouchable, he can still have a big role.\nBale, to his credit, has made it clear he will fully understand if Zidane leaves him out of the team on Saturday, refusing to put his coach under public pressure to pick him.\nAmid all the negative talk, perhaps the most accurate assessment came from Jose Felix Diaz in Marca. He argued that Bale's return from injury is a solution rather than a problem and gives Zidane an extra \"card up his sleeve\".\nBale probably won't start against Juventus, but that does not necessarily mean his Bernabeu career is over.", "Bale, 24, has completed an £85.3m move from Tottenham to Real Madrid.\nMOTD presenter and former Spurs striker Lineker had a stint at Barcelona during his playing career.\n\"It's very important to throw your heart and soul into it. It's different, it's huge, and it's whether he can cope with that,\" Lineker told BBC Sport.\n\"He's got it all. He showed that last season and the only question now is whether he's got the mental strength to be able to cope with such a big move and the spotlight that will be immense over there in Spain.\nTottenham's defeat at Arsenal was a timely reminder of what they will miss now Gareth Bale has finally completed his protracted move to Real Madrid.\nThey will miss those match-winning moments and brushstrokes of genius that decorated his recent seasons at White Hart Lane.\nSpurs chairman Daniel Levy, however, was understandably confident in his statements following the completion of the deal that takes Bale to the Bernabeu.\nManager Andre Villas-Boas, with Levy and director of football Franco Baldini pulling the levers, has refurbished his squad with a succession of fine signings such as Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela and Paulinho.\nThe big question is can they replace Bale? And only time will provide the answer after the loss of this magnificent player.\n\"Ability-wise he is phenomenal. A player costing that much money, it's hard to justify that sort of fee. It's an incredible amount of money and no player is worth that, beyond perhaps [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.\n\"If they came on the market now they would be worth more than Bale but along with Neymar they're the two players that are coming up as world superstars.\"\nLineker, who played for Barca between 1986-1989, feels that learning the language and immersing himself in the culture will be key to Bale's chances of succeeding in La Liga.\nThe former England captain thinks that the experiences of previous foreign moves for British players makes speaking Spanish a necessity for the Wales winger.\nLineker added: \"It's important, more than anything, learn the language. If you're happy and communicate off the pitch that will reflect in your football and how things go on the pitch.\n\"If you look back at all of the British players that have been successful abroad, it's the ones that have got themselves into the culture, learnt the language and made life there enjoyable, rather than harbouring thoughts about England and getting back home.\n\"It's a fabulous opportunity for him and the important thing is he really needs to grasp it with both hands.\"", "\"We are talking here about one of the best players in the world,\" Real Madrid icon Emilio Butragueno says of a 26-year-old who is key to club then country this summer.\nReal Madrid chase an 11th European Cup at the San Siro Stadium in Milan on Saturday where Bale scored a dazzling Champions League hat-trick for Tottenham in 2010.\nA year before the Champions League final comes to Bale's home-town of Cardiff, the Welshman stands 90 minutes away from a second European triumph for Real - but Wales will watch nervously as their talisman is integral to Chris Coleman's Euro 2016 hopes.\nFour goals and a man down after just 35 minutes on a clear October night in Milan, Tottenham had quite the task ahead of them in their debut Champions League campaign against Europe's champions.\nBut then Bale switched to another gear and forced Harry Redknapp's side back into contention.\nHis first goal came from a sensational 50-yard run down the left flank and a stunning finish from an angle past Julio Cesar.\nHis next came when he left veteran Javier Zanetti in the dust to score again with an almost identical goal, before capping off his hat-trick in injury time.\n\"Five more minutes and we would have drawn,\" his then Spurs manager Harry Redknapp told BBC Wales Sport's Gareth Bale documentary.\nThen a 21-year-old, Bale had arrived on the world scene in stunning fashion.\nBale's heroics as Tottenham reached the quarter-final of the Champions League, only to lose, ironically, to Real, set the stage for him to become Spurs' star man and PFA Footballer of the Year before a world record £85m move to Madrid.\n\"He's playing with better players now, in what is technically the best league in Europe and he has the expectation on his shoulders,\" said former Spurs team-mate Jermaine Jenas.\n\"The art of winning things at a big club, when the expectation is there, that's something that helps your development.\"\nHe scored decisive goals in the 2014 Copa del Rey and Champions League finals to help Madrid to 'la decima' - a 10th European Cup title - in his first season in Spain but the notoriously tough Bernabeu crowd turned on the Welshman in a difficult second season as rumours swirled of a Premier League return.\n\"Because Gareth is such a great lad, I always had that worry that he would be in the shadow of Ronaldo, whether he would feel over-powered by him,\" explained Redknapp.\n\"But I thought Gareth coped great with it and has done really well. The Madrid fans can be critical, that's how it is there and players are going to come under fire if they have the slightest hiccup, but Gareth has come through that well.\"\nReal legend Butragueno, who spearheaded the Spanish attack at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, feels Bale has now won over the notoriously tough-to-please Madrid fans.\n\"Truly, he's an extraordinary player who is very committed and for us he's an essential player,\" Butragueno said.\n\"Here at Real Madrid, we play every game like it is a final. It is like an exam and our fans are very demanding because they are used to winning and seeing extraordinary players.\n\"Therefore we could say the Bernabeu is like a courtroom where they know a lot about football and the level of demand is very high.\n\"He has been with us for three years and we hope he will stay for many more. We are confident he will be a fundamental player for us over the coming years and will leave a lasting legacy at the club,\" he said.\n\"We consider ourselves very lucky to be able to count on a player like him. We are very happy and at the same time very excited about the future of Gareth at Real Madrid.\nBale has been a vital part of the Wales squad in the build up to this summer's European Championships as Chris Coleman's side reached their first major international tournament for 58 years.\nHe scored seven of Wales' 11 goals in qualifying to steer Wales to a second-placed finish in Group B.\nCarlo Ancelotti, his former manager at Real Madrid, believes Wales will be able to draw upon Bale's experience in Spain during the Euros.\n\"Bale already helped his team from his experience in Madrid because he did really well in qualifications for the Euros,\" Ancelotti told BBC Wales Sport.\n\"For Wales it will be more competitive than for teams like France, Spain or Germany but I think Bale can be fantastic.\"\nWho do you think should start at Euro 2016? Step into Chris Coleman’s shoes and pick your XI - and then share it with your friends using our brand new team selector.", "We asked you to pick your best XI from Euro 2016 and over 100,000 of you responded.\nAn old-fashioned 4-4-2 was the preferred formation - 55% of you went that way - and the team was dominated by players from France and semi-finalists Wales.\nWho made the cut and who missed out?\nFrance captain Hugo Lloris was picked by 32% of readers - 32,720 - to start in goal for this team.\nLloris, 29, conceded just five goals in his seven appearances at Euro 2016; keeping three clean sheets in the process.\nItaly legend Gianluigi Buffon was the second-most picked goalkeeper, with Germany keeper Manuel Neuer selected by just 480 fewer people.\nNorthern Ireland's Michael McGovern - outstanding against Germany - was picked by just under 10,000 people.\nOver 80,000 of you - or 79% - wanted a back four in one guise or another, but the problem came with picking a right-back.\nEuro 2016 was clearly not a tournament of outstanding full-backs and so Germany defender Jerome Boateng - who played throughout the competition as a centre-back - was actually chosen to play on the right by more people than anybody else.\nBoateng was also heavily picked to start in the centre - he was the most selected defender overall.\nItalian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci was the second most popular pick to play at right-back, while the most popular specialist full-back was Wales' Chris Gunter.\nHowever, Gunter was only chosen by just over 10,000 users - he was the 10th most popular defender overall.\nItaly defender Giorgio Chiellini is the unlucky man to miss out on a place in the team. Chiellini was the fourth-most popular pick in defence - and the ninth-most picked player in any position - but he is reserve centre-back behind Bonucci and Ashley Williams, with Germany left-back Jonas Hector easily the most selected player on the left.\nHector made more open play crosses than any other player at Euro 2016 (33).\nWilliams played every minute of Euro 2016 for Wales (540) and made the most blocks (seven) and clearances (43) for them.\nIt turns out that the midfield at Euro 2016 picks itself.\nWest Ham winger Dimitri Payet was the most popular pick in midfield, with over 70% of you placing him in your first XI. His most popular position was on the left of midfield.\nPayet scored three times and created a tournament-high 24 goalscoring chances.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nNot far behind comes Wales and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale. Bale was actually selected by more users than Payet - Bale is in 84% of all teams chosen - but 35,000 people selected him in attack.\nHowever, with 50,000 choosing to play him in midfield, that's where he starts. His most popular position was on the right. You like an inverted winger.\nIn central midfield Paul Pogba and Aaron Ramsey complete the Franco-Welsh domination. Pogba saw off competition from Germany's Toni Kroos, picking up 1,616 more selections.\nThe only England player available to select - Tottenham's Eric Dier - was picked by 5,600 people - just ahead of Iceland's Birkir Bjarnason.\nWe'd be interested to hear the thoughts of the 144 people who chose Italy wing-back Mattia de Sciglio as a central midfielder...\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nIt comes as no surprise that France forward Antoine Griezmann - winner of the Golden Boot - was the most picked player in any position.\nThe Atletico Madrid man was selected in 87% of all teams and starts up front alongside Real Madrid and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo.\nGriezmann scored six goals, more than any other player; and only Michel Platini (nine in 1984) has bettered that tally in a single Euros finals.\nBy scoring against Hungary in the group stage, Ronaldo became the first player to score in four different European Championship finals tournaments (2016, 2012, 2008 and 2004).\nBale was the third most popular forward, while France forward Olivier Giroud came next.\nWales striker Hal Robson-Kanu may have scored the goal of the tournament but just 11,000 of you opted to start him.\nSometime Republic of Ireland playmaker Wes Hoolahan was selected as a striker by 656 people. A niche option.\nUefa's team of the tournament contains five players also selected in your XI - Ronaldo, Griezmann, Payet, Ramsey and Boateng.\nSet up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Uefa side had Portugal's Rui Patricio as goalkeeper, with team-mates Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro in defence along with Germany's Joshua Kimmich and Boateng.\nGerman Toni Kroos and Wales' Joe Allen form the defensive midfield duo behind Griezmann, Ramsey and Payet with Ronaldo the lone striker.\nThe team was selected by 13 former players and coaches, including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate, ex-Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Packie Bonner, former Finland forward and manager Mixu Paatelainen and ex-Aston Villa and Serbia striker Savo Milosevic.\nWe asked some of our TV and radio colleagues to nominate their chosen teams of the tournament.\nFormer Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane:\nHugo Lloris; Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng, Leonardo Bonucci, Raphael Guerreiro; Aaron Ramsey, Grzegorz Krychowiak; Gareth Bale, Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet; Cristiano Ronaldo\nBBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter Ian Dennis:\nManuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Jose Fonte, Leonardo Bonucci, Jonas Hector; Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Paul Pogba; Dimitri Payet, Antoine Griezmann, Mesut Ozil\nBBC Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson:\nHugo Lloris; Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng, Leonardo Bonucci, Jordi Alba; Joe Allen, Andres Iniesta; Ivan Perisic, Antoine Griezmann, Gareth Bale; Cristiano Ronaldo\nBBC Radio 5 live commentator Conor McNamara:\nMichael McGovern; Lukasz Piszczek, Jerome Boateng, Andrea Barzagli, Raphael Guerreiro; Luka Modric, Aaron Ramsey, Aron Gunnarsson; Ivan Perisic, Antoine Griezmann, Gareth Bale\nBBC presenter Dan Walker:\nHugo Lloris; Jerome Boateng, Gareth McAuley, Pepe, Leonardo Bonucci; Mesut Ozil, Paul Pogba, Aaron Ramsey, Dimitri Payet; Antoine Griezmann, Will Grigg", "Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure are among five Premier League players nominated for the top prize.\nLast year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Barcelona's Lionel Messi are the favourites to win world football's best player award..\nBut Wales forward Gareth Bale is the only British player named on the list.\nSo, Newsround looks back at the small group of British footballers who have won the Ballon d'Or in the past.\nSir Stanley Matthews was the first ever winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1956.\nHe was one of England's greatest footballers and he played for Blackpool for 14 years.\nMatthews' nicknames included \"The Wizard of the Dribble\" and \"The Magician\".\nStanley stopped playing top level football at the age of 50, 20 years longer than most players manage these days.\nDenis Law is the only Scottish player in history to have won the Ballon d'Or award, picking up the prize in 1964.\nHe was a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s who was best known for the 11 years he spent at Manchester United. He scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for the Red Devils.\nLaw still holds a record for United for scoring 46 competitive goals in one season.\nEnglishman Sir Bobby Charlton won the Ballon d'Or in 1966 and is still respected as one of the greatest midfielders of all time.\nHe won the World Cup with England the year he was given the award.\nSir Bobby played almost all of his club football at Manchester United and is still the clubs all time leading scorer.\nHe is still closely linked with the Red Devils and is currently sits on the board of directors, which helps run the club.\nWinger George Best won the Ballon d'Or in 1968.\nHe is the only player from Northern Ireland to have ever won it.\nGeorge was best known for his time playing for Manchester United, where he made his debut at 17-years-old in 1963.\nHe went on to score 179 goals in 470 appearances over the next 11 years.\nEngland's Kevin Keegan is the only British player to win the Ballon d'Or twice - picking up the best player award in 1978 and 1979.\nHe played as a striker for several clubs including Liverpool and German side Hamburg.\nAs a player in the 1970s and 1980s, he has been described by the media as \"the first superstar English player.\"\nHe went on to manage Newcastle United, Fulham and Manchester City, and also the England national team.\nMichael Owen was the last British player to win the famous Ballon d'Or award in 2001.\nHe played as a striker for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City as well as the England national team.\nOwen scored 118 goals in 216 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool and is seen as one of their greatest ever strikers.\nHe is now a regular football pundit.", "The friendly double-header with Northern Ireland and Ukraine over Easter - as well as one in Sweden in June - will give the Wales manager a final chance to assess his options for this summer's tournament in France.\nThe fact that first-teamers Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, James Collins, Hal Robson-Kanu and Andy King are among the absentees this weekend could be a blessing in disguise for Wales and Coleman.\nIt means fringe players will have a chance to impress the manager and maybe earn a place on Welsh football's greatest road-trip - and, in turn, give Coleman the perfect excuse to test out players he is unsure about.\nSo here's my thoughts on who is sure of their place on the bus to France? And who faces a nervous wait?\nGareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ashley Williams are hugely important to Wales' success. Bale is the talismanic match-winner - while the glue that holds everything together is the captain, Williams. Either an injury to centre-back Ashley or Gareth would have massive repercussions for Wales.\nI also think Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is going to be very important for us in France and he might just sneak into my Euro 2016 limo.\nThese are the first-team regulars who are guaranteed to be in the squad. The likes of full-backs Ben Davies and Neil Taylor and midfielders Joe Allen, Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu are all important.\nThey are not just hard-working, they are very talented in their own right. But the work they do creates the platform for the likes of Bale to perform.\nI think Reading defender Chris Gunter is definitely another - he's one of the first on Chris' team sheet. Guys like West Ham's experienced defender James Collins and Sam Vokes up front are pretty sure of their places as well.\nI'm not sure about David Vaughan in midfield and I would put playmaker Jonathan Williams - now on loan at MK Dons - in the bus station waiting room of guys that are not entirely sure of his place.\nAnother who might be questioning his place is right-back Jazz Richards. He did well in the qualifying campaign so I don't think he should have too many worries. But Jazz is no cert.\nWest Brom defender James Chester is sure of his place in the squad, while players like Cardiff's on-loan forward Tom Lawrence, the former Manchester United academy player, might be looking over his shoulder.\nThere are a few with an outside chance of getting in the squad - you think of young winger George Williams and another youngster, central midfielder Emyr Huws.\nThere are certainly question marks over Huws' inclusion because of his injury record recently, which is a shame because the man that graduated from Manchester City's academy looks a decent prospect\nIf David Cotterill can end the season well with Birmingham, I think he could be in the final 23-man squad for France - and you might even put Walsall striker Tom Bradshaw in there if he keeps scoring.\nStriker Simon Church has lost his place in the team but if he can impress in the friendlies as he has done for Aberdeen, he might force his way back in.\nThere are a few players who will just have too much to do to figure in Coleman's 23-man party.\nFor the likes of Southampton forward Lloyd Isgrove and Manchester United teenage defender Regan Poole, it's a little too late for them to break into the squad, while someone like full-back Adam Matthews has fallen off the radar.\nThe majority of the 23 will be players Coleman has been successful with - and he's a loyal man so he will probably stick with most of the players who have brought Wales success over the last couple of years.", "Charles, who died in February 2004 is revered at Italian club Juventus, who he joined in 1957 for a fee of £65,000.\nHe was the first British player to move abroad for what was a record fee.\n\"I would have liked to have seen Wales treat John Charles better when he was alive,\" former Wales striker Rush said ahead of Juve playing in the Champions League final in Cardiff on 3 June.\nLiverpool great Rush, who also played for Juve during his career, says Charles is held in higher regard in Italy - especially in Juve's Turin heartland.\n\"John Charles was brought up every time I spoke there... for him to be voted the best foreign player in Italy - and that includes people like Diego Maradona and Michel Platini - just goes to show how much he's held in awe,\" Rush, 55, said.\n\"I think he was treated better in Italy than he was in Wales and that's disappointing.\"\nSwansea-born Charles could play both up front and in defence, and was affectionately known as \"Il Buon Gigante\", the gentle giant, as incredibly he was never sent off or even booked during his career.\nRecognition at home did increase towards the end of Charles' life and he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and was awarded the CBE in 2001, while the same year he became the first non-Italian player to be inducted into the Azzuri Football Hall of Fame.\nIn October 2002 when Wales faced Italy in a Euro Championships qualifying match, Charles was invited to lead the teams out at a packed Millennium Stadium - to the adulation of both sets of fans.\n\"When Wales played Italy I saw John Charles walk out onto that pitch and he was crying... that was the only time when he was treated as a god,\" Rush added.\n\"In Italy he's a god. He'd get that in Italy every single time he went there.\"\nCharles played 155 games for Juventus during his four-year spell from 1958-62, scoring 93 goals in the process and helping The Old Lady to three Serie A championship titles and two Italian Cup triumphs.\nJuventus will play in Cardiff next Saturday when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League final and Rush is relishing the match.\n\"I did want a Juventus and Real Madrid final,\" Rush said.\n\"Juventus obviously because I played for them and Real Madrid so that Wales supporters can see Gareth Bale.\n\"It's great to have two fantastic teams in the final, but for Wales as a nation and Cardiff as a city it's perfect timing to put them on the map.\n\"I travel the world a lot and amazingly some people think Cardiff is in England.\n\"By the time they leave [the final] they'll know Cardiff is in Wales and that's what it's all about.\n\"It's about the hospitality, about everything both on the pitch and off. It's a fantastic stadium, an incredible atmosphere especially with the roof closed.\n\"I'm really proud to be Welsh and we want the people and the stadium to make Wales proud as well.\"", "The last-16 tie in Paris is the first time two home nations have met in the knockout stages of a major tournament.\nWales finished above England to win Group B, with Northern Ireland qualifying from Group C as one of the best third-placed teams.\nThousands of Wales and Northern Ireland fans are expected in Paris.\n\"It's a one-off game now and we'll go into it thinking we can get a victory,\" said Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty.\nWales manager Chris Coleman said: \"It will be about who handles that spotlight the best, who's capable of performing under that pressure and tension.\"\nThere is further home nations interest in the match as England's Martin Atkinson will be the referee.\nWales & Northern Ireland 'have belief to win Euro 2016'\nWhere Wales v Northern Ireland will be won and lost\nWith both nations having limited tournament experience over the years, it is not surprising Saturday's game will be their first meeting at a major finals.\nThere have been four World Cup or European Championship qualifiers, countless British Home Championship games and the odd friendly - but nothing matching the pressure and intensity of a knockout tie.\nWales go into the match with the historical advantage, having won 15 of their 34 previous meetings since 1953 - when Fifa ruled Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland must compete under separate names.\nNorthern Ireland have not beaten Wales in eight attempts, a winless run stretching back to a 1-0 Home Championship victory in May 1980.\nWhile Michael O'Neill's men will not dwell on results from previous generations, they do have a recent gauge of the challenge provided by their Welsh opponents.\nThe nations met in a pre-Euro 2016 friendly just three months ago when Wales nicked a late 1-1 draw in Cardiff.\nColeman's injury-hit side, however, were missing star men Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, while nine of the Northern Irish team that night started Tuesday's final Group C game against Germany.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nWales manager Chris Coleman:\n\"This is tournament football. Both teams find themselves in a position where they've earned respect, they've earned the tension.\n\"That pressure and tension is what we've been screaming for for years - there's no complaints from us. We're just looking forward to the game.\"\nWales forward Gareth Bale:\n\"The support from our fans is incredible - we call it the Red Wall. You know like Borussia Dortmund you see the Yellow Wall, we call it the Red Wall.\n\"To see the stadium it's red, it's like a home game. We see on the big screen fans crying and it means so much, not to just us as players but to us as a nation.\n\"You hear the stories coming back from home which make you smile and make you laugh and hopefully we can keep giving them more stuff to celebrate.\n\"I want to thank them first and foremost for keeping supporting us, they have been incredible over here.\n\"They have been amazingly behaved and hopefully they can continue to keep doing that and we can continue making them proud and happy.\"\nNorthern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill:\n\"We don't want this to end. The players want more.\n\"The prize is massive for both teams. We are playing for a place in the quarter-finals and we have to make sure it is us going through.\"\nNorthern Ireland captain Steven Davis:\n\"I think both sets of players will be extremely pumped up because of what's riding on it and what's at stake.\n\"There are a lot of similarities with the two teams in terms of progress over the last couple of years.\n\"It probably will have an edge because of what's riding on it, both sets of fans have been magnificent and both sets of players believe we can progress.\n\"It's going to be a great opportunity, and one we're looking forward to.\n\"I think there's a respect for each other as countries. There will definitely be an edge but maybe not that rivalry.\"\nWales were frustrated when they last played Northern Ireland, unable to play with any cohesion as they drew their March friendly 1-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium.\nIt was an example of how Chris Coleman's men can struggle to break teams down when opponents drop deep, and Northern Ireland demonstrated against Germany how obdurate they can be as a defensive unit.\nHowever, the big difference between the friendly and Saturday's encounter was that Wales were without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in Cardiff.\nThe talismanic pair have played in all three of Wales' Euro 2016 group games, with both in sparkling form as they demolished Russia so spectacularly to reach the second round.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nNorthern Ireland may defend deep in an attempt to negate Bale's pace, though that could create space for Ramsey, an intelligent playmaker whose performance against Russia was perhaps his best in a Welsh shirt.\nBale expects Michael O'Neill's side to employ a \"defensive\" approach and, having been a Real Madrid player for three years, he will be well accustomed to facing teams whose first aim is to shackle the opposition.\nBoth sides are riding a wave having reached the knockout stages of a major tournament for only the second time in their history, both backed by a loud and partisan following.\nBut whereas Northern Ireland lost two of their group games, Wales enter this game fresh from what was arguably their greatest performance, confident their superior firepower will be enough to overcome their dogged opponents.\nNorthern Ireland knew they would be playing hosts France or Wales at the last-16 stage.\nManager Michael O'Neill expressed a preference for the Welsh and got his wish - now his team have to deliver on the Paris pitch.\nThey believe they have a decent chance in a match which they expect to be more like a Premier League or Championship fixture, rather than a continental style game. The match has an English referee in Martin Atkinson.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nAnother solid defensive display will be required and Gareth Bale will somehow have to be shackled.\nCutting the supply to the Real Madrid star is seen as a crucial ploy which will require a team effort.\nManager O'Neill may be more adventurous in his selection and team formation.\nNI believe the Welsh may be suspect at the back, so there is a case for striker Kyle Lafferty being recalled to the starting 11.\nThe back four of Hughes, Gareth McAuley, Craig Cathcart and Jonny Evans should be retained.\nIn midfield, the big-game experience of skipper Steven Davis will be crucial for Northern Ireland, while the likes of Stuart Dallas and Oliver Norwood have certainly not looked out of place at the tournament.\nGareth Bale is undoubtedly Wales' star player - and the world's most expensive player has been integral to their progression into the last 16.\nThe Real Madrid forward, 26, scored in each of the three group games, becoming only the seventh player to achieve this feat in the European Championship finals.\nBut Bale will have to find a way past Northern Ireland keeper Michael McGovern, who has also been in inspired form during the tournament.\nThe 31-year-old, who is currently without a club, made eight saves in the 1-0 defeat by Germany, enabling his team to progress to the last 16 on goal difference.\n(All times BST)\nSwitzerland v Poland - Saturday 14:00, BBC\nWales v Northern Ireland - Saturday, 17:00, BBC\nCroatia v Portugal - Saturday, 20:00, ITV\nFrance v Republic of Ireland - Sunday, 14:00, ITV\nGermany v Slovakia - Sunday, 17:00, ITV\nHungary v Belgium - Sunday, 20:00, BBC\nItaly v Spain - Monday, 17:00, BBC\nEngland v Iceland - Monday, 20:00, ITV\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nCreate leagues and play against your friends in BBC Sport's new Euro 2016 Predictor game", "No arrests were made as good-natured partying went on in the city until the sun rose on Tuesday morning.\nAaron Ramsey, Neil Taylor and Gareth Bale each found the net to take Wales through to the final 16.\nThe supporters' group is meeting Uefa officials to discuss ticketing issues for the next game in Paris in Saturday.\nWales are still waiting to learn which opponent they will face in the Parc des Princes stadium in the French capital.\nPaul Corkery from the Football Supporters' Federation Cymru told BBC Wales that, at present, fans needed to have a voucher with their name on it to exchange for tickets in Paris and warned them not to buy vouchers off touts or other fans as they would not be able to exchange them.\nHe said: \"The portal will reopen for tickets that are being returned, which is a difficult process in itself, especially over a few days.\n\"The problem we have is you'll get England fans now offering their vouchers to the Welsh fans, and unless the England fans can physically get to Paris and exchange their vouchers for tickets and then sell those tickets, that's fine, but a voucher is worthless until you exchange it for tickets.\n\"We are looking into it with Uefa. We're having a meeting with them today.\"\nHe asked fans looking for tickets to \"sit tight\" for a few days.\nFor those in Wales looking to go out to Paris on Saturday, Cardiff Airport said it was still working on plans for what they expected to be a busy weekend.\nCowbridge-based Strachan's Sports Travel said they were chartering a flight from Cardiff to Paris's Charles De Gaulle airport on Saturday and had sold 110 seats so far.\nA spokesman told BBC Wales the size of the aircraft chosen would depend on the number of seats sold, with a planned departure time of 11:00 BST and return at 23:30 local time.\n\"We have more than one option for aircraft,\" he said.\n\"We're getting calls every two minutes.\"\nGullivers Sports Travel, the Football Association of Wales' official travel partner, are also offering bus travel only from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.\nFollowing the game, goal-scorer Bale said the performance was \"the best I've ever been involved in since I've been here\".\nSocial media lit up following their emphatic victory, with players, pundits and fans alike sharing their joy online.\nFormer Wales internationals Robbie Savage and John Hartson, both pundits at the Euros, posted a video of themselves in a taxi singing what has become the unofficial anthem of the tournament, \"Don't Take Me Home\".", "About 24,000 Welsh fans had tickets to watch Wales beat Slovakia 2-1 in their opening Euro 2016 match and first major tournament in 58 years.\nWelsh police officers, who are part of the police operation in France, praised the \"great behaviour from our thousands of fans around Bordeaux city centre\".\nMeanwhile, the Eiffel Tower was lit up in Welsh colours and fans, celebrities and politicians have praised the team.\nThe police chief heading a group of officers from Wales in France, said earlier the number of police inside the stadium for next Thursday's game between Wales and England game may have to be increased.\nSupt Steve Furnham's comments came after England fans were taken to hospital following a series of clashes between football supporters in Marseille.\nThe violence happened before and after England's 1-1 draw with Russia in their opening fixture.\nThe UK government has now offered to send more UK police to France ahead of the England v Wales match in Lens, a spokesman said.\nAnd Uefa has released a statement saying Russia and England could be thrown out of Euro 2016 if their fans are involved in more violence.\nMr Furnham, from South Wales Police, said: \"We have to respect that this is a French planned tournament and we are here just to support our French colleagues.\n\"What we'll be keen to do is to give our views and advice and guidance to those organisers in regard to how we think the safety of our fans is best placed.\n\"That may include options around both the deployment of police officers outside the stadium and also possibly inside the stadium.\"\nMeanwhile reaction to Wales' performance has been pouring in on social media.\nThe Manic Street Preachers, who recorded the official anthem for Wales' appearance at Euro 2016, Together Stronger (C'mon Wales), tweeted: \"The dedication, the skill, the passion, the fans, the players, the glory.\"\nMatch of the Day presenter Gary Lineker said: \"All hail Bale\" following Gareth Bale's goal.\nFormer Wales rugby international Mike Phillips said: \"Huge win, delighted, well done boys,\" while rugby pundit Jonathan Davies said: \"Great day for Wales, let's keep it going.\"\nFormer World Champion boxer Joe Calzaghe said it was an \"awesome result,\" while golfer Lee Westwood said: \"Well done Wales on winning yesterday. Very good for apparently a one-man team.\"\nFirst Minister Carwyn Jones said: \"Brilliant, what a start,\" while Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said the team had \"done the country proud\".\nCongratulations also came in from football clubs across the country. Cardiff City congratulated Wales for a \"fantastic first day at Euro 2016\".\nWales' opening scorer Bale described the atmosphere in Bordeaux as being like a \"home game\".\n\"Our fans are the best in the world and fully got behind us. We gave them something to celebrate.\"\nWales manager Chris Coleman was also full of praise for the fans.\nSpeaking to the BBC on Saturday, he said: \"Our supporters keep on topping what they have done - that support today was unbelievable.\"\nIn Bordeaux, Nicolas Zimmerman, a barman at the Charles Dickens pub, said Wales fans were now \"brothers\".\nHe said there was no trouble, adding the \"Wales fans know how to party\".\n\"It was intense,\" he said. \"A lot of Welsh people. There was no trouble.\n\"With Welsh people we have a really good atmosphere. They are really friendly, they sing a lot. They are really good fans actually.\"\nAlex Alim, assistant manager at the Houses of Parliament pub in Bordeaux was also full of praise for the \"amazing atmosphere\".\nMr Alim, originally from London, said it was \"a big red riot but a very nice one\" outside the bar.", "The Euro 2016 semi-finalists initially faced spirited Moldovan resistance but led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Sam Vokes and Joe Allen.\nGareth Bale seized on a woeful pass for the third, then netted a last-minute penalty for his second of the night.\nWales' win puts them top of Group D on goal difference ahead of Austria.\nChris Coleman's men travel to Vienna for their next World Cup qualifier on Thursday, 6 October.\nAs the group's top seeds, Coleman's side had been expected to make light work of Moldova, who are ranked 154 places below them in the world rankings.\nAfter a cagey first half hour they eventually did so with a flourish, becoming the first team to score three or more goals against the eastern European minnows since England's 4-0 victory in 2013.\nHaving led Wales to a first major tournament semi-final at Euro 2016, Coleman said he was \"desperate\" to follow that achievement by qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.\nThe former Fulham manager and his players want to ensure their summer exploits in France were not a one-off but a springboard to sustained success.\nThey were backed by a typically vociferous Cardiff City Stadium crowd of 31,731, close to capacity once again as a nation basks in its greatest footballing era.\nAnd although it came against limited opposition, this opening victory was an encouraging start as Wales aim to end an absence from World Cups that stretches back to 1958.\n\"That was the perfect start,\" former Wales international John Hartson said on Radio 5 live. \"Moldova were awful, it was a comfortable win as you will see and great start to the qualifying campaign.\"\nThere was a familiarity to Wales' initial inability to break Moldova down; struggling to unlock a deep and tenacious defence as they had done against Andorra and Israel during their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.\nMoldova had lost 14 of their past 20 games but they are seldom pushovers and have conceded only 26 goals in the process.\nHowever, Wales' domination of possession and territory eventually paid dividends after 38 minutes when Bale's arcing cross was headed in by Vokes.\nFive minutes later, a weak attempted clearance from Moldova goalkeeper Ilie Cebanu found its way to Allen, who scored his first goal for Wales with a drilled half-volley from the edge of the penalty area.\nBale claimed Wales' third goal in comical circumstances, as he latched on to a terrible backpass from Moldova's Ion Jardan before clipping the ball neatly beyond Cebanu.\nThe Real Madrid forward scored his second in added time, converting a penalty after he had been brought down to move within four goals of Ian Rush's Welsh record of 28.\nWales' next fixture could be the toughest of their qualifying campaign, away against Group D second seeds Austria on 6 October.\nAustria won 2-1 in Georgia on Monday and, with Serbia and the Republic of Ireland drawing 2-2 in Belgrade, this group is expected to be wide open.\nSterner challenges await Coleman's side but this victory - their biggest winning margin in a competitive game since 2003 - will lift hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup in 60 years.\nMatch ends, Wales 4, Moldova 0.\nSecond Half ends, Wales 4, Moldova 0.\nGoal! Wales 4, Moldova 0. Gareth Bale (Wales) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.\nPenalty Wales. Gareth Bale draws a foul in the penalty area.\nPenalty conceded by Andrian Cascaval (Moldova) after a foul in the penalty area.\nOffside, Wales. Gareth Bale tries a through ball, but Andy King is caught offside.\nAttempt saved. Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.\nGareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nFoul by Andrei Cojocari (Moldova).\nJoe Allen (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nFoul by Aleksandru Gatcan (Moldova).\nHal Robson-Kanu (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.\nFoul by Andrian Cascaval (Moldova).\nFoul by James Chester (Wales).\nIgor Bugaev (Moldova) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nOffside, Moldova. Maxim Mihaliov tries a through ball, but Eugeniu Sidorenco is caught offside.\nSubstitution, Moldova. Maxim Mihaliov replaces Alexandru Dedov.\nEmyr Huws (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nFoul by Igor Armas (Moldova).\nSubstitution, Wales. James Collins replaces Ashley Williams.\nAttempt missed. Andy King (Wales) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Emyr Huws.\nAttempt missed. Igor Armas (Moldova) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ion Jardan.\nSubstitution, Moldova. Igor Bugaev replaces Radu Ginsari.\nSubstitution, Moldova. Eugeniu Sidorenco replaces Eugeniu Cebotaru.\nSubstitution, Wales. Hal Robson-Kanu replaces Sam Vokes.\nAttempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Emyr Huws.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Alexandru Epureanu.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Alexandru Dedov.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Alexandru Epureanu.\nAttempt blocked. Andy King (Wales) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Allen with a headed pass.\nSubstitution, Wales. Emyr Huws replaces Joe Ledley.\nFoul by Joe Ledley (Wales).\nRadu Ginsari (Moldova) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nOffside, Moldova. Ion Jardan tries a through ball, but Radu Ginsari is caught offside.\nJoe Ledley (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nFoul by Andrei Cojocari (Moldova).\nJoe Ledley (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nFoul by Andrei Cojocari (Moldova).\nDelay over. They are ready to continue.\nDelay in match Sam Vokes (Wales) because of an injury.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nAbsent from major tournaments for 58 years, Wales have had to watch on enviously as international football's elite do battle at World Cups and European Championships.\nYet their rise has not merely ended that wait for qualification; their march to the quarter-finals in France has now captured the imagination of an entire nation.\nWhile a sea of red shirts roared Wales on to victory over Northern Ireland in Saturday's second-round tie at Paris' Parc des Princes, a similar mass of bodies gathered at Cardiff's fan zone and countless bars and living rooms across Wales.\nThe country is captivated, and its people are daring to dream.\n\"It goes beyond football to the whole nation, people who don't even like football,\" said former Wales striker Dean Saunders.\n\"The players have made the whole nation proud even if we get knocked out in the next round.\"\nWales' players refer to their fans as the Red Wall, in homage to the Yellow Wall that German club Borussia Dortmund's fans form at their imposing Westfalenstadion home.\nTheir vocal support and good behaviour outside grounds has brought praise from French media and tourism companies, and they were at their vociferous best in Paris.\nWales' players and coaching team insist they cannot look any further than their quarter-final but, as far as the Red Wall is concerned, manager Chris Coleman sees no reason to curb fans' optimism.\n\"We won't look ahead but the fans can get carried away. Keep dreaming, there's nothing wrong with that,\" he said.\n\"They had to be patient with us [against Northern Ireland] - they sensed we were under pressure but they stayed with us. That's when you need togetherness. They were fantastic.\"\nIf the demolition of Russia was an exhibition of thrusting, enterprising football, the triumph over Northern Ireland was one built on patience and perseverance.\nColeman praised Northern Ireland for their defensive display - well organised and immaculately disciplined as they contained the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.\nYet Wales gamely stuck to their task and their persistence eventually paid, Bale freeing himself from Northern Ireland's shackles to produce the match-winning moment of class.\n\"We needed our team spirit, when you're not playing well but you dig in,\" said Coleman.\n\"That's when you're showing your courage - and that's strength. Not giving up when you have nothing left to give, finding something, and we had to do that.\"\nWhether it is Coleman, Bale or any other member of the squad, Wales have insisted throughout their time in France there is no limit to their ambition.\nBale says he believes Wales can win Euro 2016, while Coleman has said qualifying for a first major tournament for 58 years should usher in a new era of regularly competing at such events.\nThis is a team already immensely popular, and the further they progress in France, the greater an inspiration they will be for future generations.\n\"It is not just about this tournament and what is going on now but we want to qualify for other tournaments and grow football in Wales, get other kids playing and be role models to make football even bigger in Wales,\" said Bale.\n\"Hopefully that will give us a better national team in the future as well.\"\nWales and Iceland (who are undefeated in Euro 2016, their only major tournament appearance) have excellent records in major championships - but it should be noted that Wales have played nine games compared to Italy's 119 and Germany's 152.\nEven if Wales go out of the tournament in Friday's quarter-final against Belgium in Lille, one could argue Wales' campaign is a success.\nHowever, such carefree contentment does not register with this Welsh side as they prepare to face the world's second-ranked team.\nYet Marc Wilmots' men were in the same position when they were memorably beaten by Wales in Cardiff in a qualifier for this competition last year.\nThe parties that followed Wales' qualification, Group B success and beating Northern Ireland have become part of the nation's football folklore.\nBut reaching the semi-finals in France could take celebrations to a similarly uncharted level.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nWales have qualified as Group B winners thanks to their 3-0 win over Russia which is being described as arguably their greatest ever performance.\nThey will play either Northern Ireland, Turkey or Albania in Paris on Saturday.\n\"Now that we've qualified we want to see where we can go, and anything can happen now in these games. We are trying to get through,\" Ramsey said.\n\"Our main target was to get out of the group, and to finish top of the group is a fantastic feeling. It means so much. I think we've made the fans proud.\"\nRamsey's superb display against Russia saw him win the Uefa man of the match award, scoring the first goal before Neil Taylor and Gareth Bale added gloss to a glorious night for Welsh football.\nWales are playing in a first major tournament for the first time since the 1958 World Cup.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nDefender James Chester says Wales will test anyone at Euro 2016 if they reproduce the form that saw them clinch top spot in Group B.\n\"If we perform like we did against Russia and keep clean sheets, which is another bonus, then we're confident that we can make it difficult for anybody,\" he said.\n\"The way we dug in for the game and to lose so late on against England was a big kick in the stomach.\n\"But we knew that result wouldn't define the group.\n\"I said after the England game from what we'd seen of Russia I was confident we could get something from the game and that proved to be correct.\"\nWales captain Ashley Williams agreed with the sentiment.\n\"Whoever we get we're not too fussy, you just have to play whoever's put in front of you and we've played three very good teams so far in this tournament, so whoever it is we'll prepare for them,\" he told BBC Radio Wales Sport.\n\"I'm sure the Welsh fans will come again in their numbers and make a lot of noise. We're just happy we got on top of the group. Whoever we get, we will try and progress as much as we can.\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nChester says Wales owe a debt to the efforts of Bale.\nThe world's most expensive player scored seven times in 10 qualifiers and now has three in the tournament itself.\nBale's goal against Russia took him to joint fourth on Wales' all-time scoring list with 22, six behind record goalscorer Ian Rush.\n\"I'm not sure there's a better player individually than Gareth in the tournament,\" said Chester.\n\"We know how fortunate we are to have him in our team and if we can keep clean sheets then we know we give ourselves a real good chance.\n\"I can't speak for any of the other top players in the tournament - I don't know them - but Gareth is very passionate about playing for the national team.\n\"He turns up pretty much every time we have a game, which some of the top players maybe don't do.\n\"I think it's an environment that he really enjoys and we all get on really well together.\n\"As big a superstar as he is, he's still one of the lads.\"\nPick the XI that you think can take Wales far at Euro 2016 - and then share it with your friends using our team selector.", "Bale made his return for club side Real Madrid in their 2-0 win over Espanyol as a 71st minute substitute and scored within 12 minutes of his return.\nThe 27-year old has been out since suffering the injury on 22 November.\n\"He's now confident he'll be in the team and ready to fight for his place,\" Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru.\nRoberts and Wales manager Chris Coleman travelled to Madrid this week to meet with Bale and watch him train and were impressed with what they saw.\n\"He's coming along very well, he's in a good place both physically and mentally,\" Roberts said.\n\"He's been working extremely hard. He was in a good mood, we watched him train and he looked very good physically and fresh of course.\n\"We're expecting him to carefully build up his minutes under the manager [Zinedine Zidane] and Gareth will be ready to join up with us next month.\"\nInitial assessments on Bale's injury indicated that Madrid's record signing would possibly struggle to be fit for the vital World Cup qualifier in Dublin.\nHis recovery time has been roughly six weeks quicker than initial estimates and Roberts puts it down to hard work.\n\"Nature might play a part [in Bale's ability to quickly recover from injuries] but I prefer to believe in the hard work he gets through,\" he explained.\n\"We see Gareth when scores goals for Wales and Real Madrid and amazing things on the field but what most people do not see is the hard work he puts in behind closed doors, in private, that gives him a base so he can make the most of the special talent he has.\n\"One of the main reasons for that is because he's well-disciplined he's happy to sacrifice some things in life to make sure he makes most of his talent.\n\"He does not go out, he does not drink alcohol, he's incredibly professional and he's been working for weeks on end - getting into the club for 9am every morning and does not leave until 8pm at night.\n\"His days have been longer whilst he has been injured than when he was fit and playing. The hard work which he's put in for weeks now and it's understandable how he's more than ready to get back into the team.\"\nRoberts does not expect any setbacks for the talisman who helped Wales to the semi finals of Euro 2016, but admits that will always be a concern.\n\"A member of the club's medical staff also works with us [Wales], talking to him they've been careful and done what is right for Gareth and what is right for the long-term so in theory there will be no setbacks,\" he said.\n\"We're crossing our fingers that there will not be any set-backs. We see with players coming back from injuries we've seen it with Manchester City's star Vincent Kompany this season.\n\"There is nothing sadder for me than to see a player who is coming back from injury and gets injured straight away afterwards. It's mentally difficult for players to take.\n\"We're crossing our fingers that Gareth Bale can carry on so he can get to enjoying his football again\".", "Preparations are under way as Slovakia, England and Russia await in Group B, with a training base chosen in France and friendly matches arranged for March and June.\nOne of the most important tasks facing manager Chris Coleman between now and Wales' opening game of the competition against Slovakia in Bordeaux on 11 June is to select his 23-man squad.\nFormer Wales internationals Danny Gabbidon and Iwan Roberts join BBC Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips in choosing their teams for the Slovakia match, their 23-man squads and assess the choices facing Coleman and his coaches.\nFormer Wales striker Iwan Roberts: (5-3-2) Hennessey; Gunter, Collins, A. Williams, Davies, Taylor; Ledley, Allen, Ramsey; Bale, Robson-Kanu.\nFormer Wales defender Danny Gabbidon: (5-3-2) Hennessey; Gunter, Collins, A. Williams, Davies, Taylor; Allen, Ledley, Ramsey; Bale, J Williams.\nBBC Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips: (5-3-2) Hennessey; Gunter, Collins, A. Williams, Davies, Taylor; Allen, Ledley, Ramsey; Bale, Robson-Kanu.\nRoberts: \"It's so important we have a strong backbone to the team in the likes of Wayne Hennesey, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu - the battling and hard work these players produce will give the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale a platform to go and show their class.\"\nGabbidon: \"There are three cogs in the Wales wheel. Captain Ashley Williams marshals the defence, Joe Ledley and Joe Allen give added protection and instigate the attacks, while Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are the match-winners.\"\nPhillips: \"Wales have x-factor in Gareth Bale, a player any other side in the finals would welcome. Ashley Williams, Wayne Hennessey and Aaron Ramsey need to be on form, too. Don't underestimate Joe Ledley - a midfielder who does the unheralded ugly stuff.\"\nRoberts: \"I think the likes of Jonny and George Williams, two young and lively creative players, have done enough in the last two years to win a place in the squad. Young full-back Jazz Richards has performed admirably when called upon in four of the qualifiers - including the win over Belgium - and in my opinion should be on the plane to France.\"\nGabbidon: \"George Williams and Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards must be among those who will have to prove themselves after time on the sidelines because of injury.\"\nPhillips: \"I tried hard to fit George Williams into the squad as searing pace is a must at international level. Birmingham attacker David Cotterill could still make it as he battles back from injury. Dave Edwards is included, but for reasons of injury may still be a 'maybe'.\"\nRoberts: \"I don't think there will be many, if any, surprises in Chris' squad. I think it's too late for Regan Poole, Manchester United's newest debutant, to break in. The 17-year-old is definitely one for the future but but hasn't done nearly enough up to now to warrant a place in the squad.\n\"Tom Bradshaw has had a decent season for Walsall but, with the emergence of Tom Lawrence and after his performance against the Netherlands in our last game, Lawrence deserves to go to the Euros.\"\nGabbidon: \"No outsiders can make the squad unless there are injuries. But if Chris Coleman is looking to give someone his 50th cap, I'm available gaffer!\"\nPhillips: \"It comes down to two for me. Begging the pardon of Walsall fans but, had Tom Bradshaw moved to a higher club in January, he might have clinched a place. A run of goals now might still clinch him a spot as a wildcard substitute if Wales need a goal.\n\"Regan Poole's entry at Manchester United might have just come too late but I can't help thinking if Chris Coleman wanted to take one for the future - like England's Theo Walcott at the 2006 World Cup - Poole is the one.\"", "They won four of their first five encounters in Dublin but subsequently lost the next three games and have have not beaten them in 25 years.\nBBC Wales Sport looks back at the previous meetings between the two countries in the Republic's fair city.\nWales and Ireland had first met in an international in February 1882 at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, with the home side securing and emphatic 7-1 win.\nFollowing the partition of Ireland in 1920 and the creation of the Irish Free State two years later, a Dublin-based organisation calling itself the Football Association of the Irish Free State split from the Belfast-based IFA in 1921 and began organising its own league and national football team.\nFifa renamed the team from Ireland to Republic of Ireland in 1953 and seven years later they hosted Wales in a friendly at Dublin's Dalymount Park, home of Bohemian FC.\nWingers Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin, who would be part of Tottenham Hotspur's League and FA Cup double winning side later that season, were the architects of Wales' win.\nJones scored twice and Phil Woosnam, who later became Commissioner of the North American Soccer League, netted the winner while Fionan Fagan got the Republic's goals including a penalty.\nTony Grealish gave the home side the lead in the first senior international to be played at Tolka Park but Wales replied through goals from Paul Price and debutant Terry Boyle to lead at the interval.\nCaptain Terry Yorath, who later managed Wales, sealed the victory three minutes from time, scoring his second and what would be his final international goal.\nJack Charlton's appointment as Republic of Ireland manager heralded the start of an unprecedented era for the national side which included qualifying for the 1988 European Championships and the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals.\nBut Charlton's first game in charge, which saw John Aldridge and Ray Houghton win first caps, ended in a friendly defeat against Wales at Lansdowne Road in March 1986.\nMike England's side, having missed out on qualifying for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, secured victory courtesy of a first half headed goal by Liverpool's Juventus bound striker Ian Rush from David Phillips' corner.\nWales' win came at a cost however as goalkeeper Neville Southall suffered a serious ankle injury after falling awkwardly.\nCharlton's side avenged their defeat of four years earlier with a pre Italia 90 friendly win at Lansdowne Road against an injury-hit Wales side managed by Terry Yorath.\nMiddlesbrough's Scotland-born striker Bernie Slaven made his Ireland debut and scored what would be his only international goal to secure the Republic of Ireland's first-ever win over Wales.\nSlaven scored from close range after Neville Southall had saved Everton team-mate and Wales-born Kevin Sheedy's penalty.\nThe Royal Dublin Showgrounds is home to the annual Dublin Horse Show and is also where Leinster Rugby have played their games since 2005.\nBack in 1992 it seemed an unlikely venue to host senior international football for the first time, with its wooden stand and neat hedges along the touchline.\nMark Pembridge's first international goal secured victory for Wales, who have not beaten the Republic since.\nWales were back in Dublin a year later as they warmed up for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff the following month.\nWith Lansdowne Road unavailable due to the Five Nations Championship, Tolka Park staged its second senior international with Wales the opposition once again.\nMark Hughes gave the visitors an early lead but two goals in last 15 minutes from Kevin Sheedy and Tommy Coyne secured the Republic's second win over Wales.\nWales were the Republic of Ireland's opposition in the historic first football match to be played at Dublin's Croke Park, home to the Gaelic Athletic Association and the first ever qualifying game between the nations.\nGAA members had voted to allow international football and rugby union to be staged at the historic ground during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.\nKatherine Jenkins sang the Welsh national anthem 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' ahead of a Euro 2008 qualifier played in front of over 72,000 but which failed to live up to the pre-match expectations.\nIt was rather apt that it was Stephen Ireland who scored the only goal of the game to beat a Welsh side which included Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and a 17-year-old Gareth Bale.\nGary Speed's first game as Wales manager was the first match of the Nations Cup tournament, which also featured Scotland and Northern Ireland.\nWales' first visit to the newly redeveloped Aviva Stadium ended in a disappointing defeat.\nSecond half goals from Darren Gibson, Damien Duff and Kevin Fahey secured victory for Giovanni Trapattoni's side, who secured the Nations Cup later that season.\nBarely 20,000 saw the first game and amid disappointing attendances - less than 600 saw Wales' game against Northern Ireland - and the tournament did not return for a second edition.", "Lallana's former Southampton team-mate scored a trademark free-kick in Wales' 2-1 win against Slovakia and has dominated the pre-match build-up.\nAsked whether the aura around Bale, 26, would affect England, Lallana said: \"I know that won't affect me or our team.\n\"We've got plenty of players with that aura and special talent.\"\nLallana, 28, who came through the youth system at Saints with Bale, added: \"I don't believe that will come into play at all.\"\nBale has been outspoken in the run-up to a game that carries huge significance after England only drew 1-1 in their opening game against Russia, claiming Wales had more \"passion\" than Roy Hodgson's side.\n\"I'm sure he didn't mean it in too serious a manner, knowing Gareth,\" said Lallana. \"It's part and parcel of the build-up. We know that we will do our talking on the pitch like I believe they will want to do. The match can't come soon enough for me.\n\"Maybe they want to spice things up before a big game but we're all used to that. It is about not getting lured into it.\"\nAnd rather than being intimidated by Bale, Lallana believes England possess the attacking threat to strike fear into the Welsh.\nEngland had Leicester City's title-winning inspiration Jamie Vardy, who scored 24 goals in their Premier League triumph on the bench in the draw against Russia, along with Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge and 18-year-old Marcus Rashford, who made such a big impression in his first season in the first team at Manchester United.\nHarry Kane, the Premier League's top scorer with 25 goals for Tottenham last season, played against the Russians with England captain Wayne Rooney moved to a deeper role to accommodate Hodgson's range of attacking options.\nLallana said: \"I think they'll definitely be thinking about that. Anyone would who is playing against us and looking at our team - not just our team but our squad. There are attacking players on the bench we can use and there are great options there.\"\n\"It's definitely one of the best England squads I've been involved in, so if someone is having a bad day, or there are injuries or suspensions, we've got options in abundance to come in and keep the standards high.\"\nSo should Wales be worried about England? \"I think they will be and will be doing their preparation to try and stop us,\" said Lallana.\nWales are two points ahead of England after the first round of games, Chris Coleman's side opening with victory against Slovakia while Hodgson's side conceded a last-minute equaliser against Russia in Marseille.\nAnd Lallana admits these results mean England go into the game as the team under greater pressure.\n\"Yes that's the case but we thrive on pressure week in and week out,\" he said. \"It brings out the best in us. That's what we have to deal with. It's a big football match, not just because it is Wales versus England but because of the state of the group.\n\"It would be great for us to get the win with how the group lies at the minute.\"\nThe teams meet in Lens at 14:00 BST.\nCreate leagues and play against your friends in BBC Sport's new Euro 2016 Predictor game", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nThe Ospreys fly-half succeeds cyclist Geraint Thomas, who won in 2014.\nResults of a public vote were revealed at the Wales Sport Awards in Cardiff where BBC Cymru Wales and Sport Wales celebrated Welsh sporting success.\nThe Wales football team were named team of the year award after qualifying for the Euro 2016 finals and their manager Chris Coleman is the elite coach of the year.\nBiggar reacted to the award by saying: \"I'm so thrilled to bits that enough people voted.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\n\"I'm very, very privileged to receive this and thank you everyone for voting.\n\"There are some great names on there and it's scary to think that mine name is on there with them.\n\"It doesn't feel right but I'm very, very pleased.\"\nBiggar gave outstanding performances for Wales during the Rugby World Cup, the Six Nations and for regional side Ospreys.\nThe 26-year-old scored 23 points in a man-of-the-match performance in the 28-25 win over England in the pool stage at the World Cup, including a long-range winning penalty.\nIn total he scored 56 points in four matches as Wales were knocked out in the quarter-finals against South Africa.\nIn the 2015 Six Nations, he scored 26 points in five games as Wales missed out on the Championship on points difference with four wins from five. He also helped Ospreys to the semi-finals in the Pro12.\nBiggar secured the public vote ahead of second-placed Geraint Thomas and world featherweight boxing champion Lee Selby.\nThomas became the first British rider to win the formidable E3 Harelbeke race in Belgium in March and as a key member of Team Sky helped Chris Froome claim his second Tour de France title.\nSelby became the 12th Welsh world boxing champion by beating Russia's Evgeny Gradovich to claim the IBF featherweight title and defended his crown against Mexican Fernando Montiel in the USA.\nThe other nominees chosen by an expert panel for BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality 2015 had been footballers Gareth Bale and Ashley Williams, triathlete Non Stanford, taekwondo competitor Jade Jones and para-athlete Aled Sion Davies.\nWales' footballers ended a 57-year wait when they qualified for the final stages of a major tournament for the first time since the 1958 World Cup.\nUnder manager Coleman, and inspired by on the field by Bale, Wales finished second behind Belgium in their qualifying group.\nLegendary rugby player Sir Gareth Edwards received a lifetime achievement award.\nEdwards played 53 consecutive Test matches for Wales between 1967 and 1978, winning three Five Nations Grand Slams.\nHe inspired the British and Irish Lions to Test series wins against New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974 and scored the most famous try in history for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973.\nThe Carwyn James Award for the best young sportswoman was won by sprinter Hannah Brier. The 17-year-old Swansea Harrier won the 100m and 200m at the 2015 Welsh Championships and then equalled the Welsh 100m record of 11.39 seconds at the World Youth Championships.\nThe best young sportsman award went to tennis player Matt Story, who won the Welsh National Junior Championship Under-18 title for the third year in a row.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nVolunteer of the Year: Wendy Pressdee\nCommunity Coach of the Year: Angeline Tshiyane\nYoung Coach of the Year: Lowri Haf Barker\nYoung Volunteer of the Year: Elan Môn Gilford\nCoach to Disabled People of the Year: John Wilson\nLifetime Achievement Award (Community): Dorothy Neyland MBE\nThe Unsung Hero award has already been given to Jane Roberts and Nerys Ellis for their work at Llanrwst Swimming Club. They were at the ceremony to collect the award and will go on to represent Wales at the UK BBC Sports Personality of the Year event in Belfast on Sunday, 20 December.\nThe 2015 Rugby World Cup final referee Nigel Owens was recognised during Monday's event for his achievements and contribution to the worldwide game.\nA review of the sporting year will be broadcast on BBC Cymru Wales television on Friday, 18 December at 21:00 GMT.\nPlease note the event is not connected with the UK Sports Personality of the Year and is for the Wales award only.", "The Newcastle winger hopes Gordon Strachan's team can be the \"surprise package\" in Group F, which they kick off against Malta on Sunday.\n\"Nobody expected Wales to do so well in the Euros and they did fantastically,\" said the 26-year-old.\n\"Hopefully we can have the same sort of impact on our group.\"\nScotland, 51st in Fifa's world rankings, are in a qualifying group with England (ranked 11), Slovakia (24), Slovenia (59), Lithuania (125), and Malta (176).\nScotland begin their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign away to Malta on Sunday. Who would you have in your starting XI?\nEngland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all progressed past the group stage at this summer's Euros, but Wales went on to reach the semi-finals.\nScotland were forced to look on from the outside after finishing behind Germany, Poland and the Republic of Ireland in their qualifying group, but Ritchie believes there were still positives to build on.\n\"We were unlucky not to beat Poland, we had a fantastic performance against Germany at Hampden,\" noted Ritchie, who played in five of the qualifiers and has scored three goals in his 10 caps to date.\n\"If you look at those performances, to do so well against top teams, there are a lot of positives to be taken.\n\"It's going to be tricky to qualify because it's only one team [the group winners], and eight [best runners-up from the nine groups] go into the play-offs. But it's our aim and hopefully we can do so.\n\"You can look at all the games and say, 'we should win this, we should win that', but nothing's won on paper.\n\"The lads have to go out and perform. That's why in the Euros you saw so many surprise results. These so-called [minnow] teams that you should beat are sometimes the toughest games.\n\"But as long as you concentrate and you're prepared for what's in front of you, you'll be ok.\"\nHaving seen Oliver Burke up close in training, and playing for Nottingham Forest in the Championship, Ritchie believes that his international team-mate can thrive following his £13m move to Red Bull Leipzig, which made him Scotland's most expensive player.\n\"The sky's the limit for him, if he has the mentality and desire to progress,\" Ritchie said.\n\"If you look at his stature, he's very much like Gareth Bale. But I don't want to build him up to being like Gareth Bale, he's very much his own player. It's all about staying grounded and working hard if he's to fulfil his potential.\n\"As a player, you don't think about the price tag, that's business that goes on behind the scenes that you're not part of.\n\"He's a young lad who loves football and he just wants to play. That' s the best way for him to stay, dedicated and with the desire to get better and play at the highest level.\"", "Scotland cap Burke, 19, left Forest to join RB Leipzig in a deal that made him the most expensive Scottish player.\n\"It's a massive step,\" said McGovern, a club ambassador for Forest.\n\"He's got masses of potential. He has to be consistent and he has to get better at one or two of the things that he's not so good at.\"\nBurke's move to the Bundesliga came after just 31 appearances for Forest, during which time he scored six goals.\n\"He's an impact player with fantastic pace,\" said McGovern, who played all his club football in England and played at Under-23 level for Scotland.\n\"I think he might even give Usain Bolt a run for his money.\n\"You need to be able to have an end product to that pace and he's been scoring one or two goals for the first team.\"\nUnlike England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales, Scotland missed out on Euro 2016 with the Gareth Bale-inspired Welsh team reaching the semi-finals.\nBut McGovern tempered comparison between Burke and Real Madrid's Bale, saying: \"Gareth Bale wasn't playing for Real Madrid at 19 years of age and being outstanding for Wales in international competitions.\n\"If £13m is the fee for someone who's played a few games then obviously it's quite unusual but the transfer fees have gone right through the ceiling anyway so you should never be surprised with anything in football.\n\"It is an awful lot of money and it will be well spent if he realises his potential. He's got a good chance of becoming a very, very good player.\n\"The other thing about him going abroad is that perhaps, in some ways, it might benefit him because the thing he's got to keep away from is too much publicity and then perhaps starting to believe that publicity.\n\"Football can be a cruel game.\"\nMeanwhile, James McFadden, who won 48 caps for Scotland between 2002 and 2010, believes the move to Germany will benefit both the player and the national squad.\n\"He'll learn a new culture and develop in a good way, hopefully, for Scotland,\" said Motherwell player-assistant manager McFadden, 33.\n\"Going over to a different country and learning a new way of playing the game will be great for his development.\n\"He's got a great physique and he looks as though he's got all the attributes to become a real top player. The fact that he's made the move at such a young age will tell you all you need to know about him.\n\"[RB Leipzig] will be hoping to challenge for the [Bundesliga] title because of the ambitions they've got. When players are doing well in Germany, Bayern Munich will snap them up, so that's got to be the next aim for him.\"", "The scenes both on an off the field in Bordeaux were unforgettable.\nBut most importantly Wales' 2-1 victory over Slovakia suggests there are still more memories to be created in Euro 2016.\nWales manager Chris Coleman often says his team are on a journey. This adventure looks like lasting a while yet.\nIf Bordeaux proved anything, it was Wales deserved to be on the top European stage.\nAnd Coleman showed a tactical acumen which some questioned early in his reign.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nAgainst Slovakia, Coleman masterminded the most significant victory of his 32-game reign as manager and his 32 caps as a player.\nHis tactical substitutions worked brilliantly. Not just with Hal Robson-Kanu netting the winner, but also the timing of Joe Ledley's introduction to add renewed drive to the Wales engine room as Slovakia threatened to take the points.\nThe influence of the dangerous Marek Hamsik was neutered largely by the Welsh work rate - led by the outstanding Joe Allen - Aaron Ramsey and David Edwards; and supplemented by the willingness of Gareth Bale and the durable Jonathan Williams to track back.\nNext it is England; the game which has attracted so much attention since the draw.\nThere are plenty of reasons not to relish the battle with the neighbours - not least the fact that Wales have not beaten them since 1984.\nBut the presence of Bale ensures Wales will have THE best player on either side at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.\nWales should have number one goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey fit again after missing the Slovakia clash with a back problem, though the calm Liverpool stopper Danny Ward did his long term prospects no harm with a solid show on his surprise full debut.\nIf all fitness worries are removed, Joe Ledley will be vying to start, though David Edwards stepped in with the necessary energy and physical commitment.\nAnd Coleman faces a real dilemma in deciding whether Robson-Kanu is rewarded for his goal with a place in the starting line-up. Williams worked tirelessly, but Bale looked more effective when running from deep with Robson-Kanu the focal point of the attack.\nOne more Group B win would ensure Wales' passage into the last 16 - a huge achievement in itself.\nBut whatever happens now, Bordeaux proved Wales' players are fit for this stage.\nAs are the Welsh fans.\nFrench daily sports paper L'Equipe reckoned the rendition of the Welsh national anthem inside the Stade de Bourdeaux brought \"goosebumps\".\nSo too did the joyous after-match celebrations of the supporters into the early hours, which included an impromptu friendly football match against Slovak fans in the middle of a square in the city.\nThe scenes will remain a happy memory, and there may be more to come.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nEngland's Jack Wilshere, who plays alongside Ramsey for Arsenal, said: \"If you put both teams down on paper, we would win the game.\"\nWales are hopeful they can beat their rivals for the first time since 1984.\nRamsey said: \"I believe we have the best team. We've been through a lot. We're seeing the rewards.\"\nThe 25-year-old said Wales had shown - in both qualifying for the finals and their opening 2-1 win over Slovakia - how much they had grown as a team.\nHe added: \"We've been together through thick and thin. We fight for each other, we work our socks off for each other.\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nWales top Group B after their victory over Slovakia, while England are second having drawn 1-1 with Russia.\nAnd forward Gareth Bale reiterated his belief that his side have more passion than their opponents.\nThe Real Madrid player said: \"We know we're a good team and know we can beat them on our day.\n\"I'm not saying England don't have pride or passion, I'm sure they do. I just feel that we have more. I'm sure they have their opinion that they have more also.\n\"I just feel, whether it's football, rugby or whatever sport it is, in Wales we seem to have that next level.\"\nAsked how many England players would get into the Wales line-up, a grinning Bale said: \"None.\"\nThe 26-year-old scored Wales' opening goal in the win over Slovakia, which gives Chris Coleman's side a good chance of qualifying for the next phase.\nBale and Ramsey both played when the teams last met in 2011, England winning the Euro 2012 qualifier 1-0 at Wembley.\nWales have since ended a 58-year absence from major tournaments and, briefly, moved above England in the world rankings for the first time.\n\"We know they're a bigger nation with more players to choose from but we've closed the gap massively,\" said Bale.\n\"We know they're a good team and, I'm sure if they put in a good performance, they'll feel they can beat us and we're exactly the same. If we work well as a team, we feel we can win.\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nThe build-up to Thursday's match has been dominated by safety concerns, with Russia warned they will be disqualified from Euro 2016 if there is further crowd trouble after violence marred their game against England in Marseille.\nWales fans without tickets for the England game have been urged not to travel to Lens or nearby Lille, while manager Chris Coleman has urged supporters to avoid \"aggression\" off the field.\n\"I have family coming so I'm hoping it's going to be a safe place for them to go,\" said Bale. \"I'm fully expecting things to go as normal.\n\"Our fans behaved amazingly in the last game. They always do. They're a very proud, passionate crowd and we're a very proud, passionate nation.\n\"If you don't have a ticket, don't go to the game, stay out of trouble and enjoy the occasion. It's a historic moment for our country and one that should everybody should enjoy and not look back on with any regrets.\"", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nIt will be the neighbours' second match of the tournament with Wales facing Slovakia and England taking on Russia on Saturday.\nThe two home nations meet in Lens on Thursday, 16 June.\n\"I think we've got a lot more passion and pride about us than them. We'll definitely show that on the day,\" said the Real Madrid forward.\nWales' first major tournament for 58 years begins in Bordeaux on Saturday against the first of their Group B rivals.\nBut Bale already has his sights on England.\n\"They big themselves up before they've done anything, so we're going to go there and we believe we can beat them,\" said Bale.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\n\"For me it is probably the stand-out game in the group stages, but there is no pressure on us because they believe they can beat us.\n\"I had a chuckle when England came out, I'm not going to lie.\n\"It's an amazing game to be involved in and it's like any derby - you never want to lose to the enemy.\n\"Even in the recent [rugby] World Cup when we won - I remember those. England don't get that, do they?\"\nBale's English grandmother meant he was qualified to play for the Three Lions, but he did not pursue that option.\nThe Cardiff-born player said: \"I don't know what it is, but if you're Welsh, we feel more pride and passion than anyone else.\n\"Look at the national anthem - everyone sings, the whole stadium. I remember the Belgium game, we were all tired, and the whole stadium just started singing it.\n\"I don't think any other nation would do that. Being Welsh just brings it out of you.\n\"It's like when I was young and being in a pub with my parents, everyone watching rugby or football on the television. Everyone was together, singing. It's the way we are brought up.\"\nBale says the death of Gary Speed, manager Chris Coleman's predecessor, as well as 58 years without appearing at a tournament has left him and his team-mates more appreciative of international football.\n\"What happened made us come together, stronger,\" said Bale.\n\"We've had to go deep to bring our emotions out, bring it on to the field.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\n\"In this campaign you've seen it. After every game we are all in huddles.\n\"We've been through so much to be here now, and it's definitely a shame that we've had so many great players - Ryan Giggs being one of them - who never experienced a major tournament.\n\"I think we appreciate it more than other countries - and we just have to give it a go.\"\nBale became the youngest Wales goalscorer in October 2006 when he netted in their 5-1 defeat by Slovakia, aged 17 years and 83 days.\n\"There was difficult times for a while, but we were all young and building for the future,\" said Bale.\n\"We've had a style of play which has taken time to embed.\n\"I don't think we stopped believing, but we had to get more experience, grow together.\"\nWho do you think should start at Euro 2016? Step into Chris Coleman’s shoes and pick your XI - and then share it with your friends using our brand new team selector.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nChris Coleman's side have already enjoyed a memorable run to reach their first semi-final at their only major tournament since 1958.\nEngland are the only British team to have reached the final of a World Cup or European Championship, 50 years ago.\n\"We'll be the underdogs, but we believe in each other,\" said manager Coleman.\nJonathan Ford, chairman of the Football Association of Wales, told BBC Sport: \"It is history in the making, it's a dream come true.\n\"These players will run through brick walls for us. This has been a fantastic demonstration of team spirit, team morale, teamwork.\n\"Sport and culture are the two things that really help us define Wales and the Welsh people.\"\nMore than half of Wales' population of three million are expected to watch their country take on regular European semi-finalists Portugal - eclipsing the national television record for a sporting event, which was only set on Friday for their 3-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium.\nThe Prince of Wales sent the team a \"huge good luck\" message, saying: \"I'm sure they have got a very good chance of beating Portugal. Everyone here will be keeping their fingers crossed.\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nRanked a record low of 117 in the world in August 2011, Wales could end the tournament in the top six, having won four of their five games so far at Euro 2016.\nThey beat Slovakia and Russia in the group stages, with their only defeat a last-minute 2-1 loss to England. They knocked out Northern Ireland 1-0 in the last 16 before overcoming Belgium - the highest ranked side at the tournament - to set up the meeting with Portugal.\nHowever, they will be without influential midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who is suspended for Wednesday's game.\nThe Arsenal player has been hugely influential for Wales, scoring one goal and providing four assists, and was man of the match against the Belgians. Defender Ben Davies is also banned.\n\"Some of Aaron Ramsey's performances have been off the chart,\" Coleman said. \"Davies' performances have been outstanding. Both players would be a loss to any team.\n\"But the attitude of the players who haven't played has been fantastic and that has kept the dressing room really strong and kept the vibe really positive.\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nCaptained by Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football's all-time greatest players, Portugal are preparing for their seventh major semi-final and fourth in the past five Euros.\nThey drew all three group games before beating Croatia 1-0 after extra time in the last 16 and then edging Poland 5-3 on penalties in the quarter-finals.\nAll eyes will be on two players on Wednesday - Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.\nThe Real Madrid team-mates are seen as the talismans for their respective sides. Bale has three goals at Euro 2016 while Ronaldo has two.\nBale became the world's most expensive footballer when he joined Real from Tottenham for £85m in 2013, surpassing the £80m the Spanish club paid Manchester United for Ronaldo four years earlier.\nTheir relationship has been the subject of intense media scrutiny, with both insisting there is no rift.\n\"Of course we get on very well at Madrid, we enjoy playing with each other,\" Bale, 26, said.\n\"He's a fantastic player, everybody knows what he can do. But we have always spoken about what we do, what we do ourselves as a team. We don't worry about the opposition.\"\nWales are expected to be backed by more than 20,000 fans in Lyon, with fans travelling by road, sea and air to be a part of their nation's moment of history.\nThere are concerns some fans could be hit by French air traffic control strikes, days after hundreds of Wales supporters were affected by Eurotunnel delays before their quarter-final.\nIf Wales do beat Portugal, they will face either hosts France or world champions Germany in the Euro 2016 final at the Stade de France on Sunday.\nColeman's playing career was ended early by injuries sustained in a car crash.\nIn 2003 he became the youngest Premier League manager when he took charge of Fulham aged 32, but by 2012 his rollercoaster managerial career included being sacked by Fulham and Coventry, quitting Spanish side Real Sociedad and resigning from Greek second division side Larissa.\nAfter his close friend Gary Speed's death, Coleman took the Wales job in 2012 and lost his first six games - the worst start by any Dragons manager.\nBut when Euro 2016 qualifying began, things started to change.\nGary Speed, the former Wales boss who died at the age of 42 five years ago, is clearly never far from the thoughts of the players or the manager in France.\nThe former midfielder won 85 international caps and managed many of the members of the Wales squad.\n\"I was thinking about him on the plane coming over,\" Wales captain Ashley Williams said.\n\"My thought coming in was I hope he'd be proud of us. He saw us grow up, and what we've achieved today. He's always in the back of our minds. When we achieve something, we think about him.\"\nColeman said there is not a day that goes by on which he does not think about his friend.\n\"He could be sitting here where I am, enjoying what we're enjoying,\" he said. \"Unfortunately that was taken away.\n\"I don't need a game of football for me to remember 'Speeds'.\"\nIt is a bit of a journey into the unknown for both sides in one sense, as they have never previously met in a competitive fixture.\nTheir most recent encounter was in June 2000, which Portugal won 3-0.\nYou would have to go several decades further back for their previous two matches, with Portugal winning 3-2 in a friendly in 1949, while Wales won in Cardiff two years later.\nPortugal are considered the home team for the game, meaning Wales will have to wear their charcoal and green away kit.\nThat will be a bit of a blow for Wales, who have won every game they have played at Euro 2016 in their traditional red colours.\nWales wore their away kit for their second Group B game against England, which they lost 2-1.\nWales' unexpected run to the semi-finals has had a knock-on effect on their families.\nColeman's wife Charlotte is due to give birth this month. Prior to the tournament, she said her husband risked missing the birth of their child if Wales did well.\nJoe Ledley has had to postpone his wedding after his team defied expectation to reach the last four. He was due to marry his fiancee on Saturday.\nDefender Chris Gunter will miss his brother's wedding in Mexico, while the siblings' parents have also opted to miss the nuptials to cheer on Wales at the Stade de Lyon. Instead he will do the best man speech via Skype on Thursday.\nCardiff's fan zone has been moved to the Principality Stadium for the game.\nUntil now, the fan zone was situated in nearby Cooper's Field and had a capacity of 6,000, but that has increased to 27,500 after the move to the stadium. The tickets swiftly sold out after going on sale on Tuesday.\n\"It will give thousands more a chance to see our boys make history,\" Cardiff councillor Peter Bradbury said.\nThere are also fan zones in Singleton Park, Swansea, as well as Rhyl, Denbighshire, Aberystwyth, Anglesey, Newport, Pontypridd and Wrexham.\nWales' players have been asked not to bring their children on to the pitch after Wednesday's game because it is \"not a safe place\".\nFans have been delighted by images of players including Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu and Ashley Williams celebrating with their children in their victorious run to the last four.\nHowever European football's governing body Uefa said: \"It is a European Championship, not a family party.\"\nWelsh comedian and actor Elis James thinks Wales' impressive run at the tournament is just reward after decades of hurt.\n\"Because we were the unluckiest football nation in the world for 60 years, our karma bank is so much in credit,\" he told BBC Radio 5 live.\n\"This is payback for all those missed penalties and dodgy refereeing decisions.\n\"We could lose against Portugal and it would still be the greatest achievement in Welsh football history. If we win I'm not sure my body could cope with that much joy.\"", "Benny Collins, 40, a physiotherapist at Morriston Hospital's A&E department, was pulled from the sea at Three Cliffs Bay on Tuesday afternoon.\nHe was flown to hospital where his colleagues tried to save him, but he died.\nHis nine-year-old son was rescued along with him and needed hospital treatment.\nMr Collins's wife Melanie is a nurse at the hospital.\nIn a statement, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board said: \"Benny was a very popular, gifted and much-loved member of staff.\n\"His wife, Melanie, is also one of our senior nurses, so this tragedy has struck at the very heart of the health board. \"\nNational Trust Wales, which owns approximately 75% of the beach, said: \"Our advice to anyone using Three Cliffs beach is not to bathe there.\n\"We have safety signs making it clear that people are putting their lives at risk if they go in the water in strong surf conditions or when the water is cold.\"\nIt added that extra safety signs advising against swimming would be placed on the beach.\nSwansea Council said although it does not own Three Cliffs Bay it would meet with the National Trust to discuss water safety.\nMr Collins has become the latest person to die at the beach.\nIn June, Jason North from Macclesfield, Cheshire, died trying to get his children out of the water.\nIn August 2013, Wendy Phillips of Landore, Swansea, drowned at Three Cliffs Bay and the assistant Swansea coroner questioned the lack of lifeguard cover, but could not say for certain whether it would have prevented her death.\nThe RNLI said in order to provide a lifeguard service it had to have an agreement with the landowner, in this case the National Trust and Pennard Golf Club.\nA spokesman said: \"The RNLI can provide a safety service and are giving advice and guidance in best practice to the landowner.\"\nSeveral nearby beaches on Gower including Langland, Caswell and Port Eynon do have RNLI cover in the summer but Three Cliffs Bay does not.\nJames Jones, who works at PJ's Surf Shop in Llangennith, said rip currents can make the area dangerous.\nHe said: \"You can get rips and currents at Three Cliffs. One stream goes out through the bay and that can cause a rip current.\n\"It will create a flow out into the sea, they call it a rip current you can get dragged out.\n\"I would say it's one of the more dangerous beaches to swim on the Gower, but saying that, at different times the rips would be different and the water calmer.\"", "With talisman Gareth Bale on the bench, Wales trailed 1-0 at half-time as Emil Forsberg fired the hosts in front.\nMikael Lustig bundled in from a corner to double their lead, before substitute John Guidetti struck a late third.\nNot even Bale's introduction could rouse Wales, who face Slovakia in their Euro 2016 opener on Saturday.\nWith Wales' first match at a major tournament for 58 years in mind, manager Chris Coleman could at least be consoled by the fact his players avoided serious injury in Stockholm.\nBut he may have been a little disappointed by a somewhat disjointed performance, which was perhaps to be expected with Wales having not played since a friendly defeat against Ukraine in March.\nRelive Sweden v Wales\nThe fixture was billed as a battle between the two teams' stellar talents - Bale against Sweden's inspirational and outspoken captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic.\nBale had not featured for Wales since October and, having played 120 minutes of Real Madrid's Champions League final triumph the previous weekend, the 26-year-old was left on the bench.\nIbrahimovic, heavily linked with Manchester United after leaving Paris St-Germain, started the match and was predictably the orchestrator of every home attack.\nHis own efforts on goal were initially limited to a 25-yard shot which curled wide but, shortly before half-time, his elegant control and nonchalant pass teed up Forsberg to strike into the bottom corner.\nIbrahimovic had been substituted by the time Bale emerged, so their much-vaunted duel did not materialise.\nHome and away fans alike were thrilled to see Bale and, although he showed flickers of his considerable threat, he could not revive Wales as Sweden eased to a comfortable victory, Coleman's side failing to muster a single shot on target.\nWales already had fitness concerns about a handful of players ahead of this fixture, so Coleman was anxious not to add to his list of potential absentees.\nInjured midfielders Joe Allen and Joe Ledley and striker Hal Robson-Kanu were rested with a view to them playing against Slovakia - remarkably in the case of Ledley, who broke his leg in May.\nWhile Bale was on the bench, Jonny Williams impressed in the Real Madrid forward's usual roaming role in attack, with an inventive and energetic display.\nThere was also a first Wales appearance since October for Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, sporting a distinctive new blonde hairstyle and looking like one of his country's likeliest sources of a goal.\nThe match was a useful workout as Coleman ponders his team to face Slovakia, but the nature of the performance will have been less than encouraging as Wales embark on their historic campaign in France.\nWho do you think should start at Euro 2016? Step into Chris Coleman’s shoes and pick your XI - and then share it with your friends using our brand new team selector.\nWales boss Chris Coleman: \"We get a bit of success, a bit of expectation, sometimes a little bit of complacency and that can give you a little slap in the face.\n\"Maybe that's what's happened to us, certainly today. It doesn't mean we can't produce something special [at Euro 2016], because we're capable of it.\"\nRead more from Coleman\nKevin Ratcliffe, former Wales and Everton captain on BBC Radio Wales\n\"The result won't bother Chris Coleman. It's all about the first game next week. That's what he's been building up to.\n\"He knows next week is a different kettle of fish. The last goal summed it up - Ashley Williams would have gone in harder if this was a competitive match. This was about getting the rustiness out, and I think they've achieved that.\"\nMatch ends, Sweden 3, Wales 0.\nSecond Half ends, Sweden 3, Wales 0.\nAttempt missed. Emyr Huws (Wales) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.\nAttempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Wales) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gareth Bale.\nAttempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right misses to the left from a direct free kick.\nFoul by Ludwig Augustinsson (Sweden).\nGareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nGoal! Sweden 3, Wales 0. Guidetti (Sweden) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mikael Lustig following a fast break.\nAttempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.\nFoul by Albin Ekdal (Sweden).\nAaron Ramsey (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nFoul by Sebastian Larsson (Sweden).\nBen Davies (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nAttempt missed. Simon Church (Wales) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is too high.\nFoul by Jimmy Durmaz (Sweden).\nGareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nFoul by Emir Kujovic (Sweden).\nBen Davies (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nAttempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by David Edwards following a corner.\nAttempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Emyr Huws.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Robin Olsen.\nFoul by Sebastian Larsson (Sweden).\nAaron Ramsey (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.\nOffside, Wales. Ben Davies tries a through ball, but Aaron Ramsey is caught offside.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Andreas Granqvist.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Ludwig Augustinsson.\nFoul by Jimmy Durmaz (Sweden).\nGareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nHand ball by Mikael Lustig (Sweden).\nSubstitution, Sweden. Guidetti replaces Marcus Berg.\nAttempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from long range on the right is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Emyr Huws with a headed pass.\nDelay over. They are ready to continue.\nSubstitution, Wales. Emyr Huws replaces Jonathan Williams.\nSubstitution, Wales. Simon Church replaces Sam Vokes.\nDelay in match Robin Olsen (Sweden) because of an injury.\nRobin Olsen (Sweden) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nFoul by Gareth Bale (Wales).\nAttempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey.\nFoul by Sebastian Larsson (Sweden).\nDavid Edwards (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.", "Wales will appear in their first semi-final of a major tournament when they play Portugal in Lyon at 20:00 BST.\nThe winners of that game will face either France or Germany in Sunday's Euro 2016 final.\nFan zones have been set up around Wales, including at Cardiff's Principality Stadium which will hold 27,500 fans who obtained tickets.\nAn extra 7,500 tickets made available for the Cardiff venue sold out on Wednesday morning in just over an hour.\nThose who have secured tickets have been advised to arrive early as extra security measures are in place which may delay entry to the stadium.\nWestgate Street in Cardiff will close from 18:00 until 23:30 and Arriva Trains Wales is adding capacity to services where possible.\nBut Mark Jones, the Blackwood student who campaigned for a Cardiff fan zone, did not manage to get a ticket.\n\"It's not just gutted for myself but I'm gutted for what seem to be the vast majority of fans who haven't been able to get a ticket and had been to the previous games,\" he said.\n\"I can't understand why the council can't open Coopers Field [where the fan zone previously was] as well.\"\nThere will also be fan zones in Singleton Park, Swansea, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Denbighshire, Aberystwyth, Anglesey, Newport, Pontypridd and Wrexham.\nOne of the many proud Welshmen watching tonight will be Michael Davies - the head teacher at Joe Allen's former school, Ysgol Y Preseli in Crymych, Pembrokeshire.\nHe said: \"His performances have been quite inspirational - he's the man that brings everything together in terms of the Welsh midfield.\"\nInsurance giant Admiral is closing its Cardiff, Swansea and Newport offices at 19:00 instead of the usual 22:00 so the 600 employees in those sites can watch the game, with staff outside Wales covering customer calls.\nPrince Charles has sent a message to the team, saying: \"Throughout the whole championship, you have set an inspiring example of teamwork and sportsmanship and I have no doubt that in this latest game you will continue to give your country even greater cause for pride.\"\nFirst Minister Carwyn Jones said, after waiting 58 years for a place in a major football tournament, \"Euro 2016 really is turning into a dream come true for Wales\".\nWelsh Secretary Alun Cairns added: \"You have to look to the fairytale triumph of Leicester City Football Club for something similarly inspiring. This Welsh team truly are the history boys.\"\nAt Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, David Cameron said: \"They have played superbly and we wish them all the best.\"\nThe Football Supporters' Federation Cymru said it expected more than 20,000 Welsh fans to head to Lyon.\nJohn Welch, 57, who has made the trip from Australia, said he was \"getting goosies\" thinking about the game.\nMr Welch, originally of Cardiff but now of Perth, flew from Australia to Lyon after his wife, Jacqui, surprised him with a flight ticket.\nThe father of five said he was desperate to \"be here and taste the atmosphere\" - even if it was just in the city's fan zone.\n\"I didn't think it was possible and then the wife said, 'I've booked this. It's one chance in a lifetime. You might never ever go again.'\"\nThe flight cost £1,400 (2,500 Australian dollars).\nMartyn O'Rourke, 61, of Ogmore-by-Sea, said it was \"fantastic\" to be in Lyon.\nHe said: \"I think we'll win. Belgium [who Wales beat 3-1 in the last round] are stronger than Portugal.\"\nHis wife, Karen, 59, said it was \"definitely\" time for Bale to outshine his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.\nThe face value of tickets in the semis range from £55 (65 euros) to £420 (495 euros).\nVince Alm, of the Football Supporters' Federation Cymru, said the pricing was not fair on \"real fans\".\nThe prices for those who bought a Follow My Team voucher before the tournament were, however, much cheaper.\nLower category tickets were being sold via ticket agencies, touts and private individuals at about double the face value, he said.\nMr Alm said he expected 12,000 Wales fans to pack into the 59,183-capacity stadium and outnumber those from Portugal.\nThe fan zone in Lyon's Place Bellecour has a capacity of 20,000, with a big screen and pre-match entertainment.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nHodgson told BBC Sport: \"I feel good about it. We know all the Wales players, but what we know most of all is their team is very organised.\"\nColeman said: \"It will be a great game, it is two good teams.\n\"England are one of the best teams. We looked at it and would have wanted to avoid it, but we look forward to it.\"\nWales and England meet in Lens at 14:00 BST on Thursday 16 June in the second of their three group games.\nRussia and Slovakia are the other teams in Group B.\nThe top two will go through to the last 16, while the best four third-placed teams also progress - meaning only eight teams are eliminated in the group stages.\nHodgson added: \"We are very pleased. Wales have done so well, and whichever of the teams we got in that pot it would be tough. Why not have a tough one close to home?\n\"In Aaron Ramsey, Ashley Williams and Gareth Bale, they have three really top-class players. We have a lot of respect for Wales.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\n\"Slovakia and Russia are interesting. I've not come across either of those two teams in my international career - which is unusual given how many matches we play.\n\"They are two newcomers on my CV but we respect them and it will be a question of doing plenty of research now.\"\nColeman was buoyant about his sides's hopes of reaching the last 16, explaining: \"When you get to a tournament it's about the 90 minutes on the day and you have to get it right. It does not matter who you play.\n\"Slovakia had some great results, and Russia are Russia. You just have to prepare yourselves in the same way.\n\"We're in a group with some hot competition. But that is why we are here, we deserve to be here and the tournament will be a fantastic one.\"\nEngland and Wales last locked horns in Euro 2012 qualifying, with England, then led by Fabio Capello winning both fixtures.\nAshley Young's goal settled the most recent meeting at Wembley on 6 September 2011, a game in which Wales should have equalised but Robert Earnshaw missed an excellent late chance.\nEngland were more comfortable six months earlier where they won 2-0 in the Millennium Stadium thanks to goals from Frank Lampard and Darren Bent.\nSven-Goran Eriksson led England to consecutive wins over Wales in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, a 1-0 victory in Cardiff doing the damage 11 months after a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in 2004.\nThe last win for Wales came in the previous fixture way back in 1984, where local boy Mark Hughes scored on his debut in a 1-0 win at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. It proved to be the last Home International match between the two teams.\nBBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty: \"England always had every chance of drawing a home nation - and the draw with Wales has delivered a mouth-watering prospect for next summer in France.\n\"It's a game manager Roy Hodgson and his players will privately relish as they will feel confident of beating Wales - as will their counterparts given opposite number Chris Coleman was angling to face England in a friendly even before the draw was made.\n\"Hodgson will feel buoyed by 10 wins from 10 in qualifying and he has a gifted collection of young players, some of whom have already sampled the trials and tribulations of a major tournament at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 as part of their experiences.\n\"Wales will feel pressures of their own at their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.\n\"And while Wales have the stellar talent of Gareth Bale, England have the quality of young players such as John Stones and Chris Smalling in defence, Ross Barkley in midfield - and Leicester City's Jamie Vardy will feel comfortable against domestic opposition given the opportunity.\n\"In other words, while Hodgson and England will acknowledge the threat posed by Wales - and Bale in particular - they will not fear Coleman's side in any way.\"\nBBC pundit and former Wales striker John Hartson: \"I wanted that game, it's great for the supporters and for us on TV.\n\"The players will know all about each other. It's not very often you get an opportunity to play against England.\n\"I was fortunate, I got the chance to play in this fixture, even though we lost both games at Old Trafford and in Cardiff. I think the players for both countries will be delighted with that draw.\"\nThe English view was mixed from former England captains Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker.\nFormer Wales midfielder Robbie Savage matched Lineker's confidence.\nWhereas current Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey opted not to ramp up the rhetoric.", "The World Cup qualifying stalemate will be remembered for the foul on Everton defender Coleman that led to Neil Taylor receiving a straight red card.\n\"First and foremost, the most important thing is Seamus Coleman. We are told that it is not so good which we are sorry for,\" the Wales boss said.\n\"Seamus is the most important thing.\"\nColeman defended Aston Villa defender Taylor on a costly night for Wales where a booking for Gareth Bale ruled him out of Wales' next qualifier, in Serbia on 11 June.\n\"Neil Taylor is not really that type of player but it's a tough one for Seamus,\" Coleman said.\n\"Neil is in the dressing room, he's despondent. If he's got it wrong, he is not that type of player, he's had a serious injury himself.\"\nColeman felt his side were in the ascendency before being reduced to 10 men. The point leaves Wales four points behind the Republic of Ireland and Serbia as Group D reaches the halfway stage, having drawn four of their five matches.\n\"With 11 v 11 I thought we controlled the game really and looked like we were going to create something and score,\" Coleman told Sky Sports.\n\"The red card changes everything, of course. We were up against it for 25 minutes and I am proud of the players that they battled and rolled their sleeves up.\n\"We dug in, we had to show a different side of our game. We went to a defensive block, we had to close the game out and we did that.\n\"The Republic are very strong here at the Aviva Stadium and we expected what we got.\"\nColeman says Wales can still qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia, even without Bale for their next qualifier, after he picked up a booking that means he is suspended.\n\"There are still five games to play and we are still unbeaten. A couple of draws out of the four and it changes your life, but I can't be too hard on the players,\" he said.\n\"They have given all they have got, we just need a bit more luck and a bit more quality in the final third.\n\"Losing Gareth in Serbia is a blow, but that is international football. We've had players out for all the qualifiers so far, until this one.\n\"At our best, we know we are a team that can play against anyone and win. Take someone like Gareth Bale out of any team and you will miss that.\n\"We need to find another way, and we will. We still feel we can go to Serbia and bring something back. It will be a good test for us, it is a game we look forward to.\"\nReal Madrid forward Bale felt Wales were in control before the red card for Taylor.\n\"They made it very difficult, they are a very physical team and in the first half we didn't really create too much, obviously they made it difficult for us,\" he explained.\n\"But in the second half we were a lot better and had a lot of chances, we controlled the game really well, I thought.\n\"Obviously the sending off then changed the game.\n\"But the boys fought very hard, I suppose if you play the last 20 with 10 men a point is not too bad.\n\"We were disappointed not to get a goal and we are disappointed not to get the win.\"", "Aaron Ramsey's beautiful clipped finish put Wales ahead before Neil Taylor scored his first international goal as Chris Coleman's side seized control with an inspired first-half performance.\nThere was no let-up in the second half as the irrepressible Gareth Bale struck to become the tournament's leading scorer with three goals.\nEngland's goalless draw against Slovakia in Saint-Etienne means Wales progress as Group B winners and will face the third-placed team from Group A, C or D.\nNews of the England result filtered through to the Toulouse crowd a couple of minutes after the final whistle, adding to the sense of disbelieving euphoria among Wales' raucous supporters.\nPlaying in their first European Championship, Wales take their place in the knockout stages of an international competition for the first time since a goal by Pele saw them beaten by Brazil in the 1958 World Cup quarter-finals.\nThere was security in the knowledge a draw was probably enough, while even a defeat coupled with an English win against Slovakia could have seen them progress as one of the best third-placed teams.\nYet Coleman and his players did not want to rely on anyone else. With their destiny in their own hands, Wales wanted to take care of business in Toulouse.\nThey did so in spectacular fashion, overwhelming a ponderous Russia side with one of the most impressive performances in Welsh football history.\nColeman raised a few eyebrows by selecting striker Sam Vokes ahead of Hal Robson-Kanu. The decision, though, paid off handsomely as the Burnley forward provided the central pivot for a rampant attacking display from Wales.\nHis inclusion allowed Bale to torment Russia's defence in his roaming role, wreaking havoc as he ran relentlessly at Sergei Ignashevich and Vasili Berezutski, a centre-back pairing with a combined age of 70.\nRamsey revelled in an advanced position similar to Bale's, with Russia's high-octane but high-risk pressing game allowing Wales too much space.\nJoe Allen exposed those gaps with a brilliant assist for Wales' opening goal, controlling the ball with a backheel before carving open the Russia defence with a pass for Ramsey, who delicately lifted his finish over the onrushing Igor Akinfeev.\nThe second goal came from an unexpected source as Taylor, whose last strike was for Wrexham against Grays Athletic in the Conference in 2010, found himself unmarked at the back post.\nHis uncertain first effort was blocked by Akinfeev but he converted the rebound.\nLeonid Slutsky's side could not recover, and their elimination was sealed when Bale flicked the ball with the outside of his left boot and into the net despite a touch from Akinfeev.\nWales boss Chris Coleman: \"The three points are massive for us but the performance was even sweeter than the points.\n\"My players were brave. I don't mean without the ball; I mean brave in possession. We were brilliant without the ball against England, but with it, we didn't play like we know we could.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\n\"I'm absolutely made up for the players. This group are on their way to more success and this is just part of the journey they are on.\n\"We have to see who we get next but we play with no fear. When we play like that, why should we have any fear?\"\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nWith their country having been absent from major tournaments for 58 years, several of the estimated 20,000 Wales fans would have been forgiven for being content with qualifying for Euro 2016.\nHowever, it has been a constant refrain from Coleman, Bale and others that Wales were not travelling to France to make up the numbers as happy tourists.\nWales are here to defy expectations and they will view their last-16 fixture, whoever it may be against, as an opportunity to provide their hitherto success-starved fans with yet more memorable moments.\nMatch ends, Russia 0, Wales 3.\nSecond Half ends, Russia 0, Wales 3.\nAttempt missed. Artem Dzyuba (Russia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.\nCorner, Russia. Conceded by David Edwards.\nAttempt blocked. Igor Smolnikov (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Artem Dzyuba.\nFoul by Simon Church (Wales).\nAleksandr Samedov (Russia) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nAttempt missed. Ashley Williams (Wales) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey with a cross following a corner.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Sergei Ignashevich.\nAttempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Wales) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.\nFoul by Andy King (Wales).\nAleksandr Samedov (Russia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nAttempt missed. Artem Dzyuba (Russia) right footed shot from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Pavel Mamaev with a cross.\nSubstitution, Wales. Simon Church replaces Gareth Bale.\nAttempt missed. Sergei Ignashevich (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.\nFoul by James Chester (Wales).\nAleksandr Kokorin (Russia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.\nSubstitution, Wales. Andy King replaces Joe Ledley because of an injury.\nSubstitution, Wales. David Edwards replaces Joe Allen.\nFoul by Pavel Mamaev (Russia).\nAaron Ramsey (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nSubstitution, Russia. Aleksandr Samedov replaces Fedor Smolov.\nGoal! Russia 0, Wales 3. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey with a through ball.\nPavel Mamaev (Russia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.\nFoul by Pavel Mamaev (Russia).\nJoe Allen (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nAttempt missed. Denis Glushakov (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.\nAttempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from long range on the right is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.\nJoe Allen (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.\nFoul by Aleksandr Golovin (Russia).\nFoul by Chris Gunter (Wales).\nFedor Smolov (Russia) wins a free kick on the left wing.\nAttempt missed. Neil Taylor (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Igor Akinfeev.\nAttempt saved. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey with a through ball.\nAttempt blocked. Fedor Smolov (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aleksandr Kokorin.\nAaron Ramsey (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.\nFoul by Denis Glushakov (Russia).\nSubstitution, Russia. Aleksandr Golovin replaces Roman Shirokov.\nCorner, Wales. Conceded by Aleksei Berezutski.", "Media playback is not supported on this device\nGareth Bale put Chris Coleman's side ahead before Jamie Vardy equalised and Daniel Sturridge scored a 91st-minute winner to take Roy Hodgson's team top of Group B with four points.\nChief football writer Phil McNulty assesses England's performance, while BBC Wales Sport's Dafydd Pritchard rates the Wales team after their dramatic encounter in Lens.\nShocking attempt to keep out Gareth Bale's free-kick. Poor.\nExcellent attacking option. He has made the right-back spot his own and played his part as the pressure grew.\nAlmost scored a first-half goal and was comfortable when defensive work needed to be done.\nHad very few uncomfortable moments as Wales failed to gather any real attacking momentum.\nSome shaky moments but again was an attacking force after the break as England pressed.\nVery solid presence in midfield. Looks right at home in the defensive holding role. Can improve his passing, though.\nDetermined but with little real impact. However, still a class act in the making. Must keep out of trouble.\nCreative, one of England's better players in that dreadful first half and warmly applauded by the fans when he was substituted.\nEngland's best and most composed player again. Very consistent in the first two games of Euro 2016. Huge influence on the team.\nLooks tired and off the pace after a long season. Place now surely at risk against Slovakia.\nMissed an early chance and got worse after that with his confidence seemingly low. Hooked at half-time and rightly so.\nEnergetic and got the goal that brought England to life as they finally found some attacking impetus.\nThe match winner. Always willing to try things and has the talent to be a Euro 2016 star.\nFearless in his cameo and showed some lovely touches. A golden future.\nHaving missed the first game with a back spasm, the Crystal Palace keeper made some decent saves but could not stop Vardy and Sturridge's goals.\nTactically disciplined as England poured forward, his defensive duties made it almost impossible to help in attack.\nArguably the best player in Wales' five-man defence, making several important interceptions, tackles and blocks.\nEarly mistake almost gifted England a goal in the first minute, and it was his header which led to Vardy's equaliser.\nPerhaps lucky to avoid conceding a penalty for handball but gave a solid defensive display overall.\nHad his hands full with Kyle Walker and Adam Lallana on England's right. Defended sensibly and tried to give Wales an outlet on the left.\nScreened the defence expertly and made good use of the precious little possession Wales had.\nStarting only 40 days after breaking his leg, the Crystal Palace midfielder was typically industrious.\nWorked tremendously hard, sacrificing his attacking instincts to play a pivotal role in a determined Welsh defensive effort.\nNot at his elusive best, the Real Madrid forward nevertheless struck with another free-kick and kept England's defence on their toes.\nRecalled after scoring from the bench against Slovakia, he made himself a nuisance as he harried England's defenders, albeit without offering an attacking threat.\nReplaced Ledley and ensured his work ethic was not missed with a similarly committed display.\nLike Edwards, ran relentlessly but did not have much of an opportunity to threaten in attack.\nCreate leagues and play against your friends in BBC Sport's new Euro 2016 Predictor game" ]

[ "The next major deadline for Iraq's new government is an Aug. 15 deadline to draft and endorse a permanent constitution. But there's an escape clause that could delay the process up to six months. Larry Diamond and Michael Rubin, former political advisers to the Coalition Provisional Authority, discuss the issues involved." ]

[ "Defining the legal rights of Iraqi women is one of the major issues for the Iraqi committee writing the country's new constitution. The committee is facing a fast-approaching Aug. 15 deadline. A feminist group in Iraq is deeply concerned that women will suffer greatly if Islamic law defines their constitutional rights.", "Iraq's new government has an August deadline to write the country's new constitution. So far, the drafting committee has yet to meet because there's no agreement on Sunni representation. Guests: Laith Kubba, spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari Michael Rubin, former political adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority, 2003-2004 and frequent visitor to Iraq Saleh Mutlak, spokesman for the National Dialogue Council, one of the Sunni groups involved in talks Sayed Hossein Qazwini, a 23-year-old University of California-Berkeley graduate who has returned to Iraq and is studying to become an imam", "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad, where he urged Iraqi negotiators to complete work on a draft constitution by the August deadline. The top American military commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, said U.S. troops could begin withdrawing by next spring or summer if all goes well.", "Iraq's Governing Council has missed the deadline for approval of an interim constitution. Adoption of a working constitution has reportedly been slowed by disagreements over the role of Islam in a future Iraqi government. NPR's Liane Hansen talks with Noah Feldman, an assistant professor of law at New York University and a former legal adviser to the occupation authority in Iraq.", "Iraq's constitution faces some significant hurdles: boycotts by Sunnis, territorial demands by Kurds, debates over women's rights and a rapidly approaching deadline. Neal Conan and guests discuss the latest developments in Iraq's quest to frame a constitution. Guests: Gen. Barry McCaffrey, retired U.S. general, on recent fact-finding mission to Iraq and testified before Senate regarding military readiness there Col. Richard Swengros, commander of the 42nd Military Police Brigade; leader of the Police Partnership Program with the Iraqi police. Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow of Foreign Policy Studies; co-compiler of Iraq Index Shahla Waliy, Iraq country director for Counterpart International Lawrence DiRita, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs", "A draft constitution has been presented to Iraq's National Assembly. But there was no vote, and discussions on its contents are ongoing. Six minutes before the midnight deadline, speaker Hashim al Hassani announced negotiators need up to three more days to settle their differences. Minority Sunni representatives have threatened to hold up final approval for the document, which has been pushed by majority Shiites as well as the faction of Kurds, who are guaranteed a form of autonomy in the draft version. The announcement came after a day of intense negotiations and rumors of another deadline extension. The original date for a draft constitution to be presented to the National Assembly was Aug. 15. The constitution eventually faces a national referendum.", "After pushing back its own deadline, Iraqi negotiators work toward completing a draft of the country's new constitution into the evening. Talk of the Nation looks at some of the sticking points, and why Iraqis may be wary of certain tenets of Western-style democracy. Guests: Chris Allbritton, Time magazine correspondent covering the drafting of Iraq's constitution Adeed Dawisha, political science professor at the University of Miami in Ohio; author of Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair", "STATEMENT -- Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking on the CBS show Face The Nation on March 19, 2006: \"The Iraqis have met every single political deadline that's been set for them. They haven't missed a single one.\" True or False? Basically true -- With only a bit of fudging, Iraq has indeed met its political deadlines. What he didn't say: These political milestones have not yet borne fruit. So while elections have been held, those elected have yet to form a government. And while a constitution has been written, it has yet to take effect.", "Madeleine Brand talks with Hatem Mukhlis, a Sunni Muslim politician, about Iraq's constitutional process. A draft constitution was completed by Monday night's deadline, but without Sunni support. Iraqi leaders decided to delay a vote on the document for three days to allow for more discussions with Sunni representatives.", "Madeleine Brand speaks with Safwat Rashid, an Iraqi Kurd and a former elections commissioner, about the debate over the language of the draft Iraqi constitution, due Monday at midnight. The panel drawing up the document missed last week's deadline and reportedly have been at odds over the role of Islam and women's rights in a new government.", "For all who wish the Iraqis well in their struggle to create a constitutional democracy, these are discouraging days. The constitution-drafting leaders who labored bravely through the 120-degree days of a Baghdad summer have failed to resolve the basic disagreements that divide the regions and religions of Iraq. It's been apparent for some time that key issues -- such as power sharing between Baghdad and regional governments -- have been too thorny for the 275-member National Assembly. But this fact will be noticed much more widely this week with the passing of the Aug. 15 deadline for a draft of a permanent national constitution. American advisers made great efforts over the final weekend to force a deal by Aug. 15, a date set by the interim constitution and regarded as sacrosanct by the Bush administration. But the deadline passed without agreement, and Iraq's parliament extended it by seven days. Americans should have some sympathy. The issues keeping the Iraqi factions apart have historical analogs in the U.S. constitutional convention of 1787. The claimed right of states to defy the federal government -- or even to leave the Union -- caused bitter division among the American founding fathers, roiled the young nation's politics for generations and led to our Civil War in 1861. Given the knotty problems at hand, an agreement in principle (with the big disputes postponed) would at least pay respects to the deadline and show a commitment to going forward. This might dull the disappointment at the American embassy and in Washington, where the administration could do its best to put a good face on it for domestic consumption. But settling for anything less than a true agreement on the major issues will probably do little to reassure Iraqis, who from the start have regarded the deadline as an American obsession that matters far less to them than their own interests. The Bush administration pressed for the Aug. 15 date in part to put a limit on what could have been endless debate. But they have also urged a date certain for the drafting so that the new constitution could be sold to the citizenry. This is crucial to holding a ratification vote on schedule this fall and new elections in the winter. All these have become checklist items for the Bush administration, which cites them regularly. They are the breadcrumbs on the trail by which the U.S. hopes to find its way out of Iraq. With a new constitution ratified and a new government elected -- and assuming Sunni involvement in both -- the U.S. will have met most of its own preconditions for a phased withdrawal. The last hurdle will be the readiness of the new Iraqi army and police to defend the new government and keep the peace. This last precondition is, of course, ultimately the most important. But if Sunnis have a role inside the power structure come 2006, the Sunni-based insurgency should weaken (at least according to current military analysis). That would allow the United States to begin pulling its own troops out, which may be the one thing all involved now want most. Republicans in Congress would be especially appreciative if this could happen well before the midterm elections of November 2006. It is worth reflecting how this differs from three years ago, when Bush administration thinking was dominated by notions of a new Iraq leading to a transformed Arab world. Many of those responsible for this vision, including Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith at the Department of Defense, are now gone. We should note that President Bush continues to espouse a policy of total commitment in Iraq, most recently in his Saturday radio address of Aug. 13. Meanwhile, however, Pentagon generals let it be known they are planning for reduced troop levels, and unnamed administration officials tell newspaper reporters on background that the U.S. has come to a new, more realistic agenda for its mission in Iraq. The president is right to say that setting a timetable for a U.S. departure would be an encouragement to the insurgency. But the difference between a timetable and the kind of withdrawal the U.S. now seems to be pursuing may get harder and harder to discern. So whatever pressure Americans bring to bear on negotiating factions in Baghdad right now, Iraqis will know it's pressure from a foreign power that will depart as soon as possible. That could be one more reason why their own separate and divisive interests remain more important to them than our deadline.", "Iraqis complain that they have shoddy cell phone service. Everyone seems to agree that service has deteriorated since the Iraqi government sold the rights to operate wireless phone services last August. A commission is investigating the problem and has set a deadline for the issues to be resolved by the end of the year.", "NPR's Melissa Block talks with Dr. Adnan Pachachi, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council. Pachachi served as Iraq's foreign minister before the Baathist coup in 1968. The Council has been criticized for being slow to meet the constitutional goals set by the United Nations. Facing a Dec. 15 deadline, Pachachi defends his group's work pace, noting that the proposed democratic form of government requires an infrastructure that Iraq doesn't currently have.", "In Iraq, another deadline has come and gone without agreement on a draft constitution. After a day of conflicting reports over whether there would be a deal, the speaker of Iraq's National Assembly, Hashim al Hassani, announced shortly before midnight that negotiators need more time. Iraqi negotiators made a last-minute attempt to resolve remaining differences over a draft constitution. But amid strong opposition from Sunni Arabs to the draft and new clashes between rival Shiite militias, the prospects for an agreement appear bleak. One likely option would be to bypass the assembly and put the constitution agreed upon by Shiites and Kurdish groups before the Iraqi people in a national referendum.", "Difficulties and disagreements remain as the U.S. vies to meet a June 30 deadline to transfer the governing of Iraq to Iraqis. NPR's Steve Inskeep discusses prospects for Iraqi sovereignty with Joost Hilterman of the International Crisis Group, Juan Cole of the University of Michigan and Isam al-Khafaji, of the Open Society Institute.", "Monday is the deadline for a 71-member panel to present a draft constitution to Iraq's parliament. Larry Kaplow, international correspondent with Cox Newspapers, talks about the latest developments in the constitution-drafting process. Kaplow has been based in Baghdad since the start of the war in March 2003.", "Shiite and Kurdish negotiators formally sign a new constitution for Iraq 13 days after the original deadline, but Sunni representatives have been vocal critics of the final draft.", "The Iraqi Governing Council signs an interim constitution Monday after weeks of negotiations. The constitution, meant to pave the way for establishing a sovereign Iraqi government, aspires to balance the nation's Shiite majority with protections for minority Sunnis and Kurds. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and professor Nathan Brown of George Washington University.", "Iraq's leaders hold last-minute talks in an effort to prevent a crisis over the constitution. Monday is the deadline for a draft to go to Iraq's National Assembly, but members of parliament are still arguing over the contents.", "Throughout this week, President Bush and other administration officials have delivered speeches, held news conferences and appeared on network television political roundtable shows -- all in an effort to convince a wary American public that in fact, progress is being made in Iraq. Which statements are true, and which are false? And which lie somewhere in between? Here is our brief guide for the bewildered: STATEMENT -- Vice President Cheney, May, 2005: \"The level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline. I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.\" True or False? False -- Asked about this comment this past Sunday, Cheney said it \"reflected reality.\" But by almost any measure -- attacks per day, casualties, etc. -- the insurgency shows no sign of waning. STATEMENT -- President Bush, in Wheeling, W.V., on March 22: \"Remember, they [Japan] attacked us, too. And yet today, the president says we're going to keep the peace. And what happened? It's an interesting lesson that I hope people remember. Something happened. What happened was Japan adopted a Japanese-style democracy.\" True or False? True -- Japan, once a sworn enemy of the United States, is now one of its closest allies. What he didn't say: Japan, unlike Iraq, is a homogenous society with hardly any ethnic tension. And in Japan, the U.S. occupation forces never dismantled the local police. STATEMENT -- Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking on the CBS show Face The Nation, on March 19, 2006: \"We've seen major progress in terms of training and equipping Iraqi forces \" True or False? True -- The number of Iraqi troops being trained is on the rise. What he didn't say: The number of \"battle-ready\" Iraqi troops is still inadequate -- the Iraqi forces depend heavily on U.S. troops. In addition, the Iraqi security forces have been infiltrated by members of various militia. STATEMENT -- Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking on the CBS show Face The Nation on March 19, 2006: \"The Iraqis have met every single political deadline that's been set for them. They haven't missed a single one.\" True or False? Basically true -- With only a bit of fudging, Iraq has indeed met its political deadlines. What he didn't say: These political milestones have not yet borne fruit. So while elections have been held, those elected have yet to form a government. And while a constitution has been written, it has yet to take effect. STATEMENT -- President Bush, speaking in Cleveland on March 20, 2006: \"I don't think we ever said -- at least I know I didn't say -- that there was a direct connection between September the 11th and Saddam Hussein.\" True or False? True -- President Bush has never explicitly linked Saddam Hussein with the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. What he didn't say: President Bush has called Iraq \"an ally of al-Qaida\" and often speaks of the war in Iraq being part of the military effort his administration calls the \"global war on terror.\"", "Iraqi lawmakers continue to seek agreement on a final draft of a constitution. James Glanz, a reporter for <EM>The New York Times,</EM> discusses reports that President Bush is pressing Shiite leaders to win Sunni approval of the document.", "NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports on the Bush administration's ongoing commitment to return sovereignty to Iraqis by a June 30 deadline. Some U.S. lawmakers say the administration needs to reassess its plans, even though delaying the transfer of power could further inflame the Iraqi public -- and could hurt the president's re-election plans.", "Alex Chadwick speaks with New York Times correspondent Dexter Filkins about the status of negotiations in Iraq's National Assembly as the Thursday deadline for submitting a new constitution nears. Minority Sunni Muslims are protesting the draft document, saying it strips them of power and money in the new nation.", "Despite an extended deadline, there is little visible progress toward a constitution for Iraq. While some involved say a resolution is near, others cite \"profound\" differences between competing groups.", "A committee of Iraq's governing council is drafting a new constitution for the country, a process U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has suggested could take six months. But some prominent Iraqis say the process is so complicated it could take more than a year to complete. NPR's Guy Raz reports.", "The vote on Iraq's draft constitution is a major test for a country trying to rebuild itself after years of rule under Saddam Hussein, and then invasion by the United States. People on all sides are watching to see if the outcome offers any clues to Iraq's future. Here are answers to some of the basic questions surrounding the referendum: Who drafted the constitution? A constitutional assembly appointed by Iraq's Transitional National Assembly drafted the constitution. Although the drafters had an August deadline, difficult negotiations resulted in delays and changes to the constitution right up until several days before the Oct. 15 public referendum on the document. The primary reason for what amounts to rolling negotiations has been the Sunni Arab minority's unwillingness to support the draft document. The United States sees Sunni Arab participation as key to Iraq's future stability and has pushed Shia and Kurdish representatives to make compromises aimed at bringing Sunni Arabs into the constitutional process. What were the changes made just days before the vote? With significant U.S. pressure, in the form of Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Iraqi negotiators made changes to the draft constitution just days before the Oct. 15 national referendum. The changes were a last-ditch effort to win some Sunni Arab support for the charter. The most important change was an agreement that the constitution -- if it passes -- could be opened up to new amendments in early 2006, after elections and the seating of a new National Assembly. Previous versions had called for a waiting period of eight years before amendments could be considered. Two changes were made regarding former Baath Party members. A declaration was inserted saying that mere membership in the Baath Party was not grounds for prosecution. And a clause was added giving a parliamentary committee oversight of the de-baathification process in Iraq. Other last-minute changes to the document included a statement on Iraqi unity and a declaration that Arabic would be an official language in Iraq’s Kurdish regions, along with Kurdish itself. The upshot of these changes is that some Sunni Arabs switched their positions and announced support for the draft constitution. Many others continue to object to the charter. What security measures were taken for the vote? A four-day public holiday began Thursday, with nightly curfews and a ban on carrying weapons, even licensed weapons. Movement between provinces was banned, and international borders were closed on Friday. On voting day Saturday, traffic was barred in an effort to prevent suicide attacks. U.S. and Iraqi forces also conducted large offensives in western Iraq -- where Sunni Arabs predominate and insurgents are strong -- hoping to disrupt the insurgents' movements ahead of the referendum. What will it take to pass the constitution? The draft constitution passes unless a simple majority of voters goes against it, or two-thirds of voters in any three of Iraq’s 18 provinces say \"no.\" Support for the charter in the Shia and Kurdish communities -- a majority of Iraq's population -- makes it highly unlikely that more than 50 percent of Iraqi voters would go against the constitution. It is possible that Sunni Arab voters could block the constitution in three provinces. But the consensus view is that this is unlikely to happen since most provinces have mixed populations, making a two-thirds vote against very difficult to achieve. What happens next if the constitution passes? General elections will be held on Dec. 15 for a full-term parliament. Parliamentary elections will then be held every four years. The new parliament will be charged with passing something between 50 and 60 pieces of legislation to fill in the holes in the constitution. Indeed, the focus in Iraq will immediately turn to the December elections. They will be conducted under a different election law than the one that produced the Transitional National Assembly. The election law in January was proportional representation; everyone had to run on a countrywide list. That gave advantage to people who were well organized. The upshot being that it helped create ethnic and sectarian blocs. Kurds voted for Kurds; Shia voted for Shia. The new election law puts much more emphasis on the local district, the local province. So every list has to run in a province, and every province will have seats in the new assembly. That should should ensure more Sunni Arab representation in the parliament than they have now. What if it fails to pass? If the \"no\" vote wins the day, parliament will be dissolved and another Transitional National Assembly elected in December. That body will then draw up another constitution. If that constitution passes, elections will be held to produce a full-term parliament. The run-up to the current referendum, however, has shown that politicians in Iraq are not beyond bending, or ignoring, the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) that currently sta", "Sunday's meeting between President Obama and Republican and Democratic lawmakers did not produce a budget deal. As the August 2nd deadline looms, Obama said this morning that he will not accept temporary fixes, and will meet with Congressional leaders every day until both parties agree on a plan that would keep the U.S. from defaulting. Host Michel Martin discusses the debt talks and Obama's morning speech with <em>The Atlanta Journal Constitution's</em> Cynthia Tucker, and <em>U.S. News &amp; World Report's</em> Mary Kate Cary.", "President George Bush says Sunday's Iraqi uprisings show the importance of staying the course in the face of terrorist threats. But some senators question whether the June 30 deadline for transferring power will hold. Public opinion polls also reflect unease with Bush's plans and policies. Hear NPR's David Welna, NPR's Michele Norris and Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center.", "Iraq's governing council approves an interim constitution that sets out government structures until a permanent constitution is drafted and ratified sometime next year. Agreement is reached after intense negotiations, two days past a Feb. 28 deadline. The temporary law strikes compromises on Kurdish autonomy, Islam's role in government and women's rights. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep.", "A March 20 deadline has passed for Pakistani nationals to register with the U.S. government or face possible deportation. About 90,000 Iraqis registered; about 1,700 were detained; roughly 170 are still in jail. Several hundred Pakistanis who tried to leave the United States for Canada remain stalled at the border. Brian Mann of North Country Public Radio reports.", "Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the Democrats who run the Senate have begun the floor debate on a $122 billion emergency war spending bill that would require phased troop withdrawals from Iraq four months after the bill becomes law. Late last week, the House passed a similar spending bill. It would require most United States combat forces to leave Iraq before September 2008. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid seemed to relish the prospect of President Bush issuing a veto against funding for a war that the president chose to start. Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, described on the Senate floor how one of his staffers — a colonel in the Nevada National Guard — got an e-mail from a colleague in Iraq after the House voted to set a deadline for pulling troops out of Iraq. \"And he said what happened in the House, and what we've put in our bill is good for the troops ... because it lets the Iraqi government know that we're serious,\" Reid said. \"And he went [on] to say the deadline's important for the Iraqi people, and the soldiers, and the Iraqi people know that.\" The deadline for pulling out combat forces in the Senate spending bill is softer than the measure approved by the House. The Senate bill defines a nonbinding goal, but that goal is also five months earlier than the House deadline. Robert Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Appropriations Committee that drafted the spending bill, reminded colleagues of the constitutional power Congress wields over policies in Iraq. \"Power of the purse, money,\" he said. \"Money! Money talks.\" Siding with the president, the Appropriation Committee's top Republican, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, introduced an amendment striking all references to troop withdrawals from the bill. \"Congress should not be tying the hands of our commanders, or limiting their flexibility to respond to the threats on the battlefield,\" Cochran said. \"The inclusion of unnecessarily restrictive language will ensure a presidential veto.\" And Arizona Republican Jon Kyl noted that while the troop withdrawal deadline in the Senate bill may not be binding, its call for phased troop redeployments definitely is. \"That is so destructive in the middle of a war, that I just can't believe my colleagues would actually contemplate doing it,\" he said. Still, Kyl acknowledged he and his fellow Republicans are unwilling to block the war spending bill with a filibuster. What's more, he noted that even if they do manage to strip the troop withdrawal timetable from the Senate bill, the House-approved binding withdrawal deadline will likely end up in the final version of the bill that goes to the White House. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, an Independent, said Democrats are simply postponing enactment of a bill that's free of timetables, because the president will veto this version. \"In my opinion, he should veto it,\" Lieberman said. Lieberman said everyone knows neither the House nor the Senate has enough votes to override a presidential veto. Still, Reid insisted Democrats are simply carrying out a mandate they got at the polls from a war-weary nation. Democrats seem confident that in this fight, public opinion's on their side.", "A top Iraqi official vetoed the country's election law Wednesday, throwing the government's plans to hold parliamentary elections in January into disarray. The move could unravel a delicate series of compromises that took months to negotiate, and it could complicate U.S. efforts to withdraw American combat troops. Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi made good on his threat to veto the election law Wednesday morning. Hashemi said he was objecting to only one part of the law, arguing that it didn't give fair representation to the millions of Iraqis living outside the country. He noted that during the 2005 election, those expatriate Iraqis were represented by 45 seats in parliament. The new law drops that number to seven. It's a crucial issue for Hashemi, a Sunni Muslim, because most of the displaced people are Sunnis. Hashemi said he thinks parliament can quickly remedy the issue and pass a new law in time for elections to be held in January. But that may not be so easy. Many Shiites in parliament believe that those expatriate Sunnis are former members of the Baath Party who supported dictator Saddam Hussein. Baha al-Arraji, a member of the bloc affiliated with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, says more seats for Iraqis living abroad would mark the return of Baath Party influence in Iraq. Hashemi isn't the only one who is unhappy with the allocation of seats in parliament. While many Arab parts of Iraq will get significantly more seats, ethnic Kurdish representation barely increased at all. Out of 48 additional seats in the new parliament, Kurds will get only three. The move so angered Massoud Barzani, the Kurdish region's president, that he threatened to boycott the elections. Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of parliament, says the seat allocation among Iraqi provinces is \"not just, not equal.\" There is \"a lot of imbalance in it. It's not possible,\" he says. Once debate on the election law reopens, these simmering resentments could come into play. The delay could affect U.S. plans for a smooth withdrawal from Iraq, set to begin in 2010. When President Obama hailed the passage of the law on Nov. 8, he cited that point specifically. \"This agreement advances the political progress that can bring lasting peace and unity to Iraq, and allow for the orderly and responsible transition of American combat troops out of Iraq by next September,\" he said. U.S. officials have said that if the security situation in Iraq is stable, they can begin withdrawing troops 60 days after the election. Iraq's Constitution calls for a new parliament to be elected by the end of January, when the current government's mandate expires. Even a few more days of parliamentary delay could mean that election officials won't be able to meet that deadline. The independent election commission said Wednesday that it has suspended all its activities until the election law has been sorted out. The result could be a constitutional crisis — a government with no legal authority. But Iraqi parliamentarian Younadim Kanna, a Christian, says there may be a way to avoid that. \"The president or prime minister or 50 members of parliament have the right to extend for one month if you have some essential problem to be solved,\" Kanna says. The Iraqi parliament will start confronting that essential problem Thursday." ]

[ "The slicer feature in Microsoft Excel allows you to be able to easily filter the data you want to see in a PivotTable. In versions of Excel before 2013, you had to use report filters to achieve a similar effect." ]

[ "Unprotecting an Excel spreadsheet will allow you to make modifications to Excel documents without facing any restrictions. You can unprotect an Excel spreadsheet by modifying spreadsheet settings, copying the contents of the document into a new spreadsheet, or by entering code that can reveal the spreadsheet’s password.", " This wikiHow teaches you how to create an image file that you can use in a document or presentation from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. ", "Do you want to convert an Excel document into a Microsoft Word document? Excel does not contain a feature for converting an Excel file into a Word file, and Word cannot directly open Excel files.", "An Excel document can be overwhelming to look through. Thankfully, you can use the search function to conveniently locate a particular word, or group of words, in an Excel worksheet.", "Learn how to create a Ring of Sinewave Spheres in Microsoft Excel via the following steps, and to make this image and many more like it, but different.", "Excel is the spreadsheet application included in the Microsoft Office suite. It allows users to easily create documents that present data in cells, rows, and columns.", "You can easily add a password to an Excel spreadsheet from within the document's settings! If you don't have the latest edition of Excel, don't worry–you can password-protect documents in most renditions of Excel.", "Follow this article to learn how to create a Chaos Ring of Sinewave Spheres in Microsoft Excel and to make this image and many more like it, but different.", "Freezing rows and columns in Microsoft Excel versions 2013, 2010, and 2007 can be helpful if you want to keep a section of your spreadsheet visible at all times while you move to and work in other sections of your document.", " Sparkline is a new Excel 2010 feature that creates a small graph next to a group of data. It is very simple to create sparklines in Excel 2010. ", " Microsoft Word is an excellent tool used to create documents of all types. It is fairly simple to use, especially for a task like centering text. ", "In this article, you'll learn to create a Times Table or Multiplication Table in Microsoft Excel, which can be adapted to being a Division Table and saved separately.", "There are several ways that you can create headers in Excel, and they all serve slightly different purposes. You can freeze a row so that it always appears on the screen, even if the reader scrolls down the page.", "Microsoft Excel allows you to insert hyperlinks, jumps between file locations, into its spreadsheet cells. You can create a file at the time you create the hyperlink or link to an existing file or Web page.", "When you create a chart in Microsoft Excel, labeling the axes will make it much easier for your readers to understand your data. Labeling the axes in any version of Excel only takes a few minutes, and the benefits for the reader are tremendous.", " You have an Excel Spreadsheet, and you need to link it to a Word document. Here is how you link an Excel 2010 spreadsheet with a Word 2010 document. ", " In this article, you'll learn how to create this quick image of a chess piece black Bishop in Microsoft Excel. ", "One of many features of Microsoft Office Excel is the ability to merge or unmerge cells within a worksheet. When working in Excel, you can use the tools to split data among two or more cells within a chart or spreadsheet.", " This wikiHow teaches you how to create a visual representation of your data in Microsoft Excel using a pie chart. ", "There are two ways you can create a line break within an MS-Excel cell. Wrap text feature wraps text within the column width. A hard-line break will force the text onto separate lines within a cell, regardless of the column width.", "Document organisers are an excellent way of keeping your documents organised. They can help you keep all your important documents organised, but only if you use the organisers effectively.", " Work with hundreds of sheets in one excel file,instead of copying and pasting every sheet in a new file one by one. ", "Excel sheets can compile a lot of data, and it’s not always convenient to print it all at once. You can print certain sections of a spreadsheet by highlighting the target area, going to the print settings, and choosing the ‘print selected area’ option.", "You may be aware that Microsoft Office has a feature to create custom macros. This feature allows a user to create an automated process that he/she wishes to perform over and over again.", "This will teach you to create any kind of file. We can't guarantee, though, that your programs will open it properly (for example, this file wouldn't be a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet).", "Convert your document into a PDF format so the other party will see your document in its original form. PDF is a stable file format and it is very easy to convert Microsoft Word and Excel documents to this format.", "The Excel spreadsheet program in Microsoft Word allows you to create and change groups of cells or individual cells. You can combine cells, also known as merging, in order to combine data or improve the appearance of the spreadsheet.", "Excel 2007 allows you to perform various spreadsheet tasks like creating equations, organizing data, group and create tables, and many more. The Scroll Lock function will let you scroll through the Excel file while still keeping your selection in the same exact place.", "Are you pulling your hair out trying to manage a large spreadsheet full of disjointed names or dates? Do you want to create form sentences that can be automatically filled in with the data from your spreadsheet?", " Uses basic Excel Functions to separate First and Last Names (or any other text) ", "All FrameMaker documents consist of body pages, reference pages, and master pages. These pages are automatically created whenever you create a new FrameMaker document.", "In the article How to Create a Brief Linear Regression Model in Excel , what was not shown was how to include an ellipse surrounding the data, i.e. create a fair data boundary, which problem has now been solved." ]

[ "If you’re planning to bake a sheet cake at home, the most common size cake pan is 9″ x 13″ (slightly larger than the one-quarter sheet cake offered by bakeries). 1 Homemade Sheet Cake, 9″ x 13″, serves 13-28." ]

[ "When you receive your edible icing sheet you will also receive instructions on how to apply the sheet to the cake. If you are purchasing the cake at a bakery, they will be happy to apply the sheet for you.", "1) How much does a Full Sheet Cake & Half Sheet cake costs in Costco Wholesale Store? I need those prices individually. 2) Also, if you know, can you tell the prices of both the Customized and the normal cakes.", "How long can a cake sit out unrefrigerated? My son's bday party is tonight, and I bought a 1/4 sheet white cake with whipped icing from WalMart. I plan to decorate it myself with his Transformer toys... right now it's under the cake dome, but I wanted to start on the decorating ASAP.", "How much does a Costco sheet cake cost? On average, a Costco half sheet cake will cost $19. This is the price regardless of how you customize it at a local Costco store. According to this blog post on He and She Eat Clean, she tells us how to order a cake from Costco and mentions it will cost $18.99 and also includes what an order form looks like.", "how much does a costco sheet cake cost Nov 25, 2016 ... Does Costco really have the best prices? ... Price Tags ... Costco sells a half sheet cake for $18, while supermarkets sell a quarter sheet for over ...", "AAdd up your costs for the sheet cake (ingredients, labor, and allocated overhead) to give you a floor, then look into market value for sheet cakes in your area to figure out how much markup you can add.", "How Long Does Cake Last? Cake - How long does cake last? The shelf life of cake depends on a variety of factors, such as the sell by date, the preparation method and how the cake was stored. Because of its relatively low cost and high calorie density, cake is one of the most popular celebration desserts in the world.", "Try this website it might help you. Usually you bake a cake at 350 for 25-30 depending on your oven you will just have to check it. Source(s): http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Cake-Pan-Siz...daydreamer · 8 years ago. Thumbs up.ow long should I bake an 11 x 15 sheet cake (Wilton pan) & how many boxes of cake mix should I use?", "Prices for the Dairy Queen cakes range from $14 to $33 depending on the cake size and type you are ordering. For example, the log cake is the smallest size, while the sheet cake is the largest. It is eight inches long and serves 6 and 10 people, and it cost about $12 to $3o.", "When they sell a cake with different flavors...for a 1/2 sheet cake they put a quarter sheet of choc. and a quarter sheet of white, side by side. They can then sell the rest of that cake as two quarter sheets.", "Note: Servings are with serving Top tier, if saving the top tier for the 1st anniversary -18 servings from the total servings. Wedding/Anniversary Cost Saver Tip. Ask about ordering a 3 tier cake and a sheet cake or a 4 tier and up to 2 sheet cakes.11 x 15 Sheet cake (Serves 74) is Iced and filled in buttercream with choice of cake flavoring* for $100.edding/Anniversary Cost Saver Tip. Ask about ordering a 3 tier cake and a sheet cake or a 4 tier and up to 2 sheet cakes. 11 x 15 Sheet cake (Serves 74) is Iced and filled in buttercream with choice of cake flavoring* for $100.", "The name of the cake is derived from the kind of mold or pan used to make it. A sheet pan or jellyroll pan is used for sheet cakes. It is considerably bigger than the usual cake pan or even the round mold that are mostly used for homemade cakes. You can make your own sheet cake at home.", "How Much Does a Costco Cake Cost? | HowMuchIsIt.org Costco cakes are fairly large but can be purchased for about the same price as a ... On average, a half-sheet Costco cake is priced between $16 to $20 for each ... www.howmuchisit.org", "Completely. The edible icing sheet and edible inks use FDA approved ingredients. Once the sheet is applied to the cake, it will bond with the frosting and can be easily cut with a knife as long as the frosting is dampened enough.", "Tips for Wonderful Sheet Cakes. 1 It is virtually impossible to torte (cut in half) a sheet cake of any size without it cracking or crumbling. 2 Precautions must be taken when making sheet cakes to ensure they do not get too thin or break before the cake is assembled.", "How Much Does a Groom's Cake Cost? Typical costs: Costs for a groom's cake are similar to those for wedding cakes, ranging from $1-$2 or less per slice for a relatively straightforward single-tier or sheet cake, to $8-$10 or more a slice for elaborate cakes with fondant, gum paste and sugar decorations or fruit.", "Costco US Bakery Sheet Cake Order Form. Costco US Bakery Sheet Cake Order Form | Addicted To Costco! Download Wedding Cake Order Form. Cake adoration: wedding cake gallery, Skor cake and many more not all flavors can be made into a cake - some are best in cupcake form.", "How much is it? On average, a half-sheet Costco cake is priced between $16 to $20 for each cake depending on the Costco bakery location and the flavor choice. Carrot cake is normally priced $2 more per cake. According to members on Babycenter.com, most noted that it will cost about $18 for a cake that serves up to 48.", "This Calphalon Nonstick 9-Inch x 13-Inch Cake Pan is the perfect size for smaller sheet cakes, crumble cakes, brownie batches and more.his Calphalon Nonstick 9-Inch x 13-Inch Cake Pan is the perfect size for smaller sheet cakes, crumble cakes, brownie batches and more.", "Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with melted butter (or use a non-stick baking sheet). Place your thawed or frozen crab cakes onto this baking sheet, then brush the top of each one with a thin layer of melted butter.Put the baking sheet into the oven and bake the crab cakes until they are done. For thawed crab cakes, this will probably be within 20 to 30 minutes.Frozen crab cakes will take up to 40 minutes or slightly more.lace your thawed or frozen crab cakes onto this baking sheet, then brush the top of each one with a thin layer of melted butter. Put the baking sheet into the oven and bake the crab cakes until they are done.", "How many cake mixes to fill a 12 x 18 x 2 inch pan? How many standard brand, standard size, (Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, etc.) cake MIXES do I need to make a cake in 12 x 18 x 2 inch cake sheet pan? Update: Please don't guess at the answer. This is a birthday cake, and I want it to turn out well.", "Log onto www.wilton.com and check out the cake baking tab it will help you determine how many cups of batter you will need for your cake pan sizes and how long you will need to bake the cake according to the cake size. Wilon.com is a site for bakers.", "1 Publix, a chain of grocery stores in the Southeast, offers a full sheet cake with 80 servings for $76, or 95 cents per serving. 2 Inexpensive bakery cakes typically range from $1-$2 slice. 3 This includes decorated round cakes, square cakes and sheet cakes, typically with butter cream icing.", "I ordered a full sheet of cake {half chocolate and half white) for my daughters 18th birthday. I wanted something super special and beautiful, just like my child. I saw a sample of the wedding cakes they could do and asked if they could do that to a sheet. They said yes and you would not believe how lovely the cake turned out. It was the prettiest cake and made my daughter was so happy, she did not want to eat it.", "Looking for sheet cake recipes? Allrecipes has more than 310 trusted sheet cake recipes complete with ratings, reviews, and baking tips.", "Calories in Kroger Sheet Cake 1/20 cake-Choc with buttercream icing.", "Safeway can decorate cakes with frosting, chocolate, fresh fruit, or candy, and some come with plastic toppers that create an even more appealing design theme. The cakes at Safeway come in many sizes, including round cakes, square sheet cakes, rectangular sheet cakes, and pull-apart cakes that separate into individual cupcakes. Since these cakes are so customizable, Safeway is capable of making cakes for birthday parties, wedding receptions, baby showers, or school graduations.", "We are doing a small two tiered small cake for about 45 people at $6/slice then a sheet cake for 100 people for about $200. A sheet cake helps keep costs down and guests will have no idea. Report 0 Reply. kaesha.", "Costco wedding cakes are limited to Half Sheet Cakes so if you are looking for a traditional multi layer wedding cake you might have to look somewhere else. Costco Wedding Cakes can be decorated with a variety of decorations and are only sold in one size – half sheet cake that serves 48 guests. Costco Baby Shower Cakes", "Common shapes include: 1 Bundt cakes. 2 Cake balls. 3 Conical, such as the Kransekake. 4 Cupcakes and madeleines, which are both sized for a single person. 5 Layer cakes, frequently baked in a springform pan and decorated. 6 Sheet cakes, simple, flat, rectangular cakes baked in sheet pans. 7 Swiss rolls.", "Everything you need to know about Walmart Birthday Cakes. Walmart’s Bakery offers Birthday cakes for both Girls and Boys of all ages. Walmart Birthday Cakes come in a wide variety: 1/4 sheet cake, 1/2 sheet cake, cupcake cake, smash cake, two tier cake, one tier cake, etc. They also offer different theme cakes from a wide variety of characters, sports, and more. Walmart Birthday cake prices include the total cost of all the decorations and characters.", "In this video we'll show how to print edible images and pictures for decorating your cakes and do a review of Icing Images brand edible inks and frosting sheets." ]

[ "Nordstrom has agreed to settle a harassment suit after complaints about an employee who worked in the company's Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens department stores." ]

[ "An Allentown chiropractor who was charged with tax evasion Wednesday also faces a sexual harassment suit by two former employees who claim he groped them, made sexually suggestive comments and retaliated after they complained.", "Butterball LLC agreed to settle a class action suit with its Arkansas plant workers that has lingered in the federal court system since 2008.", "A tribunal has found that aerospace company Bombardier did not discriminate against an employee who was the victim of a campaign of sectarian harassment.", "A former Cary public works director settled his federal civil rights lawsuit against the village Thursday, court records state, ending 16 months of litigation over claims he was fired for complaining about village employees working on elected officials private property.", "Nordstrom announced that it plans to relocate its Nordstrom Rack at Promenade at Howard Hughes Center in Los Angeles to Westfield Culver City in Culver City, Calif.", "Casey Affleck has just settled two sexual harassment cases brought against him by female production team members on his new Joaquin Phoenix documentary ``I'm Still Here''.", "Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc. announced today plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at The Mall at Sears in Anchorage, Alaska.", "A Saipan company that operates a chain of gas stations has settled a federal pregnancy discrimination and retaliation lawsuit for $80,000.", "A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit filed against Ashland village officials by former public works employee Dale T. Naylor, but details are not being disclosed.", "Around five months after shutting its doors, the Homewood Suites By Hilton in La Quinta will reopen, putting about 40 employees back to work.", "A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit by Kim Kardashian that claimed Old Navy violated her publicity rights when it used a lookalike in an ad for the clothing store.", "State Senator Brad Hutto won a $49 million settlement from Wal-Mart last week, part of a nationwide class action movement against the retailer over ``wage and hour violations.''", "Apple settles suit after kids racked up fees Apple has agreed to give more than $100 million in iTunes store credits to settle a lawsuit alleging that the iPhone and iPad maker improperly charged kids for playing games on their mobile devices.", "Two Lewis County employees are charged with misconduct, theft and illegal disposal of hazardous waste after a complaint sparked a probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.", "A lawsuit filed by two massage therapists who sued retired quarterback Brett Favre over claims he sent racy text messages has been settled, a lawyer for the women said.", "Nordstrom announced plans today to open a Nordstrom Rack in Boise.", "Oprah Winfrey has settled a defamation suit filed by a headmistress she had accused of performing poorly at her South African girls school, by talking to her ``woman to woman''.", "SEAN PENN has settled his civil suit with a paparazzo, almost one year after pleading no contest to vandalism charges.", "Nordstrom, Inc. announced today that it will report its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010 financial results and 2011 outlook after the close of the financial markets on Thursday, February 17, 2011.", "Husband and mother-in-law of a woman who immolated herself on Friday, have been arrested by the police here after her father lodged a complaint that she was being harassed by the in-laws for dowry.", "A Panda Express supervisor harasses teen girls for years in Kapaa on Kauai and now the business faces a lawsuit.", "A Japanese market in New Jersey will pay $250,000 to settle a national origin discrimination lawsuit by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.", "Insurance company Amerigroup Corp. announced Tuesday it has agreed in principle to settle a lawsuit accusing it of discriminating against pregnant women and other high-risk patients for $234 million.", "Charles David is recalling women's shoes sold at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack.", "A lawsuit filed against Bill Heard Enterprises claims the company with the largest chain of Chevrolet dealerships in the country violated federal labor law when it fired thousands of employees last month.", "Our eyes shoot fire when stores make their poor employees harass us about opening a store card, so we're feeling a perverse sense of joy at the news that store cards are turning into a nightmare for retailers.", "A City banker has won a lawsuit against Commerzbank after a tribunal ruled she was victimised once it emerged she was suing her previous employer for sex discrimination.", "An Illinois child care center has agreed to pay $31,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination case brought by the federal government.", "A burglary complaint at a Houma store ended in the arrest of an employee's relative Monday night, Terrebonne sheriff's deputies said.", "The business name trademark dispute between a Freeport-based drug store and a ``new kid on the block'' food store has been settled, Tribune Business was told, with the former agreeing to drop a complaint that saw the Registrar-General de-register the grocery company's name.", "A Bensalem company that provides housekeeping, laundry and food services to health care facilities will pay more than $260,000 in back wages to settle claims it violated federal overtime rules, the US Department of Labor said today.", "Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said it will pay as much as $640 million to settle 63 lawsuits over wage-and-hour violations, ending years of dispute." ]

[ "We bought this the beginning of summer here in Phx, Az. We saved about 40 to 50 bucks the first month we didn't need to use the ac. we live in a very small apt and it cooled almost to the point of being cold... we used the fan only as the humidity crept up and it was a life saver. we normally have lots of fans on the floor but we were able to do away with all that mess on the floor here and there. It is easy to fill with water and easy to move. Even though our apt is very small it is a great investment in comfort in the early summer. Its now october still using the fan and starting to use evap as the humidity creeps back down. Would recommend highly." ]

[ "As I stated with the batteries, so far I love my Black and Decker tools and batteries. No problems so far and the trimmer is used a lot and not gently, doing quite heavy cutting on a weekly basis.", "Great so far. Case is nice and sturdy and card slot is functional. Using it this weekend, so I will get back if there are problems.", "*Before I get to my review, I have to give mad props to AZ for putting out his 3rd album, 4th if you count last years mixtape, in the past 3 years. How many hip hop artists, let alone regular musicians, do that nowadays and still keep their material fresh. AZ is the man!\n\nGreat album by AZ. From the top of the album to the very bottom, AZ brings it. When comparing musicians I usually compare them with the last 2 albums they put out and this is by far better than Undeniable but still 2nd to the Format. Still it's a good buy and good album to listen to. Some of my recommended tracks are:\n\nBefore It's All Said & Done\nLivin The Life\nRefuse 2 Die\nGood for Nothin\nMoney Makes the World Go Round", "We used these on a trip to the cold weather (we live in AZ, so it is a treat for us).\n\nThe sleds do exactly what they are supposed to do... make you go FAST down a hill. I would recommend that these are more for \"kids\" based on size. I am a pretty normal sized adult and had a problem getting my body to comfortably conform and fit, but the kids had a blast.\n\nAlso, we did have one crack on us... and I agree with the other reviewers that it was probably due to COLD.. making the plastic brittle.", "Nice mold. First attempt came out clean and easy. I would recommend a long drying time (3 days in AZ sun) for plaster, as this 12\" mold can take a lot of moisture to release.", "Decent quality for the price. I like the ease of putting them on and so far they have held up well. I can wear them all day long and have no problems, but that is not doing a lot of walking in them. Not sure how they will handle getting wet yet.", "First let me say, there is A LOT going on in this book! There is an intricate plot and lots of characters, and at times I was having difficulty keeping track of everyone. That being said, the chemistry between the two main characters was insane. There relationship is intense and hot and does not disappoint. I was given the opportunity to read this novel for an honest review and I am so glad I did, because now I can't wait to check out AZ's other works. I highly recommend this book!", "Great little kit of small files! Used it once, so far no problems or issues.", "I ordered this for my daughter, she loves it a lot. It fits her phone perfectly. Delivery was very fast. No problems experienced so far. Thank you so much.", "I see a lot of people with edge peeling up problems. Don't know about that, because with the VZW Hard Shell Case w/ Holster Combo for LG G2 (Verizon) VS980 case I have, there is no such problem although I could see that it had the potential. So far so good with the usual good quality that dry screen protectors don't have - most of them I have used darken the screen or blur the pixels. Never have that problem with these ArmorSuits.", "Keep forgetting the county is fictional. As a native of the southwest (AZ), I really relate to the area, people, problems, and attitudes.\n\nRated the first few books 4 and later ones a 5....probably based on my familiarity, not their quality variations. Just get more enjoyable. Now I feel I know and love Posadas as well as I do Albuquerque, Deming, Lourdsburg, and El Paso....but not quite as well as I know and love Tucson.", "These are very simple and basic, I also had a little problem putting it on, but I used a little piece of tape to get the dust or lint or other random flying things that get on the screen as you applied it. I had to remove it completely at one point but the same one was put back with no problems. I do admit it's a little difficult and takes fine motor control to apply, but not any more so than other screen protectors I have used. Happy with my purchase so far.", "Our office sits at a nice golf course with rolling hills at the edge of our parking lot. We setup the hole in the middle of the hills and have 6 differnt tee boxes for the one hole, played 3 times gives us 18 holes within 150yards of the office, just close enough to answer the phone! I did lots of looking and decided to spend a little more to get a hole that was good and sturdy since we bring it in and out each day. So far we've used everyday with no problems. The base is wide enough to insure no tipping even when drilled by an aggressive drive, and good response to a firm putt. So far every putt into the chains has dropped into the basket. The yellow top helps with seeing the hole from distance. Took less than 5 minutes to build, I keep it in tact when moving in and out.", "So far so good, I've put 350 miles on these tires and have not had any problems with them. They sure roll a lot better than the Gator Skins.\nNot hard to mount the first time. I highly recommend them.", "The screen protector kit included everything needed to get it on efficiently except something to use for the air bubbles. You can just grab a credit card or something. As long as you use a steady hand you can get the screen on with no problem. I really appreciated the temporary tabs that came with this kit which let me figure out exactly where I wanted the screen before I removed the film. So far it has protected my screen from any scratches. The size of the screen protector is exactly the size of the iPhone screen so there is a lot of room for error, just be super careful. I am very happy with the product.", "I bought this on a whim, and am amazed how much I like using it.\n\nI've only used it so far for mixing fairly wet batters and scrambling eggs, but so far so good.\n\nI wish the handle were a tiny bit more substantial, but since the mixing I've done so far is quick, I haven't had any problems.", "It is a good machine, but have a problem the microphone does not work. Tried to get this resolved but haven't so far thank you", "A lot of sound from such a small source! So far, so good, but haven't used it much yet.", "I have plans. I will need to use my iPhone as a camera in professional circumstances. So I bought this tool. So far, it's great. The tripod is flexible and highly functional. The Bluetooth remote was easy to set up and works. I look forward to getting a lot of use out of this.", "My husband and I ate half a bag on our way to Tucson, AZ from Temecula, CA.\nI sure they were meant to last longer than that, but they were just too good. And\nwith no salt added, there wasn't a lot of water to drink. We all know what that will do on a long trip.", "For the price this is a great replacement bladder. I've used it for hiking and biking and have had zero problems with it so far.", "and it was!!! the blades were all different diameters,not even close to a flat bottom.\n\nNow a buddy found a place in AZ that will sharpen his for $42.00 so he said!! waiting on results, but if you have a good sharping shop that sounds like a way to get a bargain on a dado set.\n\nBrian Miles woodworking dot com all one word", "Great book so far lots of information, now all I gotta do is get going putting it all into action", "Love it. Glad i bought it. I am loving my childhood again. No problem so far. Daily use", "Saved money buying refurbished same as new. 5 ghz band does not reach through my house (basement to first or second floor) so I end up using 2.4 ghz for everything. No problems so far. Fast and I have never had to restart it (about 1 or 2 months of use so far)", "So far good. Only problem was I had to use the old rubber feet off the old battery so it would not interfere with the mouse pad.", "I've only had this a few weeks but so far am pleased with it's operation. Not \"very pleased\"....just pleased. Be aware that it isn't very deep and the slices of bread don't go down far enough to get the whole piece well toasted. There is about one half to three quarters of an inch at the top that doesn't get toasted very well. If you use \"small\" bread then it will be no problem. For the price it is a good toaster and does a decent job.", "My daughter loves these pencils and has no complaints with them. We've bought a few sets and she prefers to get these so far. Can't say much more but haven't had any problems with them so recommend.", "Its got a very classic look to it. I love the blue hands and the 2 complications (Date and pr indicator). This watch looks a lot more expensive than its $100 i paid for it.\nso far had no problems with it it little +1 min per week so from time to time will readjust it.", "so far so good. The batteries look and had no problems charging. They maintained their charge even after 3 days of not being used. They were an exact match for the Sears batteries", "I love this amazing and handsome boy and so happy for him and his Family that he won The Triple Crown. I love reading about him and his amazing journey. Thanks for sharing this story .\nKate Tucson Az", "Update review 12/26/2017: We have had this for 3 years now and it is too unreliable. It fails to update new access codes multiple times over the past year even though it is clearly able to connect to WiFi because we see the \"access denied\" in the event log on the Lockstate web site. It's caused us a lot of problems with guests because of its failures to update access codes and several times the company has changed the website which caused additional problems with access codes not working. I can't recommend this lock anymore.\n\nInitial review: Installation was standard for a deadbolt, I had no problems there. Account programming was not so easy, but I followed the instructions step by step and got it done (caveat: I'm a software engineer). It does work well (I've only had it installed for 1 day). I can add access codes using their website. So far, I like this lock a lot." ]

[ "blocking" ]

[ "what economists do", "What Does It Do to Your Heart", "What I Might Do", "DOE", "What I Do the Best", "What Do You Got?", "What I Need To Do", "What I Can Do for You", "Do It to It", "DOS", "What Would You Do?", "What She's Doing Now", "DOE test", "A Doe subpoena", "it does not follow", "Do", "Susan Doe", "John Doe", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Roland Doe", "What's Up?", "Doe B", "What a Friend", "What's Happening!!", "do as the Romans do", "Samuel Doe", "What's in It for Me", "What If Nothing", "Do You Hear What I Hear", "things are what they are", "How Do You Do It", "What A Night" ]

[ "ThunderCats" ]

[ "Did It for the Party", "Serie A", "Playing with the Boys" ]

[ "A beauty pageant contestant who labelled herself 'terribly ugly' has been disqualified after being voted through to the final because organisers thought she had tampered with the vote. Maya Shelkovaya from Sochi was shocked when she ousted more than 400 other girls in Russian contest Miss Games 2014 to make it through to the last five. She said she didn't expect to win a single vote and only entered the pageant because she wanted to win some of the Allods Team video games offered to the finalists, according to Vocativ. Maya Shelkovaya from Sochi was shocked when she made it through to the final of Miss Games@Mail.ru 2014 . But organizers suspected she had cheated and sent her an email which did not set out a clear explanation for her disqualification. She uploaded a photo to enter the competition, saying she thought she was 'terribly ugly' and received an onslaught of online abuse. Many commented saying she was 'fat' and 'should go to the gym', but others praised her bravery and voted for her to stay in the competition. 'Mostly people write that I'm brave and honorable. But, to be honest, I don't know where they got that from. I'm completely average,' she said. She uploaded a photo to enter the competition, saying she thought she was 'terribly ugly', but many praised her bravery . The winners were given an iPhone 5S (left) and a trip for two to a five-star hotel in Egypt (right) 'In general, for me personally, all kind people are beautiful. Kindness adorns their faces, and it's impossible to call them ugly no matter what their appearance.' The organizers of the pageant, run by Russian email service, Mail.ru, have now announced the winners, one of whom was given a trip for two to a five-star hotel in Egypt. They said: 'We are pleased to announce the completion of the contest. As we warned all the votes obtained by dishonest means, when calculating the results have been removed.' She was shocked when she ousted more than 400 other girls in the Russian contest to make it to the final ." ]

[ "Dancer and journalism student Anastasia Kostenko has grand plans of taking the Miss World crown back to Russia. The 20-year-old, currently studying at the Peoples’ Friendship University in Moscow, counts aerobics, classic Russian literature and the music of The Beatles among her interests. Practising the phrase ‘I’m from Russia’ and making sure to smile while stretching is all par for the course for this beauty pageant hopeful. Before moving to Moscow to pursue her studies in journalism, Miss Kostenko trained as a classical ballerina. ‘I’m a bit nervous,’ Miss Kostenko admitted to Ruptly. ‘First of all I feel proud to represent my country, and that I was entrusted with such a big event.’ ‘I think I can do everything right and hope that I’ll be able to please just like victors at the [Winter] Olympic Games did.’ Practising the phrase 'I'm from Russia' and perfecting her smile are just some of the ways Miss Kostenko has been preparing . With bikini modelling serving as one of the heats, it's important she perfect her high-heel strut ahead of the heats in London . Miss Kostenko will compete among 130 other hopefuls in heats, that commence in London from November 20th. If she impresses in the heats, that involve bikini modelling, showcasing her special talent, and athletics - she’ll have a shot at making the grand final. But only five of the women will reach the grand final, held at the ICC Auditorium in London Docklands.", "A Honduran beauty queen has disappeared days before the start of the Miss World pageant. Investigators are searching for Miss Honduras World María José Alvarado Muñoz and her sister, who went missing on Thursday, police in the Central American country said Sunday. Family members reported their disappearance on Saturday, police said. Eduardo Zablah, director of the pageant in Honduras, told CNN affiliate Televicentro that the sisters were last seen getting into a vehicle after attending a party last week. Contestants from more than 120 countries are scheduled to start arriving in London this week for early rounds of the Miss World pageant. They'll face off in a final round on December 14. Alvarado, a 19-year-old student from Santa Bárbara, Honduras, describes herself as an aspiring diplomat who enjoys playing volleyball and soccer in her spare time, according to a profile of her on the pageant's website. She beat 18 contestants to win the Miss World Honduras crown in April.", "(CNN) -- Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss was crowned Miss World on Sunday in a competition in London. \"South Africa, this is for you,\" she said in an interview after the pageant. \"I'm so proud of you, and I'm proud to be your representative.\" Strauss, 22, inherited the crown from Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines. She won the title over runner-up Miss Hungary Edina Kulcsar. Miss United States Elizabeth Safrit took third place. Strauss, a fourth-year medical student at University of the Free State, put her studies on hold after being crowned Miss South Africa in March. In her official Miss World 2014 introduction video, she credits former South African President Nelson Mandela with paving the way for her to pursue a career in medicine by creating a democratic South Africa. Strauss said she looked forward to continuing the legacy of Miss World CEO Julia Morley, founder of \"Beauty With a Purpose,\" a nonprofit that supports humanitarian projects of Miss World contestants. Those who participate in a charitable contest or cause through the organization compete for the \"Beauty With a Purpose\" award, winning points toward their final score. The focus on charitable acts helps counter criticism that the pageant promotes superficial images of women through swimsuit competitions and slinky evening gowns. As Miss South Africa, Strauss has promoted projects in women's rights, health and education, including one to provide menstruation education to schoolgirls in South Africa. What do you think of beauty pageants such as Miss World? Tell us in the comments.", "A 22-year-old student from Kurgan has won the annual 'Beauty of Russia' competition. A video of women competing in Moscow's Russkaya Pesnya theatre this week shows finalists dancing on stage and Tatiana Baitova being awarded the crown, after fending off 49 other hopefuls. Baitova reportedly put her plans to get married on hold so she could compete in the event, which rules participants may not be married or have children. Skimpy: Video shows contestant dancing on stage in bikinis before the eventual winner was crowned . After winning the title, Baitova told the TASS news agency: 'I think that everything will be fine between us. 'It seems to me that my boyfriend is now very happy and proud of me.' Footage taken during the event shows an interview with Alexander Revva, where the Russian TV host and comedian declares his love for beauty. Eveningwear: A group of contestants smile and pose during the 20th anniversary of the competition . And the winner is...... Tatiana Baitova a 22-year-old student from Kurgan . 'The more beautiful people are, in life, in the streets, at home, in flats, in apartment buildings, the better life will be,' he said. 'It is more interesting. Beauty inspires emotions in people. It inspires admiration. It is necessary.' This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual Beauty of Russia competition. Since 2006, the Beauty of Russia winner usually represents Russia in the international Miss Earth pageant. More posing: Footage shows the runners up smiling for cameras . Flowers for everyone: 50 women competed for the title in in Moscow's Russkaya Pesnya theatre .", "With more Miss Worlds than any other country and a TV audience of 50 million for the final of the national competition, beauty pageants are big business in Venezuela. Winning the Miss Venezuela pageant can mean a starry showbiz career and a route out of poverty, and as a result, there's no lengths that Venezuelan girls won't go to to win the prize - whether that means saving for a nose job or sewing a strip of plastic to their tongues to stop them eating. Overseen by the country's 'King of Beauty', Osmel Sousa, 67, competitors spend the six months leading up to the final in a tough beauty bootcamp where feelings aren't spared, the cameras are always watching and surgery is routine. Surgery: There are no lengths that girls in Osmel's 'Beauty Factory' won't go to to win the competition . The Miss Venezuela House is run by the svengali-like Sousa, who is always on hand to check the progress of the girls - and dispense an unlimited supply of cutting advice. Competitors are thinned out at regular evictions judged by Sousa. Watching the women sashay down the runway, he uses his eagle eye for imperfections to spot areas for improvement. 'The two central teeth!' he exclaims as one beauty walks towards him. Blushing, she replies: 'They filed them down yesterday.' 'File them down more!' is his response. One hopeful is 18-year-old Maya Nava who comes from Caracas' Santa Cruz barrio, a dangerous slum where there's a murder every 40 minutes. 'My wish is to be recognised,' she reveals. 'I want . people to know that people from the slums can succeed. Svengali: Miss Venezuela president Osmel Sousa speaks to BBC reporter Billie JD Porter . Thinning the ranks: The no-hopers are regularly weeded out by Osmel and his panel of judges . 'It would . guarantee me and my family a future. It would allow us to leave the . barrio.' To achieve her dreams, Ms Nava and her family have already spent $7,000 on surgery, including a nose job and breast implants. She has also had a plastic mesh sewn onto her tongue to make eating solids too painful to endure. 'It makes me lose weight faster,' she explains. 'You eat the same [things] but liquefied.' Not everyone approves of the extensive surgery the contestants undergo. The mother of Lara, another competitor insists her daughter won't have surgery because it 'would not be a fair contest'. She adds: 'All this surgery... Is it a competition to see who is the best surgeon or who's the prettiest girl?' Back in the Miss Venezuela House, Sousa is once again thinning the ranks of hopefuls. 'Listen girl, let me tell you, that . beehive hairdo looks horrendous!' he snaps at one. Tipped for the top: Regional winners Stephanie de Zorzi and Michelle Bertolini . Winner: Migbellis Castellanos narrowly beat Maya Neva to become Miss Venezuela 2013 . When a girl faints, he tells her: 'If you faint . like a beauty queen, get up like one too!' Later, he quips: 'I'm checking for girls who've got fat and to see they act like it's the final. There are a few who aren't concentrating.' While Sousa, who has done more than any other to ensure Venezuela's continuing success in international beauty pageants, might seem offensive, he insists that it's really all about the transformation. 'I am always working on that [what women . can do],' he insists. 'When I was little, I had Attention Deficit Disorder. I couldn't study, I'd just forget . everything so I drew beautiful women constantly. 'What I love is seeing positive . transformations,' he continues. 'Nature hasn't been kind to some women. Hopefuls: Girls taking part in Osmel's beauty bootcamp are expected to perfect everything from figure to voice . Hopefuls: Girls taking part in Osmel's beauty bootcamp are expected to perfect everything from figure to voice . Living the dream: Miss Venezuela (centre) and the two runners up can now expect a stellar showbiz career . 'If a girl needs a . nose job, you get her one. It's an industry so we strive for . perfection. We can't settle for mediocrity.' Not every woman meets with his approval however, with feminist protesters among those in line for another dose of caustic Sousa wisdom. 'Those organisations were created by ugly betties with no . hope of a fix!' he insists. 'They're all horrendous! 'They [feminist protesters] are taking things out of . context. We're not training astronauts here - we launch women's showbiz . careers.' And for women like Maya, who eventually - to the delight of her Santa Cruz neighbours - comes second in the Miss Venezuela pageant, success can be a route out of poverty too. Maya and Osmel appear on Extreme Beauty Queens: Secrets of South America, tonight at 9pm on BBC3 .", "A new doping scandal involving Russian athletes has erupted after the IAAF confirmed it is investigating allegations that race walker Elena Lashmanova, who won gold at the London Olympics, took part in a race in December despite being subject to a two-year doping ban. The IAAF, athletics' world governing body, has confirmed it is looking into the claims, and alleged attempts to cover up her participation. The IAAF is already involved in a major investigation into allegations from German broadcaster ARD that doping and cover-ups are rife in Russian athletics. Former Olympic and world race walk champion has been accused of competing while serving a drug ban . Lashmanova, 22, who in 2012 became the youngest winner of the women's Olympic 20-kilometre walk, is banned until February 2016 after testing positive for banned hormones and modulators of metabolism. Claims surfaced in Italian race walking periodical Marcia dal Mondo that she competed in the indoor regional championships of her home region of Mordovia in Russia last month, and photographs were published of her participating. The event organiser has claimed the photographs were wrongly used and were from a 2012 event. Canadian race walker Evan Dunfee has posted a blog about the claims however, saying the footwear being worn by the walkers in the pictures where Lashmanova is photographed were not available until 2014. If the claims are proven, Lashmanova faces being banned for an extra two years until February 2018. An IAAF spokesman told Sportsmail: ' The IAAF has been informed of this and our anti-doping department is investigating.' THe Russian athlete celebrates after wining gold in the 20km walk at the 2012 London Olympics . Last month, the son of IAAF president Lamine Diack stepped down from his activities with the governing body pending the investigation into the allegations from German television. Papa Massata Diack, who works for the IAAF as a marketing consultant, joined Valentin Balakhnichev, the president of the Russian athletics federation and the IAAF's treasurer, in agreeing to step down. Balakhnichev continues in his role with the Russian federation and said the allegations about Lashmanova were being looked into. He told R-Sport agency: 'We've started an investigation into the case. Its results will be announced shortly.' The IAAF investigation also covers a list of 150 athletes obtained by ARD named as having suspicious blood results between 2006-2008. It included three Britons, one with a high profile.", "(CNN) -- When is a kiss not just a kiss? It's not always clear. Russian athletes Kseniya Ryzhova and Yulia Guschina kissed each other over the weekend on the winners podium after taking gold in the women's 4x400 meter relay at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow. A photographer captured the moment, which was broadcast by media outlets around the world. Was it just a celebratory kiss? Or was it a political statement? The athletes have not said. But their kiss came at a highly charged moment for gay rights in Russia, which recently implemented an anti-gay propaganda law. The law, which bars the public discussion of gay rights and relationships anywhere children might hear, has led to calls to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. U.S. runner Nick Symmonds blasts Russia on gay rights . Gay rights campaigners have drawn parallels between Moscow's actions and Nazi Germany's persecution of Jews or apartheid in South Africa. Russia, meanwhile, insists that its law barring \"propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors\" is not discriminatory but is intended to protect children. Almost three-quarters of Russians said homosexuality should not be accepted by society, while just 16% said it should be accepted, a recent Pew Research Center survey of global attitudes revealed. By comparison, 33% of people surveyed in the United States said homosexuality should not be accepted by society, while 60% said it should. In Britain, only 18% opposed accepting homosexuality, with 76% saying it should be accepted. Russian athlete defends Russia's anti-gay propaganda . CNN's Dana Ford and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.", "By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 04:52 EST, 7 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:39 EST, 7 February 2014 . She has already spent $7,000 on a nose job and breast implants to achieve her dream of winning Miss Venezuela. But for Maya Nava, this was not enough. The 18-year-old has had plastic mesh sewn to her tongue so that eating solids is simply too painful. 'It makes me lose weight faster,' she tells the BBC3 show Extreme Beauty Queens: Secrets of South America. 'You eat the same [things] but liquefied.' Maya is one of thousands of young girls desperate to be crowned Miss Venezuela and their families will do virtually anything to make it happen. Scroll down for video . Ambitions: Maya Nava has had plastic surgery on her breasts and nose to ensure she has the best chance of winning Miss Venezuela . Shocking: Maya reveals she has had plastic sewn to her tongue so that she cannot eat solids and remains thin . 'My wish is to be recognised,' she reveals. 'I want . people to know that people from the slums can succeed. 'It would . guarantee me and my family a future. It would allow us to leave the . barrio.' Maya's determination to succeed is unsurprising. She lives in the Santa Cruz barrio in Caracas where there is a murder every 40 minutes. And with more Miss Worlds than any other country and a TV audience of 50 million for the final of the national competition, beauty pageants are big business in Venezuela. Winning the Miss Venezuela pageant can mean a starry showbiz career and a route out of poverty, and as a result, there's no lengths that Venezuelan girls won't go to to win the prize. Overseen by the country's 'King of Beauty', Osmel Sousa, 67, competitors spend the six months leading up to the final in a tough beauty bootcamp where feelings aren't spared, the cameras are always watching and surgery is routine. Surgery: There are no lengths that girls in Osmel's 'Beauty Factory' won't go to to win the competition . Svengali: Miss Venezuela president Osmel Sousa speaks to BBC reporter Billie JD Porter . Thinning the ranks: The no-hopers are regularly weeded out by Osmel and his panel of judges . The Miss Venezuela House is run by the svengali-like Sousa, who is always on hand to check the progress of the girls - and dispense an unlimited supply of cutting advice. Competitors are thinned out at regular evictions judged by Sousa. Watching the women sashay down the runway, he uses his eagle eye for imperfections to spot areas for improvement. 'The two central teeth!' he exclaims as one beauty walks towards him. Blushing, she replies: 'They filed them down yesterday.' 'File them down more!' is his response. Not everyone approves of the extensive surgery the contestants undergo. The mother of Lara, another competitor insists her daughter won't have surgery because it 'would not be a fair contest'. She adds: 'All this surgery... Is it a competition to see who is the best surgeon or who's the prettiest girl?' Back in the Miss Venezuela House, Sousa is once again thinning the ranks of hopefuls. 'Listen girl, let me tell you, that . beehive hairdo looks horrendous!' he snaps at one. Tipped for the top: Regional winners Stephanie de Zorzi and Michelle Bertolini . Winner: Migbellis Castellanos narrowly beat Maya Neva to become Miss Venezuela 2013 . When a girl faints, he tells her: 'If you faint . like a beauty queen, get up like one too!' Later, he quips: 'I'm checking for girls who've got fat and to see they act like it's the final. There are a few who aren't concentrating.' While Sousa, who has done more than any other to ensure Venezuela's continuing success in international beauty pageants, might seem offensive, he insists that it's really all about the transformation. 'I am always working on that [what women . can do],' he insists. 'When I was little, I had Attention Deficit Disorder. I couldn't study, I'd just forget . everything so I drew beautiful women constantly. 'What I love is seeing positive . transformations,' he continues. 'Nature hasn't been kind to some women. Hopefuls: Girls taking part in Osmel's beauty bootcamp are expected to perfect everything from figure to voice . Hopefuls: Girls taking part in Osmel's beauty bootcamp are expected to perfect everything from figure to voice . Living the dream: Miss Venezuela (centre) and the two runners up can now expect a stellar showbiz career . 'If a girl needs a . nose job, you get her one. It's an industry so we strive for . perfection. We can't settle for mediocrity.' Not every woman meets with his approval however, with feminist protesters among those in line for another dose of caustic Sousa wisdom. 'Those organisations were created by ugly betties with no . hope of a fix!' he insists. 'They're all horrendous! 'They [feminist protesters] are taking things out of . context. We're not training astronauts here - we launch women's showbiz . careers.' And for women like Maya, who eventually - to the delight of her Santa Cruz neighbours - comes second in the Miss Venezuela pageant, success can be a route out of poverty too.", "Furious: Russian Natalia Pereverzeva stunned judges and her countrymen by launching a furious tirade at the state of her country during a beauty pageant . A Russian beauty pageant contestant sparked controversy by launching a scathing broadside at her home nation during a competition, calling it a 'beggar'. Astonishing Natalia Pereverzeva was competing in the Miss Earth competition, an event similar to Miss Universe and other pageants but with a twist - competitors are expected to be both gorgeous and environmentally aware. When Natalia, 24  was asked a question about what makes her proud of her country, she initially used glowing, if slightly odd, words about her homeland, according to Radio Free Europe. She said: 'My Russia, it is bright, warm, patched, but it is so pleasant to slumber under it on a winter evening when the storm rages outside. 'My Russia, it is a kind cow with very big eyes, funny horns and always chewing its mouth oh, what sweet milk she gives! Oh, how it smells -- meadow herbs and the sun.' But then she suddenly and angrily rails against widespread corruption in the troubled nation. 'But my Russia -- it is also my poor, long-suffering country, mercilessly torn to pieces by greedy, dishonest, unbelieving people,' she said. 'My Russia, it is a great artery, from which the 'chosen' few people draining away its wealth. My Russia is a beggar. 'My Russia cannot help her elderly and orphans. From it, bleeding, like from a sinking ship, engineers, doctors, teachers are fleeing, because they have nothing to live on. 'My Russia -- it is a winner which has overthrown fascism but bought the victory at the expense of lives of millions of people. How, tell me, how and why does nationalism prosper in this country? 'My dear, poor Russia.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Natural beauty: (L-R) Contestants Aisha Valy of Reunion Island, Natalia Pereverzeva, and Sara Pender of Scotland pose at the Miss Earth beauty pageant in Manila. Entrants are expected to be ecologically aware . But she also spoke of her hope for the future and made an passionate call for her countrymen to turn from superfluous consumerist wants and help the country 'blossom'. 'Only we can improve the situation. We must learn to express ourselves and to show our best quality traits. 'We should try not to live only as consumers, but to develop ourselves, read books, listen to interesting music and be interested in scientific achievements. 'When we seriously begin to take care of our country, it will blossom and shine brightly.' Natalia's verbal assault caused much debate in Russia, with newspaper columnists arguing for and against her standpoint. However, her remarks appear to have resonated with the Russian public. More than 90 percent of the thousands who voted in an online poll on a newspaper website said they agreed with her. Natalia was Miss Moscow in 2010 and she won a Russia-wide beauty contest last year. VIDEO: Watch Natalia's video in her bid to become Miss Earth...", "(CNN) -- Miss Rhode Island, Olivia Culpo, won the title of Miss USA 2012 on Sunday night, beating a field of 50 high-heeled contestants at the pageant held in Las Vegas. Wearing a purple, flowing gown, the 20-year-old Boston University sophomore looked at ease in the final rounds of competition, dancing alongside singer Akon during his live performance with the five finalists. A cellist for 13 years, Culpo emphasized the importance of music education. She has performed at Boston Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City. The first runner-up was Miss Maryland, Nana Meriwhether. The remaining three finalists were Miss Ohio, Audrey Bolte; Miss Nevada, Jade Kelsall; and Miss Georgia, Jasmyn \"Jazz\" Wilkins. For the first time, viewers were able to ask Miss USA contestants a question via Twitter during the show. The pageant was broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Contestants representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia competed in swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions. Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella, crowned the winner. This year's panel of celebrity judges included chef Cat Cora; talk-show host and \"Celebrity Apprentice\" winner Arsenio Hall; musician Joe Jonas; actress Marilu Henner; television personality Rob Kardashian; Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008; George Kotsiopoulous, co-host of E!'s \"Fashion Police\"; and Ali Fedotowsky, formerly of \"The Bachelorette.\" Culpo will represent the United States in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant.", "Bess Myerson, the first and only Jewish Miss America and a New York political force until a series of scandals dubbed the 'Bess Mess' forced her into obscurity, has died aged 90. Myerson died on December 14 at her home in Santa Monica, California, according to the Los Angeles coroner's office and Department of Public Health Vital Records Office. The Bronx-born beauty was hailed as a Jewish, feminist Jackie Robinson — a groundbreaker for her religion and sex — after turning her stunning 1945 Miss America victory into national celebrity. Bess Myerson was the first and only Miss America in the pageant's history, winning her crown in 1945 . Myerson, unlike her predecessors, accentuated her intelligence, landing a series of television jobs, from game show hostess to on-air reporter, before her appointment as New York City's chief consumer watchdog in 1969. The popular Myerson, who stood 5ft 10ins tall, helped Ed Koch win the 1977 mayoral race, deflecting rumors of the bachelor candidate's homosexuality with her constant presence at his side . \"The immaculate deception,\" cynics called it after the couple shared an election night victory kiss. She made her own bid for office in 1980: an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for U.S. Senate. Three years later, Koch appointed her Cultural Affairs commissioner — an $83,000-a-year post as the city's liaison to the arts. \"People like to read about me,\" she said in a 1987 interview. \"They like to imagine themselves in my life.\" But Myerson's carefully cultivated image crumbled in the mid-1980s under a barrage of political and personal embarrassments that became known as the Bess Mess. Myerson went on to have a career in politics - which was brought to an end in a series of scandals known as the 'Bess Mess' A city background check exposed Myerson as an insanely jealous woman who harassed an ex-boyfriend and his new lover. She repeatedly invoked her right against self-incrimination in a 1986 corruption probe of a subsequent boyfriend, Carl \"Andy\" Capasso, who was born the year Myerson was crowned. Capasso, a contractor with purported mob ties, pleaded guilty to nine counts of tax evasion. Myerson, Capasso and Judge Hortense Gabel were indicted in October 1987 on a charge of conspiring to fix Capasso's divorce case. Prosecutors said Gabel's daughter, Sukhreet, received a city job in return for the judge's lowering of Capasso's alimony and child support payments. Before that trial began the next year, Myerson was convicted of shoplifting nail polish and earrings from a Pennsylvania store. A 1970 shoplifting conviction was also made public. Although Myerson and her co-defendants were acquitted in the divorce-fixing case, the damage was done. She had already resigned her Koch administration post, and her public career was virtually over. The former Miss American is credited with helping Edward Koch - pictured here with Myerson and a bagel celebrating his election victory in November 1977 - become New York Mayor by deflecting rumors of the bachelor candidate's homosexuality . The Miss America Organization said in a statement Monday that Myerson would be remembered for her unwavering commitment to equality. \"Bess used her Miss America title to fight anti-Semitism and racial bigotry as she traveled around the country,\" the organization said. Bess Myerson was born July 16, 1924, the second daughter of Russian immigrants. Raised in a one-bedroom Bronx apartment, she was beloved by her housepainter father, Louis, and beleaguered by her strict mother, Bella. By age 12, Myerson was taller and thinner than her classmates — she once played Olive Oyl in a school production. Her natural beauty soon emerged, and older sister Sylvia shepherded Myerson into the Miss New York City pageant in 1945. Myerson, who was born to Russian immigrant parents, became a game show host and roving reporter after winning her title in 1945 . She was entered in the pageant by her older sister Sylvia, who spotted the young Myerson's beauty . Myerson won, advancing to Atlantic City for the Miss America pageant. Organizers urged her to change her name — they suggested \"Betty Merrick\" — but Myerson refused. Her title, captured as the horrors of the Holocaust were coming to light, made Myerson a hero to her peers. Walking down the stage to cries of \"Mazel tov!\" from Jews in the audience, Myerson later recalled thinking: \"This victory is theirs.\" Not content with the stereotypical role of Miss America, Myerson left an exploitive vaudeville revue and mounted a speaking tour for the Anti-Defamation League. \"Miss America's brainy, too!\" announced a Daily News headline about the Hunter College graduate-turned-pageant winner. Myerson remained socially aware through the years. She received the ADL woman of the year award in 1965, the same year she began a seven-year stint as chairwoman of the Bonds for Israel fund. After surviving ovarian cancer in the early 1970s, she took the lead in battling that disease. She was appointed to committees by Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Myerson later battled ovarian cancer, becoming a campaigner against the disease . Her first break came on TV game shows. Myerson appeared as the 'Lady in Mink' on The Big Payoff from 1951 to 1959 and as a panelist on I've Got A Secret from 1957 to 1968. She also served as commentator for the Miss America Pageant from 1964 to 1968. But Myerson changed careers in 1969, when Mayor John V. Lindsay named her the city's consumer affairs commissioner. She stayed until 1973. She backed Koch in the hotly contested 1977 mayoral race, holding hands with him as they marched in the Columbus Day parade. Koch media adviser David Garth said it was Myerson who put his candidate over the top. Koch appointed Myerson cultural affairs commissioner in 1983 - but the 'Bess Mess' scandals broke soon after and by the end of the decade she had fallen into oblivion . Her loyalty was repaid February 23, 1983, when Koch appointed her cultural affairs commissioner. It was a decision that did neither much good, however. Myerson's problems were exposed amid several other scandals that kept Koch from winning a fourth term as mayor. But while Koch never left the public eye, Myerson's drop was precipitous — occasional appearances at cancer fundraisers or visits to friends' birthday parties. Myerson, who was twice divorced, is survived by a daughter, Barra Grant, from her first marriage.", "(CNN)It was an innocent mistake, one that was easy to correct -- before the social media age. Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel were at an event in Los Angeles with fellow 2006 Miss Universe contestants as part of the whirlwind of photo opps leading up the annual beauty contest. It was in the middle of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, and a picture of the two women together landed on the Miss Universe press page, stirring panic among the women and their handlers. The incident came to mind last weekend when a photo on Instagram of the current Miss Israel and Miss Lebanon together stirred controversy online anew, Miss Universe Organization President Paula M. Shugart said. In 2006, the organization was able to remove the photo before anyone noticed, Shugart said. Now, thanks to social media, we're in a \"whole new ballgame.\" Slips in decorum that previously might have gone unnoticed now have the potential to be amplified beyond anyone's control. In this case, the backlash prompted Miss Lebanon Saly Greige to issue a statement distancing herself from the photo. Many in the West dismissed the controversy as a trifling matter. Greige and Miss Israel Doron Matalon weathered the controversy and went on to represent their countries in the pageant, which aired Sunday night on NBC. Miss Colombia Paulina Vega won the crown. But pageant observers say the incident is a reminder that beauty pageants embody global politics, with contestants expected to model the cultural sensibilities of their nations. \"They are cast with representing their country and as such they are expected to behave much like ambassadors,\" said Jessica Trisko Darden, an assistant professor with the School of International Service at American University and the 2007 Miss Earth pageant winner representing Canada. 'A delicate diplomatic dance' The Instagram controversy is the latest example showing that pageants occur \"in a broader international context,\" Trisko Darden said in a Guardian column last week. Russia came under fire as Miss Universe host country in 2013 for not granting visas to contestants from countries it did not recognize, including Kosovo, Shugart said. Contestants threatened to boycott the 2002 Miss World pageant scheduled in Nigeria after a mother was sentenced to death for having sex outside marriage. Organizers moved the pageant to London. \"With so many nations and so much politics, planners must choreograph a delicate diplomatic dance,\" said Louise Gourlaouen, creator of pageant-watch website MissUniversUsa.com, which shares information on international pageants and beauty queens. Geopolitical affairs affect various aspects of pageant planning, Shugart said. For example, geographic neighbors Russia and Ukraine are traditionally assigned as roommates -- but not this year. Behind the scenes, Miss Universe contestants tend to get along, or, at the very least, are civil and courteous, Shugart said. After all, each woman is representing her country on a global stage. For many, it's the first time they ever leave their country. \"As people, they genuinely like each other but they need to be cognizant that they are wearing a sash representing their country,\" she said. \"Obviously, certain countries have inherent hostilities, and I encourage contestants to talk to each other but I do not have them room together.\" It's easy for Americans to brush aside the Instagram controversy, said Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab-American Institute in Washington. But with regular cross-border hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, it's not surprising that the appearance of \"normalized relations\" between representatives of those countries might offend some in the region. \"Politics enters into things like this, unfortunately. It shouldn't be this way but when conditions are so bad and you have two countries at war with each other, everything becomes political,\" she said. If not for social media, however, the incident probably would not have made international headlines, she said. \"That's what happens with social media; it's the tendency of a hashtag to be more meaningful than substance of what actually took place,\" she said. \"It's significant burden to place on women in their 20s.\" 'Everything is political' Miss Lebanon 2002 Christina Sawaya has experienced that burden firsthand. Her country decided to skip the Miss Universe 2002 after Israeli troops swept through a refugee camp in Jenin, leading to allegations from Palestinian officials of a massacre. A Human Rights Watch report found evidence of possible war crimes, but the group's investigators found no evidence that Israeli troops massacred Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, Yamit Har-Noy, Israel's 2002 Miss Universe delegate, stoked controversy at the competition with a dress displaying the Israeli state that included the disputed territories of West Bank and Gaza, according to multiple news reports from the time. In an email to CNN on Friday through her publicist, Sawaya said she \"felt bad\" about missing the 2002 competition. But, as a representative of her country, she understood and respected the official decision. \"I think that beauty queens have a message of culture and peace to deliver and this is where real beauty is,\" she said. \"But, unfortunately, we live in a world full of atrocities, wars, injustice, and occupation and seen under that perspective, a beauty queen has to understand and respect her country's laws and political positions.\" Sawaya represented her country in other pageants. They were different settings, but the expectations were the same: treat your competitors with respect, but always be on guard against situations \"that might put you in a difficult position.\" \"While it is easy to say forget politics, it is just beauty, it is just a pageant; unfortunately we who live here know that everything is political when it comes to your country's sovereignty and borders.\"", "By . Hayley O'keeffe . PUBLISHED: . 06:02 EST, 24 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:05 EST, 24 December 2013 . Two members of the jailed Russian protest punk band Pussy Riot have vowed to set up a human rights organisation. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina were granted amnesty on Monday, two months short of their scheduled release. The move has been seen as the Kremlin's attempt to soothe criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of the February Winter Olympics in Sochi. Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (right) and Maria Alyokhina (left) hold hands as they walk outside Yemelyanovo airport in Krasnoyarsk . Alekhina flew into the eastern Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk early Tuesday to be reunited with Tolokonnikova. They have said the amnesty and their release was a publicity stunt by the Kremlin ahead of the Olympics. Tolokonnikova has also called for a boycott of the Olympics. Alekhina, still dressed in a dark green prison jacket, hugged Tolokonnikova and then shook hands. The pair have announced plans to set up a human rights organisation, after being sentenced to two years in prison for their cathedral protest . Both women reiterated that they would like to focus their future work on helping prisoners, and that they will discuss setting up a human rights organisation. The band's third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on suspended sentence shortly after the three were found guilty of hooliganism and sentenced to two years in prison in 2012 for their protest at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. On trial: The pair sitting in a glass-walled cage in a court in Moscow during their 2012 trial. They have been released two months early in what is seen as a pre-Winter Olympics publicity stunt . The women have denied the accusations that they were driven by hatred of religion, and said their performance was aimed at raising concern about the close ties between the church and state. Russian parliament passed the amnesty bill last week, allowing the release of thousands of inmates, including the two Pussy Riot members.", "Great Britain's Lynsey Sharp just fell short in her bid to retain the European crown, as not even a personal-best performance was enough for her to add gold to the 800 metres silver from the Commonwealth Games. A fortnight ago, the 24-year-old became the pride of Scotland after overcoming the odds to secure a podium finish at Hampden Park. Sharp was on a drip in the athletes' village clinic until 5.30am on the morning of the Glasgow final, yet managed to win silver after a wonderful late surge. Second: Lynsey Sharp crosses the line just behind Maryna Arzamasova in the 800m . Disappointed: Even a personal best was not enough for Sharp to take the gold . It was the Scottish middle-distance runner's second senior medal, with the first having arrived at the European Championships in Helsinki two years earlier. Sharp only received the 800m title a year on from the race in Finland, having been upgraded from second after Russia's Yelena Arzhakova received a two-year doping ban. In the build-up to this edition, she spoke of her desire to top the podium outright - something she was just unable to manage due to a Europe-leading time from Maryna Arzamasova. The Belarusian was the only one to keep up with pacesetter Sharp, who tailed off down the home straight and was pipped to the line despite recording a PB of one minute 58.80 seconds in taking silver. Exhausted: Sharp lies on the ground after running an impressive time of one minute 58.80 seconds . Proud: After the initial disappointment of coming second, Sharp proudly posed for pictures with the Union Jack .", "(CNN) -- Hmm, there must be something in the water in New York. For the third consecutive year, a New York beauty queen has been crowned Miss America. This time, it was Kira Kazantsev who had the tiara placed atop her perfectly coiffed head. The 23-year-old Kazantsev's platform is domestic violence. During the question and answer portion of the pageant -- held Sunday at its birthplace of Atlantic City, New Jersey -- she said sexual assault in the military is a problem that needs the attention of lawmakers. For her talent portion, she sang Pharrell Williams' \"Happy\" while she kept time by tapping a red plastic cup on the floor, a la Anna Kendrick's character in the movie \"Pitch Perfect.\" When she was announced the winner, she was handed the crown from last year's Miss America -- and a Miss New York -- Nina Davuluri. Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett was first runner-up. Miss Arkansas Ashton Jo Campbell was second runner-up.", "Model Patricia Velasquez - widely touted as the world's first Latina supermodel - is set to release a memoir in which she comes out as a lesbian, and confirms decades-long rumors that she once dated comedian Sandra Bernhard. Ms Velasquez, 44, who was born in Venezuela but has been based between New York and Los Angeles throughout most of her glittering modeling career, has kept her 'torturous' secret hidden until now. In her book, Straight Walk, the mother-of-one says she realized she was gay in the 90s - at a time when she was modeling for Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated, Chanel and Gucci, among others - only after meeting Ms Berhard, now 59. Revealed: Model Patricia Velasquez, pictured last year, is set to release a memoir in which she comes out as a lesbian, and confirms decades-long rumors that she once dated comedian Sandra Bernhard . According to The New York Post, which reviewed the memoir, Ms Velasquez had 'never kissed a girl' before she met Ms Bernhard backstage at a fashion show in Paris. Ms Bernhard - who is openly bisexual and rumored to have once enjoyed a fling with Madonna - invited Ms Velasquez back to her hotel, where they 'hooked up'. 'I was in deeply in love with Sandra in a way I'd never experienced before', the South American beauty writes in her book. Ms Velasquez dated Ms Bernhard for a while and says she 'cried for two years' when the relationship ended, though doesn't go into any more detail about their time together. She says that keeping her sexuality a secret for all those years was 'torturous'. Unlikely couple: Ms Velasquez, pictured (left) in 1994, had 'never kissed a girl' before she met Ms Bernhard, pictured (right) in 2014, backstage at a fashion show in Paris in the 90s . Heyday: In her book, Straight Walk, Ms Velasquez, pictured in 1995, discusses keeping her sexuality a secret at a time when she was modeling for Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated, Chanel and Gucci . Speaking to Yahoo Parenting, the stunning model says she then dated a woman called Lauren for eight years, who gave birth to their child Maya, now eight. The pair are still on good terms, and Ms Velasquez has been with her current partner Ileanna for a year. 'It’s very difficult to face your past, so I put off doing anything like this for a long time', she tells the website. 'But as my daughter started growing up and I was teaching her to be honest and proud, I knew it was time for me to set an example - and that meant facing my truth.' Ms Velazquez also says she felt compelled to come out because of anti-gay prejudice in the Latin community. Mom: Ms Velazquez dated a woman called Lauren for eight years, who gave birth to their child Maya, now eight. Pictured, the model (right) in 2011 carrying Maya, and an unidentified woman (left) Hard start: Ms Velazquez, pictured (left) in 1994 and (right) in 2005, was born into a life of poverty but worked her way to supermodel stardom, at one point prostituting herself in Venezuala to pay for breast implants . Pictured: Ms Velazquez (left) in 2010 and (right) in June 2014 . Ms Velazquez was born into a life of poverty, one of six siblings, and with no running water. Her mother is a member of the Indigenous Wayúu people and her father is Mestizo. Coming soon: Straight Walk - A Supermodel’s Journey to Finding her Truth - is out on February 10 . She was discovered as a teen by a local hairdresser who persuaded her to compete in the 1989 Miss Venezuela beauty pageant. In order to stand a fighting chance, Ms Velaquez says she 'prostituted' herself to an older man in exchange for breast implants. She also starved herself on a diet of chicken and tomato juice. Her plan worked and she came second in the pageant before travelling around the fashion capitals of the world as her modeling career catapulted her to fame. As well as appearing in several Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editions, on the cover of Vogue, and scoring campaigns for Cover Girl and Pantene, Ms Velazquez became an actress too. She is best known for her role as Anck-Su-Namun in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, but has also made minor appearances in Arrested Development and the L Word. These days, Ms Velazquez juggles motherhood with several business interests, including her own line of skincare products, Taya Beauty. She is also the founder of the Wayúu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Latin American indigenous groups. Straight Walk: A Supermodel’s Journey to Finding her Truth is out on February 10.", "The extraordinary claim that 99 per cent of Russian Olympic athletes are taking performance-enhancing drugs was just enough to wake anti-doping officials from their slumber yesterday. Allegations of systematic abuse on a scale comparable to the old Eastern Bloc were made in a German TV documentary. Former discus thrower Yevgeniya Pecherina claimed that ‘most... the majority... 99 per cent’ of Russian athletes take banned substances. Mariya Savinova won silver in the 800m at the World Championships in 2013 (left) and she won the gold medal in the same event at the London 2012 Olympics . ‘You can get absolutely everything,’ said the 25-year-old, who is serving a 10-year doping ban. The programme also broadcast footage seemingly showing the 800metres gold medallist from the London Olympics, Mariya Savinova, admitting to have taken the illegal steroid oxandrolone. Liliya Shobukhova, the 2010 London Marathon winner and now banned for irregularities in her biological passport, claimed she paid the Russian Athletics Federation £350,000 to cover up a failed test. Liliya Shobukhova crosses the finish line to win the Chicago marathon in 2011 . Even more alarming are claims that Russian athletics officials supplied drugs in exchange for a slice of an athlete’s earnings. Britain’s Dai Greene, who competed in the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Moscow last year, posted on Twitter: ‘This is no surprise to any athletes. We know when we see suspect performances. Is enough being done to stop it?’ The World Anti-Doping Agency — once dubbed the Weak and Defenceless Agency — last night issued a statement that amounted to little more than a sigh, saying: ‘WADA will ensure that all matters raised are fully investigated.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "By . Will Stewart for MailOnline . Russian model Marina Sashina, 26, revealed her flag was defiled with yellow paint during a rehearsal for the World Bikini Model International Final in Beijing . A 'dirty tricks' allegation has emerged at an international bikini pageant after the Russian contestant claimed she was victimised because of her loyalty to Vladimir Putin's policies over Ukraine. Model and TV presenter Marina Sashina, 26, revealed that her tricolour Russian flag was defiled with yellow paint during a rehearsal in Beijing. She is one of 48 contestants from 46 countries in China for the World Bikini Model International 2014 Final. 'Marina left the flag in dressing room for literally a couple of minutes, and then came back and found the Russian tricolour smeared with paint,' said her spokeswoman Valentina Gurova. 'It is noteworthy that in the flags of the USA, Germany and Ukraine were nearby, but they remained intact.' Sushina stormed: 'To my great regret, the policy of double standards of the West has reached the beauty industry. 'I was moved to tears. It was painful to see the Russian flag desecrated.' Evidently blaming a Western contestant for carrying out the act, though not naming the suspected culprit, she said such actions were inappropriate at a beauty event far from Ukraine. In a show of goodwill she posed with the Ukrainian contestant at the pageant but stressed: 'I am sure it was a provocation by the other contestants - the representatives of countries that do not support the policy of Russia. 'The reason for this could be my interview at a press conference, in which I clearly outlined my views on the current political situation in the world,' she explained. 'I believe that the biased assessment of the situation in Ukraine, and the policy of double standards, led to a quarrel between two friendly nations - Russia and Ukraine.' Sashina lives in Moscow but is from Rostov on Don, capital of a region where Russian troops have massed close to the border with Ukraine, causing alarm in Kiev and the West. Ms Sashina (first from left) is one of 48 contestants from 46 countries competing in China . The 26-year-old model said she was 'moved to tears' after seeing her Russian flag desecrated . She has made little secret of her positive view on Putin's polices and appears to be a poster girl for the Kremlin president. 'Sadly our country now is in state conflict with the US - a 'cold' conflict,' she said. She does not think it will become a full-blown war 'because our president Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the American president are full of common sense. They understand what the war is - only death and tragedy. 'God grant, the current situation will also end soon, the conflict which occurred because America misunderstood Russia's correct policy towards Ukraine. The poster girl for Vladimir Putin has made no secret of her support for his policies over Ukraine . The bikini model (pictured right) lives in Moscow but is from Rostov on Don, capital of a region where Russian troops have massed close to the border with Ukraine, causing alarm in Kiev and the West . 'But I am sure that if there are serious attacks on our country, Russia can answer. 'We have all the weapons to protect our homeland, our borders, our people.' She claimed that Western sanctions against Russia would only make her motherland stronger. 'The answer the question of who will suffer more in this confrontation, we can see very soon,' she said. 'In the meantime, I look forward with hope and envision Russian prosperity and welfare. 'We have a huge country - one sixth of the planet's land with virtually inexhaustible natural resources - oil, gas, timber. 'As for agriculture, I think now is the best time to restore it to the level at which it was in its heyday in the Soviet Union. 'So that all the sanctions adopted by the West, we only benefit - they will allow our country to realise its inner potential, and our people. Unite!' This year's World Bikini Model International is themed 'Charming China and Oriental Fashion'. The Chinese media has shown the contestants posing in bikinis at the Great Wall of China and more modestly dressed at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. She does not believe that the current situation will escalate into a full-blown war 'because president Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (pictured) and the American president are full of common sense' In a show of goodwill she posed with the Ukrainian contestant at the pageant but stressed: 'I am sure it was a provocation by the other contestants - the representatives of countries that do not support the policy of Russia'", "(CNN) -- Globe-trotters everywhere, it's time to raise your champagne glass and toast to all the wonderful new journeys you'll take in the new year. But where exactly should you go in 2012? As always, some places will stand out above the rest when it comes to unforgettable things to do and see. To help you decide, we sought out recommendations from four travel experts: Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet; Martin Rapp, senior vice president of leisure sales at Altour; Anne Banas, executive editor at SmarterTravel; and Jeanenne Tornatore, senior editor for Orbitz.com. We also sprinkled in a couple of suggestions from Travel+Leisure and Budget Travel. Here are nine of the top destinations for 2012: . England . The royal wedding made it one of the world's most buzzed about destinations this year, but England is about to get even hotter. There will be so much going on in 2012 that it's hard to keep count. The country will celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee -- marking her 60 years on the throne -- with a river pageant on the Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace at the beginning of June. Then all eyes will be on London as it hosts the Summer Olympic Games in July and August, and the Paralympic Games in August and September. Looking for more? There will be festivals, tours, performances and exhibitions to mark the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens. \"I love London. I think it's kind of the greatest city on Earth,\" Reid said. \"A lot of people think it's too expensive but ... there are all kinds of fantastic free attractions in London, so it makes it more affordable than you think.\" Lonely Planet: 20 free attractions in London . Banas predicted travelers will have more choices than ever to stay in and get around the city, with new lodging options and better transportation in place for the Olympics. World of the Maya . Some see it as an approaching apocalypse, others as the beginning of a new era. Whatever your beliefs are about December 21, 2012, interest is skyrocketing in the Maya, the ancient civilization known for the great cities it left behind in Mexico and Central America. The date marks the end of a 5,126-year cycle on the Long Count calendar developed by the Maya, and there will be events on the occasion in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras, Banas said. If you want to see incredible ruins, Reid recommended skipping the tourist hordes at Tulum and Chichen Itza in Mexico and instead head to places such as Tikal, Guatemala (which George Lucas used as a location in the original \"Star Wars\"), and Chiapas, Mexico. Reid was once exploring a site near Comitan, Mexico, and said he was astonished to discover he was the only person there. \"I had a pyramid to myself,\" Reid said. \"You're just looking out over this mountainous valley, and you have the complete Mayan site to yourself. It's an unreal travel experience.\" Myanmar (also known as Burma) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said this month that she sees signs the country -- ruled by a military junta for almost 50 years -- may genuinely be opening up. The changes mean tourists who didn't feel they could support the regime can finally start planning a trip to Myanmar, Rapp said. \"It is extraordinary,\" he said. \"It is really as close to authentic and unspoiled as you can get in that part of the world.\" Reid also found it unforgettable. \"There's really no place in the world that you will find sweeter, more welcoming people,\" Reid said. Rapp suggested starting the journey in Yangon (once known as Rangoon) and staying at either the Governor's Residence or The Strand. Don't miss \"extraordinary\" Inle Lake, he added, where you can stay at the Golden Island Cottages. Chicago . The Windy City will be prominent on the world stage in 2012, hosting the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in April, and both the NATO and Group of Eight summits in May, Tornatore noted. Golf fans will also descend on a country club just outside the city for the Ryder Cup in September. But even if you're not planning to be there for any big event, Chicago is ready for an influx of visitors from all over the world during 2012. \"Chicago is a huge tourist destination in its own right,\" Tornatore said, citing the city's museums, major sports teams and shopping. St. Vincent and the Grenadines . What's not to like about a tropical paradise that bills itself as \"one destination, 32 gorgeous Caribbean islands\"? Located between St. Lucia and Grenada, this island chain has long drawn stars and vacationers with deep pockets, but it will become more accessible to a wider range of travelers thanks to a $240 million airport scheduled to open on St. Vincent, Travel + Leisure reports. Travel + Leisure: Hottest travel destinations of 2012 . The Netherlands . Flower lovers who flock to the country's stunning fields of tulips and who have made the colorful Keukenhof gardens one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands will get an extra treat next year at the Floriade. The horticultural expo, staged once every 10 years, showcases the world's best flowers, plants, trees, fruits and vegetables. \"This is a once in a decade flower show so it's even more spectacular than Keukenhof, and Keukenhof is already amazing,\" Banas said. \"It actually runs from April all the way through October, so there's a pretty wide range of time that you can go and see this.\" The expo is expected to attract 2 million visitors. Atlantic Canada . Canada's Maritime Provinces are always a beautiful destination, but the region will be in the spotlight next year as it commemorates its connection to the Titanic and the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking. After the Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, three ships were dispatched from Halifax, Nova Scotia -- the closest major port -- to bring back the bodies of the victims. Some of the passengers were laid to rest in the city's cemeteries. Halifax is planning lots of events to mark the anniversary, including a town parade, concerts and a film festival, Budget Travel reports. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic -- which has a huge collection of wooden Titanic artifacts, including a deck chair -- will have a temporary exhibit on the crews involved in the Titanic recovery effort. Budget Travel: Top budget travel destinations for 2012 . Uruguay . There are extraordinary hotels opening in this South American country, which has stayed below the radar for many tourists, Rapp said. \"People don't know it ... so it's a real find,\" he said. \"I rode horses, because the horseback riding is superb. The beaches are completely unspoiled.\" He recommended checking out the art-filled Playa Vik and the Estancia Vik as well as the Hotel Fasano in the seaside resort of Punta del Este. Orlando . Reid conceded some people might think of this choice as \"ridiculous,\" but he called Orlando a legitimate surprise. \"By Orlando, I refer to Orlando the city,\" he said. \"Local Orlando (residents) will tell you that the amusement park scene has no connection to the city itself.\" The metropolis most people breeze by as they head to Disney World will transform into celebrity central as it hosts the 61st NBA All-Star Game in February. Reid advised travelers to check out the city's lakes, museums and scenic neighborhoods, including the bohemian Milk District. He also praised Orlando's food scene. \"There's this very big, wonderful, authentic, fantastic and tasty Vietnamese restaurant community called ViMi -- it's more authentic Vietnamese restaurants than you find in New York or San Francisco,\" he said.", "(CNN) -- What a year Meryl Davis is having. Not only did she win a gold medal with her ice-dancing partner Charlie White during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, but she also nabbed the \"Dancing With the Stars\" mirror ball trophy. Davis and her pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy were declared the champions of Season 18 on Tuesday night. Awaiting the results, the pair appeared to have tears in their eyes as they held each other and swayed back and forth as they awaited host Tom Bergeron's announcement of who had won. The audience exploded as Davis and Chmerkovskiy's names were called. \"It's just plastic, but it means so much,\" Chmerkovskiy said. \"And when it's lasted a decade of running after, it means that much more, and to do it with Meryl is a dream come true. There's a reason why it didn't happen before -- it's because this was meant to happen with this one.\" They squared off in the finale against Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy and her partner Derek Hough. Former \"Full House\" star Candace Cameron Bure and her pro partner Mark Ballas came in third. Davis and Chmerkovskiy were heralded throughout the season for their performances and chemistry with judge Carrie Ann Inaba telling them after their final dance that \"The best part of the season was you two.\" Inaba also suggested that the pair should get married which further stirred buzz that the passion the two displayed on the dance floor has extended to their personal lives. Chmerkovskiy joked about it during the show's finale. \"I want to ravage her and have ice-skating, big, Russian, mean babies,\" he said. \"We're going to call them Boris and Oleg. Their nicknames are going to be Bear. Both. One nickname for both.\"", "By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 02:11 EST, 10 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:05 EST, 10 November 2013 . It could have been worse - she could have said a really bad speech. The winner of the Miss Universe 2013 pageant had her special crowning moment disrupted after the all-important tiara came tumbling off her head! Gabriela Isler from Venezuela managed to catch the crown as it happened and laughed off the moment. She was presented with the tiara by Miss Universe 2012, the United States' Olivia Culp, who watched on in shock as the faux pas happened. The 25-year-old is a Venezualen TV personality and accomplished flamenco dancer. Scroll down for video . This is the moment Gabriela Isler is told she is Miss Universe 2013 . Here comes the crown: Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo of the United States, goes to place the crown on this years winner, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela . EEK!: Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler has a rare moment of tactlessness after losing her tiara during her crowing . Catch it!: Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler and Miss Universe 2012 clamber for the crown as it falls . The all-important swimsuit segment: Miss Venezuela stuns in a red hot bikini . Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler, from Venezuela, land pageant owner Donald Trump pose for a photo after the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 . This year's pageant was held at a sprawling exhibition hall on the outskirts of Moscow. Patricia Rodrigues of Spain was the runner-up. Isler bested 86 contestants to take the crown. 'I have a lot of emotions,' she said. 'I can’t describe all the things that I feel at this moment because I’m shaking.' The panel of judges was led by American rock musician Steven Tyler, who also performed. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro congratulated Isler on Twitter, calling her title a 'triumph' for Venezuela, a country that has now won three of the last six Miss Universe pageants. All smiles: The top five nervously wait for the verdict. (From left) Gabriela Isler of Venezuela, Ariella Arida of Philippines, Patricia Yurena Rodriguez of Spain, Jakelyne Oliveira of Brazil and Constanza Baez of Ecuado . Your hosts for the evening: The pageant was presented by US TV host Thomas Roberts and Mel B . Nice midriff: Aerosmith rocker Steve Tyler headed up the judging panel and also took to the stage to perform . Held in Moscow, the competition had a uniquely Russian theme . In fact, Venezuela has won more major international beauty competitions than any other nation, and beauty pageants rank alongside baseball as the country's most-followed diversion, one that transcends social class and normally insurmountable political divisions. A whole industry of grooming schools, plastic surgeons and beauty salons has emerged to prepare young women for the thousands of pageants that take place each year around the country in schools, army barracks and even prisons. Venezuela has managed to keep its beauty queen industry flourishing, despite economic problems have worsened in recent weeks as inflation touched a two-decade high of 54 percent and shortages of basic goods like toiled paper and milk have worsened. Ab-tastic: Miss USA Erin Brady, from Connecticut, wows in a black bikini . Show 'em how it's done: Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culp takes to the stage during the swimsuit competition . Like Miss Venezuela, Miss Great Britain Amy Willerton went for a red bathing suit . Driving the crisis has been a collapse in the currency, which has plunged to a tenth of its official value in illegal black market trading. To arrest the fall, Maduro last week ordered the military to inspect prices and shut down businesses found to be charging abusive prices. A day after the government seized control of a nationwide chain of appliance stores, doors reopened Saturday to throngs of shoppers seeking to buy TVs, washing machines and refrigerators at a fraction of their listed price. Question time: Miss Ecuador Constanza Baez answers questions as she participates in the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 . Miss Brazil Jakelyne Oliveira participates in the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 . Miss Switzerland Dominique Rinerknecht participates in the final of the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 .", "By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 08:40 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:10 EST, 28 May 2013 . A young woman is breaking traditional perceptions of 'tomboys' by combining her career in sports with entering the world of beauty pageants. While Codie Applebee loves nothing more than having her blonde locks tended to by hairdressers and enjoying a weekly manicure, her path to the finals of Miss England is very different from most. Unlike other beauty queens, she’s not afraid to break a nail or get her perfect spray tan covered in mud when she she plays professional ladies football twice a week. Codie Applebee, 17, juggles her football career (right) with her life as a winning beauty queen (left) Codie says her love of football started at a young age when she used to play in the garden wit her father . Codie has been so successful in the pageant world that she has now reached the finals of the Miss England competition . Student Codie, 17, from Leicester, plays centre midfield for West Bromwich Albion ladies’ squad - and regularly faces trips to A&E following spills on the pitch. Her rather masculine career hasn’t stopped Codie from reaching the finals of national beauty pageant Miss England however, and the teen is hoping to carry away the crown. Although she’s training as a hairdresser, working part time in a beauty salon, Codie would love nothing more than to win a scholarship to an American football academy - and play football for England. Codie said: 'All my friends see me as a typical girlie girl - I love my hair extensions, fake tans, and trips to the salon as much as any of my friends. 'But they don’t understand why I’m so keen to go and get covered in mud down on the football pitch at the weekend. Codie is equally as happy giving her all on the pitch as she is getting a manicure and competing as a beauty queen . Codie says she hopes to inspire other young girls to pursue football through her work in the pageant . 'Sometimes men expect me to be a bit of a bimbo, and can’t believe I want to watch the football with them, but I usually end up explaining the offside rule to them. 'I have loved football ever since I used to have kickabouts with my dad when I was about five or six. He got me really into the game, and now I love it as much as he does. 'But we’re the only two in our family who are really interested in footie - all my cousins and uncles aren’t really that bothered about it. 'I’ve been so excited about competing in Miss England, and I was thrilled to get through the semi finals. 'I was a bit worried, as I had a nasty fall on the pitch a couple of weeks before, and I was worried my arm was going to be in a sling while I was competing - luckily it was ok though. 'I really want to help raise the profile of women’s football and encourage other girls to go out and give it a try.'", "Arrested: Model Samantha Scarlino was a finalist in the Miss Italia beauty competition and is now a TV host . A Miss Italia beauty queen has been arrested as part of an alleged cocaine trafficking ring importing vast quantities of the drug from South America to Europe. Model Samantha Scarlino, who was a finalist in the beauty competition, was arrested at a Milan hotel, accused of offences related to the importation of 500 kg of the Class A drug. Prosecutors believe the cocaine seized was destined for Italy, Belgium, Holland, Spain and France. The 32-year-old is accused of transporting several deliveries of cash from Italy to gang bosses in Peru to be handed on the drug cartels. A 60-year-old kingpin from Milan is now wanted by police. The pageant contestant, who is well known in her home region of Puglia as a TV showgirl and film actress, was one of 22 arrested in connection with the ring. Charges include drug trafficking,  and production. Miss Scarlino was a finalist in the 1999 Miss Italia competition aged just 17. She told judges she wanted to be an actress saying ‘what’s missing is a good film with a female protagonist.’ The Miss Italy competition, a national institution that had endured for 70 years, was axed from state broadcaster Rai this year, a year after the bikini round was ditched in favour of old fashioned bathing costumes. Programmers said the competition was not longer ‘in line with the times.' Bad crowd: The pageant contestant, who is well known in her home region of Puglia as a TV showgirl, was one of 22 arrested in connection with the ring . Peru hit the headlines earlier this year when drug mules Michaella Connolly and Melissa Reid were arrested for drug trafficking in Lima. Both are now facing a lengthy spell behind bars in the South American country after admitting trying to smuggle £1.5million worth of cocaine. More than 30 British nationals are currently in prison in Peru for drugs offences which has become notorious even compared to it's neighbours Mexico and Columbia in the war against drugs.", "(CNN) -- Pageants are nerve-wracking. Participants are judged on every aspect of their looks, personality and ability to discuss anything from affirmative action to peace in the Middle East -- all in front of thousands, sometimes millions of people. As Miss Utah, Marissa Powell, demonstrated in Sunday's Miss USA contest, it's not always easy to think on your feet in such circumstances. Whether you're a model, talent show contestant or member of the local Toastmasters chapter, things can get pretty awkward when you lose your composure in front of a crowd. But at least we can look back on those flubs and and smile, right? Here are some of the most cringe-worthy pageant moments of recent memory. If you are reading this on mobile or some outdated browser, you won't be able to see this story in all its glory. Click here instead. .", "An Argentinian town has become the first in the country to ban beauty contests calling them sexist and discriminatory. The pageants are popular in the South American country and often lead to winners gaining greater fame and fortune. But in the city of Chivilcoy, in the province of Buenos Aires, have said they will no longer crown a queen based on her physical appearance. Making a stand: Beauty pageants are popular in the South America but one city has decided they won't hold the competition anymore . Damaging: The city of Chivilcoy say the beauty pageants they have previously held 'reinforce the idea that women must be valued and rewarded exclusively by their physical appearance, based on stereotypes' They say the practice is damaging to women as it forces them to live up to a 'stereotypical' ideal of beauty which can lead to them developing eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. The ruling has caused heated debate in the country where beauty pageants are a common element in regional festivals where a 'queen' is chosen to represent the town for a year. Women who participate are usually between 15 and 25-years-old and are judged on categories such as 'beauty', 'personality', and 'poise' after parading in a number of outfits including swimsuits. The new legislation was put forward by the Gender Secretariat and the Assembly for Children's Rights of the local branch of the Argentine Workers' Union (CTA). The new legislation was put forward by the Gender Secretariat and the Assembly for Children's Rights of the local branch of the Argentine Workers' Union (CTA) Success: Members of the group who lobbied for beauty contests to be banned . In the past: From now on, young people in Chivilcoy will be rewarded for their efforts in the community rather than for their looks . It was supported by the mayor of Chivilcoy and several NGOs, and passed by the local council by 12 votes and five abstentions out of the 17 councillors present during the debate. Outlining the reasons for its decision they said that such contests 'reinforce the idea that women must be valued and rewarded exclusively by their physical appearance, based on stereotypes'. They added that they are 'a discriminatory and sexist practice', and an 'act of symbolic and institutional violence against women and children.' Banned: Miss World was crowned earlier this month but one city in Argentina has decided they won't hold a similar beauty pageant from now on . 'Sexist practice': The Chivilcoy council warned that rewarding women for beauty over achievements can lead to eating disorder . Instead, the beauty pageant traditionally carried out as part of the celebrations for the anniversary of the foundation of the city will be replaced by an event celebrating the achievements of young people and the difference they have made to the community. They stated that the new contest would be for 'people between 15 and 30 years who, in an individual or collective way, have stood out in volunteering activities aimed at improving the quality of life in neighbourhoods within the city or the district.' Claudia Marengo of the local CTA branch said of the decision to ban beauty pageants: 'It's a very important achievement. It has an enormous symbolic value. The municipal state made the decision, within the framework of this bill, to stop subjecting the women of Chivilcoy to the exhibition, objectification, and selection that beauty pageants imply, with the added bonus that instead they will promote other values that aim to encourage the construction of citizenship with a gender equality.' Last September, the French government banned beauty contests for children under the age of 16 on grounds that participants are subjected to hyper-sexualisation. More than just a pretty face: This year's Miss World winner, Rolene Strauss, 22, from South Africa, is a bilingual medical student . In a similar move, Russian MPs proposed a ban on child beauty pageants as they harm children physically, psychologically and intellectually. More recently the organisers of the most famous beauty pageant of all - Miss World - announced they will no longer have a swimsuit round in the competition. In an interview with Elle, chairwoman Julia Morley explained: 'I really... don't need to see women just walking up and down in bikinis. It doesn't do anything for the woman. And it doesn't do anything for any of us.' She added: 'I don't care if someone has a bottom two inches bigger than someone else's. We are really not looking at her bottom. We are really listening to her speak.' The motto of the competition - which started in the Fifties - is 'beauty with a purpose'. They encourage participants to support and get involved in charity projects and prove they have brains as well as beauty. 'Beauty with purpose': Rolene said she wants to use her position to promote education . Modernising: Miss World has announced they are now dropping their swimsuit round which as been part of the pageant for decades . This was illustrated by their year's winner, Rolene Strauss from South Africa, who was crowned Miss World earlier this month. The 22-year-old is a bilingual medical student who wants to use her position to promote the importance of a good education. She said: 'I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams. 'As Miss World, people look up to you and see you as an independent, strong woman. That's the picture I'd like to show people out there.'", "By . Penny Stretton . PUBLISHED: . 06:43 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:22 EST, 4 March 2014 . Superfit Sarah Davies is on a mission to break down the stereotype of a typical beauty queen - and she's using brute force to do it. The stunning 21 year-old has qualified for the Commonwealth Games as a weightlifter - while also competing in beauty pageants. Sarah, a full-time PE teacher, from Leeds says she . is passionate about changing the image of women by taking part in two . very contrasting roles. Beauty queen Sarah Davies is set to be a weightlifter at this summer's commonwealth games . She said: 'I hope that because I'm so far from the stereotypical beauty queen, young people will realise that the way to get the body you want isn't through starving yourself. 'I also like that one breaks the stereotype of the other, as people think female weightlifters should be really butch looking and beauty queens should be tall, blonde and rake thin. 'It shows you don't have to be manly . to enjoy the sport and you don't have to be skinny to be a beauty queen. They're both great fun and anyone can do it. 'I hope that my training as a weightlifter will help people realise that beauty . Sarah Davies, who competes as a beauty queen has now landed the chance to enter the commonwealth games as a weighlifter . pageants have come a long way since . the 1970s because I think outside of the pageant community, a lot of . people think they are still really outdated. 'Since I started, my arms hardly look any different because you use the strength in your legs and bum. 'I also hope that my success in pageants will encourage more girls to take up weightlifting. 'It's very important in pageants now to have a healthy body and active . lifestyle and not to have a stick-thin, starved figure we used to see.\" Sarah, . a former Miss Leeds, qualified for this summer's Commonwealth Games in . Glasgow after totalling 190kg with a 83kg snatch and 107kg clean and . jerk in the English Weightlifting Championships. Sarah Davies says she wants to challenge the perceptions of beauty queens . Sarah Davies lifted her way to a place in this summer's commonwealth games . She . is also set to take part in the Senior World Championships in November . in Kazakhstan - while having her sights on the Miss Galaxy England crown . on March 9. Commonwealth games hopeful Sarah Davies is more used to strutting her stuff in beauty pageants . Sarah, from Leeds, already holds the regional Miss Preston Galaxy title and winning the England crown would see her go to the final in America in August. Sarah trained as a gymnast from the age of five and got into weightlifting first, thanks to boyfriend Jack Oliver, who came 10th in the sport during the London Olympics. She said: 'It was September 2011 and Jack suggested I go to the gym and try some weightlifting for a bit of fun and that I may be quite good at it because of my gymnastics background. 'During my first ever training sessions I managed a scrappy looking 30kg snatch and an even worse looking 40kg clean and jerk. 'I'm quite a competitive person and I like being able to challenge and beat myself, therefore weightlifting was perfect for me and I fell in love with it straight away.' She might seem a big softie here but Sarah's set to become a weightlifting champ . Her first foray onto the catwalk came in March 2012 when she won Miss Leeds as a student in the city. At the moment she spends 20 hours a week training for weightlifting while also preparing for the required charity events in the Miss Galaxy England event. Sarah is currently working as a supply teacher at Temple Moor High School in Leeds, West Yorks. Sarah will be swapping floor length gowns for Lycra weightlifting gear . She added: 'It can be hectic trying to fit everything but I am lucky that the timing of the school day means I can fit everything in at the best time for me. 'Schools are usually supportive as they like to have an elite athlete as a teacher to be a role model to the pupils.' Sarah said her weightlifting helped her land the Miss Leeds title as she had something different to offer, and other girls in the competition come to her for advice on exercise. She said: 'Weightlifting has toned up my body and I'm in much better shape now I've been training. 'I think that's really helped with the beauty pageants I've been in, especially with the swim suit rounds. 'I absolutely love doing both and it's great that they work well together, even if it is an unusual mix.' Bosses at British Weightlifting have also recruited Sarah to raise the profile of the sport.", "An aspiring singer who made it to boot camp on X Factor has become the first short-haired finalist in the Miss England pageant. Jade McQueen bagged first place in her regional competition when she beat off long-locked competitors to take home the title of Miss Surrey. And now the 24-year-old wants to demonstrate to other young women that you don't have to be 'perfect' to win a pageant. Jade McQueen is the first dark-short-haired contestant to earn a place in the Miss England finals . Jade wowed the judges at the regional contest, her first ever pageant, in a dark blue satin dress as a she shared the tale of how she delivered her sister younger sister in her family's front room. Before Jade earned her place in the Miss England final there had only ever been one other shorter-haired competitor, but even she had a traditional look. Jade says: 'There was a short-haired contestant in 2009 with blonde hair but hers was shoulder length and that was considered short. Mine is cropped so is much shorter.' Jade says that for her winning was especially important after the short-haired Miss Jamaica lost out to the long haired Miss Columbia at last year's Miss Universe final. Jade took home the crown at the Miss Surrey finals which was her first ever beauty pageant . Jade wants to demonstrate to other potential contestants that you don't have to conform to win . 'Everyone was so shocked that short hair would get in the way of winning. So I am pleased that more short-haired women are being recognised in beauty pageants now. 'I want to prove that long hair isn't the only beautiful hairstyle.' Jade, who works as a coordinator receptionist has a history of charity work which she says helped her find her way into beauty pageants. 'I'm really into charity work and I wanted to expand that so pageanting was the perfect fit. It was Jade's love of charity work that helped her find her way into pageanting, she now works with Beauty with a Purpose, a Miss World charity . 'It was researching pageanting online that I found Beauty with a Purpose (the Miss World charity) and that's what got me into the pageanting scene.' With her cropped hair and undercut Jade doesn't exactly fit the pageanting stereotype, however Jade says that her alternative looks have helped her secure modelling jobs in the past that led to her success at the Miss Surrey contest. 'I worked as a gothic model when I was younger. You are always offered cash or the pictures from the shoot and I always picked the pictures so that I was able to build up my portfolio.' Jade says that by winning a beauty pageant she hopes to show other women that you don't have to conform to a stereotype to win or even enter a contest. Jade also hopes to further her singing career having appeared on last year's X Factor . 'I want to use the way I look to promote diversity and I want to inspire other girls and show them that you don't have to be stick thin to enter. There are no rules, anyone can enter. I did and I won. 'I believe all women are beautiful in their own way and that they should not feel the need to look the same just to fit in.' Jade added that many young women are unaware that there are no requirements to enter a pageant and she believes that is down to bad stereotypes. 'A lot people think that beauty pageants are old-fashioned because they have this perception of a traditional looking girl, but it's not the pageants that are old-fashioned, it's the public's perception.' Jade's hair helped to set her apart from her more traditional looking competitors but rather than rely on a salon for her perfect crop, Jade looks to her own mother, Sara. 'My mum is the only person allowed to cut my hair I never go to salons. I have had my cropped hair for about six years, and will probably always have it. 'Short hair suits my body and face shape and I will not grow it or put extensions in so that I look the same as other contestants.' When it comes to beauty inspiration Jade looks to fellow short-haired celebrities. 'My idol is Grace Jones I think she shows how glamorous you can be with short hair but I also love Halle Berry. I've always wanted to be in a Bond film so she is a real inspiration.' Jade is certainly ambitious and as well as aiming for gold at the Miss England finals in September the 24-year-old hopes to progress in her singing career having reached the boot camp stages of X Factor last year. 'I never take on a permanent job I only ever do temporary work. I'm a singer and I sing a lot so if a job comes up for me I don't want to be restricted by a full-time job,' she says.", "(CNN) -- Tennis legend and openly gay athlete Billie Jean King has been named as part of the presidential delegation to the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, . King, a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian honor, was initially named as part of the opening ceremony delegation but had to pull out because her mother was ill. Russia has faced widespread criticism over its position on gay rights since passing an anti-gay propaganda law last year, which bans anyone from speaking positively about homosexuality in the hearing of children. In a commentary for CNN in January, King said the decision to include openly gay men and women in the presidential delegation to Sochi was perhaps a statement by the United States. \"While I am not planning to protest or demonstrate, I am concerned with the treatment of the LGBT community in Russia and throughout the world. I want the LGBT community living in Russia to know they are not alone and I hope others realize this is not only a gay rights issue, but a global concern for human rights and equality,\" she wrote. \"As I said when I was named to the U.S. delegation, I hope these Olympics will be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people.\" The closing ceremony takes place on February 23. President Barack Obama also named Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul to the delegation, as well as former gold medal Olympians Bonnie Blair and Eric Heider, a White House statement said. The delegates will watch some events and meet U.S. athletes as well as attend the final ceremony. CNN's Jim Acosta, Kevin Liptak and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report.", "A Russian speed skater thrilled spectators at the Sochi Olympics when she unzipped her racing suit down to the bellybutton, forgetting she was wearing nothing underneath. Olga Graf had already given the home fans a . reason to cheer after winning Russia's first medal when she took a . surprising bronze in the women's 3,000 meters yesterday. The 30-year-old was celebrating with a warm down lap when without thinking she unzipped her skin-tight suit risking an extremely embarrassing situation. Scroll down for video . On thin ice: Russian speedskater Olga Graf unzips her racing suit after clinching a bronze medal at the Sochi Olympics - forgetting she was wearing nothing underneath . Fotunately she managed to avoid any major fallout and on realising her faux pas quickly zipped the suit back up with a mortified smile. 'I totally forgot,' Graf said sheepishly through a translator. 'We have very good suits and they are very tight. ... You just want to breathe and you want to take off your suit.' 'Only afterward,' she said, 'did I realize that maybe this video will appear on YouTube. But I don't think it will be so bad.' Close call: After realisng her faux pas, the bronze medallist quickly zipped the suit back up with a mortified smile . The 30-year-old was celebrating with a warm down lap when she unzipped her skin-tight suit risking an extremely . embarrassing situation . In action: Graf had already given the home country fans a reason to cheer after winning Russia's first medal - a surprising bronze in the women's 3,000 meters . When . Graf's time flashed on the scoreboard - 4 minutes, 3.47 seconds was a . personal best - the crowd at Adler Arena erupted in cheers. She even got a note of praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin. She whooped it up on her warm-down lap, before celebrating on the podium with fellow medallists Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic, who took silver and  Ireen Wust of the Netherlands who won gold. Delight: Graf celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic, left, and gold medal winner Ireen Wust of the Netherlands .", "A 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island won the Miss USA crown and will represent the United States in this year's Miss Universe pageant, after she made it clear that she embraced all beauty queens- transgender or otherwise- during the interview portion of the competition. Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens on Sunday to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. She strutted across the stage in a purple bikini and a purple evening gown with sparkly belt. Winner: Olivia Culpo, 20, from Rhode Island won the title of Miss USA on Sunday night during the live broadcast . Surprise! Miss Culpo, who is trained as a cellist, looks thrilled when she was announced the winner . Hearing her side: Hosts Andy Cohen (left) and Giuliana Rancic (center) and Miss Culpo speak during the ceremony . In the dreaded final question round, Ms Culpo was faced with the most difficult question of the night: would it be fair for a person born a man to be named Miss Universe after becoming a woman? Ms Culpo never stumbled as she embraced the Miss Universe Organization's recent decision to admit transgender contestants. ‘I do think that would be fair,’ Ms Culpo said. ‘But I could understand how people could be apprehensive to take that road.’ Ms Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt. I can't believe it: Miss Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt . Standing out in the crowd: Miss Culpo, center, won out of the 51 contestants . Well done: Miss Culpo, is congratulated by Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether after she is announced as the pageant winner . Showing off the outfits: Miss Culpo won two stunning gowns during the ceremony . Looking pretty for The Donald: The Miss USA competition is half-owed by Donald Trump . Serenade: Pop star Akon performs in front of the final five . Rather than spending all her time . primping and focused on her looks, she attended band camp in the summer, . devoting much of her time to her cello. Miss . Iowa USA Rebecca Hodge was named Miss Congeniality, and Miss Oregon USA . Alaina Bergsma was named the most photogenic. They both won $1,000, but . didn't make the top 16. The pageant at the Planet Hollywood . casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening . gowns and interview question. Body of work: Miss Culpo stuck to purple as her color in both the bikini portion (pictured) and the evening gown segment of the competition . Top five: (From left) Miss Ohio, Miss Maryland, Miss Rhode Island, Miss Nevada and Miss Georgia . Top ten: The finalists pose on stage during the 2012 pageant. Miss Culpo . will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant . later this year . Contenders: Miss Texas Brittany Booker and Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte, walk along the stage after being announced as making the 16 finalists . Hosts: Andy Cohen, center left, and Giuliana Rancic opened the pageant . Hanging out: (L-R) Miss Wisconsin Emily Guerin, Miss Oklahoma, Lauren Taylor, Miss Kentucky Amanda Ashlee Mertz, Miss Arizona, Erika Lane Frantzve, Miss Arkansas, Kelsey Dow, and Miss Louisiana Erin Edmiston . Backstage pass: (L-R) Miss Virginia, Catherine Ashley Muldoon, Miss Wisconsin Emily Guerin, Miss Vermont, Jamie Lynn Dragon, Miss Utah Kendyl Carol Bell and Miss Wyoming Holly Allen wait during the final rehearsals . Midway . through the contest, pop band Cobra Starship performed as the beauty . queens modeled their string bikinis. The show also featured performances . from Akon. The judge's . panel included chef Cat Cora, TV personality Arsenio Hall, singer Joe . Jonas and reality TV star Rob Kardashian. Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic . were on hand as the hosts of the evening. Swimsuit round: Some of the contestants parade in swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry . Rearly lovely: The pageant at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gowns and interview question . Intelligence test: Miss Culpo knew the name of Vice President Joe Biden when asked (right) during an appearance on Cohen's talk show (left) Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella crowned her successor at the end of the night. Ms Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year. An American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997. The Miss Universe Organization is co-owned by NBC and Donald Trump and is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.", "The International Association of Athletics Federations has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the punishments handed out to six Russian drug cheats. Athletics' world governing body said it disagreed with the 'selective disqualification of results' applied by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). Race walkers Valeriy Borchin, Olga Kaniskina, Sergey Bakulin, Sergey Kirdyapkin and Vladimir Kanaykin and steeplechaser Yuliya Zaripova were all banned by RUSADA because of abnormalities in their biological passports. Yuliya Zaripova blows kisses to the camera after winning the 3,000m steeplechase at London 2012 Olympics . Sergey Kirdyapkin crosses the finish line to take gold in the 50km Race Walk at The Mall, London . Kirdyapkin and Zaripova were both gold medal winners at London 2012. The IAAF said in a statement: 'While the IAAF agrees with RUSADA that there is, in each case, sufficient evidence of an anti-doping rule violation and that there are aggravating circumstances justifying an increased sanction of more than two years, the IAAF disagrees with the selective disqualification of results applied by RUSADA as a consequence of the previous rulings.' Kirdyapkin was one of six Russian athletes to be banned after abnormalities with biological passports . The IAAF said the case of Tatyana Chernova, who beat Jessica Ennis-Hill to heptathlon gold at the 2011 World Championships but was later banned, was still under review. It added: 'The decision with respect to the case of Tatyana Chernova, arising from the re-analysis of her urine sample collected at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009 and kept by the IAAF as part of its retesting strategy, is still under review.'", "(CNN) -- A new Miss World was crowned Saturday, and though she competed as Miss Philippines, she hails from the United States. Megan Young, 23, an aspiring filmmaker, took the top honor at the competition, held in Bali, Indonesia. \"No words! Thank you so much for everyone for choosing me. I promise to be the best Miss World ever,\" Young said. Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, and Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, were second and third runners up, respectively. Young was born in the United States and moved to the Philippines at age 10, according to her biography. The new Miss World is a college student who has appeared on screen as an actress and presenter since she was 15. Young wants to move behind the camera and become a director, according to her bio. Miss World's 127 contestants competed in beach fashion, fitness, world fashion, talent and \"Beauty with a Purpose\" meant to honor charitable work. The top 10 models -- from Ukraine, South Sudan, Brazil, the Philippines, France, Cameroon, Cyprus, England, Italy and the United States -- were announced earlier this week. Protesters in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, denounced the event. In an attempt to appease religious concerns, the pageant scrapped the swimsuit competition and replaced it with less-revealing beachwear attire. Also, the finals were originally to be held on the outskirts of Jakarta, but protesters forced the event to relocate to the Hindu resort island of Bali. CNN's Neda Farshbaf, Mary Primiano, Kathy Quiano and Madison Park contributed to this report." ]

[ "odor detection threshold" ]

[ "lowest", "odor issues", "strong odor", "change in their odor", "taste or odor", "concentration of DnaA", "What's Your Mama's Name", "solute concentration", "urine concentration", "concentration", "among the lowest", "What Yo Name Iz?", "compounding", "second lowest", "The Naming of Names", "the concentration of chloride", "lowest cost", "extremely low concentrations", "dissociation of weak chemical bases", "names", "minimum oxygen concentration", "recollection of odors", "the olfactory nerve", "below the saturation vapor pressure", "name ''", "hydrophobic compound", "A Certain Trigger", "olfaction", "low pH", "their names", "Lowest Astronomical Tide", "compound nozzle" ]

[ "Does the taking of scalps over the Walter Reed Hospital scandal by Defense Secretary Gates signal a new era of accountability in the Pentagon? In Danger Room." ]

[ "Despite Microsoft&#39;s many woes, the honchos got a bump this year. Considering the company&#39;s outlook, their next may be a ways off.", "FRANKFURT, Germany U-S based human rights lawyers are asking German prosecutors to investigate the U-S attorney general nominee for possible war crimes.", "Analysts say China’s rulers are trying to shake up the leadership and wipe out resistance to their policy agenda.", "Sixth-ranked Connecticut shakes off the rust from a 10-day layoff Monday to deliver Paulisha Kellum, right, and U-Va. their worst home loss since 1980 with a 96-60 rout in Charlottesville.", "BAGHDAD -- A U S Marine transport helicopter crashed in flames yesterday in a field northwest of Baghdad, killing all seven people aboard, the U S military said. It was the fifth U S aircraft lost in less than three weeks and the latest sign of growing problems with aviation in Iraq.", "Gordon Brown says 2008 will be a \"decisive\" year for the economy and rules out a U-turn on pay settlements.", "WASHINGTON -- Publicly-traded U S companies must post proxy materials on the Internet and give investors the option of receiving the information online or in paper format, the U S Securities and Exchange Commission said yesterday.", "BANGALORE: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Bangalore on Saturday evening on a 21-hour visit during which he will interact with Indian IT honchos on the country&#39;s emergence as a major tech power.", "RUGBY in the Pacific Islands has been dealt a huge blow after they were left out of a major shake-up in the southern hemisphere’s premier tournaments yesterday.", "Shake it, baby CES on Video Vigorously shake a hard drive and you'll kill it. Lexar Crucial reckons that's just not a problem with Flash-based solid-state drives, and it set out to prove it...…", "Called AT&T U-verse, company's Internet Protocol TV rolls out in Houston; other launches due by end of year.", "PARIS Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is hoping to improve relations between the U-S and France.", "Honchos at new tech firms have to do more than show up to get the big bucks now, a new study says.", "Tuesday was a holiday that isn't marked on most calendars sold in the U-S: Ukranian Independence Day.", "Two former MCI honchos to introduce unlimited domestic calling to any number, plus some international dialing, for about $16 a month.", "The mammoth U. N. report on climate change--the work of 3,700 scientists the world over--is out. Their conclusion: We made this mess.", "The government's shake-up of GP out-of-hours care has been criticised by an inquiry into a death of woman.", "Could differences in economic performance among the states actually determine how the election shakes out?", "Himesh Reshammiya's second release as an actor, after Aap Kaa Surroor, is being produced by T-Series' head honcho Bhushan Kumar.", "The U S technology industry imported more computers, high-tech components, and consumer electronics in 2006 than it exported, resulting in a record $102 billion trade deficit in the sector, according to a new report due out today.", "Radical proposals out today that would trigger the biggest shake-up to the secondary school examination system for 60 years are likely to feature in Labour&#39;s manifesto for the general election.", "Sport: Premier League: West Ham defeated 2-0 at Emirates, while Man U edge out Birmingham 1-0", "Oscars organisers shake up the way nominees find out who has won and collect awards at the ceremony.", "England&#39;s players hit out at cricket&#39;s authorities tonight and claimed they had been used as &quot;political pawns&quot; after the Zimbabwe government produced a spectacular U-turn to ensure the controversial one-day series will go ahead.", "THERE is a shake-up of British gambling laws on the horizon that will revolutionise the betting industry and ripple out through all levels of society.", "The U S Consulate is awarding Akshay Kumar with the Indo-American Achievers Award for Excellence in Cinema 2004 for his powerhouse talent.", "&quot;It&#39;s sad,&quot; the British visitor to Athens said, shaking her head. &quot;It&#39;s sad that nobody is here, buying tickets to the Olympics. People should be out there telling people that Athens is great. It&#39;s a great experience.&quot; ...", "have been freed in military-ruled Myanmar, part of the junta&#39;s latest release of more than 5,000 prisoners. U Htwe Myint, 76, and U Thu Wai, also in his 70s, were released from Yangon&#39;s notorious Insein prison.", "Employers added 132,000 jobs in June, fewer than in May but consistent with an economy still shaking itself out of a slump.", "Could differences in economic performance among states determine how the election shakes out? The answer is a definite maybe.", "U-Va.'s decision to decline any postseason bowl invitations that conflict with final exams is causing a headache for the ACC.", "Start-up SugarCRM sets out to shake up the business applications market with a free program and low-cost support." ]

[ "People because have you met them?" ]

[ "Why ppl can do what they want", "Do some shadowing in fields that interest you. Most people that enjoy what they do would be happy to show you around and talk your ear off about it", "* What do the day-to-day responsibilities of the role look like?\n\n* What are the company’s values? What characteristics do you look for in employees in order to represent those values?\n\n* What’s your favorite part about working at the company?\n\n* What does success look like in this position, and how do you measure it?\n\n* Are there opportunities for professional development? If so, what do those look like?\n\n* Who will I be working most closely with?\n\n* What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job?\n\n* Is there anything about my background or resume that makes you question whether I am a good fit for this role?", "Why do you Juana know?", "Why do you think I'm here?", "&gt;Married couples who stopped having sex for non-medical reasons, why? \n\nHated each other.\n\n&gt;And what related advice do you have for other couples?\n\nGetting married isn't a good idea.", "You’ll probably talk about:\n\n- why did you come\n- what do you hope for\n- your life up to this point\n- general information (medical/family/activities)\n\nThey will tell you about\n- what steps will be taken\n- what you can expect the first few session\n- how things usually go\n- what their speciality is \n\n\nProbably am missing some things but this covers most of it.", "What do you like to do?", "why do I want to know you?", "\"Do yOu WaNt tO DatE hiM? WhY nOt?\"", "Are you’re asking as why buying instead of pirating? Or why do you play games?", "You gotta do what you gotta do for the bois.", "I have zero idea what most of this means. That said, I support anyone's (legal) sexual self expressions. \n\nYou do you!", "\"What do you want to do for dinner?\"", "Do you ever wonder why we're here?", "Why does it matter? Wear what you want", "Yes hence why you can't do it", "That’s why you’ve got be careful what you sow.", "If you would never do it, why would you encourage your wife to do it at all?", "What do you do on your bed", "why do you think liquid soap is an upgrade" ]

[ "Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin says he will be picking up Meek Mill after the rapper was released from jail on Tuesday.\nRubin added that it’s “more likely than not” that Meek will attend 76ers–Heat Game 5 on Tuesday.\nJust spoke to Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. He said it’s “more likely than not” Meek Mill will attend Game 5 tonight, and he’ll ring the ceremonial bell pre-game if he can get there in time. — Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) April 24, 2018\nIn November, Rubin wrote a letter to help keep Meek out of prison.\nHe, along with several Sixers players, visited the rapper in jail on multiple occasions.\nRELATED:\nBen Simmons, Markelle Fultz Visit Meek Mill In Prison" ]

[ "The Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted bail to Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, as TMZ and Billboard reported Tuesday, and 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin is apparently the one who's picking Meek up from prison.\n\"Meek Mill is free!\" Rubin posted on Instagram, hours before the Sixers' potential series-clinching NBA playoff game against the Miami Heat. \"Just left visiting Meek with (Kevin Hart) and I'm on the way back to pick him up as we speak.\"\nThat's no coincidence, however, as Rubin has long campaigned for the release of the incarcerated hip-hop artist, who's elicited support from around the city's professional sports scene in recent months.\nWhen the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said in March that there was a \"strong showing of likelihood\" that a November conviction of the 30-year-old rapper would be reversed, a number of Philadelphia Eagles voiced their support for Meek. Proclaiming Mills' \"Dreams and Nightmares\" song their unofficial anthem leading up to and during the Super Bowl, Malcolm Jenkins, Jalen Mills and former teammate Torrey Smith, among others, either attended rallies in support of the rapper or spoke out about the \"unfair criminal justice system\" that imprisoned Mill for a gun charge brought against him 10 years earlier.\nRubin, meanwhile, piggybacked off the Eagles' support by organizing prison visits with some of the Sixers' own players, bringing Joel Embiid to see Meek in December, then accompanying youngsters Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz for a stop at the rapper's Chester, Pennsylvania, jail for some added postseason motivation.\nA native of South Philadelphia, Mill was a noted guest at 76ers games before being sentenced to two to four years in prison in November 2017 for a violation of parole, which stems from a 2008 charge of illegally possessing a firearm. In a statement shared by TMZ, Billboard and other media upon his Tuesday release, he thanked \"my good friend Michael Rubin\" among others.\nIt didn't take long for the Eagles to celebrate his release, either. They shared video of the team running onto the field for Super Bowl LII, with \"Dreams and Nightmares\" blasting, shortly after Meek's own statement arrived on Twitter.", "Update:\nMeek Mill will indeed be in attendance for Game 5, and he's expected to be the one ringing the Sixers' ceremonial bell before the game begins.\nMeek Mill is expected to arrive to Game 5 in time to ring 76ers’ ceremonial bell before game. Potential closeout game for Philadelphia. https://t.co/95qnlisaoK — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2018\nOriginal story:\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted bail to Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, as TMZ and Billboard reported Tuesday, and 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin is apparently the one who's picking Meek up from prison.\n\"Meek Mill is free!\" Rubin posted on Instagram, hours before the Sixers' potential series-clinching NBA playoff game against the Miami Heat. \"Just left visiting Meek with (Kevin Hart) and I'm on the way back to pick him up as we speak.\"\nThat's no coincidence, however, as Rubin has long campaigned for the release of the incarcerated hip-hop artist, who's elicited support from around the city's professional sports scene in recent months.\nWhen the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said in March that there was a \"strong showing of likelihood\" that a November conviction of the 30-year-old rapper would be reversed, a number of Philadelphia Eagles voiced their support for Meek. Proclaiming Mills' \"Dreams and Nightmares\" song their unofficial anthem leading up to and during the Super Bowl, Malcolm Jenkins, Jalen Mills and former teammate Torrey Smith, among others, either attended rallies in support of the rapper or spoke out about the \"unfair criminal justice system\" that imprisoned Mill for a gun charge brought against him 10 years earlier.\nRubin, meanwhile, piggybacked off the Eagles' support by organizing prison visits with some of the Sixers' own players, bringing Joel Embiid to see Meek in December, then accompanying youngsters Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz for a stop at the rapper's Chester, Pennsylvania, jail for some added postseason motivation.\nA native of South Philadelphia, Mill was a noted guest at 76ers games before being sentenced to two to four years in prison in November 2017 for a violation of parole, which stems from a 2008 charge of illegally possessing a firearm. In a statement shared by TMZ, Billboard and other media upon his Tuesday release, he thanked \"my good friend Michael Rubin\" among others.\nAnd he might be back on the Sixers' court as early as Tuesday night.\nJust spoke to Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. He said it’s “more likely than not” Meek Mill will attend Game 5 tonight, and he’ll ring the ceremonial bell pre-game if he can get there in time. — Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) April 24, 2018\nIt didn't take long for the Eagles to celebrate Meek Mill's release, either. They shared video of the team running onto the field for Super Bowl LII, with \"Dreams and Nightmares\" blasting, shortly after Meek's own statement arrived on Twitter.", "The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered bail for rapper Meek Mill. He is expected to be released from prison tonight.\nJailed rapper Meek Mill is being released from prison on bail following a ruling from Pennsylvania's highest court.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered his release Tuesday after a long battle dating to November when the Philadelphia rapper was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating his probation.\n“We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail,\" lawyer Joe Tacopina said in a statement. \"As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail.\"\nIn the decision, Pennsylvania's highest court cited the credibility of Mill's arresting officer, Reginald Graham, who was since been identified on a list of so-called dirty cops in Philadelphia.\nTuesday's court order answered many of the concerns presented in court by Mill's legal team and by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Last week, assistant DA Liam Riley expressed support for a new trial after learning that Mill's arresting officer and his testimony could not be trusted. Earlier, the Philly DA's office also expressed support for releasing the rapper on jail.\nBut Brinkley denied both bail and a new hearing last week, instead scheduling an evidentiary hearing in June.\n\"Meek is excited to be reunited with his family, and we, along with Meek, intend to continue to shine the light on a justice system in need of reform to prevent any other citizen from being put through what Meek has endured,\" Tacopina said.\nThe state's highest court also noted that Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley could recuse herself from presiding over any further legal proceedings, Tacopina said.\nSince Mill's jailing, the State Correctional Institution in Chester has become a pilgrimage site for some of the most powerful people in sports, politics and entertainment.\nCivil rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney have all visited Mill there. Actor and comedian Kevin Hart and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin were just there hours before the court ruling.\nRap icon Jay-Z wrote an op-ed in the New York Times last November citing Mill's jailing as a symbol of systemic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system. \"Instead of a second chance, probation ends up being a land mine, with a random misstep bringing consequences greater than the crime,\" he wrote.\nWhile Mill is expected to be released from prison Tuesday, the timing is not known. Representatives for the prison and courts did not have details.\nAs for where Mill will go, Ruben, the Sixers owner, posted to Instagram that he was returning to Chester to pick Mill up. Rumors are flying that the rapper could appear at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night where the Sixers are set to take on the Miami Heat for game five in the NBA playoffs.\nThis story is breaking. Please check back for updates.", "Hours after his release from prison on Tuesday, rapper Meek Mill arrived at the Philadelphia 76ers' playoff game.\nMill entered the arena about 45 minutes before tipoff and greeted some Sixers players in the home locker room, according to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.\nEditor's Picks Meek Mill's first post-prison public appearance could be Sixers-Heat Game 5 Sixers owner says via Instagram that he's en route to pick up Mill.\nThe Philadelphia-born rapper, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, had been fighting for his release while appealing a two- to four-year sentence for a probation violation.\nHis controversial incarceration has drawn response from the sports community.\nSixers co-owner Michael Rubin has been one of Mill's biggest supporters. He tweeted Tuesday that he was on his way to pick up the rapper from prison. The Sixers host the Miami Heat on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.\nSixers spokesman Rob King told Paolantonio that \"if they get to the arena in time, Meek will ring the bell\" for tonight's Game 5.\nSaid Mill on Twitter:\n\"I'd like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.\n\"To the Philly District Attorney's office, I'm grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don't have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.\n\"In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.\"\nRubin had organized visits to Mill's prison with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.\nMembers of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles also championed Mill's cause. Some players declared Mill's song \"Dreams and Nightmares\" as the club's unofficial anthem prior to and during their run to the Super Bowl.\nMill, a South Philadelphia native, had attended Sixers games regularly before going to prison.\nNew England Patriots owner Robert Kraft visited Mill at a state prison in Pennsylvania earlier this month and later called for criminal justice reform.\n\"It's really bad. I know some of our players in the NFL have talked about this. I see it firsthand. It's just wrong,\" Kraft said then. \"We have to find a way to correct it and also help the community help themselves. It's just sad. This guy is a great guy. Shouldn't be here. And then think of all the taxpayers here paying for people like this to be in jail and not out being productive.\"\nThe Patriots tweeted reaction to the news.\nMill was jailed in November 2017 for violating his probation by failing a drug test, traveling out of the region and getting arrested for fighting and other related offenses. A team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged a battle to get Mill freed on bail ever since.\nProsecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of the officer in his 2007 arrest.", "Update:\nMeek Mill was indeed in attendance for Game 5, and he was there in time to ring the Sixers' ceremonial bell. He did so wearing a Joel Embiid jersey, which brought a huge ovation from the crowd.\nOriginal story:\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted bail to Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, as TMZ and Billboard reported Tuesday, and 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin is apparently the one who's picking Meek up from prison.\n\"Meek Mill is free!\" Rubin posted on Instagram, hours before the Sixers' potential series-clinching NBA playoff game against the Miami Heat. \"Just left visiting Meek with (Kevin Hart) and I'm on the way back to pick him up as we speak.\"\nThat's no coincidence, however, as Rubin has long campaigned for the release of the incarcerated hip-hop artist, who's elicited support from around the city's professional sports scene in recent months.\nWhen the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said in March that there was a \"strong showing of likelihood\" that a November conviction of the 30-year-old rapper would be reversed, a number of Philadelphia Eagles voiced their support for Meek. Proclaiming Mills' \"Dreams and Nightmares\" song their unofficial anthem leading up to and during the Super Bowl, Malcolm Jenkins, Jalen Mills and former teammate Torrey Smith, among others, either attended rallies in support of the rapper or spoke out about the \"unfair criminal justice system\" that imprisoned Mill for a gun charge brought against him 10 years earlier.\nRubin, meanwhile, piggybacked off the Eagles' support by organizing prison visits with some of the Sixers' own players, bringing Joel Embiid to see Meek in December, then accompanying youngsters Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz for a stop at the rapper's Chester, Pennsylvania, jail for some added postseason motivation.\nA native of South Philadelphia, Mill was a noted guest at 76ers games before being sentenced to two to four years in prison in November 2017 for a violation of parole, which stems from a 2008 charge of illegally possessing a firearm. In a statement shared by TMZ, Billboard and other media upon his Tuesday release, he thanked \"my good friend Michael Rubin\" among others.\nAnd he might be back on the Sixers' court as early as Tuesday night.\nJust spoke to Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. He said it’s “more likely than not” Meek Mill will attend Game 5 tonight, and he’ll ring the ceremonial bell pre-game if he can get there in time. — Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) April 24, 2018\nIt didn't take long for the Eagles to celebrate Meek Mill's release, either. They shared video of the team running onto the field for Super Bowl LII, with \"Dreams and Nightmares\" blasting, shortly after Meek's own statement arrived on Twitter.", "Meek Mill is finally going home!\nAccording to the rapper’s lawyer, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Mill, whose legal name is Robert Rihmeek Williams.\nThe 30-year-old took to Twitter to thank everyone who had his back while he was was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating his probation.\n“I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive,” he wrote on Tuesday afternoon.\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nTo the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nIn the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nHis lawyer Joe Tacopina said in a statement that they are “thrilled” that their client is going home, NBC 10 noted.\n“We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail,” lawyer Joe Tacopina said in a statement.\n“As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail.”\nTMZ Sports wrote that the Philadelphia Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin picked the rapper up from prison and took him straight to the playoff game against the Miami Heat. He was joined by Kevin Hart.\nLet’s go @sixers A post shared by Meek Mill (@meekmill) on Apr 24, 2018 at 12:59pm PDT\nNaturally, folks on Twitter were extremely happy to hear this good news:\nMeek Mill’s PR team put out a better statement than Waffle House and Starbucks combined. Look at God. pic.twitter.com/1ZSWLAthqV — April (@ReignOfApril) April 24, 2018\nHow Meek Mill leaving jail pic.twitter.com/lwukt0jsHc — Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 24, 2018\n#Sixers owner says via #Instagram that he’s in route to pick up Mill, like right now https://t.co/PyTUYWnKmY #MeekIsFree — Danyel Smith (@danamo) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill is free. Sixers winning by 100 tonight. — Cycle (@bycycle) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill is free!!! pic.twitter.com/Uk95RwUknD — Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) April 24, 2018\nJustice for #MeekMill. The treatment of @MeekMill who was denied bond for minor parole violations as mass shooter #TravisReinking is issued a bond (later revoked) after taking 4 lives shows evidence of a broken criminal justice system in which race infects virtually every stage. https://t.co/f8jlAbbzUP — Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill stepping into the Sixers game tonight. #MeekFree pic.twitter.com/q468iYYUoe — Kendall B. (@kendallb511) April 24, 2018\nCongrats Meek!\nRELATED NEWS:\nMeek Mill Speaks To Don Lemon In CNN Exclusive Interview\nMeek Mill To Remain In Jail Following Bail Request Denial\nMeek Mill’s Mother Breaks Down In Tears And Begs The District Attorney To Resolve His Case\nAlso On 101.1 The Wiz:", "Rapper Meek Mill will be released on bail Tuesday and could make an appearance at the 76ers playoff game.\nMonths after the rapper was sentenced to up to four years behind bars, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a lower court to grant Meek release on bail Tuesday.\nBillionaire entrepreneur and 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, a frequent visitor of Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, announced he's headed to the prison to pick up the Philadelphia native and bring him to Tuesday night's playoff game at Wells Fargo Center.\nJust spoke to Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. He said it’s “more likely than not” Meek Mill will attend Game 5 tonight, and he’ll ring the ceremonial bell pre-game if he can get there in time. — Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) April 24, 2018\nMill was sentenced to prison between two and four years in November 2017 for violating his parole, a sentence many said was too harsh.\nJudge Genece Brinkley, who has overseen the case, has been accused of being \"vindictive and erroneous\" in her strict sentencing.\nThe rapper released the following statement Tuesday:\nI’d like to thank God, my family, my friends, my attorneys, my team at Roc Nation including JAY-Z, Desiree Perez, my good friend Michael Rubin, my fans, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. To the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice – not only for my case, but for others that have been wrongfully jailed due to police misconduct. Although I’m blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.\nHis first Instagram post after being released read simply: “Let’s go @sixers.\"\nLet’s go @sixers A post shared by Meek Mill (@meekmill) on Apr 24, 2018 at 12:59pm PDT\nMill was arrested in 2007 on drug and weapon violations. He was released from prison in 2009 after serving six months, but was arrested while on parole for failing a drug test, leaving the region without permission, fighting with someone at the St. Louis airport and illegally operating an ATV in New York City.\nThe 76ers, who own a 3-1 game lead over the Heat entering Tuesday's game, often visited Mill in prison and have been outspoken on his behalf of the alleged injustices.", "The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered that rapper Meek Mill be immediately released from prison on bail.\nEditor's Picks Meek Mill's first post-prison public appearance could be Sixers-Heat Game 5 Sixers owner says via Instagram that he's en route to pick up Mill.\nThe Philadelphia-born rapper, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, has been fighting for his release while appealing a two- to four-year sentence for a probation violation.\nHis controversial incarceration has drawn response from the sports community.\nPhiladelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin has been one of Mill's biggest supporters. He tweeted Tuesday that he was on his way to pick up the rapper from prison. The Sixers host the Miami Heat on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.\nSaid Mill on Twitter:\n\"I'd like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.\n\"To the Philly District Attorney's office, I'm grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don't have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.\n\"In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.\"\nRubin told The New York Times that \"more likely than not\" Mill will attend the Sixers' Game 5 Tuesday night.\nRubin had organized visits to Mill's prison with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.\nMembers of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles also championed Mills' cause. Some players declared Mills' song \"Dreams and Nightmares\" as the club's official anthem prior to and during their run to the Super Bowl.\nMill, a South Philadelphia native, had attended Sixers games regularly before going to prison.\nNew England Patriots owner Robert Kraft visited Mill at a state prison in Pennsylvania earlier this month and later called for criminal justice reform.\n\"It's really bad. I know some of our players in the NFL have talked about this. I see it firsthand. It's just wrong,\" Kraft said then. \"We have to find a way to correct it and also help the community help themselves. It's just sad. This guy is a great guy. Shouldn't be here. And then think of all the taxpayers here paying for people like this to be in jail and not out being productive.\"\nThe Patriots tweeted reaction to the news.\nJustice for our friend. Finally free. pic.twitter.com/5RLkcBgohu — New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 24, 2018\nMill was jailed in November 2017 for violating his probation by failing a drug test, traveling out of the region and getting arrested for fighting and other related offenses. A team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged a battle to get Mill freed on bail ever since.\nProsecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.", "CLOSE SportsPulse: After visiting rapper Meek Mill in prison, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said something needs to be done about the U.S. criminal justice system. But will he be the one to do it? USA TODAY Sports\nRapper Meek Mill, right, accompanied by his attorney Brian Mcmonagle arrives at the criminal justice center in Philadelphia on Nov. 6, 2017. (Photo: Matt Rourke, AP)\nPhiladelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin was among the first to share news Tuesday afternoon about the fate of jailed rapper Meek Mill.\n\"Just left visiting Meek with (actor and comedian Kevin Hart) and I'm on the way back to pick him up as we speak!\"\nMill, 30, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was serving a two-to-four year sentence for parole violations when the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled him released immediately on unsecured bail.\nMill originally was arrested in 2007 on drug and weapons charges. He was granted parole in 2009, but later tested positive for drugs and committed other parole violations.\nThe push to free the Philadelphia-based rapper has become a rallying cry of sorts in the sports world, with Rubin and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft among those working to get him out of prison.\nJustice for our friend. Finally free. pic.twitter.com/5RLkcBgohu — New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 24, 2018\nThe Philadelphia Eagles also used Mill's music often during their run-up to their Super Bowl title.\nMill will likely be an even more popular figure in sports upon his release.\nThe New York Times reported that Rubin said it was ''more likely than not'' that Mill would attend Game 5 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat first-round series Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The 76ers can clinch the series with a win.\nJust spoke to Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. He said it’s “more likely than not” Meek Mill will attend Game 5 tonight, and he’ll ring the ceremonial bell pre-game if he can get there in time. — Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) April 24, 2018\nMill said upon his release that he was thankful for all the support and encouragement and planned to use his case to shine a light on others suffering similar fates.\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nFollow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner", "Rapper Meek Mill was released from prison on unsecured bail just in time to see the 76ers take on the Heat in Game 5 in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Mill was in prison since November because of a controversial parole violation. Many in the sports world have been calling for his release, especially after the Eagles won the Super Bowl.\nMill’s first message out of prison was “Let’s go Sixers.” He then made it to Wells Fargo Center for the game thanks to a helicopter ride with Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin. One celebrity 76ers fan was super excited.\nKevin Hart posted this Instagram after learning that Mill would be released:\nMeek Mill is Frrrrreeeeeeeee ….I just left from seeing him in jail with (Michael Rubin) and we were just told that he is being released. Woooooooow……Stand Up Philadelphia!!!!!\nThe photo is of Hart and Mill sitting courtside together at a past game.\nHart also shared this IG video (warning: NSFW):\n“We home! … When I say we in Philadelphia, we turnt up right now, it’s a different level right now … My man is home, we courtside … We back like we never left.”\nKevin Hart PUMPED about watching the 76ers game courtside with Meek Mill: “We back like we never left” pic.twitter.com/5G4NwU4b3i — Alysha Tsuji (@AlyshaTsuji) April 24, 2018\nSixers players were happy to see Mill at the arena too. He even rang the team’s ceremonial bell on the court before the game.\nReal recognizes real. Joel Embiid and Meek Mill greet one another….both wearing Embiid jerseys. pic.twitter.com/IzNEb2yd07 — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 25, 2018\nHere’s Mill’s first social media statement that he posted earlier in the day:\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nTo the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nIn the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nOther NBA players, such as J.R. Smith, shared excited messages about Mill.\nMeek pulling up to the sixers’ game in a chopper..that’s crazy. Welcome back, bul — Evan Turner (@thekidet) April 24, 2018\nPhilly Game About To Be 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 — Langston Galloway (@LangGalloway10) April 24, 2018", "PHILADELPHIA -- Meek Mill is back.\nThe Philadelphia rapper, who soundtracked the Philadelphia Eagles run to Super Bowl LII, was released from prison Tuesday by order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and went straight to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia for Game 5 of the NBA playoffs series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.\nBefore the opening tip, Mill -- wearing a blue Joel Embiid jersey -- stood at center court and participated in the ceremonial pregame bell-ringing.\nMill was picked up from SCI Chester by Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin, who documented the release on Instagram. Mill left Chester by helicopter and arrived at the Wells Fargo Center at around 7:15 p.m., and he was taken into the Sixers locker room.\nThe Sixers official Twitter account posted photos of Mill greeting Markelle Fultz and JJ Redick.\nMeek Mill also soundtracked the Sixers' entrance to the court at Wells Fargo Center.\nSixers run out to Meek Mill's \"Ima Boss\" [?] [?] [?] pic.twitter.com/nL87FnPPZB -- Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2018\nBefore the game, Sixers coach Brett Brown said he had just found out Mill was released from prison and didn't off an opinion on the rapper's release. Mill's 2012 song \"House Party\" was playing in the Sixers locker room pregame, and the Wells Fargo Center PA played his track \"1942 Flows\" during pregame warmups.\n\"I'm glad he's out,\" rookie Ben Simmons said.\nMill also greeted Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and the Villanova men's basketball team before the game, plus comedian Kevin Hart and the Sixers ownership group.\nMeek Mill and Jeffrey Lurie: pic.twitter.com/J0HABFxZWu -- Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 25, 2018\nMill was serving two to four years in prison for violating probation on a decade-old guns and drug conviction. In the order to release Mill, the court cited \"credibility\" issues with a police officer in Mill's trial. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has said Mill's conviction is likely to be overturned.\nMill has occupied a unique place in Philadelphia sports over the past few months. The Eagles adopted his song \"Dreams and Nightmares\" as an anthem during their run to the Super Bowl, and they took the field pregame at U.S. Bank Stadium to the song.\nEagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said Mill was \"definitely\" part of the franchise's first Super Bowl victory.\n\"Especially in this playoff run we really found a lot of energy and juice from Meek's music, and we obviously still support him,\" Jenkins said. \"We want him to get home. We want him to be free, and we know this means a lot to him, so hopefully this will bring him in a little bit of joy. We know this is going to bring Philly a lot of joy.\"\nNow Mill is poised to make his mark on another Philadelphia's team playoff run. Mill's music was a staple of the pregame soundtrack of the Sixers' first two home games against the Heat, and the hosts are attempting to clinch a series victory Tuesday night.\n--@danieljtgallen", "(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File). FILE – In this Nov. 6, 2017, file photo, rapper Meek Mill arrives at the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia. During a Monday, April 16, 2018, court hearing, Philadelphia prosecutors said Mill's drug and gun conviction...\n(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma). Protesters uses their phones and listen to a speaker in front of a courthouse during a hearing for rapper Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vaca...\n(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma). Rapper Meek Mill's son Papi holds a sign as protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for the rapper, Monday April 16, 2018, in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions shoul...\n(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma). Rapper Meek Mill's son Papi holds a sign as protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should ...\n(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma). Protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for rapper Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new t...\nPHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on rapper Meek Mill's release from jail on bail (all times local):\n8:05 p.m.\nNewly freed rapper Meek Mill has rung the ceremonial bell before the start of Game 5 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat playoff series in Philadelphia.\nSixers co-owner Michael Rubin posted a picture of himself with Mill on Instagram Tuesday night with the caption \"On the way to the sixers game let's go.\"\nMill was freed from a prison outside Philadelphia shortly before 7 p.m.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court had directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order freeing him on bail while he appeals decade-old drug and gun violations.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.\nWhile he was incarcerated, celebrities including Rubin and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, visited him and offered their support.\n___\n6:55 p.m.\nRapper Meek Mill is out of jail after being held behind bars for five months for probation violations.\nMill took off in a helicopter shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday from the prison outside of Philadelphia.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order freeing him on bail while he appeals decade-old drug and gun violations.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.\nPhiladelphia's district attorney believes Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.\n___\n4:30 p.m.\nPennsylvania's highest court has ordered a judge to free rapper Meek Mill on bail while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.\nThe Supreme Court directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.\nMill issued a statement saying his five months in jail have been \"a nightmare\" and thanking all his supporters.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.\nProsecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.\nCopyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "PHILADELPHIA -- Rapper Meek Mill walked out of prison Tuesday after Pennsylvania's highest court ordered him freed while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.\nFollowing a five-month campaign by his supporters to get him out, the state Supreme Court directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for probation violations.\nHe was taken from the prison by helicopter to Philadelphia, where he rang the ceremonial bell at the start of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat playoff series.\n\"Welcome home Meek Mill,\" said the game announcer to the rapper, who was sitting courtside next to actor Kevin Hart and Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin.\nBefore the game, Mill visited privately with the Sixers in their locker room.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed, leveling fierce criticism at the judge as a stream of high-powered figures and celebrities visited him in jail outside Philadelphia just hours before the Supreme Court ruling.\nMill issued a statement saying the past months had been \"a nightmare,\" and thanked his many supporters and visitors, who included Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.\n\"Although I'm blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, I understand that many people of color across the country don't have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues,\" Mill said.\nHe said he would now focus his attention on getting his convictions overturned, and that he looks forward to resuming his music career.\nEarlier this month, in a major victory for Mill, prosecutors said they agreed with his lawyers that he should get a new trial because of questions raised about the arresting officer. The now-retired officer was among a list of police officers the prosecutor's office has sought to keep off the witness stand in cases across the city because of credibility questions.\nA spokesman for District Attorney Larry Krasner said late Tuesday that the Supreme Court's decision on Meek Mill's release was consistent with the position taken by their office.\nMill's attorney, Joe Tacopina, thanked the high court.\n\"Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail,\" Tacopina said.\nIn an opinion earlier this month, Judge Genece Brinkley, who sent Mill to prison for the probation violations, strongly defended herself against accusations by the defense she was waging a vendetta against the rapper. She said the court \"has impartially and without prejudice presided over numerous proceedings in this matter since 2008.\"\nThe Supreme Court denied a defense request to move the case to another judge, but said the presiding judge could opt to remove herself.", "Rapper Meek Mill, left, comes out to ring a Liberty Bell replica with actor Kevin Hart before Game 5. (Chris Szagola/Associated Press)\nMeek Mill, just hours after being released from prison on bail, rang the bell before the start of Game 5 of the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff series against the Miami Heat.\nMill, a prominent rapper and Philadelphia native, came to the game with minority owner Michael Rubin and comedian Kevin Hart and spent time with the team in the locker room before the game.\nHe also exchanged a greeting with star center Joel Embiid before tip from his courtside seat — where Mill is wearing an Embiid jersey.\nReal recognizes real.\nJoel Embiid and Meek Mill greet one another....both wearing Embiid jerseys. pic.twitter.com/IzNEb2yd07 — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 25, 2018\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nMill, whose given name is Robert Williams, had received a visit earlier Tuesday from comedian Hart and Rubin at a state correction institution in Chester, Pa., at which he was incarcerated for five months for a probation violation. A short time later, Rubin posted on Instagram a picture of himself, Mill and Hart at a Sixers game, and said he was going back to the prison to pick the rapper up. The lift Rubin provided turned out to include a helicopter trip to rush the rapper back to Philadelphia for the 8 p.m. tip-off at Wells Fargo Center.\n[Why is there a snake on the Philadelphia 76ers’ court?]\nThey came and got Meek Mill in a helicopter 💯💪🏽#MeekFree pic.twitter.com/URKbgTkAjQ — 💸 (@SMWWMANDO) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill heading into Sixers locker room. pic.twitter.com/HnFxwRBNLi — Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) April 24, 2018\nSixers players ran out onto the court Tuesday night for pregame warm-ups to Mill’s “Ima Boss” after sharing embraces with the rapper inside their locker room.\nSixers run out to Meek Mill’s “Ima Boss” 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nL87FnPPZB — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2018\nMill’s case has been championed by players across the NBA — including Sixers rookies Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, who reportedly went to visit him in prison, as well — and he has frequently attended Philadelphia games over the years. After ringing the bell Tuesday, Mill headed to a seat courtside.\nJust the idea of the rapper being in attendance for Tuesday night’s game — which, if the Sixers win, will mean they advance to the second round for the first time in six years, where they’ll face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics — swept across the Internet.\nEverything is coming up Philly. What freaking universe are we living in? https://t.co/t4WDRscbof — Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill walking into the Sixers locker room tonight\npic.twitter.com/dsfISd6VNT — Joey Langone (@JoeyLangone) April 24, 2018\nPhilly after meek mill rings the bell tonight pic.twitter.com/VBIAfoLa5w — Sixers Nation (@PHLSixersNation) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill is free.\nSixers winning by 100 tonight. — Cycle (@bycycle) April 24, 2018\nif meek mill is courtside tonight, sixers by 50 — kelly cohen (@politiCOHEN_) April 24, 2018\nIt took meek mill 5 months to get out of jail but this guy from the Waffle House shooting can potentially be out by next week on BAIL. #OnlyInAmerica — kuz (@kylekuzma) April 24, 2018\nMeek free 🙌🏾 — CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 24, 2018\nRead more:\nRussell Westbrook and the Thunder don’t appear to have any idea how to beat the Jazz\nWhy is there a snake on the Philadelphia 76ers’ court?\nShining a spotlight on the 2018 NBA playoffs underachievers\nJohn Wall has regained point god form, and that’s just what the Wizards need\nJazz boots Thunder to the brink in testy win; Rockets’ 50-point quarter fuels rout", "Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill was released from prison Tuesday, 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin announced on Instagram.\nRubin said he had visited Mill with comedian Kevin Hart and he was on his way to pick up the rapper from jail.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a lower court to immediately grant bail to the rapper Tuesday, according to FOX29 Philadelphia. According to Daniel Victor of the New York Times, Rubin said Mill \"more likely than not\" will be in attendance at the 76ers home playoff game against the Heat Tuesday, in which they will have a chance to win the series.\nThe rapper's legal troubles have become a major story within the sports world and beyond because of his connection to the Philadelphia community and the history behind his case, particularly the exact parole violation that put him behind bars and his relationship with the judge in charge of his case.\nIn November, Rubin wrote a letter on Mill's behalf to help keep him out of prison, but the rapper was eventually sentenced to two-to-four years in prison. Colin Kaepernick visited Mill in prison as well.​\nRubin continued his efforts to help improve Mill's situation and 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons showed support for Mill at a Jay-Z concert in December with \"Stand With Meek Mill\" shirts. Victor adds that Rubin said Embiid was \"going crazy, dancing in bed\" after learning Mill was getting released.\nHis song \"Dreams and Nightmares\" became the anthem for the Eagles' Super Bowl run last season, and Mill said \"it really lifted\" his spirit to see the team \"rally around\" his music in the way it did. Philadelphia ran out on the field for Super Bowl LII with \"Dreams and Nightmares\" playing, and it was the soundtrack for much of the celebration after the team captured its first ever Super Bowl title.\nKarl-Anthony Towns wore a \"Free Meek Mill\" Eagles jersey to the Super Bowl, and recently, Patriots owner Robert Kraft went to visit Mill in prison.\nHere is what the sports world is saying in response to the news of Mill coming home.\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nIn the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nTo the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nMeek Mill is Frrrrreeeeeeeee ....I just left from seeing him in jail with michaelgrubin and we… https://t.co/5goHzHPs5K — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) April 24, 2018\nHold up, wait a minute. pic.twitter.com/qYsk9RsCgg — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 24, 2018\nMeek free 🙌🏾 — CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 24, 2018\nMEEK ON HIS WAY OUT 👀👀🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 — Corey Clement (@CoreyClement_6) April 24, 2018\nIf Meek Mill is at the Sixers game tonight sitting next to Iverson...the Sixers are winning the next four NBA championships. — Jacoby (@djacoby) April 24, 2018\nMuch respect to Michael Rubin for simply being a good friend and lending his platform to help others. Thousands of people are treated unfairly daily by the criminal justice system. I can’t wait to see @MeekMill help lead the way for others that don’t have a voice. Welcome home! pic.twitter.com/n9DcBwQQGk — Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 24, 2018\nMEEK MILL HOLLA AT ME BRO.... That MAN FREE❗️❗️❗️ — Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) April 24, 2018\nJustice for our friend. Finally free. pic.twitter.com/5RLkcBgohu — New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 24, 2018\nThe 76ers lead the Heat 3-1 in their series and Tuesday's game tips off at 8 p.m. EST.", "CLOSE SportsPulse: After visiting rapper Meek Mill in prison, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said something needs to be done about the U.S. criminal justice system. But will he be the one to do it? USA TODAY Sports\nRapper Meek Mills comes out to ring a Liberty Bell replica before the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (Photo: Chris Szagola, AP)\nPhiladelphia-born rapper Meek Mill is out of prison, and going to a Sixers playoff game was the appropriate way to celebrate his release after a 5½-month stay at the State Correctional Institution in Chester, Pa.\nHe took a helicopter from the facility to a heliport at Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. After leaving the state prison and before arriving at the arena, Mill snuck in a haircut.\nFrom there, he rode with Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin to the arena and paid a quick visit to the Sixers locker room before Game 5 between the Sixers and Miami Heat.\nHe spent time pregame with Kevin Hart, members of Villanova's men's NCAA championship basketball team, Rubin and co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer.\nWearing an Embiid jersey, Meek rang the replica Liberty Bell before tipoff.\nMill had been in prison since November on a parole violation, but on Tuesday the Philadelphia Supreme Court granted Mill’s petition for release.\n“The Commonwealth has recently stated, on the record in open court, that there are credibility issues with a police officer who was a “critical witness” at Petitioner’s trial,” the court order read. “As such, the Commonwealth agreed that Petitioner is entitled to PCRA relief. Moreover, as reflected in filings in this Court, the Commonwealth has stated it is not opposed to Petitioner being granted immediate bail.”\nMill is a huge Sixers fan and his incarceration turned into a cause celebre. The hashtags #freemeek and #freemeekmill were widespread on social media, and at the Sixers' playoff opener at home last week, several fans wore Sixers shirts with Free Meek on the back where a last name usually goes.\nMill has received support from several athletes, entertainers and celebrities, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft visited Mill in prison two weeks ago. When the Eagles won the Super Bowl in February, Cleveland’s LeBron James tweeted, “#FreeMeek”\nMeek Mill has arrived at Wells Fargo Arena for Game 5 — he’ll be ringing the bell pre-game pic.twitter.com/YmcCvlcppJ — Ben Baskin (@Ben_Baskin) April 24, 2018\nFollow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter.", "Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images\nJason Lieser, a reporter for the Palm Beach Post, issued an apology Tuesday evening after he sent an offensive tweet regarding the crowd at Wells Fargo Center during Game 5 between the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers.\nThe tweet, which has since been deleted, read: \"I don't know why they're making such a big deal about Meek Mill tonight. Half this arena just got out of jail.\"\nMeek Mill, who hails from Philadelphia, was released from prison on bail Tuesday after Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ordered a judge to release him while he appeals a two-to-four-year sentence for a probation violation.\nHours later, he rang the ceremonial bell at center court before the Sixers hosted the Heat.\n\"That was a bad tweet, and I do apologize,\" Lieser wrote. \"It was a careless joke about the rowdy atmosphere in the arena. That's all I meant by it. Shouldn't have done it.\"", "Rapper Meek Mill is hoping for a double celebration as he spends his first evening outside of jail since November (17) at a Philadelphia 76ers play-off game.\nTeam co-owner Michael Rubin picked Meek up from prison on Tuesday afternoon (24Apr18) and flew the hip-hop star in his own helicopter to the game against the Miami Heat.\nThe rapper was spotted arriving at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia just in time for the sporting event, where the plan was for him to take his first post-jail shower before taking a seat as Rubin's guest of honour.\n\"I feel great,\" a happy Meek told fans who were there to greet him.\nEarlier on Tuesday, comedian and Philadelphia native Kevin Hart visited the rapper in jail. He was also celebrating his release on Instagram, stating, \"Meek Mill is Frrrrreeeeeeee… I just left from seeing him in jail with @michaelgrubin and we were just told that he is being released. Wooooooow… Stand Up Philadelphia!!!!!!\"\nIn his first interview following his release, the rapper told Page Six he learned he had been freed on bail while watching the news in his jail cell.\n\"I’m in a daze, this is great, and unbelievable,\" he said. \"I always had confidence it was going this way, but I didn’t know when it would happen and I’d be free. It looked like it was going to take months more.\n\"I was in my cell and I was watching the news, and they said I’m free. I immediately said a quick prayer, and got ready to go... We are on to see the Sixers game, and it's going to be a big night for Philly. The team is going to advance (in the tournament), and I came home.\"\nHe's also looking forward to visiting with his six-year-old son, Papi, explaining he hasn't seen much of the boy during his five months behind bars, because he didn’t want his kid to see dad in jail.\n\"I am going to watch the game with my son and my family tonight,\" Meek added. \"I can’t wait to see my son, it's his birthday on May 13 and he had been asking how we were going to celebrate. When I was in jail I couldn’t give him an answer, I didn’t know what to say to him, but now I’m going to be spending all this time with him.\"\nMeek also thanked his supporters, fans and friends, who have campaigned for his release.\nThe rapper won his freedom after lawmakers in Pennsylvania ordered his release, overturning Judge Genece Brinkley's decision to deny the rap star bail last week (ends20Apr18).\nIn a statement to Billboard shortly after his release made headline, Meek Mill wrote: \"I'd like to thank God, my family, my friends, my attorneys, my team at Roc Nation including JAY-Z..., my fans, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time.\n\"While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. To the Philadelphia District Attorney's office, I'm grateful for your commitment to justice...\"", "PHILADELPHIA — Meek Mill will soon leave prison.\nAfter spending nearly five months in jail following a controversial November ruling, the Philadelphia rapper, who received a sentence of two to four years in prison for violating probation, was granted bail on Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.\n“I’d like to thank God, my family, my friends, my attorneys, my team at Roc Nation including JAY-Z, Desiree Perez, my good friend Michael Rubin, my fans, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time,” the rapper, whose full name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, said in a statement obtained by CNN.\n“While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. To the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice — not only for my case, but for others that have been wrongfully jailed due to police misconduct.”\nRelated: Everything you need to know about #FreeMeekMill\nMill received a two-to-four year prison sentence in November for violating probation on a 2008 gun and drug case. (He was arrested after being involved in a fight and arrested again for popping wheelies on a dirt bike.) Judge Genece Brinkley cited a failed drug test and the rapper’s noncompliance with a court order restricting his travel in her sentencing order.\nEarlier this month, the Philadelphia district attorney’s office recommended a new trial for Mill. But after a judge denied Mill bail, his plea was moved to the state’s Supreme Court.\nThe case has sparked outrage from criminal justice reform activists. Mill received widespread support from notable artists and athletes, including Colin Kapernick, rappers T.I. and Rick Ross, New England Patirots owner Robert Kraft, comedian Kevin Hart and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin.\nRubin told CNN he hopes to pick up Mill from prison on Tuesday evening.", "Rapper Meek Mill walked out of prison Tuesday after Pennsylvania’s highest court ordered him freed while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.\nFollowing a five-month campaign by his supporters to get him out, the state Supreme Court directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.\nREAD MORE: Companies hungry for millennials tap feud between Drake and Meek Mill\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for probation violations.\nHe was taken from the prison by helicopter to Philadelphia, where he rang the ceremonial bell at the start of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat playoff series.\n“Welcome home Meek Mill,” said the game announcer to the rapper, who was sitting courtside next to actor Kevin Hart and Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin.\nBefore the game, Mill visited privately with the Sixers in their locker room.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed, levelling fierce criticism at the judge as a stream of high-powered figures and celebrities visited him in jail outside Philadelphia just hours before the Supreme Court ruling.\nMill issued a statement saying the past months had been “a nightmare,” and thanked his many supporters and visitors, who included Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.\n“Although I’m blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, I understand that many people of colour across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues,” Mill said.\nHe said he would now focus his attention on getting his convictions overturned, and that he looks forward to resuming his music career.\nEarlier this month, in a major victory for Mill, prosecutors said they agreed with his lawyers that he should get a new trial because of questions raised about the arresting officer. The now-retired officer was among a list of police officers the prosecutor’s office has sought to keep off the witness stand in cases across the city because of credibility questions.\nA spokesman for District Attorney Larry Krasner said late Tuesday that the Supreme Court’s decision on Meek Mill’s release was consistent with the position taken by their office.\nMill’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, thanked the high court.\n“Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail,” Tacopina said.\nIn an opinion earlier this month, Judge Genece Brinkley, who sent Mill to prison for the probation violations, strongly defended herself against accusations by the defence she was waging a vendetta against the rapper. She said the court “has impartially and without prejudice presided over numerous proceedings in this matter since 2008.”\nThe Supreme Court denied a defence request to move the case to another judge, but said the presiding judge could opt to remove herself.", "PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on rapper Meek Mill's release from jail on bail (all times local):\n8:05 p.m.\nNewly freed rapper Meek Mill has rung the ceremonial bell before the start of Game 5 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat playoff series in Philadelphia.\nProtesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for rapper Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)\nSixers co-owner Michael Rubin posted a picture of himself with Mill on Instagram Tuesday night with the caption \"On the way to the sixers game let's go.\"\nMill was freed from a prison outside Philadelphia shortly before 7 p.m.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court had directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order freeing him on bail while he appeals decade-old drug and gun violations.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.\nWhile he was incarcerated, celebrities including Rubin and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, visited him and offered their support.\n___\n6:55 p.m.\nRapper Meek Mill is out of jail after being held behind bars for five months for probation violations.\nMill took off in a helicopter shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday from the prison outside of Philadelphia.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order freeing him on bail while he appeals decade-old drug and gun violations.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.\nPhiladelphia's district attorney believes Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.\n___\n4:30 p.m.\nPennsylvania's highest court has ordered a judge to free rapper Meek Mill on bail while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.\nThe Supreme Court directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.\nMill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.\nMill issued a statement saying his five months in jail have been \"a nightmare\" and thanking all his supporters.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.\nProsecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.\nRapper Meek Mill's son Papi holds a sign as protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)\nRapper Meek Mill's son Papi holds a sign as protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for the rapper, Monday April 16, 2018, in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release him on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)\nProtesters uses their phones and listen to a speaker in front of a courthouse during a hearing for rapper Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)", "Great news for Meek Mill — the rapper just revealed that he’s being released from prison before the end of today, April 24. Read his statement, here!\nMeek Mill, 30, is being released from prison, according to a lengthy statement he shared on Twitter on April 24. In his tweets, he said, “I’d like to thank God, my family, my friends, my attorneys, my team at Roc Nation including JAY-Z, Desiree Perez, my good friend Michael Rubin, my fans, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.”\n“To the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice – not only for my case, but for others that have been wrongfully jailed due to police misconduct. Although I’m blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career,” he continued.\nTMZ claims the Supreme Court of PA made the decision, meaning they overruling Judge Genece Brinkley’s previous decision to keep Meek Mill in prison. Sources told the news site that Judge Brinkley was criticized for holding a grudge against the rapper, “despite prosecutors asking that his conviction be overturned because of a dirty cop.” Meek Mill was denied bail last week after prosecutors asked her to toss his conviction. Not only did she deny his bail request, but she set a hearing for 60 days from then, something justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found to be “outrageous”.\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nEarlier today, Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin and Kevin Hart paid a visit to Meek Mill. They had already left the prison before the news of Meek’s impending release emerged, so now Michael’s turning around to pick him up! “@meekmill is FREE!!! Just left visiting Meek with @kevinhart4real and I’m on the way back to pick him up as we speak! #MeekisFree #GoSixers,” he wrote on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.\nMeek Mill was sent to prison in November 2017 for two minor probation violations, one of which was for alleged reckless driving on a motorcycle. He was sentenced to 2-4 years in prison at the time.", "PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Rapper Meek Mill is back in a Philadelphia courtroom, hoping to get his appeal moved to a different judge and get a new trial.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered Mill's release last month from prison where he was serving a two- to four-year sentence on a probation violation related to a decade-old gun and drug conviction.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.\nMill's lawyers will ask Tuesday that Judge Genece Brinkley be removed from his case. They allege she's been waging a vendetta against the rapper, including sending him to prison for the probation violations. She has strongly defended her impartiality.\nProsecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.", "PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill attended an NBA playoff game in his first public appearance since being released from prison while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.\nFollowing a five-month campaign by his supporters to get him out, the state Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.\nMill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was sentenced in November to two to four years behind bars for probation violations.\nHe was taken from the State Correctional Institution in Chester by helicopter to nearby Philadelphia.\n\"I feel great,\" Mill said before entering the Wells Fargo Center, where he rang the ceremonial bell before the start of Game 5 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat playoff series.\n\"Just having someone that looks out for us, all of us here, it would just mean a lot for him to be back in Philly, in the city of Philadelphia with the fans, especially with a game like that tonight,\" Sixers guard Ben Simmons said.\n\"Welcome home Meek Mill,\" the game announcer told the rapper, who wore a Joel Embiid jersey and sat courtside next to actor Kevin Hart, Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.\nBefore the game, which Philadelphia won 104-91 to advance to the second round of the playoffs, Mill stopped by the Sixers' locker room to greet the players.\nA team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get Mill freed, leveling fierce criticism at the judge as a stream of high-powered figures and celebrities visited him in jail just hours before the Supreme Court ruling.\nMill issued a statement saying the past months had been \"a nightmare,\" and thanked his many supporters and visitors, who included Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.\n\"Although I'm blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, I understand that many people of color across the country don't have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues,\" Mill said.\nHe said he would now focus his attention on getting his convictions overturned, and that he looks forward to resuming his music career.\nEarlier this month, in a major victory for Mill, prosecutors said they agreed with his lawyers that he should get a new trial because of questions raised about the arresting officer. The now-retired officer was among a list of police officers the prosecutor's office has sought to keep off the witness stand in cases across the city because of credibility questions.\nA spokesman for District Attorney Larry Krasner said late Tuesday that the Supreme Court's decision on Meek Mill's release was consistent with the position taken by their office.\nMill's attorney, Joe Tacopina, thanked the high court.\n\"Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail,\" Tacopina said.\nIn an opinion earlier this month, Judge Genece Brinkley, who sent Mill to prison for the probation violations, strongly defended herself against accusations by the defense she was waging a vendetta against the rapper. She said the court \"has impartially and without prejudice presided over numerous proceedings in this matter since 2008.\"\nThe Supreme Court denied a defense request to move the case to another judge, but said the presiding judge could opt to remove herself.\nCopyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "April 24 (Reuters) - Rapper Meek Mill, who had been incarcerated for five months on a probation violation, was released from a Pennsylvania jail on Tuesday, his attorney said, after the state's top court granted him bail, capping a star-laden campaign to have him freed.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a lower court to release the \"All Eyes on You\" rapper and grant him a new hearing because of \"credibility issues with a police officer who was a 'critical witness'\" in his 2008 gun and drug convictions, court documents show.\nMeek Mill's attorney, Joe Tacopina, said on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rapper had been released from jail near Philadelphia.\n\"I'd like to thank God, my family and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time,\" Meek Mill said in statement on Twitter.\n\"While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive,\" he added.\nMeek Mill, whose legal name is Robert Williams, was sentenced in November to two-four years in state prison for probation violations stemming from his 2008 conviction.\nHis case, which became a cause for recording artists, athletes and celebrities, was seen by criminal justice reform advocates as emblematic of a legal system they say treats minorities unjustly and hands out too harsh of punishments.\nActor and comedian Kevin Hart was filmed visiting Meek Mill in prison on Tuesday. Meek Mill counted Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, rapper Jay Z and the owner of football's New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, among his most prominent supporters.\n\"I understand that many people of color across the country don't have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues,\" Meek Mill said in Tuesday's statement.\nMeek Mill's time in jail resulted from an August 2017 arrest in New York City for allegedly driving a motorcycle recklessly while filming a music video, and a prior altercation in St. Louis.\nA lower court now has 60 days to decide whether he should get a new trial; prosecutors could also choose to drop the charges.\nProsecutors recently agreed with Meek Mill's defense lawyers on the credibility problems of the police officer in his 2008 conviction, saying the rapper should be granted immediate bail. (Reporting by Eric Kelsey Editing by Leslie Adler)", "Meek Mill is a free man.\nE! News can confirm the rapper has been granted bail after spending nearly five months in prison. On Tuesday evening, he was spotted boarding a helicopter and heading to a basketball game.\n\"I'd like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive,\" Meek shared with his followers on Twitter. \"To the Philly District Attorney's office, I'm grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don't have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.\"\nHe added, \"In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.\"", "Meek Mill was released from prison today. And Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin picked him up …to take him to a game.\nIt wasn’t easy. Logistically.\n😊😊😊😊😊 #meekmill A post shared by @ meekmilly215_ on Apr 24, 2018 at 4:10pm PDT\nBut Meek made it to the Wells Fargo Center and was greeted by Rubin’s family, friends and team members.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court overruled the judge that has repeatedly sent Meek back to jail for technical probation violations and ordered he be immediately released from prison on bail. In the order, the state’s highest court granted Meek “extraordinary relief” because of the flawed case against the rapper based on the testimony of a witness, former Philadelphia police officer Reggie Graham, who even prosecutors agree has “credibility issues.”\n“As such, the Commonwealth agreed that (Meek) is entitled to PCRA relief. Moreover, as reflected in filings in this Court, the Commonwealth has stated it is not opposed to Petitioner being granted immediate bail.”\nHAPPENING NOW: Crowd gathers outside the State Correctional Institution in Chester, PA where Meek Mill is expected to be released pic.twitter.com/q0OowvR9GC — FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) April 24, 2018\nJudge Genece Brinkley has regularly locked Meek up over the course of more than a decade and it’s been alleged that the judge has targeted Meek and also has credibility issues related to this case.\n.@MeekMill attorney statement: “We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail. As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted…” more @FOX29philly NOW — Sabina Kuriakose (@SabinaKuriakose) April 24, 2018\nFans waited outside Chester State Correctional Institution for the MC to be let go.\n.@FOX29philly 200 Meek Mill fans gather outside prison waiting for rapper's release after court orders bail.#fox29 pic.twitter.com/4ieBlBH6kY — Dave Schratwieser (@DSchratwieser) April 24, 2018\nThe prison superintendent Marirosa Lamas was photographed discussing the release process with Meek’s team.\n.@FOX29philly Meek Mill's representatives being briefed by Warden about his pending release from prison.#fox29 pic.twitter.com/dNwvZUfCrW — Dave Schratwieser (@DSchratwieser) April 24, 2018\nAn hour before, comedian and Meek friend Kevin Hart, rapper Rick Ross and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael G. Rubin all posted on social media that Meek was being released. Rubin said Meek would be at Game 5 against the Miami Heat. By 6 p.m. while considered “free,” Meek was actually still inside Chester prison because of the logistics of releasing him. police barricades made using school buses were positioned to hold back fans.\n.@FOX29philly Police barricade street outside prison. Meek Mill fans rush the street trying to see his release.#fox29 pic.twitter.com/RjSBmOiHLM — Dave Schratwieser (@DSchratwieser) April 24, 2018\nThe plan was for Meek to make the game and “ring the ceremonial bell.” Rubin also said he’d be the one picking Meek up from prison.\nFREE!!! Just left visiting Meek with @kevinhart4real and I’m on the way back to pick him up as we speak! #MeekisFree #GoSixers\nMeek, Rubin and Hart all posted the same pic to Instagram.\nMeek posted a prayer of sorts. And a promise. Within 30 minutes, the post had half a million likes.\n“I’d like to thank God, my family, my friends, my attorney’s, my team at Roc Nation including Jay Z, Desiree Perez, my good friend Michael Rubin, my fans, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. To the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice – not only for my case, but for others that have been wrongfully jailed due to police misconduct. Although I’m blessed to have the resources to fight this unjust situation, I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.”\nAs Heavy first reported in mid-March, rapper Meek Mill’s original conviction that led to a jail sentence and probation, which led to him violating the conditions of that probation as deemed by the judge so often that he’s been back in and out of jail and has been locked up for months. The essence of his legal team’s case is that former Philadelphia narcotics squad cop Reginald V. “Reggie” Graham lied about Meek; perjured testimony from a disgraced narcotics officer set off a Newton’s cradle of hell for the rapper. The truth about those lies, is what set the ‘Nightmares & Dreams’ MC free.", "Jailed rapper Meek Mill is being released from prison on bail, according to Mill’s legal team.\nThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered his release Wednesday after a long battle dating to November when the Philadelphia rapper was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating his probation.\n“We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail,\" lawyer Joe Tacopina said in a statement. \"As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail.\"\nIn the decision, Pennsylvania's highest court cited the credibility of Mill's arresting officer, Reginald Graham, who was since been identified on a list of so-called dirty cops in Philadelphia.\nWednesday's court order answered many of the concerns presented in court by Mill's legal team and by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Last week, assistant DA Liam Riley expressed support for a new trial after learning that Mill's arresting officer and his testimony could not be trusted. Earlier, the Philly DA's office also expressed support for releasing the rapper on jail.\nBut Brinkley denied both bail and a new hearing last week, instead scheduling an evidentiary hearing in June.\n\"Meek is excited to be reunited with his family, and we, along with Meek, intend to continue to shine the light on a justice system in need of reform to prevent any other citizen from being put through what Meek has endured,\" Tacopina said.\nThe state's highest court also noted that Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley could recuse herself from presiding over any further legal proceedings, Tacopina said.\nThis story is breaking. Please check back for updates.", "CHESTER, Pa. (CBS/AP) — Meek Mill will soon be a free man.\nThe Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has ruled that the rapper will be freed on bail from the State Correctional Institute in Chester on Tuesday afternoon.\nPhiladelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nOn Monday, Spokesman Ben Waxman said the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office agreed to the granting of a new trial “due to questions of credibility of the arresting officer.” The officer is among the police officers the prosecutor’s office has sought to keep off the stand in cases across the city because of credibility questions.\nJudge Genece Brinkley has been the subject of harsh criticism from Mill’s attorneys. They have unsuccessfully appealed the sentence multiple times and have called for Brinkley to recuse herself.\nThe judge defended herself earlier this month, saying the court has “has impartially and without prejudice presided over numerous proceedings in this matter since 2008.”\nShe added that “none of the allegations by (the) defendant constitute evidence that this court is unable to act impartially and without personal bias or prejudice with respect to this matter.”\nShe said Mill has raised “unmeritorious claims of impropriety in an attempt to unfairly judge shop.”\nSince the sentencing, the rapper has received support from fans and high-profile figures, including Kevin Hart, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, Mayor Jim Kenney and Rick Ross.\n(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)", "PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons shined again in front of rapper Meek Mill, and the dominant duo ushered the nightmares-into-dreams Process of the Philadelphia 76ers into the second round with a 104-91 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.\nThe 76ers, winners of 10 games just two seasons ago, are in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2012.\nThey await the winner of Milwaukee-Boston. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.\nCORRECTS TO MEEK MILL NOT MEEK MILLS Rapper Meek Mill, left, comes out to ring a Liberty Bell replica with actor Kevin Hart, right, before the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)\nThe Sixers won the series 4-1 and turned the Wells Fargo Center into the wildest house party in the city. Embiid had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Simmons had 14 points and 10 boards, and the entire team had rappers, politicians, actors and kids dancing along for the ride.\nMill made a dramatic return hours after Pennsylvania's highest court ordered him freed while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.\nHe was taken from prison by helicopter to Philadelphia, where he rang the ceremonial bell at the start of Game 5.\n\"Welcome home Meek Mill,\" was about all that was heard from the public address announcer as wild cheers drowned out the rest. Mill sat courtside next to actor and noted Sixers fan Kevin Hart and Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin.\nHart grabbed the mic after the game and yelled, \"Let's give it up for Joel Embiid!\"\nBefore the game, Mill visited privately with the Sixers in their locker room.\nHart talked trash, wandered onto the edge of the court to rile up fans and palled around with Mill as the young and gettin' it Sixers proved they just might be the team to beat in the East.\nThey'll have plenty of time to rest and recover - Embiid again played in a black mask to guard a face injury - with the other Eastern Conference playoff series expected to stretch into the weekend.\nThe 76ers were buzzing once Mill's release made headline news in the city. Rubin had organized prison trips with Embiid, Simmons and Markelle Fultz, and the rapper's songs played in the locker room and during warmups.\nSimmons called Mill's presence \"amazing.\"\n\"Just having someone that looks out for us, all of us here, it would just mean a lot for him to be back in Philly, in the city of Philadelphia with the fans, especially with a game like that tonight,\" Simmons said.\nMill breezed into the locker room about 45 minutes before tip and hugged some of the Sixers. Mill was met with a crush of media and celebrity fans as he tried to take his courtside seat. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and retired boxing great Bernard Hopkins sat near Hart and Mill, and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf joined them in the second half. The national champion Villanova Wildcats posed for pictures with Mill in the locker room.\nWhat they saw was just the latest beatdown from a franchise whose maligned rebuild has morphed into the one of the trendiest terms in sports.\nThe Sixers outscored the Heat by 14 in the third quarter to snap a tie game and had fans belting \"Trust the Process!\"\nGoran Dragic was whistled for a technical after slapping Simmons on the backside of his head, and that got the crowd howling early in the third. Simmons kept his cool - the rookie is rarely rattled - and made the Heat pay. JJ Redick sank the free throw off the technical, and Simmons kicked the ball out to Robert Covington on the possession for a 3 and a 54-48 lead. Redick followed with his third 3, and Philly was litty again.\nRedick, who scored 27, sank the dagger late in the fourth that sent confetti flying, team flags waving and put a late-night celebration on deck.\nTIP-INS\nHeat: Josh Richardson played with a sprained left shoulder. He picked up three fouls in his first 2 minutes. ... James Johnson was hit with personal and technical fouls late in the fourth that ended a 10-0 Miami run. ... Dwyane Wade is considering retirement. ... Justise Winslow led the Heat with 18 points.\n76ers: Redick was whistled for a technical foul in the first half. ... Missed 10 of 12 3s in the first half.\n___\nFor more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball\nCORRECTS SPELLING TO JEFFREY, INSTEAD OF JEFFERY - Rapper Meek Mill, left, watches the game with actor Kevin Hart, center left, Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, center, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, center right, and Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, right, during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)\nCORRECTS TO MEEK MILL NOT MEEK MILLS Rapper Meek Mill comes out to ring a Liberty Bell replica before the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)\nCORRECTS TO MEEK MILL NOT MEEK MILLS Rapper Meek Mill comes out to ring a Liberty Bell replica before the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)\nMiami Heat's Goran Dragic, center, of Slovania, gets his shot blocked by Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, right, of Australia, with Ersan Ilyasova, left, of Turkey, defending during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)\nMiami Heat's Dwyane Wade, right, shoots with Philadelphia 76ers' Justin Anderson, left, defending during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)", "CBS News — Rapper Meek Mill will be released from prison Tuesday, his lawyer Brian McMonagle told CBS News. McMonagle said the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered the rapper’s immediate release and the state’s highest court directed the judge to release him on “unsecured bail.” It’s unclear how soon he would get out.\nThe 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Robert Williams, tweeted thanking his family and public advocates — who included Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft — and said he looks forward to returning to his music career.\nMichael Rubin, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team and the New Jersey Devils hockey team, will reportedly pick up Mill from prison. Rubin has been one of Mill’s many supporters and visited him several times in jail.\nMill wrote that the past five months in jail “have been a nightmare” and had been working with his legal team to “overturn this unwarranted conviction”:\nI’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nTo the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nIn the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career. — Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018\nMill’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, thanked the high court. “Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail,” Tacopina said.\nWhy was Meek Mill in jail?\nMill was sentenced in November to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a nearly decade-old gun and drug case.\nJudge Genece Brinkley, who sentenced Mill for the probation violation, said he had wasted several chances to clean up his act after a 2009 gun and drug case. The sentence came against the recommendation of the prosecutor, who said Mill had matured since his original crime. Brinkley said the prosecutor did not know the case as well as she did and that Mill just “does what he wants.” Demonstrators took to the streets at the time in protest.\nKevin Hart’s support for Meek Mill\nEarlier Tuesday, fellow Philadelphian and comedian Kevin Hart was at the jail to visit Mill, CBS Philadelphia reports.", "PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Meek Mill’s supporters believe his prison sentence for a probation violation highlights a broken criminal justice system.\nMany of the rapper’s most high profile supporters visited him in prison and spoke out on his behalf.\nReverend Al Sharpton was one of the first big names to visit Mill in prison, dropping by in late November.\nRev. Al Sharpton Visits Meek Mill In Prison\n[ancplayer video = “3768845”]\n“I came because I feel Meek represents thousands of people in Pennsylvania and even tens of thousands around the country that have been victimized by abusive probationary and parole systems,” said Sharpton.\nMeek Mill Leaves Prison, Gets Into Helicopter After Being Released On Bail\nSixers co-owner Michael Rubin joined with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft for a visit earlier this month.\nRobert Kraft On #MeekMill Visit: 'This Guy Is A Great Guy And Shouldn't Be Here' https://t.co/lLSjQjHR1G pic.twitter.com/PPAUrtKDDM — CBS Philly (@CBSPhilly) April 10, 2018\n“When he gets out, he’s gonna turn this thing around and inspire a lot of young people who’ve been treated unfairly,” said Kraft.\nPhiladelphia mayor Jim Kenney also made the trip.\n“I’m hoping the system sees the interest in this young man and the things you do when you’re an 18-year-old, you don’t necessarily do when you’re 30,” the mayor said.\nJust hours before Mill’s release on Tuesday, actor Kevin Hart also spent time with the rapper and talked about the criminal justice system.\n“It takes certain situations to shine a light on it, that is that situation for me. That did that and I’ll use my voice, I’ll use my platform to hopefully bring better, better good to this,” he said.\nAnd while Jay-Z himself did not make the trip, his company ROC Nation did help pay for buses wrapped in the message “Stand with Meek Mill.”\nJay-Z released this statement about Meek Mill’s release saying, “He was incarcerated unjustly and caught in a probation trap for years by a broken system. Now we can celebrate his release.We thank every individual that has supported and fought alongside meek every step of the way.”" ]

[ "Slimmers who set ambitious targets lose twice as many pounds as those who try to be realistic, according to new research.\nA study of more than 24,000 dieters found those who set the toughest goals shed almost a fifth of their body weight - about double the amount of those who lowered the bar.\nThe findings are food for thought for those making a New Year resolution to go on a diet.\nAnd obesity experts are calling for changes to public health guidance which suggests slimmers set themselves a ‘realistic’ target of losing 5-10 per cent of their starting weight.\nThey want patients to aim for their ‘dream weight’ after the dramatic results of the 12 month experiment reported in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics .\nThe participants were Slimming World members with a BMI (body mass index) of at least 30 which put them in the obese category who were all attending weekly group support sessions.\nThose whose aim was to lose less than 10 per cent of their body weight did typically achieve their goal shedding an average of 11 per cent - equivalent to 1st 11lbs for someone who weighs 16 stone.\nBut those who set the most ambitious targets lost almost twice as much weight overall - an average of 19 per cent in a year, or 3st 1lb for someone weighing 16st.\nChange of approach needed?\nIn the UK around a quarter of people are obese, meaning their weight could be seriously affecting their health.\nThe traditional approach advised by NHS Choices is thought to be based on the thinking ambitious goals are less likely to be achieved, which could result in disappointment, decreased effort and people giving up on their journey.\nBut the new research suggests rather than trying to protect them from disappointment health experts should instead be encouraging slimmers to ‘shoot for the moon’ and get support to achieve their goals.\nProfessor Amanda Avery, a nutritionist at Nottingham University, said: “January is the most popular time of the year to start a healthy weight loss programme and so it’s really important people have the information they need to maximise their chances of success.\n“We know current NHS and NICE advice around realistic weight loss targets is designed to protect slimmers from disappointment.\n“However, suggesting that people place limits on their weight loss aims could stop people from seeing what they’re capable of. It’s important that people have aspirations and can visualise themselves achieving success.\n“This research shows that, when it comes to losing weight, it’s best to inspire people to set the weight loss target they would personally really like to achieve. This will help with their motivation as, if it is really their dream weight, they’ll be far more committed to achieving it.\n“Setting a target is really only the beginning, though, and it’s vital that people also get regular support to make healthy changes to their eating and activity habits and to help them stay focused, committed and encouraged.\n“Working together with others to share experiences and solutions to challenges and to celebrate successful weight loss and behaviour change can keep people motivated to achieve long-term success.\n“It’s great that the NHS and NICE already encourage people who want to lose weight to set a target, as our study found that people who set their own personal target - as most of our members choose to - were 10 times more likely to be successful.\n“The next stage is for them to look more closely at how encouraging patients to aim for their dream weight can increase their chances of success, as long as they’re also getting support along the way.”\n“I set myself that high target and I haven’t looked back.”\nHollie Barrett, 30, from Suffolk, lost 8st 6lbs after her Slimming World Consultant encouraged her to set the Personal Achievement Target she really wanted.\nShe said: “I was 17st 11lbs at my heaviest and my confidence was really low. I felt like my weight was holding me back in every aspect of my life, especially when it came to doing things with my children.\n“Even things other mums might take for granted, like taking the children swimming, seemed off limits because I felt so self-conscious. I once chased my daughter, Imogen, up the stairs to bed and was so breathless I couldn’t speak properly to read her a book - it broke my heart. I didn’t want them to be bullied at school because their mum was so overweight either.\n“My whole life I’d wanted to be a size 8 but I never really believed I could be.\n“I set myself that high target, committed to following the plan 100 per cent and in my first week I lost 9½lbs! From there I haven’t looked back.”" ]

[ "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nThe burning desire to lose weight and get fit is off the scale in Renfrewshire.\nTwo Paisley women have just proved this by shedding almost 14 stones between them.\nPAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS: Live news as it happens\nThe incredible effort comes from Louise Doherty and Alyson Ronaldson.\nHailing from Linwood and Gallowhill respectively, Louise and Alyson have just been dubbed The Greatest Slimmers at their Slimming World groups in Paisley.\nBoth say that the decision to start the weight-loss programme saved their lives.\nA serious health scare last year was what prompted mum-of-one Louise to make a lifestyle change.\n“I was walking up to my work in the Trongate area of Glasgow and suddenly started to feel pains,” Louise, 48, said.\n“At that point I was convinced I was suffering a heart attack.\n“When I saw a doctor they told me that there was no heart problem, I was simply morbidly obese.\n“He told me that if I didn’t do something about my health, it was only a matter of time before I had a heart attack for real.\n“I knew then that it was a question of life or death and I had to lose weight.”\nJuggling her demanding job as head of finance for a charity and caring for numerous relatives, Louise often opted for takeaways and unhealthy snacks.\n“For me it was all about eating on the go,” she added.\n“I would pick up a takeaway on my way home for ease.\n“My diet was just so unhealthy.”\nPlucking up the courage to tackle her health issues head on, Louise headed to the Gallowhill Slimming World group in Martyrs’ Sandyford Church.\nSince then she has lost a colossal seven stones and one and a half pounds.\n“I’ve had a complete overhaul,” Louise added.\n“I now love going to the gym and my diet has improved.\n“By making meals in advance and having healthy lunches the weight has dropped off.”\nAdmitting it has been no easy task, Louise praised the support she received from her fellow slimmers.\n“In the past I’ve attended other groups where I didn’t feel welcome,” she added.\n“At Slimming World everyone is so lovely. I’ve made lots of new friends.\n“Now I can buy the clothes I want and I feel so much fitter.\n“I’d encourage anyone to join.”\nFitting into size 30 clothes and weighing 21-and-a-half stones, Alyson knew her diet had to change.\n“I was eating myself to death,” Alyson told the Express.\n(Image: PDE)\n“Constant takeaways and ready meals were just part of my lifestyle.\n“I didn’t exercise and I would always get the bus to work.\n“Something clicked and I knew I had to to get fit.”\nWalking through the doors of the Slimming World group at Paisley’s Wallneuk Church back in 2016, was “nerve-wracking” for the 46-year-old but she says it was all worth it.\n“When you go to Slimming World there is no judgement,” Alyson said.\n“You don’t have to talk about how much weight you’ve lost, put on and so on.\n“It’s all about support, advice and offering tips.\n“I like helping others with their journeys too, so I’ll text friends with new recipes.\n“This was a complete mind set change.\n“I feel like a new person.”\nSporting size 16 dresses, tops and jeans, Alyson now walks four miles to and from her work everyday.\nShe makes home-cooked meals and goes to the gym four times each week.\n“If anyone out there is on the fence about joining Slimming World I’d say just do it,” she said.\n“It saved me.”\nHelping Louise and Alyson on their weight loss journeys is Paisley Slimming World consultant Sarah McElroy.\nThe 39-year-old switched to a career in Slimming World after witnessing the destructive effects of obesity in her former job as a nurse.\nBut that wasn’t the only motivation the mum-of-two had to help others lose weight.\n“Over the years I too have struggled with my weight,” Sarah said.\n“It wasn’t until I joined Slimming World that real changed happened.\n“It changed my life completely and now I want to help others.”\nAlthough celebrations are in the air for Louise and Alyson’s massive weight losses, Sarah maintains it’s not all about numbers.\n“Even if a client loses half a stone, it can make such a difference to their everyday life,” she added.\n“Losing weight gives people freedom, whether that’s being able to pick clothes in a normal high street shop, run round the park with their kids or walk up the stairs without getting out of breath.\n“I’d urge anyone wanting to lose weight to join Slimming World.”", "She recently divulged about her food addiction and secret binge eating.\nAnd Denise Welch has proven how far she has come with her health and lifestyle overhaul as she took to her Instagram with an impressive before and after snap on Wednesday.\nThe actress, 60, looked evidently slimmer in the right snap, where she was bronzed to perfection and oozed body confidence in a colourful bikini in comparison to the left image where she grappled with her assets.\nImpressive: Denise Welch, 60, has proven how far she has come with her weight loss journey as she took to her Instagram with an impressive before and after snap on Wednesday\nDenise, who has lost 2 stone in the past few years, flaunted her enormous smile in the after image, as well as the rest of her slimline physique as she bent over slightly for the camera to capture her glee.\nAnd while she sported the same enthused reaction in the before image where she donned a coral bikini, Denise appeared to be telling her followers that she wasn't comfortable.\nDenise's lengthy caption gave an insight into her weight loss journey: '5 yrs ago, after giving up alcohol, I turned to food and gained over 2 stone. I wanted to lose weight and keep it off as I was in danger of replacing an alcohol addiction with a food addiction.\n'The only diet company offering cognitive behavioural therapy to change your relationship with food was @lighterlife.\nThis is Denise now! The actress looked evidently slimmer in the after image where she was bronzed to perfection and oozed body confidence in a colourful bikini\n'It's not just about looking slimmer': Denise's lengthy caption gave an insight into her weight loss journey\n'I’ve never looked back. 5 yrs on and I’m still maintaining thanks to the groups and the telephone counselling. It’s not just about looking slimmer. My osteoarthritis improved in my knees and my impaired breathing normalised. I also have much more energy and that in turn helps with my mental health.\n'We need to learn to change our crooked thinking and change our mindset. It’s not enough to say eat less, move more. We know that. But we overeat to cover emotional issues much of the time and need help with that.'\nLast month Denise reflected on her impressive weight loss journey exclusively to MailOnline and opened up about overcoming her food dependency which escalated in the wake of going sober in 2012.\nSwapping her alcohol addiction with food addiction, the British star admitted she wasn't aware of her weight gain at the time.\nYet, she slowly realised she was replacing her nightly alcoholic beverages for a sweet treat, something she never did before going sober.\nImage overhaul: Last month Denise reflected on her impressive weight loss journey exclusively to MailOnline and opened up about overcoming her food dependency\n'I had problems': Swapping her alcohol addiction with food addiction, the British star admitted she wasn't aware of her weight gain at the time\nShe shared: 'I had periods where I was much slimmer but all of the periods in life, in the last 20 years when I was slim without trying, it was the bad time in life.\n'I had problems with alcohol and it was when I took alcohol out of my life six years ago that I started to replace alcohol with food. I wasn't aware I was doing it at the time, it was a slow burn.'\nAfter realising her sweet tooth had become a problem, Denise became aware that she was eating in a 'destructive way' that wasn't healthy and was feeding into her addictive personality.\nShe said: 'We both gave up alcohol and we both ate all the pies, I still do enjoy a pie but I make an informed decision when to have one.\n'I began secret eating': After realising her sweet tooth had become a problem, Denise became aware that she was eating in a 'destructive way' that wasn't healthy\n'What was happening was I was replacing alcohol addiction with food addiction and realised that because I was eating in a destructive way, it wasn't healthy.\nAdding: 'It wasn't just about \"gone on I'll have that dessert\" I began secret eating and there was no need for me to do that.\nOwning her issues, Denise revealed that her motivation to changed her lifestyle came after her now husband Lincoln, 45, got down on one knee and proposed.\nDenise married contemporary artist Lincoln in 2013 in an idyllic ceremony attended by her friends, family and two sons Matt and Louis Healy, from her previous marriage to Tim Healy.\nThe actress admitted that getting sober and changing their lifestyles together have enriched their lives in every way, making them stronger and more in love than ever before.", "A Horninglow mum who turned to fast food when her fast-paced job took over her life has told how ditching the burgers saw her take back her confidence – and now she wants to help others do the same.\nGeorgina Hull, 31, said her job as an assistant manager at a cattery meant she was getting home late, eating convenience food and didn't realise just how much the weight was creeping up on her.\nOn a holiday to the Isle of Wight last year, Georgina's daughter Brooke, 10, took an unflattering photograph of her mum which sparked a hefty weight loss of four stone three pounds.\nGeorgina, of Harper Avenue, said: \"I would be getting home at 6pm exhausted and not wanting to cook a meal from scratch so the food I was eating was just convenience food.\n\"I was having takeaways every week, Domino's pizzas, Indian and two lots of McDonald's during the week. Then I would snack on crisps, chocolate and cake. I was just eating all of the things that I shouldn't have been eating.\n\"I went on holiday with my dad and daughter to visit my grandparents in the Isle of Wight and my daughter took a picture of me sitting on a chair. I deleted it right away it was horrendous. I knew then that I needed to do something. I felt so uncomfortable within myself it was awful.\"\nJust two days after she returned from her getaway, Georgina, who was a size 18 at her heaviest, went along to her first Slimming World class.\nShe said: \"I had tried Slimming World before but I wasn't in the right frame of mind. My mum also has problems with her weight so I told her we were going out and took her along.\n\"I didn't realise until I started to lose the weight how unfit and unhappy I actually was. I was always quite a shy person and had quite low self-esteem but it surprised me how different my life was then to what it could have been.\n\"I always got headaches. I was tired all the time and I could not sleep properly. I wouldn't take my daughter out to the park because I didn't have the energy; I would sit in front of the TV instead.\"\nSince losinng the weight Georgina hasn't looked back, missing only one class throughout the whole year and says shedding the pounds has given her a \"new lease of life\".\nShe said: \"I am so much happier and confident now. I am getting married in December to my fiancé Nathan which has spurred me on and I have got to have my wedding dress altered because it is too big.\n\"I love to go out running and do 5k runs with my daughter and I love to go clothes shopping which I would avoid before. I buy myself new outfits every week and now I am a size 10-12 depending on the shop!\"\nNow Georgina, who started classes at 14 stone 7lbs, reached her personal achievement target within 10 months. She is hoping to inspire others in the area to transform their lifestyle and their waistlines by starting as a consultant for Slimming World on Friday, October 13.\nThe latest government figures reveal that around one in four adults are obese, and it is estimated that by 2034 this will increase to one in three.\nStudies also show that 70 per cent of Staffordshire's population is now overweight or obese, and Georgina says her new role has never been more important.\nShe says: \"Obesity is becoming such a huge issue across the UK. When I first joined Slimming World as a member, I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight but now I just can’t wait to get started.\n\"It is a privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me, so that I can give my members the support they need to get to target.\n\"Support is really the most important thing. It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone. As someone who has lost weight myself I know the challenges people can face, which is why I will be there to support every one of my members all the way to their chosen target weight.\n\"Setting targets, sharing recipes and other ideas, and working together as a group to overcome challenges and celebrate success is so important to a successful journey.\n\"Like a lot of slimmers, I had tried to lose weight so many times before by following numerous diets but they were never sustainable because I had always got tired of restricting what I ate. I thought I was destined to struggle with my weight for the rest of my life, but when I came to Slimming World it was different.\n\"I never felt like I was on a diet. The eating plan encourages you to eat lots of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes and lean meat and fish, you are never hungry and no foods are banned so there’s no deprivation.\n\"I couldn't believe I'd found a way to lose weight without starving myself. My favourite meal is chicken breast filled with low fat soft cheese, wrapped in lean bacon and served with Slimming World chips and a side salad.\n\"Slimming World isn't just about changing what you eat. Becoming more active is important too. Everything counts from walking to gardening to washing the car.\"\nStacey Goodfellow, who runs Slimming World's Branston Scouts HQ and Paget High School groups, manages Georgina as a team developer.\nShe said: \"Slimming World consultants are chosen for their positive outlook and because they genuinely care about the health and happiness of others.\n\"With Georgina's experience of being a successful Slimming World member and her kind and warm personality and great sense of humour I just know that she will be an amazing support to members, cheering them all the way to their target weight.\"\nGeorgina's Slimming World group will be held at Burton Caribbean Centre every Friday at 9am and 11am from Friday, October 13. For more information or to join Georgina's group either pop along on Friday 13th October or call her on 07496 724715.\nLooking for a job? There are thousands available at www.Fish4.co.uk", "Melissa McCarthy may be known for her comedic acts, but she has now become an inspiration for people struggling with weight issues. Although many have been impressed by her amazing body transformation, it wasn’t easy for the Ghostbusters actress to achieve her new slimmer figure. So how did she do it?\nFor Melissa McCarthy to achieve a healthier version of herself, the talented star had to sweat it out. Just like any other diets, watching the portion and changing one’s eating habits are certainly not enough.\nIt’s definitely hard to stick to a workout plan, and that is why Melissa McCarthy hired a trainer to help her with her weight loss journey. For the 46-year-old actress to keep motivated, her trainer makes sure that she’s only doing workouts that she enjoys and will give her impressive results at the same time. These workouts include high-intensity interval-training or better known as HIIT.\nThere will be days that Melissa McCarthy will do 30 minutes of martial arts, 10 minutes on the rowing machine, wall sits, jumping jacks, body weight squats, reverse crunches, and lower back extensions. In order for the Gilmore Girls star to not get bored in doing the same exact routine over and over again, in some days her trainer will make her do 10 minutes of burpees and skip ropes.\nAlthough Melissa McCarthy may have not initially shared her diet secrets, she did credit her amazing weight loss to changing her lifestyle and habits. She has previously joked that she lost weight by living a boring life. Although the funny actress was just probably trying to make everyone laugh at the time, there is definitely some truth in skipping happy hours and late night snacks.\nMelissa McCarthy’s weight loss happened not because she wants to belong in Tinseltown’s skinny celebrity group, but she knew that her weight was a big problem and it may eventually cause her her life. With her family as her inspiration, the Bridesmaids actress slowly changed her lifestyle.\nTo maintain her new slimmer figure and to keep losing more, the Ghostbusters actress has to keep her body moving and have an exercise regimen. Melissa McCarthy’s weight loss is a result of eating healthier alternatives and doing a workout routine that works for her.\nMelissa McCarthy already lost over 75 pounds and she’s definitely committed to losing more.\nI'm back on @hsn today!! I'm so excited to hear what you think about my #Fall2016 collection! @melissamccarthyseven7 A post shared by Melissa McCarthy (@melissamccarthy) on Aug 11, 2016 at 7:52am PDT\n[Featured Image by Shutterstock]", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nA super slimmer from Walsall is lapping up the compliments having lost an astonishing ELEVEN stone.\nDanni Richardson, 32, a full time mum from Willenhall, looks a completely new woman and she feels it too after dropping all the way from a size 30 to a size 10, having weighed 24 stone at her highest.\nThe mother-of-three started to lose weight in a bid to improve her health prior to the birth of her third child but “lost her way” after she fell pregnant.\nThen when little Alfie was born she picked it back up again with the help of the Short Heath Slimming World group. And she has now been named as Slimming World’s woman of the year.\n“I still can’t believe it. My family and partner are amazed and give me lots of compliments which I'm still not used to,” beamed Danni.\n“It has improved my health massively.”\nDanni, mum to Shannon, eight, Lucas, six, and Alfie two, is now just one stone off the target weight that she wants to be having gone to the class at Short Heath Methodist Church every Monday morning since she joined back in September 2015.\nShe recalled: “I had lost some weight then I had my youngest child. He is two now but he had been really poorly ever since his birth.\n“I knew after that that I had to get back on the path to getting healthy and I also have two other children who needed me so I joined Elaine Towsey’s Slimming World group. I have tried going it alone in the past and it doesn't really work for me. That's why I went to Elaine's group.\n“I lost 7 stone 5lb with her support and I'm a stone from my target weight now. Altogether I have lost 11 stone. I was a size 30 now I am down to a ten.”\nSo just how did Danni do it?\n“Don't put too much pressure on yourself. It takes time; it won't just fall off,” she revealed when asked what her secret was and what her advice would be to others in a similar situation.\n“You will have slip ups along the way but just pick yourself up and carry on. If you want it badly enough: you can do it.\n“I started to notice a difference with my weight almost straight away because before I had Alfie I was following the plan. I just lost my way once I got pregnant.\n“The only thing I don't really touch is pizza. I can still have it but it's easier and cheaper to make my own and it’s healthier too. I still love my chocolate and I can still enjoy that. I enjoy cooking things from scratch now and making sure there is plenty of vegetables and fruit in my meals.\n“Slimming World helped a lot; there is a fantastic group of people there and exercise wise I walk everywhere and chase after my three children if that counts!”", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nChannel 4's super slimmer has revealed the new diet that helped him shed eight stone and transform from fat to fit.\nDaniel Wheeler, 32, star of Super Slimmers , claims the 80/20 diet he devised helped him lose weight and he now believes that plan could help others too.\nHis 80/20 diet is based on counting calories 80% of the time and eating 'whatever you like' for the rest of it.\nThe celebrity fitness guru said that allowing a little of what you like increases the chances of people sticking to their diet so they can drop weight quickly and sustainably.\nDaniel once weighed 22st and medics said he was 'severely obese' but he turned his life around and is now a fitness guru, even featuring on the front of Men's Health magazine and Channel 4.\nAnd his recent star turn on Super Slimmers has proved to be a more positive brush with the bright lights of television than his encounter with ITV's Loose Women was in 2016.\nHe accused the show of 'treating him like and piece of meat' after he was dropped for refusing to take his top off.\n(Image: MENS HEALTH)\n(Image: Internet Unknown)\nHe was invited to appear on the show to talk about how he lost eight stone in two years and set up his personal training business.\nBut he said producers wanted a topless catwalk turn and when he refused they axed him.\n“They asked if they could film me working out topless and I said no. Then they emailed and said I had been dropped.\n\"I felt objectified as a man. It’s double standards – can you imagine if it was Top Gear and Katie Price was dropped for refusing to take her top off?\n(Image: Facebook)\n(Image: Facebook)\n(Image: Facebook)\nBut now, Daniel, from Surrey, has launched his new diet and promises remarkable results for anyone willing to sign up to the 'lifestyle plan' online .\nDaniel stressed that changing people's mindsets was key to successfully battling the bulge.\nHe promotes moderation and says that 'nothing is ever restricted'.\nThe personal trainer said that before his transformation from fat to fit he would binge on carrier bags of sweets and eat takeaways every night.\nHe tried to diet never found one he could stick to.\n(Image: Life Changing Fitness)\nThen one day in the shower he noticed that he could no longer see his feet and decided to focus entirely on getting healthy and fit.\nHe quit his job in marketing, trained as a personal trainer and studied nutrition.\nHe has now launched his 80:20 diet which he says was fundamental to his weight-loss success.\nThis diet involves eating healthy, calorie-tracked meals 80% of the time, and eating whatever you like 20% of the time, reports Mail Online .\nNo food is banned because if you can still eat a little of your favourite food you are more likely to stick to your diet the rest of the time.\n(Image: Internet Unknown)\nAnd the result of this is that you can drop a lot of weight in 16 weeks because you've stuck to it, he said.\nHe believes his diet plan could be the new 5:2. - a diet which has proved popular recently which dictates that you eat healthy food for the week but you can break out and have treats at the weekend.\nAfter signing up to the plan online at the8020lifestyleplan.com , people pay £25 a month for four months (plus a £25 sign-up fee) to access the programme.\nClients then have an initial consultation with Daniel about their weight loss goals and lifestyle and works out a plan based on a set number of calories which they follow in the 80:20 pattern daily.\n(Image: Life Changing Fitness)\nAnd he said that a vital part of the programme is equipping people with the mental tools to take control of their weight.\nThe programme includes lessons in positive psychology and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques to change the way they think about food.\nAlthough exercise is not mandatory in the programme, Daniel does advise weight training and cardio.", "Stephanie Murphy recalls faking her excitement about becoming a bride, because of her fear of trying on weddings dresses. Her fear became so big that it caused her to have sleepless nights and she became very anxious and worried if she would ever walk down the isle feeling confident.\n“I knew I had to do something because I was just not feeling great and the added weight put pressure on my whole body, the more I worried the more I ate, it was like a vicious cycle,” Stephanie recalls. So she made a decision that would change her life forever!\nStephanie Murphy joined her local Slimming World group in Portarlington on January 2, 2017. She was very nervous as she entered as she thought she would be biggest person in the group. “I was blown away when I entered as I was met by my lovely consultant Pam, who really put me at ease, she told me that the weight would drop off me and that I could eat loads of my favorite foods by just cooking them differently,” Stephanie smiled recalling this feeling. “Everyone in the group was so lovely and friendly and they all shared ideas and tips to help me on my first week.”\nStephanie never looked back as the weight came off beautifully, she enjoyed lovely meals like steak and chips, curries and even enjoyed a tipple or two. She was also thrilled that her family could eat the same food and they enjoyed it thoroughly.\nShe says that, “when I first joined Slimming World as a member, I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight but now I just can’t wait to get started. After losing 6 stone and completing my training, it’s a privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me,so that I can give my members the support they need to get to target.\n“Support is really the most important thing. It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone. I couldn’t have lost my weight without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of my own Consultant and group. As someone who has lost weight myself I know the challenges people can face, which is why, along with the group, I will be there to support every one of my members all the way to their chosen target weight. Setting targets, sharing recipes and other ideas, and working together as a group to overcome challenges and celebrate success is so important to a successful journey. That’s why, at my Slimming World group, there’ll be tons of support, encouragement and fun.\n“Like a lot of slimmers, I had tried to lose weight so many times before by following numerous diets but they were never sustainable because I’d always get tired of restricting what I ate. I thought I was destined to struggle with my weight for the rest of my life, but when I came to Slimming World it was different.\n\"Having just got engaged the thought of wedding dress shopping was something I genuinely feared but then when I joined Slimming World I never felt like I was on a diet. The eating plan encourages you to eat lots of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes and lean meat and fish, you are never hungry and no foods are banned so there’s no deprivation. I couldn’t believe I’d found a way to lose weight without starving myself.\n“As the weight came off I began to exercise slowly to try help get the results I wanted ! Being active within SlimmingWorld is a really big part of their plan and soon I began to love it and now it’s a part of my daily routine ! It allows me some me time as well as giving me that feel good factor!\n\"I use to struggle getting off the sitting room floor playing with my kids now I enjoy being outside doing things that I never thought I would be able to do ! It’s given me my life back ! As a Consultant it’s my role to create that warm, supportive atmosphere to get people sharing their ideas and experiences to help others - it’s going to be great fun!”\nWhen Stephanie got married and put on that dress she worked so hard for she says “ the feeling I had on my wedding day was something I thought I’d never experience ! I felt proud and beautiful! Again words I never thought I’d use to describe myself and that’s what slimming world has done for me, it has given me a new found self love and for that I am so grateful !\nCarmel who runs Slimming World’s Abbeyleix group and manages stephanie as a Team Developer, says: “Slimming World Consultants are chosen for their positive outlook and because they genuinely care about the health and happiness of others. With Stephanie experience of being a successful Slimming World member and her kind and warm personality and great sense of humour I just know that she’ll be an amazing support to members, cheering them all the way to their target weight.”\nNow, she has trained as a Consultant for Slimming World, the UK and Ireland’s largest group-based weight loss organisation, at their national training academy in Derbyshire. Members at the group are getting ready to welcome Stephanie as their new Consultant when she takes over the group on 16th July 2018!\nShe will relaunch The Portarlington group on Monday evenings from 5.30pm and 7.30pm. For more information contact Stephanie on 087-0933673. She is looking forward to welcoming you all on the night.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nIf you put on a few extra pounds this summer, or just want to start a weight loss campaign, Scottish Slimmers’ exclusive mini Feelgood Food Plan will get you off to a flying start.\nIt’s simple, it’s effective and it’s fast. Just think one week from today YOU could be 5lbs lighter if you follow Scottish Slimmers exclusive plan.\nAnd to give you extra encouragement, as well as our exclusive 7-day plan, this week we follow three slimmers on their weight loss journey and how they can testify that it is possible to lost up to 5lbs – if not more than – in your first week\nSo what are you waiting for – now’s the time to lose 5lbs fast.\nScottish Slimmers know all about losing weight and this mini Feelgood Food plan, exclusive to Daily Record readers, gives you a choice of four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners to mix and match. Each day can have a hunger-busting menu but it’s still full of the kind of foods that give you a healthy balance. Even better, there’s still room to enjoy some snacks as well.\nIt’s feelgood, fast, filling, fabulous and foolproof.\n● Choose one Breakfast, one Lunch, one Main Meal and 2 Snacks or 3 for men each day\n● You can also add fruit freely (not grapes or bananas) or more vegetables to every meal or snack\n● Use skimmed milk freely in hot drinks or with cereal.\nPortions\nAlthough some weights are included, judge portion sizes according to your plate.\n¼ plate = whole grain, pasta, rice, potatoes or bread\n¼ plate = Lean meat/fish or pulses\n½ plate = Fruit/vegetables\n(Image: Handout)\nBREAKFAST\nFruity Muesli Bircher\nMix 30g rolled porridge oats, 25ml unsweetened apple juice , 50ml water, a small apple (peeled, cored and grated) 1 tsp chopped walnuts or pecans, chopped with 4 tbsp 0 per cent fat Greek yogurt , 1 tsp clear honey, a few berries of your choice.\nSandwich Thin\nOne large slice melon. Split one wholemeal sandwich thin. Cover each side with sliced half-fat cheese or two light cheese spread triangles and slices tomato. Grill.\nCooked Combo\nGrill two lean bacon rashers and a tomato. Heat a small tin baked beans and dry fry an egg in a spray of oil. Serve with a slice wholemeal toast.\nSmoothie & Cereal\nOne 180ml bottle any flavour fruit smoothie followed by low-sugar Granola served with skimmed milk or fat-free yogurt.\n(Image: Handout)\nLUNCH\nCheese Melt\nMix 1 tbsp half-fat grated cheese with 1 tbsp 0 per cent yogurt and one chopped spring onion. Toast one side of a slice of wholemeal bread. Then, spread mixture on the other side and grill. Add chopped tomatoes on top. One peach and one pear.\nSouthern Fried Chicken\nOven-bake a portion Southern Fried chicken or fillets as instructions. Cook a half corn on the cob in water. Serve with 2 tbsp low-fat coleslaw and salad.\nSausage, Egg & Beans\nGrill two low-fat sausages or one Quorn sausage and serve with one dry-fried egg and four rounded tbsp baked beans.\nRice Mix\nMix cooked whole grain pasta or rice (from 60g dry weight) with 60g chopped cooked lean ham, one chopped pineapple ring, 2 tbsp sweetcorn, chopped tomato, onion, cucumber and fat-free dressing. Serve hot or cold.\nMAIN MEALS\n(Image: Handout)\nSteak Pan-Fry with Wedges (Serves 2)\nBoil or microwave 2 large potatoes in their skins. Cool and cut into thick wedges. Spray with oil, season and cook in the oven for about 25 minutes.\nSpray a non-stick pan with oil and heat. Add red onion slices and cook gently. Add 250g steak strips. Add some cherry tomatoes and sliced mushrooms\nto the onions and stir-fry about 2 minutes. Add 4 tbsp sweetcorn kernels and heat. Serve each person with half the steak mixture, half the wedges and a large salad.\n(Image: Handout)\nFeelgood Grill\nGrill, bake or barbecue either a large skinless chicken breast, a well-trimmed pork steak, a lean rump steak or a large salmon fillet. Serve with a medium-sized baked potato, and lots of salad or vegetables and light coleslaw.\nHerby fishcakes (Serves 4)\nIn a bowl, mix 400g mashed potato, 100g tinned sweetcorn, 2tsp chopped parsley and 1 large tin salmon (drained) Form 8 fishcakes. Dip each cake into 1 beaten egg and then into 120g wholemeal breadcrumbs. Grill until golden brown. Serve 2 fishcakes to each person with 2 tbsp baked beans.\nSalmon and Watercress Fritatta (Serves 2)\nSpray a non-stick pan with oil. Cook 6 sliced spring onions until tender, Add 2 handfuls of chopped watercress, Skin and flake 150g hot smoked salmon\ninto small pieces. Add to the pan with a ½ lemon zest and a pinch of chilli flakes. Now, whisk 6 eggs with 1 tbsp low-fat crème fraiche - season and\npour into the pan. Cook gently until the bottom is firm. Place under the grill until the top is set and golden brown. Serves with vegetables on the side.\n(Image: Handout)\nSNACKS\n2 OR 3 A DAY\nCheese rolls\nRoll Extra Light soft cheese and peach slices in three or four slices of ham\nNuts & raisins\nNibble on 50g peanuts & raisins, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, strips of pepper, broccoli or cauliflower florets.\nDessert\nServe two level scoops plain ice cream with 100g fresh\nor frozen berries and a sugar-free jelly\n● A small glass wine\n● A bottle light beer\n● A packet low fat crisps\n● Three rice cakes\n● 100g prawns dipped into extra light mayonnaise\n● A pitta bread\n● Two oatcakes (e.g. Paterson’s) with 30g extra light soft cheese.\n(Image: Handout)\n● 165g pot diet/fat-free yogurt or fromage frais\n● 175g frozen grapes\n● A banana\n● 30g of popped popcorn (not sugar coated)\n● 30g almonds\n● A low-calorie cake bar\n● Two mini corn on the cob\n● A slice wholemeal bread with low-fat spread\nTWO FOR ONE JOINING OFFER\nJoin Scottish Slimmers with a friend and take advantage of this exclusive two-for-one offer.\n£5 each for your first class.\nTry our new Flexislim class and our fantastic Feelgood Food Plan. We’re here to help you be the best you\ncan be.\nTake this coupon along to any Scottish Slimmers class to claim your special offer before September 15, 2017.\nOffer open to New and Rejoining members attending together.\nCannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.\nCODE : 549910\nFor more information about Scottish Slimmers and their new Flexislim Feelgood Eating plan log on to www.scottishslimmers.com or call FREE on 0800 36 26 36.", "(Reuters Health) - - For overweight people with heart disease, trying and failing to lose weight may be more dangerous than not losing weight at all.\nA new retrospective study has concluded that patients whose weight fluctuates the most die twice as quickly or have twice the risk of heart attack or stroke compared to people who maintain a stable body weight.\nAnd their risk of developing diabetes grows by 78 percent.\nThe findings, which need to be confirmed by further research, suggest a life-and-death conundrum. Being overweight is already known to pose serious health risks. The new research says dropping the pounds and putting them back on again poses additional dangers.\nIf you are an overweight person with heart disease who lost 20 pounds \"you are worse off if you drop your weight and gain it back\" than if you didn't lose it in the first place, chief author Dr. Sripal Bangalore, an interventional cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at New York University's Langone Medical Center told Reuters Health by phone.\nThe study is saying, \"If you're going to lose weight, do it right and you need to take it seriously,\" said Dr. Ira Ockene, a professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, who was not connected with the research.\nIf people use the results as an excuse not to drop unhealthy pounds, \"that would be unfortunate,” Ockene told Reuters Health. “There's a lot of data that says if you lose weight and keep it off, you do better.\"\n\"Hopefully this will be used as a motivation to lose weight and maintain weight,\" Bangalore said.\nSuch yo-yo dieting, where a person's weight fluctuates repeatedly, is already known to be unhealthy in people without heart disease.\nThe new study in the New England Journal of Medicine explored whether that was specifically true for people with coronary artery disease, where fatty deposits have built up in the blood vessels feeding the heart muscle. The researchers recycled data from 9,509 volunteers who were part of a Lipitor study published in 2005 and sponsored by Pfizer.\nAnother important limitation of the study: It did not examine whether patients lost weight because they tried to, or if their weight fluctuated because they were battling illness.\nAfter adjusting for various factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, race, gender, diabetes, cholesterol levels and treatment with Lipitor, the Bangalore team found that people whose weights fluctuated the most were 2.24 times more likely to die from any cause within about five years, 2.17 times more likely to have a heart attack and 2.36 times more likely to be hit with a stroke than people whose weights were the most stable.\nFor every 3- or 4-pound change in body weight, their risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest, chest pain, death from heart disease or the need for surgery to open a clogged artery rose by 4 percent.\nThe dangers posed by shifting weight were least pronounced in people who had a normal weight to begin with.\nOckene said people need to put weight loss in perspective.\n\"Studies show people set unattainable goals. Heavy people say, 'I need to lose 40 pounds' and they set a goal that is largely unattainable. And when they lose 10 pounds they're disappointed. And they say, 'What the hell' and they just gain it back,\" he said.\n\"But if you lose 10 pounds and keep it off, your diabetes will be better, your blood pressure will be better, your lipids will be better, a lot of things will be better. You don't need to lose 30 or 40 pounds,\" he said. \"That's an important issue for people to understand.\"\nAs a typical example of patients in the study whose weights fluctuated significantly, the researchers cited the case of a 53-year-old man whose weight went from 231 pounds to 244 pounds three months later, then dropped to 211 pounds eighteen months later before going up to 253 pounds after another 18 months had passed.\nSOURCE: bit.ly/2nognpI New England Journal of Medicine, online April 5, 2017.", "Even professional dancers can lose their motivation and pile on the pounds, as recent pictures of Ola and James Jordan show.\nBut now the former Strictly Come Dancing stars have shed more than two stone (32lbs) between them – Ola 15lbs and her husband 17lbs – in just two months.\nThe couple, who have been married for 14 years, said they fell into bad habits after leaving the show – gorging on takeaways, chocolate and wine.\nOla said that people presumed she was pregnant and James realised he had some timber to lose himself after seeing pictures of his flabby stomach on the beach in newspapers.\nNow they have showed off their new trim figures and revealed how they lost their excess weight.\nThey have followed the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 method, where you replace two meals a day with milk shakes, and then to eat a healthy, low fat meal at night.\nScroll down for video\nFormer Strictly star Ola Jordan left nothing to the imagination as she donned a see-through lace bodysuit at a charity gala at the Bank of England Sports Club in September\nThis is the picture – of James on the beach on Skiathos Island in September – which he says was a 'wake-up' call\nThe couple shed more than two stone (32lbs) between them – Ola lost 15lbs and her husband 17lbs – in just two months\nThe pair, who live in a plush pad in Kent, have gotten into tip top shape ahead of their dance tour set to take place from March through to April next year .\nPregnancy rumours\nThe couple admit that after leaving the hit show – James first in 2012 and Ola in 2015, their lifestyles changed dramatically. After no longer doing hours of intense training their weight began to creep up.\nFollowing her exit, Ola also had a nasty accident on series two of The Jump and was forced to rest and recuperate. She found herself having to dismiss pregnancy rumours after piling on the pounds.\nShe said: 'Since leaving Strictly my weight has certainly fluctuated, doing less exercise but eating the same food – if not more – took its toll.\n'However, after appearing on I'm a Celebrity…. I was back to a slimmer version of me – but who wouldn't be after eating bugs and not much else!\n'It didn't last and at the beginning of 2017 I was back to enjoying the good life, eating and drinking as I wanted.\n'I'm only 5ft 3 so every pound shows on me – I've even been asked if I was pregnant, to which I just had to say no I've just put on weight. I was devastated!\nThe couple were determined to get into shape ahead of their dance tour set to take place from March until April next year\n'I CALL HER CHUNKY MONKEY SOMETIMES!' The Jordans say one of the secret of their long marriage is their honesty with each other, with James admitting he tells his wife if she's gained some weight. He previously told MailOnline: 'Just go to the gym more. We're quite brutally honest. I call her chunky monkey sometimes! 'Women are very intelligent and they are much more savvy than men. If you ask your husband, 'How do I look?' you thinks he's a bl**dy liar because you know when you don't look good. 'You don't have to be horrible about it: I'm never horrible but I'll do it in a jokey way.'\nTakeaway lovers\nThe Polish native revealed the she and James, 39, found it hard to resist a takeaway and a tipple.\n'I love food, as a couple we are definitely foodies but we can often make bad choices, James loves junk food and if he's eating it so will I.\n'James and I love takeaways and we were frequently indulging in Indian or fast food followed by some chocolate or a cheeky glass of wine,' she said. 'I knew the weight was creeping on but I wasn't ready to admit it.'\nShe says Paparazzi pictures of her and James on the beach provided them both with a 'wake-up call'.\n'Then this summer a national newspaper released images of me and James on holiday.\n'They were close ups of my bottom and James' stomach, we were both mortified and genuinely really shocked at how we looked.\n'It was the wake-up call we needed to finally realising we needed help.\nFormer Celebrity Big Brother contestant James said he'd never really had to diet in his whole life, until now.\n'Since leaving Strictly I had developed bad habits – biscuits with every cup of tea plus three sugars in each cuppa, enjoying wine with dinner – I realised I was on a slippery slope.\n'After seeing the photos in a newspaper my heart sank, I knew it was time to focus – I had a belly overhang!'\nHow they did it\nThe 3-2-1 plan involves having two meal replacements – either SlimFast meals, shakes or bars – and a healthy balanced meal for dinner. The company provides 600-calorie recipe ideas for inspiration.\nSlimmers can have three snacks a day – which can be from the SlimFast range or fruit and vegetables.\nOla and James started the day with a SlimFast Strawberry or Chocolate ready-to-drink shake or a SlimFast Chocolate Crunch meal replacement bar – which they found quick and easy when they were on the go.\nThe SlimFast 3-2-1 plan is based on two meal replacements, three snacks a day and a healthy balanced meal for dinner\nNow the couple are the first celebrity weight loss couple to act as ambassadors for the SlimFast brand\nAnd one of their favourites was the SlimFast Sour Cream & Chive Pretzels or the Chocolate Caramel Treat Bar.\nOla said: 'SlimFast gave us the control we needed to make better choices but still enjoy a treat if we wanted to.\n'We cannot wait to strut down the red carpet feeling sassy, confident and at our best – the Spanx can now stay at home.\n'Our energy levels are sky high and our confidence is back. We're ready to return to the glitz and glamour of the dance floor.'\nJames added: 'With our dance tour kicking off in March we had a clear goal, we knew we had to focus, lose the weight and be 'show fit' in time.\n'I have always known you can't out train a bad diet so I wanted to focus on my eating habits before getting back in the gym.\nJames says he has his confidence back while Ola has vowed to leave the Spanx at home\n'I was really self-conscious but now my confidence is back with a bang. Since losing 17lbs I feel fantastic, dance floor ready, I'm back at my best and the smile on my face proves it!\n'Dancing is my passion, I wanted and needed to be strong and fit enough to fling Ola around the dance floor again.'\nNow the couple are the first celebrity weight loss couple to act as ambassadors for the SlimFast brand.\nThe tour, James And Ola: Uncensored, will centre on their romantic story, as they celebrate 18 years as dance partners.\nDue to kick off in Blackpool, the couple will hit the stage in a number of cities, including Birmingham, Manchester and London, before ending their tour in Liverpool the following month.", "For patients undergoing weight loss (bariatric) surgery, losing at least 8 percent of excess weight just one month before the procedure directly impacts their ability to shed even more pounds in the year following surgery, according to new study findings published as an \"article in press\" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print.\nApart from the weight-loss procedure itself, diet and weight loss before the operation may also determine how successful a person is in losing pounds during the first year after the procedure.\n\"Our ultimate goal was to see what makes postoperative outcomes better for our patients undergoing this lifesaving procedure,\" Dr. Scott said.\nThe study patients were asked to lose at least 8 percent of their excess weight by following a 1200 calorie diet for four weeks immediately preceding their operations. For the analysis, the patients were divided into two groups based on whether they actually achieved that weight loss goal (224 patients achieved that goal, and 131 did not).\nPatients who lost at least 8 percent of their excess weight achieved a 7.5 percent greater weight loss at the 12-month post-surgery mark, compared with those who did not achieve that weight loss goal. This finding held true even when other factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and health problems including high blood pressure and diabetes were considered.\nDr. Hutcheon explained that there is this key window of opportunity after bariatric surgery, up to 18 months, when many physical and metabolic changes occur that help facilitate weight loss. \"After that time point, patients will have to rely on diet and exercise and lifestyle management to maintain that weight loss,\" she said.\n\"We call it the honeymoon period of bariatric surgery,\" Dr. Scott added. \"After a year or year and a half, your body starts to figure out what it can and can't do, and your behaviors may change a little bit, so the odds that you are going to lose a significant amount of weight after that time period are definitely decreased. Therefore, the more weight you can lose during that honeymoon period, the better, because that effort will help establish a set point, in terms of where your steady weight is going to be further down the road.\"\nThe analysis also showed a reduction in hospital length of stay (1.8 days vs. 2.1 days) for patients who achieved that target weight loss (8 percent or greater), and the average operative time was shorter (117 minutes vs. 125 minutes) for that group as well.\n\"Ultimately, we believe that preoperative preparation for bariatric surgery should be mediated by individual surgeons taking care of their patients,\" Dr. Scott said. \"And this 8 percent target should not be used as a hard set point to qualify patients for bariatric surgery. Because patients with obesity who weren't able to achieve that 8 percent goal still had dramatic effects in terms of how much weight they lost and comorbidity resolutions.\"\nThe most important aspect of this study is that it adds to the body of research data showing that it is beneficial for bariatric surgery programs to encourage and counsel patients to follow a short-term diet or aim to achieve weight loss prior to bariatric surgery.\n\"One of the things we often say is bariatric surgery is a tool; it's not the end-all-be-all for weight loss. So it's really about making sure this tool is used wisely and proactively by our patients and having it work most effectively in the long run,\" Dr. Hutcheon said.\nFor future investigations, the researchers hope to explore the impact that presurgery weight-loss programs have on longer term (more than one year) surgical outcomes.", "Nutritionist Zoe Martin says having a list up on the wall of what your goals are and how you plan to achieve them will help stop you from giving up. Photo: Shutterstock.com\nWomen, more so than men, seem all too familiar with the New Year drill. We verbally commit to no more chocolate, to take the stairs and to rise an hour earlier to hit the gym only to find that by mid-month we lose all motivation. In fact, statistics show that over 500,000 of those who make resolutions will have broken them by the January 2.\nSo why do we punish ourselves with unrealistic goals? Are we all just dreamers who think things will come easy to us? Or do we purposely make false promises to ourselves and expect to be disappointed?\nThe key lies in the way we make our resolutions. American self-help author Melody Beattie says: “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”\n“By this Melody means, we should take smaller steps to reach our ultimate goals,” says nutritionist Zoe Martin.\n“If your goal is to lose 20 kilograms then break it down and make it more achievable. Set yourself a target weight to lose over the course of a month, and set smaller targets in between such as going to the gym twice a week or not eating takeaways. These small resolutions will change your behavior in the long term and can really feel like you are making progress, rather than think the challenge is just too great and giving up within days.”\nThe new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written\nHaving said this, around 92 per cent of people fail at their resolutions by the end of the year. It is usually not because they have not tried or are not committed but they merely choose the wrong type of resolution. You may be flying along sticking to your new fitness routine for the first month only for things to get on top of you and you miss a session. It does not mean you have failed. If you plan your resolutions beforehand you can create ones that you will always be able to reach with reasonable effort.\nAlthough it can be inspiring and fun to have an ambitious goal, if you can’t tell if you are getting closer to achieving it then you will fail. For example; you can’t exactly measure how happy you are but you can measure how many nice or good things you have done for others in the past week.\nIt is also important that while working towards your goal, you must always believe you can do it, Martin says. If you doubt yourself, you will start to become complacent and will slowly give up. If you allow yourself to take a break even for a small period of time you will most likely never get back to working on achieving your goal.\nIt could also help greatly if you can have a friend try to achieve the same goal. Photo: Shutterstock.com\nHaving a list up on the wall of what your goals are and how you plan to achieve them will help stop you from giving up. For example have it on the wall facing you when you wake up, it will keep it fresh in your mind so you won’t start to forget or doubt yourself.\nIt could also help if you try and keep your resolutions short. This happens more often than you think, where people set themselves extremely long-term goals that can be very difficult for many people to stick too. This is purely because the more time it takes to achieve the goal the more time you have to quit before you achieve it.\nFor example; it appears easier to stop drinking carbonated drinks for six weeks than trying to stop for an entire year.\nAfter you have been working towards your set goal, you can start to give yourself small challenges to keep you from slipping into laziness. It could be a simple challenge like adding an extra five minutes to your workout or not checking your social media accounts until the evening.\nIt could also help greatly if you can have a friend try to achieve the same goal. This buddy system helps both of you not let each other down by giving up or putting it off.", "Have you been thinking of your New Year fitness goals? Have you thought of why you are standing in the same space every year? It is good to dream big but sometimes you need to take it a little slower. Take a look at how you can create achievable fitness goals, how to stick to it and see amazing results as you achieve your New Year fitness goals.\n1.Set achievable goals\nThe first step to success is to look at setting a goal you are able to achieve. You can do a fitness assessment and determine what your goals are going to be based on the results. You also need to take in consideration what your lifestyle is like, how much time can you set aside for exercise that will be realistic.\n2.Set interim goals or milestones\nOnly looking at the main target can sometimes be demotivating. You can have a personal progress management system by setting milestones. Weigh yourself, but also take pictures and measure yourself. Sometimes you see more centimetres lost than weight, which is possible because you are building muscle. Weekly management, for instance, within the next two to three weeks you want to have lost 2kg and be able to do 20 sit-ups. This will make the exercise more motivational and you will be happy if you have even been able to exceed the target.\n3.Say NO\nTo be successful in a fitness routine, you will have to change certain things in your lifestyle. Maybe your company provides cake on birthdays; you will now have to decline this, as it is not part of your routine. Let close friends/family in on your routine to enable them to take you into consideration on such occasions.\n4.Take responsibility\nIt is OK to overstep the boundaries a bit, however, you will need to take responsibility for those actions and know that you will need to hold yourself accountable if you are not able to make your goals. Therefore, you will have to make an agreement with yourself how you are going to compensate every time you cross the line.\n5.Work out a routine\nIt is not easy to get you to your desired weight or fitness level without a plan. Therefore, you will need to have a set routine, which is adjusted according to your progress and milestones. Having a plan and guide makes your New Year fitness goals easier to attain.\n6.Be Patient\nThe worst thing you can do is to jump on the scale every day or two, this is going to put too much pressure on yourself and you are going to be constantly conscious of the fact that you still need to lose this much weight or lose this much body fat, immediately setting yourself up for failure.\n7.Support and motivation\nIt is very challenging to follow through with a plan without the support of your family and friends. The ideal will be to get someone to train with you, alternatively someone that can help you to track your progress.", "Get Daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nKathryn Stimpson is slimmer now than when she was a teenager, after a holiday to Sri Lanka in 2013 made her realise it was time to change her ways.\nThe 33-year-old said: “I was uncomfortable squeezing into a seat on the plane and then had the embarrassment of using a seatbelt extender.\n“I felt like I was constantly being stared at on holiday too, as I was something that people were not use to seeing.\n“My husband John had lost a lot of weight and I felt that I was ready to do the same. I also wanted to be able to give my dog the exercise he needed. He was born while we were away and the plan was to increase the exercise as he grew up. So I started with walking and then joined a gym.”\nKathryn, who lives in Fenton with John, added: “I couldn’t shift the weight despite exercising, but soon realised that my eating choices were not as healthy as they could be.\n“I decided if it didn’t improve I would join Slimming World and I did that at the end of October last year.”\nWeighing more than 21 stone at her heaviest, Kathryn has come to realise that she was an emotional eater.\n“I was bullied at school and I turned to food. When I was happy or sad I ate and it took me a long time to recognise that I was an emotional eater. “Changing my habits so that I didn’t turn to food was hard, but I now turn to exercise instead, which is a great source of stress relief for me.\n“Before I was definitely a duvet day sort of girl, but now I exercise six days a week. In July I even joined Stoke FIT after signing up for the Dougie Mac 10k. I hated running but I really wanted to improve my endurance and have since completed the 10k and also signed up for more events.”\nKathryn, who is merchandising co-ordinator at Conviviality Retail, once wore a dress size 28, but in just one year she lost nine stone and has now dropped to a size 12.\n“I actually eat more now than I did before, it’s just that I’m eating the right food. Starving yourself doesn’t work and I realised that I was doing this and then eating all the wrong foods.\n“Instead I make sure that I eat plenty of protein – lean chicken is a staple, along with tuna and prawns – as well as plenty of fruit and vegetables. I batch cook large quantities of bolognese, chilli and casseroles, which are great for freezing for those days when you fancy a takeaway.\n“I never thought it would be possible to lose so much weight, but now people don’t recognise me and think that I look like a totally different person – I certainly feel like it. Even my mum can’t believe how I look now, I am slimmer than when I was a teenager!\n“Before, I used to hate clothes shopping, with only a few shops to choose from and often I did it online. But after slimming I remember the first time that I fitted into ‘normal’ dress shop clothes, I actually stood in the changing room and shed a tear.”\nHusband John said: “Kathryn has done really well and has taken on board advice given to her. It is great to see her confidence growing and the positive change in her. I am really proud of her results and how she shines when she completes a race.”\nKathryn’s Slimming World group meets at St Mary and St Chad’s Church Hall, in Longton, on Saturdays at 7.30am. Other sessions are available on this day at 9.30am and 11.30am. For more information or to join call Slimming World Consultant Laura Walford on 07526 492605.\nWeight before - 21st 5.5lb\nWeight after - 12st 4lbs\nTotal loss - 9st 1.5lb\nTop tip - Drink plenty of water", "TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- It's a long-held stereotype that men are less self-conscious about their weight than women.\nBut a new study reveals that obese men are just as likely as women to be mistreated and stigmatized by others due to their excess pounds.\nTwo out of five men surveyed said they've been on the receiving end of weight stigma, \"which is really similar to what we see in women,\" said lead researcher Mary Himmelstein.\nThis is the first study to look specifically at weight bias targeting men, said Himmelstein, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Connecticut's Center for Food Policy & Obesity.\n\"This isn't really something we think about as a problem for men. Men really aren't on the radar when we think about weight stigma,\" she said. \"These results show it should be on the radar.\"\nThere are many ways overweight and obese people can be stigmatized about their weight. They can be outright teased or taunted, or have snide comments made about what they're eating.\nThey can also be stereotyped -- \"that you can't control yourself around food, that you have no willpower, that you're less intelligent than someone who has a slimmer waistline,\" Himmelstein said.\nPeople might even think they're doing these folks a favor, but they really aren't, said Dr. Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D.C.\n\"People tend to mistakenly believe if they are harsh with people, it will motivate them to lose weight -- if they tease them a little bit or finger-point a little bit,\" Kahan said. \"There's not a single study I know that supports that, and in fact there are several studies showing the opposite.\"\nWeight bias instead tends to cause people to binge-eat and exercise less, leading to even greater weight gain, Himmelstein and Kahan said.\nFor this study, Himmelstein and her colleagues surveyed more than 1,500 men from three groups -- two online survey panels and a nonprofit advocacy group for the obese.\nAbout 40 percent of the men reported experiencing weight stigma, the researchers found.\nVerbal mistreatment was the most common form of stigma. It most often came from peers, family members and strangers, results showed.\nMen stigmatized over their weight tended to be younger, were less likely to be married, and were more likely to be obese rather than normal weight or overweight, Himmelstein noted.\nKahan said that the results show that more research needs to be done exploring the differences in men and women's experiences with weight stigma.\nThe sources of weight stigma might differ between the two genders, Kahan added. For example, women might be more likely to receive comments from health care professionals than men.\nMen also might process and cope with weight stigma differently than women, he noted.\n\"Just experiencing some sort of stigmatizing action or words from someone else, that's not typically enough to cause harm in an individual,\" Kahan said. \"It's when that individual internalizes that stigma, turns it in on themselves, and sort of believes it and takes it to heart, that's when you start to see some of the mental and physical health problems with those stigmatizing situations.\"\nMen could turn out to have a thicker skin than women when it comes to their weight, although Kahan is not certain of that.\n\"We all have our theories, and I'm not so sure that men are able to shrug it off easier than women,\" he said.\nThe new study is published in the May issue of Obesity.\nMore information\nThe National Eating Disorders Association has more about weight stigma.\nSOURCES: Mary Himmelstein, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, University of Connecticut's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity; Scott Kahan, M.D., MPH, director, National Center for Weight and Wellness, Washington, D.C.; May 2018, Obesity Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.\nPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.", "Losing weight is hard. Few people who have experience with weight loss would argue that point. The crazy thing is how we make something that is already plenty hard even harder. There are things that can be done to to make it a little easier, but lots of people don’t do them.\nMaybe the reason why people don’t do what they can to make weight loss easier is because they didn’t know what to do. Maybe they didn’t believe these things could work or maybe they just think that the harder they make the process, the better the results. Trust me, making the process harder, only makes it easier to get frustrated and give up.\nHere are 3 ways to make losing weight easier. Pay particular attention to number 3.\n1. Get good quality sleep every night.\nIt’s been proven that sleep or rather, lack of it, affects your appetite. Two hormones responsible for making you want to eat and regulating how much you eat are disrupted with disrupted sleep.\nGhrelin is a hormone that makes you hungry. Research shows that even one night of sleep deprivation increases ghrelin levels. Leptin is the hormone that tells us we’ve had enough to eat. Sleep deprivation has be found to make us leptin resistant. In other words, leptin tries to tell us we’re full and we don’t get the memo. Easy, go to bed.\n2. Avoid extended periods of sitting.\nExercise is good. Get lots of exercise, but don’t make the mistake of working out hard for an hour and sitting the rest of the day. Long stretches of sitting undo the good of your workouts. Sitting slows your metabolism. You burn fewer calories at rest. Just getting up and standing can restore it to higher levels. Try to get up and walk for 5 minutes for every hour spent seated. Easy, stand up.\n3. Eat to stay satisfied.\nThis should be easy but when it comes to eating for weight loss too many people think that being satisfied prohibits weight loss. Not true. It’s easier to monitor and avoid overeating when you’re satisfied. Eating what tastes good and avoiding getting too hungry is a mistake. It makes losing weight hard, so hard in fact that it’s why many weight loss efforts fail.\nMake good eating easy because after all the most important thing when it comes to losing weight is the food.\nI’m not talking about eating all your meals in restaurants and I’m sure not talking about frozen diet dinners or delivered-to-your-door freeze dried diet meals. I’m talking about one of the many, new services that delivers a box of fresh food to your door in the exact amount to feed a specified number of people and easy directions to create a fabulous meal.\nMy neighbor highly recommends Blue Apron. He gets 3 boxes a week to feed two people and it costs $60.00. That’s about what it would cost to buy food for 3 meals for 2 in the supermarket. He says he saves money because he doesn’t have to buy more than needed for the meal and there’s no waste.\nThe food is healthy and portion controlled. He says the variety is excellent. He says the directions are color coded and easy to follow. He hasn’t had a bad meal yet although he does report a few times his food never arrived. His girlfriend makes a call and they send out another box. His endorsement and his newly slimmer profile are enough to make me a fan.\nThe point is eating well and losing weight aren’t mutually exclusive. There is no need to eat diet food, fat free food or sugar free food or a bunch of chemicals. You really can eat real food and as long as you don’t have allergies, there’s nothing you can’t have. Easy, eat tasty food.", "Newswise — CHICAGO (February 2, 2018): For patients undergoing weight loss (bariatric) surgery, losing at least 8 percent of excess weight just one month before the procedure directly impacts their ability to shed even more pounds in the year following surgery, according to new study findings published as an “article in press” on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print.\nApart from the weight-loss procedure itself, diet and weight loss before the operation may also determine how successful a person is in losing pounds during the first year after the procedure.\n“Our ultimate goal was to see what makes postoperative outcomes better for our patients undergoing this lifesaving procedure,” Dr. Scott said.\nThe study patients were asked to lose at least 8 percent of their excess weight by following a 1200 calorie diet for four weeks immediately preceding their operations. For the analysis, the patients were divided into two groups based on whether they actually achieved that weight loss goal (224 patients achieved that goal, and 131 did not).\nPatients who lost at least 8 percent of their excess weight achieved a 7.5 percent greater weight loss at the 12-month post-surgery mark, compared with those who did not achieve that weight loss goal. This finding held true even when other factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and health problems including high blood pressure and diabetes were considered.\nDr. Hutcheon explained that there is this key window of opportunity after bariatric surgery, up to 18 months, when many physical and metabolic changes occur that help facilitate weight loss. “After that time point, patients will have to rely on diet and exercise and lifestyle management to maintain that weight loss,” she said.\n“We call it the honeymoon period of bariatric surgery,” Dr. Scott added. “After a year or year and a half, your body starts to figure out what it can and can’t do, and your behaviors may change a little bit, so the odds that you are going to lose a significant amount of weight after that time period are definitely decreased. Therefore, the more weight you can lose during that honeymoon period, the better, because that effort will help establish a set point, in terms of where your steady weight is going to be further down the road.”\nThe analysis also showed a reduction in hospital length of stay (1.8 days vs. 2.1 days) for patients who achieved that target weight loss (8 percent or greater), and the average operative time was shorter (117 minutes vs. 125 minutes) for that group as well.\n“Ultimately, we believe that preoperative preparation for bariatric surgery should be mediated by individual surgeons taking care of their patients,” Dr. Scott said. “And this 8 percent target should not be used as a hard set point to qualify patients for bariatric surgery. Because patients with obesity who weren’t able to achieve that 8 percent goal still had dramatic effects in terms of how much weight they lost and comorbidity resolutions.”\nThe most important aspect of this study is that it adds to the body of research data showing that it is beneficial for bariatric surgery programs to encourage and counsel patients to follow a short-term diet or aim to achieve weight loss prior to bariatric surgery.\n“One of the things we often say is bariatric surgery is a tool; it’s not the end-all-be-all for weight loss. So it’s really about making sure this tool is used wisely and proactively by our patients and having it work most effectively in the long run,” Dr. Hutcheon said.\nFor future investigations, the researchers hope to explore the impact that presurgery weight-loss programs have on longer term (more than one year) surgical outcomes.\nOther study authors are Allyson L. Hale, BA; Joseph A. Ewing, PhD; Megan Miller, RDN, LD; Francisco Couto, MD; Eric S. Bour, MD, FACS and William S. Cobb, IV, MD, FACS.\nCitation: Short-Term Preoperative Weight Loss Improves Postoperative Outcomes in Bariatric Surgical Patients. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Available at: http://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515(17)32195-6/abstract.\n# # #\nAbout the American College of Surgeons\nThe American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org (.)", "Given the hype surrounding Alexandre Lacazette’s summer move from Lyon to Arsenal, it would have been easy for the France international striker’s Premier League debut to have fallen rather flat.\nThe 26-year-old, however, got the season off to a spectacular start as he scored within two minutes of kick-off with a deft header into the corner of the goal. It set the tone for Arsenal’s pulsating 4-3 win over Leicester on Friday.\nSuch cold bloodedness in front of goal was a feature of the English top flight’s curtain raiser, which saw Arsene Wenger’s men score twice in the closing 10 minutes to turn around a 3-2 deficit.\nThis was very nearly Leicester at their very best, the vintage that won the Premier League title only 15 months ago. From three shots on target they had scored three goals, with Jamie Vardy deadly.\nArsenal, as one would expect, enjoyed a good deal more possession and pressure, boasting 70 per cent of the ball. It was, however, Leicester’s efficiency that seemed destined to win them the points for so long in the game.\nArsLei More\nThe Foxes only had six attempts on goal in total, with those that flew wide doing so only by narrow margins.\nWenger’s men, meanwhile, had 19 efforts on goal, an impressive 10 of them finding the target. Where their opponents were able to find room in front of goal at relatively close range, however, the hosts were more ambitious with their shooting, trying their luck from a wide variety of distances and angles.\nTheir territorial domination is reflected in the high number of passes completed, 632, and the fact that they spent 30 per cent of their time in possession in Leicester’s third of the pitch. The majority of their attacks were channelled down the left-hand side of the park, with 43% going down the flank where Sead Kolasinac, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck were stationed in a 3-4-3.\nBy contrast, when Leicester had the ball, they were far more direct, offering a pass accuracy of just 63% compared to their opponents’ 85%. They also targeted the left-side of the field, perhaps with the belief that Rob Holding was the weakest link in the Gunners’ rearguard.\nIt was a tactic that very nearly paid off for them, but ultimately the sheer weight of Arsenal’s pressure told. Lacazette described his debut as a “rollercoaster”, and for fans of the home side this was indeed a thrilling match with a happy ending.\nAll stats featured in the article came courtesy of the Goal+ app, exclusive to Samsung devices. Download the most cutting edge football app now!", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nAn obese mum who lost 180lbs (12.8st) in weight through therapy is planning FIVE operations to remove TWO STONE of baggy skin.\nSelf-confessed yo-yo dieter Wendy Epperly-Miller, 36, admits she has struggled with her weight her whole life.\nEventually - when she tipped the scales at 430lbs (30.7st) - doctors recommended the mum-of-two undergo weight loss surgery.\nWendy began counselling to change the way viewed food instead - and within six months she had lost 50lbs (3.5st).\nNow an incredible 180lbs (12.8st) lighter - the super slimmer hopes to complete her transformation by getting an estimated 30lbs (two stone) of excess skin removed.\nShe has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the complex tummy tuck requiring five ops.\n(Photo: Caters)\nThe brave stay-at-home mum shared brutally honest images to show the damage of her weight in the hopes her story will 'save another's life.'\nWendy from in Loves Park, Illinois, USA, said: \"I'm an emotional eating.\n\"I ate a lot of processed food, junk food like pizza and chips.\n\"I was extremely miserable. I was depressed and cried all the time. I couldn't do it anymore.\n\"Once I started to go to therapy everything changed - it was like a miracle.\n\"Now I just feel so alive, I can play with my kids again.\"\n(Photo: Caters)\nAfter years of overeating, the mum of twin girls had reached her heaviest by 2014.\nDitching her failed fad diets, in 2015, she started therapy to get to the root of the problem.\nWendy said: \"We went through all the hidden emotions that led me to be heavy. I had a good childhood but I was emotional dependent on food.\n\"I knew that I had to lose weight and I knew how but at the same time I was still eating crap and I didn't know why. I just could not get past my mind block.\n\"With therapy, I was able to finally view food as something I need to live and nourish my body as opposed to just living to eat.\"\n(Photo: Caters)\nWendy quit sugar and switched to a high protein diet and six months later, after losing 50lbs, she joined her first gym.\nShe said: \"The first time I went to the gym it was awful, I couldn't breathe and I hated it but now I am obsessed.\n\"Now, it is an amazing addiction.\"\nThe inspiring mum goes three or four times a week, for up to three hours at a time.\nShe added: \"Losing the weight has changed my life.\n\"I was having high blood pressure but now that's improved.\n\"And I can chase my kids around, which they can't believe.\"\n(Photo: Caters)\nFor Wendy, the next step is to rid herself of her sagging skin - a constant reminder of her past.\nShe said: \"With the excess skin there have been many times that I have gotten a rash under my folds which burns and hurts.\n\"Going to the gym is so hard with all that skin hanging there making my workouts difficult as my skin slaps against my body or gets in the way.\n\"It's like I worked so hard to lose this weight because I am trapped with all this skin.\n\"I am very self-conscious. It's stopping me as I still feel depressed when I look in the mirror.\n\"I need five different surgeries. I need my lowest roll removed, a 360 all the way around my body, arms, legs and breasts done.\"\nWendy posted candid photos to show the damage her weight caused on her fundraising page: CLICK HERE TO SEE\nShe added: \"I did hesitate at first to post the pictures.\n\"I was so scared that I would be judged for the way I look since I have been heavy my whole life.\n\"I have always self sabotaged myself so this put me in a very vulnerable position.\n\"I finally decided to do it because if I can save even just one life by telling and showing my story then it is worth it 100% and I feel now that it was the best decision and it feels great.\"", "UPDATE: August 14, 2017 at 4:05 p.m.\nThe FDA has issued a safety alert after the five deaths of patients who underwent an increasingly popular weight-loss procedure. All five deaths occurred less than a month after the initial procedure of saline balloons being implanted into their stomachs, but the FDA is investigating which part of the process turned fatal. While one of the companies behind the increasingly popular treatment, Apollo Endo Surgery, figures out what went wrong, it claims its incidence of death still remains very low—of 277,000 devices implanted, only 21 deaths have been reported.\nAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below\nThe treatment entails patients ingesting saline-filled balloons to help them feel fuller—and eventually lose weight.\nThe FDA issued a warning earlier this year about over-inflating balloons posing a risk for pancreatitis.\nORIGINAL POST: July 7, 2017 at 4:16 p.m.\nAmerica has a strained relationship with weight loss. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that more than two-thirds of Americans (68.8 percent, to be exact) were considered overweight or obese. That's roughly 200 million people.\nMost Popular\nOver the years, as the obesity epidemic approaches an all-time high, doctors and others involved in healthcare have tried to develop procedures that expedite the weight loss process for those who feel like they are doing everything they can. One of said doctors' FDA-approved solution? Swallowing a balloon.\nObalon is a three-step, non-invasive procedure that requires you to swallow three balloons over the course of three months. The procedure was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September 2016, and was passed for public use in January 2017. It's a six-month commitment, but only takes around 10 minutes to administer, according to Pret-a-Reporter.\nThe treatment begins by swallowing the capsule, which includes the balloon that the doctor inflates via catheter. Once fully inflated with gas, the balloon is only about the size of an orange and weighs about as much as a penny. This process is repeated one and two months later.\nThe balloons help patients lose weight because they take up space inside of the stomach, making you feel full. But the reason why the procedure is so groundbreaking is because it bypasses the negative side effects typically associated with gastric procedures, like severe nausea or abdominal pain, because the balloons floats to the top of the stomach.\nAt the end of the treatment period, a doctor will remove the balloons during an outpatient procedure, and by that time the patient should have already started seeing results. With prices ranging from $6,000 to $9,000, it's not the most expensive weight loss procedure, but it definitely leaves a dent in your bank account. However, some studies claim it facilitates twice as much weight loss.\nFollow Delish on Instagram.\nDownload the Delish app.", "Here’s how to ease the transition from cookies to kale.\nNew Year's Day comes but once a year, offering you a fresh start to get it right, get it tight, and finally reach your weight loss goals (if that's what you're working on). It also arrives right after you've inhaled your grandma's famous (at least in your house) ham. Also, those Christmas cookies that your boss makes. Oh, and the latkes at your Chrismukkah party...and the list goes on.\nNeedless to say, it's understandable that you're toying with the idea of eating nothing but broccoli and chicken breast come January 2nd—until the end of time.\nBut we're going to be real with you here, a super-restrictive diet can actually be a recipe for failure—no matter how much you ate over the holidays, says Brooke Alpert, R.D. \"Following a diet that cuts out food groups and allows for zero wiggle room puts you in a worse situation that you started in,\" she says. Alpert says that yo-yo dieting will damage your metabolism, putting you on track to rebound binge and then start yo-yo-ing again. \"That means you'll get stuck in that vicious dieting cycle,\" she says.\nThat being said, if you want to lose weight, there's no shame in cleaning up your diet in hopes of a healthier 2017. But to successfully transition from two weeks of eggnog cocktails to 30 days of kale smoothies, make sure you're not making these mistakes:\n1. Eating Foods You Don’t Actually Like\nIf you think you're suddenly going to become a fan of Brussels sprouts because it's January 2nd and you haven't eaten anything green in the past three months weeks, you're setting yourself up to fail. \"One reason why diets don’t work is that they force people to eat things they don’t like,\" says Cassandra Suarez, R.D.\n\"So if the kale smoothie isn’t working out for you, try sautéed kale, kale chips, or better yet, ditch the kale and try spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard, or another vegetable.\" Another key to eating healthy without hating life is to experiment with spices. \"Don’t be afraid to try different seasonings or ways of cooking,\" says Suarez. For example, pick up a Cajun spice blend or Chinese five-spice and sprinkle it on top of your veggies or chicken.\n2. Expecting Immediate Results\nThe celebrating you did over the holidays is not going to be undone after a week—or even a month of getting your sh*t together (i.e. healthy eating). \"The surest way to fall short of your goal or resolution is to make it unattainable,\" says Rene Ficek, R.D., lead nutrition expert at Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating. \"For instance, resolving to never eat your favorite takeout food again or aiming to lose 10 pounds in one month will backfire,\" says Ficek. That's because not allowing yourself the foods you enjoy leads to eventually bingeing on them when you can't take the torture anymore. And trying to lose too much weight too fast will certainly lead to disappointment and a rebound bag of Dorritos.\nThe key is to set smaller goals that build up to your end goal, he says. That means you can try to avoid that takeout joint more often than you do now or aim to lose one to two pounds per week—until you eventually reach your goal, she says.\n3. Not Making Your Meals Ahead of Time\nOne of the reasons why we overeat around the holidays is that there's an abundance of food out that's easy to grab. When the celebrating is over, make it easy to choose healthy options by preparing healthy food ahead of time. That way you can get to it when you're hungry, instead of making a game-time decision when you're ravenous. \"Meal preparation is key to eating a balanced diet,\" says Lily Chen, R.D. \"Cut up vegetables and make extra servings of a meal for the week ahead. This way, you can quickly put together dinner on a busy week night.\"\n4. Not Checking Labels at the Grocery Store\nBeing a bit more paticular about the foods you buy at the store can help you get back on track after eating everything without question. Read the food labels on the ingredients you're using to make a more informed decision about whether or not it belongs in your diet. Chen says it especially improtant to pay close attention to serving sizes. \"A bottle of juice may actually contain two servings,\" she says.\nThat means it contains twice the sugar and calories as what's listed on the label. And since you're probably not in the habit of only drinking half of a juice, that could keep you from losing weight, says Chen. Other important factors to consider are the amount of fiber and protein in your meals. Shoot for eight grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein in every meal to stay full and satisfied.\n5. Not Having a Backup Plan for Moments of Weakness\nPutting a plan in place to change your diet is great. But you've also got to plan for roadblocks, says Ficek. Take stress eating during a particularly annoying day, for example. If you know you're tempted to make yourself feel better with the help of ice cream, find a backup plan, says Ficek. Maybe you decide to get a 20 minute massage massage at a nail salon, or blow off some steam in that candle light yoga class. \"Both would be welcome changes to a healthy new lifestyle, and you will feel much better in the long run.\"", "Share Facebook\nTwitter\nLinkedIn\nWoman, 63 years of age, history of ovarian cancer, prediabetes, hyperlipidemia, has been trying to lose weight for years but was unable to do so. She is very family-, friend-, colleague-oriented. Every holiday she thought she had to make or bring and eat whatever special holiday food was associated with the holiday. She couldn’t let anyone down by not bringing, or by not eating what other people brought. We met weekly for the past three years. Every week there was some excuse about how or why she “cheated” or if there was a week she didn’t think she “cheated,” then she was afraid she would.\nAlthough I enjoyed visiting with this patient, I have to admit I have had my frustrations. There were times it seemed to me she was not making progress. I would recommend referring her to someone else. She would refuse, saying I’ve helped her so much. “You are helping me look at life different.” We would talk, teaching her different ways to look at food, relationships, obligations and associations. I discussed using medications to help her appetite and cravings. She is very sensitive to medications so she refused for a long time. Then, after the first year, she did try a low dose of bupropion. 37.5mg daily. Slowly she has worked up to 75mg twice daily, which she is on to this day.\nAlthough she would lose weight, albeit slowly, she did lose, but every week there was some excuse and she told me, “I can’t.” She told me she just can’t have a few bites. If she did, the dam opened and she’d eat all day, all week. No matter how much I would tell her she could, she didn’t believe it. She had so many excuses as to why she “couldn’t.” The last big hurdle was that she hit a low weight about 3 months ago. She said, “Every time I’ve ever hit this weight (160 pounds), I always gain it back. I can’t lose more.” Although I understand the science of weight regain, I told her she doesn’t have to believe that thought. If she believes it, she will definitely gain it back. She does have a chance.\nI spoke with her last week. She said, “I can’t believe it! My weight is 154 pounds. Yes, it’s slowly been going down. She likes healthy foods now, and she has learned that she can have a few bites. Those bites don’t have to derail her. We would always have to plan how to “attack” a holiday. Today is Valentine’s Day. We didn’t need to plan an attack. She already had her plan. She is down 26 pounds now. Her A1c is out of the prediabetes range, there are improvements in her lipids, and she is cancer free at this time. Her BMI was 36.6, but is now 31.1. She has a way to go, and I am reminded of “Slow and Steady Wins the Race.”\nLessons Learned:\nLosing weight is a real journey. Join patients for the journey. You’ll both learn a lot.\nHave patience. Don’t expect patients to change overnight. We never know if one sentence each visit has more of an impact than we have awareness of.\nExplore what the saying “I can’t” means to a patient, and give them examples, plans for “how to.”\nExplore patients’ relationships and their personal lifestyles.\nBe there for those patients who seem to come back and support those who don’t seem to be making progress. In time they may. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Don’t blame them. Don’t give up.\nAnonymous", "Nobody ever looked at six-foot-three, 233-pound Duke Williams last season and suggested he should look up “salad” in the dictionary.\nFat was the farthest thing from anyone’s mind when he made the Edmonton Eskimos as a rookie and put up 715 yards and four touchdowns in his first taste of the Canadian game.\nBut getting slimmer was his biggest priority in an off-season, prompting a training regimen straight out of the Forest Gump movie.\n“I just ran,” said Williams. “I ran two miles every day. Then I came back and ran some more.\n“Coach emphasized that I had to lose some weight, so that was my main focus in the off-season. I lost a lot. I was at 233 and came in at 220. I still have two weeks of camp left where I will lose more weight. I’m trying to go into the season 215-210.”\nAgain, it’s not like the 25-year-old showed up at camp last year looking like a sports reporter, but like most players who come up north for the first time, the pace of the game was a real shock to the system.\n“A lot of Americans don’t understand that the 20-second play clock goes a lot faster and we have the waggles and it’s a big field,” said Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly. “So if you’re running a go route and you don’t get the ball you have to come all the way back and get ready for the next play. Those guys get gassed really quick, you see it a lot in the pre-season.”\nWilliams saw it enough last year to realize he was carrying too much weight up and down the field to be as effective as he wanted to be in the CFL. So he pounded the pavement every day until he got lighter.\n“He came back in shape, in CFL shape, and it shows,” said Reilly. “He’s out here running all day every day. And in terms of his mechanics on how to run routes, he’s worked on that a lot as well.\n“He wasn’t asked to do a lot of different routes last year; it was kind of run down there and catch a jump ball. But he doesn’t want to be a one-trick pony so he worked really hard at running all the different routes in our offence.”\nThe result is somebody with the tools to make a big impact this season. That’s important for an Eskimos team that won’t have playmakers Adarius Bowman or Brandon Zylstra this year.\n“He understands what it takes to be a receiver in this league,” said Reilly. “That’s what made Zylstra and Adarius so dangerous. They weren’t necessarily the fastest guys out there but they knew how to get open. All of our guys have done a nice job with that but Duke has certainly taken a few steps in that direction.”\nThat was his plan from the start.\n“I’m way better than one year ago today,” said Williams, who played college football at Auburn, so he knows all about being on the big stage. “With us having a no huddle I’m not out of breath like I was last year. It’s a blessing to be able to move how I’m moving right now.\n“It was hard pushing myself to lose the weight. I was 230 in college, but I wasn’t moving as fast as I thought I was. Now that I am moving fast it’s going to be a lot tougher for these DB’s to handle me.”\nHead coach Jason Maas is glad Williams took the cardio improvement to heart.\n“There are about 12 guys on our team who changed their body type and Duke was one of those guys,” said Maas, who told Williams he wanted to see a leaner version of him this season. “He can run all day right now. It shows in his confidence and the way he plays.\n“He’s smart, he’s dedicated, he’s talented and he’s aggressive. He’s a lot of things we emulate here as Eskimos. He’s taken it to another level.”\nIn addition to being leaner, Duke is also hungrier, and it has nothing to do with his diet. While he had a stellar rookie season, he was scratched for the Western Final, a decision that burned and motivated him all winter.\n“I remember sitting on this field in November, talking to Duke when we had sat him and saying ‘This is what happens sometimes early in your career, things that are out of your control can happen. But you’re going to be huge for us next year so you have to make sure you take the off-season and use it right and be ready to come out and play.’ He certainly has done that,” Maas said.\nE-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com\nOn Twitter: @Rob_Tychkowski", "Phil Cianciolo says his love of bodybuilding was “embedded in me,” growing up in a household where he woke up to the sound of his father lifting weights every morning.\n“I fell in love with weight training more than I did with any sport,” Ciancolo, 60, tells PEOPLE. “When I got to college, I started powerlifting for the University of Cincinnati. I started competing as a bodybuilder, and started winning local shows and regional shows. I went on to compete in the 1980 and 1981 Mr. America shows, but then career and family took priority and I stopped.”\nEven though the Cincinnati, Ohio-based produce industry professional stopped officially competing, he never stopped training.\n“Bodybuilding has always been a part of my lifestyle,” he says. “That’s who I am and who I’ve always been.”\nIn addition to keeping him in good physical health, continuing to bodybuild helped Cianciolo to get through some tough times in his personal life. One of his twin daughters was born with disabilities, and working out helped get him through long nights at the hospital and helped him heal when she died at the age of 10 due to kidney failure. He turned to training again after his former wife filed for divorce shortly after Christmas 2015.\nRELATED VIDEO: Mom-of-Two Loses 125 Lbs., Goes from Obese to a Competitive Bodybuilder\n“It really devastated me,” says Cianciolo. “I was losing weight and losing muscle. After six months I thought, ‘I’ve got to move on and I’ve got to get muscle back.’ As I started training harder and eating better, I thought, maybe a show would get my mind, body and soul back to where it should be.”\nCianciolo decided to compete at the NPC Northern Kentucky Grand Prix Championships at the end of March, and began “secretly training” for the show.\n“I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t know if I could do it at the age of 60,” he says. “It had been 36 years since I competed. I always stayed in shape but not competitive shape.”\nTo get back into competition shape, Cianciolo upped his cardio from three times a week to hour-long runs on the treadmill every morning. He followed that with 15 minutes of core work, which he upped to a daily routine from his usual twice a week. In the afternoon, Cianciolo returned to the gym for an hour and a half of strength training, working out each body part twice a week.\n“It was a goal to just get me out of my rut and to move on, and after 36 years I stepped on stage and I did it,” he says. “It really helped me move on and get my life in order. Getting up on stage and competing against 20 and 30 year olds, it was a blast.”", "SA’s science system has never lacked ambition: with a relatively small budget, it punches above its weight internationally.\nThe latest National Survey of Research and Experimental Development shows that the country made the R29.3bn spent on research and development (R&D) in 2014-15 go a long way.\nBut Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor’s target of spending R60bn by 2020 might be ambitious. The science system has dodged many of the fiscal bullets tearing holes in the rest of the economy, but it isn’t exactly flourishing.\nA major metric of economic development is the percentage of GDP spent on R&D. In 2014-15, this percentage edged up to 0.77%, up from 0.73% the previous year.\nThe government had wanted to achieve a 1% spend of GDP by 2008, but the global financial crisis put a precipitous end to those ambitions.", "Hamilton: A brutal spell from Neil Wagner, including three wickets and a broken arm, led New Zealand to a comprehensive victory over the Windies in Hamilton on Tuesday.\nThe tourists, set a target of 444, folded to be nine for 203 at tea on day four with Sunil Ambris retired hurt and unable to continue batting.\nThe 240-run victory saw a dominant New Zealand wrap up the series 2-0 after winning the first Test by an innings.\nThe hostile Wagner accounted for most of the damage in the second innings in Hamilton with his short-ball barrage targeting the body.\nAmbris was taken to hospital after a vicious blow to the forearm.\nHe tried to struggle on and reached five before trudging from the field.\nIt ended a tough Test baptism for Ambris who was twice dismissed in his first three innings by treading on his stumps.\nShai Hope, on 23, also required on-field medical attention after being on the forearm by a rising Wagner delivery.\nWhen play resumed he attempted an ambitious hook at another short delivery and was caught by Colin de Grandhomme at long leg.\nShane Dowrich lasted two balls after Ambris left when he fended a Wagner bouncer to Henry Nicholls at short leg.\nRoston Chase and Raymon Reifer manufactured a solid 78-run partnership until midway between the lunch and tea breaks when Chase, on 64, went in similar fashion to Hope, pulling a Wagner bouncer to the safe hands of de Grandhomme.\nReifer was out soon after for 29, edging a good ball from Tim Southee to give Williamson his second smart catch at gully, before Mitchell Santner cleaned up the last two wickets.\nWhen the Windies resumed the day at 30 for two they needed opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite to knuckle down for a long innings.\nBut he was gone in the sixth over for 20, caught at gully off Trent Boult, giving the left-armer his 200th Test wicket.\nThe series now moves to three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s with the tourists to be reinforced with the inclusion of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels for all six matches while Andre Fletcher, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard will play the Twenty20s.", "Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil co-starring Ranbir Kapoor looks slimmer and fitter in this new shoot. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil co-starring Ranbir Kapoor looks slimmer and fitter in this new shoot.\nAishwarya Rai Bachchan is on a mission — to prove that age is just a number or that ageing simply doesn’t apply to her. The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil star gave much younger stars a run for their money as the scorcher Saba and then did a host of photo shoots which had us reaching for our sunglasses. After a brief hiatus, Aishwarya is back on a mag cover and summer just got so much more sizzling with her latest pic.\nAishwarya Rai shot for Filmfare May issue and she is looking scorching. The actor who was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil co-starring Ranbir Kapoor looks slimmer and fitter in this new shoot. The issue talks about power women and who could epitomise power better than Aishwarya?\nThe actor is seen wearing an off-shoulder navy blue jacket and her hair looks wavy with soft curls. It has been 23 years since Aishwarya was crowned with Miss World title, but actor remains the epitome of grace and style as ever.\nAishwarya’s last film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was an eye opener for all her fans. The actor played an Urdu poet who seduces Ranbir Kapoor with her beauty and poetry. Aishwarya was a picture of elegance and intelligence in Karan Johar’s film. The actor made sure that she owned every single frame in which she was allowed to demonstrate her acting chops.\nAlso Read: Sonu Nigam azaan row: Pooja Bhatt takes a jibe at the singer, salutes the spirit of India\nAs a divorced woman, Aishwarya exuded a maturity and emotional intelligence in ADHM that have not been shown in Hindi films for quite long. Aishwarya elevated the role of a seductress in a Hindi film and have laid out new grounds for Hindi heroines. The actor makes sure she holds your attention when she is on-screen.\nFor all the latest Entertainment News, download Indian Express App now\n© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd", "Janine Dooley sought solace in food after the ordeal of finding an armed intruder in her home - but now, she's virtually unrecognisable.\nA comfort eating mum who weighed 17st 7lb – gorging to combat the horror of finding an armed intruder in her home – turned to dangerous diet pills before transforming her body with a £6.99 hypnosis app.\nA svelte size 10 until the night when, home alone aged 19 in March 2010, she confronted an axe-wielding stranger, at her heaviest, Janine Dooley, 27, regularly scoffed crisps, chocolate and takeaways – eating 24 Jaffa Cakes just as a snack.\nBut the bank worker, of Clydebank, Glasgow, has now put the terrifying incident behind her – managing to shrink to 10st 4lb by playing a hypnosis app every night as she falls asleep, saying: “I don’t know if I’m just making excuses, but everything seemed to change for me after that horrible experience.”\nJanine holding Oscar at her heaviest (Collect/PA Real Life)\nShe continued: “The man responsible eventually went to prison for it, but I was terrified there’d be repercussions and that his friends or family would come back.\n“I used food as a comfort blanket. After going through something that terrifying, I wasn’t interested in dieting and the gym. I thought, ‘You only live once,’ so I ate what I wanted.”\nBut, ashamed by her size, Janine, who has a son, Oscar, one, with her draftsman partner, Darren Kelly, 32, at one point slimmed right down, even becoming a consultant at a local slimming club.\nJanine now, weighing 10st 4lb (Collect/PA Real Life)\nStill traumatised by the terrifying break-in at her home, however, the pounds started creeping back on so, mortified, she secretly visited other weight loss groups out of town as a member – and even tried diet pills in a bid to stay slim.\nShe continued: “I felt like I couldn’t give advice to other slimmers, when I was struggling with my weight myself. It was hard to help others and make them feel good about themselves, when I was feeling so bad.”\nJanine realised that, until she came to terms with the distressing ordeal in her home, which she blames for her turning from a slim teenager into an obese adult, she would not be able to control her weight.\nRecalling the incident, she said: “I had just been in the shower and was walking back to my room – which was on the ground floor – when I saw my door close.\n“I’ve got four brothers, so assumed it’d be one of them pranking me. I kicked the door open to see a man in there holding an axe.\n“I said to him, ‘Take what you want but don’t hurt me.’ He made me stay in my room while he rummaged through the house. At first, I was frozen with fear, but then I thought, ‘No, I’m not going to let you take everything my parents worked hard for,’ so I grabbed my phone and dialled 999.'”\nJanine weighing around 15st in September 2017 with Darren and Oscar (Collect/PA Real Life)\nThankfully, the police arrived swiftly and the burglar was arrested, charged and later sent to prison.\nBut, shaken to her core, Janine could not overcome her fear that it would happen again.\nComfort eating, she sought solace in food and struggled to find any motivation to stay fit.\nThese 'treats' aren't quite what you're body needs – Next time you crave a coke opt for water instead. #weightloss Posted by Sue and James 12 Weeks to Wow Programme on Sunday, May 31, 2015\nThe one positive was meeting Darren in April 2010 in the pub where she worked.\n“That came at a really good time, as I was still feeling quite shaken. He cheered me up and helped take my mind off it,” she said.\nBut, despite being delighted with her new partner, Janine could not shake off the unhealthy relationship she had developed with food.\nJanine showing the difference in her face (Collect/PA Real Life)\nConstantly snacking on family bags of crisps and whole packets of biscuits during the day, in the evening she would tuck into a takeaway.\nShe also had a weakness for fizzy pop, drinking, on average, 14 litres a week.\n“I can now see that I was addicted to food,” she said. “Binge eating is so accepted that I didn’t realise what I was doing. So many of us out there will use their weekends as an excuse to eat unhealthily – but the difference for me was that it was all the time.”\nWhen she turned 21, Janine realised she had gained two stone, so, then 12st, decided to join a local slimming group.\n“I wasn’t huge or anything, but I knew I’d put on weight, so wanted to nip my habits in the bud before they got worse,” she added.\nSticking religiously to her plan, she managed to slim back down to 10st and was even asked to be a consultant.\nJanine looking slimmer in January 2018 (Collect/PA Real Life)\nBut, in time, she regained all the weight she had lost – and then some.\nFeeling like a fraud when she led her slimming class and, desperate to battle her bulges, she even dabbled with diet pills she bought online.\n“They made me feel terrible,” she said. “I was really shaky and thirsty. That’s no way to live your life at all. Eventually, I decided to stop being a consultant. I just didn’t feel as if people would listen to me, and I couldn’t help them if I wasn’t even helping myself.”\nThen, in late 2016, Janine and Darren started trying for a baby and in July 2017, little Oscar was born.\nBut, by her own admission, wearing a size 20 and weighing 17st 7lb – her heaviest ever – Janine was no yummy mummy.\nShe explained: “Of course, it was partly baby weight, but I had also eaten far too much. I’d been a pig. I thought it was my time to ignore dieting, and that I was entitled to eat what I wanted.”\nJanine holding Oscar following her weight loss (Collect/PA Real Life)\n“I ended up having a few issues during the pregnancy, with heart palpitations. I would be lying on the bed, feeling like I’d just sprinted, with my heart pounding away. My blood pressure was high too, and I had to have an emergency caesarean, as Oscar’s heart rate kept dipping.\n“Looking back, I feel horrid. I can’t believe I was so irresponsible – risking both our lives because I thought food was everything.”\nBut having Oscar was the trigger she needed to change as, desperate to prevent her son from inheriting her dysfunctional relationship with food, last summer, Janine vowed to beat her demons once and for all.\nJanine now, after using the £6.99 hypnosis app to slim down (Collect/PA Real Life)\nAt first, she tried a few more slimming groups before realising she needed to tackle the cause of her over-eating, rather than just her weight.\nSo, after reading about a hypnosis app called ‘Virtual Gastric Band – Lose Weight Fast’ on Mumsnet, she decided to give it a go.\n“By this point, I’d spent hundreds on dieting. The app was only £6.99 – I had nothing to lose,” she said.\nDownloading it in November 2017, it was the miracle Janine had been looking for – helping her to drop five dress sizes to a 10 and to slim down to just 10st 4lb.\nShe has also rediscovered her love of exercise, regularly working out to YouTube tutorials.\nFeeling proud of herself “for the first time in a long time,” Janine, who loves her new body, cannot believe she has managed to regain her svelte frame without any conventional dieting.\nJanine, Darren and Oscar in March 2018 (Collect/PA Real Life)\nShe explained: “I would play the hypnosis app every night as I fell asleep, so its message was being relayed to my sub-conscious.\n“The app teaches you four main things – eat slowly, only eat when you’re actually hungry, eat what you want, not what you can and stop when you feel full. It’s completely reprogrammed my thinking. Everyone is so amazed. But I have finally learned when to stop eating.\n“Much more relaxed, I can also deal with my teenage trauma now. I have more time to enjoy my family, friends and my work, too, now my life is no longer controlled by food.”\nFor information, visit www.12weekstowow.co.uk\n© Press Association 2018", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nAs Andrew Parr clutched his baby boy’s lifeless body, his thoughts turned to his own mortality.\nHours earlier, he and fiancee Steph Wilcock had been left devastated after doctors broke the news that little Andrew Junior had no heartbeat.\nThe tot’s stillbirth made Andrew, who weighed 26st after years of eating junk food, think of the five children he had left.\nHe was only 30 and had recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the disease which had killed his own dad Craig at 33.\n(Image: Matthew Pover)\n(Image: Matthew Pover)\nAs he said tearful goodbyes to his lost son he vowed to get fit so he could enjoy every second with the rest of his brood.\nAnd he kept his promise by shedding half his weight – slimming down to 13st by eating healthily and exercising.\nCarer Andrew, now 32, said: “Losing Andrew was one of the worst things we’ve ever experienced. It made me realise how fragile life is and reminded me of losing my dad when I was just nine.\n(Image: Matthew Pover)\n“He was a big man too but I tried to convince myself things were different for me.\n“But when we lost Andrew, I thought about my other kids. I already couldn’t run after them in the park or play football with them and I was too ashamed of my body to take them swimming. What if I wasn’t around to see them grow up?”\nSo Andrew quit wolfing down fry-ups, cheeseburgers, Chinese takeaways, kebabs, pizzas, chocs and crisps.\nIn their place he substituted protein shakes, fruit, tuna sandwiches, steak, chicken and brown rice. After several weeks of dieting he braved going to a gym. He said: “I wore a huge jumper to hide my rolls of fat as I ran but nobody laughed or stared.\n(Image: Matthew Pover)\n“The weight began falling off and I went to the gym more and more.”\nNot long after the heartache of Andrew Jnr in June 2015, the couple were amazed to find Steph was pregnant again. And when Andrew was half way to his 13st target he and Steph welcomed sixth child Alfie into the world.\nAlfie – a “rainbow baby”, one born after a miscarriage or stillbirth – is now a year old. Steph, 29, who has also shed nearly 2st and gone from a size 18 to a 14, couldn’t be happier with svelte-looking Andrew.\nShe laughed as she told how friends often failed to recognise him and one even said she didn’t realise the couple had split up – assuming Andrew was a different fella.\nShe added: “His weight loss has been great for the whole family and sets a brilliant example to the kids.” Andrew, from Bacup, Lancs, had ­always been overweight. He met Steph when he was 21 and caring for a neighbour.\nWithin four months the pair were expec­ting son Cobyn, now ten. They went on to have Charlie, nine, Poppy, eight, Lilly, six, and Princess, four.\nBut their world came crashing down when, 37 weeks into Steph’s pregnancy with Andrew Jnr, medics could not detect a heartbeat.\nSteph was forced to endure an agonising labour before their boy was born asleep.\nAndrew said: “He looked so peaceful when he was born. We couldn’t believe we would never be taking him home.”\nAndrew is now saving for a £6,500 tummy tuck to remove excess skin. He said: “I’m determined not to put the weight back on.\n“Now I’ve got a much better chance of seeing our kids grow up – and that is the most precious thing of all.”", "Are you trying to drop a few pounds? Maybe you want to fit into a new size, boost self-confidence or simply improve your health.\nEvery year, millions of Americans go after this same goal, some successful and others not so much. To attain their goals, they may choose from the over-abundance of diets and exercise programs available, and some turn to weight loss supplements as well.\nWhile you shouldn’t rely on supplements to do all the work for you, there are a few that can be used safely to boost your weight loss efforts.\nBefore you decide on weight loss supplements, though, you should consider the health effects carefully. Always check with your doctor first to be sure about safety, and remember that these pills are supplements. They’re meant to be used alongside healthy eating habits and proper exercise.\nDO YOU HAVE LIVER DAMAGE?\nAgain, never use supplements by themselves to lose weight. Some people turn to weight loss pills so that they can continue an unhealthy lifestyle while staying thin.\nThis dangerous mentality could lead to frightening situations like addiction, overdose or death. Also, brands that claim to shed weight without any effort may contain ingredients that will do you more harm than good. If you have any doubt about a supplement, stay away.\nWeight Loss Supplements that Work\nJust like any other medication, weight loss supplements have both benefits and side effects. When choosing a supplement, you should know all the possible effects and consider them in light of your own health history. Especially if you have other health issues, you should check carefully for ingredients that may trigger or worsen your symptoms.\nLet’s look at 3 supplements that you could consider adding to your weight loss program:\n1. Green Tea Extract\nGreen tea has long been known for its health benefits, mainly because the drink is high in antioxidants. In particular, green tea contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants called catechins, which may help reduce oxidative stress.\nFor weight loss, studies have shown that green tea extract can help boost the metabolism. Researchers think that the combination of antioxidants and caffeine work together to accomplish this goal.\nMOM LOSES FINGER IN FREAK ACCIDENT AT SON'S BASEBALL GAME\nFor example, in one study, researchers gave participants green tea and guarana extract 30 minutes before each meal. Researchers then analyzed how much energy the participants were burning.\nAfter testing multiple times, researchers found that participants burned an extra 180 calories per day with just this supplement. In addition, green tea extract enhances norepinephrine, a hormone that tells the body to break down stored fat for energy.\nSide Effects: Nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach or headaches may occur due to the dietary change or caffeine content. Rare side effects include tremors, seizures or irregular heartbeat. Because of the caffeine content, you should consult with your doctor about using green tea extract if you have a heart condition.\n2. Berberine\nAnother lesser known supplement that provides powerful help is berberine. This supplement is derived from plants and actually enters the body’s cells through the bloodstream, changing the function of the cell. One major benefit that berberine has is its ability to regulate and reduce blood sugar content.\nIn addition, studies suggest that berberine does boost weight loss directly. In one study, researchers tested 37 participants who suffered from metabolic syndrome.\nDuring testing, the participants took berberine three times per day for three months, and in turn reduced their BMI from 31.5 to 27.4. Also, the researchers noticed that many participants lost abdominal weight and improved other areas of their health.\nIS YOUR THYROID SLEEPING ON THE JOB?\nSide Effects: Common problems with berberine include cramping, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation and stomach pain. Also, you’ll want to discuss whether or not to take berberine if you are already on medication to lower your blood sugar.\n3. Meratrim\nOne relatively new but promising supplement is Meratrim, a blend of two plant extracts. In one study of the supplement, researchers tested over 50 overweight individuals. Participants were told to take the supplement or a placebo twice a day in addition to eating a 2000-calorie diet and walking for 30 minutes, five times per week.\nAt the end of 16 weeks, researchers found that participants had decreased their weight, triglycerides and total cholesterol. In addition, no participants reported side effects. Because Meratrim is new, you should consider a more well-tested supplement if you have any major health issues.\nAs popular as it is to use fad diets and supplements to lose weight, your main program should focus on exercise and healthy eating.\nHowever, if you choose to boost your efforts with a weight loss supplement, choose one that fits your lifestyle and keeps you safe. Most supplements do have side effects and risks and should never be taken to lose weight alone. In the end, remember that your improved health is the main goal and that healthy weight loss happens gradually for lasting results.\nThis article first appeared on AskDrManny.com.", "Image copyright Getty Images\nWomen who are overweight or obese but otherwise healthy are still at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a large study suggests.\nThe analysis tracked the health of 90,257 women in the US for up to 30 years.\nThose with excess weight were likelier to have a stroke or heart attack, even if they had normal blood pressure and cholesterol and no diabetes, it found.\nResearchers said it showed \"healthy obesity is not a harmless condition\".\nObesity affects almost all of the cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, excess cholesterol and diabetes.\nBut some obese people do not appear to have these metabolic disorders, leading scientists to debate whether or not the excess weight actually raises their risk.\nThis new study found women who were overweight or obese (BMIs in excess of 25 and 30 respectively) but had none of these risk factors were 20% and 39% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than women of a normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) who were metabolically healthy.\nHowever, the authors said it showed an association rather than cause and effect, and was mainly in white women, meaning the findings cannot be generalised to other ethnic groups or men.\n\"Our large cohort study confirms that metabolically healthy obesity is not a harmless condition, and even women who remain free of metabolic diseases for decades face an increased risk of cardiovascular events,\" said Prof Matthias Schulze, from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, who led the study.\nWomen who were a normal weight but metabolically unhealthy were around two-and-a-half times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than women of the same weight who were metabolically healthy.\nThat risk was even greater in women who were overweight and obese, said the study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.\nExperts also found that the majority of metabolically healthy women developed either high blood pressure, excess cholesterol or diabetes as they got older, even if they were normal weight.\nFitness vs fatness\nProf Schulze added: \"Our findings highlight the importance of preventing the development of metabolic diseases.\n\"They suggest that even individuals in good metabolic health may benefit from early behavioural management to improve their diet and increased physical activity in order to guard against progression to poor metabolic health.\"\nJeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, added: \"This large scale study confirms that obesity, even if unaccompanied by other warning signs, increases risk of cardiovascular disease in women.\"\nHowever, Prof Carl Lavie, from the University of Queensland School of Medicine in New Orleans, who was not involved in the research, said he and colleagues had argued that \"fitness is more important than fatness\".\nHe noted that the study did not have precise data on the participants' physical activity and their cardio fitness.\nHe added: \"It is prudent to remind ourselves that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.\"\nBMI and obesity: Where are you on the UK fat scale?\nUse this calculator to find out your own body mass index (BMI) and see how you compare with the rest of the nation. You will also get tips from health experts and useful links to information on how to improve your health.\nYour browser does not support this lookup. Cannot retrieve data. Height cm Feet in cm ft/in Weight kg stone lb kg st/lb Age Age Gender Female Male Postcode Postcode Region Please choose Scotland Wales Northern Ireland the North East the North West the East Midlands the West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber the East of England London the South East the South West Region Waist size (optional) i To measure your waist, find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips and wrap a tape measure midway between these points. Breathe out naturally before taking the measurement. Waist size (optional) Waist size (optional) cm in See how you compare Your BMI Your BMI is [bmi_result] which is in the [bmi_category] category. Healthy Overweight Obese Very obese Underweight 30 40 18.5 25 Healthy Overweight Obese Very obese Under- weight 30 40 18.5 25 BMI is a standard way of measuring if people are a healthy weight for their height. For most adults 18.5 to 24.9 is the healthy range. Your age group Your BMI is [comparative] the average of [bmi_score] for a [gender_singular] in your age group ([user_age_group]) in [user_country]. About [percent]% of [gender_plural] in your age group in [user_country] are overweight, obese or very obese. 0% Underweight 0% Healthy 0% Overweight 0% Obese 0% Very obese Your part of the UK In all parts of the UK, the majority of the adult population is overweight, obese or very obese, according to the latest national surveys. In [region], the figure is about [percentage]% of [gender_plural]. North East 50% West Mids 50% Scotland 50% East Mids 50% Yorks & Humb 50% N. Ireland 50% North West 50% South East 50% South West 50% East 50% Wales 50% London 50% 50% What does this mean for you? The information you've given us indicates you could be underweight. There can be health risks associated with a low BMI such as anaemia, osteoporosis, a weakened immune system and fertility problems. This is not a medical diagnostic tool so don't panic if this isn't the result you were expecting to see. If you're concerned about your weight, or your health in general, speak to a healthcare professional such as your GP. You're in the healthy range which is great. Research shows that having a healthy BMI can reduce your risk of serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. But not all people with a BMI in this range have a lower risk. Other factors such as smoking, high blood cholesterol or high blood pressure will increase your risk. If you're of Asian descent you have a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes at a lower BMI and waist circumference. A healthy BMI for you would be 18.5-23. We're more likely to gain weight as we get older so to stay a healthy weight you may need to make small changes to your diet or your activity levels as you age. The information you've given us indicates you are overweight. Research shows that a BMI above the healthy range can increase your risk of serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. A healthy BMI for a person of your height would be 18.5-24.9. If you're of Asian descent you have a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes at a lower BMI and waist circumference. A healthy BMI for you would be 18.5-23. Losing even a small amount of weight, if sustained, can have a big impact. For most people changing your diet is by far the best way to lose weight. Activity can help you maintain your target weight, and can have other health benefits, but increasing activity alone is not nearly as effective as diet at helping you shed the pounds. Even small changes like reducing portion sizes or choosing lower calorie snacks and drinks can help you lose weight or stop putting it on. The information you've given us indicates you're in the obese category. Research shows that having a BMI in this range will significantly increase your risk of serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. A healthy BMI for a person of your height would be 18.5-24.9. If you're of Asian descent you have a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes at a lower BMI and waist circumference. A healthy BMI for you would be 18.5-23. Losing even a small amount of weight, if sustained, can have a big impact. For most people changing your diet is by far the best way to lose weight. Activity can help you maintain your target weight, and can have other health benefits, but increasing activity alone is not nearly as effective as diet at helping you shed the pounds. There's lots of support available to help you make changes, either to lose weight or to stop putting on weight. The information you've given us indicates you're in the very obese category. Research shows that having a BMI in this range will significantly increase your risk of serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. A healthy BMI for a person of your height would be 18.5-24.9. If you're of Asian descent you have a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes at a lower BMI and waist circumference. A healthy BMI for you would be 18.5-23. Losing even a small amount of weight, if sustained, can have a big impact. For most people changing your diet is by far the best way to lose weight. Activity can help you maintain your target weight, and can have other health benefits, but increasing activity alone is not nearly as effective as diet at helping you shed the pounds. If you are concerned, or would like to find out more, speak to your doctor or GP. If you are ready to make lifestyle changes, there is lots of support available. Your waist size BMI is not the only way of measuring whether you are a healthy weight. Doctors say that carrying too much fat around your belly can increase your risk of health problems. Excess fat in this area can stress internal organs - even if your BMI is in the healthy range. Your waist size is [size] For [gender_plural], the NHS says a waist size of: 80cm (31.5 inches) or more means an increased risk of health problems 88cm (34 inches) or more means a very high risk of health problems 94cm (37 inches) or more means an increased risk of health problems 102cm (40 inches) or more means a very high risk of health problems People from non-white ethnic groups may be at risk at a lower waist size How to check your waist with just a piece of string\nIf you can't see the calculator tap or click here.\nFollow Alex on Twitter.", "Drew Barrymore explains that she felt a responsibility to diet and lose weight in order to play Sheila Hammond in 'Santa Clarita Diet.'\nIn the Netflix series, Santa Clarita Diet, Drew Barrymore plays a flesh-eating zombie, who also has a family and a job as a realtor. With the series set to return for its second season as of March 23, the actress is currently making the rounds with the media to promote the new season, and one of the topics she is discussing is her diet. While Barrymore has previously discussed losing weight for the role of Sheila Hammond in Santa Clarita Diet, the topic was once more brought up in an interview on Friday.\nAccording to People Magazine, one of the reasons that Drew Barrymore felt she needed to diet for the role is because her character is now on a protein only type of diet, which means Sheila would be losing weight from the change in what she eats. Even for the second season of Santa Clarita Diet, Barrymore knew that she had a “responsibility” to get things right for the character and the story itself. In fact, the actress said that it was this intense sense of responsibility that made her say to herself, “I want to be Sheila and then there was like no excuses.”\nIt was this sense of responsibility that ultimately led to Drew Barrymore losing 20 pounds, and even though the weight loss was really for the show itself, the actress did admit that it also made her feel really good as well. She explained that even though the show is called Santa Clarita Diet, it is so much more than that for her.\nLiving a totally normal, undead life. pic.twitter.com/0whcgkqZ17 — Santa Clarita Diet (@SCDiet) March 6, 2018\nBarrymore shared that beyond it being a diet for her, getting the chance to not only get her hair done to play Sheila, but also “putting on nails and accessorizing,” has reminded her that sometimes a person can feel more alive when they put time into themselves. Drew Barrymore even said she finds it “ironic” that playing a flesh-eating zombie has shown her what it takes to feel more alive at times.\nWhen she first took on the role of Sheila in Santa Clarita Diet, Barrymore was dealing with a tough time, as she was going through a divorce and “had sort of let myself go, due to personal circumstances.” At the time, she explained that losing the weight for the role was a chance for her to “come alive” again.\nMuch like her character has felt like she has lost a lot, at the time Drew Barrymore took on the role, she felt the same way and it was what helped her to connect with Sheila and ultimately embody the character. With the help of her role in Santa Clarita Diet, Barrymore says she has been able to regain some of what she had lost along the way and even “come alive with her. And it really was so positive for me.”\nWhile Drew Barrymore may have felt a responsibility to her character in Santa Clarita Diet, which is what led to her dieting and losing 20 pounds, it is also clear that it was for her as well and being able to feel “alive.”" ]

[ "this easy pork tenderloin slow cooks to perfection in your slow cooker takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and cooks in 4 hours if you like pork tenderloin i guarantee you will love this here s why 1 it takes less than 3 minutes to prepare and is super fantastically easy" ]

[ "Related Pages. 1 how long does it take to cook a 20 lb turkey. 2 how long does it take to cook a baked potato. 3 how long does it take to cook a 2 pound beef roast. 4 how long does it take to smoke a pork sirloin roast. 5 how long does it take to cook a beef roast in crock pot. 6 how long does it take to cook a 3 pound pork loin roast.", "How long does it take to cook, shake, and bake pork chops? How long does it take to cook pork chops? How do you bake pork steaks in the oven and how long do you bake pork steaks?", "How long do you cook boneless pork chops in the oven? How do you bake pork steaks in the oven and how long do you bake pork steaks? What is the best way to bake pork chops? How long does it take to cook 1 1/4 inch pork chops?", "Related Pages. 1 how long to cook a sirloin tip roast. 2 how long to cook 2 lb roast pork loin. 3 how long to cook a 6lb pork tenderloin. 4 how long to bake 1 lb pork baby back ribs. 5 how long to cook a 3lb chuck roast in crock pot. 6 how long to cook 5 pound pork roast in crock pot.", "How do you cook pork chops on a griddle, and for how long should I cook them? How long should a pork chop cook in the oven? How long do pork chops take to bake in the oven at 400 degrees?", "how long does it take to cook a 2 pound beef roast; how long does it take to smoke a pork sirloin roast; how long does it take to cook a beef roast in crock pot; how long does it take to cook a 3 pound pork loin roast; how long does it take to cook a flank steak in the oven", "Also, the cut of pork chops make a difference in how long it will take to bake. Center cut pork chops, for example, are a leaner cut of pork and vary in thickness. Generally for baking purposes, choosing thicker cut pork chops is a way to avoid the meat drying too quickly while baking.", "Stuffed and Rolled Pork Tenderloin. See how to make pork tenderloin stuffed with herbs, garlic, and currants. Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Plum Sauce Pork tenderloin roasted with firm fresh plums and caramelized onions.", "I just bought a barrel smoker for the time and got a few questions. I want to smoke Pork Tenderloin. What should I get the temperature up to before throwing it on? How long would you typically smoke a pork tenderloin? Is the typical IT supposed to be at 140 degrees? just bought a barrel smoker for the time and got a few questions. I want to smoke Pork Tenderloin. What should I get the temperature up to before throwing it on? How long would you typically smoke a pork tenderloin? Is the typical IT supposed to be at 140 degrees?", "Freezing Freshly Butchered Pork. How you prepare pork tenderloin for freezing is important. For long-term freezing of fresh pork from the butchers, it is best to wrap the polystyrene tray the fresh pork comes in with cling wrap to prevent air from entering.ork tenderloins are a popular cut of pork. Freezing can keep pork tenderloins on hand without the risk of bacteria, however, they must be frozen properly to extend their shelf life.", "Boudin Stuffed Pork Tenderloin or Pork Chops - So easy and SO good!!! - 4 ingredients - If the link doesn't work, here's how to make it: score a pork tenderloin until it lays flat, take a link of Boudin out of the casing and place in the center of the pork (you may have to break it up), and roll side to side.", "What is the difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin roast? Pork tenderloin and pork loin roast are different cuts of meat taken from different areas of the pig. The pork tenderloin is long and thin like a cigar; it’s the muscle that runs along the pig’s backbone.", "Pork Loin Tenderloin Whole. Pork loin tenderloin whole is a boneless cut taken from the inside of loin. The largest end is round and gradually tapers to the thin flat end. Very tender, it is usually prepared by roasting, baking, braising, broiling, or grilling.", "2 inch thick pork chop help... Does anyone know how long/what temp to bake 2 inch thick pork chops? Also, anyone have a good recipe for them? Thanks!", "Baking boneless pork chops at 400 – CookEatShare. Pork Chop Recipe: Thick-Cut Bone-In Pork Chops Baked with a Pork Sausage, Garlic, Butter, and Bread Stuffing. 1. Bake the pork chops at 400 degrees F. How long to you bake 1/4″ pork chops in the.", "Smoke Hollow Electric Smoker, how to smoke pork tenderloin, juicy tender melts in your mouth pork tenderloin. As with any do-it-yourself project, unfamiliarity with the tools and process can be dangerous.This video should be construed as non expert, informational advice.moke Hollow Electric Smoker, how to smoke pork tenderloin, juicy tender melts in your mouth pork tenderloin. As with any do-it-yourself project, unfamiliarity with the tools and process can be dangerous.", "Trusted Results with How long to cook a 5 12 pound boneless pork loin. Cooks.com-Recipes-Baked Boneless Pork Chops. Enter your email to signup for the Cooks.com Recipe Newsletter. ... in a lively, approachable manner. Results 1 - 10 of 65 for baked boneless pork chops.rusted Results with How long to cook a 5 12 pound boneless pork loin. Cooks.com-Recipes-Baked Boneless Pork Chops. Enter your email to signup for the Cooks.com Recipe Newsletter. ... in a lively, approachable manner. Results 1 - 10 of 65 for baked boneless pork chops.", "Pork. Pork fillet or tenderloin is one of the most prized cuts of pork and consequently one of the most expensive. It is a long thin cylindrical cut often around 6-8cm in diameter. Pot-roasting is an ideal cooking technique for pork fillet.ork fillet or tenderloin is one of the most prized cuts of pork and consequently one of the most expensive. It is a long thin cylindrical cut often around 6-8cm in diameter.", "How long does it take you to cook the perfect baked potato in the oven? Can anyone tell me how long to bake a potato in the oven and at what temperature? How long should bake 3 medium sized potatoes in the oven on 400 degrees? At what temperature & for how long do you bake a potato in the oven?", "Related Pages. 1 how long do you cook loin of pork. 2 how long do i cook stuffed pork chops. 3 how long do you bake stuffed pork chops. 4 how long do you cook boneless pork back ribs. 5 how long do you cook a 4 pound pork loin roast with bone in.", "Trusted Results with How long does it take to roast a 5 pound chicken. 1 Allrecipes | Recipe Reviews: Spicy Rapid Roast Chicken. 2 All American Roast Beef - All Recipes. 3 How to Roast a Whole Chicken - Allrecipes. 4 Rockin' Roast Pork Shoulder with Spanish Rice Recipe : Review 5 ... Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary, Chocolate and Wine ...", "Tenderloin Basics. The tenderloin comes from the full pork loin. As the name indicates, the tenderloin is one of the most tender cuts of pork. Typically, pork tenderloin weighs between ¾ and ½ pounds.", "Nutritional information for pork tenderloin. 1 Pork, Fresh, Loin, Tenderloin-Separable Lean Only, Cooked, Roasted. 2 Pork, Fresh, Loin, Tenderloin-Separable Lean Only, Cooked, Broiled. 3 Pork, Fresh, Loin, Tenderloin-Separable Lean And Fat, Cooked, Broiled.utritional information for pork tenderloin. 1 Pork, Fresh, Loin, Tenderloin-Separable Lean Only, Cooked, Roasted. 2 Pork, Fresh, Loin, Tenderloin-Separable Lean Only, Cooked, Broiled. 3 Pork, Fresh, Loin, Tenderloin-Separable Lean And Fat, Cooked, Broiled.", "Baking pork chops in convection oven how long at what temp? Pork chops should be baked for 45 minutes, in a convection oven, at a temperature of 325°. Pork chops should not be considered done until the internal temperature is a …minimum of 165°.", "Read the Help!!! Pork Tenderloin question: Temperature and time??? discussion from the Chowhound Home Cooking, Baking food community. Join the discussion today.", "Q. How long can I keep pork in the freezer? Generally, fresh cuts of pork, like roasts, chops and tenderloin, can be kept well-wrapped in the freezer for up to 6 months. Well-wrapped ground pork can be kept for about 3 months in the freezer.", "You really can't miss with this cut of meat, so learning how to cook a pork tenderloin is a good idea. It's a widely available cut of pork, and though it's not inexpensive, the size of the pork tenderloin, 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds, is appropriate for small families.", "The pork tenderloin is long and thin like a cigar; it’s the muscle that runs along the pig’s backbone. The pork loin roast is short and wide, like a beef roast; it comes from the back of the pig. There’s a difference in preferred cooking methods, too. Pork tenderloin takes to quicker cooking methods; it’s a good candidate for marinading. Loin roasts do well with longer roasting methods.", "Pork Tenderloin Recipes. Elegant but easy to cook, pork tenderloin is the perfect cut of meat for all occasions, from weeknight dinners to spectacular parties. Top Pork Tenderloin Recipes. Rachael roasts pork tenderloin with balsamic vinegar and rosemary for a simple but stunning centerpiece.", "Pork tenderloin (marked as 8). Raw pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin, in some countries called pork fillet, is a cut of pork. It is often sold as prepackaged products by large grocery stores. They are available plain (not seasoned) and flavored with a marinade.he pork tenderloin, in some countries called pork fillet, is a cut of pork. It is often sold as prepackaged products by large grocery stores.", "Smoke the Pork Shoulder. Prepare the smoker as you normally would to maintain a 225°F in the smoker and lay the pork shoulder right on the grate for the long smoke. How Long Does it Take? Pork shoulders will require about 12-14 hours in the smoker.", "How to Bake Chicken Breast Tenderloins. The tenderloin portion of a chicken breast is the meaty portion that runs along the length of the breast. When you debone a raw chicken breast, remove the thick tenderloin portion and use it for a tender and tasty entree. To bake chicken breast tenderloins, season them lightly with simple ingredients. With slow and moist baking, the tenderloins will make a delicious meal. This recipe serves four." ]

[ "Hewlett -Packard said last week it was giving up on its new TouchPad tablet after a mere seven weeks on store shelves. Seems the device couldn't even start to compete with the iPad, or other more popular tablets. So HP said it was offloading its basic TouchPads for $100 — down from $500. Online retailers quickly sold out of them." ]

[ "After launching its new tablet just weeks ago, H-P announced on Thursday it is stopping production of the TouchPad. At best, the TouchPad got a lukewarm reception from critics.", "During the past decade, HP and Dell have kept laptop prices low by forcing their Taiwanese manufacturers to absorb rising costs. But on Thursday, the <em>Financial Times</em> quotes the head of one of the Taiwanese companies saying \"we'll be raising prices for the first time.\"", "DeLores Williams still remembers the day her printer stopped working. It was a Saturday, in September 2016. She walked, as she often does, to her home office to print photos of her grandkids. But when she clicked print, she didn't hear her printer working. Finally, it did. But what came out were blobs of color. Across the country, other people were running into similar problems. What's more, they all had printers made by the same company, HP. Williams called HP customer service. She spent hours with them on the phone, troubleshooting. At one point, she says, they even told her to buy a new printer, which they would offer at a discount. But there was nothing mechanically wrong with Williams' printer. The problem she was experiencing was man-made, perpetrated by HP itself. It was meant to keep her coming back for more printer ink. Printer companies have a peculiar business model. They sell printers — these miracles of modern engineering and technology — for extraordinarily cheap. The reason they can do this is because they make up the money elsewhere: Ink sales. The prices they charge for printer ink are extraordinary. At times, the price-per-ounce has topped Russian caviar or fancy champagnes. With margins like that, it's easy for third-party ink sellers to undercut printer companies on price. And that's a problem for the printer companies. So they've gone to great lengths to keep their customers from going to their competitions. Today on the show: Printer companies' decades-long quest to sell more ink. You can read Cory Doctorow's article here. Music: \"Groove Safari Archaeology,\" \"Successful Secrets,\" \"Collectible Kicks,\" and \"Smooth Return.\" Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and NPR One. To keep up with economics news without printing a single page, subscribe to the Newsletter.", "The high stakes bidding war between HP and Dell is over. HP will pay more than $2 billion for a California company called 3Par that specializes in digital data storage.", "Saying it was a victim of \"serious accounting improprieties, disclosure failures and outright misrepresentations\" by a British software company it acquired last year, tech titan Hewlett-Packard just announced it erased $8.8 billion from its books last quarter to properly account for the acquisition. The accounting charge \"essentially wiped out the company's profits\" for the quarter, as The New York Times' DealBook blog writes. CNBC notes that Hewlett-Packard avoided calling what happened fraud. The company's stock is down nearly 10 percent in \"pre-market\" trading this morning. As DealBook adds, H.P. bought the firm, Autonomy, last summer \"to bolster the technology pioneer's presence in the enterprise software market.\" The Financial Times notes that: \"The decision to pay $10 billion for Autonomy was criticized earlier this year after HP reported 'very disappointing' revenues for the enterprise search company in its April quarter. This resulted in [CEO Mike] Lynch leaving HP. HP announced an $8 billion writedown in August in its services division, made up largely of its $14 billion EDS acquisition of 2008.\" HP has \"contacted the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division and the U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office,\" the FT says.", "Several news outlets are reporting that computer giant Hewlett-Packard will announce the elimination of 25,000 to 30,000 jobs. All Things D reports that the announcement will come from CEO Meg Whitman when the company announces its quarterly earnings next Wednesday. All Things D reports: \"Additionally, sources say, Whitman will, during a conference call with analysts, portray the cuts as necessary — not to bolster HP's earnings and satisfy shareholders, but rather as a means to make needed investments. On this point, Whitman will be borrowing a bit from the playbook of her short-lived predecessor, former HP CEO Léo Apotheker. \"Whitman will argue that many of the cuts made at HP during the five years that Mark Hurd was at its helm were made without corresponding investments in new and growing initiatives. This 'cut and reinvest\" theme will apply across the company, sources tell me. The process has been an intense one among HP's senior executive ranks and has, as one source put it, 'consumed the company.'\" All Things D puts the number of jobs to be potentially cut at 30,000 while Bloomberg reports that will cut 8 percent of its workforce or 25,000 jobs. Yesterday, Business Insider reported that the company would make \"significant cuts.\" All of these news outlets are pinning the news on unnamed company sources. After the news broke, HP stock's price rallied, climbing by as much as 7 cents. All Things D says cuts will happen over \"a relatively long period of time, perhaps a year or more.\"", "Host Bob Edwards talks to John Dodge, editor of PC week about why the cost of personal computers is going down.", "Not according to an analysis by pricing research firm Decide Incorporated and <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>. They found that many products with so-called \"doorbuster\" deals were available at even lower prices other times of the year — even at the same retailer.", "NPR's Scott Horsley reports that sales of handheld computers are down sharply. Companies like Palm and Handspring are trying to revive the market by offering deep discounts on the pocket-sized organizers. The companies face a challenge, though. Many people say they are waiting for a new generation of wireless devices to become more available.", "Computer and printer maker Hewlett Packard is trimming 14,500 jobs in a cost-cutting move. The cuts represent about 10 percent of the global workforce for HP, which merged with Compaq several years ago. Figures released by the company estimate a cost reduction of $1.9 billion annually. As the Silicon Valley company strives to compete with technology rivals such as Dell and IBM, it also announced an overhaul of its retirement program. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel. MELISSA BLOCK, host: And I'm Melissa Block. Hewlett-Packard announced plans today to cut 14,500 jobs; that's nearly 10 percent of its work force. Some of the cuts will come through voluntary retirement, but most will be layoffs. The nation's second-largest computer-maker is struggling to be more competitive with the market's low-cost leader, Dell. NPR's Scott Horsley has the story. SCOTT HORSLEY reporting: Today's announcement is the boldest effort yet by CEO Mark Hurd, who was hired three and a half months ago to improve Hewlett-Packard's performance. The legendary Silicon Valley firm has nearly three times as many employees as Dell, but it's been losing market share to its leaner Texas rival. Hurd says HP has to get its costs down if it hopes to stay in the game. Mr. MARK HURD (CEO, Hewlett-Packard): Cost structures and revenue growth go hand in hand. And we know that only by having a competitive cost structure, we can compete aggressively in the marketplace, thereby growing the company for employees, customers and shareholders. HORSLEY: The job cuts are expected to save HP $1.6 billion a year beginning in 2007. Some analysts were looking for even more layoffs. Hurd decided to concentrate the job cuts in support areas, such as finance and human resources. HP's sales force will be largely spared and so will the company's vaunted research and development effort. Mr. HURD: We are one of the few remaining hardware companies that deliver innovation that customers value, and we'll continue to invest in compelling products that can be differentiated in the market. HORSLEY: HP has long prided itself on its commitment to innovation, in contrast to Dell, which concentrates on producing products efficiently. Analyst Rob Enderle of Silicon Valley's Enderle Group says HP's `invent' slogan can be a competitive advantage, but there's a limit to what R&D is worth. Mr. ROB ENDERLE (Enderle Group): Customers do think that's very important, and it's one of the ways that HP differentiated itself. However, at the end of the day customers were buying on price. And if you can't provide a competitive priced product at a decent margin, you're pretty much done in this business. HORSLEY: HP actually makes most of its profits from printers, not PCs. A costly merger with Compaq failed to boost HP's profitability, and that ultimately led the board of directors to fire former CEO Carly Fiorina in February. Hurd, who replaced Fiorina, has a mandate to improve operations. His goal, he says, is a simpler, nimbler company. HP also announced plans today to cut the cost of retirement benefits. Beginning next year, the company will freeze pension and retirement health care benefits for newer employees while increasing contributions to their 401(k)s. Hurd hopes those moves will save the company about $300 million a year. Mr. HURD: We believe these changes strike the right balance with respect to aligning employee benefits to market and optimizing our cost structure. HORSLEY: Both the layoffs and the pension changes represent a step away from the paternalistic tradition of HP. But Gartner analyst Carl Claunch says they're a step in the right direction. Mr. CARL CLAUNCH (Gartner Analyst): Morale has been improving considerably within HP. And overall I think people are going to be happier that the company continues to be more successful. And I think for most people it's not going to be that big an impact, unless you're, you know, of course, one of the 10 percent. HORSLEY: Hurd says he's confident the cost-saving moves will strengthen HP and that much of the company's success rests in its own hands. He told analysts this morning, though, hard work lies ahead to get the company's overall financial performance where it needs to be. Scott Horsley, NPR News.", "Intel, which dominates the global computer microprocessor business, has used illegal means to reinforce its power according to New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo who filed a federal antitrust lawsuit Wednesday. Cuomo essentially accused Intel of violating federal and state antitrust laws by bribing computer makers to use its microprocessors and not those of its competitors. Intel denies the charges. An excerpt from Cuomo's press release: Over the last several years, Intel has extracted exclusive agreements from large computer makers in which they agreed to use Intel's microprocessors in exchange for payments totaling billions of dollars. Intel also threatened to and did in fact punish computer makers that they perceived to be working too closely with Intel's competitors. Retaliatory threats included cutting off payments the computer maker was receiving from Intel, directly funding a computer maker's competitors, and ending joint development ventures. \"Rather than compete fairly, Intel used bribery and coercion to maintain a stranglehold on the market,\" said Attorney General Cuomo. \"Intel's actions not only unfairly restricted potential competitors, but also hurt average consumers who were robbed of better products and lower prices. These illegal tactics must stop and competition must be restored to this vital marketplace.\" To obtain exclusive agreements, Intel paid hundreds of millions of dollars annually - and in some years billions of dollars - in so-called \"rebates\" to individual computer makers. These rebates were actually just payoffs with no legitimate business purpose that Intel invented to disguise their anticompetitive nature. Intel also attempted to erase the most obvious traces of its anticompetitive scheme by eliminating crucial but flagrantly objectionable provisions from written agreements or by camouflaging language about illegal guaranteed market shares with terms like \"volume targets.\" Read More >> According to Cuomo, the payments not only hurt Intel's competitors, chiefly AMD, but consumers who were hurt by the lack of competition allegedly created by Intel's rebates. The lawsuit includes internal e-mails from Intel and other technology companies. An example provided by the New York AG's office: Internal e-mail from HP executive in June 2004 after HP defied Intel and launched an AMD product: \"Intel has told us that HP's announcement on Opteron [AMD's server chip] has cost them several $B [Billions] and they plan to 'punish' HP for doing this.\" Another example: Internal e-mail from HP executive in September 2004 regarding the consequences of marketing products from an Intel competitor: \"If you do and we get caught (and we will) the Intel moneys (each month is gone (they would terminate the deal). The risk is too high. Without the money we do not make it financially.\" As The Wall Street Journal reports, Cuomo has been making headlines with many big investigations as he prepares for what's expected to a run for the governor's office once occupied by his father. Mr. Cuomo is expected to be a Democratic candidate for governor in New York in November 2010. This lawsuit comes on the heels of many high profile lawsuits and investigations he's brought during the financial crisis on topics ranging from the sale of auction-rate securities to Bank of America's merger with Merrill Lynch. The antitrust unit of his office has also brought cases, including filing charges in March of 2008 with 25 other states against Abbott Laboratories and a French drug company Fournier for inhibiting competing drug companies from producing a generic version of its cholesterol drug Tricor7. The WSJ also has reaction from an Intel spokesman. \"We disagree with the New York attorney general,\" said Chuck Mulloy, an Intel spokesman. \"Neither consumers who have consistently benefited from lower prices and increased innovation, nor Justice, are being served by the decision to file a case now.\" He added: \"Intel will defend itself.\" Intel is coming under increasing scrutiny from regulators. In May, the European Union fined the company $1.4 billion for abusing its dominant market power to hurt AMD. Last year, South Korea also fined Intel, levying a $25 million penalty on the company. Like Cuomo's office, EU officials also revealed Intel e-mails that strongly suggested to regulators that Intel was using its muscle in the microprocessor market to strong arm customers and hurt AMD. Meanwhile, AMD has sued Intel for alleged anti-competitive practices.", "After Hewlett-Packard announced that it was replacing its CEO with Meg Whitman, lots of talk erupted about the state of the technology behemoth. Most of it wasn't pretty. Perhaps NPR's Richard Gonzales got the most succinct analysis of the situation from Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, who called HP \"a clown without a circus, a tragicomedy.\" In her first interview since getting the CEO job, Whitman told Bloomberg she would stay the course and continue the strategies laid out by her predecessor. As we reported yesterday, under Leo Apotheker HP made two huge announcements that confounded some critics: First he announced HP would halt the sales of tablet computers and smartphones and then he announced HP would rethink whether it wants to be in the consumer PC market. The latter is one of the things that HP is renowned for. Bloomberg reports on its interview with Whitman: Whitman, in her first interview as Hewlett-Packard's CEO, said the company stands by plans to acquire U.K. software marker Autonomy Corp. for $10.3 billion. The company also will continue to explore whether to sell or spin off the personal-computer division, she said. Those moves were announced on Aug. 18. \"It does not signal a change in the strategy,\" Whitman said yesterday of her appointment. \"We are behind the actions that were taken on Aug. 18. We are firmly committed to Autonomy.\" Whitman also said the company would make a decision \"as fast as we possibly can\" on the outcome of the PC business. \"We understand uncertainty doesn't help the business, doesn't help customers, doesn't help shareholders,\" she said.", "<em>The Wall Street Journal</em> picked up on the device, which was advertised briefly in China's state media. It offered web content for the party faithful. The device however was apparently priced at more than $1,500. China's online community launched scathing attacks about the Red Pad, saying only corrupt bureaucrats using public funds could afford such a thing.", "Oil prices have been falling dramatically since hitting four-year highs in October. On Thursday, two benchmarks &#8212; Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate &#8212; fell to prices that are around 20 percent lower than a month earlier. Here & Now&#8217;s Jeremy Hobson talks with Michael Regan (@Reganonymous), senior editor for Bloomberg News.", "HP, the largest computer maker, said Wednesday that it will purchase 3Com, the maker of networking gear, for $2.7 billion. For HP, it's a play to enter the networking business which is dominated by Cisco. From an HP statement: This combination will transform the networking industry and underscore HP's next-generation data center strategy built on the convergence of servers, storage, networking, management, facilities and services. The resulting business outcome will help customers simplify the network, deploy a unique and innovative edge-to-core network fabric for the enterprise and improve IT service delivery capabilities, all delivered with best-in-class price-performance. \"Companies are looking for ways to break free from the business limitations imposed by a networking paradigm that has been dominated by a single vendor,\" said Dave Donatelli, executive vice president and general manager, Enterprise Servers and Networking, HP. \"By acquiring 3Com, we are accelerating the execution of our Converged Infrastructure strategy and bringing disruptive change to the networking industry. By combining HP ProCurve offerings with 3Com's extensive set of solutions, we will enable customers to build a next-generation network infrastructure that supports customer needs from the edge of the network to the heart of the data center.\"", "Small, medium and large. That's basically what Google announced today: That they will now offer touch-screen devices in three different sizes. Like Apple — which has the iPhone, the iPad Mini and the iPad — Google now has the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. The 4 is a smartphone, the 7 is a medium-size tablet and the 10 is a large tablet. The announcement was supposed to be made in a splashy press event in New York City. Instead, Hurricane Sandy forced a cancellation and Google made the announcement quietly in a blog post. The BBC's Leo Kelion says Google's announcement sets up a Holiday face-off between the two companies. He writes: \"Apple's iPad may have dominated tablet sales to this point, but it now faces cheaper competitors with their own media ecosystems and - in the case of Samsung's new Nexus 10 - a higher-resolution screen. \"Purchase decisions may come down to brand loyalty: does a shopper identify with an Amazon, Apple, Google or Microsoft logo on the back of their device? This is still a very young market and the key players are essentially still in land grab mode.\" As for prices, the Nexus 4 will start at $299 with no contract; the Nexus 7 at $199 and the Nexus 10 at $399. For comparison, the just-announced iPad mini starts at $329. Google has posted all the specs on a blog post.", "Note: This episode originally ran in 2014. We tend to get obsessed with things that get more expensive over time — college tuition, say, or health care. But lots of things have actually gotten cheaper in real terms. Things made by machines. Things like consumer electronics. Some new gadget comes out with a $1,000 price tag. Two years later it costs $500. There's no law of nature that says this must be so. And yet it happens year after year. On today's classic episode, we visit a company called Monoprice. And we go into a room where people sit all day and try to make stuff get cheaper. Music: \"Amber Lights\" and \"Slide by Slide.\" Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and NPR One. Want high-quality economic news at impossible-to-beat prices? Subscribe to the Newsletter.", "Updated at 5:02 p.m. ET Stocks slid for the third session in a row as technology shares lost more ground and a steep drop in oil prices hit energy shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 632 points, or 2.25%, while the S&P 500 fell 2.8%. The Nasdaq composite index retreated 4.1% and entered correction territory after falling more than 10% from last week's high. The sudden drop in share prices follows months of surprising gains, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting record highs despite an economy severely weakened by the pandemic lockdowns. \"This seems like a little bit of the froth has been blown off the market,\" said Seema Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors. \"It's just taking prices back to a level that is more sustainable and more realistic given the fundamental outlook that currently exists in the economy,\" Shah said. Among the biggest losers was electric carmaker Tesla, which dropped 21%, after S&P Dow Jones Indices failed to include the company in its S&P 500 index as had been expected. A favorite of day traders, Tesla has had an unusually volatile year. It announced a 5-to-1 stock split last month that contributed to recent gains amid hopes it would make the automaker's stock more accessible. Meanwhile, Apple lost 6.7% of its value and is down 14% since the end of trading Wednesday. These stocks are among a small handful of superstar companies that have driven the market much higher since March when the pandemic lockdowns were getting underway. Amazon has nearly doubled in value this year, hitting as high as $3,552 a share last week. Since then, it's fallen more than 11% but is still up considerably since the year began. These few companies have risen so much in value this year that they represent more than 20% of the S&P 500. A decade ago, they made up just 6%. Tech stocks such as Amazon and Netflix actually benefited during the lockdowns, because more people were stuck at home using their products and software. Recent speculation about a vaccine being developed may be hurting them. \"People start thinking they're not going to be using technology as much as they have done, over the last six months, if they're able to return to a more normal way of life,\" Shah said. The market was also hit hard as oil prices slumped. The drop occurred amid signs that demand for gasoline is falling, just as oil-producing nations said they will increase production. The decline sent shares of energy companies such as Valero Energy lower. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 are still in positive territory for the year despite the falls over the last three trading sessions. The S&P 500 index has fallen nearly 7% since the end of trading Wednesday.", "Hewlett-Packard's profits jumped 14 percent in the latest quarter. HP says profits were up primarily due to aggressive cost-cutting and better results from its technology services division. That helped balance deep declines in the high tech firm's other major businesses. Sales of personal computers, servers, software and printers all dropped from a year ago. HP's overall revenue fell 8 percent.", "Host Bob Edwards talks with New York Times reporter John Markoff about personal digital assistants, the pocket-sized computers many people use in place of appointment calendars. Apple recently cancelled its pioneering Newton line, but another brand, the PalmPilot, is growing in popularity.", "Robert Siegel talks to <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>'s Ben Worthen about Hewlett-Packard's decision to spin off its P.C. business. The company will also stop selling tablets and smartphones to move more toward analyzing corporate data.", "Another crop of tablet computers is coming out. Bloomberg technology columnist Rich Jaroslovsky talks to Steve Inskeep about whether any of them can compete with Apple's iPad,", "Computer giant Hewlett-Packard, a stalwart through decades of shifts in America's technology landscape, is dividing itself into two companies in its most drastic attempt yet to adjust to new markets. The ailing company that was founded 75 years ago in a Palo Alto garage was synonymous with Silicon Valley. \"HP was Silicon Valley. That's how Silicon Valley started,\" says Marco Iansiti, a professor at the Harvard Business School who heads the Technology and Operations Management Unit. \"It's one of those beautiful, original Silicon Valley stalwarts that is in some ways winding down or breaking up into individual pieces.\" HP has laid off more than 40,000 workers in recent years; mergers that were meant to help it compete have not panned out. HP confirmed the plan this morning, saying it's separating \"into two industry-leading public companies.\" NPR's Jim Zarroli reports for our Newscast unit: \"One company will be called Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and it will focus on technology infrastructure software and services. The other, HP Inc., will sell printers and what the company calls personal systems — or PCs. \"Hewlett Packard is a legendary Silicon Valley pioneer. It has 300,000 employees and $112 billion in revenue. But it has struggled to adapt to an era where mobile devices have replaced PCs. And the company has been under pressure from shareholders and analysts to split.\" Current HP CEO Meg Whitman will become the president and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, as well as chairing HP Inc.'s board. The CEO post at HP Inc. will be filled by Dion Weisler, an executive who now leads the printing and personal systems division. Reuters reports that HP's printing and personal computing businesses account for about half the company's revenue and profit, according to its latest quarterly financial results. The agency adds that HP's market capitalization is currently around $66 billion. \"Nimbleness may be the defining characteristic of technology companies over the next couple of years,\" Whitman said on a morning investor call. \"We aim to be two Fortune 50 companies but a lot more nimble, a lot more focused.\" As Bloomberg News notes, the move is an about-face for Whitman, who cut off a plan to split HP when she was brought on to turn things around back in 2011. We'll note that Whitman's former company, eBay, announced its own split last week, saying it would break off its PayPal service. As it attempted to adapt its business model in recent years, Hewlett-Packard made several dubious acquisitions, including the disastrous $10 billion purchase of search company Autonomy that \"erased $8.8 billion from its books\" in 2012. And just four years after it bought Electronic Data Systems for nearly $14 billion in 2008, HP took an accounting charge of $8 billion on the deal. Since reaching a recent low of less than $12.50 in November of 2012, HP's stock has been on the rebound: It topped $38 in August of this year and rose above $37 in early trading as news of the split spread Monday. NPR's Rob Szypko contributed to this report. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: From NPR News, this is All Things Considered. I'm Melissa Block. ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: I'm Robert Siegel and now to All Tech Considered. (MUSIC) SIEGEL: We'll start with the big tech news of the day. One of the oldest and biggest computer companies in Silicon Valley - among the biggest in the world in fact - is splitting up. Here's NPR's Elise Hu to tell us more about Hewlett-Packard. ELISE HU, BYLINE: It's not mentioned with the hot-tech company names anymore. Hewlett-Packard isn't Apple, Google, or Facebook. But in many ways, HP put Silicon Valley on the map when it was founded 75 years ago in a Palo Alto garage. MARCO IANSITI: HP was Silicon Valley. That's how Silicon Valley started. HU: Marco Iansiti is a professor at the Harvard Business School and leads the Tech and Operations Management Unit. IANSITI: It's one of those sort of in a beautiful, kind of original Silicon Valley stalwarts that is in some ways winding down or breaking up into individual pieces. HU: Both will be publicly traded companies with revenues of more than $50 billion annually. MEG WHITMAN: We aim to be two big Fortune 50 companies but a lot more nimble, a lot more focused. Nimbleness may be the defining characteristic for technology companies over the next couple years. HU: That's current HP CEO Meg Whitman. She'll head the new enterprise company - overseeing servers, networking, storage and the cloud business. HP Inc. gets the companies computing side - notebooks, desktops and the ubiquitous HP printers. WHITMAN: This has been a very detailed and thoughtful process about how to roll this out to our many, many constituencies. So I feel really good about our plan. HU: 5,000 HP employees will lose their jobs in this move. HP stock shot up 5 percent on the split-up news. It happens just a week after another Silicon Valley split. Just last Monday, eBay announced its payments on PayPal would spin off on its own", "Weekend Edition's Information Age Specialist Rich Dean complains that he's having trouble getting all of his high-tech toys to work with each other, and guess what? The manufacturers seem to like it like that.", "For the second straight year, consumers will likely be paying lower prices for traditional Thanksgiving foods. Unfortunately, they may need those savings to help make up for higher gas prices. Here & Now&#8216;s Robin Young speaks with NPR&#8217;s Marilyn Geewax (@geewaxnpr).", "Computer companies looking to boost revenues set their sights on the $22-billion market for consumer electronics, which has profit margins as high as 30 percent. Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Gateway are now offering consumers home-entertainment products such as TVs, DVD recorders and MP3 players. NPR's John McChesney reports.", "Enough with bargain gizmos, how about the gadgets you actually want? We bring you a top-five list that will not only make your friends and family members gadget-happy, they'll look better, feel better and sound better. Nintendo Wii Fit ($90) -- Perhaps the hottest item under a hundred bucks this year, the Wii Fit with Balance Board is as popular as it is tough to find. Persistence pays off in the form of a fun electronic workout system capable of tracking your fitness progress and comparing your results with others. Jump on the balance board to practice strength training, aerobics, yoga and more. The best part? No need to actually leave the living room! Flip USB camcorders ($230) -- Flip video cameras revolutionized the video capture world. They made taking, editing, and sharing video clips of family and friends simple. Now the same folks took it to the next level by introducing a high-definition camera: the Flip Mino HD. Capable of 60 minutes of high definition video before downloading, the Flip's a perfect on-the-go high-quality pocket camera. Nikon D90 Digital SLR ($1150 including lens) -- Digital SLR with live-view and HD video. This is the latest and greatest in the prosumer digital SLR line, those \"professional-consumer\" cameras with detachable lenses perfect for high-quality family photos. Thanks to the D90's live-action viewfinder, you can watch the action and a high-definition video recording mode. I recommend the 18-200 lens upgrade. It's a versatile lens that travels well. Sprint LG Lotus Phone ($50) -- It takes quite a bit to stand out in the mobile phone world. Sprint has a cool new phone for the text-savvy with a handy clamshell design. The phone folds flat a fits in your pocket, open to reveal a full keyboard. Now it's not sporting the whiz-bang Smartphone features of an iPhone 3G or even the HTC Touch Diamond, but the LG Lotus -- at around fifty bucks -- is a great upgrade for those still doing the 8, 3-3, 9-9, 8 message shuffle with their old mobiles. HP Mini 1000 Laptop ($360) -- The latest trend in portable computing is the netbook. With systems weighing just a few pounds or less, and prices under $500 for basic models -- it's no wonder to see why the hand-bag computer is getting lots of attention this holiday season. My favorite, the HP Mini 1000 combines Windows familiarity with an almost-full-size keyboard and a brilliant display. They're cheap and portable, a great on-the-go machine.", "China&#8217;s benchmark stock index, the Shanghai Composite, tumbled more than 7 percent today, before &#8220;circuit breakers&#8221; halted trading on the exchange for the second time in one week. Global markets reacted negatively and oil prices dipped lower as well, as economists and investors worried that a slowdown in the world&#8217;s second-largest economy could hit economic growth in other places. NPR&#8217;s Marilyn Geewax discusses this and what it could mean for Americans, with Here & Now&#8217;s Jeremy Hobson. Guest\n\nMarilyn Geewax, senior business editor for NPR. She tweets @geewaxnpr.", "Officials with Hewlett Packard and Bristol-Meyers Squibb have both announced plans to oust their top executives in the wake of corporate scandals. Amy Scott of Marketplace talks with Alex Chadwick about the corporate scandals that led to the firings. ALEX CHADWICK, host: Back now with DAY TO DAY and a development in the Hewlett-Packard story. HP says its chairwoman, Patricia Dunn, will leave in January. You know there's a growing scandal over an investigation, possibly illegal investigation, at the computer and printer company into leaks to the media from the board of directors. MARKETPLACE's Amy Scott has been following the story. Amy, how about this latest? AMY SCOTT: Well Alex, as you know, HP's board chair, Patricia Dunn, had been under a lot of pressure to step down. She oversaw this investigation into boardroom leaks, and just as a reminder, in that investigation, private contractors apparently posed as board members and reporters in order to access those individuals' telephone records. The new developments today are first that George Keyworth, the board member who was identified as the leaker, has resigned, and HP says Patty Dunn will step down as board chair in January, though she will remain as a director. CEO Mark Hurd will take over the board. CHADWICK: So he's going to become both CEO and chairman of the company, but those two positions were split for a reason, right? SCOTT: Yes they were. After the Enron and WorldCom scandals, there was a push for boards of directors to be more independent from management. You know, they're really supposed to be watchdogs, and when you have the top management also overseeing the watchdogs, you run into problems, particularly when you're dealing with a powerful figure like HP's previous chair and CEO, Carly Fiorina. Charles Elson heads the University of Delaware's Center for Corporate Governance. He says it would've been ideal to keep those roles separate, but he says HP needed to act fast. Mr. CHARLES ELSON (University of Delaware): Obviously, in a company that has gone through a serious management succession issue, a splitting of the two roles is probably advisable, and I think in the case of HP it was a good move that they did. However, given the options in front of them, I think it was the least noxious of a series of very unpleasant options. SCOTT: HP has appointed what it's calling a lead independent director to preserve some of that independence. CHADWICK: There's news today of a shakeup at Bristol-Myers as well? SCOTT: That's right. Today the drug company's board ousted CEO Peter Dolan after a series of problems. There was an accounting scandal and then the company did a bad deal with biotech company ImClone. Bristol-Myers is also facing an anti-trust investigation. But perhaps most importantly, shareholders were clearly unhappy. The company's stock price has fallen nearly 60 percent since Dolan took over back in 2001. And we'll be talking about another CEO later on MARKETPLACE. Amtrak's new chief executive starts work today. We'll find out why anyone would even sign up for the job these days. CHADWICK: Amy Scott of Public Radio's daily business show MARKETPLACE, produced by American Public Media.", "Mark Hurd recently was fired from his job as CEO of Hewlett-Packard after a scandal involving an extra-martial relationship. One of HP's main tech rivals -- Oracle -- wants to make Hurd its co-president. That's prompted HP to sue, claiming Hurd can't possibly perform the new job without tapping into HP's trade secrets.", "Stocks ended flat Tuesday, after a round of disappointing corporate earnings and another drop in home prices. Several stocks rallied after taking initial hits in trading. 3M and Johnson & Johnson fell about 2 percent after announcing lower income for the last quarter. DuPont's income fell but still beat expectations. Its stock rose 0.2 percent. Verizon's stock rose 1.4 percent after the phone company's profits surged. Verizon will start selling Apple Inc.'s iPhone next month. Another Dow member, American Express Co., fell 2.8 percent after reporting earnings late Monday that came in below analysts' expectations. Falling home prices helped push stocks lower. Prices fell in 19 out of the 20 cities tracked by the Standard and Poor's / Case Shiller home price in November. At the market close, the Dow Jones industrial average is down 3 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 11,977. The Dow had been down as many as 82 points earlier. The S&P 500 is up less than a point to 1,291.18. The Nasdaq gained 2, or less than 0.1 percent, to 2,719. Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume came to 1 billion shares. Doug Roberts, chief investment strategist for Channel Capital Research.com, said that investors are looking ahead to President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Tuesday night and a Federal Reserve meeting that concludes Wednesday. The Fed's $600 billion bond-buying plan, launched in November, was partially aimed at boosting stock prices. The S&P 500 has gained 8.5 percent in the last three months. \"As long as the Fed keeps pumping money into the economy,\" Roberts said, \"stocks will probably keep going up.\" Government spending and the public deficit are expected to be key topics in President Obama's address.", "One of the worst-kept secrets in Silicon Valley was made official Thursday: Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is taking over at Hewlett-Packard. In making the announcement, the HP board called Whitman, a \"technology visionary with a proven track record of execution.\" She replaces Leo Apotheker, who lasted less than a year on the job. Apotheker is the third CEO that HP has let go in six years. The former CEO, Mark Hurd, was forced out a year ago in a squabble over ethics and improper expense reports. Since Hurd's departure, HP's market value has shrunk by $60 billion. Apotheker didn't help things when he announced last month that HP, a name virtually synonymous with quality PCs and printers, might — or might not — get out of the hardware business and focus on software. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a dean at Yale's School of Management, says that announcement confused everyone — customers, suppliers, vendors, employees and shareholders. \"There was a term — 'the HP way' — that you may recall, that was industrial folklore in a good way,\" he says. \"There was a certain mythic imagery of what HP stood for in terms of the quality of the product and the management of the organization. Well, that's all gone. The HP way? They've lost their way!\" And that's a popular view in California as well. Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, had even harsher words, calling HP \"a clown without a circus, a tragicomedy.\" \"It's really unfortunate because you have a company that is iconic of the valley and it's becoming increasingly a laughingstock,\" he says. \"And it does damage the morale of the rank-and-file HP employees.\" Kumar says even if you question Apotheker's strategic decisions, he had to be acting with the implicit blessing of the board. \"And so to blame the current CEO for its woes is unfair,\" he says. Enter into this saga Whitman, who is getting her second shot at a second act. She's legendary for having taken over eBay when it had a few dozen employees and $86 million in revenues. Under her leadership, eBay became a household term earning almost $6 billion in revenue. Then she got the idea to run for governor of California last year. \"We can fix California, no question about it,\" she said. \"It's going to take a different style of leadership, a different approach, but we can make California great again.\" Running as a Republican, Whitman spent more than $170 million, almost all it her own money. That was a record amount for any statewide office in the country. But she lost to an ageing former governor, Democrat Jerry Brown, by 13 percentage points. Now as the new CEO of HP, Whitman will be the second woman to run that company. The first, Carly Fiorina, lost her bid to represent California in the Senate last year, too. Sonnenfeld says Whitman has many qualities that might help her succeed in turning HP around. He says she's entrepreneurial and resilient. \"She's gotta make strategic sense of this business, and she might be able to pull it off,\" he says. \"She's a capable communicator; she could have been better in the campaign but I think she's learned a lot from that process. And she's not an ideologue. She's not Carly Fiorina. I think she has the capability to learn from where her mistakes were and she can do better.\" But Sonnenfeld says another challenge for Whitman is doing what her three predecessors failed to do: deal with a board of directors that he calls \"poisonous.\" MELISSA BLOCK, Host: One of the worst kept secrets in Silicon Valley was made official today. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is taking over at Hewlett-Packard. Making the announcement, the HP board called Whitman a technology visionary, with a proven track record of execution. Her predecessor lasted less than a year on the job. Here's NPR's Richard Gonzales. RICHARD GONZALES: With the firing of Leo Apotheker, HP, once one of high tech's bedrock companies, is letting go of its third CEO in six years. The former CEO, Mark Hurd, was forced out a year ago in a squabble over ethics and improper expense reports. Since Hurd's departure, HP's market value has shrunk by $60 billion. Apotheker didn't help things when he announced last month that HP, a name virtually synonymous with quality PCs and printers, might or might not get out of the hardware business and focus on software. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is a dean at Yale's School of Management. He says that announcement confused everyone: customers, suppliers, vendors, employees and shareholders. JEFFREY SONNENFELD: There was a term, the HP way, which you may recall, that was industrial folklore in a good way. There's a certain mythic imagery of what HP stood for in terms of the quality of the product and the kind of management of the organization. Well, that's all gone. I mean, the HP way, they've lost their way. GONZALES: And that's a popular view here in California as well. Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, had even harsher words, calling HP a clown without a circus, a tragicomedy. ASHOK KUMAR: It's really unfort" ]

[ "The literature on social grooming in humans mentions\n\n\n examples of grooming, most of which are unique to humans, include: running fingers through another’s hair, giving massages, washing the body or hair, shaving, removing lint or hair from another’s clothing, swatting away insects, and giving manicures or pedicures, and removing pus from blemishes or wounds. Grooming for humans can also include applying something to the skin or body as with lotion, nail polish, or make-up.\n\n\nHowever, probably the more prominent and interesting line of research in this regard concerns language. The foundational BBS article by Dunbar (1993) argues that\n\n\n Group size covaries with relative neocortical volume in nonhuman primates. This regression equation predicts a group size for modern humans very similar to that for hunter-gatherer and traditional horticulturalist societies. Similar group sizes are found in other contemporary and historical societies. Nonhuman primates maintain group cohesion through social grooming; among the Old World monkeys and apes, social grooming time is linearly related to group size. Maintaining stability of human-sized groups by grooming alone would make intolerable time demands. It is therefore suggested (1) that the evolution of large groups in the human lineage depended on developing a more efficient method for time-sharing the processes of social bonding and (2) that language uniquely fulfills this requirement. Data on the size of conversational and other small interacting groups of humans accord with the predicted relative efficiency of conversation compared to grooming as a bonding process. In human conversations about 60% of time is spent gossiping about relationships and personal experiences. Language may accordingly have evolved to allow individuals to learn about the behavioural characteristics of other group members more rapidly than was feasible by direct observation alone.\n\n\nIn short, under Dunbar's proposal, because human groups are so large and complex, if we were to use the regular, manual grooming of our relatives, we would have to spend around half (e.g. 42% in Dunbar 1993) of our time grooming, which is entirely unsustainable. Language is instead used (and evolved) to more economically fulfill that role. Linguistic gestures, especially small talk, largely overtake the role of manual grooming in humans.\n\nMake of this what you will, it's certainly an important and interesting proposal." ]

[ "The phrase &quot;backlog grooming&quot; was officially replaced with &quot;backlog refinement&quot; in the Scrum Guide back in 2013. The change was largely done for:\n\nClarity of semantics. Arguably, the word refinement expresses the idea of continuous improvement a little better than grooming. The latter denotes removing defects or straightening out. Grooming also holds a connotation of a focus on appearances, as the Cambridge Dictionary's primary definition of grooming is:\n\nthe things that you do to make your appearance clean and neat, for example brushing your hair, or the things that you do to keep an animal's hair or fur clean and neat\n\n\nIncreased acceptance of framework terms. In British English, the same dictionary also defines grooming as:\n\nthe criminal activity of becoming friends with a child, especially over the internet, in order to try to persuade the child to have a sexual relationship\n\n\n\nWords matter, and the change to a term that provides better clarity about the purpose of the ceremony while also avoiding negative connotations is a net positive. However, you may still find early adopters of Scrum occasionally referring to &quot;backlog grooming&quot; out of habit, even though the term has officially been changed.", "Short answer\nHypothesis (1)\n\nBackground\nThe question is quite broad, as exemplified by the statement: They may be insecure about their looks, their (odd) behavior, or may question whether they belong to a group (of friends, colleagues and what not). \n\nPersonally and anecdotally, I think that a healthy self-doubt forms the core of self-reflection and allows a social animal like Homo sapiens to improve its behavior and mold itself according to the social structure with all its rights and obligations.\n\nTo approach this question with a less opinion-based perspective, I think that the root of a possible answer is the question what happens when people lack any self-doubt. I'm not a psychologist, but narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) comes to mind. The characteristic features of this condition are dominance, arrogance, superiority, power seeking, and disregard of others. All these traits seem to fit a total lack of self doubt (Ronningstam, 2011). However, some phenotypes of this condition may include insecure people, but it is just for the purpose of showing what people may turn into that lack self-doubt (and admittedly oversimplifying NPD). The typical NPD sufferer therefore won't fit in well in a social structure, and humankind, obviously, has built highly complex social societies.\n\nIn terms of evolution, Joseph Henrich explains that long before the origins of agriculture, when humans expanded across the globe from the arid deserts of Australia to the frozen tundra of the Canadian Arctic, survival in the immense diversity of habitats depended not on specific genetic adaptations, but on large bodies of culturally transmitted know-how, abilities, and skills that no single individual could figure out in his or her lifetime. Even among foraging societies, humans show an immense variety of social organizations, group sizes, kinship structures, and mating patterns. He explains that this diversity is at least partially rooted in culturally-acquired and widely shared social rules.\n\nReference\n- Ronningstam, J Psychiatric Practice (2011); 17(2): 89–99", "Yes; in Ancient Greece and Rome at least, there were barbers who provided a range of services that were huge compared to their modern equivalent: trimming beards, cutting hair, and yes, trimming nails:\n\n\n The third part of the barber's work was to pare the nails of the hands, an operation which the Greeks expressed by the words ὀνυχίζειν and ἀπονυχίζειν (Aristoph. Eq. 706; and Schol.; Theophrast. Charact. c26; Pollux, VII.165). The instruments used for this purpose were called ὀνυχιστήρια, sc. μαχαίρια (Pollux, X.140).\n\n\nThe practice is so old that it goes beyond history and into archaeology; here are some nail grooming tools from the Hallstatt culture:\n\n\nPhoto by Flominator CC BY-SA 3.0\n\nI'm sure you can find older ones if you try.\n\nThis should all be obvious because, unless you do a lot of manual work, nails grow and keep growing. If you don't trim them they may split and break in ways that injure your finger too. So it should be as old as other forms of grooming, like hair cutting.\n\nEven if you don't have tools to do so, you can file them against a rough surface, or bite them, which is apparently what gorillas also do.", "I wouldn't worry about it since it's a case of a dog grooming another dog. If it was compulsively grooming itself, it could be a case of dry/irritated skin, allergies, or parasites among others.\n\nI think what probably happened is that sometime during their playing Dewey starting the behaviour and it just became a habit for whatever reason.\n\nIt could be that it's a mild case of Pica, where he just likes the texture. I know some dogs that will compulsively lick their owner's suede couch because they like the texture of it.\n\nWolves will practice a type social grooming when they're relaxed, picking fleas, ticks, and burs, out of each other's fur. So it's possible that it's stemming from that behavior, or started as that behavior and evolved into just something they do after wrestling.", "Scent-rolling is 100% a normal behavior in dogs.\nFrom the Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals:\n\nBy rolling, dogs simultaneously disrupt the mark of another animal, deposit their own scent, and acquire some of the other animal's scent. They also groom by shedding some of their undercoat when they roll. The extent to which the latter might be important in a masking situation useful in predation has not been fully explored. Dogs seem to find it pleasurable to roll in some scents that humans consider fairly offensive, which may mean that they are responding neurochemically to some pheromonal cue.\nOnce the dog has located the area that stimulates it to roll and has begun to drop, it is almost impossible to stop even the most obedient dog. If clients absolutely need to avoid this behavior, they will have to be vigilant, use a leash, and learn to read canine communication.\n\nDoggy daycare is a wonderful place to socialize and have fun, his diet does not have an impact on these behaviors - your dog is simply being a dog.", "At the Shelter\n\nMany rescue organizations have a shelter where they can keep rescued animals that are either difficult placements, need extra attention and training, and sometimes just because they do not have a home yet. These shelters are alot of work and are often primarily run by a very skeleton crew (often just a very few people). There are lots of things you may be able to do at the shelters:\n\n\nExercise and Socialization. One of the most important things for a rescue pet to improve their chances of adoption is to be socialized and get proper exercise. For dogs this can be walking and play, for cats maybe just spending time, for rabbits and small animals just petting and playing, for Horses it may be riding or walking on a lead. For every animal there is a rescue somewhere and those animals can really benefit from this attention.\nCleaning. When you have a large number of animals there is no end to the messes they make. This is alot of work and because of the thankless and dirtiness of the work it tends to fall on just the few people willing to help(often the leader of the rescue). Most rescues I have worked with (this is my 4th) have a schedule of cleaning activities so if you can help here that is a great assistance.\nMaintenance and upkeep. The larger the animal the more likely they are to damage the pens and equipment. Helping keep things safe for the animals and volenteers is another never ending battle. If you have handyman skills this can be an invaluable service. Many rescues are in a continual process of trying to provide more room to rescue more animals. As resources become available there is also the need to create more enclosures and potentially structures to accomodate.\nGrooming. Keeping the animals well groomed is a very important part of getting them adopted. It seems like a dog in a shelter will need at least some grooming almost daily and need a bath at least once a week. Other animals may need more or less grooming attention.\n\n\nOvernight and short term fostering\n\nMany times when an animal is pulled from a kill shelter it will take some time to get transport lined up to their destined foster facility or the rescue shelter. Short term fosters could be needed for a few weeks but usually just a few nights to a week. Also when animals are transported many times they will need an overnight stop or two before they make it to their destination. \n\nThe need for this type of fostering is sporatic and often short notice.\n\nAdoption events\n\nThe key to getting the animals adopted is having them visible to potential adopters. For this we have events at local stores (usually on weekends) where the animals are there to be interacted with and potentially be exposed to their new pet parents. Aside from this exposure adoption events are an important part of getting the name of the rescue out, and to getting donations to help keep the rescue going. \n\nMost of what is needed here is just someone to help mind both the animals and the people wanting to see and pet them. If you are someone who enjoys both people and animals this can be a really fun day, and fosters and rescue organisers really appreciate the help.\n\nTransporter\n\nThe animals need to be moved occasionally. Sometimes this will be part of a relay that will move an animal from one part of the country to another. Others it may just be taking them to or from the vet or an adoption event. Relays are generally ~100 mile legs but local transports are rarely more than 20 miles.\n\nLonger Term Foster\n\nThe best opportunity a rescue animal has is if it can be placed with a foster. This requires a much more dedicated commitment(see this question) but it can also be very personally rewarding. This gives the animal a chance to be socialized on a regular basis and to have some help correcting behavior issues.\n\nThis is not a great option for someone with little or no disposable income, but for the sake of completeness I have included it.", "Socialist - Abolishment of private property, all property belongs to the state except personal property, this may vary in some socialist nations such as Britain but general principle. Government is a primary competitor and provides all welfare and essential services, though depending on the country may also allow private competitors in these areas.\n\nDemocratic Socialist - Private Property stays private. Welfare programs are entirely managed by the government along with CRITICAL services, commonly seen as healthcare, retirement programs, etc.\n\nSocial Democrat - Government is a competitor not sole provider for Critical services and should offer them. Welfare is given by the government though private businesses may provide the service, but the service will be offered, i.e. Government pays PECO to give you electricity.\n\nAlong with the strictness of the system comes higher taxation and necessity for income redistribution and additional government oversight. \n\nAs far as ideology goes they are on the same track, they just break down more and more into the role of the government in the lives of its people and the extent that the means of production must be seized.\n\nIn general there are many types of Socialism as an ideological concept\nhttp://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_socialism.html - includes the history of socialism with descriptions of each of the systems and conflicting views\n\nWhat I describe as a Socialist is adherent to Libertarian Socialism \n\nAs for Social Democrat describes as the gradual transition from Socialism to Capitalism\nhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/social-democracy", "E.B. Karsh did a study on the effects of human contact on kitten behaviour published in 1983. Some essential, and interesting, learnings from that include:\n\n\nKittens handled only 15 minutes a day from birth through to 12 to 15 weeks would accept human affection, but would tend to wander and return rather than staying in place.\nKittens handled for an hour or two for the same period would be sufficiently relaxed to curl up on people and sleep.\n\n\nR.R. Collard, in 1967, noted that more handlers tended to make kittens more comfortable around humans.\n\nThere are a number of additional studies that show very early and regular handling have a positive effect on kitten development, so the upshot of it all is handle them frequently and for long durations right from the start all they way through their development.", "Perhaps customs (and culture as a whole) arises to some extent as a result of relationships between individuals of the same species. For example, I think a good example of a custom is how elephants bury their dead. This does not benefit the surviving elephants in any noticeable way, and is a \"waste\" of energy and time. If customs do arise because of a group dynamic, then there is clear evidence supporting that social behavior in higher organisms (chimpanzees, dolphins, etc.) does increase fitness. \n\nHowever, this speculation is based upon the idea that customs are a natural result of social interaction. As to why these customs arise, perhaps it is because it enforces the group dynamic over the participating individuals.", "The root cause is almost certainly procreation. Our relationship tendencies developed along with our biology. Humans tend to have one child at a time, and human children mature very slowly. This suggests that during most of human history, it would be advantageous for a female to keep a male with her, helping to provide food and protection for herself and her children. The strategy for the male is either to play along, or to breed so quickly as to outweigh the devastating effect of a long maturation without sufficient protection. Others species, many of which breed in greater numbers, have different mating habits.", "I cannot directly answer to Batson as I do not have the time to put into research there, but there happens to be something in my current research that matches with the gist of this question. I would like to offer another perspective and very important series of experiments that undermine psychological egoism, namely the experiments conducted by Tomasello et al. The reference here will be Why we cooperate (2009).\n\nTomasello is testing the abilities of apes versus human infants. The findings presented in the above-mentioned book is summarised by Lenny Moss in his chapter The Hybrid Hominin: A Renewed Point of Departure for Philosophical Anthropology in Honenberger, P. (Ed.). (2015). Naturalism and Philosophical Anthropology: Nature, Life, and the Human between Transcendental and Empirical Perspectives. Springer. (pp. 171-182) as follows:\n\n\n There are two general observations about human sociality that can be made on the basis of these studies and it is the second upon which I want to elaborate. \n The first is that human infants, even prior to language, possess a cognitive infrastructure, a cognitive capacity for ‘we-intentionality’ that so far\n as we know, no other species possesses. This breakthrough understanding \n by Tomasello surely must be one of the most significant achievements \n of contemporary experimental psychology. The second, I think less explored and developed observation, is that infants are deploying these capacities in cooperative acts as ends-in-themselves, and I would refer to this as pertaining to the affective infrastructure of human sociality and sociability. How and why are cooperative acts in-themselves attractors for human infants? And have we uncovered another window onto the origins of humanity in the primordial Hominin Group? (p. 178, bolded mine)\n\n\nThis strongly suggests that humans in an of themselves are indeed not egoistic. They are fundamentally social, they have the inherent motivation to help other human beings (and animals, for that matter - but they cannot understand this) in fulfilling their intentions. As he writes just before:\n\n\n Tomasello has gone to some pains to \n show that helping behavior in human infants is spontaneous and not \n predicated upon parental rewards and that infants will even forego an \n individually enjoyable activity to engage in helping behavior.\n\n\nIn other words: Tomasello is careful in excluding egoistic motivation for the behaviour.\n\nThis shows that egoism is indeed not a psychological fact, but, if anything, a culturally learned behaviour.", "Socialization is a cognitive and executive brain based function that requires higher level thinking mechanisms usually dependent on the prefrontal coretex. A lot of social cues we obtain from our environment when we are young can shape our brains during its developmental growth (infancy-post puberty) and cause our brains to develop social habits and access specific social functions. \n\nA great text book example of altered social behavior due to brain injury is Phineas Gage. He had a metal rod shot through the prefrontal cortex and it caused a severe change in his behavior. He no longer cared about social cues and people often referred to his behavior as becoming \"rude\" and \"out of context.\" There are many subtle aspects of behavior that are regulated by brain functions and there are many books on the topic.\n\nSource: Wikipedia page on Phineas Gage and \nPyschopharmacology, book by: Meyer and Quenzer\nDSM-5, text book on clinical psychology \n\nFurther Reading on Phineas Gage\n- What were the symptoms of Phineas Gage after suffering his brain injury?", "Cats are not generally social in the way that dogs are social. Occasionally, you might come on a pair of cats that's so bonded that they constantly cuddle, play, or groom each other, but I think it's more status quo for the cats to mostly just tolerate each other.\n\nCats can also not get along at all. They could outright attack each other. Adult male cats even have a reputation for killing kittens, though that is more common for unneutered males. \n\nThere are also less extreme but still undesirable dynamics, like one cat might bully the other by hogging access to necessities, or playing too rough.\n\nWith kittens though, their territorial behavior is less established. They're more likely than adults to actually get along and want to play with each other. Some people even advise adopting kittens in pairs, especially if you have no cats in your house already. With most adult cats, being alone is perfectly fine, as long as they get enough attention from their owner.", "I'm not sure of the answer exactly, but\n\n\n I sometimes hold her and kiss on the cheek together with a soft hug. However, I have the feeling that such action does not have any effect on her...\n\n\nIf you look at mammals in general, facial licking is practiced as a means of communication by (those without hands) from soon after birth onwards. It is likely that you get a small rush of neurohormones that mediate social bonding - oxytocin and vasopressin - when you put your baby's face to yours and coo, kiss, soothe, or other. Same with the hug. Your daughter also gets some neurohormone release: oxytocin also decreases stress. So, this behavior is very important to both of you, and nurtures a pair-bond and trust, among many other things. \n\nIt is so important that the genes for oxytocin and vasopressin - ancient genes - display a marked conservation in structure and expression. Mutations decreasing the neuroregulatory functions are not tolerated, but there are some mutations in higher social aminals, i.e. in New World monkeys, that seem to correlate with male paternal care. Decreased amounts are found in some mental illnesses. So keep up the good work.\n\nUnfortunately, searching the literature for preschoolers and understanding of kisses nets a lot of information about sexuality, abuse, and other unhelpful topics.\n\n\n Is it an instin[c]tive action or something they learn from the context?\n\n\nChimpanzees and other non-human primates kiss to comfort, recognize, placate, etc. This activity begins early. The presence of kissing in non-human primates and facial licking in animals, and the release of oxytocin during such activities clearly points to an instinctual context. Clearly it is also refined socially. That's the best I can do.\n\nNeuropeptidergic regulation of affiliative behavior and social bonding in animals\n Oxytocin, vasopressin, and the neurogenetics of sociality.\n Evolutionary pattern in the OXT-OXTR system in primates: coevolution and positive selection footprints.\n Oxytocin, stress and social behavior: neurogenetics of the human oxytocin system\n The first kiss: Foundations of conflict resolution research in animals", "Men typically start developing facial hair in the later years of\n puberty or adolescence, between seventeen and twenty years of age, and\n most do not finish developing a fully adult beard until their early\n twenties or later. This varies, as boys may first develop facial\n hair between fourteen and sixteen years of age, and boys as young as\n eleven have been known to develop facial hair.(source : Wikipedia)\n\n\nPi is only 16 years old during the course of the story, and not every 16 year old boy has facial hair.", "If you look at some of the research on how people react to actual photos of people in the context of a social media profile image, you can get a fair idea of the different effects that a picture can have on people.\n\nTake this research that looks at first impressions on facial images that says\n\n\n A variety of relatively objective assessments can be made upon perceiving an individual’s face. Their age, sex, and often their emotional state can be accurately judged (1). However, inferences are also made about social traits; for example, certain people may appear more trustworthy or dominant than others. These traits can be “read” from a glimpse as brief as 100 ms (2) or less (3), and brain activity appears to track social traits, such as trustworthiness, even when no explicit evaluation is required (4). This finding suggests that trait judgments are first impressions that are made automatically, likely outside of conscious control.\n\n\nTools like Photofeeler have also been developed to help gather this information from users, and can be used to help gauge what the potential reaction to the profile images might be. \n\nBut if you think about it, the information contained within the photo that doesn't exist in the avatar or name is just a snapshot in time of the person. This information persists because we keep seeing the same image but it is modified by our interactions with the person. A name simply provides identifying information for an individual, and an avatar is intended a stylized view of a profile image that provides a consistent theme and style but doesn't have to resemble the person in any way (the same could be said of a glamour shot or an expertly taken selfie).\n\nTherefore, you can see profile images as a way for people to manipulate (i.e. you can change it without changing your actual personality or traits) first impressions whereas people will be relying on other types of interactions to determine character traits like trustworthiness, confidence and friendliness in the absence of the identifying feature that you get from photos. \n\nThis has implications for whether your application has:\n\n\na short window of interaction time or long durations\na one-time interaction or repeated contact/touchpoint\n1-to-1 interactions or group dynamics", "The modern view of ancient civilization, including that of Greece and Rome, has been heavily censored. Ancient writings on these topics have been systematically expunged or destroyed over the centuries. In general, the ancients were far more promiscuous than society is today. Pederasty was considered somewhat amoral, but was widely practiced. In Rome, forcing somebody else's kid was illegal by the Scatinian law, technically speaking. The reality was a lot of people broke the law. Using slave boys as catamites was more a convenience than a legal necessity, as you could keep the slave boy around 24-7, something that could not be done for a free-born boy. In cases where boys were foster children or had been put into the care of another family, the likelihood of abuse was high, especially if it was a military base or encampment.", "Assuming that the indexes are 100% accurate, then the Marriage Finder will be 100% accurate, given that the spouse will always have the same Volume, Page and Quarter as the input person. \n\nHowever, please note that the output is usually a list of marriages - if you are looking for a marriage of a named bride in a specific district and quarter, then the best that you will get is a choice of 2 grooms, who are the 2 grooms on that page. If there are 2 brides with those details, you will get 4 potential grooms. \n\nEven if you supply the name of John for the groom, you might get multiple choices if both grooms on that page are named John. \n\nNB most GRO pages contain 2 marriages - I have an idea that the earliest had more, so that you will see more options.\n\nIf indexes are mistranscribed, the marriage finder will not be accurate.", "This article might be helpful. In particular, humans need social connections (according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs). Stress initiates people to come together. It was thought that women would come together during disaster and men would fight (i.e. the fight and flight response). However men also come together during disaster.\n\nA distinction must be made between acute and chronic stress. Acute stress (e.g. once in a life time natural disasters) promote social bonding and connection. Chronic stress (e.g. smoking, ruminating a lot, etc.), however, does not seem to produce the same effect. When the acute stress is removed, there is no imminent need for social bonding with strangers.\n\nFrom a biological basis, it seems that oxytocin might play a key role. In particular, oxytocin is released as a reaction to a social experience. So if a people see others in distress they may release oxytocin which promotes prosocial behavior.", "As I understand it all Jewish brides are stolen, they are snatched away. \n\n\n All Jewish brides were said to be “stolen, caught up, or snatched up\n by surprise.” The bride was then led to the groom’s house by a wedding\n procession of women carrying lighted lamps, similar to the Parable of\n the Ten Virgins that we will explore in next month’s Personal Update.\n\n\nTraditionally the Father of the Bride and the Father of the groom along with the groom negotiate terms for the brides hand and the covenant is sealed with wine. The groom then goes off to prepare a place in his father's house for his bride. The groom then comes in an evening unannounced and snatches his bride away. \n\nBride and groom retreat to the bridal chamber prepared by the groom and the couple consummate the marriage and share their bridal week together. They then come out of the bridal chamber to celebrate the marriage feast with friends and family.\n\nParallels: \n\n\nChrist sealed His covenant for His bride with His own blood depicted by wine\nSome believe Christ will steal His bride at the rapture\nSome believe that Christ like the groom is preparing a place for us as promised in John 14:2\nSome believe the bridal week is likened to the seven year tribulation where the bride will be with the groom\nSome believe the marriage feast will be like the millennial reign of Christ", "Is the revamp of Stack Exchange and realtime update of questions related to any social/marketing plans of Stack Exchange and to an extent CHAOS (External Relations) work?\n\n\n...not that I'm aware of. If we did turn into a social network quite a few developers would find the nearest open elevator shaft.\n\n\n Did the previous page layout prove not be beneficial to users?\n\n\nYes, in fact it was very confusing to new users coming to the network for the first time...these changes aim to improve that new (and existing) user experience.", "Yes, it's normal -- or as normal as cats ever get; they're quirky beasts. \n\nPetting a cat is grooming behavior; he's grooming you in return. It's a friendly gesture... and/or a hint that he wants attention. Probably both.\n\nI've known cats which lick elbows, lick fingertips, chew gently on fingertips, or just groom whatever's within reach... one woud try to lick your lips if you blew gently at her. Not all cats do this, or do it to all humans, but it's far from uncommon.", "Very timely question. There was an interview in Time on this very question, with Amy Schalet.\n\nAmy Schalet is a researcher of sexuality and culture (comparative sexuality), currently assistant professor of sociology at UMass. She has her Ph.D in sociology from UC Berkeley. Schalet's book is Not Under My Roof: Parents, Teens and the Culture of Sex. For more information about her credentials, see: Amy Schalet: Bio at UMass.\n\nSchalet disagrees with this idea that boys and men are uncontrollably in rut and that women simply have to be protected. She says the facts tend to bear out that boys and men are very romantic and normally conceive of sex as a part of a relationship.\n\nHere's the chilling part. Schalet concludes that societies which fear and suppress sexual behavior tend to create more men who are sexual bullies. So the cultures which put in place these protective (i.e. fear-driven) strategies are actually creating the very problem they say they are trying to solve. It's a vicious cycle.", "Wherever a society exists, there is repeated exchange. And wherever there is repeated exchange, there are also markets.\n(Of course, markets can vary in the degree of their development/functioning. One market may be better developed/functioning than another in that it has more frequent transactions, better enforced property rights and contracts, greater honesty/trust, lower transaction costs, greater competition, better flows of information, etc.)\nExchange should be understood broadly: It can be one tangible object for another or even a piece of information for another. It can also be gift exchange. (A common layperson error is to think that only exchanges involving money count as exchanges.)\nGift exchange includes instances where a hunter shares his big find with everyone in the group, with the tacit understanding that he has access to the group's other resources. It could also be where one group assists a second group, with the tacit understanding that the second group will provide assistance should the need arise.\nRough exchange ratios can be implicitly established and sustained through tradition: If lazy John is always skiving, then members of the community will notice and eventually sanction him (through e.g. ostracism). So, if John is consistently taking from the rest of the community $X$ amount of meat every month, then he must also contribute $Y$ in fruit or other goods and services monthly to the rest of the community, in order to avoid sanction. Over time, rough exchange ratios (and these may be a wide band) may form and be embedded in tradition. And if conditions change so that meat becomes more abundant/scarce relative to fruit, then the exchange ratios may change accordingly.\n(There is also the evolutionary argument that these exchange ratios will tend to be &quot;correct&quot; in the sense that they correspond to actual scarcity: Groups that maintain the correct exchange ratios thrive, while those that don't die out. Groups that develop strong social norms to punish free-riders and reward appropriate levels of reciprocity thrive, while those that don't die out.)\n\nIf two isolated individuals each living on his own deserted island visits each other and engages in an isolated exchange once or twice in their lifetimes, then one could possibly argue that no market exists. But then one should also argue that these two individuals do not form a society (under any reasonable definition of the term &quot;society&quot;).", "Unfortunately it is not necessary to invoke group selection to answer this question. This is one of the reasons that Dawkins likes this discussion so much - he does not believe in group selection and so the discussion in SG does not invoke group selection. ESSs are described in the book as the product of direct competition or interaction between genes. \n\nESSs in this case, can be described in terms of game theory. In the famous Prisoner's Dilemma experiment, Grudger is similar to tit for tat, which 'won' the competition in the original Axelrod contest. \n\nTo see how this works you make a simple win/loss game matrix: \n\n G NG\nG win 1 win 3\nNG lose 3 lose 1\n\n\nif you are groomed you win 1, if you are groomed, but you don't have to groom - even better win 3 (say)\nIf you groom but are not groomed, lose 3\nIf neither of you are groomed, you both lose 1\n\none might argue the exact proportions, but the point is that getting some thing for nothing is better than reciprocating, and getting nothing for your efforts and time are a loss, because you could have been getting groomed by someone else. As you can see cheaters end up in the top row all the time. grudgers end up along the diagonal, and once in a while in the lower left, Suckers get stuck in the lower left a lot whenever there is a cheater around. \n\nnow run this encounter over and over. A behavior which scores negative the more times you run is not stable - they are going to disappear from the population, at least if this disadvantage is real\n\nIt has more than one stable outcomes in populations, a population that is full of Grudgers will all groom each other as before you know everyone, you assume they will reciprocate. Everyone wins!\n\nAny invading Cheaters will quickly be at a disadvantage, in that they will not be groomed more than N times where N is the number of grudgers in the community. Note that there is an equilibrium here - the Cheaters may exist in a small number - when N is large enough for a cheater to get enough grooming to make a 'living'. \n\nSuckers can also exist within a population of grudgers, but a population of Suckers where Cheaters show up are quickly sucked dry by the cheaters over several generations where you tally up 'points' and give more, healthier offspring to high scorers. They are not ESS stable. \n\nCheaters are also stable - nobody ever wins, but they don't lose big either and any invading grudgers can't get groomed.", "The way children learn is in many ways supervised. It is true that certain abilities are there genetically (visual system, object recognition, to large extent voice recognition), but a lot of human experience is gained as a result of response, either from the environment or from the mentor (parent, teacher, etc).\n\nSocial interaction is possible only when a human already learned a lot (things we consider trivial, but in fact pretty complex), in this sense this is equivalent to AlphaGo learning to play Go by playing with a copy network. NNs that can only perform object or voice recognition can't interact, they are too primitive for this. And a nearly all of todays AI is on this stage right now.\n\nHowever, it is true that NN learning is much less efficient than human learning and current models are far from AGI. I think RL is the closest area that studies real multi-agent environments.", "&quot;Social&quot; in this context refers to psyche (or adjective psychic) as you found out with help of French. If one reads the Wikipedia article, one realises, that it's more a question of manipulating minds rather than mining ore, building and maintaining machines or other engineering activities. So I would say psika manipulado.\nAddendum 2021-01-07\nI like Eduardo's suggestion of menso for the object of the manipulation, so I revise my answer to mensa manipulado. And if you need to express that it concerns technics for or study of the manipulation:\n\ntekniko por mensa manipulado\nstudo de mensa manipulado\n\n       and so on", "I appolozize for my answer is going to be in little tough tone.\n\nAnd even in religion, special field, there came the most horrible\ndegradations. What can you expect of a race which for hundreds of\nyears has been busy in discussing such momentous problems as whether\nwe should drink a glass of water with the right hand or the left? What\nmore degradation can there be than that the greatest minds of a\ncountry have been discussing about the kitchen for several hundreds of\nyears, discussing whether I may touch you or you touch me, and what is\nthe penance for this touching! The themes of the Vedanta, the\nsublimest and the most glorious conceptions of God and soul ever\npreached on earth, were half-lost, buried in the forests, preserved\nby a few Sannyâsins, while the rest of the nation discussed the\nmomentous questions of touching each other, and dress, and food.\n(The Work Before Us, Lectures from Colombo to Almora, Complete Works\nof Swami Vivekananda Vol 3 )\n\nNo, decisions about what clothing you wear aren't spiritually important.", "In Islam it is the groom who have to give the dower(Mahr in arabic) to bride. \n\nQuran says\n\n\n \"And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously.\n But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in\n satisfaction and ease.\" 4:4 source :http://quran.com/4/4\n\n\nGiving of dower and acceptance of it is important part of marriage, without giving of dower, marriage would be invalid. So if groom demands from the bride more than what is given as dower, then in effect it is like he is not giving the dower.\n\nAs mentioned in the verse, after dower is given, if bride willingly give back from the dower, then there is nothing wrong in receiving it.", "The chosen one has better pheromones than the general population.\nAfter a few decades of being hunted, the animals have learnt that the smell of a human approaching is bad news. When they smell human, they try to run, or try to hide. If a human corners them and is nice to them, they just panic / freeze until they get a chance to escape, and then suffer PTSD for the rest of their days.\nA human hand offering food smells like a death trap, and the animals will flee to save their own lives.\nHumans are good hunters so can throw spears further than their smell travels, for many animals smelling humans means it's already too late to flee and they have to hide. Bathing isn't that common, but with a lack of deodorant the pheromones return quickly even when bathed.\nYour hero doesnt have the pheromone that the animals have keyed into. They can offer food to the animal without the animal panicking, and make friends, etc.\nOr, related. Your hero doesn't wear animal skin.\nHumans hunt and kill animals, eating them, and skinning their hides to make clothing. They've developed leather softening techniques and dyes and can make some nice fashion.\nYour hero is allergic to one of these chemicals or dyes, or perhaps allergic to leather in general, so can't wear leather. They have to make clothing from weaving fibres instead.\nWhen a normal human approaches an animal, the animal smells the decaying flesh of its brothers, and runs away traumatised from the whole experience, exactly the same as I would if you killed my family and wore their skin as clothing.\nYour hero doesn't dress in the skin of their families, so the animals are willing to give them a shot.\nBecause of the skill of the leatherworkers - leather clothing looks great, is extremely comfortable, and is easy to make in a huge variety of outfits. The woven non-leather clothes are not immediately noticeable as different, and because of the time involved in weaving, woven clothes are so much more expensive than leather ones, and unless you're allergic to leather, no-one will be wearing entirely non-leather.", "It sounds to me like your cats mostly get along, and some of this is your worrying the situation is far worse than it actually is. Here's my read on some of their interactions:\n\nThe cats cuddle and groom each other, though you only see them do it &quot;a little.&quot; This is a very good sign that your cats actually do get along. For many if not most cats, merely being peacefully near each other is the most socializing they will ever do when they aren't playing. Grooming and cuddling is a level of socializing above and beyond what you can reasonably hope for when introducing cats that have never met before.\nThe one cat lies next to the other, and the other cat gets up and leaves. This is also a perfectly fine interaction. The one cat leaving is sort of a polite &quot;no thank you,&quot; in terms of cat interactions. Perhaps the one cat is more cuddly than the other, but that is okay, as the other cat is politely turning it down.\nAfter breaking up what you perceive as a bad play session, the &quot;victim&quot; simply walks away. If the bad play session were truly serious, the &quot;victim&quot; wouldn't merely walk away. I would expect it to flee and hide, or show some other signs of fear or aggression.\n\nHowever, that said, I do think you may have a little bit of a problem with the play sessions. It's more typical for play sessions to be silent, though some cats might have the habit of vocalizing some during play without it particularly meaning something bad. Definitely it's a bad sign if they hiss, scream, or do quite a lot of vocalizing. The other bit is that occasionally the one cat runs and hides from the other. It's hard to judge when I can't see exactly what is happening, but my guess is that your one cat is sometimes getting a bit too rough for the other.\nIn these cases, it is a good idea to separate them. But instead of clapping, it might be enough to distract them using a toy, though if toys don't work, the clapping seems good enough.\nYou also mention that this happens in the morning, which is also common. Many cat owners feed their cats first thing in the morning, and cats tend to get hyper around mealtimes, plus they've just spent all night not being entertained. Therefore it might also help if you could change something about your schedule so that all this doesn't coincide into making your cats maximally hyper. Here's a few things you could try to see if any of it works:\n\nChange their feeding schedule so that they get their meals later, and not immediately after you wake up, and play with them beforehand.\nIf you feed them dry food, you could also try using an automatic feeder to feed them while you're asleep.\nKeep them more entertained while you sleep. An easy way to do this is by giving part of their meals in food puzzle toys left out overnight, for instance, as long as you aren't concerned about one of the cats eating too much while you can't monitor them.\n\nBut since overall their relationship seems good, I don't think this is something to be overly concerned about.", "The answer below are based on the assumption that the intergovernmental transfers ($4.8 trillion) that the government owes to itself (a large percentage of which is the Social Security trust fund) will actually be paid back to the Social Security Department. If the government defaults, the SS Department will be in the same boat as other creditors. If you don't accept this assumption, the Social Security department currently does not receive&nbsp;enough revenue to cover outlays.\n\nThe Social Security Department puts it at 2033\n\n\n Social Security’s total expenditures have exceeded non-interest income of its combined trust funds since 2010, and the Trustees estimate that Social Security cost will exceed non-interest income throughout the 75-year projection period. [...] After 2020, Treasury will redeem trust fund asset reserves to the extent that program cost exceeds tax revenue and interest earnings until depletion of total trust fund reserves in 2033, the same year projected in last year’s Trustees Report. \n\n\nThe Congressional Budget Office puts it at 2035, with a range of uncertainty of 80% in their simulations (between 2029-2045)\n\n\n CBO projects that under current law, the DI trust fund will be exhausted in fiscal year 2016 and the OASI trust fund will be exhausted in 2038." ]

[ "I have had a tough time finding boots this year, so I ordered and received 10 pair at the same time. These might have been a keeper, but they fit me a little weird. I ordered the 9.5, but the 10 may have worked, but I think these are a little basic for the price and the Ariat Vera Cruz and Ariat Heritage J Toe Western Wingtip were much better choices for me. I'm sending these back with no apprehension." ]

[ "Okay, a little sappy. A lot of on and off romance which is common to romance novels. Not overtly Christian, however it is fairly wholesome.", "As I have Mention in another Review, I listen to the Entire Album on YouTube. At 1st, the Song/s were okay but, I RE-Listen to the Entire Album and it has Grown on Me", "Very well written in plain common language\nThought I was a fairly good man ,until I read this book\nI may have been a man, but I wasn't a very godly man", "Just want to be sure that Darcy and Elizabeth fans are aware that this book is a re-do of the 2006 publication -- it was a fairly good book -- but the 2009 one is nothing new.", "A fairly by-the-numbers superhero origin story complete with nemesis, damsel in distress, and learning process for powers. I liked the idea and found the first few chapters promising, but the lack of originality and depth wore on me very quickly. If you're looking for a quick read, it's an okay choice. But if you're looking for any meat, look elsewhere.", "So far the battery seems okay, although it needed re-charging after a couple of days, mostly idle. The old battery barely held the charge for a day, so it's got to be better than that.", "This book, and the two following it are okay. Fine enough for a quick read, although disputes and problems get fixed so quickly and are forgiven far faster than most family dynamics usually follow.\n\nBut I got SO tired of every time a character discovered something, got surprised, had a brilliant thought, that they were described as their \"eyes went round\". Seeing that phrase so much got distracting...just plain repetitious.", "Item arrived in very short order. Instructions are short and fairly clear. I had it installed and both key FOBs re-programmed in under 15 minutes. These folks get my highest recommendation.", "At first I bought this item it worked okay and was better then having to plug my camera in all the time, but after starting to conflict with other software it would lose contact with my computer after a couple uses. I would have to re-boot to re-establish contact. I ended up tossing this product. I recommend a Kodak reader for your Kodak cameras.", "I got a junk set of batteries, It worked for the 1st two days, at least I saw it start up and go. The following days it just went straight back to the charger as soon as neato got 5 - 10 feet away from the base. The days after, neato would pull out, turn 180 degrees, and start crying and reading the \"please return me to charging station\" message. I tried re-booting re-setting the battery, letting it run out of juice and then recharging and then re-setting, again and again in multiple combinations, the battery was just plain dead. Wouldn't hold a charge. I emailed the seller Morpilot for months. I did get one response email saying that they would gladly look in to it for me, asked for the order number, and then ghosted. I have replied 3 times since. No response.\nI was absolutely conned out of my money, and don't know what to do to be made whole!!", "Okay, I have to ask--- \"Was this Steele's first attempt at co-authoring with Ann Rice or was this a failed attempt at a \"Twilight\" script?\" Seriously, this was a steaming turd of a book. I should have been awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded while reading! Coyote was a fairly good read but this one was pure trash with 5th grade storylines.", "I used this to refresh my knowledge. My certification was expiring in March, and I had to re-certify. I thought the book did a decent job of covering the material, and I really appreciated the pictures and the discussions. The test prep material was okay. It tested your knowledge of the material in the book adequately.", "It's fairly complicated to setup, actually.\n\nIt's not sturdily-made, so everytime you put your phone in, or take out, you pull it off the Windshield.\nOr you move it out of Place, and have to re-adjust every single time you use it.\n\nNo suction cup. It uses an adhesive to stick to your window. That's bad. Waste of Money.\n\nIt's a good CONCEPT, just poor folllow-through on Production.", "I just re-read the book.( okay both books Lost in Paradise and Back to Paradise) I fall in love with the characters, probably Euless and the Ethel the most, and Toad Suck Junction all over again. I love the close knit community and how everyone looks out for the members of the community. Great story must read.", "I have used this for about 7 runs between 5 and 10k and so far it has worked very well. The plastic cover is fairly responsive on the iPhone - the home button is sometimes hard to push down but not a big deal. The plastic cover is getting a little greasy - need to find a way to clean it.\n\nIn one 10k run it was quite warm out and the case got a little damp but the iphone seemed to be okay with the level of moisture.\n\nThe key holder is basically useless.", "Add the Oxford Guide to Plain English to your essential reference library alongside The Chicago Manual of Style. Martin Cutts, founder of the Plain Language Commission and longtime advocate for clear, simple but not simplistic writing, crams 21 guidelines into this compact yet comprehensive book. Terse, straightforward writing, effective layout and many examples introduce the reader to plain English while effectively modeling the rules presented. Consult the Oxford Guide to Plain English often if you want to improve your writing.", "I added this tape to my library of 35+ exercise tapes because I absolutely crave variety. If I use the same tapes too often I get bored and find myself making (and using!) excuses not to exercise. This one fits nicely into the \"plain aerobic workout\" category, so it can be alternated with the FIRM-type workouts or plain weights workouts.\nSegment 1 covers one \"mile\" at a fairly easy pace with a little arm movement. Segment 2 is a slightly brisker 1.5 \"miles\", again with a little arm movement. Segment 3 again covers 1.5 \"miles\", but the instructor includes more extensive arm movements.\nIf you're a dedicated exerciser, you may find the intensity a little low -- I have to use hand weights and lots of arm movements to keep my heart rate up, or jog in place instead of walking. I also find the instructor a little annoying at times, and the tape doesn't really get me excited about exercising. This is an ideal beginners' tape, though, since there is virtually no choreography. All in all, a decent tape, but advanced exercisers may want to consider something more interesting like \"Donna-mite\" or \"Latin Rhythms\" for their plain aerobics days.", "It was just okay. I found it rather boring. Her main character was a young woman passing herself off as a young man in the Civil War era in order to keep her traveling companions safe. Characters too plain. Did not like the switching back and forth from her character in the middle of the war with her sister's character in her supposedly safe haven. I am reading the second in the series only because I purchased it at the same time. Not sure yet if I will finish the series.", "A plain girl as heroine! How unique is that!! Unique enough to make a wonderful, heart-warming story.\n\nThis author weaves an enthralling tale of an intelligent, but plain girl in the 17th century coming to terms with poverty and plain looks. To me, she is beautiful all along, growing even more so as she grows in character.\n\nI love this book.", "I highly recommend this drone to anyone interesting in flying, whether you're a beginner or have been flying for a while. That being said, there was a slight learning curve (for me at least) when I first took it out of the box. But once you get a feel for it it's an easy and fun time. However, I strongly recommend buying a set of spare propellers and a prop cage with the drone, as the blades are fairly brittle and you're going to be hitting the wall a few times when you first start flying. Overall, this is an excellent purchase, just be mindful of where you fly it.\n\nP.S. the camera is okay, nothing to write home about. Surprisingly, it works fairly well in low light settings. Keep in mind, you'll have to provide your own micro SD card.", "In comparison with their pineapple/coconut version, the plain coconut cocohydro is super bland. Very little coconut flavor. I would not buy the plain one again, I'd stick with the pineapple/coconut version.", "When playing pickle ball in middle school p.e. class, remember to buy the plain yellow ones. These break easier than the plain ones.", "Arrived pretty quickly considering it came overseas. It did smell somewhat as others have said, but smells okay after washing. As noted by others, one side is considerably longer than the other. After winding long side around my neck once, I tied it once in front. This evened out the length, but then it's a little short to put your hands in the pockets. I wore it while driving and it kept slipping to the back of my head.\nIt is very soft and fairly warm.", "I regularly have baby pets that need a safe place to be when bigger pets are getting used to them. This kennel is easy to set up, folds fairly flat for storage, and works well for the purpose. It is large so I recommend making a template of the footprint and the arc of the door you want to use so you can see if it is okay for your area. I have a smaller one that serves as a travel kennel for my vehicle. I will be buying another as soon as this one shows sign if wear.", "I have lots of Koi Kathryn tops, but they are all solid colors. I want some in this style with nice prints. I love the big pockets and the drawstring tie on the side. This print is beautiful. The reason for 4 stars is because it is fairly thin. I am okay with this because I wear a cami underneath my scrubs anyway, but if I didn't wear a cami, you could probably see through it. I get lots of compliments on it and it is comfortable. I wish I had more designs like this to choose from IN THIS STYLE from Koi!", "I hate plain, ordinary water. This is the only stuff I will drink unless I am DYING. I like it, tastes way better than plain water. Not much more to say.", "I purchased the Home Designer Suite (2017), and although it is fairly full featured, the 3D graphics are a little disappointing (not nearly as hi-res as I expected). The most disappointing thing was that I bought it mostly to plan a kitchen remodel, and under cabinet lighting is not even supported in the \"Suite\" version ! The kicker is, under cabinet lighting IS supported in the \"Interiors\" version, which is $ 20 cheaper ! Lesson learned...... I could have had the under cabinet lighting and saved $ 20 if I would have bought the \"Interiors\" version.", "We love this food for our 5 dogs' regular diet, often topping with a variety of fresh meat, pumpkin, plain yogurt or veggies - different things different times...or just plain dry sometimes. They love it!", "Outdated and dismissive argument against the research on the contribution of discrete lower level skills to reading comprehension. Of course reading should be taught in context, with relevance to students. No one is arguing that. But to dismiss the research on the importance of phonological awareness is just plain wrong. And to dismiss the neurological basis for dyslexia is also plain wrong. This guy is just plain wrong.", "Do you love a solid hero? Do you love the Southwest, the High Plains, plain-spoken folk and a satisfying resolution? Craig Johnson's got it all in this book!", "Bought at the end of November, and by May, only the red lights work in the light show.\n\n+ fun, conversation piece\n+ \"party mode\", music pulses to the beat\n+ bluetooth and also aux in 3.5\" port\n\nSound is okay. It's not Bose, but it can get loud enough for a mid-size room.\nThe dome reflector shoots light in various directions, so you have to place it fairly high (a good 4 ft or higher), otherwise it can be blinding.\nThe biggest downer is that it appears the green and blue LEDs broke in just about six months with regular to low-frequency use, so I'm left with just red, flashing lights.", "Okay, This was a bit helpful but I am afraid too \"I'm okay, You're okay\" for my conservative faith." ]

[ "Seafood, especially shrimps" ]

[ "Oh yes.. it is still one of my favrits.. i have every episod aird. I like it better then the pit/Joli movie.\\nI loved Maria bello and Scott bacula in it.\\nI dont think it has ben enterd in to DVD. I have old vcr tapes.. I just bought a tv card when i lurn how to use that one i vill probely get it on CD. If ya are intrested I gladly cheer a coppy with ya.", "what kind of foods are you eating? if you're constantly downing fast food and other junk foods then it's time to reconsider what you eat.\\n\\nWhen are you eating? what are your activities after you eat? If you're eating and then taking a 5 mile run then that could be why. Conversely, if you're eating at the wrong times (like 2am after a night of binge drinking) then that could be your problem too.", "Figure out what the food is replacing for you...unrequieted love, a crappy childhood, depression...come to terms with that and stop using food as replacement therapy.", "You could diet. Watch what you eat. Eat healthier foods and not the fatty foods with a lot of oil in it.\\nFor more tips on dieting go to http://www.coolnurse.com/dieting.htm", "Here is the surefire way: Don't buy junk food. \\n\\nGo straight from the gym to the grocery store and buy your food. You will have just worked out and you'll be feeling good and healthy. You won't even want junk food in this state, so you can stick to what's healthy. If it's not around, you can't eat it. \\n\\nEnjoy.", "Being a Christian is not about what foods you eat or what songs you sing. It's about following Jesus.", "It's actualy sort of a myth that particular foods cause pimples - it is hormones. Food doesn't cause it, so you can eat what you want: http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20050412.html", "in 7th grade (A LONG TIME AGO) I did a project about how food molds, what makes food mold, and what conditions make it mold the fastest... all of the foods had mayo on them.. it was based around a pic-nic and the saftey of food being left out... that's really all I remember, except that I got an A.", "cut out your fatty foods and walk a lot. walking is the best..when you get what you want from walking then you can do other exercises like in the gym. good luck..but your food is the major issue.", "The entire heart is a pump. The whole thing contracts and expands 72 times a minute on average. What is it's source of energy? Same thing as every other organ's source of energy. . .the food you eat, with the help of oxygen, food broken down into its constituent parts is what fuels the body.", "Consider maybe a problem with the gallbladder. Attention might be directed to what kinds of food are causing the problem, i.e., fatty foods, milk products (lactose intolerance). If it is a problem of diarrhea after eating, this may be the problem. Maybe eliminating one kind of food at a time might give you a clue to what is causing the problem. In any case, see your M.D.", "Certain foods causes a buildup of gases in the stomach. The expulsion of these gasses is what you call a fart.", "Depends on what you mean by \"food poisoning\". Everyone here assumes that you are talking about staph contamination of food, but there are several common bacteria that can contaminate food, and each has a different time line and course of symptoms, from almost immediately until days later. \\n\\nNow if you are talking about someone adding poison to food, that again depends on which poison, from immediate to days, weeks or years later.", "Maybe you should consult a nutritionist, he would give you the right advice on what foods are good for your body and what your intake should be.", "i dont count calories. what you want is a well balanced diet. you should eat every time you are hungry (about 5 times a day), but you must stop eating as soon as you are not hungry. just try to make better food choices, cut excess junk food. if you are truely craving something, that is your body's way of telling you what you need.", "Join weigh watchers, exercise, and eat by the food pyramid. And what ever you do, don't go to mcdonalds.", "You don't *need* that kind of food to live; you've just gotten used to it.\\n\\nI'm assuming that you're relatively young, because your metabolism hasn't slowed and let you know that this kind of food WILL make you put on weight. Aside from the weight issue, these foods will also begin to clog your arteries, no matter what your age, and put you at risk for serious heart problems later in life.\\n\\nBetter to adopt good habits now and get away from the \"junk\" foods, than to pay for it later in life. :)", "Monsanto the chemical manufacturer (makes Roundup) is # 1 in developing GMOs. There are a lot of websites to look at but I recommend www.organicconsumers.org or www.slowfood.com . I am a chef who uses organic foods to produce healthy gourmet products and learned alot just trying to shop for non-GMO foods. We owe it to ourselves not to purchase foods from grocers and restaurants that are GMOs. I'll bet they do not even know what there products are made from. Patronize farmers markets, natural food stores etc. that provide you with healthy foods. You will be amazed at how delicious real food is.", "Foods that contain iodine can be a cause of acne. These foods include all \"shell fish\" i.e. clams,scallops,lobsters,oysters,etc. Also check out what other foods are high in iodine!!!", "I would have to say from the symptoms you describe it probably is food poisoning. Ketchup, like any food, can go bad and grow bacteria. If the bottle in the refrigerator smells bad it probably has bacteria growing in it. Make sure you throw it out. Most of the time when someone has what they call \"stomach flu\" it is actually food poisoning.", "Symptoms of food poisoning are pretty much the same no matter what kind of food it is.\\n\\n\\nSymptoms of food poisoning can range from mild headache to severe flu-like symptoms. The most common signs and symptoms are nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, chills, and vomiting. A person with food poisoning may have any combination of these symptoms depending on the cause or the agent involved. The illness may begin from one to 72 hours after eating the food. If you or any of your family suspect food poisoning, you should seek medical aid and report the poisoning to your local health unit.", "It really differs from person to person. I have eczema all my life. And I can eat dairy foods and chicken and whatever else other people gave as an answer. I haven't found any food trigger in my case. What brings on a flare up is the change in season, especially winter and summer. What I avoid is anything that has perfume. I use non-perfumed soap, detergent and fabric softener. The best think you can do for your eczema is to moisturize all the time 2x, 3x a day, more if you can.\\n\\nAs far as food, you are the best judge. Watch how you react to certain foods.", "Yes, but it depends what you're stopping. For example: you can STOP staring into an empty fridge and go SHOP for food.", "excercise regulary and eat a balanced diet. Avoid fatty foods in the evening and also junk food. Possibly try lose weight with a friend? But eat a small amount of what you like about once every two weeks or you may get stressed and that may prevent you losing weight.", "No,other than this, you can also exercise everyday and do not eat so much of oily foods and foods that contains of fats and too much carbohydrates. We must only eat what you need. Do not take in too much fat, salt and sugar in your diet.", "Regulate your food intake. First, check on what you've been eating. See if there are sinful foods. If you find it hard to avoid them, at least gradually reduce your intake. That's a good start. Needless to say, a good exercise is required.", "It is possible to test whether an emulsion is an inverse emulsion or normal emulsion by working out what the continuous phase is. If you get a sample of your unknown emulsion, put on a watch glass and add a drop of water-soluble dye to it (e.g. food colouring), a normal emulsion will take the colour of food colouring. An inverse emulsion, however, will not take-up the food colouring.", "Try to eat half vegetables, half meat/fish or whatever. Take reasonable portions of food. Try reducing the amount slowly if you believe you eat too much. Let at least half of the plate be vegetables. Snack on fruit or vegetables. Drink water when thirsty, but don't over do it. Try not to add salt to the food. Avoid reward food like candy and such unless you really fought for it, and then in moderation. Decide first what the rewards is gonna be and stick by it.", "I'd argue that lots of healthy foods taste good, but I know what you mean... who'd pick a carrot stick over a cookie? It goes back to when humans lived by hunting & gathering. Back then, it was important to have extra body fat for times when food was scarce. We adapted to prefer foods that taste fatty or sweet because we can get the most energy out of them. Nowadays, what with the over-abundance of food in the western world and nutrition-draining processing techniques, that preference for fat & sugar has backfired and it is far too easy to be obese or diabetic.", "Anything loaded in caffiene is going to help you get motivated (unless you're coming down off a caffiene high).\\n\\nAs long as you eat equally from the four food groups as suggested by the food pyramid and keep a variety to what you eat along with regular/rigorous exercise you should be the most motivated.", "I Don't also found that teaching children how to cook keeps them eating healthy throughout liDoritose them pick from a list of things and have them help you make it. Be sure the food is fun. Also, psychologically, people associate food and taste with childhood memories and fondness. So, I suggest that you make healthy food fun- broccoli is now miniature trees. Stand them up on the plate, both of you pretend you are ogres and eat the whole forest. Children make strange connections that often carries over into adulthood. \\nDont keep much snack food around, and what you do have around keep it healthy. Instead of doritos, keep apple chips, and corn puffs like \"Pirates booty\" (seriously, that is what it is called.hehe)", "I like Alton Brown because he gives you all kinds of tips and tricks on how to make your food come out better. He also tells what certain things happen to the food and how to fix it if you mess up. He makes cooking seem easy and fun!" ]

[ "I like a quiet bar. I have since I was 21. This isn’t an unusual desire; any time I’m at a bar past 8, someone (sometimes it’s not even me!) eventually says “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you. The bar got so loud!” Even the quietest dive fills up now and then with people shouting to be heard, when each person individually wishes the place were quieter. Why, as a culture, have we failed to find a way out of this loudness war? Why are most bars so fucking loud?\nAs my colleague Kelly Stout recently noted at Deadspin, it only takes one person to make the whole place louder. And once that happens, it’s extremely hard to quiet the place down again. Even if one whole group of patrons quiets down, the whispering isn’t nearly as viral as the shouting. Quieting down takes an active command directed at the whole establishment. And only the most officious bar patron would have the nerve to ask all their fellow patrons to quiet down. The solution, then, lies with the bar’s staff. At any bar that isn’t actively cultivating a rager atmosphere, the staff should be shushing the customers.\nAdvertisement\nThe bartender gives and the bartender takes, so the bartender will be obeyed.\nThe bartender is the only person in the place whom everyone must obey. While the owner can set policy, it’s the bartender who makes the decisions on the ground: who gets served first, who gets the good pours, who gets cut off. The bartender is the only one who can claim the authority to set the volume level. The bartender gives and the bartender takes, so the bartender will be obeyed.\nLike the universal basic income, this revolutionary idea has been tested in a real-world experiment. At Burp Castle, in New York’s East Village, whenever the conversation starts getting loud, the bartenders (sometimes dressed as monks, don’t worry about it) will deliver a long, gentle shhhhhhhh. And it works. Everyone in the place settles down to a whisper. I’ve heard it happen many times, and most everyone enjoys it. They recognized the shushing as friendly, not chastising, a necessary check on an innocent human failing. Burp Castle has a 4-star Yelp rating and is, of course, my favorite bar. A few friends chafe at the shushing; they’re still my friends, but I’ve learned something about them.\nAdvertisement\nThis is, I’ll grant, a somewhat extreme and idealized example. Burp Castle only seats a couple dozen people, mostly at tables of two or three. It’s a beer-only bar, which encourages slower alcohol consumption, and it serves only a small craft selection, which encourages patrons to sip thoughtfully (or at least pretentiously) and empowers its bartenders as counselors and beer sommoliers. The music is sometimes jazz, sometimes actual Gregorian chants. The walls are covered in murals of monks behaving badly. Fine, it’s a theme bar. Everything about the place supports the shush gimmick.\nBut there are plenty of classic bars, heavy on the beer and the natural wood, where the occasional shush wouldn’t feel out of place. Wine bars, high-quality liquor bars, bars with multiple hokey signs about not pissing off the staff—all bars where the bartender/patron relationship gives off a whiff of the dom/sub—are ready for the shush. It’d work great in performatively secretive “speakeasies,” and give those places some reason to exist beyond pretending Prohibition wasn’t repealed.\nAdvertisement\nThe level of noise that triggers a shush will vary from bar to bar. In some places the shush will be a bell, or a word, or hell, an ear-shattering airhorn that scares the noise right out of people. And obviously, obviously not every bar should have the shush. Some places are meant to be rowdy. Maybe we’ll find that the ideal percentage of bars that shush is 90%—maybe it’s just 10%. But it’s absolutely more than one." ]

[ "Zachery Bowersock is making a difference in the world, one cocktail at a time.\nFrom raising money to help hospitals care for cancer patients to environmental organizations combating climate change, since January the Aspen bartender has donated a portion of the tips he's earned each month to benefit nonprofits and charitable causes locally and nationally.\nThe 28-year-old Aspenite's latest goal may be his most ambitious: raise $5,000 to benefit the Shining Stars Foundation. The local nonprofit provides social and recreational programs for children and families suffering from cancer and life-threatening illnesses.\nBowersock says a source of his inspiration is \"Bartenders Giving Back\" ­— an initiative he hopes to spread throughout the Roaring Fork Valley — and how a few of his bartending friends in Aspen responded to the April 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal.\nBartenders at Justice Snow's led a fundraising effort, in part using the tips they earned, for a nonprofit helping rebuild homes in Nepal. Two of the bartenders traveled to Nepal to build the longhouses, which Bowersock thought was \"wild.\"\nInspired and motivated by their commitment to help people, Bowersock was bartending at Hop's Culture at the time and walked over to Justice Snow's one night after work. He asked who was managing the fundraiser and donated every penny he earned in tips that day — $233 and change ­— to the cause.\nRecommended Stories For You\n\"He looked up at me and said, 'You just funded a longhouse that could house six to 10 people,'\" Bowersock recalled. \"I thought that was one of the coolest things.\"\nFrom then on, Bowersock was sold.\nAnd while he recognizes that bartending in a ski town isn't the most lucrative or \"financially secure\" of occupations, it's a sacrifice he is happy to make.\n\"I always believe in helping others or people who really need it, and if that means giving up some of the other luxuries of life, I'm fine with that,\" Bowersock said. \"At least that's my mentality toward that.\"\nSince the beginning of this year, Bowersock has donated more than $1,000 to nonprofits and causes. In January, it was $100 to benefit Protect Our Winters; from February to March, he gave $1,080 to the Children's Hospital Colorado in Denver.\nBowersock's latest mission is to help the Shining Stars Foundation. The philanthropist said he chose the local nonprofit to benefit because \"we've all been afflicted by cancer.\"\n\"Whether it be your mom, dad, brother, sister, friend,\" he said, \"I feel like everybody's been touched by cancer in one shape or form.\"\nBowersock, whose last shift of the season tending bar at the Chef's Club was Thursday, has raised $3,100 for the organization since late June.\nShining Stars director of development Megan Bryant said the foundation is \"blown away\" by Bowersock's ambition and dedication.\n\"Every time I talk to him he's off to the next job. It means so much and it does have a huge impact,\" Bryant said, noting that the foundation is small and therefore every dollar helps.\n\"He's giving this money out of his pocket, and he works his butt off. It's very humbling, when people do something like that, giving when it's not easy,\" she said. \"And do it so joyfully like he does, he just does it with so much enthusiasm.\"\nBowersock, who vowed to shave his head should he meet his goal, has no plans of slowing down.\n\"I think right now, in particular, Puerto Rico could use some help,\" he said. \"Wounded Warriors to help out veterans, and I would like to do something to help out with the refugee crisis.\"\nAlong with his last shift behind the bar, Bowersock's final effort to reach his $5,000 pledge to Shining Stars will take place at Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar on Oct. 23. From 7 p.m. to midnight, 100 percent of the bar's sales and gratuity will benefit Shining Stars.\n\"This is not something that's going to end anytime soon,\" Bowersock said. \"I'm going to keep on trying to help those who need help.\"\nerobbie@aspentimes.com", "Inspired by Sen. Kamala Harris, Women of Color Are Sharing Stories About Being Silenced\nIn the span of just one week, Democratic Senator Kamala Harris was interrupted while questioning witnesses during three separate hearings — each time by men.\nOn June 6, she was mansplained to by DHS Secretary John Kelly in a hearing. On June 7, Senator Richard Burr notably manterrupted Harris as she interrogated Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein with a series of tough questions. And history repeated itself on June 13 when the California Democrat was cut off by her Republican male counterparts while grilling Attorney General Jeff Sessions.\nAppalled by the situation, CNN reporter Tanzina Vega invited other women of color to share their own stories of being dismissed or demeaned.\nADVERTISEMENT\nWOC understand what Kamala Harris is dealing with. Raise your hand if you've been shushed, silenced, scolded etc. — Tanzina Vega (@tanzinavega) June 13, 2017\nThe responses flowed in as women shared memories of the upsetting instances in which they, too, were looked down upon or disrespected by people attempting to silence them.\nMy favorite is when people tell me I don't know how to pronounce my own name — Caille Millner (@caillemillner) June 13, 2017\nsadly, it's happened more than once — Caille Millner (@caillemillner) June 13, 2017\nUsually followed by a suggestion of how it \"should be\" pronounced — Caille Millner (@caillemillner) June 13, 2017\nI think my favorite moment was when a male coworker said \"you sound like a hysterical woman\" to me at a staff meeting — Nicole Chung (@nicole_soojung) June 13, 2017\nOr told I was too loud, too aggressive, or too confrontational when I was speaking normally, or talked over. The list just goes on and on. — Jenn (@jennrenee626) June 13, 2017\nI was told that I wasn't \"as smart as I thought I was\". My response-that's not want u said in my interview! 🤦🏾‍♀️ — Coffeegurl (@coffeegurl66) June 13, 2017\nBeing the only person told that I was shouting when I wasn't shouting in a work conversation — The Haitian Princess (@HaitianDiva2012) June 13, 2017\nI'm a paramedic in a white male dominated field. I have been side eyed, shushed, & ignored more times than I can recall. — Resist (@Mdrkcmo) June 13, 2017\nAmong the thread of replies were a series of tweets from white women who chimed in to note how all women experience this type of disrespect. Little did they know — or, perhaps, care — but by making that argument, those women were perpetuating the same silencing of WOC. A positive tweet made that point expertly, summing up exactly how all women can better support WOC as intersectional feminists:", "A chunky little toddler from Pittsburgh is already learning the sad reality so many women face when they can't squeeze into their skinny jeans.\nIn a video uploaded to Facebook by his mom Alyssa Price, little Ryan can be seen trying to zip up his blue jeans.\nIt becomes clear that the tot has outgrown this particular pair, though, when he struggles adorably to get them fastened.\nSuck it in! Alyssa Price, a mother from Pittsburgh, shared a video of her toddler son Ryan\nIn a clip that has been viewed 15 million times on the Facebook page Just Girly Things, Ryan can be seen standing on what appears to be his bed or changing table wearing just a pair of dark blue skinny jeans.\nHis little tummy pushes out over the top, making it difficult for the blonde boy to close them.\n'Can you button 'em?' his mom asks from behind the camera as he tries and fails. 'Are they a little too snug?'\nHe lets out a little whimper and looks up at his mom, asking with his eyes what he should do.\n'Gotta do the skinny jeans dance,' his mom says. 'Suck it in!'\nTotally adorable: In the video, the little boy struggles to zip his jeans, and his mom shows him how to suck it in\nWhat a chunk monster: The little boy smiles while his mom giggles off-camera\nShe then appears to show him what she means off camera, making a loud inhaling noise. He imitates her, sucking in his cute belly with a smile and causing his mother to erupt in giggles.\nClearly finding this adorable, she continues to encourage him to suck it in so she can watch his belly move.\n'Oh, man, I don't think it's gonna happen, either,' she finally says as they both admit defeat.\nSince the video was shared, thousands of people have chimed in to talk about how cute and funny the boy is, saying things like, 'struggle is real'.\nViral cutie pie: The video has been viewed 15 million times\nTime to shop: In the end, the mom admits he seems to have outgrown the jeans\nA select few, though, have called the video 'awful', chastising the mother for teaching her impressionable son to be ashamed of his belly — baby fat which all children have, and which the mother seems to think is quite cute.\nOthers have gone so far as to call the baby overweight.\nEven more commenters, however, have shushed the critics, writing that 'chubby babies are the cutest'.\n'That baby is adorable and HEALTHY,' wrote one. 'My babies were well-fed chunky monkeys. And now they are teens, still well fed, lean and mean and beautiful! You people bashing this baby and mommy should be ashamed!'", "Chicago bartenders are at the forefront of innovative cocktailing so it only makes sense that a Chicago bartender won the qualifying competition at Speed Rack.\nKatie Renshaw, bartender at GT Prime, won Miss Speed Rack Midwest Sunday night, which secures her position as a competitor at the national finals. Speed Rack is a women-run, all-women bartending competition with proceeds going toward breast cancer research, education and prevention.\nThis was Renshaw’s second time competing. She got the wild card permission to go to finals last year, but didn’t make it past the preliminaries.\n“It still feels not real,” Renshaw said of her win.\nRenshaw went to a Speed Rack competition as a spectator before she started bartending and was inspired by all the talented women in the industry, especially ones from Chicago.\n“It’s been a goal of mine since I started bartending,” Renshaw said.\nMost of the cocktails in the competition are classics, but there are also “dealer’s choice” drinks that the competitor has to come up with herself. One of Renshaw’s cocktails was made with gin, Carpano Antica vermouth, palo cortado sherry, creme de cassis, honey and bitters. The other was made with blanco tequila, dry vermouth, Campari, apricot liqueur and bubbles.\nThe national finals this year will be held in Chicago for the first time, after being traditionally held in New York where the competition was born.\n“Chicago has become the place in this country where people are kind of flocking to for new ideas and new concepts,” said Ivy Mix, co-founder of Speed Rack. “The reason why this stuff is happening here is that the people who live here care about it.”\nLynette Marrero, co-founder of Speed Rack, said that Chicago has women who are not only talented, but creating their own style and voice of cocktails, pushing the industry forward. She hopes their energy can also help push forward conversations and solutions about financial planning, wellness, sexual harassment and diversity.\nAt the end of the day, Renshaw said the biggest benefit of Speed Rack is being able to bartend next to some of her “absolute idols.”\n“I’ve met so many amazing women through Speed Rack and that’s really what I love more than anything,” Renshaw said.\ngwong@chicagotribune.com\nTwitter @gracewong630", "While having the event in Minneapolis has been a pain in the ass for anyone doing anything related to downtown, watching the game for free on TV should be a blast. We're expecting lots of cold-weather jokes, B-roll travel footage, and Easter eggs that should be highly amusing for us to spot while watching. So let's drink to our fair city. The following is a game that should get you good and toasted.\nTake a healthy swig when there's any reference to:\n... former Vikings coach Bud Grant. (Drink double if they talk about Grant always wearing short sleeve shirts in winter.)\n... the weather in Minneapolis.\n... how great of a time everyone's had this week/how great all the locals have been to the out-of-towners.\n... the very fancy, hugely scientific material used to build the see-through US Bank Stadium roof (drink triple if they actually mention that it's killing birds).\n... Fargo, the Cohen Bros., that 'Sota accent.\nPregame festivities:\nDo a healthy chug when the fighter jets show up.\nSlam your beer if there are any National Anthem shenanigans.\nShots!\nDo a shot the first time they mention Prince.\nDo a shot when/if the announcers mention that the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl.\nDo a shot the first time someone complains about the officiating.\nDo a shot when they show the Stone Arch Bridge/skyline for the first time.\nDo a shot when they show footage of someone ziplining.\nThe game and the crowd:\nHead into the kitchen for more eats anytime the camera pans to Giselle Bunchen looking suuuuper bored.\nCrack open another cold one if they make a cold weather comment as they show a painted guy with his shirt off (it's not cold in the stadium, guys).\nEat something with cheese on it if they cut to Mall of America footage.\nHalf-time entertainment:\nChug when you remember how shitty everyone treated Janet Jackson after Nipplegate, while JT's back on the same stage where he once tore her top off.\nChug if Janet Jackson gets to make a redemption appearance.\nDo a shot if there's a nipple.\nCommercials:\nToast to Minnesota the first time they play a Twin Cities band's song as bumper music leading into a commercial.\nSlam your beer anytime a someone shushes you because they are really into Super Bowl commercials. Dude, it's just consumerism.", "One only has to head to Logan Square or the West Loop to see that Chicago’s cocktail game is strong, as robust and vibrant as in cities like New York, London or LA. Banking on this reputation, three local industry vets are getting together for a new cocktail conference for both consumers and industry insiders, with Chicago as the backdrop.\nCaitlin Laman (Ace Hotel), Shelby Allison (Lost Lake) and Sharon Bronstein (The 86 Co.) are the brains behind Chicago Style, a new cocktail conference May 7-10, timed to run just after the James Beard Foundation Awards.\n“We love visiting other cities during their cocktail weeks and getting to know the bartending communities there,” said Allison on a call with the Tribune. “Major cities like New Orleans and New York have really highlighted their cocktail scene, and we want to do the same here, but with a twist.”\nChicago Style will not be the first cocktail conference in Chicago — the Chicago Cocktail Summit is another homegrown effort, held the last two years at the Logan Square Theater — but it is the first conference with a vocal, socially conscious mission.\n“The bar industry, and the world in general, has had its issues about not highlighting diverse voices,” said Laman, “We’ve made it a point to be super inclusive about our participants and our programming.” For instance, Chicago Style’s marquee event is a partnership with Speed Rack, a bartender competition founded by two other industry vets, Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, to celebrate women bartenders and benefit breast cancer charities. Speed Rack will host its national championship event in Chicago for the first time this year.\nProposed programming also includes a seminar or panel with Causing a Stir founders Alexis Brown and Ariel Neal, two Chicago bartenders whose mission is to empower people of color and underrepresented communities in the hospitality industry through networking and educational events.\n“Ariel and Alexis are helping black bartenders create visibility to make themselves heard and accounted for,” said Bronstein, the director of marketing behind spirits brands Ford’s Gin and Tequila Cabeza, among others. “One other panel will focus on practical applications for creating intersectional workspaces, plus other topics, like health and wellness for industry members.”\n“I think the most important thing we wanted to do was create a platform and space for people who haven’t been historically represented to share their stories,” said Allison. “It’s a chance for leaders and the usual personalities to take a moment to listen to another person’s experience.”\nThe mission-oriented programming of Chicago Style seems a direct response to other similar conferences, namely Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, the largest beverage industry gathering in the country. According to The New York Times, in 2017, Ann Tuennerman, the organization’s founder, and her husband, Paul, stepped away from the 15-year-old business they’d built; this followed a string of racially insensitive incidents, including walking in the famed Zulu Mardi Gras parade in blackface and a subsequent Facebook Live video posted by Paul with racially charged comments. Tales is now under new ownership and is still planned for July.\n“The bar industry is all about sharing experiences,” said Laman. “We can address issues in the space, like inclusion and diversity, but also talk about a lot of the natural stuff that goes on in bars, like sustainability.”\nAnother marquee event is a partnership with Trash Tiki, a London-based industry group that helps bars creatively tackle waste management. “Sustainability with a punk attitude,” said Bronstein.\nAnd though this woman-run event is intentionally intersectional, men shouldn’t feel excluded. “There are male voices also included in the mix, but just not in the proportions people have been used to,” said Allison, pointing to such luminaries as historian David Wondrich and Josh Harris, of San Francisco’s Trick Dog.\nTickets for Chicago Style will go on sale in March, with additional programming to be announced in the coming weeks. For now, interested parties can sign up for updates at drinkchicagostyle.com, but meanwhile, the team is excited to spotlight the city’s entire bar scene.\n“(Chicago Style) isn’t about being a woman in the industry,” said Bronstein, “it’s about bringing all the voices together.”\nLaman agrees. “The content’s the same as any other cocktail conference. It’s just that the people you’re hearing from are going to be different.”\njbhernandez@chicagotribune.com\nTwitter@joeybear85\nChicago bartender wins Speed Rack competition, advances to nationals »\nChicago's cocktail history is surprisingly bare. Why? »\nChicago's best cocktails, bars, bar gadgets and more »", "Anna Thorn steps up to the speed bartending competition table, preps the glass and tinware and waits.\n\"Are you ready?\" the judges ask.\n\"Yes,\" she says. After all, she has been honing her skills for four years.\nWhile the judges might be her friends and the competition is only practice, this is exactly what will happen during the speed bartending competition on Feb. 18.\n“I’ve always had a competitive drive in me, so when one of my friends was like, ‘Hey, there are competitions for this,’ I was like, ‘Yeah, obviously I want to participate,’”Anna Thorn,bartender at Café Trio Recommended Stories For You\nThorn, a bartender at Café Trio in Park City, recently got involved in the competitive sport. She is currently getting ready for her first competition, Speed Rack, which is scheduled to take place in Phoenix.\nSpeed Rack is an all-female bartending competition that takes place around the world and raises money for breast cancer research and prevention. Thorn is participating in the Southwest region competition.\nThe young bartender did not grow up thinking that she would be a bartender, let alone compete in it, but she has found a space where she can excel and tap into her competitive side. She loves bartending because she can get to know patrons and help craft their experience with the drinks she prepares for them.\nThorn grew up playing ultimate Frisbee competitively, traveling around the world for competitions. When she heard that she could compete in bartending last year, there was no hesitation to jump on board.\n\"I've always had a competitive drive in me, so when one of my friends was like, 'Hey, there are competitions for this,' I was like, 'Yeah, obviously I want to participate,'\" she said.\nThe friend who told Thorn about the competitions is another bartender named Jess Sandberg. Sandberg, who works at Under Current in Salt Lake City, has competed in Speed Rack for three years.\nSandberg has helped grow the sport of female speed bartending in Utah. She competed last year in Speed Rack and qualified to compete in nationals. This year, she helped gather 10 women bartenders who are going down to Phoenix to compete for a chance to go to nationals.\nAlthough those women will be competing against each other in a few weeks time, for now they are working like a team. They meet once or twice a week to practice, drilling each other for hours on ingredients for cocktails or timing each other as they mix drinks. When they are not practicing with each other, they are timing themselves and testing their knowledge at work.\nThe Speed Rack preliminary competition requires the bartenders to know their drinks well and work quickly. When they go on stage, the judges tell them to make four cocktails from a list of eight and they set up glassware and tins before the timer starts counting down.\nOnce finished, the ladies must hit a buzzer and the fastest bartender without penalties wins. They are judged on accuracy for the drink, in ingredients, shake or stir time and presentation. It is a bracket-style competition. During the final rounds, judges select two cocktails from a list of 85 and two \"bartender's-choice\" cocktails.\nThorn hopes to represent Utah well, but said, regardless, she has enjoyed the time practicing and improving her skills. She said that some customers have commented about how fast she makes drinks, particularly while she is stirring a drink in one hand and shaking with the other.\nBut one of the main things that has come from the competition is the community she has come to be a part of.\n\"It's been so great,\" she said. \"What's cool about the women we all practice with is that we've all sat at bars and been served by all of these women but we've never really become friends. It's definitely creating this awesome sisterhood.\"\nThey check in on each other, both to make sure they are keeping up on practicing but also checking on each other's well-being, since working for 10 hours on one's feet without a break can take its toll on the body.\n\"We've definitely come together as a group of women, which is cool,\" she said.", "If you doubt that New York City breeds the smartest...\nA. This New Yorker left a dozen “Jeopardy” opponents crying in their beer.\nQ. Who is Manhattan bartender Austin Rogers?\nThe 39-year-old quiz king, who won $411,000 and the admiration of millions during a 12-game winning streak on “Jeopardy” last fall, is still slinging suds Fridays and Sundays at Gaf West in Hell’s Kitchen.\nHis goofy gesticulations, unkempt hair and wild wagers resonated with “Jeopardy” diehards like 30-year-old Maryland mortgage analyst Amanda Sparks, who traveled to the 48th Street gin mill recently to get a glimpse of her game-show gladiator.\n“Oh my god, it really is him!” Sparks gushed. “My hands are sweaty, my heart’s racing!”\nRogers — fifth all-time on the show’s leader board — stopped to pose for a photo with a beaming Sparks, who explained his appeal.\n“He had a bit of personality to go along with the way he was kicking everybody’s ass,” she recalled.\nIn between Bud Lights, Ryan Doyle, 23, tried to stump Rogers with an HQ trivia question about the earliest form of contraception.\n“The Egyptians used crocodile dung!” Rogers correctly crackled.\nHost Alex Trebek once described Rogers to viewers: “He’s got hair, he’s got chutzpah and broad-based knowledge.”\nRogers mixes minutiae and cocktails simultaneously at his 12-stool stage, as patrons pepper him with queries about his favorite book (“Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898”); whether he has a photographic memory (“I do not, but I just remember everything.”); and what’s Trebek like offstage (“There is no offstage. He only interacts onstage.”).\nRogers, grew up in Westchester the son of a park ranger and veterinary worker. He attended Macalester College in Minnesota where he studied music and history. He was an events planner with the Asia Society on Park Avenue for a decade and worked in digital advertising for two years before a company merger left him unemployed.\nThe Spanish Harlem resident began bartending out of necessity — he was out of work for about two years.\n“This was my local bar for 16 years. I used to live right around the corner,” he said. So instead of crying in his beer, he decided to serve it.\nHe asked owners Pete Smith and Pat Heenan about his training. “They said, ‘Just bartend, Austin,’ ” he recalled.\n“He’s hilarious!” said Gaf West regular Rohan Kamerkar, 32, who knew Rogers before his “Jeopardy” star turn. “He’s the same guy. … He always knew the most useless information. Or what I thought was useless.”\nRogers believes he won big on “Jeopardy” — $463,000 total, counting $2,000 the day he lost, and $50,000 during November’s “Tournament of Champions” — because he didn’t get flustered when the cameras rolled.\n“I’ve been under the lights before. I’ve been a musician, I’ve done standup,” he said. He has even hosted trivia nights at the pub.\nRogers confessed some guilt in that he played up the bartender “narrative” for the quiz show.\n“A corporate events planner from New York? Or a digital advertising douchebag from New York? But a bartender from New York, everyone is like, ‘He’s one of us!’ And I’m like, “actually not, I’m super educated. But you can believe it — if you really want!’” he laughed.\n“ You know what sucks? Desks.”\nRogers said the other question people ask the most is why he continues to bartend. The answer is easy.\n“I am so happy, the second I get behind the bar. … You hang out with your friends all night — and they pay you for it.”", "Following fierce competition between some of the best bartenders in the UK, Greg Almeida, Head Bartender at The Rosewood Hotel’s Scarfes Bar in London has been crowned the UK champion for this year’s Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition with his exceptional cocktail, An Endless Journey.\nHundreds of bartenders from across the UK ranging from Northern Ireland, Northern and Southern England, Scotland and London accepted the challenge to create a Patrón cocktail with the same passion, precision and care that goes into each bottle of ultra-premium Patrón Tequila.\nAfter winning the London heat of the Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition, Greg created and showcased his cocktail at the UK final at East London’s TT Liquor in front of an esteemed panel of judges: David Alan, Patrón’s Manager of Trade Education and Mixology, Simon Difford, Owner and Editor of Difford’s Guide and Mike McGinty, the 2016 Global Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition winner. Greg’s winning cocktail is a combination of Patrón Reposado tequila and flavours of vanilla, jasmine and nutmeg.\nSpeaking of his experience, Greg Almeida, Head Bartender of The Rosewood Hotel’s Scarfes Bar said: “I’m overwhelmed and can’t quite believe that I have won. The Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition means so much to me as the competition and the Patrón brand represent everything I believe in and what I think we, as an industry, can do. My cocktail is all about the journey of life and what you make of it. When you meet people, you become inspired and it’s what you do with those inspirations that can change your life. I wanted my cocktail to inspire my guests and for them to make it a part of their journey. Patrón Tequila is full of innovation, but always has a traditional way of thinking, and to me, that is inspirational.”\nAs part of his prize, Greg will experience a rare trip to the incredible Hacienda Patrón in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, where he will represent the UK against 17 other countries at the global semi-finals on 17th January 2018. If Greg is successful, he will reach the 2017 Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition global final the next day on the 18th January 2018.\nTalking about the competition, Lee Applbaum, Chief Marketing Officer, Patrón Spirits International said: “We are proud to see the competition return on this scale, bringing new, up-and-coming talent to the bar with fresh ideas on what it takes to be a Patrón Perfectionist. The bartender community is a global community, brought together by a common pursuit for pure excellence in crafting drinks and delivering an experience for their guests. This year, as ever, the bar is raised and we are excited to discover mixologists who experiment with the flavour profiles and versatility of Patrón Tequila and who understand and share our values.”", "Just weeks before celebrating the third year anniversary of his ownership of Southern Nights Orlando and less than a year after opening his third Southern Nights location in Fort Lauderdale, Rick Kowalczyk announced via social media that he is trying something different: Southern Craft – A true gay oriented craft cocktail bar and lounge.\nThis won’t be your typical bar where you place an order and the bartender whips up a cocktail in 30 seconds or less. All future customers should know that all featured craft cocktails are to be muddled or infused with natural fruits and ingredients.\n“This concept is something that you don’t really see anywhere else in the surrounding area. You won’t even see our bartenders using concentrated juice from a beverage gun while preparing your drink order,” said Rick. “Everything will be made to order from scratch. If someone orders a strawberry martini, they will see the bartender muddle fresh strawberries into a cocktail shaker along side the vodka – there are no shortcuts by using a type of flavored vodka. I want each and every customer to enjoy a delicious infused or muddled craft cocktail every time they visit.”\nSouthern Craft will also feature an extensive selection of Whiskey, Tequila and Rum that will allow them to offer traditional guest favorites, such as an Old Fashion, a Margarita, or a Mojito while adding their own personal craft to the cocktail. Besides the various craft cocktails, champagne cocktails will also be available for customers to enjoy as well as a variety of craft beers and wine.\n“If you’re looking for a place to grab a Bud Light or Miller Lite, I would suggest going next door to Southern Nights” Rick stated. “However, we will be featuring various craft beers from local breweries as well as different regions from around the world, depending on the season and what is in production at the time”.\nRick and his management team are in the process of finishing up the remodel where Southern Craft will be located and training their newly hired “Craft Staff” with an expected opening date to take place over Orlando Pride Weekend (October 13th – 15th).\nBe sure to stop by and show your support by trying the soon to be famous Blackberry Bubbles. According to Rick, you won’t be disappointed. Happy Hour will take place between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.\nSouthern Craft is located at 2045 East South Street, right around the corner from Southern Nights Orlando in the Orlando Milk District. For more information and updates, visit the Southern Craft Facebook page.\nCongrats to Rick and his entire team on their latest endeavor. It has to make you wonder what will they come up with next…", "Jon Hamm was photographed on Monday enjoying a stroll in Los Feliz, showing off his smooth-looking legs in grey checked shorts.\nThe 46-year-old silver fox had allowed a bit of scruff to sprout onto his face and had pulled on a pair of black and white open-toe slippers.\nHe's recently bought a gated and newly renovated 3,600 square foot house in the Los Feliz area for nearly $3.4 million, Variety reported last week.\nScroll down for video\nStepping out: Jon Hamm was photographed on Monday enjoying a stroll in Los Feliz, showing off his smooth-looking legs in grey checked shorts\nThe St Louis-born Mad Men star served up a bit of hometown pride on his Monday walk by popping on a red and white Cardinals baseball cap.\nAt one point, he stopped off and petted a dog that'd stood up on its hind legs to peer over the white picket fence closing it into a front lawn.\nThough he's reportedly shelled out millions for his new four-bedroom, 4.5 bathroom two story pad, he's recently told Wealthsimple: 'To me, the main reason to have money is to remove the hindrances that accompany being broke.'\nBack to his roots: The St. Louis-born Mad Men star served up a bit of hometown pride on his Monday walk by popping on a red and white Cardinals baseball cap\nTo hear him tell it, 'Once those hindrances are out of the way, it doesn’t matter if you have a ton of money or just a comfortable amount.'\nThe Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie actor recalled part of his life when he wasn't as rich as he is at present, and made money waiting tables and tending bar.\n'Working in a restaurant is a good life lesson for anybody. My friend used to say that no one should be able to work in Hollywood if they haven’t worked in a restaurant.'\nAnimal lover: At one point, he stopped off and petted a dog that'd stood up on its hind legs to peer over the white picket fence closing it into a front lawn\nSaid he: 'The appreciation you have for anyone working in a service capacity goes up radically the longer you work a service job yourself - you quickly learn what a difference a little bit of kindness and common courtesy can make for people.'\nMeanwhile, when one works as a bartender, 'People get a little loose and start spilling their guts to you. And you realize this person just needs someone to talk to; they need someone to show them a little bit of kindness and give them a break.'\nHe revealed he's 'crossed an interesting threshold. I’ve now - just recently - been working as an actor for longer than I worked as a waiter and bartender.'", "EMBED >More News Videos Veronica Rivas is charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the crash that killed Shayla and Braylan Joseph.\nDevin Jackson, seen here, and two others are charged for buying a 20 yo and 17 yo alcohol at a restaurant. The 20 yo crashed and killed a mother and her 3mo baby the same night @abc13houston pic.twitter.com/oeBnwfMPjz — Marla Carter (@MarlaABC13) April 5, 2018\nThis is a 2013 mugshot of Amy Allen, the bartender charged with acting with criminal negligence by allowing underage customer Veronica Rivas and her 17 yr old passenger to drink alcohol at Crescent City sports bar.https://t.co/tK4Q2DJtQX pic.twitter.com/GLmGhKEZPf — ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) April 5, 2018\nEMBED >More News Videos The D.A.'s office announces charges against a bartender and others, related to a fatal accident that claimed the lives of a woman and her baby\nA plea is expected Tuesday from the 20-year-old accused of driving drunk and killing a mother and her baby in Clear Lake.Veronica Rivas is due in court to be arraigned on two counts of intoxication manslaughter after police say she crashed into a vehicle off the Gulf Freeway on Feb. 28.The crash killed 36-year-old Shayla Joseph and her 3-month-old son Braylan Joseph.Prosecutors say Rivas' blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit the morning of the wreck.According to court documents, Rivas and the 17-year-old passenger who was with her at the time were served alcohol at Crescent City Connection Sports and Oyster Bar before getting into the car.Three more people have been charged for their alleged roles in the crash.Devin Jackson, 24, is the son of the bar's owner. Jackson is charged with knowingly purchasing and providing alcohol to a minor.John C. Medina, 23, was also charged with purchasing and providing alcohol to a minor.That's a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to one year in jail along with a $4,000 fine.Medina was charged with aggravated perjury for lying to a grand jury, as well. That charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.Amy L. Allen, 40, a bartender, is charged with acting with criminal negligence by allowing Rivas and her 17-year-old passenger to drink alcohol at Crescent City.Allen is also accused of not checking their IDs.That charge comes with a penalty of up to one year in jail.This case marks the first prosecution for a new District Attorney's Office task force.The group begins its work at crash scenes and then traces events backward to find the source of the alcohol.", "After General Flynn's resignation, Republicans are not at all interested in an independent investigation. Yes, they are snuffling around the word \"investigation,\" but not a Select Committee to investigate. Just the normal slow-walking channels they use when they want an issue to die.\nAna Navarro knows it, and went on CNN to say it. And as usual, they have to put on a counterpoint, so they dug up Kochhead GOPer Matt Schlapp to slow Navarro down.\nThe best part of this discussion happens when Navarro is ticking off all of the pointers to long-standing Russian involvement with Trump and the election, and Schlapp jumps in on Navarro, telling her to stop!\nAnyone who has observed Ana Navarro in action knows that's a bad idea. She doesn't like to be shushed and to my knowledge, has never, ever allowed anyone to do it. She did not disappoint this time, either.\nAfter Schlapp politely (?) asked to jump in on Navarro after she mentioned Paul Manafort, he tried to steer the conversation away from any urgency, and over to the \"facts.\"\n\"This conversation happened, Ana, after the election,\" Schlapp said, deflecting from the larger issue. He then went on to use the standard developed White House talking point, that it was \"perfectly reasonable for General Flynn to have that conversation,\" because they were in the \"getting to know you\" stage of the transition.\nWhich of course, ignores the fact that Flynn had contacts with Russia during the campaign. Indeed, he had an ongoing relationship with them.\nAfter Schlapp did a pretty terrible job of explaining away Trump's weird Russia connections, Navarro started ticking off all of the things they should investigate, at which point Schlapp tried to shut her down.\nThat was a mistake. After a few seconds of shouting over each other, Navarro shut him down, telling him, \"You're talking to the wrong girl, Matt. You can say stop to somebody else, you're not going to stop me, baby!\"\nAfter Schlapp stood down, Navarro renewed her call for a Select Committee. Indeed.", "“Heartbreaking” rings hollow in the House of Commons while the suffering of the Windrush generation continues (Report, 24 April). Four weeks ago I read the story of Albert Thompson – who after 44 years in the UK had his immigration status called into question and was denied the radiotherapy he needs to treat prostate cancer. He is yet to receive an adequate response, despite being used by Theresa May as a political pawn to shush the outcries.\nHaving been a primary carer for loved ones with cancer, I know it doesn’t wait. That’s why I launched a public campaign. I’ve since realised I’m not the only one who cares: 416,000 have signed a petition on Change.org and I’ve raised £45k so far in case Albert is still denied treatment. A Home Office source tells me that the vast numbers of people behind my campaign helped the government realise this wouldn’t go away. The scandal of the handling of Windrush cases is now being treated with the seriousness it deserves after months of investigation by Amelia Gentleman and the work of David Lammy. A taskforce has been created, but I worry that people will be left behind. The Home Office speaks of those who came to the UK before 1973, yet there are thousands who came between then and 1988, including Albert. They remain in turmoil, their cases disregarded.\nAlbert’s case could set a precedent. Petition signers over the weekend sent letters to the taskforce to get his case dealt with. Each day, I wonder what we can do next to add pressure. I don’t yet know what the future holds, but I do know that during a horrendous time, people power has given Albert strength by showing that even when institutions turn away, the humanity in the British public is there for all to see. The government needs to weed out the institutional racism inherent in its systems and try and reflect at least some of our humanity. Until it does, we won’t stop.\nJacqueline Culleton\nLondon\n• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com\n• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters", "A key bottom line: The position is important, even vital. Why is Kennedy himself among North Dakota's highest paid public servants? Simple: Because Kennedy's salary is leverage. It's an investment by North Dakota in Kennedy's talent and connections, traits that Kennedy is expected to use to raise tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars for the university.\nFundraising is a huge part of a modern university president's job. So is running the complicated institution in a way that grows its reputation and strength.\nIf Kennedy succeeds at those goals, then North Dakota's investment will have more than paid off. And if the event coordinator helps Kennedy succeed, then the state will have spent its money wisely there, too.\nFurthermore, critics hurt their case when they dismiss the coordinator as a \"bartender.\" A glance at the job description sets the record straight. The description lists more than 50 duties, of which \"serve as bartender during events\" is only one.\nOther duties include \"initiate, plan and coordinate all official entertaining events hosted by the president and first lady,\" \"coordinate all catering arrangements,\" \"extend invitations and coordinate RSVP follow-up,\" \"on-site management of the event,\" \"track expenses,\" \"oversee payment\" and dozens of others.\nAs a thoughtful letter in Monday's Herald concluded, \"to reduce the impressive multi-tasking that the event coordinator must do to just one of the more trivial duties in the job description is a disservice to her (the retiring incumbent's) valuable work and presence at UND.\"\nThat said, Kennedy must realize that with every UND staffer and student anxious about where the ax will fall, his own hiring decisions will be second guessed. People are watching, and a key to getting \"buy in\" from them will be showing that the administration is sharing—not just feeling—their pain.\nThat's where Kennedy should direct his attention, because that's why this hire touched a nerve.\nIt's the timing—meaning the timing of this particular hire, and what it seems to be saying about Kennedy's approach to UND's fiscal squeeze.\nUND philosophy professor Jack Russell Weinstein was blunt about that perception. \"They're cutting the law school, they're cutting the radio station and they're cutting courses, and the president is hiring a party planner,\" Weinstein told Herald Staff Writer Andrew Hazzard.\nA few years ago, Altru Health System faced its own cutbacks. Here's how the headline in the next day's Herald read: \"Altru tightens its belt; senior leadership taking pay cut until end of 2013.\"\nAltru's approach generated comments, too; but those comments were a lot more forgiving of Altru's leaders. That's because the stakeholders knew the leaders were sharing in the sacrifice, not just doing it out. There's a lesson in that perception for Kennedy at UND.\n-- Tom Dennis for the Herald", "‘Christmas on the Rocks” is the holiday gift that keeps on giving. The show, celebrating its fifth year of merrymaking at TheaterWorks, has maintained a faithful fan base while bringing in a host of new admirers every year. Extra performances had to be added to the monthlong run this year.\nThe same two actors, Jenn Harris and Matthew Wilkas, have starred in “Christmas on the Rocks” for four of those five years, but other changes offer special motivation to revisit the show. Of the seven one-acts in this comedy anthology, only five were with the show when it started. (One of those, written by Matthew Lombardo and starring Cindy Lou Who from “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” has been expanded into a full-length play of its own called “Who’s Holiday,” currently running off-Broadway.) So if you haven’t seen “Christmas on the Rocks” in the past two seasons, you’ve missed two whole new scenes.\n“Christmas on the Rocks,” conceived and directed by TheaterWorks’ Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, takes the sweet kid characters from classic Christmas TV specials and asks contemporary American playwrights to imagine these adorable tykes at middle-age drowning their sorrows in a dive bar on Christmas Eve. The general impression is that those long-ago holiday adventures were the peak times of their lives — and everything’ has gone downhill from there. All the male characters (except the bartender) are played by Wilkas, all the female ones by Harris. The kindly bartender listens to all these wintertime woes, and therein lies another change: Tom Bloom has taken on the role played by Ronn Carroll.\nRJ LaRussa Jacques Lamarre’s new contribution introduces an all-grown-up Zuzu (Jenn Harris) from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Also pictured is Tom Bloom. Jacques Lamarre’s new contribution introduces an all-grown-up Zuzu (Jenn Harris) from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Also pictured is Tom Bloom. (RJ LaRussa)\nBloom’s a more involved barkeep than the laid-back Carroll was. He’s also friendlier-seeming, though in other ways more imposing. Where Carroll took a backseat to Harris and Wilkas’ carryings-on, Bloom is more in the thick of it.\nFor most of the sketches, “Christmas on the Rocks” creates its own warped reality. The bartender is more bemused than baffled by the wild characters who visit his establishment on Christmas Eve. He’s even familiar with the stories of some of them. In the case of Ralphie from “A Christmas Story,” there’s an iconic leg-shaped lamp right there on the counter. When Tiny Tim stops by, the bartender actively debates the limping malcontent on the meaning and importance of his patron Scrooge’s conversion from miserly to merry.\nThat “Christmas Carol” bit, by prolific playwright and TV writer and producer Theresa Rebeck, is perhaps the emotionally deepest of all the “Christmas on the Rocks” scenes. The silliest, and also the cruelest, scene is the “Frosty the Snowman” riff “My Name is KAREN!,” written by Harris and Wilkas and added to the line-up a year ago. In it, a manic Karen (from the 1966 Rankin/Bass animated “Frosty the Snowman” special, easily the least beloved and least “classic” of the stories embraced by “Christmas on the Rocks”) ties the bartender to a chair with Christmas tree lights then sets up an impromptu podcast to castigate her former snowman pal.\nRJ LaRussa Clara, of \"Nutcracker\" fame, played by Jenn Harris, complains to bartender (Tom Bloom) about her disappointing prince of a husband, in \"Christmas on the Rocks.\" Clara, of \"Nutcracker\" fame, played by Jenn Harris, complains to bartender (Tom Bloom) about her disappointing prince of a husband, in \"Christmas on the Rocks.\" (RJ LaRussa)\nThe souring of relationships is a recurring “Christmas on the Rocks” theme. Hermie has had a falling out with Rudolph. Ralphie’s parents divorced. Another common element: the special cocktails cartoon characters are prone to order. For Hermie, it’s a “Root Canal — one part root beer and 99 parts Novocaine.”\nThe playlet that’s the whole package, that exemplifies what “Christmas on the Rocks” can be, is “Still Nuts About Him” by Edwin Sanchez, in which Clara of “The Nutcracker” fame complains about her disappointing prince of a husband. The piece is a great workout for Jenn Harris, who rocks a funny Russian accent but also indulges in highly physical ballet shtick.\nHartford playwright Jacques Lamarre, who now has two separate pieces in “Christmas on the Rocks,” also has an innate sense of the special time and place of the show’s winter fantasy. Lamarre’s new contribution (replacing Jonathan Tolins’ “Miracle on 34th Street” scene) introduces an all-grown-up Zuzu from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” guilt-ridden that her revelation of “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings” has unleashed a torrent of celestial beings because “it’s too damn easy to get your wings and I exposed that loophole.”\nLamarre’s earlier, and still great, contribution to “Christmas on the Rocks” is “Merry Christmas, Blockhead,” which ends the show and is the only scene where we see Harris and Wilkas onstage at the same time. When Charlie Brown enters the bar, the bartender greets him by asking “Peanuts?,” gesturing to the bowl of snacks on the counter. Wilkas’ impression of Charles Schulz’ good ol’ roundheaded hero is in a special category, finding elements from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” that other mimics have never explored. Wilkas spreads his arms wide, shouts to the heavens, then immediately drops his head and hugs his body in a depressive shutdown. His wife doesn’t understand him; she’s Lucy.\nRJ LaRussa In “My Name is KAREN!,” Jenn Harris plays the manic Karen based on the character from the 1966 “Frosty the Snowman” special. Here she ties the bartender (Tom Bloom) to a chair with Christmas tree lights. In “My Name is KAREN!,” Jenn Harris plays the manic Karen based on the character from the 1966 “Frosty the Snowman” special. Here she ties the bartender (Tom Bloom) to a chair with Christmas tree lights. (RJ LaRussa)\n“Christmas on the Rocks” has staked out special territory in the holiday theater landscape. It’s a show for the cynical, for the culturally inundated, for those who are too cool for yule. It sprinkles hope and joy and redemption among its many emotions, but the show can also caustic and cold. If you’ve ever had a moment of realization after a self-pitying night at a dingy bar, well, here are seven of them to relate to. Especially if you’re a cartoon.\nCHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS runs through Dec. 23 at TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl St., Hartford. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.; with Friday performances at 8 p.m. on Dec. 15 and at both 6 and 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 22. There are also performances Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. $30 to $65, $15 for student rush. 860-527-7838, theaterworkshartford.org.", "A Washington, D.C.-area bar is putting other pricey cocktails to shame with its swanky menu addition.\nBlossom Cocktail Lounge at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland — a ten-mile drive from the White House — is enticing guests of the hotel and casino with it's very over-the-top drink.\nThe Dom-arita, as they call it, sets customers back a whopping $1,000 — not including tip — and comes topped with an entire bottle of high-end Dom Perignon Brut Champagne champagne.\nSwank: Blossom Cocktail Lounge is serving a $1,000 cocktail made with Don Julio 1942 Tequila, Grand Marnier Quintessence, and a full bottle of champagne\nPretty: The lounge is located in the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.\nCreated by lead bartender Antony Sazerac, the cocktail is made with Don Julio 1942 Tequila and Grand Marnier Quintessence — both very pricey drinks in their own right. Those are mixed with agave nectar, fresh lime juice, and fresh seasonal fruits.\nIt is served in a crystal-etched decanter with a spout for pouring, and a full bottle of Dom is overturned inside of it.\n'As the guests drink from the punch the bottle continues to empty out to refresh the punch,' Sazerac told Daily Mail Online.\nNaturally, with that much alcohol, the drink is meant to serve more than just one, and is recommended for eight to ten people.\nAmazing: The special cocktail was created by lead bartender Antony Sazerac\nToo pretty to drink: The bar also serves up other beautiful cocktails from $14 to $16\nThere is also a $130 version of the pricey punch cocktail made with less expensive champagne (not pictured)\n'The idea for the Dom-a-rita came from the tagline of Blossom Cocktail Bar, \"Be the center of attention,\"' Sazerac explained.\n'We wanted our guests to have the opportunity to turn heads from other guests in the lounge, and passersby in the casino outside the lounge. It was designed to be a statement piece for high rollers looking to have a different experience from the standard bottle service.'\nFor guests who aren't such high rollers — but are still intrigues by the ritzy-looking drink — there is also a less expensive version, the Champagne-arita, for $130.\nOther cocktails on the menu range from $14 to $16.", "VIFF M/A/D is a stream at the Vancouver International Film Festival that focuses on silver-screen showcases of music, art and design. While most of us are familiar with a good band documentary or Knowledge Network-style artist focus, many of the films programmed into M/A/D fall outside those general-interest areas and open up a world of alternative views to entertain, challenge and surprise viewers.\nThe following six films are highly recommended:\nBunch of Kunst\nDirector: Christine Franz.\nCast: Sleaford Mods, Iggy Pop, Steve Ignorant, others.\nNo less an authority on aggro-rock than Iggy Pop calls Sleaford Mods “the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band.” The U.K. duo of 40-something lads — vocalist/ranter Jason Williamson and beat-maker Andrew Ferns — are one of the most unlikely success stories of recent years. Making music that spews working-class opinions into the faces of the elites carried on raw-to-brutal electronic rhythms, the group is a self-made, unique and more than a tad rough around the edges.\nFirst showing: Vancity Theatre, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.\nSchumann’s Bar Talks\nDirector: Marieke Schroeder.\nCast: Charles Schumann.\nCharles Schumann is a 76-year-old legend in the world of bartending. From his Munich institution, Schumann’s, he has been a leading light of the global cocktail revival. His 1991 publication, American Bar, celebrated such classics as the Hemingway Daiquiri to such personal recipes as the French 68. In this delightful film, travel with the bartender as he searches out the best cocktail bars and bartenders in New York, Tokyo, Havana and beyond.\nFirst showing: Simon Fraser University, Oct. 7, 4 p.m.\nPlaneta Petrila\nDirector: Andrei Dascalescu.\nCast: Ion Barbu and the townsfolk of Petrila, Romania.\nA look at the actions of the people of the Romanian coal-mining town of Petrila in response to the closure of their industrial livelihood and history. This documentary traces the anarchist/surrealist former miner-turned-artist Ion Barbu as he tries to save some of the structural legacy of the mine to turn it into a cultural hub and keep something alive in what could otherwise be a dead city. The inventiveness on display here could inspire some really new ideas in activism.\nFirst Showing: Cinematheque, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.\nChavela\nDirector: Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi.\nCast: Chavela Vargas, Pedro Almodóvar, Laura Garcia-Lorca.\nWhen singer Chavela Vargas sang the melancholy Mexican love ballads called rancheras, she imbued them with a passion and depth that took the form somewhere else entirely. Born in Costa Rica, the self-described “hija rebelde” (rebellious daughter) went from highs starring in films and topping the charts while hanging in the bohemian Mexico City scene with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to years as a desperately poor and abusive drunk. A lesbian legend who came out later in life and became a movement icon in Mexico, Vargas was a power to be reckoned with into her 90s.\nShowing: Playhouse, Oct. 5, 9 p.m.\nWhere You’re Meant to Be\nDirector: Paul Fegan.\nCast: Aidan Moffat, Sheila Stewart.\nWhen former Arab Strap frontman Aidan Moffat decided to release an album of updated classic folk songs, he ran into an obstacle in the shape of 79-year-old Scottish legend Sheila Stewart. Not only did the last remaining of the famous traveller family whose name was synonymous with the folk music of the land (the song Jock Stewart is actually written about her relative) think Moffat’s treatment of the material was “not on,” she pushed him to learn to respect the lore and love that went into the songs. What results is a delightful journey of musical discovery and some moments where you may welcome the subtitles. Sponsored by the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.\nShowing: International Village 8, Oct. 10, 8:45 p.m.\nThe Mountain of SGaana\nDirector: Christopher Auchter.\nCast: Animation.\nHaida animator Auchter takes a folk tale about a young warrior kidnapped into the spirit world and the young woman who journeys there to rescue him into the contemporary realm in this time-travelling, genre-mashing, stunning film. Part of the Strangers in Strange Lands Canadian short-films series, the NFB-animation-produced The Mountain of SGaana recently won the Best Animated Film of Series for Young Audiences at the Ottawa International Film Festival.\nFirst showing: International Village 8, Oct. 5, 9:15 p.m.\nsderdeyn@postmedia.com\ntwitter.com/stuartderdeyn\nCLICK HERE to report a typo.\nIs there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.", "Jack Greiner, attorney for Graydon (Photo: Provided, Provided)\nJack Greiner is a lawyer with the Graydon law firm in Cincinnati. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues.\nCalifornia is one of many states that has adopted “anti-SLAPP” legislation. “SLAPP” stands for “strategic lawsuit against public participation.” Anti-SLAPP laws seek to limit these types of suits. Ohio has not adopted such a law, but there is a bill pending in the General Assembly that would.\nIn a SLAPP suit, a plaintiff tries to shut down critical reporting or commentary by filing a defamation suit. Typically, the purpose of the suit is not to seek redress for false reporting, but rather to shut down what is likely accurate reporting. Anti-SLAPP legislation sets up a streamlined process where the defendant can get the lawsuit dismissed promptly and recover the attorney fees expended in the effort.\nAll of which brings us to Shia Labeouf, the \"drunken punk\" mentioned in the headline. Labeouf is an actor who has starred in several films, including all three Transformer movies (because one Transformer movie is simply not enough to satisfy the public’s craving for true entertainment). Labeouf is currently occupying the lead role in a California defamation lawsuit. In the interest of accuracy, I will set forth verbatim the operative facts:\nOn the evening of April 5, 2017, while Plaintiff was working as a bartender/manager at Jerry’s Famous Deli in Studio City, California, [Lebeouf] allegedly approached the bar where Plaintiff was working and requested that plaintiff serve beer to [Lebeouf] and [Lebeouf’s] girlfriend.\nAfter Plaintiff (apparently believing that [Lebeouf] had consumed too much alcohol) refused [Lebeouf’s] request for beer, [Lebeouf] allegedly responded by pounding his fist upon the bar counter.\nImmediately thereafter, [Lebeouf] allegedly made the following remarks directed at [Plaintiff]” (i) “You F***in’ Racist B***h”; (ii) “You F***ing Racist” and (iii) “Wake Up, this Mother F***er is a Racist.”\nDiscovery has not yet determined if Lebeouf kisses his mother with that mouth.\nIn any event, TMZ captured much of the incident and it went viral, resulting in the Plaintiff acquiring a new online nickname – “the racist bartender.” David Bernstein, the bartender, then filed a defamation suit against Lebeouf. Lebeouf reacted by filing a motion to dismiss the complaint under the California anti-SLAPP statute. And that raises a question about whether the statute applies here.\nThe statute, by its terms, protects “conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the . . . constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.” Let’s assume for a minute that calling someone who is apparently merely trying to do his job a “f***ing racist” is an “exercise of the constitutional right of free speech.” The tougher question, I think, is whether Lebeouf was exercising that right in connection with “a public issue or an issue of public interest.”\nAccording to Lebeouf’s motion, “courts have set an extremely low threshold for meeting the requirement that alleged conduct be in connection with an issue of public interest.” It goes on to say ‘the issue need not be ‘significant’ to be protected by the anti-SLAPP statute – it is enough that it is one in which the public takes an interest.” And according to the motion, exhibit A for the proposition that the public has “taken an interest” is the TMZ video. That, in the view of Lebeouf’s lawyers, pretty much seals the deal.\nAnd they may be right. But I hope not. Anti-SLAPP legislation is a valuable tool protecting real dissent on matters of genuine public interest. I'm having a tough time seeing how or why it should apply to a rude bar customer whose fame draws a private individual into a viral video.\nLebeouf can likely prevail in the lawsuit on the argument that nothing he said was a verifiable fact. It was a drunken rant full of hyperbole and opinion. Boorishness is not defamation. But I hate to see him water down the meaning and spirit of the anti-SLAPP law in the process.\nRead or Share this story: http://cin.ci/2kubRtB", "Speaking out. Bella Thorne revealed that she has been molested in the past.\nIn response to a photo of Thorne dressed in a purple suit with no top, a Twitter user wrote, “What did Disney do to this girl?! I think she was molested?”\n“Yeah I was. So it wasn’t Disney,” the Disney alum fired back Friday, December 8, adding in another tweet, “The world can be a sick place sometimes :/.”\nThe Babysitter actress did not reveal any other information about being a victim of molestation.\nThorne, who starred on Disney’s Shake It Up with Zendaya from 2010 to 2013, made the transition from Disney to more adult roles as Paige on Freeform’s Famous In Love and the 2015 teen movie The Duff.\nThe 20-year-old actress has made headlines this year for being photographed with Kourtney Kardashian’s ex Scott Disick, who is 14 years older than her, freeing the nipple on social media and making out with YouTube star Tana Mongeau on Snapchat.\nMongeau responded to Thorne’s tweet and called her “my baby.”\n“my baby the bravest baddest most talented girl in the game,” Mongeau wrote on Saturday, December 9. “using her influence to spread awareness abt the hardest shit in her life. legit incredible.”\n“Thanks baby, see you tonight,” Thorne responded with a heart emoji.\nThorne opened up about her insecurities and posing naked for GQ Mexico in September.\n“I specifically asked for no re touching on this photo, and lemme tell you I have insecurities, about pretty much everything,” Thorne wrote on Instagram at the time. “That’s natural & that’s human. You might look at this photo and think oh shush bella, but just know everytime someone looks in the mirror they simply don’t see what everyone else sees. Know that it’s completely normal to feel insecure and it’s accepted. honestly I wish everyone talked more about their insecurities so more people in the world could know they aren’t alone.”\nSign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics and more delivered straight to your inbox!\nWant stories like these delivered straight to your phone? Download the Us Weekly iPhone app now!", "Diane Palmer(HONOLULU, Hawaii) — A Navy corpsman’s mom hopes her missing son is still alive after he vanished following a night on the town with a few Marine buddies, taking in a state fair and having drinks at a popular bar, ABC News has learned.\nSeaman Shaun Palmer, 24, who is assigned to the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii, was last seen at Kelley O’Neil’s around 4 a.m. Sunday. He ordered and then canceled two rideshare pickups on his mobile phone — and hasn’t been heard from since.\n“I’m praying he’s just really sick or maybe he got beaten up and his phone broke down and he’s hurting but safe,” his mom, Diane, told ABC News.\nDiane said she’s heading to Hawaii on Wednesday and hopes to inspire a massive search to track down her one and only child.\n“We need to get search parties out in Hawaii,” she said. “What are we waiting for? We need to find my kid!”\nA statement provided by a Hawaii-based Marine Corps spokesman confirmed that there is a dedicated search underway to locate the missing sailor, whose case for now is classified as an “unauthorized absence.”\n“Seaman Palmer’s command is coordinating with NCIS and local authorities to find the missing sailor. The safety of our sailors and Marines is our primary concern and we hope and pray for his safe return,” the statement said.\nPalmer is a corpsman assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, according to a separate statement.\nHis mother said that while her son wasn’t under any strict curfew to be back at base Sunday night, ABC News has learned that he was supposed to be at an aid station at 8 a.m.\nWhen he was a no-show, Diane said she then received a phone call around 4 a.m. on Monday morning by military personnel who identified themselves as members of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.\n“They wanted to know if I’d heard from him,” said the mother, who said she hasn’t slept since the phone call. “But Shaun was already missing for 24 hours.”\nDiane said that she learned that Palmer and two Marines spent Sunday visiting a state fair.\nShe knows this because she caught a post her son, a native of Iowa, left on his SnapChat account that she said included a typed message reading: “Someone say state fair?” as he made a “funny face,” Diane said.\nThe three servicemen then made their way to Kelley O’Neil’s bar, a popular military hangout known for live music.\nThe mother, who has spoken with NCIS investigators as well as Honolulu Police Department detectives, said that she learned that Palmer was at the bar until around 4 a.m.\nOne of the Marines returned to base.\nPalmer and the unidentified friend remained until the bar’s closing.\nAccording to a bartender working that night, it was “packed” at the bar but nothing was out of sorts.\n“There was no indication that anything was out of the ordinary,” the bartender, who said he’s worked at the establishment for nine years and spoke to ABC News on the condition of anonymity, said. “It was a typical closing.”\nThe bartender noted that there was a heavy presence of local cops nearby and that a day ago, the staff searched surveillance footage from that night after being prompted to do so by NCIS investigators.\n“We looked at the cameras and didn’t find anything,” the bartender said. “I can tell you that nothing happened inside the bar.”\nWhile the bar was cleared out and people spilled out in the street, Palmer’s friend was subsequently arrested for “a low-key disorderly conduct,” his mother said. She’s still trying to learn the identity of the arrested Marine.\nAttempts by ABC News to speak with Honolulu Police Department about the arrest of the unidentified Marine or the case involving Palmer were not immediately successful.\nA detective with the department refused to share any details about the Marine’s arrest or Palmer’s missing case, saying, “it’s an ongoing investigation.”\nDiane said that she learned from NCIS investigators that her son then summoned two different Lyft cars.\n“My son ordered the Lyft to go back to base,” Diane said. “It was canceled.”\nShe was then told her son then was three blocks away and ordered a second Lyft, which also was canceled, a fact confirmed by her conversations with detectives and her son’s bank records.\n“He canceled the second one, and it’s on his bank account at 4:28,” she said, referring to the morning time stamp.\nShe said that afterward Palmer’s cell phone “went dead.”\nAll Diane can do is hope.\n“We’re very close,” she said. “We’ve always been like that. And I know his heart is breaking for my heart. I just know it.”\nCopyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.", "BILBAO, Spain — After three days of shaking and stirring in Bilbao, Spain, elit® Vodka is delighted to announce that Tom Sipos of the Austrian Bar Academy is the winner of the esteemed elit®Art of the Martini challenge. Now in its third year, elit Vodka Art of the Martini is the biggest global city-based drinks competition, pitting the world’s best bartenders against one another in their home countries before inviting the 20 finalists to the Basque Country for a celebration of imagination and freedom, of purity and precision, and to rethink the hardest cocktail of them all – the martini – in the spirit of elit Vodka.\nCongratulations to Tom Sipos of the Austrian Bar Academy on winning @elitVodka Art of Martini competition, held in Bilbao ahead of the @theworlds50best awards ceremony. #cocktails #vienna #austria #awards #martini #makeitelit #bartenders #cocktails\nAlessandro Palazzi, head bartender and Master of the Martini at Dukes London, Juan Valls of The Lost Child Cocktail Bar in Spain, and Simone Bodini, International Brand Ambassador for elit Vodka served as judges this year. Central to their scoring was each bartender’s vision and how they connected elit to the spirit of the Russian avant-garde: a reverence to the past but also a radical reinterpretation of the form, be it an innovative serve or unexpected theatre, that is characteristic of the host craft vodka – the premium base ingredient for all entries. The 20 city winners also undertook a series of demanding challenges during their three-day stay including masterclasses with the judges, with the head chef at Neruea at the Guggenheim Bilbao, Josean Alija, and with one of the leading proponents of Spanish Sculpture in the 1980s, contemporary artist Pello Irazu.\n“Remember, for a winning martini, complexity is not the only way. You don’t need to travel space and time to gather a collection of really rare or expensive ingredients,” said Bodini. “You need to find the right ones and sometimes, as with this year, simplicity is key, especially in highlighting and complementing the base spirit.”\nIn addition to being awarded the title of Global Winner, Austrian barman Tom Sipos receives a trip to Europe’s leading bar industry show, Bar Convent Berlin in October. All 20 finalists attended The World’s 50 Best Restaurants – the gastronomic Oscars – red carpet award ceremony and after-party as part of the proceedings. To reach the global finals, the bartenders had to create their take on the martini with elit Vodka as the main spirit and showcase a local ingredient. For two months, the martini was promoted in their establishment before the respective city final, where three industry leaders in spirits selected each city’s representative to battle it out for the title.\n“We were delighted to host the world’s most visionary martini makers at the final of the elit Vodka Art of the Martini competition. This is the first year elit Vodka has been the official vodka partner to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. The ‘Oscars’ of the restaurant and chef world, these awards celebrate the very highest standards in the culinary arts. It therefore made perfect sense for our exquisitely structured, precise vodka – which elevates centuries of vodka tradition to hi-tech art – to honour all those who are achieving breakthrough excellence in gastronomy and mixology.” Frances Gaillard, International Marketing Director, elit Vodka and Stoli Group.\nTo learn more about elit® ultra-luxury vodka and the Art of Martini competition, visit www.elitultraluxuryvodka.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.\nAbout elit® Vodka\nelit® Vodka is among the world’s highest-rated white spirits and is drinking pleasure at its most precise. Every stage in the creation of elit® is a fusion of passion and precision. elit is a single-source vodka, with its high-quality grains harvested at its estate in Russia’s Tambov region before traveling to Latvijas Balzams where they are blended with artesian well water. The spirit then is filtered twice through super-fine quartz sand and Russian birch wood charcoal and brought down to -18 degrees Celsius through elit’s signature freeze-filtration process. The result is remarkable luminosity and a spirit without equal. elit is a part of the Stoli Group portfolio of premium and super-premium spirits.\nContacts\nMedia:\nStoli Group\nAlison Walsh, +1-917-301-2962", "Are craft cocktails at their most complicated? Maybe. With a fully stocked bar to work with, bartenders can create (and exhaustively test) finely tuned, complex drinks — and we’re the better for it. Trying to create those same cocktails at home, though, might mean carting home a hundred bucks worth of spirits, such as Cynar or Pernod or crème de violette, that may consequently sit around ‘'aging'' from underuse.\n“There has never been a time when what we’ve been drinking in bars has been further from what we’re able to make at home,” said Maggie Hoffman, author of the 2018 book “The One-Bottle Cocktail.” Hoffman, the former drinks editor of the website Serious Eats, challenged some of the country’s most talented bartenders to come up with drinks that use one spirit only. Instead of relying on Gran Classico or a Chartreuse float for verve, the drinks in “The One-Bottle Cocktail” instead call for flavors you may already have in your cabinets, or can easily find: Molasses, harissa, fig preserves, hazelnuts.\n“[Bartenders] make these complex things with 10 ingredients, and it makes sense for them to do it in a bar. If you’re home, you have spices, you have tea, you have honey, so those things make more sense as a purchase,” Hoffman said.\nThis translates to vodka blended with jasmine tea, or tequila with grilled lemons, as with grilled margaritas — easy to assemble and a super-smooth drink to boot.\nGRILLED MARGARITAS\n(Condensed from “The One-Bottle Cocktail”)\n2 large or 3 small lemons, plus 2 lemon slices\n4 ounces reposado or añejo (aged) tequila\n1 1/4 ounces 2:1 honey syrup*\n2 rosemary springs and flaky sea salt (optional)\nPreheat grill to medium-high; halve lemons and place, cut sides down, on grill, along with lemon slices. Cook until lemons are nicely charred, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove and let cool. Juice lemon halves and measure out 2 ounces of grilled lemon juice; combine with tequila and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well-chilled and strain into 2 chilled coupe glasses. Garnish with grilled lemon slices (charred sides up), rosemary and pinch of salt. Serves 2.\n* To make honey syrup, stir 2 parts hot water into 1 part honey; stir until dissolved. Cool before using.", "Pomegranate Martini with fresh pressed juices, citrus syrup and Tito’s Vodka is framed by a hand-painted gold-leaf mirror at Park Ave. The beautiful mid-century modern Stanton restaurant was designed by the same person who did the Bellagio in Las Vegas. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nA sugar-rimmed Pomegranate Martini with fresh pressed juices, citrus syrup and Tito’s Vodka is garnished with rosemary and orange zest at Park Ave. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nDavid Slay, chef-owner of Park Ave, clips fresh lemons, garnish and herbs from his culinary garden for martinis just outside his sister restaurant, Il Garage, in Stanton. He’s a third-generation restauranteur who was well ahead of the curve on the farm-to-table movement. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nDavid Slay, chef-owner, is framed by fresh limes in his well-tended culinary garden, just steps from the Park Ave and Il Garage. Fresh seasonal produce comes straight from the garden at the Stanton restaurants. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nChef David Slay clips squash blossoms, lemons, limes, kumquats, baby zucchini and fennel from his culinary garden at Park Ave and second restaurant Il Garage in Stanton. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nA Washington Apple with High West Whiskey, fresh cranberry juice and apple liquor, left, and sugar-rimmed Pomegranate Martini with fresh pressed juices, citrus syrup and Tito’s Vodka is garnished with rosemary and orange zest might make you think you’re seeing double at Park Ave in Stanton.(Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nRachel Murray of Park Ave creates a mean Pomegranate Martini with fresh pressed juices, citrus syrup and Tito’s Vodka at Park Ave in Stanton. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nThe Rat Pack serenades Rachel Murray as she mixes a Pomegranate Martini at Park Ave. The Stanton restaurant has a elegantly retro, Jetsons vibe with beautiful old Hollywood pictures lining the walls. Old black and white movies play in the background. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nSwanky sophistication is alive and drinkable at Park Ave, Stanton. Sugar-rimmed Pomegranate Martini with fresh pressed juices, citrus syrup and Tito’s Vodka is garnished with an orange zest- wrapped rosemary. Cheers. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nPark Ave was made for martinis. The sophisticated cocktail blends into the swanky chophouse, considered the jewel of Stanton. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nA sultry Rivera Watermelon Freeze with Midori crushed ice, fresh puree of watermelon, ginger, Meyer lemon juice and Tito’s Vodka entices at Park Ave, Stanton. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nA Pomegranate Martini shimmers against its cosmopolitan surroundings at Park Ave in Stanton. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nDrive too fast down Beach Blvd., between Orangewood and Katella Avenues., and you’ll miss Park Ave and sister restaurant, Il Garage, two Stanton gems. Park Ave serves chops and cocktails in a retro, old Hollywood setting. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nDavid Slay, chef-owner, and his team of five full-time master gardeners have cultivated two impressive culinary gardens that supply Il Garage and Park Ave, Stanton. The third-generation restauranteur was immersed in farm-to-table before it became a lasting trend. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nDavid Slay, chef-owner of Park Ave, strolls from his two culinary gardens and Il Garage towards Park Ave. The Stanton restaurant also hosts weddings, brunch and wine dinners. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nDavid Slay, chef-owner, clips fresh vegetables and fruits from his beautiful culinary garden, just steps from the Park Ave and Il Garage in Stanton. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nOver at Orange Hill Restaurant, don’t forget to stop by during Happy Hour where most cocktails, including our other favorite Little Miss Sunshine (made with Hendrick’s gin). Happy Hour cocktails are $9 at Happy Hour, about $4-$5 off normal prices. Pair it with a $3 prime rib taco at sunset. Orange Hill Restaurant, 6410 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92869, 714-997-2910. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nOver at Orange Hill Restaurant, you’ll find a modern lineup of gin- and vodka-based cocktails with floral overtones. We especially like the Moonlight, made with Broker’s Gin (shown) from England. Infused with cherry, raspberry, strawberry and lime flavors, the cocktail is a crafty version of a Cosmopolitan. Sip the cocktail in the newly remodeled O Bar lounge, which dazzles with its hilltop view overlooking Orange County. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nLittle Miss Sunshine (made with Hendrick’s gin) is $9 during the Monday through Friday Happy Hour at the O Bar inside Orange Hill Restaurant. The drink contains: Hendrick’s Gin, Peach, Lemon, Almond, Orange Blossom. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)\nThe origins of the martini are as murky as – oh, how can we resist? – a dirty martini.\nSome cocktail historians think it was born in the town of Martinez, California, during the Gold Rush, and in a humble way. A suddenly rich prospector had a hankering for Champagne, but there was none on hand at the local saloon, so the bartender made him something special with the ingredients on hand: gin, vermouth, bitters, some maraschino liqueur, and a hunk of lemon rind. The drink made its way to nearby San Francisco, caught on quickly, and was published in Harry Johnson’s seminal Bartender’s Manual around 1860 (the legendary barman worked in San Francisco around that time). Back then, of course, the vermouth would have been sweet, and that, coupled with the liqueur, would have made the historic martini unrecognizable to modern drinkers.\nOthers claim that the martini was invented in San Francisco first; some insist it was an invention of the bartenders at New York’s Knickerbocker Hotel. And then there’s the Martini & Rossi contingent, who point to that vermouth’s introduction in the mid-19th century as the inspiration for the cocktail.\nWhatever its origins, the martini has never really fallen from fashion, although over the years it has endured many changes of taste and convention.\nThe classic martini, at least in its early 20th-century form, had wandered far from its Wild West roots: equal parts gin and dry vermouth, served very cold with one green olive or a twist of lemon peel, in a small stemmed glass, usually 3 or 4 ounces. (As the 20th century unfolded, the portion of vermouth kept shrinking. Noel Coward once quipped, “a perfect Martini should be made by filling a glass with gin, then waving it in the general direction of Italy.”)\nWhy such a small glass? Well, martinis pack a punch. Also, a chilled drink will stay chilly longer in a smaller glass. Check out what William Powell sipped from in “The Thin Man” or Bette Davis in “All About Eve.” The tiny glass was the reason people could have a three-martini lunch and stay vertical for the rest of the day.\nThe vodka craze that swept America later in the last century unfortunately tainted the world of the martini. Gin was suddenly uncool, something best left to your dotty old uncle. That was also the unfortunate era when bartenders would attach the “-tini” suffix to any cute new drink; most of them had nothing to do with a real martini.\nBut happily, we’ve emerged from that dark age, and American craft distillers are all the rage. Most modern bars now stock FEW, Leatherbee, Leopold’s and Brooklyn alongside Bombay Sapphire and Plymouth. Spain, Scotland and other countries are getting into the gin game, too, and they’ve introduced a boundless world of subtle new botanicals that go way beyond juniper, making vodka’s essential tastelessness seem as bland and passé as a Hall and Oates song.\nIf you’re ordering a classic martini at a reputable, well-stocked bar, you have two ways to go: either name your ingredients, or let a trusted bartender’s tastes rule the day. Martinis aren’t rocket science – there are only two principal ingredients – so it’s all about the brands and niceties of preparation.\nFrom Paul Hodgins\nIf I’m ordering:\n4 parts gin: If I’m in a traditional mood, I ask for a classic London Dry such as Beefeater, Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire. If I want to experiment a bit, I like Nolet’s Silver from Holland, Spain’s cult-ish Mahon, or one of the newer Americans. Orange County’s own Blinking Owl is an excellent martini gin with enchanting botanical elements.\n1 part dry vermouth: Dolin Dry Vermouth is crisp but it has a neutral flavor profile, so it doesn’t get in the way of the gin’s enticing botanicals. Noilly Prat Extra Dry is also acceptable.\n1 olive, not too salty.\nThe gin and vermouth should be vigorously stirred on ice in a mixing glass for about 20 seconds then strained into a chilled martini glass that’s not too large. (Sorry, Mr. Bond – shaking is for fruity drinks, not manly cocktails like the martini, which should never be watery or frothy.)\nOne of my favorite bartender-concocted martinis is from Newport’s Island Hotel. I’m not sure of the proportions – I leave that up to them:\nPlymouth Gin\nDolan Dry Vermouth\nA dash of orange bitters\nOne Castelvetrano olive\nThe glass is a tad too large for my tastes, but other than that it’s perfect.\n690 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660, 386-8361, islandhotel.com\nFrom Anne Valdespino:\nIf one of your biggest beefs with a martini is that it won’t stay icy cold, then you need to meet Park Ave’s Riviera Watermelon Freeze. It’s the ultimate refresher for a hot summer day. The green outer layer is frozen to the glass; the red inner layer consists of Tito’s vodka, ginger, fresh watermelon and Meyer Lemon juice. This enticing blend is so light and soothing you’ll doubt it’s alcoholic. But use the melon balls on a toothpick garnish to stir up the icy drink when it’s the consistency of granita. By the time you get a hint of green melon liqueur you’ll be feeling no pain and savoring a finish that’s like the sweet end to a delicious snow cone. Park Ave, 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714-901-4400, parkavedining.com –Anne Valdespino\nTranslucent green martini? There was a time when a cocktail that tasted like Jolly Rancher for grownups was all the rage. But the modern mixology craze leaves little room for phonies. Enter the bartenders at The Catch, who concoct a fresh new version. Gin gets shaken with apple juice and the golden concoction is served straight up in a coupe with a fresh apple slice. Order a “Steve Jobs” and kick back after a long day on your laptop: The Appletini is reborn. The Catch, 2100 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-935-0101, catchanaheim.com\nFrom Nancy Luna:\nCrafty Cosmo: Over at Orange Hill Restaurant, you’ll find a modern lineup of gin- and vodka-based cocktails with floral overtones. We especially like the Moonlight, made with Broker’s Gin from England. Infused with cherry, raspberry, strawberry and lime flavors, the cocktail is a crafty version of a Cosmopolitan. Sip the cocktail in the newly remodeled O Bar lounge, which dazzles with its hilltop view overlooking Orange County. Don’t forget to stop by during Happy Hour when most cocktails, including our other favorite Little Miss Sunshine (made with Hendrick’s gin), are $9, about $4-$5 off normal prices. Pair it with a $3 prime rib taco at sunset. Orange Hill Restaurant, 6410 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92869, 714-997-2910. theorangehillrestaurant.com\nFrom Brad A. Johnson:\nMargatini. OK, here’s the deal: Aside from copious amounts of tequila, and the routine Bloody Mary, I don’t drink a lot of hard liquor. My diet consists of a different restaurant every day. To counter all that variety, the one steady indulgence that I allow myself is my choice of drink. Thus my opinion on Martinis is not all that useful. The closest I might come to ordering a Martini would be The Mastro Margarita at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Costa Mesa. It’s really just a Margarita, but they serve it in a Martini glass. It’s a darned good cocktail: Don Julio añejo tequila, agave nectar and freshly squeezed lime juice. Shaken, not stirred. Perfect. 633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714-546-7405, mastrosrestaurants.com", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – More than 1,600 jobs will be up for grabs at two Middle Tennessee job fairs in Tuesday.\nOne of the job fairs will be held at the Goodwill Career Solutions Center located at 937 Herman Street.\nAround 35 employers looking to fill at least 500 positions in Davidson and surrounding counties will participate in the Nashville event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.\nOpenings include custodial, caregiver, light industrial, houseman, cook, cashier, forklift, security, shuttle bus driver, mover, deli, bartender and other positions. Rates of pay reach $18 per hour.\nIn Murfreesboro, a second job fair with at least 10 employers looking to fill more than 900 jobs will be held at the Goodwill Career Solutions Center at 2955 South Church Street from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.\nOpenings include light industrial, forklift, cherry picker, child care, production, warehouse and other positions. Rates of pay reach $15.\nRepresentatives from all of the companies are expected to be on hand at each event, and on-site interviews are a possibility.\nJob seekers should bring a resume, photo ID and their social security card or birth certificate.", "Elder of Ziyon posted the recent data on hate crimes in Canada, with the data come from the Canadian government itself: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.\nFirst, the graph, which just gives raw numbers of hate crimes for various groups over the last three years (data below):\nExcept for 2016, the numbers are highest for blacks, but these figures haven’t been adjusted for population size. As Elders of Ziyon notes:\nIn 2016, there were more anti-Jewish hate crimes than even anti-Black hate crimes in Canada, which is almost certainly unprecedented. Anti-Jewish crimes always are the most prominent compared to crimes against other religious groups (anti-Muslim crimes actually went down while anti-Jewish crimes went up.) But to have antisemitic hate crimes outpace even racist crimes is extremely worrisome. There are some 380,000 Jews in Canada and nearly twice that many Blacks. There are over a million Muslims, meaning that Jews are about six times as likely to be victims of hate crimes than Muslims.\nNow Wikipedia gives a Canadian population of 1,198,540 blacks and, for 2013, 1,153,677 Muslims—surely higher now. The actual per capita rates of hate crime per year in 2016, using these population figures and the raw data below, are these:\nJews: 0.121%\nBlacks: 0.018%\nMuslims: 0.012%\nThese data suggest that the rate of hate crimes against Jews is 6.7 times higher than for blacks and more than ten times higher than for Muslims.\nEven if you assume 500,00 Jews in Canada, the upper limit given by Wikipedia, the per capita rate for Jews is still 0.04%—more than twice the per capita rate for blacks and more than three times the per capita rate for Muslims.\nHere are the raw data:\nNow I don’t closely follow Canadian politics, but I bet a lot more press is given to hate crimes against Muslims than against either Jews or blacks—but I might be wrong. The higher per capita rate for Jews than Muslims also holds in the U.S., but you wouldn’t know that from most of the liberal media. And that reminds me of a joke:\nA guy walks into a bar and notices a man talking to the bartender down at the other end. The guy does a double take because the man talking to the bartender really resembles Hitler. So the guy goes up to the man and says “Excuse me, but did anybody ever tell you that you look like Hitler?” The man replies, “Oh, but I am Hitler. I have been reincarnated and I am back on Earth to kill 10 million Jews and 33 geese!” “Oh, my God! That’s terrible! But why 33 geese?” Hitler then turns to the bartender and says “See? I told you nobody cares about the Jews.”\nh/t: Orli", "Blue Ivy and Beyonce at the Grammy Awards Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS\nBlue Ivy Carter attended a Los Angeles gala Saturday night with her parents, music power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z.\nDuring the art auction, she raised her paddle in the air to bid $17,000 on a painting, Vanity Fair reported.\nMoments later, she upped her bid to $19,000.\nJay-Z can be seen jokingly trying to wrestle the paddle from her hand.\nBlue Ivy did walk away with a piece of art that evening — just not as expensive.\nBlue Ivy Carter proved that she's an art connoisseur in the making at a Los Angeles gala this weekend when she bid $19,000 for a painting.\nBlue Ivy, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z attended the Wearable Art Gala Saturday night to honor both Jay-Z's mother, Gloria Carter, and Beyoncé for their humanitarian work.\nThe gala included a live auction to benefit the WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Center, which mentors teens through theater and art.\nA fan account posted a video of Blue Ivy sitting between her parents, clearly in control of the bidding paddle. When it came time to bid on an acrylic painting of actor Sidney Poitier, Blue Ivy raised her paddle for a cool $17,000.\nThe video shows Jay-Z reaching over and jokingly trying to wrestle the bidding paddle from her hands.\nBut not to be thwarted, Blue Ivy went on to up her bid to $19,000, which was met with an enthusiastic \"Yes!\" by the host of the auction, former \"The View\" co-host Star Jones.\n\"Her mother and father have been talking about how you gather art, and that is a big deal for African Americans,\" Jones said in the video.\nNaturally, the people of Twitter had a lot to say about the moment.\nAlthough Blue Ivy lost that bid to actor and comedian Tyler Perry, according to Vanity Fair, she didn't go home empty-handed.\nOn the very next item, a piece of art made up of deconstructed law and medical books by artist Samuel Levi Jones, Blue Ivy made the winning bid for $10,000.\nThis isn't the first time Blue Ivy has charmingly showed the world who really runs the Carter household.\nAt the 60th Grammy awards in January, she appeared to tell her parents to stop clapping. That's right, 6-year-old Blue Ivy shushed Beyoncé and Jay-Z.\nIt's Blue Ivy's world, and we're just living in it.\nSign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.", "The man who shot up a congressional baseball practice on Wednesday was a regular at a sports bar in Alexandria where he 'creeped out' the female bartenders while he drank by himself watching golf, staffers at the restaurant told the DailyMail.com\nJames Hodgkinson, 66, died from gun injuries on Wednesday hours after he opened fire on a group of Republican congressmen and their aides who were practicing for a congressional baseball game in the Washington, D.C. suburb. Rep. Steve Scalise and four others were injured, and all are in stable condition.\nHodgkinson, who is from Illinois, had been living in Alexandria for the past few months before the shooting.\nHe frequented Pork Barrel BBQ, a local bar near the baseball field, often stopping in during happy hour or to watch golf games.\n'He definitely creeped out all our female bartenders,' said Jamie Craig, a bartender at the restaurant. 'I tried to shy away from him… just a feeling, he gave me a weird, odd vibe.'\nCreeped out: Female bar staff found Hodgkinson strange, workers at the Pork Barrel BBQ told DailyMail.com\nSlept here: Hodgkinson appears to have slept in the back of his Ford E-series van, which had curtains down the side and blinds at the rear. FBI agents removed a sign suggesting the president was 'chicken in chief' on Wednesday afternoon\nRegular here: The shooter showered at the YMCA and was 'living out of his gym bag' according to another daily user\nHere to protest: The Trump-hating Bernie Sanders fanatic quit Belleville, IL, with the intention of carrying on the sort of protest he had launched outside\nFake address: Hodgkinson set up a P.O. box at this UPS store but gave it a fake apartment number to suggest it was an actual home\nSimpson Field: The baseball field where Hodgkinson opened fire is just beside the YMCA where he showered.\nCraig said Hodgkinson would come to the bar alone, usually dressed in a collared shirt and jeans. He would order Budweiser, but usually only drank one or two.\nHodgkinson didn't talk about politics, said Craig, and he didn't mention his personal life.\nThey would usually discuss the weather or different types of craft beer, but Hodgkinson usually kept to himself and seemed to be staring out the windows daydreaming.\n'He would always have one or two and leave. He did seem to be staring a lot out the windows,' said Craig.\n'He was quiet, definitely not a socialite,' she added. 'He was not the friendliest of people. I remember he was a bit of a rude person sometimes.'\nShe said Hodgkinson would often look angry and annoyed when he tried to get the bartenders attention during busy times at the bar.\nCraig said she is not sure when he started coming in, but it was probably a few months ago. She said she hadn't seen him in several weeks when she saw him on the news on Wednesday.\nAcquaintance: Bill Euille, seen when he was mayor of Alexandria, told the Washington Post Hodgkinson had been around the YMCA for around six weeks\nShe said she was surprised by the news that he was the congressional shooter. Other bartenders at the restaurant started texting his photo, and all the staff seemed to remember him.\n'[The other bartenders] were showing the picture around on the text message, we have a group text message and everybody remembered him,' said Craig. 'That's the guy who would come in and have a Bud.'\nTrump-hating Hodgkinson had wanted to protest the president by moving to Washington D.C. - but found himself lonely, isolated and living out of his gym bag.\nThe Bernie Sanders supporter is known to have moved from his hometown of Belleville, Illinois, within recent weeks.\nBut instead of being able to make a permanent protest against the president he found himself essentially homeless and desperate to find work.\nHis last known sighting before the shooting was at the YMCA where he had been showering every day and spending time in the lobby, hunched over his laptop.\nHe was seen there about 7am Wednesday morning, minutes before he opened fire at the neighboring Simpson Field.\nThe exact date of his move from Illinois is still unclear. One account suggests his wife told friends in April that he was retiring.\nThe former mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, told the Washington Post that he had been aware of Hodgkinson for about six weeks, suggesting he moved at the end of April or beginning of May.\nDailyMail.com has established that he opened a UPS P.O. box at a shop close to Simpson Field and the YMCA on May 31.\nHowever he attached a bogus apartment number to the P.O. box so that anyone mailing to him would think it was to a real address.\nWorkers at the shop declined to say whether they had seen him recently.\nThe Bernie-lover did not appear to have anywhere to stay and appears to have been sleeping in his white Ford E-series van.\nIt was parked beside Simpson Field on Wednesday and FBI agents carried out a fingertip examination. Its windows were covered with curtains and blinds and they removed an anti-Trump sign.\nHodgkinson was upping the anti-Trump rhetoric while he spent time in Alexandria - although he also told his family 24 hours before the shooting that his protest was about to end and he would come back home.\nHis brother Michel Hodgkinson told the New York Times that the shooter had phoned his wife Suzanne on Tuesday to say he was planning to return to Illinois, because he missed her and his dogs.\nDid he live in his car? Hodginkson had all his possessions in his gym bag and used the YMCA to shower\n'Coming home': The shooter told his wife Suzanne he was returning to their home in Belleville, IL, because he missed her and his dogs - but less than 24 hours later he was dead after his attempted atrocity\nThe former mayor of Alexandria, Bill Euille, had become an acquaintance when he saw Hodkingson each day at the YMCA, - which was behind a police cordon in the aftermath of the shooting.\nIt does not offer accommodation but is open from 5.30am to 10pm during the week, giving him somewhere warm and dry to spend time.\nEuille told the Washington Post that he would see Hodgkinson showering after his own morning workout and began to speak to him regularly.\n'After the first or second week, he asked about good places to eat . . . within walking distance,' Euille told the newspaper.\n'A long weekend was coming up, and he asked what was going on in town. . . . That was the type of conversation we had.'\nEuille said that 'very friendly' Hodgkinson was 'living out of the gym bag' and appeared to have everything he owned in it.\nHe added: 'Outside of myself, I don't think he knew anyone else in town.'\nThe two barely spoke about politics but Euille, a Democrat, said that when there was political news on television, Hodgkinson would say he agreed with Euille and his party.\nBut he did say that the shooter had asked what work was available, and said he had been a home inspector, suggesting he was either looking for a way to stay, or running out of cash.\nWhatever the motivation, that plan changed radically Wednesday morning.\nEuille said he had been told by the manager of the YMCA that Hodgkinson was last seen there at 7am Wednesday morning, shortly before the shooting.", "Two Halifax-area women are speaking out after they allege they were drugged at a bar over the weekend.\nBrittany Bernard and Paige Fitzpatrick went out Saturday night to celebrate Fitzpatrick’s upcoming graduation from college. The pair say they had a few drinks at home — but were not intoxicated — before heading downtown to the Toothy Moose on Argyle Street.\nAbout 20 minutes after they arrived at the bar, Fitzpatrick say a man offered to buy her a shot and drink. That’s when things turned from celebratory to scary for the lifelong friends.\n“We’re assuming it was the gentleman who bought me the drink because that’s the only drink we had that whole night. But I don’t know who he was. He was just buying me a drink and I thought it was innocent,” Fitzpatrick told Global News.\n“We’re normally very careful about these things,” she said. “I’m watching [the bartender] make the drink and I’m watching him pass it to me and I look away for one second and then he was able to put it in my drink.”\nREAD: How 3 women may have saved a stranger from date rape\nFitzpatrick says the man knocked Bernard’s drink from her hand and offered to buy her a new one, but she declined. Instead, the two women shared the drink that was purchased for Fitzpatrick.\n“Instantly the both of us were just completely out of it,” Fitzpatrick said.\n“We walked to the dance floor and we both fell on our faces and we lost complete feeling of our body and all consciousness, like we couldn’t remember where we were or what was going on.”\nFitzpatrick and Bernard say they went to the washroom inside the bar, where they both vomited. Bernard was able to call her mother, who picked the women up and took them to the emergency room.\nFitzpatrick says they had to be taken inside the hospital in wheelchairs, where they remained for several hours.\n“I don’t remember anything at the hospital. The only thing I remember is waking up in the hospital bed with an IV,” she said.\nThe women say they had blood work and an electrocardiogram (EKG) done to make sure their hearts were all right. Ultimately, Fitzpatrick says medical professionals were unable to determine what the women had consumed.\n“They weren’t able to determine what was in our system but they said from our story and how we were responding to what they gave us, it was definitely something that was, that we had been drugged,” Fitzpatrick said.\n“It was absolutely, probably one of the scariest nights of our lives honestly.”\nWATCH: USB-sized device can tell you if your drink has been spiked\nThe women reported the incident to police on Sunday after leaving the hospital.\nHalifax Regional Police Const. Carol McIsaac confirmed that officers were informed that two women reported having their drinks tampered with sometime after 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 22.\n“It’s concerning anytime we receive this type of report,” said McIsaac. “It’s certainly not something that commonly happens.”\nMcIsaac says officers are still in the early stages of their investigation and will be combing through any video surveillance the bar has in place. Police are encouraging anyone who may have had a similar incident to report it.\n“Often times, by the time they do attend the hospital or do realize their drinks may have been spiked, there’s not a lot of evidence still because it does leave their system very quickly,” she said.\n“It is important they they report it to us because we need to be aware that something like this is happening in our city.”\nPolice are reminding people to never leave your drinks unattended and not to accept drinks from people you don’t know.\n“If somebody offers to buy you a drink, great but attend the bar with that person and be present when the bartender makes the drink and accept the drink from the bartender as opposed to the person who’s offering to purchase the drink for you,” said McIsaac.\nREAD MORE: Dalhousie University issues warning after drinks allegedly spiked at party\nAs for Bernard and Fitzpatrick, they decided to go public with their ordeal in hopes of spreading awareness and preventing something similar — or worse — from happening to someone else.\n“You can never be too careful with who you trust when you’re out and about, especially when you’re drinking and you’re in that type of atmosphere,” said Bernard.\nAnyone with information about the incident over the weekend is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.", "BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The number of murders continues to sky rocket in Baltimore after six people are killed in less than 24 hours.\nBaltimore is closing in on 160 homicides, not even halfway through the year.\nPolice are beefing up patrols and canvassing neighborhoods.\nWJZ’s Rick Ritter spoke with some residents who said they’re scared to come forward and go to police because they’re afraid they too could be gunned down.\nThe blood shed is hard to fathom. Six people killed in hours, one of them, Sebastian Dvorak, just turned 27.\nThey’re homicide 155 and 157 in Baltimore, but the two victims’ faces have a story. Both were gunned down in violence that’s incomprehensible.\n“The senselessness of this violence, I’m at a loss words,” said David Dvorak, Sebastian’s father.\nDvorak was a local bartender at Ryleigh’s Oyster. He was robbed and gunned down along Boston Street after a night out with friends.\nHis family has been left shattered.\n“We are deeply saddened of our dearest son Sebastian,” said David. “He was exceptional in every possible way, lit up every room and loved by so many.”\nA murder in the popular Canton area that shows gunfire is reaching epic proportions.\n“We have to take ownership of our city,” David said. “The police cannot stop all murders in this city unless community is involved.”\nBaltimore City police are now trying a new strategy. 12 hour shifts are effective immediately and they’re going door-to-door in the neighborhoods of these homicides.\nIncluding west Baltimore, where 37-year-old Charmaine Wilson was gunned down along Gertude Street.\n“There is a murderer among us who is an absolutely monstrous human being,” said Baltimore PD spokesman T.J. Smith.\nThe mother of eight called police because one of her son’s was being bullied. Shortly after, she was shot to death.\n“This is something that should outrage the entire community, entire city, because there are cowards walking around that took this mother, killed a woman over dispute,” Smith said.\nThese are obvious signs that pulling the trigger in Charm City has become far too easy.\n“It should at least be a felony to carry an illegal gun,” said mayor Catherine Pugh. “There’s too many illegal guns on streets of our city.”\nThe mayor says they’re talking with judges, saying this city has to do better with keeping people behind bars who have violent backgrounds and guns in their hands.\nNo arrests have been made in the homicides of Dvorak and Wilson.\nPolice say there is no motive in the Canton murder at this time, but they are combing through surveillance video, and as soon as they have anything valuable they will release it to the public to help identify a suspect.\nPolice are urging people to text them anonymously with tips or any video that may have been taken around the time frame of these murders. That number is (443) 902-4824.\nFollow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook", "Authorities have found the body of a Fresno State professor reported missing last week.Bradley Hufft, 59, was found dead inside his car. Hufft was a Coarsegold native and longtime musical educator, concert promoter, and composer.He also is known on the Fresno restaurant scene having worked as a bartender and restaurant owner. He was reported missing last Wednesday and his body was found the following day.No word yet on the cause of death.A small tribute to Hufft is now at his office at Fresno State. Students are remembering with roses placed right outside his door.", "Science fiction has the best premises. No surprise there; any genre based on impossible what-ifs is bound to wind up in some interesting places. What if interplanetary travel were possible, for instance? What if people could get on a starship, as they do on a plane, and emigrate to a new life on a new planet? The voyage would take a long time – 120 years, say. The passengers would be in a state of suspended animation, roused from their slumber just a few months before they reached their destination. What if something went wrong, though? What if one passenger was woken up too early? Like for instance, 90 years too early?\nJim (Chris Pratt) is the passenger in question, finding himself awake, alone – except for robotic bartender Arthur (Michael Sheen), programmed to polish glasses and offer bartender wisdom for all eternity – and apparently doomed to live and die in transit between Earth and the planet Homestead II. The premise works on many levels, including as a metaphor for vanishing humanity in a mechanised world. “I need to talk to a person!” pleads Jim as he keeps bumping up against chirpy robotic messages. (He does finally locate a helpline and send a message – but his message will take 19 years to reach Earth, so it doesn’t really help.) And the premise also works on a more basic level, as a space-set Robinson Crusoe with increasingly shaggy Jim trying to get used to life alone.\nHis plight differs in two respects from Robinson Crusoe’s. First, his desert island is lavishly appointed: he may be lonely but he lives in luxury, taking advantage of facilities designed for 5,000 people. There are games and pastimes, little robots to pick up the crumbs if he spills anything, even a spacewalk where he can gaze at the stars and weep at the enormity of his solitude – though admittedly all the good meals are reserved for Gold Class passengers, forcing our hero to breakfast on black coffee and lumpy porridge. (Could even vacuum-packed meals last for 120 years without going bad? I suppose they do things differently in the future.) Yet there’s also a second difference from the usual castaway: Crusoe was truly alone, Man Friday excepted – but Jim, who craves human contact, is surrounded by people, 5,000 of them in fact. The only problem is, they’re all asleep.\nJim is an engineer; he could probably get a pod to open prematurely (like his own did) if he tried. But then he’d be taking that person’s life, forcing them to live out their years on the spaceship; it’d be murder, or at least a murky kind of exploitation (the film points out that the passengers are themselves being exploited, by the company behind the space travel programme). This is where Passengers gets quite intriguing, adding a moral dilemma to its physical situation. I won’t say what happens next – it’s obvious anyway, if you glance at the cast list – but the film’s poor reviews and box-office failure seem undeserved, at least for an hour or so. That premise hooks you.\nThere are two problems, both pretty major. The third act – when Jim discovers that the ship is badly damaged, and tries to repair the damage for the sake of the sleeping passengers – is shoddily done; the introduction of an extra character played by Laurence Fishburne, whose only function is to (somehow) appear, give Jim the information and equipment he needs then quickly expire, is an embarrassingly un-creative way of taking the plot where it needs to go. The other major problem is that the ending is awful – or, if not awful, abrupt to the point of hilarity. I can only assume there was a whole other section that got cut at the last minute; either way, Andy Garcia’s ‘role’ in this movie is among the most ignominious career lows ever suffered by a major actor.\nIt’s a huge lapse, of course; a premise is no good unless it’s consummated. Passengers is likely to leave viewers feeling dissatisfied (word-of-mouth must’ve been lethal) – yet most of the film is perfectly fine, the Twilight Zone premise easing into love story with Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence making the heavy lifting of a two-character drama seem effortless (Sheen, meanwhile, joins a long list of memorable barkeeps including Joe Turkel in The Shining, Brian Dennehy in 10 and Ethan Hawke in Predestination). At the core of this flawed, absorbing movie is a tale of machines breaking down to expose our fragile humanity, and the questions that asks of us: Is our life really in our hands? Should we try to get what we want, or make the best of what we have? Are we all just passengers in the hands of Fate? As Arthur says when our hero’s moral triage gets a bit too complicated: “Jim, these are not robot questions”.\nDIRECTED BY Morten Tyldum\nSTARRING Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen\nUS 2016 116 mins" ]

[ "Children do get half their genetic information from each of their parents, but it's not the same half. One child can get specific genes, and another can get totally different ones. Think of a sperm cell and an egg as two boxes of ten coloured pencils each. From these boxes you're going to pick five from one and five from the other to make a new, unique box of ten coloured pencils. You can repeat this process many times, and pick many different combinations from the boxes and still get a new, unique box every time. The catch is that humans have 19 000 - 20 000 genes and the combinations are nearly endless." ]

[ "In this scenario, maintaining a broad gene pool is more important than avoiding inbreeding. If you only have one child, have of your genes are lost forever...if you only have two, likely a quarter of your genes will be lost. The first generation will be about the women having as many children as possible, fathered equally between the men. Subsequent generations will about having as many children as possible, first avoiding sibling, then half siblings, then first cousins.", "Jew is both an ethic and religious label. Not all ethnic Jews practice Judaism. Many of them have a very loose affiliation with a few of the traditions (such as Yom Kippor, Hanuka etc) They call themselves Jews primarily because their parents are and ancestry is. If your father is a Jew and your mother is not then you are half Jew whether you practice the religion or not.", "From my understanding of biology (So take this with a grain of salt): Sperm only have half the number of chromosomes in them compared to a normal cell (Which makes sense. The mother's egg has half, and the fathers sperm has half, creating a full set when together). Sperm are not created initially with half the chromosomes, but instead split off from a full cell with a complete set of chromosomes from the father (So, a normal cell with both an X and Y chromosome). When this cell splits to make two sperm with half a set of chromosomes, one cell get's the X and one cell gets the Y, and thus you get a 50/50 split each time.", "A relatively well known example are the Mosuo peoples of central China. They have a cultural practice of what can probably be called serial monogamy, though not necessarily. Marriage as such does not exist, women and men are free to take on any partner they choose for as long as they like. They are matrinlinear, and all children, regardless of their fathers are raised in the mother's household and by their uncles. The father may or may not be part of the child's life, and children take on their mother's family name. Marriage as an institution we are familiar with does not traditionally exist. [One Source.](_URL_0_)", "You got your X chromosome from your mother. Your father got his X chromosome from his mother. Unless those two women are somehow the same person you'd have different ones. If you had a sibling there's a possibility that their X chromosome would differ from yours since your mom has 2 she could pass along, the sibling might get the other one.", "The half-life of DNA is such that you'd never get a decent enough sample of a dinosaur to clone it. A mammoth though? Sure. Assuming we did, by sheer dumb luck, somehow find a dinosaur so well-preserved that we could somehow extract a complete enough genome to use to clone the animal though, a new set of problems would arise. Firstly, you need some kind of similar creature to bear the organism as a surrogate mother. With a mammoth, an elephant should do just fine, but a dinosaur? There aren't any reptiles large enough to lay a T-rex egg. Even if you did somehow grow the dinosaur in-vitro in a prosthetic egg or something, you'd still only have a genetically similar (not identical since some damage is inevitable which must be repaired with, for example, frog DNA) creature, not an exact replica. For example, you'd have no way to teach it how to be a T-rex, since we have no idea how T-rex behaved and no similar animals to be a surrogate mother.", "If you are male, you definitely have more genes from your mother than from your father. This is because male children inherit a Y chromosome from their father, and the Y chromosome is much smaller and has fewer genes on it than the X chromosome that all children inherit from their mother. So barring odd chromosomal mutations, male children always have more genes from their mother than their father.", "It is possible, albeit extremely unlikely. When a human is created, it forms it's genome of 23 pairs of chromosomes by taking a random half of the father, and a random half of the mother. If this was the only mechanism accounting for genetic variety, this would give a possibility of 2^23 which is more different genetic make up than the current earth population. Now add to that crossing over and mutations, virus dna integration, transposons, etc. while keeping in mind that this is the number of possible genetic make up you can produce **from the same parents** (all the starting genes are the same) and you get a truly astronomical number that is inimaginable. So it's not impossible, but I doubt that it will ever happen. NINJA edit: Unless you do very unethical cloning/inbreeding experiments.", "I'd like to comment on the \"This is obviously not favorable in terms of sexual fitness because their genes will not be passed along to future generations\" part. I see your point, and in most cases it'd be valid, but it doesn't have to be that simple either. Imagine a couple that doesn't have children, but lives with their relatives who do have children. Taking care of your siblings' child is pretty much taking care of your own genes. Choosing to not have kids but give your sister's kid a better chance in life (by being taken care of by more people) is one strategy to get your own genes to \"live on\". You share on average half of your genes with your siblings, and also half of your genes with your kid. sorry I was a bit off topic, but I felt the point should be made", "You know how babies don't look like their parents? That's basically what's going on here. The tree is the \"mother\" and it's fertilized by the \"father's\" pollen. The fruit (and its seeds) are the \"baby\". It gets half of the DNA (shuffled up) from each parent so you never know what's going to happen *unless* you've gone through a long process of breeding the plants to breed \"true\".", "Not all sperm are created equal, even within one man. Because half of a person is from the mother and half from the father, each sperm has to contain only half of the information needed to make a baby. When sperms are made, the information that goes into each one is randomised by several different mechanisms so no 2 will have the exact same genes. Some will be weak and some strong. Having said that, in fact fertilisation of the egg is very hard. Eggs have a thick layer protecting them that sperm need to burrow through, and the first one to reach the egg usually isn't the one to complete fertilisation. Instead, fertilising the egg is a joint effort by several sperms burrowing through the outer layers of egg until one reaches the middle.", "What JFK's father Joseph Sr. [said after the Depression](_URL_0_): > In those days I felt and said I would be willing to part with half of what I had if I could be sure of keeping, under law and order, the other half.", "The shareholders, I believe that with the AT & T/time Warner Cable merger that it is $117 half stock half cash, so if you had 2 twc shares you would get $117 worth of AT & T stock and $117 in cash.", "The umbilical cord is entirely the baby’s tissue. But the placenta is the interface between the fetal bloodstream and the mother’s is the closest the two come to mixing. But they never actually do. During a healthy pregnancy and birth, a mother and her baby’s blood would never mix. Edit: Placenta is half mother and half fetus.", "It's bliss. No stupid sun. There aren\"t a ton of people everywhere. So much less stressful than the daytime.", "Female cats often mate with more than one tomcat - and it's common in this situation to have kittens in the same litter which have different fathers. The mother is the same (obviously) but they can and do look very different from their siblings and from what you might have thought the father was.", "Sort of. Nuclear decays occur if the daughter nucleus has less mass per nucleon than the mother and emitted particle combined (plus some other laws that must be obeyed). You can use the liquid drop model to calculate the mass of each nucleus. In general, big mass difference implies short half life and small mass difference implies long half life.", "Mothers (and perhaps fathers) kissing children *may* be a human instinct (I haven't seen definitive research on this, though I have read that it may help transfer children's germs to mothers so that mothers can produce anti-bodies in breast milk—this is, however, just a theory last I checked). The romantic kiss, however, is definitely a cultural practice and not a human universal. For more details, including examples from around the world and a statistical look at the issue, see my older answer in: * [Did people always 'make out'?](_URL_0_)", "Practically speaking, the island is split into two territories that each have a functioning government. Whether or not North Cyprus is a country depends on who you ask. It's not recognized as a country by any other country but Turkey, and the UN considers it territory of the Republic of Cyprus (the southern half of the island), but the government of the Republic of Cyprus doesn't have any functional control over the northern half of the island.", "It is a matriarchal society, males share bonds with mother into adulthood. Fathers are not invested in children, but maintain relationship with mother. & #x200B; Source took apes class for college biology requirement", "You can't actually cut a typical earthworm in half and have both halves regenerate. The organs are too centralized--earthworms can regrow their tail, and the cut off bit keeps wiggling around for a while, but that's pretty much it. Incidentally, the lump is actually related to their reproductive organs, and is not the heart. On the other hand, many other worms, including many annelids, _can_ be cut in half and regenerate from the pieces. Worms which can be cut in half have good regenerative powers and each portion contains copies of all organs needed for survival until the worm can be regenerated. The grown back fragments could be considered clones. You can cut the halves in half indefinitely provided you give them time to recover and regrow completely in between cuts--you'd have much less success, eg, chopping the worm up into 16ths.", "The notes on a major scale have some distance between them. That distance is called tone. If we got a C major scale, we have the following distance: 1 tone(T)-1T - 1/2T -1 T - T - T - 1/2 T. While on a guitar every key ok the keyboard is half tone distant, we don't need to differentiate the half tones from full tones. In a piano, we do not have that, so to represent a major scale we use the black key to pinpoint where the half tones are.", "Follow up / expansion on the question: Regardless of understandings of Genetics, this opens a larger question about the concept of identity and lineage that the writer of the epic held. If my father is \"Smith\" and my mother was \"Baker\", would I have been considered half Smith and half Baker, or would I have been considered mostly Smith by ancient Mesopotamians? 2/3 seems like such a specific number. Is that normal for lineage in Mesopotamia or is that more to do with the God aspect?", "The only study I could find indicates that having children *increases* life expectancy of both the mother *and* the father. _URL_0_ The full article requires a subscription.", "Re-arrange it first: The distance travelled from constant acceleration is 1/2 at^2 , so your question is the same as asking why there is a 1/2 there, why is it just not at^2 . The distance traveled during constant acceleration is the same as travelling at the average velocity of the trip. You spend half the time going slower than average, and half the time going faster. The average speed is halfway between zero and max velocity (a t), so it's 1/2 at. The distance traveled is the average velocity times time, so 1/2 (at)t or 1/2 at^2 . If it were just at^2 then the total distance would be (at)t, where at is equivalent to the *maximum* velocity reached. But you don't go as far as you would if you had been travelling the maximum velocity the whole time.", "Those are using two very different scales and measures. The cells of humans and cells of chimps have to do many of the same things. Things like breathing oxygen for energy, moving water around. Almost all cells do. The cell doesn't just know, all of it is encoded in DNA. [By that same token humans share 60% of our DNA with bananas.](_URL_0_) When we say 2% of our DNA is Neanderthal. It means humans interbred with full Neanderthals. EG your if your mother was a Neanderthal and your father was a human you'd be 50% neanderthal. If your mother was half neanderthal and your father was a quarter neanderthal, you would be 37.5% neanderthal. Going all the way back, people would on average be 2% neanderthal. Because enough people were half-neanderthal at some point in the very distant past.", "_URL_0_ Life span of fathers increased in linear fashion with increasing number of children (0.23 years per additional child; p =.01), while life span of mothers increased linearly up to 14 children (0.32 years per additional child; p =.004) but decreased with each additional child beyond 14 (p =.0004). Among women, but not men, a later age at last birth was associated with longer life span (p =.001). Adjusting for age at last birth obliterated the correlation between maternal life span and number of children, except among mothers with ultrahigh ( > 14 children) parity.", "You have two copies of each gene, one set from your father, one from your mother. Each copy is called an _allele_. Alleles can be recessive or dominant. If you have one dominant allele from one parent and one recessive from the other, the dominant allele will be expressed. Only if you have two recessive alleles will that version of the gene be expressed. So, it's easy for some traits to skip a generation if they're recessive, since there are more ways for a dominant allele to take effect. Let's say you have the a recessive big nose gene. The dominant allele is N and the recessive one is n. Mother - N, father - N = NN, a small nose Mother - N, father - N = Nn, a small nose Mother - n, father - N = nN, a small nose Mother - n, father - n = nn, big nose", "President Johnson ordered American Flags flown at half mast on the occasion of the death of Winston Churchill, in 1965. The newspaper referenced below thought this was the first time that American flags had been flown at half mast for a non-American. Winston Churchill, of course, might be considered half American, as his mother was American. Source: _URL_0_", "In pre-industrialised agricultural societies, families tend to work their farms as a collective unit. There's no separation between 'work' and 'home'. While young children would stay close to their mother, older children would work doing chores such as fetching water, and as they got older, helping their father if they were physically capable. Since children didn't go to school, and fathers essentially worked from home, children spent much more time with their fathers than they do now. It was the industrial revolution that turned work and home into two separate places. Men's superior strength made them more desirable workers, causing them to spend more time away from home supporting their families, leading to the archetype of the distant/stern father figure.", "Under the law of most U.S. states, parents actually don't have to name their children with any relation to their own name. A child can have a completely different last name. It is customary however to use the father's name if it is known (even if it is out of wedlock), and otherwise the mother's name. If the father is not known then of course the mother has the only say in the name, as well.", "Slaves. When Africans were first imported into the colonies, slave codes were enacted into law codifying their status. Children inheirited the condition of the mother. Given the stucture of society at the time, virtually all mixed children would be the offspring of a free white father and an enslaved black mother, rendering them slaves." ]

[ "One that is not too yellow or dark. It means you're hydrated enough." ]

[ "Actualy when it comes to puberty it s frightening the number of fathers that acts like periods doesn't exists", "What?! Don’t use logic on religion! /s", "What do you mean you people? S/", "The college team I root for is having its best year since the 60's", "No, because my S/Os twin is the one with a dick.", "I’ll change my lotto numbers to the correct ones.", "A number of post titles very similar in nature to this one.", "S N A C K S", "a s s h o l e s", "Michael Jordan the best at what he did", "pinups of the 40's and 50's", "That ethernet coords are one of the best things in existence", "The 2040's and 50's", "#S E G G S", "Philosophy is the study of what exists (metaphysics), how you know it exists (epistemology) and the best way for one to live their life (ethics).", "90's = Starter Jackets\n00's = Fur lined leather jackets \n10's = Puffer jackets \n20's = TBD", "Try and make the best with what you've got.", "Good one, she was a Portugal without the port that caused me a Spain without the S.", "A genuine compliment \n\nReceiving one is the best feeling", "RDR2’s soundtrack at the end of chapter six is real sad after what happens to Arthur", "The /s", "There is actually a really simple formula for this, depending on the situation of course.\n\nV=|[A×C(X²)]M| then that number put into decibels\n\nV=Volume, X=Karen's Age, C=Claimed value of item(s) owed, A=Age of attendant/cashier, M=Number of times asked to speak to the manager", "I would of got his phone number and post a Best Buy at for a 70$ flatscreen tv guy be getting calls all day", "The number of men that might be your father from that one party your mom went to.", "One has to now kill the other. It's for the best.", "80's people? I don't get it. Born in the 80's? Teens in the 80's? Octogenarians? Time travellers visiting from the 80's?" ]

[ "From a purely theoretical perspective, when you are a baker who is capable to reaching 100% target of its priority 0 baking rights, the optimal situation in terms of your capital is to have all of it blocked as security deposit because it means that all your capital is working. In such situation as soon as some bond is unlocked it would get relocked again by a new baking and at the same time you would never miss a single block/endorsement baking right. To be in this situation means that the baker is exactly 100% delegated at all times: there's just enough delegators pointing to you as your capital can absorb. It is the optimal situation for both the baker and the delegators.\n\nIn reality, bakers are rarely in this situation, in practice they are either \"under\"-delegated or \"over\"-delegated.\n\n\nIf you are under-delegated: it is suboptimal for the \"baker\" this means that you could have accepted more delegations and received more baking rights without impacting your success rate, your personal ROI is suboptimal. On the other hand this situation is fine for delegators because they still receive 100% of their expected rewards on average for their level of staking (minus the baker's fee of course), their personal gross ROI is optimal (assuming you don't make any operational mistake while baking of course).\nIf you are over-delegated: is is suboptimal for the delegators because your capital is not enough to cover for all the baking rights of the operation. There's less rewards coming in the bakers' account than the expected amount to pay all the delegators. In such situations the baker usually pays himself first (his personal ROI is optimal) so he received his expected value however the effective amount received by delegators will depend on the policy of the baker (pay those who came first in priority? Or distribute the loss equally to everyone?). So in this scenario the baker rewards are usually \"covered\" by the baker policy but not the delegator's rewards (the delegators gross ROI is suboptimal).\n\n\nSo all in all, given that delegators often enter into a delegation and do not monitor day to day situation of the baker's bond and pay a fee to that baker, they usually expect the baker to do this monitoring job and give them a heads-up if they believe they might get over-delegated in the near future in order to give appropriate time for delegators to find an alternative.\n\nFor example in the beginning of mainnet, as per the protocol the initial bond requirement was kept intentionally low (started from 0%) and gradually ratcheted up over the cycles. This means that many bakers have been to start their operation with quite small actual bond requirements which allowed them to ride the opportunity and accept much more delegations than their capital would allow once the bond requirement would achieve its long term level (512XTZ per block and 64XTZ per endorsement). This created a situation where a number of baker got not immediately over-delegated but forward-over-delegated." ]

[ "Short answer:\n\nFIFA doesn't cover travel or any logistic expenses of international friendly matches, because they are coordinated between corresponding associations.\n\nFIFA covers only travel costs for referees and its own representatives of the qualification games.\n\nFIFA covers part of travel or logistic expenses during final tournaments, e.g. FIFA World Cup.\n\nThere's no mention in FIFA regulations about the division of the player in which he plays.\n\n\n\nLong answer:\n\nThe settlement of the costs of 2 associations playing during qualification phase recommended by FIFA is described in 2018 FIFA World Cup Regulations - Preliminary competition - 27 Financial provisions:\n\n\n \n [...] FIFA recommends the following provisions:\n \n \n a) the visiting association shall cover its delegation’s own\n international travel costs to the venue or the nearest airport, as\n well as board, lodging costs and incidental expenses;\n \n b) the host association shall cover domestic transport costs for the\n entire official delegation of the visiting team depending on flight\n connections (cf. art. 21 par. 1);\n \n c) the host association shall pay for board and lodging in a\n high-standard hotel and domestic transport in the host country for the\n match officials, the FIFA Match Commissioner, the referee assessor\n and any other FIFA officials (i.e. security officer, media officer\n etc.); \n \n [...]\n \n \n FIFA shall bear the costs of:\n \n \n a) international travel and the daily allowances, as fixed by FIFA,\n for the referees, assistant referees and fourth offi cials;\n \n b) international travel and the daily allowances for the respective\n FIFA delegation members, as fixed by FIFA.\n\n\nThe settlement of the costs during final competition is described in 2018 FIFA World Cup Regulations - Final competition - 50 Financial provisions:\n\n\n \n The participating member associations shall be responsible for and bear the costs of the following:\n \n \n a) adequate insurance to cover their Team Delegation Members and any\n other persons carrying out duties on their behalf against all risks,\n including but not limited to injury, accident, disease and travel in\n consideration of the applicable FIFA rules or regulations;\n \n b) board and lodging during the final competition, including rental of\n meeting rooms and audio/visual technical equipment, in excess of the\n contribution paid by FIFA;\n \n c) costs associated with additional members of the association’s\n delegation (in excess of the 50 official Team Delegation Members).\n \n \n The Organising Association shall, in accordance with the HA, organise and bear the costs of all domestic travel (road, rail or air)\n for each official Team Delegation Member of each participating member\n association (maximum of 50 people per participating member\n association), including their equipment (up to a maximum weight to be\n defi ned by FIFA at a later stage).\n FIFA shall bear the costs of the following:\n \n \n a) a contribution towards the preparation costs incurred by the\n participating member associations in accordance with a set tariff to\n be fixed in duecourse by the FIFA Organising Committee;\n \n b) business-class return fl ights for 50 people from each\n participating member association between a city to be designated by\n the FIFA Organising Committee and the first point of arrival in the\n host country. For each delegation’s international air travel to the\n 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ FIFA may request the participating member\n associations to use either (i) the airline notified to the\n participating member associations as being FIFA’s designated air\n carrier or (ii) an appropriate network alliance partner of such\n designated air carrier (if the designated air carrier does not service\n the international airports of any participating member association).\n If, contrary to any such request by FIFA, any participating member\n association elects not to use FIFA’s designated air carrier or an\n appropriate network alliance partner of such designated air carrier,\n or if any participating member association elects to charter a private\n aircraft for the air travel of its delegation, FIFA’s obligation will\n be limited to the amount FIFA would have incurred had the\n participating member association used FIFA’s designated air carrier\n for its delegation’s air travel;\n \n c) a contribution towards the costs of board and lodging for 50 people\n from each participating member association in accordance with a set\n tariff to be fixed in due course, starting five days prior to each\n team’s first match and ending no later than the second day following\n the team’s elimination. The FIFA Organising Committee shall determine\n these rates based on an average of the prevailing FIFA World Cup™\n sales rates in the official team hotels;\n \n d) prize money for the participating member associations, the amounts\n of which shall be determined by FIFA;\n \n e) the costs incurred by match offi cials, referee assessors and FIFA\n Match Commissioners and other members of the FIFA delegation;\n \n f) doping control expenses;\n \n g) the costs of insurance taken out by FIFA to cover its own risks.\n \n [...]\n \n \n Any expenses and costs incurred by a participating member association other than those mentioned in these Regulations shall be\n borne by the participating member association concerned." ]

[ "My wall shelves took up space I wanted and dusting each one was a pain. Now it's a little pile in nice cases, still easy to view and select and I don't worry about the dust." ]

[ "I won't review the show to me it's a great show and my favorite show but if your reading this then you pretty much know the show Smallville!!!!! This Review is for this release!!!!!\nI love how they made this with the added exclusive bonus features!!!!!! Inside the box the two book style cases have a lot of pictures from the series and there very good quality pictures!!!!!!!! The Episode guide gives you a complete description of each episode and special features!!!!! The Daily Planet newspaper is also great!!!!! I think the Aquaman Pilot on here was really good I believe it would have made a great series the 1961 Pilot of Superboy was good too shows it on like one of those classic floor model tvs like my grandma used to have!!!!!!\nNow for the issue I have is with how the DVD's are packaged they are in those book style cases and are in there very tight and it's not easy to get them out if your careful pulling them out the disc won't get damaged but the more you take it out and put it back in you will most certainly scratch the disc!!!!! So I reccomend buying a DVD Binder which doesn't cost very much to put the discs in that way you won't have to worry about the discs getting scratched then just put the box on the shelf as it is !!!!!!! Especially for how much you pay for this box set!!!!!! Now what I did is since the discs are the exact same as the individual releases just they no longer have pictures on the they have the Kryponian images on them but when u load disc it's the exact same!!!!!!! I own all the individual releases but I wanted this box set for extras and exclusive bonus features included!!!!!!!! So what I did was just left my individual relases in their cases butchanged a couple of the cases to be able to fit 7 Discs in the case so that i could put the 2 bonus Discs in there!!!! I then took the rest of the DVD's out of this box set put them in a DVD binder took the little books out of the individual releases and sold it to a buddy of mine!!!!!!!So if you have the individual releases but u still want this do something like I did!!!!!! So you have the cool box it's contents and the 2 exclusive discs but you can make some money off it if you already own the individual relases by doing as I did and seeing if you know someone who would be interested in buying just the discs off you!!!!!! Either way if your buying this or whatever defintely buy a DVD binder to put the DVD's in to protect them!!!!! Every Smallville Fan new or old would love this release it's great accept for the way the DVD's are stored but as said the DVD Binder is a cheap remedy!!!!!!!", "I should've taken the advice of the other reviewers, but I went ahead and bought this dvd because the price was right (or so I thought). This is a great movie, but this dvd is terrible. All of the way through, the picture is grainy and dark and the sound is horrible. You can barely hear what they are saying during normal scenes and during fight or action scenes it gets so loud that you can't enjoy it. I spent the whole movie turning the volume up and down. And, the subtitles are only in French. No English subtitles! Don't waste your $7.50 for this dvd. Wait for another release.", "My wife and I were at this taping of Austin City Limits in 1978. Fun to see ourselves along with our friends 38 years ago. This is true Merle Haggard at his peak, live and not some remastered music. The DVD also includes a CD so you can have the music in your car or truck. Days gone by, way by, but what great times and great memories!", "This book is probably best when read as a couple. The author Couple do a great job of relating stories and experiences that are entertaining, enlightening, heart felt, and will hold your attention. They also found a way to incorporate scripture in a way that shines light on the heart of God toward the union of marriage, but also challenges the readers to look deeper into the scriptures, and read them in a way that is going to blow your mind wide open for what the Father has in store for your marriage!", "This DVD of the 80s group FLANS is loaded with live presentations. Expect to see a lot of views of fans yelling, and applauding. Also has some video clips of their not so good songs. This dvd may also be considered a collectors item, since is not available in stores.", "This is a great hat if your son has a small head! My son is almost 10 pounds and all of the 0 to 3 months hats In the store's are way too big for his head. This hat is perfect for helping to keep the sun out of his face. Highly recommend it if you can't find a hat that's small enough for your baby", "I was very dissapointed. This DVD was so boring. No excitement at all. I love Prince's music, but this DVD concert was terrible. Save your money.", "In 30 years os sucess in America(his first work in USA was in 1970) the One Night Only was absoluted this finest live performance. In your piano and of his band(who includes Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone), the show in New York make the city a Eltoncity. Your performance of his classic hits like \"Your Song\",\"Rocket Man\", \"I don't wanna go on you like that\".His duets with Billy Joel, Anastacia, Kiki Dee, Mary J. Blidge was great. A classic DVD who never been forgoten. The bonus track of the \"I Want Love\" was great.\nTHIS DVD WAS ESSENTIAL", "The silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper is a great investment in my home. The seller was great to work with and delivery of my popcorn popper was fast and prompt. my sister in law always eats popcorn day and night and this is a healthy alternative to the store bought bags of popcorn. It gives her the opportunity to eat her favorite food while controlling the contents that go in her body. The silicone microwavable popcorn popper requires no oil or additives. The head does the trick to pop the kernels. This way I know that it is always fresh and clean. The silicone microwavable popcorn popper is great for any age to use. it is very simple. Just fill desired amount of kernel add your flavorings and pop it in the microwave for the required time and just wait to eat your wonderful delicious snack. The silicone microwavable popcorn popper is very easy to clean and store as well. With its silicone design the popcorn bowl collapses easily to be able to be stored anywhere on even on the go. The silicone microwavable popcorn popper is great to have when you want to make that speciality popcorn that you cannot find in the store. The popper has great capabilities and you can make infinite combinations of your choice. I love using the popper to make indian popping corn with specials masalas. And the fact that it requires no oil is a wonderful way to eat a healthy snack. I will have to say that I did recieve The silicone microwavable popcorn popper at a suppressed or cheaper rate the the price listed. This by no means means that I have given a biased review of The silicone microwavable popcorn popper. My review of The silicone microwavable popcorn popper is completely and utterly honest. I highly recommend The silicone microwavable popcorn popper to any person looking for a great healthy snacking options with many ways to customize their snack.", "Not much of a football fan myself (although I'll watch a good rivalry), but darn if I didn't catch myself watching the top 20 Countdown of the America's Game series a couple years back (the back stories and personality profiles are great).\n\nNFL Network counted down the top 20 Super Bowl teams, and the 1985 Chicago Bears was rated #2. Out of the 20 I watched, I'd rank this DVD as #1 in the series (I'd also rank the 85 Bears first). NFL Films does great work, and this DVD shows `em at their best-great music, great video, and the shot (and music) of Walter Payton sitting on the bench by himself with his head in his hands at his last game will tug on your heartstrings!\n\nI'd recommend watching this DVD first, then getting your hands on the Pure Payton DVD (DVD is available only in the book Payton).\n\nBoth are highly recommended, even if you aren't a football fan-my 75-year-old mom couldn't care less about football, and she loved it!\n\nIf you know someone who's a football and/or Bears fan, this would make a great Christmas gift.", "It's great, very difficult to put on your iPad, I had to go to the Verizon store for help!", "I liked the idea of wooden eggs ... just can't STAND that fake-looking plastic food. The eggs are great, a pretty natural color. But the carton is more flimsy than the ones you get in the grocery store for real eggs. I suppose that's because it's made of recycled material? Either way, I ended up making a new carton with the stiffer cardboard one from the grocery store. It's held up much better. If you buy this toy, just know that you will be making a new carton from your own eggs.", "This DVD is from his first TV Concert. It is \"Great Performances\" on PBS. The visual effects are a first to be seen on a PBS special. This DVD is history in the making...A super \"Josh Experience\" The guest stars are John Williams, Angie Stone and Lili Haydn. For the people that are not acquainted with pop classical, now is the time to experience it. How refreshing to listen to music that speaks to the heart, and lets it soar.\nThe DVD outtakes are also a never before seen experience. How this young man can unite people from all different states and countries, to meet together in love and togetherness. Age also was no barrier. Mothers sitting alongside with their children, people young and old, appreciating the common link that bonds us all..feelings in the heart.\nIf you never buy another DVD, you owe it to yourself to get the chance to expand your horizons, find the light behind the clouds, lift your heads in joy, raise your arms in freedom, sing out..grow..change..the Josh experience, is NOW", "never buy at the store way to expensive. the are just as good as ones in the store.", "Usually yoga is a hard workout and even harder to stick with a routine. One of the great things about this series is the flexibility you get. The workouts are 12 minutes, and can be combined if you want a more in-depth routine, but if you are after a fast way to raise your metabolism and flexibility, then you only need 12 minutes at a time. The DVD also gives you different options for performing each difficult move, so for beginners like me, I can find a way to follow along without falling over :)\nI have been using the whole set, and love it!", "They got to me fast and they work great. The heck with Wahl Mart, and the other stores buy all your phone stiff here.", "This is not just an INFORMATIVE documentary, but an entertaining one that not only captures your imagination...but also your stomach!\n\nIf you ever just felt unsure about that fast food McDonalds or Burger King you eat in a rush. If you are the type looking to change your lifestyle for the better. If you have health issues and been told time and time again that it is time for a change in your diet, this is the film to watch. It shocks you in the right way and helps educate you about your nutrition and diet in a down to earth way that not many doctors can even describe.\n\nMost food documentaries talk down to you, this one uplifts you. Food does Matter and this dvd is IMPORTANT!", "Ordered these for lights my husband built for our bathroom/closet remodel. They look great and were way cheaper than buying similar light covers at the store.", "1) Looking on line seems to be a Target exclusive\nin stores in theory Nov 3 2015 - in store price 40 dollars each, online 50 dollars each.\n(most likely will be 40 dollars online - target matches its store prices)\nNow you know the math on second seller mark up\n\n2) Think its a bit late to be releasing a \"limited set\" two + years latter, for more than\nthe regular set and not includes high end DVD's as well.\n\n3) At these prices,and you have not been watching Game of Thrones, wait for the super mega box set.\nTrue Blood (series) and an exclusive Disc with it (Best Buy Only)\n\n4) This show is Awesome, you see how events unfold, why they unfold in that way, and it makes sence.\nSeason 4 felt like one long set up for season 5", "I'm afraid I have to disagree with the reviewer from Michigan. I found this DVD to be a wonderful tool for integrating my yoga practice with my baby. The baby in this DVD seemed very active and the instructor worked around his activity level constantly stressing that it is most important to take care of our baby's needs first and foremost.\n\nIf you are looking to resume your yoga practice while bonding with your baby this DVD is for you. Accompanied by her son, the instructor not so much instructs but guides you through your practice. The soothing music, beauty of the desert, and the inspirational messages will not only transport you away from your worries during your Mommy and Baby yoga session, but will leave you feeling refreshed, empowered, and spiritually connected with your baby.", "I saw Michael & Naturally 7 in concert and Buble does create a amazing memorable concert! This DVD/CD might not be what most expect to get, it's different in a few ways and frankly I enjoyed every part of the DVD. Michael is all about having a good time on stage and the footage shows this. I love how he directs his band with his body and I love how he just keeps smiling having a great time. He loves what he does and it shows! He truly was born to be an entertainer.\n\nI loved the back stage interviews and I loved watching Michael just be Michael. The DVD has MORE then 7 songs. Did I want more live concert footage? Yes, but It's well worth buying and having in your concert DVD collection.\n\nI also want to add I think it's completely unfair for anyone to rate this without seeing it! This is why I am giving a 5 star review. I would have given 4 because I would have liked the entire concert. It's still worth buying!", "I did`nt pick this up when it was released because I had the Beacon Theatre 2003 dvd release.\n\nThere are 6 songs on the dvd that are on both the dvd and cd,but they are different mixes or performances. I would say approvimately 9 songs that grace the cds (One way out),are`nt on the Beacon Theatre 2003 release....they are two different animals as they say.\n\nNow after hearing the cds of the 2003 Beacon theatre (One way out),I realize I had been missing something.\n\nBetter late than never." ]

[ "Safeco Field" ]

[ "Abby Held", "Where's the beef?", "publicly held companies", "Where Is the Love?", "Zeus B. Held", "a closely held corporation", "where they terminate", "Where Are the Children", "Where Are Ü Now", "Where I'm From", "Hand Held in Black and White", "Where I Belong", "Where's Your Love", "a sum of money held in trust", "Where the Wild Things Are", "Where I Ought to Be", "Where the Air Is Clear", "Where the Bullets Fly", "Where We're Meant to Be", "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "Where Hope Grows", "the region where the bank is located", "Where the Red Fern Grows", "Where We Land", "Where the Green Grass Grows", "You Held the World in Your Arms", "Where I'm Coming From", "place where rocks abound", "Where Your Road Leads", "There's More Where That Came From", "where scientific knowledge is scarce", "where two communities meet and integrate" ]

[ "Series & parallel circuits. There are two types of circuit we can make, called series and parallel. The components in a circuit are joined by wires. if there are no branches then it's a series circuit. if there are branches it's a parallel circuit." ]

[ "1.)Why are circuits important? 2.)Compare and contrast a series and parallel circuit. Give at least one way that they are alike and one way that they are different. 3.)Describe Ohm’s law and give an example of how Ohm’s law works. 4.)Define resistance and describe why resistance is important in a circuit. Follow.", "1 Knowing how to cut, strip, and connect wire is an important electronics skill. 2 Series and Parallel Circuits-Building circuits in series or parallel requires a good understanding of schematics.", "Table of Contents [Hide] 1 1 Introduction to Series & Parallel Connections. 2 2 SERIES CIRCUIT. 3 3 Uses & Application of Series Connection. 4 4 PARALLEL CIRCUIT. 5 5 Uses & Application of Parallel Connection.", "If you want to know more about how to calculate the Resistors values for different LED’s circuit i.e., series, parallel, and series parallel, then read this interesting Article about the Topic.Note: It is too difficult to find the exact value of resistors that you have calculated.f you want to know more about how to calculate the Resistors values for different LED’s circuit i.e., series, parallel, and series parallel, then read this interesting Article about the Topic. Note: It is too difficult to find the exact value of resistors that you have calculated.", "Clippers can be broadly classified into two basic types of circuits. They are: series clippers and shunt or parallel clippers. Series clipper circuit contains a power diode in series with the load connected at the end of the circuit. The shunt clipper contains a diode in parallel with the resistive load. The half – wave rectifier circuit is similar to a series clipper circuit.", "A typical 3-wire circuit is actually two separate parallel circuits with a common conductor. If the grounded (neutral) conductor is opened, the circuit changes from two 120V parallel circuits to one 240V series circuit. Consider the following example.", "Resistor Calculator. The following are tools to calculate the total resistance of a group of resistors in parallel or in series. A complex circuit can typically be divided into simpler circuits in parallel and series to determine the total resistance (by summing the resistance of each portion).", "Many circuits have a combination of series and parallel resistors. Generally, the total resistance in a circuit like this is found by reducing the different series and parallel combinations step-by-step to end up with a single equivalent resistance for the circuit. This allows the current to be determined easily.", "Resistors are often connected together in a circuit, so it is necessary to know how to determine the resistance of a combination of two or more resistors. There are two basic ways in which resistors can be connected: in series and in parallel. A simple series resistance circuit is shown in Figure 4.4.", "In a series circuit, if a lamp breaks or a component is disconnected, the circuit is broken and all the components stop working. Series circuits are useful if you want a warning that one of the components in the circuit has failed. They also use less wiring than parallel circuits.", "RC circuit - Parallel circuit. 1 The parallel RC circuit is generally of less interest than the series circuit. 2 With complex impedances... 3 This shows that the capacitor current is 90° out of phase with the resistor (and source) current. 4 When fed by a current source, the transfer function of a parallel RC circuit is...", "The resonance of a parallel RLC circuit is a bit more involved than the series resonance. The resonant frequency can be defined in three different ways, which converge on the same expression as the series resonant frequency if the resistance of the circuit is small.or a given circuit element, the admittance is just the reciprocal of the impedance. The admittance has its most obvious utility in dealing with parallel AC circuits where there are no series elements.", "Ammeters must always be placed in series in a circuit, otherwise they will not work. The voltmeter we added in the last circuit has a different requirement in order to work. Voltmeters must be placed in parallel with the circuit in order to work.mmeters must always be placed in series in a circuit, otherwise they will not work. The voltmeter we added in the last circuit has a different requirement in order to work. Voltmeters must be placed in parallel with the circuit in order to work.", "Breakers designed to protect against parallel arcs are called Arc-Fault Circuit Breakers, have a suffix AFI, and have a green test button (early versions had a blue button). An example catalog number is QO120AFI. CAFI - Combination Arc-Fault Circuit Breakers (protection against over loads, short circuit, parallel arcing, and series arcing) Breakers with CAFI suffix provide standard thermal/magnetic protection, PLUS protection against heat damage caused by parallel AND SERIES arcing in the circuit.", "An ammeter is an instrument used for measuring electric current in units of amperes. An ammeter must be connected in series with the path of the current being measured. Setting the ammeter up in parallel will create a short circuit, and will not measure the current correctly.n the image below, each ammeter will also measure the total current of the circuit. Now that we know how to measure the total current through the circuit, let's look at measuring the current travelling through individual elements. Current travels through series and parallel elements differently.", "Most commonly household outlet circuits are series - if so it won't hold as much current as if it were a parallel circuit. [source]---line---outlet1----line----outlet2----line----etc-----ground. In a parallel circuit the current draw can be higher since the overall effect of the impedence of the computers is reduced.", "A voltmeter is placed in parallel with a circuit element to measure the voltage drop across it and must be designed to draw very little current from the circuit so that it does not appreciably change the circuit it is measuring. To accomplish this, a large resistor is placed in series with the galvanometer. voltmeter is placed in parallel with a circuit element to measure the voltage drop across it and must be designed to draw very little current from the circuit so that it does not appreciably change the circuit it is measuring. To accomplish this, a large resistor is placed in series with the galvanometer.", "Circuits can be classified into different types based on different criteria, such as, based on connections: series circuits and parallel circuits; based on the size and manufacturing process of circuit: integrated circuits and discrete circuits; and, based on signal used in circuit: analog circuits and digital circuits. Integrated Circuits.", "As the admittance, Y of a parallel RLC circuit is a complex quantity, the admittance corresponding to the general form of impedance Z = R + jX for series circuits will be written as Y = G - jB for parallel circuits where the real part G is the conductance and the imaginary part jB is the susceptance.", "A Simple Circuit for Measuring Complex Impedance 4 Parallel Impedance The methods used in this article determine the series resistance and reactance. Sometimes the equivalent parallel impedance of a resistance and reactance may be needed. All that is required is a mathematical series to parallel conversion as follows.", "Some strands of Christmas lights use a series circuit, also known as a closed circuit. The current goes to each bulb in order, without going in any other direction. All components of the strand of lights work in a path. If one bulb burns out, or one bulb is taken out of the strand, no charge will move through the circuit. The strand will stay off because the series has been interrupted, and the path broken. With a series circuit, if one bulb burns out, the whole strand will go out. (Image: Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images) Parallel Circuits. The other type of Christmas light strands uses a parallel circuit. This is a closed electrical circuit where the current is wired in parallel, like rungs on a ladder. The current is divided into at least two different paths.", "Standard ID Standard Text Edgenuity Lesson Name P-4.4 Compare how current, voltage, and resistance are measured in a series and in a parallel electric circuit and identify the appropriate units of measurement.", "Although the impedance Z is a far more common way to characterize the voltage-current relationships in an AC circuit, there are times when the admittance is a valuable construct. For a given circuit element, the admittance is just the reciprocal of the impedance.The admittance has its most obvious utility in dealing with parallel AC circuits where there are no series elements.or a given circuit element, the admittance is just the reciprocal of the impedance. The admittance has its most obvious utility in dealing with parallel AC circuits where there are no series elements.", "When installed as the first outlet on a branch circuit, AFCI receptacles provide series arc protection for the entire branch circuit. They also provide parallel arc protection for the branch circuit starting at the AFCI receptacle.", "Christmas lights typically run on either a series circuit or a parallel circuit. If you are ready to put up your Christmas lights and notice one of the strands has gone out, you most likely have lights that run on a series circuit.", "A parallel circuit. A parallel circuit is a circuit in which there are at least two independent paths in the circuit back to the source. In a parallel circuit, the current will flow through the closed paths and not through the open paths. In a parallel circuit the electricity has several paths that it can travel.", "In my opinion, it will cost max $80, and things you need are: LED Downlights (consider the specs, prices, voltage) Power Adapter (12V DC) Switch (to turn on/off your light) Design the Circuit (parallel or series) Copper wires (calculate how long you need) Tips: Never work on a circuit while it is plugged in.n my opinion, it will cost max $80, and things you need are: LED Downlights (consider the specs, prices, voltage) Power Adapter (12V DC) Switch (to turn on/off your light) Design the Circuit (parallel or series) Copper wires (calculate how long you need) Tips: Never work on a circuit while it is plugged in.", "In a parallel LC circuit where the main loss is the resistance of the inductor, R, in series with the inductance, L, Q is as in the series circuit. This is a common circumstance for resonators, where limiting the resistance of the inductor to improve Q and narrow the bandwidth is the desired result.", "Answer: (4) shows an ammeter in series and a voltmeter in parallel with the resistor. Question: Compared to the resistance of the circuit being measured, the internal resistance of a voltmeter is designed to be very high so that the meter will draw.1 no current from the circuit. 2 little current from the circuit.nswer: (4) shows an ammeter in series and a voltmeter in parallel with the resistor. Question: Compared to the resistance of the circuit being measured, the internal resistance of a voltmeter is designed to be very high so that the meter will draw.", "Next, we would proceed to calculate the parallel equivalent of that resistance (R 2 //R 3 --R 4) with R 5, then in series with R 7, then in parallel with R 6, then in series with R 1 to give us a grand total resistance for the circuit as a whole.", "Video: Electric Circuit Fundamentals: Components & Types. Electric circuits can be configured to power several loads, such as light bulbs, in series or in parallel. In this lesson, we'll look at both types of circuits and see how the voltage, current, and resistance are affected by installing additional loads. CLEP Natural Sciences: Study Guide & Test Prep / Science Courses.", "In a parallel circuit, the potential drop across one of two 6 resistors is 0.4 volts. The potential drop across the second resistor is: The unit of electrical power is the: Calculate the total resistance in a series circuit made up of resistances of 3ω, 4ω, and 5ω. Calculate the total resistance in a parallel circuit made up of resistances of 2ω, 3ω, and 4ω." ]

[ "The use of earth abundant and renewable materials is encouraging for the future development of environmentally clean, safe and affordable electrodes for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries. Biohybrid electrodes based on lignin and several conducting polymers have been studied mainly for supercapacitor applications. Here, we show that biohybrid electrodes containing natural lignin and a PEDOT conjugated polymer serve as electroactive materials for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries using liquid organic electrolytes. A reversible discharge capacity of 74 mA h g−1, at C/20 (4 mA g−1) rate, was achieved in the voltage range between 1 V and 4.5 V, with peak values of up to 159 mA h g−1. These properties make the natural lignin–PEDOT hybrid material a suitable organic positive electrode for Li- and Na-ion batteries." ]

[ "Solid electrolytes (SEs) have become a practical option for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries because of their improved safety over commercially available ionic liquids. The most promising of the SEs are the thiophosphates, whose excellent ionic conductivities at room temperature are comparable to those of commercially utilized ionic liquids. Hybrid solid–liquid electrolytes exhibit higher ionic conductivities than their bare SE counterparts because of decreased grain boundary resistance, enhanced interfacial contact with electrodes, and decreased degradation at the interface. In this study, we add lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide and a highly fluorinated ether solvate electrolyte to the surface of Li7P3S11 (LPS) and Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS) pellets and evaluate their overall cell resistance in Li–Li symmetric cells relative to their bare Li/SE/Li counterparts. Time-resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows an order of magnitude lower cell resistance for LGPS-solvate than for bare L...", "Abstract Electrolyte solutions have vital function in lithium-ion batteries. Due to their modular composition, there is a broad variety of electrolyte component combinations. In this work, we present electrochemical results on newly investigated electrolyte solution components. The standard electrolyte salt in commercial batteries, LIPF 6 , was replaced by new imide and sulfonate anion based salts, with enhanced stability. The use of propylene carbonate was enabled by the application of new SEI forming electrolyte additives. Electrolyte solvents, such as adiponitrile and γ-butyrolactone were investigated in combination with LiBF 4 as electrolyte salt. In order to evaluate these materials, various electrochemical techniques like galvanostatic cycling, conductivity and electrochemical stability window detection, cyclic voltammetry, etc. were applied. Furthermore, the electrode/electrolyte interfaces and interphases were studied via spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques.", "Abstract This paper describes the synthesis and properties of a new type of ceramic fillers for composite polymer gel electrolytes. Hybrid TiO 2 -SiO 2 ceramic powders have been obtained by co-precipitation from titanium(IV) sulfate solution using sodium silicate as the precipitating agent. The resulting submicron-size powders have been applied as fillers for composite polymer gel electrolytes for Li-ion batteries based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes. The powders and gel electrolytes have been examined structurally and electrochemically, showing favorable properties in terms of electrolyte uptake and electrochemical characteristics in Li-ion cells.", "Electrochemically insert lithium / negative electrode having capable of leaving a carbon material as the active material, an anode having an active material layer of a chalcogenide compound containing lithium, a negative electrode and a positive electrode and a lithium secondary battery comprising a polymer electrolyte layer formed integrally with each It is provided. The polymer electrolyte layer can be produced by including a matrix of an ion-conducting polymer for holding the non-aqueous electrolytic solution and a polymerization crosslinking using different polymerization initiators on a negative electrode and a positive electrode a mixture of a precursor monomer and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte of the ion conductive polymer have. Lithium polymer secondary battery, a polymerization initiator, a capacity retention rate", "Provided are: an electrolyte solution that is for a sodium ion secondary battery, that comprises a sodium salt and a non-aqueous solvent, that has sodium ion conductivity, in which the non-aqueous solvent contains a fluorinated phosphoric acid ester and propylene carbonate, and in which the content of the fluorinated phosphoric acid ester within the non-aqueous solvent is 5-50 mass%; and a sodium ion secondary battery containing the electrolyte solution for a sodium ion secondary battery.", "A copolymer of poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene) (SAN) was synthesized via an emulsion polymerization method. Novel polymer electrolyte membranes cast from the blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), SAN and fumed silica (SiO2) are microporous and can be used in polymer lithium-ion batteries. The membrane shows excellent characteristics such as high ionic conductivity and good mechanical strength when the mass ratio between SAN and PVDF-HFP and (SiO2) is 3.5/31.5/5. The ionic conductivity of the membrane soaked in a liquid electrolyte of 1 mol/L LiPF6/EC/DMC/DEC is 4.9 × 10-3S cm-1 at 25°C. The membrane is electrochemical stable up to 5.5 V versus Li+/Li in the liquid electrolyte. The influences of (SiO2) content on the porosity and mechanical strength of the membranes were studied. Polymer lithium-ion batteries based on the membranes were assembled and their performances were also studied.", "The development of advanced electrolytes compatible with lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries is crucial for meeting ever growing energy storage demands. One such class of materials, single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SIPEs), prevents the formation of ion concentration gradients and buildup of anions at the electrode surface, improving performance. One of the ongoing challenges for SIPEs is the development of materials that are conductive enough to compete with liquid electrolytes. Presented herein is a class of gel SIPEs based on crosslinked poly(tetrahydrofuran) diacrylate that present enhanced room temperature conductivities of 3.5 × 10-5 S/cm when gelled with lithium metal relevant 1,3-dioxolane/dimethoxyethane, 2.5 × 10-4 S/cm with carbonate solutions, and approaching 10-3 S/cm with dimethyl sulfoxide. Remarkably, these materials also demonstrate high ionic conductivity at low temperatures, 1.8 × 10-5 S/cm at -20 °C in certain solvents. Most importantly however, when contrasted with ident...", "An electrolyte for lithium-ion battery comprising at least one block copolymer characterized in that said block copolymer comprises at least one polymeric segment A soluble in said electrolyte and at least one polymeric B segment with a solubilization temperature \"T\" in said electrolyte, the polymer segments a and B being present in amounts sufficient to permit an increase in the viscosity of the electrolyte preferably up to the gelling of the electrolyte at a temperature greater than or equal to the temperature \"T\".", "An electrolyte system which consists of chloroethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate has been developed for lithium ion batteries containing a graphitic anode. The electrolyte decomposition during the first lithium intercalation into graphite in a propylene carbonate based electrolyte is significantly reduced in the presence of chloroethylene carbonate. Formation of a stable passivation film on the graphite surface is believed to be the reason for the improved cell performance.", "The application of a liquid-free, ceramic-added composite polymer electrolyte in a Li/LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} rechargeable battery is presented and discussed. As expected by the high stability of the electrolyte toward the lithium metal anode, the battery has promising characteristics in terms of reliability and cyclability.", "Lithium-ion electrolyte is one of the key materials in the lithium-ion secondary batteries of high power density and energy density,long cycle life and the better safety performance,playing an important role in the development of the lithium-ion secondary batteries.The progress of the several kinds of the lithium-ion crystalline solid electrolyte was presented and further the investigation of the garnet-like lithium ion conductor Li5La3M2O12(M=Ta,Nb),attracting many groups attentions for its excellent electrical performance and electrochemistry stability,was summarized in detail.Finally,the possible development of the crystalline lithium-ion solid electrolyte based on the Li5La3M2O12(M=Ta,Nb) was suggested.", "An electrochemical cell has been constructed for in situ neutron diffraction studies of lithium-insertion/extraction processes in electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. Its key components are a Pyrex tube, gold plated on its inside, which functions as a current collector, and a central lithium rod, which serves as the negative electrode. The device is demonstrated here for a neutron diffraction study of lithium extraction from LiMn2O4: a mechanical Celgard© separator soaked in the electrolyte surrounds the lithium electrode. The LiMn2O4 powder, mixed with electrolyte, occupies the space between separator and current collector.", "Although controlling the interfacial chemistry of electrodes in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial for maintaining the reversibility, electrolyte decomposition has not been fully understood. In this study, electrolyte decomposition on model electrode surfaces (Au and Sn) was investigated by in situ attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Simultaneously obtained ATR-FTIR spectra and cyclic voltammetry measurements show that lithium ethylene dicarbonate and lithium propionate form on the Au electrode at 0.6 V, whereas diethyl 2,5-dioxahexane dicarboxylate and lithium propionate form on the Sn electrode surface at 1.25 V. A noncatalytic reduction path on the Au surface and a catalytic reduction path on the Sn surface are introduced to explain the surface dependence of the overpotential and product selectivity. This represents a new concept for explaining electrolyte reactions on the anode of LIBs. The present investigation shows that catalysis plays a dominant role in ...", "Two types of hybrid lithium-ion batteries were prepared by using LiMn2O4 and Li4Ti5O12 as cathode and anode material, respectively. The former type of battery consisted of micrometric particles and the latter of nanometric particles. Samples of both types of material were characterized in terms of structure and also of electrochemical behaviour versus lithium in coin cells. Electrochemical tests on nano–nano and micro–micro hybrid lithium-ion batteries revealed the former to exhibit higher reversibility and better performance, possibly as a result of lithium ions in them being able to migrate more easily into the electrode material. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)", "For developing energy storage devices with both high energy and power density, lithium-ion hybrid supercapacitors (LIHSs) are the optimal candidate to bridge the gap between lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and conventional supercapacitors. A LIHS consists of a capacitor-type cathode and a LIB-type anode. However, the particle size of LIB-type anode materials should be within ≈10 nm to overcome the sluggish ion diffusion in the bulk. In addition, capacitor-type cathode materials are required to possess high capacitance to match with LIB-type anodes. Meanwhile, pre-lithiation proves an effective strategy to achieve high cell voltages and high energy density accordingly. In this review we first summarize the requirement on electrode materials for LIHSs, and then propose two levels of LIHSs with the clarification of true LIHSs according to the energy and power density. Finally, we give an outlook for future LIHSs.", "This study describes the characteristics of a lithium-ion battery employing an ionic liquid (IL)-based electrolyte, a Li2O–ZrO2-coated Li[Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2] cathode, and a nanostructured tin–carbon (Sn–C) composite anode. The structure and morphology of the cathode and anode materials were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The properties of the IL-based electrolyte were studied in terms of conductivity, lithium-ion transport, electrochemical and thermal stability by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry, and thermogravimetry. The battery, based on a lithium intercalation/de-intercalation process at the cathode and a lithium alloying/de-alloying process at the anode, showed a stable capacity of 100 mAh g−1 evolving at approximately 3.3 V. The cell configuration proposed here is expected to have high safety due to the nonflammability of the IL-based electrolyte.", "Abstract : Lithium ion conducting polymer materials are being intensively investigated in a number of research laboratories because of their potential use as solid electrolytes in high energy density solid state lithium batteries. The most widely used polymer has been based on polyethylene oxide (PEO). The conduction mechanism in these polymer electrolytes has generally been assumed to be due to Li(+)ion transport from one lone pair site to another along the helical PEO strands. However, recent studies have shown that the Li(+) transport number is less than unity. The transport number for Li(+) ions in PEO-LiX complexes was measured using a potentiostatic polarization technique. The results indicate that the Li(+) ion transport is strongly influenced by the salt concentration and the type of counter ions.", "Nonstoichiometric molybdenum oxides (e-MoxOy) were synthesized by cathodic reduction of aqueous ammonium and sodium molybdate solutions. Surface morphology of electrolytic (e) deposits, the chemical composition, crystal lattice structure, and the characteristics of electrochemical Li+ intercalation for such synthesized oxides were determined by the cation composition of molybdate solution and the conditions of deposit annealing. The electrochemical intercalation of Li+ ions in these Mo-oxides was investigated in thin-layer “ballast-free” electrodes, as a pasted соmposite cathode in lithium batteries, and as an anode in lithium-ion batteries, with liquid organic and polymer electrolytes. The reversible discharge capacity of e-Mo4O11 synthesized from ammonium molybdate electrolyte in thin-layer ballast-free electrodes can exceed 225 mAh g−1 for more than 170 cycles.", "The invention relates to a lithium ion battery redox couple additive and a lithium ion battery electrolyte, which belong to secondary lithium ion battery electrolytes, in particular to a functional electrolyte used when a lithium ion battery is overcharged or misused. The lithium ion battery overcharge safeguard functional electrolyte comprises an overcharge additive, actually a redox couple additive. Through combination of different additives, not only can the problem of poor safety caused under the overcharge condition of the lithium ion battery be solved, but also the capacity in a battery pack can be balanced, and the service efficiency of the batteries is improved.", "Solid biopolymer electrolytes (SBE) comprising carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with NH4Br-EC were prepared by solution casting method. The samples were characterized by impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and sample containing 25wt. % of NH4Br exhibited the highest room temperature conductivity of 1.12 x 10-4 S/cm for salted CMC based SBE system. The ionic conductivity increased to 3.31 x 10-3 S/cm when 8 wt. % of ethylene carbonate (EC) was added to the highest conductivity. The conductivity-temperature of plasticized SBE system obeys the Arrhenius relation where the ionic conductivity increases with temperature. The influence of EC addition on unplasticized CMC based SBE was found to be dependent on the number and the mobility of the ions. This results revealed that the influence of plasticizer (EC) which was confirmed play the significant role in enhancement of ionic conductivity for SBE system.", "A semi-interpenetrating gel polymer electrolyte (S-GPE) membrane is successfully designed through combining high-molecular polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyethylene glycol (PEG) oligomers, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) monomers, and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles as a whole through an ultraviolet (UV) initiating process. The highly polymerized PAN ensures the thermal stability and toughness, while the oligomer of PEG acts as a soft component and facilitates an improved contact between different interfaces. SiO2 nanoparticles are added with the aim to restrain the crystallinity and improve ionic conductivity. Here, the obtained S-GPE achieves a high ionic conductivity of 8.9 × 10–4 S cm–1 at room temperature and effective dendrites inhibition. Hence, the S-GPE shows an eminent stability that enables the Li|S-GPE|Li cell to stably cycle at 6 mA cm–2 under 3 mA h cm–2 for over 1000 h without a polarization voltage increase. The Li|S-GPE|LiFePO4 battery shows a 131.4 mA h g–1 initial discharge c...", "In order to develop new electrolytes for all-solid-state rocking chair lithium batteries, the NASICON-type compounds Li2FeZr(PO4)3 and Li2FeTi(PO4)3 were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction technique and impedance spectroscopy.", "Abstract Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) as the mainstream rechargeable batteries are widely used in industrial production and life. However, it is hard to meet the demand in the future due to the lack of lithium resources. At the same time, increasingly scarce lithium resources will increase the cost of LIBs. In contrast, potassium is abundant in the earth's crust, and available researches suggest that rechargeable potassium ion batteries (KIBs) may be a promising substitute for LIBs. In this paper, the research progress of non-aqueous KIBs is reviewed, including cathode materials, anode materials, electrolytes, binders, opportunities and future challenges. Firstly, cathode and anode materials are summarized according to the different reaction types. Secondly, the application and influence of electrolytes and binders for non-aqueous KIBs are also discussed. Moreover, in order to promote the advancement for non-aqueous KIBs, the main future challenges and some solutions are also proposed.", "NaFePO4 has been synthesized via the Pechini process and the resulting sample was characterized using X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Electrochemical properties have been investigated for possible application as cathode in sodium-ion battery. This sample was made into electrode in a coin cell with LiPF6 in organic carbonates as the electrolyte and lithium metal as the counter electrode. Charge/discharge behavior, cyclic voltammetry, and in-situ frequency response analysis were performed. The results obtained demonstrate constant or increase in capacity and consistently low internal resistance with consecutive cycles.", "Abstract Bis(2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl) ethylphosphonate (TFEP) is first synthesized as a flame retardant additive for conventional carbonate electrolyte to improve the safety of lithium ion batteries. The inflammability and electrochemical stability of the TFEP containing electrolyte are studied. The self-extinguishing time test shows that TFEP provides a significant suppression of the flammability of the electrolyte. When adding 20% TFEP, the electrolyte cannot be ignited, exhibiting superior flame retardancy. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical charge/discharge tests show that TFEP has insignificant impact on the electrodes’ electrochemical performance. The results demonstrate that TFEP can be used as a novel highly effective safety additive for lithium ion batteries.", "Numerical simulation of electrochemical processes in rechargeable batteries has important applications in an energy technology. In this paper we have developed and compared three domain splitting algorithms for the Li-ion battery simulation. Li-ion battery simulation is based on microscopic model, which contains nonlinear equations for Li-ion concentration and potential. On the interface of electrodes and electrolyte the Lithium ions intercalation are described by nonlinear equation. This nonlinear interface condition affects the Newton's method iterations and computation time. To simplify numerical simulations we use domain splitting algorithms, which split the original problem into three independent subproblems in two electrodes and electrolyte. We investigate the numerical convergence and efficiency of the algorithms on a 2D model problem.", "With a view to enhancing the ionic conductivity via the control of chain mobility of solid polymer electrolyte(SPE)based on poly(ether urethane)(PEU), polyurethane(PU)matrix containing polyethylene glycol(PEG)and polypropylene glycol(PPG)randomly distributed within matrix was synthesized from the simultaneous polymerization of PEG-PU and PPG-PU prepolymers. The efficacy of PEG-co-PPG-PU complexed with LiClO4salt as a SPE is discussed and compared with that of PEG-PU/LiClO4.", "A new solid polymer electrolyte has been prepared using NaClO4 and a comb-branch polymer with oligo(ethylene oxide) side chains. The thermal and ionic conductive properties of the electrolytes were investigated. The profile of conductivity at various temperatures follows the VTF plots.", "The invention 2,3-dihydro-furan and 2,5-dihydro-furan by the additives added to the small amount of additive on the negative electrode when the lithium reaction using a mixed electrolyte solution to form a film, gradually down to the low-temperature conductivity of the electrolyte dECOMPOSITION poor value generated due to the reduction of the electrolyte to a rapid capacity decrease with low efficiency and a lithium ion battery low temperature mixed electrolyte to prevent performance degradation and containing them such as are caused by failing to tightly protect the cathode surface to provide.", "The present invention relates to a lithium-ion battery negative graphene composite material and preparation method, belonging to the lithium ion battery electrode preparation technology. The lithium ion battery anode is a graphite-based material is oxidized, after ultrasonic dispersion was mixed with the titanium source was prepared graphene composite material in a concentrated acid environment, after drying calcining prepared. A lithium ion battery negative electrode according to the present invention provides a conductivity graphene composite material is high, a low resistance resulting electrode sheet, and the charging structural stability discharge process, lithium ion secondary batteries prepared having a high capacity, good security cycle excellent performance and long life benefits.", "The published data on oxide materials as positive electrodes for lithium-ion batteries are described systematically. The mechanisms of structural changes in cathode materials occurring during the operation of lithium-ion batteries and the problems concerned with their selection are discussed. Modern trends in optimising cathode materials and lithium-ion batteries on the whole are considered. The bibliography includes 167 references.", "Highly regular NaTi2 (PO4 )3 nanocubes with synergistic nanocoatings of rutile TiO2 and carbon are prepared as an electrode material for sodium-ion batteries. It exhibits a high rate and ultralong life performance simultaneously, and a capacity retention of 89.3% after 10 000 cycles is achieved." ]

[ "I don't really find women that confusing." ]

[ "I think most women who are even moderately attractive are sexualized and judged, regardless of what they wear. It's just human nature. Most of the sexualization is done by men, most of the judgement is from other women.", "Call women men and men women", "Same can be said about women who cheat on good men", "What is the thing you hate most about this subreddit and why is it the automoderator?", "I think that says more about men than women.", "Because as a general trend men are more visually stimulated than women and women are more mentally stimulated than men. \n\nMen get turned on/off by what they see, so for most men: tits = good, scrotum = bad. Lesbian porn has double the boobies and zero hairy ballsacks bouncing around... win/win. \n\nWomen get turned on/off by what they think, so for most women: scenario I can imagine myself in = good, scenario where I'm not even there = bad. Gay porn has no female role for them to imagine and no men who are into women... lose/lose.", "What about it? I’m kinda confused what you’re question is.", "Are you seriously saying it's women's fault that men commit assault and murder? That's _so_ fucked up. It's also an incredibly disrespectful thing to say about men, because it implies they have no self-control.", "men commit suicide at a much higher rate than women.\n\nthe most common cause of death by gun is also suicide, mostly from men.", "10c for men $100 for women. Murica.", "Because women aren't as dangerous as men", "Men xray women not getting cancer", "Cat people are usually young men and old women, dog people are usually old men and young women", "Golden Girls. Most people think that since it’s about old women talking about their love lives and what not it’s boring. \n\nBut the fact that these elderly women throw shade at each other makes it so fricking funny", "Trans women aren't men💖", "Not sure, I'm confused and lost about my future and what to do", "Toxic masculinity enforced by both men and women", "Where Women Glow and men Plunder?", "They would likely not sweat the little things and be more diligent about focusing on what’s important and what brings them the most joy", "What makes you think women despise men that work in Those fields? I work in this field as a woman and don’t know any women that feel this way", "Not giving af about what men are doing rn", "Women being sexualised and men expected to be strong and brave", "Or women sports in general. They get into it more than the men.", "Razors men and women need sand use it equally...pointless", "Yes, because trans women are women and trans men are men. So if a trans man and a trans woman are in a relationship they're just a man and a woman in a relationship.", "It would change nothing. Duh. Trans women are women and trans men are men, point blank period. If you think otherwise you high key suck", "Harming women, men, children, animals, elderly and the disabled.", "\"Its obvious that men are more valuable than women\"", "I don't. I've dated some shitty men in my life but the thing people who ask this kind of question don't seem to grasp is that most people don't start out a relationship acting shitty. They hide their inner shittiness and it creeps out slowly over time.\n\nAnd before this turns into a \"why don't women like nice guys\" thread, most women also don't like men *pretending* to be nice and then acting like they're entitled to something from women.", "What about the two other things?", "\"What is the most stupid thing someone asked you?\"", "Yeah!, Ive met both men a women with the name jordan." ]

[ "When the always restless Enrique Iglesias is in the process of recording a CD, he works at night and sleeps during the day." ]

[ "Award-winning singer Enrique Iglesias says he's not yet ready for the responsibility of marriage, but he is ready to take a greater role in promoting causes like the environment that he believes in.", "Insomniac Games is readying a sequel to Resistance: Fall of Man for fall release--even without the church's OK.", "US stocks closed slightly higher on Thursday as the &quot;Santa Claus&quot; rally kept going for a third straight day. The economic news was mixed and trading was light as Wall", "Where has Enrique Iglesias been hiding these last few years?", "&quot;Boring&quot; light from red dwarf star Gl", "If you are thinking about quitting smoking, switching to &quot;light&quot; or &quot;ultra light&quot; cigarettes will not wean you off the habit nor will it reduce the health risks associated with smoking.", "Get ready, ladies, Justin Timberlake has your &quot;SexyBack.&quot;", "RAFAEL BENITEZ cannot afford to feel too down-hearted this morning. Not with spirits to raise before Sunday&#39;s daunting encounter with champions Arsenal.", "G. Michael Caggiano Jr. lies awake at night thinking about bank signs. He ponders them during breakfast, while brushing his teeth, and &quot;constantly&quot; during the day, he says.", "Lifetime Television has green-lighted a second season of its hit drama &quot;Army Wives.&quot;", "BEIRUT: Three days after PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian Authority &quot;is not ready, security-wise, to take control of Gaza,&quot; Israeli security officials said Friday that Israel", "More than 40 years after it was put to tape, the double-disc live set &quot;Cornell 1964&quot; by Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy is finally seeing the light of day.", "&quot;Friday Night Lights,&quot; directed by Peter Berg (&quot;The Rundown&quot; and &quot;Very Bad Things&quot;), is packed with intense moments, riveting scenes, and talented actors to back them up.", "To call &quot;Friday Night Lights&quot; the best football movie ever made is not really that risky: While &quot;North Dallas Forty,&quot; &quot;Any Given Sunday&quot; and &quot;The Longest Yard&quot; have their champions, they are", "There&#39;s no better cure for insomnia than slapping on computer headphones and listening to a CRTC hearing via Webcast. The jargon is mind-numbing and a new layer of glaze coats the eyes with each acronym spoken", "USA Network has given a series pickup to &quot;To Love and Die,&quot; a light one-hour program starring &quot;Roswell&quot; veteran Shiri Appleby as a fun-loving thirtysomething with abandonment issues.", "Left fielder Raul Ibanez had one of those so-that&#39;s-how-Ichiro-does-it experiences Wednesday night during one heck of a singles party.", "By day Sandra Martinez works at a New York law firm, but by night she throws off her conservative image and becomes \"Sandra Claws\" -- an amateur female Jell-O wrestler.", "By Sarah Jane Tribble and Matt Marshall, San Jose Mercury News, Calif. Jun. 11--Ensconced in the plush Hotel Valencia at Santana Row last week, Ericcson's CEO and President Carl-Henric Svanberg joked during an early morning meeting that Americans get up far too early to work out.", "Mariano Rivera smiled easily and talked about how yesterday was better, how the &quot;sun came up today.&quot; But his eyes were still weary when he stopped to talk during batting practice before Game 2 of the ALCS last night.", "TOULOUSE, France - Airbus hopes to get the green light within days to launch a new plane to rival to Boeing Co.&#39;s 7E7 &quot;Dreamliner,&quot; the head of the European planemaker said Tuesday.", "When award-winning movie \"Nicotina\" lights up U.S. screens on Friday, it will mark an unusually wide release for a Mexican film and highlight a novel plan by Arenas Entertainment to distribute films to Hispanics.", "Tell Helio Castroneves he's one of the favorites in Sunday's Indianapolis 500 and he just shrugs his shoulders and grins.", "If things go according to plan, Pedro Martinez's next start will be Tuesday or Wednesday night in New York and a lot of wiseguys will be wearing T-shirts that say, &quot;Who's Your Daddy?&quot;", "As the studios clear shelf space to get ready for their fall sales, movies like &quot;Paparazzi&quot; get released. Burdened with wooden acting and a laughable, &quot;Death", "Glenn Morshower and Daniella Alonso have joined NBC&#39;s &quot;Friday Night Lights&quot; in recurring roles.", "Dutch brewer Heineken reported on Wednesday a hefty 59.0-percent rise in net profit in 2006 thanks to a boost from its new light beer brand, &quot;Heineken Premium Light&quot;.", "Yan Varela wins the light flyweight division as Cuba get ready for a day of boxing glory.", "Insomniacs and tennis junkies aren't the only ones staying up in the middle of the night to watch the Australian Open.", "&quot;Thin and light&quot; is the order of the day in enterprise mobile computing, and road warriors have had the benefit of Intel&#39;s Centrino platform, which has allowed for some featherweight notebook offerings of late.", "Jaime Moreno was given some time off to get himself back on track after a subpar recent stretch and the star player says he is refreshed and ready to help United find its winning ways.", "By Luciana Lopez, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore. Dec. 8--Forgive Eric Isaacson if he indulges in a bit of the bubbly at work today." ]

[ "A wreck off Highway 24 killed a Lawrence County man Saturday night after his vehicle veered off the road and collided into a tree." ]

[ "A 66-year-old Lawrence County woman was killed Friday night in a wreck that happened at the intersection of County Road 434 and Ala. 24 in East Lawrence.", "A Pelahatchie man was killed in a one-vehicle wreck Saturday morning in Rankin County.", "A 29-year-old man was struck and killed Saturday by an eastbound railroad train, Lawrence police said.", "A person who was injured Saturday in a wreck on Maxwell Road has died, the Highway Patrol said.", "A 45-year-old Gillett man was killed late Saturday night in a one-vehicle crash in South Creek Township in Bradford County.", "A Crossville man was killed in a traffic crash there Sunday night, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.", "One person was killed Saturday night in a hit and run accident in Pottawatomie county.", "A Springboro man was injured in a one-vehicle crash Saturday night in Crawford County.", "An Oconee County man died Saturday night when he was crushed beneath a tractor.", "A Webster County man drowned Saturday night when he was swept off of a low bridge by the water current, said Webster County Coroner Michael Taylor.", "A 25-year-old Charleston man died early Sunday in a one-vehicle wreck in Colleton County.", "A 24-year-old man trying to stop a friend from driving drunk was killed Saturday during his attempt.", "A University of South Carolina Beaufort student was killed Friday night in a wreck in Columbia County, Ga.", "A man died Saturday morning in a motorcycle crash in Ashtabula County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.", "A rural Worthington man was hospitalized following a Friday evening wreck on County Road 700N, west of County Road 800W.", "A Jefferson County man was killed in a one-vehicle crash last night, state police said.", "A 64-year-old Raymond woman was killed in a two-vehicle wreck on Saturday in Hinds County.", "A traffic accident killed a Poteau man Thursday morning when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck a semitrailer on a LeFlore County highway.", "The body of a 64-year-old Stone County man missing since his truck was washed off State Highway 263 Tuesday by rushing water was recovered Saturday.", "At least one person was killed this morning in a wreck at the intersection of Jacobs and Elrod roads near Maxton, the Highway Patrol said.", "Louisiana State Police say a Bunkie, La., man was killed Saturday in a single vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 29.", "A Camp Lejeune marine was killed in a wreck early Thursday morning according to Highway Patrol.", "A 29-year-old Gallatin County man was killed early Saturday morning in a single vehicle crash west of Bozeman.", "A 23 year old Lawrence woman was killed in a wreck on Kansas Highway 10 near De Soto.", "A Saturday morning car crash near the village of Dunkirk claimed the life of an off duty Hardin County deputy sheriff.", "A freak accident over the weekend claimed the life of a Loudon County man.", "Three people were injured this morning in a Lawrence County crash, the Missouri Highway Patrol said.", "A Keedysville man died early Sunday in an accident on Interstate 68 near Bruceton Mills, W.Va., according to the Preston County Sheriff's Department.", "A Mexia woman was killed and four others injured in a two-vehicle wreck Thursday afternoon in Limestone County.", "A Canadian tourist was killed Saturday night in St. Charles Parish when he walked into Airline Highway and a car struck him, state police said.", "A 25 year old Lake City man was killed in a one car accident early Saturday morning in Missaukee County.", "A wreck in Lee County caused traffic delays on US Highway 1 near the intersection of NC Highway 78 Tuesday morning." ]

[ "Republic of Anguilla" ]

[ "independent state", "Anguilla Football Association", "non-independent states", "independence", "the Commonwealth of Independent States", "Anguilla anguilla", "an independent nation", "The Independent", "What's Your Mama's Name", "the Kingdom of the Isles", "What Yo Name Iz?", "Anguillidae", "British Overseas Territory", "The Naming of Names", "anguilliform", "Anguilliformes", "names", "Rock Island Independents", "An island country", "Mauritian independence movement", "name ''", "Conference of Independent African States", "war of Independence", "Angevin", "a sovereign principality", "their names", "independent", "naming", "adequate and independent state ground", "No Name", "name number", "sovereign state or union of states" ]

[ "As expected, Chelsea and Barcelona will face each other in the Champions League last 16 stage. The La Liga giants were the most likely squad Chelsea could get in today’s draw and the two European giants have ended up being drawn together.Both cubs’ legends and directors talked to media after the draw held in Nyon and, according to the first few declarations, Chelsea seem to be the happier side after the draw.“I think that game between these two clubs”, Chelsea secretary David Barnard said. “There have been controversies and emotions,The best memory we have is the win at the Camp Nou in 2012.”​Although Chelsea can’t surely be happy to have drawn Lionel Messi’s Barcelona, the La Liga giants seem slightly more scared than the English side: “Chelsea and Bayern were the clubs we wanted to avoid and we have been drawn with Chelsea. If we are to win the Champions League we must beat every opponent. We have self confidence but Chelsea are a very strong side”, Barcelona director Guillermo Amor said . “" ]

[ "GETTY Hagreaves reckons Chelsea have the worst Champions League fixture after drawing Barcelona\nChelsea were paired with Barcelona in the Champions League draw in Nyon today. The Blues were punished for their failure to finish top of their group. Four other English teams were in the draw, with Tottenham facing Juventus, Manchester United getting Sevilla, Liverpool clashing with Porto and Manchester City meeting Basel. Real Madrid and PSG were also paired together. And former Manchester United midfielder Hargreaves reckons Chelsea came out worse, while Spurs may also struggle.\nGETTY Antonio Conte's Chelsea finished second in their Champions League group\nChelsea and Barcelona fans clash over Hazard and Messi after Champions League draw Mon, December 11, 2017 Chelsea and Barcelona fans are already arguing over Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi after the teams are drawn in the last 16 of the Champions League Play slideshow 1 of 20\nI feel sorry for Chelsea fans obviously Owen Hargreaves\n“For Tottenham obviously it’s difficult,” he said. “Juventus are not the same as the past and I think Tottenham, I believe could get through against Juventus. “I feel sorry for Chelsea fans obviously (because of) Barcelona, that’s the difficult one. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW IN FULL “But I think if you’re Manchester United you’re very happy, (and) Liverpool. “Manchester City will be the happiest of everyone. Basel, that’s a brilliant draw for them. “For Chelsea it’s really tough, but (Antonio) Conte is the one manager with the defensive tactics that he has he could find a way to get a result against Barcelona.” Hargreaves’ BT Sport co-pundit Jermaine Jenas said: “It comes down to what Spurs can do against Juve and obviously Chelsea against Barca.\nGETTY Lionel Messi and co. will head to Chelsea for the first leg", "Chelsea were drawn against Barcelona (Getty)\nBarcelona have been quick to remind Chelsea of one of their recent triumphs over the Blues in the Champions League after the heavyweights were paired together yet again in the competition.\nDuring today’s draw in Nyon it was revealed that Chelsea will host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge before the second leg of the Round of 16 tie at the Nou Camp.\nIt was a terrible draw for Antonio Conte’s side, who seem to have paid the price for finishing second in their group behind Roma.\nOver the last decade the sides have been involved in some memorable games, most recently in 2012 when Chelsea somehow managed to draw 2-2 at the Nou Camp, despite John Terry being sent off. They advanced to the final 3-2 on aggregate and would go on to win the competition by beating Bayern in the final in Munich.\nHowever, Barcelona preferred to remember the previous meeting between the teams following today’s draw.\nWe've had some great times at Stamford Bridge, haven't we, @andresiniesta8? pic.twitter.com/R9BZq99HN0 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 11, 2017\nThe tweet about ‘great times at Stamford Bridge’ referenced their game in London in 2009. With the first leg ending 0-0, Chelsea looked set to advance when they were 1-0 up through a Michael Essien goal, Eric Abidal had been sent off for the visitors and there were 90 minutes on the clock.\nHowever Andres Iniesta popped up to score an away goal that would carry Barcelona through and eventually onto glory in that season’s competition. For Chelsea, it was heart-breaking.\nAndres Iniesta scored a memorable late goal (Getty)\nSoon after Barcelona’s tweet, Chelsea responded by putting out a very different memory on Twitter. They went for John Terry’s header which sealed a 5-4 aggregate win during a meeting in 2005.\nWhat a header from JT! 💥 Another special @ChampionsLeague night against Barcelona… pic.twitter.com/cJmtwS2CIN — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2017\nIt seems the mind games have definitely begun.\nMORE: Chelsea v Barcelona: Everything you need to know about Champions League clash", "Get Chelsea FC updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nChelsea star Eden Hazard will seemingly have no qualms about facing Barcelona in the last-16 of the Champions League.\nThe Premier League champions were paired with the Catalan giants in Monday's draw, with the second leg taking pace at the Nou Camp.\nBut speaking to BT Sport after the Blues drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in their final Champions League group game last Tuesday, Belgian star Hazard didn't seem to care about the possibility of facing Lionel Messi and co.\n(Image: AFP)\n(Image: Getty Images Europe)\nVideo Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now\n\"It's not a problem, we are Chelsea!\" Hazard told a reporter in the Stamford Bridge tunnel.\n\"We are a top team so we can face anyone.\n\"We know PSG and Barcelona are very good, but we are Chelsea, so we have to be ready for everything.\"\nSeemingly impressed by Hazard's confidence, the reporter then asked: \"You really fancy your chances, don't you?\nHazard then replied: \"Yeah yeah yeah! We can do everything!\"\nThe first leg in west London will take place in February, with the return in Catalonia in March.\nChampions League draw in full\nJuventus vs Tottenham Hotspur\nFC Basel vs Manchester City\nPorto vs Liverpool\nSevilla vs Manchester United\nReal Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain\nShakhtar Donetsk vs Roma\nChelsea vs Barcelona\nBayern Munich vs Besiktas", "Share this article with Google Plus\nChelsea boss Antonio Conte (Picture: Getty)\nChelsea will face Barcelona in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.\nAntonio Conte‘s side finished second in Group C behind Roma, meaning they were the only English club not to top their group.\nChampions League draw: Man Utd take on Sevilla as Chelsea face Barcelona\nWHEN WILL THE FIXTURES TAKE PLACE\nThe first leg will take place on either February 13/14 and February 20/21. The second leg will take place on March 6/7 and March 13/14.\nThe 2018 final is due to be played at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev. An impressive arena that seats 70,000 and hosted the final of Euro 2012.\nChelsea will play Barcelona in the last 16 of the @ChampionsLeague! pic.twitter.com/V4FgLZYPBW — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2017\nHOW THEY CAME THROUGH THE GROUP\nBarcelona dominated Group D, winning four of their six games to finish on 14 points. The La Liga giants only conceded one goal but were held to two goalless draws against Juventus and Olympiacos.\nLAST TIME THEY MET\nChelsea last faced Barcelona in 2012, clinching a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp as they progressed to the final of the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate victory.\nSergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta were on target for Barca while Ramires and Fernando Torres scored memorable goals for eventual champions Chelsea.\nChelsea beat Barcelona over two legs in the 2012 semi-final (Picture: Getty)\nWe've had some great times at Stamford Bridge, haven't we, @andresiniesta8? pic.twitter.com/R9BZq99HN0 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 11, 2017\nSTAR PLAYER\nBarcelona will field a star-studded team against reigning Premier League champions Chelsea but all eyes will be on four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.\nThe Argentine superstar has scored a staggering 363 goals in 397 appearances since making his first appearance for Barca in 2004.\nBarcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi (Picture: Getty)\nODDS FOR FIRST TIE\nChelsea – 9/4\nDraw – 23/10\nBarcelona – 6/5\nMORE: Romelu Lukaku ‘bullied’ by Nicolas Otamendi during Manchester derby", "The video will start in 8 Cancel\nGet football updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nMonday's Champions League Round of 16 draw saw Chelsea paired with Barcelona once again.\nThe two clubs have provided some thrilling encounters over the years, from Ronaldinho's Stamford Bridge masterclass in 2005 to Fernando Torres's last-minute Nou Camp winner in 2012.\nBut shortly following the draw, 2006 quotes from Barcelona star Lionel Messi resurfaced - and they make for remarkable reading.\nThe Argentinian forward made the remarks prior to a group game clash against the Blues. It was also the season after Barcelona had knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 and Jose Mourinho had accused Messi of overreacting to get Asier Del Horno sent off.\n(Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)\n(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)\nThe Barcelona forward, then 19, told News of the World : \"There are players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid,\" Messi told the News of the World. \"I never thought I would hear myself say that.\n\"I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil v Argentina - but this is.\n(Image: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)\n\"We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.\"\nAstonishingly, Messi has faced Chelsea eight times without scoring a single goal from 29 shots; his worst record against a single club during his career. How he would love to score against the club he 'hates'.\nThe ties take place in February and March.", "- Advertisement -\nChelsea have been drawn against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Tottenham will face Italian champions Juventus.\nPremier League leaders Manchester City will play Switzerland’s Basel, Manchester United face La Liga side Sevilla and Liverpool take on Portugal’s Porto.\nHolders Real Madrid will face Paris St-Germain.\nA record five English teams progressed from the group stage this season.\nChelsea were the only English team to make it through as runners-up, with the other four sides all topping their respective groups.\nThe Blues have arguably been handed the most difficult tie, and it comes days after boss Antonio Conte conceded that their Premier League title defence was over following their defeat by West Ham, which left them 14 points adrift of Manchester City.\n- Advertisement -\nHowever, Chelsea did beat Barcelona in the semi-finals before lifting the Champions League trophy in 2012.\nReal Madrid, who are aiming for a 13th title and third in a row, were given a tough draw against big-spending PSG after finishing behind Tottenham in Group H.\nThe group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 13/14 and 20/21 February, and at home in the return matches on 6/7 and 13/14 March.\nThe final will take place in Kiev on 26 May.\nChampions League last-16 draw\nJuventus v Tottenham\nBasel v Manchester City\nPorto v Liverpool\nSevilla v Manchester United\nReal Madrid v PSG\nShakhtar Donetsk v Roma\nChelsea v Barcelona\nBayern Munich v Besiktas", "Chelsea will play Barcelona in the last 16 (Picture: Getty)\nAntonio Conte insists his Chelsea players will have no fear when they take on Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.\nThe Blues were the only English side not to finish top of their group and were punished for their slip by drawing the Spanish giants.\nBarcelona and Chelsea face each other for the sixth time in the knockout stages, but the Blues will be encouraged by their recent record.\nChelsea are unbeaten against Barcelona in their last eight meetings and Conte has urged his side to remain confident.\nHe said: ‘It’s a draw and our reaction must be positive.\nEden Hazard will play a big role in the tie (Picture: Getty)\nChelsea 2017/18 Fixtures Huddersfield Town (A) - Tues Dec 12\nSouthampton (H) - Sat Dec 16\nBournemouth (H) - Wed Dec 20 (EFL Cup)\nEverton (A) - Sat Dec 23\nBrighton (H) - Tues Dec 26\nStoke City (H) - Sat Dec 30\n‘As I know very well you must be ready to face everything and in this case you must ready.\n‘The past is the past. Now is the present and it is another story.’\nChelsea beat Barcelona in their last meeting in Europe when they knocked the Spaniards out of the Champions League in 2012.\n(Picture: AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)\nThe tie will see Eden Hazard come up against Lionel Messi and Conte has issued a war cry to his most influential player and his team-mates.\n‘This type of game is a good chance for every player to show the right value, not only for Hazard, but for every player in the right way.’\nChelsea have to travel to the Nou Camp in the second leg, but Conte does not see this as an issue.\n‘I think that we must be ready to play at home and away,’ he said.\n‘It is impossible to see an advantage. Home and away if you want to hope to go to the next round.’\nMORE: Barcelona remind Chelsea of heart-breaking moment after Champions League draw\nMORE: Chelsea v Barcelona: Everything you need to know about Champions League clash", "Antonio Conte has ordered his players to forget about Chelsea's fiery history with Barcelona after drawing Lionel Messi and Co in the Champions League last 16.\nThe two clubs have been involved in some epic European battles in recent years and are on another collision course following Monday's draw.\nThe Catalan club were quick to take to Twitter to make fun of Chelsea over a previous win at Stamford Bridge.\nAntonio Conte orders Chelsea to forget about their bitter history with rivals Barcelona\nThe La Liga side posted: 'We've had some great times at Stamford Bridge, haven't we Iniesta'.\nThe tongue in cheek comment makes reference to their 2008-09 semi-final clash where Andres Iniesta struck late-on to send Barcelona through.\nBut Conte insists what has gone before will have no impact on the forthcoming tie, calling on his players to write their own history.\nWe've had some great times at Stamford Bridge, haven't we, @andresiniesta8? pic.twitter.com/R9BZq99HN0 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 11, 2017\nFollowing the draw, Conte said: 'Those games are in the past, the present is another story.\n'It is totally different. This type of game is a good chance for every player to show the right value, for sure every player has to play in the right way.\n'It's a draw and our reaction must be positive. As I know very well you must be ready to face everything and in this case you must ready to face Barcelona.\n'But our priority must be the league and try to stay up and fight for a Champions League place.\nThe last meeting took place in the 2012 semi-final, where Fernando Torres scored late on\nConte wants his side to focus on the Premier League before the Champions League tie\nHe added: 'That must be our priority and when it will be the moment and play Barcelona then we will think about that game.\n'We have to be very realistic that this league is very dangerous. We have to go game by game and play every game with 120 percent of our strength or we risk to have a bad surprise at the end of the season.'", "Chelsea were drawn against Barcelona in one of the standout ties of the Champions League last 16.\nThe draw resumes a rivalry which has been on hold since t he two teams met in the semi-final of the 2011-12 competition, Chelsea winning that tie en route to lifting the trophy in Munich.\nThey had been frequent opponents in the years leading up to that and here, Press Association Sport looks back over their head-to-head record and the associated facts and figures.\nAll-time record\nChelsea have won five, drawn five and lost five of their all-time meetings with Barca - 12 matches in the Champions League and three in the 1965-66 Fairs Cup.\nBarca hold the edge in goals scored, 25 to 20.\nThe teams have met on five previous occasions in two-legged knockout ties in the Champions League, with Barcelona progressing three times and Chelsea twice.\nHistory suggests home advantage will be crucial - Barca have only won once at Stamford Bridge, in 2006, while Chelsea have never won an away game against the Catalan giants.\nChelsea on a roll - or are they?\nThe Blues are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Barca, with two wins and five draws.\nHowever, they have lost two knock-out ties in that time. They were beaten on away goals in 2008-09, after drawing 0-0 at the Nou Camp and 1-1 at Stamford Bridge, and on aggregate in 2005-06 - the seven-match run starts from the drawn second leg of that last-16 tie, with Barca having won the first leg 2-1.\nChelsea did have that aggregate win in 2012 and also took four points off Barca in the 2006-07 group stage, winning 1-0 at home and drawing 2-2 in Catalonia.\nFrustration for Messi\nBarcelona talisman Lionel Messi has never scored in eight career meetings with Chelsea - the most games he has played against any one opponent without finding the net.\nThe Argentina star missed a penalty in the semi-final second leg in 2012, while he was thwarted by a superb display from stand-in Chelsea keeper Hilario in 2006.\nSource: PA\nPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.", "Having finished second in their Champions League group, Chelsea knew there was a very good chance they were going to be handed a tough tie in the last 16 .\nPrior to Monday's draw there were only three possible opponents for the Blues: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain or Besiktas.\nArguably Barcelona would represent the toughest out of the three, but it's safe to say Chelsea were praying to be drawn against the Turkish outfit.\nUnfortunately that was not the case.\nChelsea were handed the hardest possible tie as they were drawn against Barcelona. Ouch.\nBARCELONA POST TWEET ABOUT THE TIE\nAlthough playing Chelsea would also not have been the ideal tie for Barcelona, the Spanish giants are still clearly confident going into the last 16.\nDirectly after drawing the English club, Barcelona quickly posted on Twitter their reaction.\nTheir tweet read: \"We've had some great times at Stamford Bridge, haven't we, @andresiniesta8?\", before accompanying the tweet with a picture of Andres Iniesta celebrating the winner against Chelsea in the 2009 Semi-finals.\nCHELSEA FANS ARE NOT HAPPY\nUnderstandably, Chelsea fans did not take that tweet well.\nMany posted their annoyance about the controversial circumstances which surrounded that particular tie in 2009, which ended with Didier Drogba famously quoting to the cameras that the referee was 'a disgrace'.\nBut others decided to turn Barcelona's tweet on its head, reminding the Spanish giants of the times that Chelsea have got the better of them.\nCue Fernando Torres...\nTWITTER REACTS\nIT WAS A MIXED BAG FOR THE OTHER ENGLISH TEAMS\nChelsea got the toughest draw out of the five English sides in the competition, but Tottenham also did not fare well.\nTottenham's reward for finish top of their group was a tie against Juventus, last year's beaten finalists.\nHowever, the other English sides will be happy with their draws, with Liverpool drawing Porto, Man United playing Sevilla and Man City entertaining Basel.\nBut the tie of the round will undoubtedly be Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain. What a mouth-watering clash that promises to be.\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "Frank Dalleres\nChelsea will play Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League after they were handed the toughest draw of the five English teams.\nTottenham face last year's runners-up Juventus, Manchester United meet Sevilla, Manchester City will play Basel and Liverpool have been drawn against Porto.\nHolders Real Madrid have been paired with Paris Saint-Germain in the most high-profile tie of the first knockout round.\nRead more: Guardiola revels in derby win as Mourinho concedes title\nThe first leg matches will take place on 13/14 and 20/21 February and the second legs on 6/7 and 13/14 March.\nChelsea have a rich recent history of Champions League matches against Barcelona, facing them five times in the knockout rounds since the turn of the century.\nTheir last meeting came in 2012, when Chelsea overcame Barca on their way to lifting the trophy.\nTottenham's opponents Juventus have been losing finalists in two of the last three seasons.\nChampions League last 16 draw:\nJuventus v Tottenham\nFC Basel v Manchester City\nPorto v Liverpool\nSevilla v Manchester United\nReal Madrid v PSG\nShakhtar Donetsk v Roma\nChelsea v Barcelona\nBayern Munich v Besiktas", "Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has pinpointed former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata as one of the main threats Chelsea pose to his side in the Champions League.\nMonday's last 16 draw pitted the Catalan side against the team they lost to in the 2011-2012 semi-finals, with Chelsea going on to win the tournament that year.\nValverde, whose club have won five European Cups, acknowledged the difficulty of facing the English champions.\nStriker Alvaro Morata (left) and No 10 Eden Hazard have been cited as Chelsea's dangermen\nBarcelona boss Ernesto Valverde name-checked the pair after the Champions League draw\n'It's a tough draw for us because of the magnitude of the opposition,' he said.\n'Chelsea are champions of the Premier League but we're excited about the tie, even though it will be difficult.\n'Chelsea are a strong and physical team, with a clear tactical system in place. They take advantage of the physical nature of the Premier League well.\n'With the signing of Morata they've added pace in attack, while (Eden) Hazard is very good between the lines.'\nMorata has already scored against one Spanish team, Atletico Madrid, in Europe this season", "Owen Hargreaves has said that he \"feels sorry\" for Chelsea supporters after the Blues were drawn against Barcelona in the first knockout round of the Champions League.\nThe Premier League holders received the toughest draw among the English side alongside Tottenham Hotspur, who were paired against last season's finalists Juventus.\nSpeaking on BT Sport, Hergreaves feels sorry for the Blues' faithful with the club facing a stiff task to progress beyond the round of 16, he told BT Sport: \"I feel sorry for Chelsea fans obviously [because of] Barcelona, that's the difficult one.\n\"For Chelsea it's really tough, but Conte is the one manager that, with the defensive tactics that he has, could find a way to get a result against Barcelona.\"\nMeanwhile, the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City should fancy their chances of progressing into the quarter-finals after they were drawn against Sevilla, Porto and Basel respectively.\nChelsea are unbeaten in the last seven meetings against Barcelona, but they did lose the 2008/09 Champions League semi-final on the away goal rule after Andres Iniesta netted in the dying seconds to break Blues' hearts.", "Share this article with Google Plus\nChelsea drew Barcelona (Picture: PA Wire)\nOwen Hargreaves believes Antonio Conte‘s genius gives Chelsea a chance against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.\nChelsea were handed a nightmare draw for the knockout stages and will have to travel to the Nou Camp in the second leg.\nThe Blues’ form has been inconsistent this season and Conte recently conceded the defending Premier League champions were out of the current title race.\nBarcelona is a tough ask for Chelsea, but Hargreaves believes Conte can see them through.\n‘Juventus are not the same as they’ve been in the past,’ Hargreaves said on BT Sport.\n(Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)\nChelsea 2017/18 Fixtures Huddersfield Town (A) - Tues Dec 12\nSouthampton (H) - Sat Dec 16\nBournemouth (H) - Wed Dec 20 (EFL Cup)\nEverton (A) - Sat Dec 23\nBrighton (H) - Tues Dec 26\nStoke City (H) - Sat Dec 30\nTottenham I believe could get through against Juventus.\n‘I feel sorry for Chelsea fans, obviously Barcelona that’s the difficult one.\n‘If you’re Manchester United you’re very happy, Liverpool [too], Manchester City will be the happiest of everyone with Basel, that’s a brilliant draw for them.\n‘For Chelsea’s it’s really tough. Conte, with the defensive record and tactics he has he can get a result against Barcelona.’\nTottenham were also handed a tough draw against Italian champions Juventus, but the rest of the English sides were delighted with their clashes.\nLiverpool drew Porto, Manchester United got Sevilla and Manchester City will take on Basel.\nJermaine Jenas expects at least three of the five English teams to go through into the quarter-finals and is confident Chelsea can join them if Conte sorts out their defence.\nHe said: ‘Definitely three, but then it comes down to what Spurs can do against Juve and Chelsea against Barca.\n‘Agree with Owen, the Barca tie is a very tough one. But, I do believe it’s one if Chelsea can sort out their defensive issues they could cause an upset.’", "The video will start in 8 Cancel\nGet Chelsea FC updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nChelsea face three weeks from hell in the New Year after being handed a Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona in Monday's draw.\nAntonio Conte's side will face the Catalan giants over two legs in between some decidedly tough Premier League fixtures against the top two, Manchester City and Manchester United.\nThe Blues were the only one of the five English sides in Monday's draw for the last-16 who finished second in their group, with their 'punishment' for that being a tie against the five-time Champions League winners.\n(Image: AFP)\n(Image: REUTERS)\nVideo Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now\nBlues star Eden Hazard had claimed that he wouldn't be bothered about facing a European giant like Barca last week, but he might change his tune after seeing the run of matches his side face in the New Year.\nChelsea will host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday February 20, before going to Old Trafford for a league game against Manchester United that weekend.\n(Image: Getty Images Europe)\n(Image: AFP)\nWith a potential FA Cup replay in that midweek, they'll then follow that up with a trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on the weekend of March 3.\nA home clash with Crystal Palace follows on March 10, before the second leg against Barca in the Nou Camp on Wednesday March 14.\nChampions League draw in full\nJuventus vs Tottenham Hotspur\nFC Basel vs Manchester City\nPorto vs Liverpool\nSevilla vs Manchester United\nReal Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain\nShakhtar Donetsk vs Roma\nChelsea vs Barcelona\nBayern Munich vs Besiktas", "Chelsea were handed the toughest test in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League as they were paired with five-times European champions Barcelona. Having finished second in their group behind Roma, Antonio Conte's men were hoping for a potential tie against Besiktas but instead came out against Lionel Messi's band of superstars. Tottenham were also handed a questionable reward for finishing ahead of Real Madrid in their qualifying group as they were paired with last year's runners-up Juventus.\nSorry, this content isn't available on your device.\nBut Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool will be relatively content after being paired with Basel, Sevilla and Porto respectively. The remaining three ties pit Real Madrid against Paris St Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk with Roma, and Bayern Munich against Besiktas. The draw is not what Chelsea wanted after Conte conceded that the defence of their Premier League crown was over after this weekend's defeat to West Ham.\nTottenham Hotspur @SpursOfficial Follow We have been drawn against @juventusfc in the Last 16 of the @championsleague! #COYS https://t.co/Qmr4lnE8Gd", "related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.\n2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.\nBarcelona coach Ernesto Valverde pinpointed former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata as one of the main threats Chelsea pose to his side in the Champions League last 16.\nMADRID: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde pinpointed former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata as one of the main threats Chelsea pose to his side in the Champions League last 16.\nThe Catalan side have been pitted against the team they lost to in the 2011-2012 semi-finals, with Chelsea going on to win the tournament for the first and only time.\nValverde, whose side have won five European Cups, acknowledged the difficulty of facing the English champions.\n\"It's a tough draw for us because of the magnitude of the opposition,\" he said. \"Chelsea are champions of the Premier League but we're excited about the tie, even though it will be difficult.\n\"Chelsea are a strong and physical team, with a clear tactical system in place. They take advantage of the physical nature of the Premier League well.\n\"With the signing of Morata they've added pace in attack, while (Eden) Hazard is very good between the lines.\"\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement\n(Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond)", "Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool will be relatively content after being paired with Basel, Sevilla and Porto respectively in the draw for trhe last 16 of the Champions League.\nChelsea were handed the toughest test in the draw as they were paired with five-times European champions Barcelona.\nHaving finished second in their group behind Roma, Antonio Conte’s men were hoping for a potential tie against Besiktas but instead came out against Lionel Messi’s band of superstars.\nTottenham were also handed a questionable reward for finishing ahead of Real Madrid in their qualifying group as they were paired with last year’s runners-up Juventus.\nThe remaining three ties pit Real Madrid against Paris St Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk with Roma, and Bayern Munich against Besiktas.\nThe draw is not what Chelsea wanted after Conte conceded that the defence of their Premier League crown was over after this weekend’s defeat to West Ham.\nBut he will hope to invoke the memory of their remarkable win over the Catalan giants in 2012, when a late goal from Ramires saw them reach the Champions League final on away goals despite the earlier dismissal of John Terry.\nSpurs, meanwhile, can expect to face a sterner test than that posed by Juventus in their last meeting in a pre-season friendly at Wembley in May, which the North Londoners won 2-0.\nCity will no doubt be delighted to land Swiss outsiders Basel.\nBut they will have good cause to be wary against their experienced opposition, who beat both United and Benfica on their way to qualifying as runners-up from Group A.", "Chelsea were handed the toughest test in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League as they were paired with five-times European champions Barcelona.\nHaving finished second in their group behind Roma, Antonio Conte’s men were hoping for a potential tie against Besiktas but instead came out against Lionel Messi’s band of superstars.\nThis is the sixth time that Chelsea have drawn the Catalan giants and the first time since the 2011-12 season when the Blues won 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-final.\nTottenham were also handed a questionable reward for finishing ahead of Real Madrid in their qualifying group as they were paired with last year’s runners-up Juventus.\nBut Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool will be relatively content after being paired with Basel, Sevilla and Porto respectively.\nThe remaining three ties pit Real Madrid against Paris St Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk with Roma, and Bayern Munich against Besiktas.\nThe draw is not what Chelsea wanted after Conte conceded that the defence of their Premier League crown was over after this weekend’s defeat to West Ham.\nBut he will hope to invoke the memory of their remarkable win over the Catalan giants in 2012, when a late goal from Fernando Torres saw them reach the Champions League final on away goals despite the earlier dismissal of John Terry.\nSpurs meanwhile can expect to face a sterner test than that posed by Juventus in their last meeting in a pre-season friendly at Wembley in May, which the north Londoners won 2-0.\nCity will be delighted to land Swiss outsiders Basel. But they will have good cause to be wary against their experienced opposition, who beat both United and Benfica on their way to qualifying as runners-up from Group A.\nFull draw:\nChelsea v Barcelona\nBayern Munich v Besiktas\nJuventus v Tottenham\nBasel v Manchester City\nSevilla v Manchester United\nPorto v Liverpool\nReal Madrid v PSG\nShakhtar Donetsk v Roma", "Antonio Conte says Chelsea must embrace the challenge of being handed a daunting Champions League tie against Barcelona.\nChelsea were pitted with the leaders of LaLiga when the draw for the last 16 took place in Nyon on Monday.\n“Our reaction must be positive,” said head coach Conte in a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League meeting with Huddersfield Town.\n“As we know very well, when you are in this stage you must be ready to face every team. In this case we must be ready to face Barcelona.\n“When you play Barcelona, you must put in 120 per cent at home and away if you want to hope to go to the next round.”\nThe two teams have met on five previous occasions in the Champions League knockout stages, but Conte added: “The past is the past. Now it’s the present, another story. It’s totally different.\n“I think this type of game is a good chance for every player to show the right value. Every player has to play in the right way.”\nAhead of the first leg against Barca on February 20, the Italian is focused on ensuring Chelsea’s domestic form improves.\nThe reigning Premier League champions sit 14 points behind leaders Manchester City after suffering a fourth defeat of the top-flight season at West Ham on Saturday.\n“I think our priority must be the league, must be to try to stay up and try to fight for a Champions League place. That must be our priority in this moment,” said Conte.\n“Then when it will be the moment to play against Barcelona we will start to think of the game against Barcelona.\n“We must be very realistic to understand that this league is very dangerous. We have to go game by game.”", "After a shock defeat to West Ham on Saturday, Chelsea have awoken to even more concerning news this morning as the Champions League draw decided their fate.\nWhen the Christmas festivities draw to a close, Antonio Conte sees a tough period ahead of him in regard to the fixture list as his men draw Barcelona in the round of 16, this morning.\nChelsea winger, Eden Hazard, claimed he would welcome a clash with Barcelona just last week, however when he sees the other matches to come – he may think otherwise.\nThe Blues will face the likes of Messi, Suarez and Iniesta at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday February 20th, before making tracks to Manchester for their ‘Super Sunday’ contest, with Manchester United.\nFor Chelsea fans however, it doesn’t stop here…\nWith a potential mid-week replay in the FA cup to begin with, then Conte’s men will be making the trip back to Manchester to take on, Manchester City in another Premier league clash. This will be essential if Chelsea are to take their domestic campaign seriously, otherwise the gap widens for the ‘Cityzens’.\nThe gap between themselves and Guardiola’s side has widened to a shocking 14 points.\nWith Huddersfield tomorrow night, Chelsea will need to ensure they can pick up maximum points if they are going to scrape up from their loss to the Hammers at the weekend.\n“It's a draw. Our reaction must be positive,” Conte said ahead of Huddersfield clash.\n“When you are in this stage you must be ready to face every team. In this case we must be ready to face Barcelona.\n“When you play against Barcelona you must put 120 per cent at home and away if you want to hope to go to the next round.”\nFans across the globe may worry about the times to come, but it is worth remembering that Chelsea are no strangers to creating Champions League history.\nWith heroics in the past from Fernando Torres, securing the win over the Catalan giants in 2013, could the world be set for another spectacle from the Blues?\nLet us know in the comments below!\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "The video will start in 8 Cancel\nGet Chelsea FC updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nBarcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is wary of the threat Alvaro Morata will pose when the Catalan giants take on Chelsea in their Champions League last-16 tie.\nThe pair were drawn together in Monday's draw to write another chapter of an entertaining European Cup history, including memorable moments for Ronaldinho, Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres.\nValverde is under no illusion of the size of the task facing his side, and pinpoints Morata as a key player for the Blues as they bid to make the last eight.\n\"It's a tough draw for us because of the magnitude of the opposition,\" he said.\n(Image: AFP/Getty)\n(Image: REX/Shutterstock)\n\"Chelsea are champions of the Premier League but we're excited about the tie, even though it will be difficult. Chelsea are a strong and physical team, with a clear tactical system in place.\n\"They take advantage of the physical nature of the Premier League well.\n\"With the signing of Morata they've added pace in attack, while (Eden) Hazard is very good between the lines.\"", "The long awaited draw for the Champions League took place this morning and it has kept all its promises.\nthe presence of big European teams (Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Juventus Turin) in the second pot announced several shocks in perspective since the first pot is also well supplied with notably FC Barcelona, ​​Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Liverpool.\nThe games after the draw will undoubtly provide quality, starting with the two scintillating confrontations between FC Barcelona in Chelsea and Juventus Turin against Tottenham. The two-time defending champion Real Madrid will meet PSG in a shock that promises to be exceptional.\nIt should be remembered that first leg matches are scheduled for 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2018. And the return matches are scheduled for 6, 7, 13 and 14 March.\nThe round of 16 #UCLdraw has been made 😍 Backing your team to progress? pic.twitter.com/v7I6dSq7Tc — ★ #UCLdraw ★ (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2017\nThe knockout stages of the Champions League table\n1) Chelsea – FC Barcelona\n2) Juventus Turin – Tottenham Hotspur\n3) Real Madrid – Paris Saint-Germain\n4) Sevilla FC – Manchester United\n5) FC Porto – Liverpool\n6) Shakhtior Donetsk – AS Rome\n7) Bayern Munich – Besiktas JK\n8) FC Basel – Manchester City", "Chelsea’s failure to win their Champions League group has cost them.\nAfter finishing second in Group C behind AS Roma, Antonio Conte’s side have been drawn to play against Group D winners Barcelona in the last 16.\nThis is the first time the two clubs have met in a competitive match since their memorable Champions League semi-final second leg clash at the Camp Nou back in April 2012, when the Blues miraculously booked their place in the final following a pulsating 2-2 draw.\nHowever, they have played each other since then.\nIn July 2015, Chelsea took on Barcelona in the International Champions Cup - essentially a glorified pre-season friendly - at the FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.\nThis was the first time that Eden Hazard - Chelsea’s equivalent of Lionel Messi, you could say - came up against the Catalan giants.\nBut what happened in that match?\nHazard scored a ridiculously good goal\nWell, Hazard broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a quite magnificent solo goal.\nWatch it here…\nWorld class.\nChelsea won on penalties\nLuis Suarez and Sandro Ramirez then scored within 14 second-half minutes to turn the game on its head, but Gary Cahill took the game to a penalty shoot-out with an 85th-minute equaliser.\nChelsea scored all four of their penalties in the shoot-out - through Radamel Falcao, Victor Moses, Ramires and Loic Remy - and subsequently won the match after Alen Halilovic and Gerard Pique both missed.\nVideo: Hazard's stunning highlights v Barcelona\nHazard, however, was easily the star of the show.\n‘Hazard just did a Messi against Barcelona,’ reads the top comment on the YouTube video of his individual highlights from that match, which you can watch here…\nWhat Chelsea fans are tweeting about Hazard\nHere’s what Chelsea fans have been tweeting about the prospect of Hazard going head-to-head against Barça…\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "Chelsea fans hit back at Barcelona’s tweet (Picture: Getty)\nChelsea will renew rivalries with old foes Barcelona in February after being drawn against the La Liga giants in the last-16 of the Champions League.\nAntonio Conte’s men were handed a nightmare draw after finishing second in their group behind Roma and Barcelona are the overwhelming favouries to make it to the quarter-finals.\nThe Blues have had numerous run-ins with the Catalans over the last decade and Barcelona were quick to remind Chelsea of Andres Iniesta’s famous stoppage time equaliser in 2009 that sent them through to the final.\nWe’ve had some great times at Stamford Bridge, haven’t we, @andresiniesta8? pic.twitter.com/R9BZq99HN0 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 11, 2017\nHowever, Chelsea fans were quick to bite back at the Catalans and reminded Barcelona that they’ve had their own success in Spain.\nThe Blues were, of course, referring to *that* night at the Nou Camp when the 10-men of Chelsea beat the mighty Barcelona in a second leg semi-final to put themselves into the 2012 final, where they beat Bayern Munich.\npic.twitter.com/2rAAD49PAZ — C O R V O (@Maaazzeen) December 11, 2017\nYou do not remember? pic.twitter.com/g7DSlkSBSA — Chelsea FC 🇬🇧 (@ChelseaGoleador) December 11, 2017\nPreferred him after Chelsea dumped them out with 10 men at the Nou Camp pic.twitter.com/u2Uq0YytBt — CFC FANTV (@CFCFANTVYT) December 11, 2017\nMORE: Jose Mourinho told Ederson to ‘f*****g show respect’ before bust-up between Manchester United and Manchester City", "Fasten your seatbelts, soccer fans. The UEFA Champions League soon will take a dramatic turn.\nUEFA conducted the Champions League round of 16 draw on Monday in Nyon, Switzerland, with the results producing at least two standout matchups: FC Barcelona vs. Chelsea and two-time defending champion Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain. Those two-legged contests will feature teams, which have legitimate chances of winning European soccer’s elite competition this season. But just two of the four will progress to the quarterfinals.\nChelsea received the toughest draw of the Premier League’s five representatives in the Champions League knockout phase.\n6 – Barcelona have progressed from six of their last seven Champions League knockout ties against English opposition – the exception was against Chelsea in the semi-final in 2011/12. History. #UCLDraw — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2017\n6 – Chelsea will meet Barcelona for the 6th time in the Champions League knockout stages; only Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have met on more occasions (8). Foes. #UCLDraw — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2017\nTottenham Hotspur also might feel unlucky to be drawn against Juventus, having recently topped the so-called “Group of Death” in the opening stage of the tournament.\nThe other three English sides were more fortunate, as Manchester City will face Basel, Manchester United will take on Sevilla and Liverpool will match wits with Porto.\nThe first legs of the Champions League round of 16 will take place on Feb. 13, 14, 20 and 21. The second legs will be on March 6, 7, 13 and 14.\nChampions League round of 16 draw in full\nJuventus vs. Tottenham, Feb. 13 and March 7\nBasel vs. Manchester City, Feb. 13 and March 7\nPorto vs. Liverpool, Feb. 14 and March 6\nReal Madrid vs. PSG, Feb. 14 and March 6\nChelsea vs. Barcelona, Feb. 20 and March 14\nBayern Munich vs. Besiktas, Feb. 20 and March 14\nSevilla vs. Manchester United, Feb. 21 and March 13\nShakhtar Donetsk vs. Roma, Feb. 21 and March 13\nThe round of 16 #UCLdraw has been made 😍 Backing your team to progress? pic.twitter.com/v7I6dSq7Tc — ★ #UCLdraw ★ (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2017\nPhoto via YouTube/UEFA.tv", "The English champions face the Spanish league leaders, while Tottenham play Juventus.\nThe last English side to win the Champions League was Chelsea in 2012. Photo: PA\nChelsea were handed the toughest test in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League as they were paired with five-times European champions Barcelona.\nHaving finished second in their group behind Roma, Antonio Conte's men were hoping for a potential tie against Besiktas but instead came out against Lionel Messi's band of superstars.\nTottenham were also handed a questionable reward for finishing ahead of Real Madrid in their qualifying group as they were paired with last year's runners-up Juventus.\nBut Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool will be relatively content after being paired with Basel, Sevilla and Porto respectively.\nThe remaining three ties pit Real Madrid against Paris St Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk with Roma, and Bayern Munich against Besiktas.\nThe draw is not what Chelsea wanted after Conte conceded that the defence of their Premier League crown was over after this weekend's defeat to West Ham.\nBut he will hope to invoke the memory of their remarkable win over the Catalan giants in 2012, when a late goal from Ramires saw them reach the Champions League final on away goals despite the earlier dismissal of John Terry.\nSpurs meanwhile can expect to face a sterner test than that posed by Juventus in their last meeting in a pre-season friendly at Wembley in May, which the north Londoners won 2-0.\nCity will be delighted to land Swiss outsiders Basel. But they will have good cause to be wary against their experienced opposition, who beat both United and Benfica on their way to qualifying as runners-up from Group A.", "Premier League champions Chelsea have been drawn to face Barcelona in the Champions League last-16.\nHere Press Association Sport looks at previous Champions League meetings between the sides.\nBlues battle through adversity – 2011/12 semi-finals (Chelsea won 3-2 on aggregate)\nFernando Torres scored a crucial late goal for Chelsea in the Nou Camp (Stephen Pond/Empics)\nChelsea won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, inflicting Barca’s first Champions League loss of the season with a goal from Didier Drogba, before a great escape at the Nou Camp earned a 2-2 draw and progression to the final. The Blues, led by caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo, survived after the sending off of captain John Terry in between goals from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Ramires’ exquisite chip and Fernando Torres’ stoppage-time strike sent Chelsea to the final where they won the trophy with a penalty shootout defeat of Bayern Munich.\nAnger at official after Barca late show – 2008/09 semi-finals (1-1 on aggregate, Barcelona won on away goals)\nChelsea were unhappy with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo’s performance (Rebecca Naden/PA)\nAfter a goalless draw at the Nou Camp under Guus Hiddink, the caretaker boss, Chelsea were slight favourites until being undone by Iniesta’s last-gasp goal and a series of decisions by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo. A stunning first-half volley from Michael Essien looked to have earned Chelsea victory and set up a repeat of the 2008 final against Manchester United. But Iniesta sent Barca delirious and, at the final whistle, Chelsea players confronted Ovrebo, who had waved away at least four penalty appeals. The scenes descended into anger when Drogba emerged from the tunnel to confront the Norwegian official.\nGroup-stage reunion – 2006/07 group stage (Chelsea 1 Barcelona 0; Barcelona 2 Chelsea 2)\nTough draw, but great draw. Every big player wants the challenge of these type of games. @chelseafc @fcbarcelona @uefachamplonsleague A post shared by Frank Lampard (@franklampard) on Dec 11, 2017 at 5:13am PST\nBarca had beaten Chelsea in the previous season’s Champions League and the teams were reunited in the group stage. Drogba scored at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat the European champions 1-0, with stand-in goalkeeper Henrique Hilario performing heroics. A Drogba goal was decisive at the Nou Camp, too, as his strike in the third minute of stoppage time earned a draw. Chelsea old boy Eidur Gudjohnsen had given Barca a 2-1 lead after Frank Lampard levelled with a delightful chip following Deco’s opener.\nRonaldinho rocket wins it – 2005/06 last-16 (Barcelona won 3-2 on aggregate)\nRonaldinho was on form for Barcelona in 2006 (Adam Davy/Empics)\nSamuel Eto’o’s effort gave Barcelona a 2-1 away win, after own goals by Thiago Motta and Terry, before Ronaldinho sent Jose Mourinho’s side spinning out of Europe at the Nou Camp. Barca gained the revenge they had craved for a year when the Brazilian struck 12 minutes from time, rendering Frank Lampard’s stoppage-time penalty mere consolation in the 1-1 draw in Catalonia.\nTowering Terry leaves Barca singing Blues – 2004/05 last-16 (Chelsea won 5-4 on aggregate)\nChampions League draw bringing back some great memories @chelseafc ⚽️ Chelsea Vs Barcelona 💙 A post shared by John Terry (@johnterry.26) on Dec 11, 2017 at 7:10am PST\nChelsea trailed 2-1 after the first leg at the Nou Camp, but rallied in a dramatic second at Stamford Bridge to reach the quarter-finals. The Blues led 4-2 on aggregate at one stage, before Ronaldinho inspired Barca back into the game with a penalty and then a magical strike which took the Spanish side ahead on away goals before half-time. But Terry had the final say with 14 minutes remaining. Angry recriminations saw Barca players and officials shepherded down the tunnel. Mourinho allegedly used a laundry basket to get round a UEFA stadium ban – imposed following the Barca bout – in the next round against Bayern Munich.\nBarca bounce back to beat Blues – 1999/2000 quarter-finals (Barcelona won 6-4 on aggregate)\nLuis Figo scores Barcelona’s second goal (matthew Ashton/Empics)\nThe Blues took a 3-1 first-leg lead, but Barcelona responded to win the second 5-1 and advance to the semi-finals. Chelsea were heading through with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, but Barca rallied to send the game into extra time. And goals from Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert in the additional 30 minutes earned Barca victory.\nSource: By Press Association Sport Staff\nPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.", "Chelsea must find a way past five-time winners Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Tottenham face a tricky tie against last season’s runners-up Juventus.\nAntonio Conte’s side finished second in their group behind Roma and their reward is a tie against La Liga’s leaders, with the first leg taking place at Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere, Manchester City were handed potentially the most straightforward task whe they were paired with Swiss champions Basel, with Liverpool up against Porto.\nChampions League last 16: Chelsea face Barça, Real Madrid land PSG – as it happened Read more\nManchester United will also fancy their chances of progressing the last eight after they were drawn to face Sevilla, with the second leg due to take place at Old Trafford. The remaining three ties pit Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk with Roma, and Bayern Munich against Besiktas.\nGolden Goal: Ronaldinho for Barcelona v Chelsea (2005) | Daniel Harris Read more\nFour first legs will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday 13/14 February, and the remainder the following week.\nThe draw is not what Chelsea wanted after Conte conceded that the defence of their Premier League crown was over after this weekend’s defeat to West Ham.\nBut he will hope to invoke the memory of their remarkable win over the Catalan giants in 2012, when a late goal from Ramires saw them reach the Champions League final on away goals despite the earlier dismissal of John Terry.\nSpurs meanwhile can expect to face a sterner test than that posed by Juventus in their last meeting in a pre-season friendly at Wembley in May, which the north Londoners won 2-0.\nCity will be delighted to land Swiss outsiders Basel. But they will have good cause to be wary against their experienced opposition, who beat both United and Benfica on their way to qualifying as runners-up from Group A.\nLast-16 ties\nTuesday 13 February Juventus v Tottenham; Basel v Manchester City\nWednesday 14 February Porto v Liverpool; Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain\nTuesday 20 February Chelsea v Barcelona; Bayern Munich v Besiktas\nWednesday 21 February Sevilla v Manchester United; Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma\nTuesday 6 March Liverpool v Porto; Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid\nWednesday 7 March Tottenham v Juventus; Manchester City v Basel\nTuesday 13 March Manchester United v Sevilla; Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk\nWednesday 14 March Barcelona v Chelsea; Besiktas v Bayern Munich", "So, the Champions League last 16 draw was made this morning and there are some mouth-watering ties to look forward to.\nReal Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain is probably the tastiest tie of the round, although Sevilla v Manchester United and Juventus v Tottenham should be excellent, too.\nAnother contender for tie of the round is, of course, Chelsea v Barcelona.\nThe two teams haven’t met in a competitive match since April 2012, when Chelsea went to the Camp Nou for the semi-final second leg and advanced to the Champions League final after a pulsating 2-2 draw.\nThe Blues had narrowly beaten Barça 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and managed to book their place in the final, against all the odds, despite having John Terry sent off in the first half.\nMessi has never scored against Chelsea\nThat match also saw Lionel Messi miss a second-half penalty.\nThe five-time Ballon d’Or winner has, remarkably, never scored in eight appearances against the west London outfit. That’s his worst record against any team in his career.\nHe’s had 29 shots against them but failed to find the back of the net.\nChelsea fans, however, are very worried\nHowever, despite Messi’s surprisingly poor record against the English outfit, Chelsea fans on social media are all convinced that he’ll finally break his duck when they face Barça in February.\nCheck out these tweets…\nMessi has been in scintillating form this season\nMessi, who missed out on the 2017 Ballon d’Or to Cristiano Ronaldo last week, has been in scintillating form this season.\nHe scored his 18th goal of the season against Villarreal on Sunday night and, in the process, equalled Gerd Muller’s long-standing record for scoring the most goals for one club in the top five European leagues.\nMessi has now scored an astonishing 525 goals for Barcelona - and will be desperate to end his long wait for a goal against Chelsea when the Champions League resumes in two months’ time.\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "The Champions League last 16 draw has thrown up three juicy ties.\nJuventus will take on Tottenham for a place in the quarter-final, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will do battle and Chelsea will go up against Barcelona.\nFootball fans couldn’t have asked for better.\nCristiano Ronaldo against Neymar is sure to be an absorbing contest. Both Real Madrid and PSG view themselves as potential winners of the tournament, but one team will have to leave prematurely.\nMeanwhile, Chelsea and Barcelona will continue their duel as they bid for a place in the final eight.\nThe two clubs have featured in some memorable Champions League encounters over the years. Who can forget their last 16 encounter in 2005, when John Terry’s late header at the Bridge secured a 5-4 aggregate win?\nOr the semi-final contest in 2012, when Fernando Torres booked Chelsea’s place in the final with a late equaliser at the Camp Nou?\nHere’s hoping we get another similar meeting.\nChelsea fans have spent the day bringing up the fact that Lionel Messi has never scored against the Blues in eight appearances.\nYet there’s every chance he breaks that streak when the clubs meet on February 20 and March 14.\nWhat Messi said about Chelsea in 2006\nAs soon as the draw was made, Messi’s quotes about Chelsea from 2006 quickly surfaced.\nThe Argentinian made them before Barcelona played Chelsea in the knockout stage 11 years ago. And they were brilliant.\n\"There are players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid,\" Messi told the News of the World, per Sky Sports.\n\"I never thought I would hear myself say that.\n\"I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil v Argentina - but this is.\n\"We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.\"\nRemember, this fixture came a year after Barcelona’s acrimonious encounter against the Blues, then managed by Jose Mourinho.\nIn the first leg, which finished 2-1 to Barcelona, Didier Drogba was harshly sent off for a challenge on Victor Valdes.\nAnd then-Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard had to be restrained as a fracas erupted near the tunnel in the return fixture.\nTensions run deep between the teams and Messi would love nothing more than to score against the reigning Premier League giants when they meet.\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "Follow @insidefutbol\nBarcelona director Guillermo Amor believes that in Chelsea his side have drawn one of the strongest last 16 opponents in the Champions League they could have faced.\nAntonio Conte's men finishing second in their group opened the way to a tough last 16 tie and the Blues have been given a tough task with Barcelona.\nAmor admits that Barcelona could have had an easier tie than Chelsea, but the former Blaugrana midfielder insists that the best must be beaten if a side want to win the Champions League.\n\" If you want to win the Champions League, you must face everyone\", Amor told Barca TV.\n\"Chelsea were one of the strongest teams we could face\", he continued.\n\"In the last eight there were many difficult teams, even those who seem smaller.\"\nWhile Chelsea boss Conte conceded the Premier League title following a weekend defeat at West Ham, Barcelona are on course to scoop up La Liga this term.\nThe Blaugrana currently sit top of La Liga with a five-point lead over Valencia and have yet to lose a game in the current campaign, conceding just seven goals." ]

[ "Adults in the U.S. are encouraged to get 10% to 35% of their day's calories from protein foods. That's about 46 grams of protein for women, and 56 grams of protein for men. It's not hard to get this amount if you eat two to three servings of protein-rich foods a day, according to the CDC. A small 3-ounce piece of meat has about 21 grams of protein. A typical 8-ounce piece of meat could have over 50 grams of protein." ]

[ "Calculating Protein as a Percentage of Total Calories. Another way to calculate how much protein you need is by using daily calorie intake and the percentage of calories that will come from protein. To do this, you'll need to know how many calories your body needs each day.", "The Ultimate Protein Guide continues with a review of different types of protein powders. In Part II, we discussed the benefits of each type of protein, and in Part I we tackled just how much protein you really need.", "We just found out that we need to replace our water pressure regulator, and I was wondering if this was something we could do ourselves, and how much it would cost to do.Our water pressure is at 140.e just found out that we need to replace our water pressure regulator, and I was wondering if this was something we could do ourselves, and how much it would cost to do.", "How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? Home >> How Sleep Works >> How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? Humans, like all animals, need sleep, along with food, water and oxygen, to survive. For humans sleep is a vital indicator of overall health and well-being.", "1 How many carbs, proteins & fats you need to lose weight. 2 How much Protein, Carbs & Fats you need to eat to build muscle. 3 See how much you need to eat to lose weight. How to see how many carbs, proteins and fats are in foods.", "When we see nature as a community to which we belong we may begin to treat it with care and respect. gov cc 07/14/2009 06:19 AM Subject How much does a room at the rio cost. How much does a room at the rio cost. I was thinking that your advice would be very helpful.", "The evidence points to gluconeogenesis being driven by demand for glucose, not supply of protein. However, it does appear that above a certain level of protein intake ketogenesis declines. So regardless of mechanism, as ketogenic dieters, we probably still need to limit protein. It's not clear how much is too much. But how much is enough? It is important not to turn a healthy, ketogenic diet into an unhealthy starvation diet!", "Do they look old for their age?” -Dr. Ray Peat, PhD Use these 5 tips in 2015 to help shape a healthier you by eating enough (but not too much protein)! 1) Find out how much protein you really need.", "You can figure out how much whey to have daily by calculating your protein needs and then estimating the amount of protein you get every day in your regular diet.To do that, it may help to keep a food journal for several days and record everything you eat, then find the amount of protein in your meals and snacks.ou can figure out how much whey to have daily by calculating your protein needs and then estimating the amount of protein you get every day in your regular diet.", "People with diabetes (called diabetics) do not correctly produce or use their insulin protein. The insulin protein helps control how much sugar is in your bloodstream. Millions of diabetics need to take insulin.Insulin from cows and pigs has been used since the early 1900s to treat diabetes.Now human insulin protein can be mass-produced through genetic engineering processes.Move your mouse over each picture to see how to produce insulin through GE.eople with diabetes (called diabetics) do not correctly produce or use their insulin protein. The insulin protein helps control how much sugar is in your bloodstream. Millions of diabetics need to take insulin.", "Instructions. Building sidewalks is much easier than people think it is. It's also much cheaper if you do all your own labor. First of all, we need to decide how wide we want to make our sidewalk and how long we want it to be. We will also need to know how deep into the ground we want to dig to lay our forms.", "How To Factor Fat Into Your Total Daily Calorie Intake. Just like we did previously with protein, the final thing you need to do after figuring out how much fat you should eat per day is factor that daily fat intake into your total daily calorie intake. The funny thing is though… we kinda already did it.", "There is no single diet that is right for all cats with kidney disease. We need to stop thinking that any one diet is good for all cats with chronic progressive kidney disease. The far more important question to ask may not be how much protein, but how good the protein is.", "Dear Alice, I'm a college student and also a bodybuilder. I've become aware of very high protein intake amongst bodybuilders at my gym. I'm skeptical as to consuming as much protein (around 225 grams) a day like the bodybuilders at my gym do. Do bodybuilders need more protein? And if so, how much more? — Leery lifter", "The amount of how much protein the body needs and how much it can digest/absorb are two totally different elements. What many individuals fail to realize is that several factors affect the body's protein digestion/absorption rate.he amount of how much protein the body needs and how much it can digest/absorb are two totally different elements. What many individuals fail to realize is that several factors affect the body's protein digestion/absorption rate.", "Protein-rich foods are often rated in terms of how “complete” their amino acid profile is, in relation to needs for essential amino acids. Because we are, biologically, much closer to a cow than a cauliflower(!), the cow’s protein content is much more similar to us.", "Use the Muscle Milk protein calculator to find out just how much protein your body needs based on your weight and activity level. FIND OUT.se the Muscle Milk protein calculator to find out just how much protein your body needs based on your weight and activity level. FIND OUT.", "How Much Do Granite Countertops Cost? In this post series, we're asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the kitchen. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much that something costs. How much do granite countertops cost?", "ADVERTISEMENT. Some of us feel well-rested after a solid eight hours of sleep. For others, closer to nine feels best. For others still, a little less will do. How much sleep we prefer to get is highly subjective -- but how much sleep we need is a bit more concrete.DVERTISEMENT. Some of us feel well-rested after a solid eight hours of sleep. For others, closer to nine feels best. For others still, a little less will do. How much sleep we prefer to get is highly subjective -- but how much sleep we need is a bit more concrete.", "So how do we know how much to put in? Great question. The only way to really know how much refrigerant is in your system (and therefore how much we should put in) is by checking the system’s pressure with a pressure gauge. To check your system’s pressure you will need to know location of your low side port on your A/C.o how do we know how much to put in? Great question. The only way to really know how much refrigerant is in your system (and therefore how much we should put in) is by checking the system’s pressure with a pressure gauge. To check your system’s pressure you will need to know location of your low side port on your A/C.", "National Sleep Foundation Updates Recommendations For How Much Sleep You Really Need. Some of us feel well-rested after a solid eight hours of sleep. For others, closer to nine feels best. For others still, a little less will do. How much sleep we prefer to get is highly subjective -- but how much sleep we need is a bit more concrete.", "How Much Do You Pay for Internet Each Month? We regularly ask readers to share how much they spent on a given item, service, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay.", "Education is a human right. Stand for Children Massachusetts helps improve schools throughout the Commonwealth and empowers parents to take an active role in their child's education. How we do it Gov. Baker Releases Annual Budget", "how much protein can your body absorb; how much protein can your body absorb per meal; how much protein can the body absorb in an hour; how much protein can the body absorb; how much protein can your body absorb per hour; how much protein can the body absorb at once; how much protein can be absorbed at one time; how much protein can i take at once; how much protein can you absorb at once", "While most sites will tell you how to work out how many calories you need to build muscle, or how much protein you’ll need, the Hack goes one step further and gives you a free calculator that will do all the complicated math for you!", "Vitamin supplements are however recommended in certain specific situations defined by scientific research. 1 Fat soluble vitamins. 2 Water soluble vitamins. 3 Why do we need minerals? Why do we need 1 fibre? Why do we need carbs? Why do we need 1 protein? Why do we need fat?", "How much Hard Drive space will Skyrim take up? Ok, we know that Oblivion with no mods took up 4.6 GB. How much will Skyrim take up? Also what kind of processors and RAM's do you think we will need? Do you think a laptop with the following internals could work.", "How Much to Use. The simplest way to determine how much whey isolate to use is to calculate your approximate daily protein needs, find out about how much protein you already eat every day and then subtract the second number from the first.", "How much water is needed to produce food and how much do we waste? As much as 50% of all food produced in the world ends up as waste every year according to figures from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.", "Hair | Dry Hair. Find Out How Much Protein Your Hair Really Needs. We often see different types of protein ingredients like soy protein, silk amino acids, wheat protein and keratin in hair care products. And with good reason since our hair is made up of keratin-a tough, fibrous protein.", "Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Learn which foods make up the MyPlate Protein Foods Group and how much protein is needed for a healthy diet. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Learn which foods make up the MyPlate Protein Foods Group and how much protein is needed for a healthy diet. Also see a photo gallery.", "How Much Sleep Do We Really Need: Revisited. We at the National Sleep Foundation make it our mission to champion not only sleep science, but sleep health for the individual." ]

[ "Fabio Capello will be appointed as the next England manager later on Thursday, BBC Sport understands." ]

[ "Sir Trevor Brooking defends the speed of Italian Fabio Capello's appointment as England manager.", "Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp believes the Football Association has taken \"unnecessary\" steps in appointing the respected Italian coach Fabio Capello as England manager.", "England manager Fabio Capello is under investigation for alleged tax fraud.", "New England manager Fabio Capello faces a big challenge to win a major tournament, warns FA boss Brian Barwick.", "England manager Fabio Capello insists striker Michael Owen still has a future at international level.", "David Beckham says new England coach Fabio Capello is a manager \"players look up to\" and hopes to continue his England career under him.", "David Beckham looks a good bet to win the 100th cap he craves but Fabio Capello's appointment as England manager may not be good news for some of the other big names in the national squad.", "Prosecutors in Turin are investigating new England manager Fabio Capello for suspected tax evasion, Italian media reported on Wednesday.", "Fabio Capello's impending appointment as the new England manager evoked mixed emotions Friday as the stark reality of the country's lack of home-grown candidates hit home.", "New England manager Fabio Capello spoke Saturday of his joy at being presented with the greatest challenge of his career.", "Terry Venables believes the English FA should have picked an Englishman and not Italian Fabio Capello as England manager.", "Fabio Capello expected to be named as England boss tomorrow despite FA concerns over all-Italian staff", "David Beckham's axing from the England team for Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley has borne witness to manager Fabio Capello's rugged approach but the former England captain said he \"totally\" respected the decision.", "Fabio Capello is impressed by England in their 2-1 win over Switzerland in his first game in charge.", "Shaun-Wright Phillips scores the winner as England beat Switzerland in Fabio Capello's first game as boss.", "England striker Wayne Rooney has expressed his excitement at the thought of helping new national coach Fabio Capello become a \"legend\", starting with qualification for the 2010 World Cup.", "New coach Fabio Capello can end England's 40-year drought in major tournaments, Brazilian World Cup winner Leonardo tells BBC Sport.", "LONDON -- David Beckham is eager to play under new England manager Fabio Capello _ despite the stormy relationship the two shared at Real Madrid.", "New coach Fabio Capello has the aura to \"rekindle the fire\" of the under-performing England team, according to Trevor Brooking.", "New England boss Fabio Capello hands Steven Gerrard the captaincy for Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland.", "Anche Fabio Capello, ct della Nazionale di Sua Maest&agrave;, &egrave; tra manager del calcio ingles...", "New England coach Fabio Capello will help the players achieve their full potential, says Sir Trevor Brooking.", "England play their first match under Fabio Capello, while Northern Ireland and Wales are also in action.", "England fans have been warned not to expect miracles from Fabio Capello by the men who appointed the multiple trophy winning Italian to the so-called 'hardest job in football'.", "Fabio Capello embarked on the task of restoring England's football fortunes on Monday with a pledge to drag the best out of the country's under-performing stars.", "New England coach Fabio Capello promises to take the national team \"right to the top\" after being unveiled by the Football Association.", "Sport: Fabio Capello says he told the FA about his tax investigation before they handed him the England job", "Fabio Capello, who will be presented as the new England manager on Monday, says he needs to restore the team's \"winning mentality\".", "Steven Gerrard will captain England in Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland, the first match under new coach Fabio Capello.", "If Fabio Capello is England's new headmaster then David Bentley shows signs of becoming the Italian's star pupil after an eye-catching display in his side's 2-1 win against Switzerland.", "Fabio Capello said on Monday he hoped to take England \"right back to the top\" and would be delighted to meet his native Italy in the World Cup final in South Africa in 2010.", "Fabio Capello's first match in charge of England ended in a 2-1 victory over Switzerland that offered the Italian as much encouragement about the potential of his new charges as evidence of the deficiencies that resulted in them failing to reach Euro 2008." ]

[ "Gov. Scott Walker has fully paid off the debt he accrued during his short-lived presidential run.\nWalker owed $1.2 million when he dropped out of the race in 2015 after 71 days.\nBy the end of November, he had paid all but $140,000. Walker had promised to pay off all the debt by the end of 2016.\nWalker campaign adviser Joe Fadness said in a memo to Walker on Friday that the debt has been erased thanks to robust fundraising in December.\nHe hinted that the strong fundraising in December shows Walker is in a good position for a third gubernatorial run.\nFadness told Walker he's showing strength at a crucial time and noted the governor has about 30 fundraising events scheduled for the first half of 2017." ]

[ "WISCONSIN (WKOW) -- Gov. Scott Walker is rallying his fellow Republicans ahead of this year's midterm elections.\nThe governor spoke at the Republican Party of Waukesha County caucus Saturday morning. He reminded them a Democrat just won a special election for a state Senate.\n\"It's a wake up call that we cannot presume that people know about the positive things we're doing for the people of the state of Wisconsin,\" Gov. Walker told the group. \"I'm going to stress that many on the far left are angry and motivated. We need to match that, not with anger, but with optimism and organization.\"\nGov. Walker announced his re-election bid in November. At least nine Democrats have hired campaign staff for their gubernatorial campaigns.\nOne of those is the president of Professional Firefighters Association of Wisconsin, Mahlon Mitchell. He visited Wausau Saturday. He said his main focus includes education, health care and transportation.\n\"Get our message out, travel around the state like we are doing here in Wausau. Make sure our message is heard and we convey our message to the people and voters of this great state,\" Mitchell said.\nThe democratic primary is August 14th.", "WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on political fundraising reports (all times local):\n6 p.m.\nPresident Donald Trump started his formal re-election campaign earlier than any of his recent predecessors, and that appears to be paying off.\nTrump's campaign says it finished 2017 with more than $22 million on hand. That's chump change in modern presidential politics and its billion-dollar campaigns, but it still signals Trump's aggressiveness with the election more than two years away.\nThe campaign says the president raised almost $2.2 million in direct contributions for his campaign during the final quarter of 2017. He took in another $3.5 million through a fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee.\nThe campaign boasts that nearly all of its contributors are small donors who gave $200 or less, a sign the president remains popular with his base despite approval ratings mired in the 30s.\n__\n5:45 p.m.\nThe Democratic National Committee lags its GOP counterpart in fundraising despite the left's grass-roots energy since President Donald Trump's election.\nBut financial disclosure reports at the start of this election year also show other Democratic groups and many individual candidates are in stronger positions.\nThe Republican National Committee raised $132.5 million in 2017 and ended the year with almost $39 million on hand and no debt. The Democratic committee took in $66 million and had $6.5 million in cash available, but also owed $6.1 million.\nRepublicans believe their financial advantage will mean a superior campaign organization as they defend their majorities in Congress.\nDemocrats say they'll have the resources to win.\nTheir House campaign committee outraised its GOP counterpart in 2017, and several vulnerable Democratic senators have fundraising edges.", "facebook twitter email Share More Videos 0:48 Permit denied for Scott and Trinity Walker Pause 0:57 Visit Twelve Oaks Walking Trail 1:32 Blessing of the Fleet sets sail in Biloxi 0:41 New Yorker pays off school lunch debt in Jackson County 1:02 Terry Millette believes in early treatment of multiple sclerosis 4:14 Popular neurologist Terry Millette calls split with SRHS 'personal' 2:12 It's Finders Keepers at this vintage store in Biloxi 1:19 Vancleave graduates have plenty to sing about 1:23 Pascagoula shooting early Monday 0:46 D'Iberville High School Class of 2017 Share Video Video link: Select Embed code: Select\nfacebook\nfacebook twitter\ntwitter email Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor in response to the shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va. Wednesday morning. He commented on reports that the alleged shooter had volunteered on his presidential campaign. Bernie Sanders/YouTube\nSen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor in response to the shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va. Wednesday morning. He commented on reports that the alleged shooter had volunteered on his presidential campaign. Bernie Sanders/YouTube", "Wausau East and Wausau West warmed up for this year's Log Game with the Sports Express AM team early Friday.\nThe Warriors and Lumberjacks have struggled this season, but each school will forget the past to bask in the present for the biggest game of the season.\nWhile neither East or West will make the playoffs this year, a packed Thom Field in the morning set the stage for a sudden death atmosphere in Friday night's Log Game.\nThe Log has been dominantly held by Wausau West 30-16-1 over the years. The Jax took home the Twig in Thursday night's Junior Varsity game.\nNewsline 9's Alexis Geffin will take a look ahead to Friday night's game starting on Newsline 9 at 5.", "Wisconsin (WQOW) - News 18's Wausau affiliate, WAOW, spoke with Rep. Sean Duffy on the phone Wednesday morning. Rep. Duffy shared his reaction on the Virginia shooting involving Congressman Steve Scalise and others during a congressional baseball practice.\nHear his interview above.", "Remember when South Texas Congressslob Blake Farenthold promised to repay the $84,000 of taxpayer money he used to pay off a woman he had sexually harassed?\nThat was on December 3rd and he promised to repay it within a week.\nI hope you haven’t been holding your breath or tapping your fingers on the breakfast table waiting for Blake to write a check.\nU.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold has backed off his pledge to pay back a taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlement. A member of his communications staff says, on the advice of counsel, Farenthold is “waiting to see what changes the House makes to the Congressional Accountability Act before repaying the funds.”\nNo, no, uh uh, no. Whatever changes they do make, Blake still owes you and me $84,000. Nothing is gonna change that except for a check for $84,000 with Blake’s signature on it.\nNow here’s the fun part. It ain’t like he can’t afford it. He’s worth $6.6 million smackeronis.\nWrite a damn check, Blake.\nHowever, Blake is trying to kiss-up to the ladies in another way.\nToo little, too late, Bozo.\nThat’s all you gave the ladies, when you had plenty of money for lawyers?\nNow, those of you with time to tap your fingers on the table, go look at Blake’s expenses with his campaign money. He shames Louie Gohmert in the Holy Cow! department.", "MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker says he wants to bring back a troubled state loan program because local economic development officials told him they needed assistance.\nWalker was asked Tuesday about the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s loan program he wants to reinstate after phasing it out because some loans were never repaid, costing the state millions of dollars.\nWalker says reinstating the loans is a way to be responsive to local economic development leaders “particularly in smaller areas” without adding state funding.\nWalker says bringing the loans back with new requirements including that they not be forgivable “makes sense.” Walker’s proposal to reinstate the business loans was included in his two-year state budget released last week.", "Sign-up for the Urban Milwaukee daily email\nExecutives and medical professionals at a La Crosse medical complex where GOP Gov. Scott Walker appeared on April 4th contributed about $44,350 to his campaign since 2010.\nWalker told a news conference after touring Gundersen Health System’s hospital that his proposed 2017-19 state budget, which is being reviewed by the GOP-controlled legislature, increases spending on medical education and other health care programs to beef up the workforce as more and more baby boomers retire.\nGundersen Chief Executive Officer Scott Rathgaber said Walker’s budget addressed workforce medical training, as well as other fields, like technology and business education, that hospitals depend on. Rathgaber and his wife, Mary, contributed $2,425 to Walker’s campaign between January 2010 and December 2016.\nTopping the list of Gundersen employees who contributed to Walker between January 2010 and December 2016 were Dr. Laurence Berg, of Onalaska, $12,000; Dr. Martin Koop, of Holmen, $5,600; and Dr. Michael Bottcher, of Onalaska, $3,750.", "Wausau (WAOW) -- Shots were fired in Wausau early Friday morning, according to Wausau police.\nOfficials say, at approximately 1:30 a.m. they were dispatched to the 800 block of South Third Avenue for a reported argument followed by several gunshots.\nTheir initial investigation shows the argument began with two men inside of Rocs Place at 810 S. 3rd Ave. The two men then went outside of the bar. Authorities say shell casings found on scene confirm that shots were fired outside of the business.\n\"We don't have any cooperative victims or participants in this, it sounds like both parties in this case were discharging firearms at each other,\" Deputy Matt Barnes of the Wausau Police Department said.\nThere are no reports of injuries or property damage.\nBoth men took off before officers arrived. They are still at large.", "MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republican lawmakers are proposing a way to pay for rebuilding Interstate 94 around Milwaukee after Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature scrapped the project.\nThree lawmakers on Thursday unveiled a bill that would put $25 million toward reviving the I-94 project between the Marquette and Zoo interchanges just to the west of Milwaukee.\nWalker abandoned the project expected to cost about $1 billion after the Legislature didn't put any funding toward it.\nWalker said Thursday he had not seen the bill and that drivers in the Milwaukee area needed a break from road construction on the highly traveled interstate.\nWalker's administration asked the Federal Highway Administration to pull approval for the project after it was not funded in the state budget.", "Gov. Scott Walker is praising legislation Congress is expected to vote on that would open the door for the state to drug test recipients of unemployment benefits. Walker and the governors of Texas, Utah and Mississippi sent a letter last week to House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady in support of the measure that would remove limitations put in place under President Barack Obama.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at WKOW-TV.", "We want to see you on the road!\nNewsline 9 is heading to Medford June 19-23 for all the Taylor County city has to offer.\nJoin Melissa Langbehn, Mark McPherson and Rebecca Ribley when they bring you what you need to know about Medford.\nTony Schumacher will bring you weather coverage live from Medford Tuesday and Wednesday.\nJoin us at 5, 6 and 10 on Newsline 9.", "An emotional day in court Tuesday for the start of a Marathon County murder trial. 37-year-old Kristopher Torgerson is accused of murdering 22-year-old Stephanie Low in 2010 and leading investigators to her body in 2014.\nSeven people testified Tuesday. Witnesses said Torgerson went to Low's home looking for cocaine before he killed her and buried her body in a wooded area in Forest County.\nWitness Ellysa Clendenning told the jury she remembers seeing blood stains on the carpeting when she went into the home on Oct. 10, 2010.\nDay one of the trail focused on the days leading up to Low's disappearance. Friends testified that they saw Low the day and night before she went missing.\nMany questions were aimed at whether the door to the building was locked.\nFriends said they knew Low and her boyfriend at the time were selling cocaine.\nProsecutors urged the jury to look past Low selling drugs. The defense asked jurors to listen to all of the evidence and to remember this case is about getting justice for Low.\nThe State will continue to call witnesses to testify Wednesday.\nNewsline 9's Courtney Terlecki will be following the trial.\nStay with Newsline 9 for updates.\n----------------------------------\nAn Eau Claire County jury was selected Monday for the trial of Kristopher Torgerson, the 37-year-old prison inmate charged with killing Stephanie Low in October 2010, according to court records.\nAttorneys picked nine men and six women, including three alternates, in Eau Claire County to hear the evidence. Three jurors are retired, the rest between 30 and 40 years old.\nAttorneys will make opening statements to the jury when the trial returns to Wausau Tuesday with testimony from witnesses also expected to start.\nTorgerson - nicknamed Spider and serving an unrelated prison sentence - is accused of killing Low in 2010 after going to her Wausau apartment looking for money in what prosecutors say was connected to drugs. He led investigators to her body in a shallow, rock-covered grave near Wabeno in September 2014.\nThe trial is scheduled for three weeks at the Marathon County Courthouse.", "MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker is praising legislation Congress is expected to vote on that would open the door to the state’s drug testing recipients of unemployment benefits.\nWalker and the governors of Texas, Utah and Mississippi sent a letter last week to House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady in support of a measure that would remove limits put in place under President Barack Obama.\nWalker said in a news release Tuesday that he applauds leadership for scheduling a vote to grant states more options. He says requiring drug testing for people on public assistance is a central component of his welfare-reform plans.\nWalker appealed directly to President Donald Trump in a letter from December, urging him to return power to state by eliminating federal restrictions.", "Credit up to $1,000 for those paying 10% of income on student loans.\nMinnesota Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) has introduced a bill that he believes will help a group that is often overlooked in the college-affordability discussion.\nSenate File 941 is a tax credit of up to $1,000 for those individuals paying at least 10 percent of their income in student loan debt.\n\"I think it's important to look at ways to help offset the debt that students or graduates have already accumulated,\" Miller told WIZM.\nSince both houses are Republican controlled, Miller believes the legislation should pass as part of a larger tax bill.\n\"I do believe that there is support for this type of proposal and I'm hoping we can get it passed this year,\" Miller said. \"It doesn't solve the issue of student debt but it's a step in the right direction.\"\nMiller sees the discussion on college students is focuses on affordability but those saddled with debt are often forgotten.", "For 54 years The Family Barber Shop in Wausau has served the community. Thursday it's door closed, but owners old and new have fond memories to share.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at WAOW.", "Donald Borderieux claimed the government owed him more than $25,000 from Social Security. But after his phone calls and written efforts to get his money back got him nowhere, he contacted NBC10 Responds. NBC10’s Harry Hairston has the Ridley Park man's story.", "HANCOCK (WAOW) - A carjacking at a restaurant in Wausau involved an elderly woman and one-year-old child, a police chase at speeds up to 115 mph, new technology that helped prevent anyone from being hurt and the arrest of a 46-year-old Milwaukee man, authorities said Friday.\nMark Eliopulos was arrested after OnStar in the stolen car remotely shut it down on Interstate 39 near Hancock, State Patrol Sgt. Rhae Stertz said.\nHe is expected to face charges in at least two counties, she said. Wausau police are recommending he be charged with car theft and false imprisonment. Eliopulos was jailed Friday in Waushara County.\nAccording to Stertz, the incident began about 2:15 p.m. Thursday at a Subway on Wausau's east side. A Wausau driver of a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse left the vehicle running and the carjacker jumped in, driving away with the two passengers before letting them out a few blocks away.\nThe car was located because of OnStar and about 3 p.m. was spotted by a trooper in Portage County, leading to a chase at speeds up to 115 mph, Stertz said.\nA tire deflation device was deployed to try and stop the vehicle at one point but Eliopulos drove around it, Stertz said.\nNear Hancock, OnStar remotely turned off the vehicle, Eliopulos pulled to the shoulder and he was arrested without incident, she said.\nStertz said chases on freeways involving troopers and speeds up to 115 mph are not unusual.\n\"It is pretty typical actually,\" she said. \"If they want to get away, they drive fast. They don't go 25 mph.\"\nThe speed limit on I-39 where the chase occurred is 70 mph.\nThe remote technology like OnStar and GPS exist in many new cars and it is \"very helpful,\" Stertz said.", "Badgerland Financial recently awarded $1,000 scholarships to 22 graduating high school seniors who will be pursuing their interest and studies in an agriculture related field at a short course, technical school or university this fall.\nSource: WisconsinAgConnection.com\nNews At Other State Sites:\n1\nWISCONSINREPORT.COM (WiscReport.com) is not affiliated with Wisconsin Government or any state agency, department, entity, or other website or printed publication with Wisconsin in it’s name. Established in 2002, we operate completely independent from political parties and other forms of outside influence. Our Mission is to report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We are WiscReport on Twitter and Facebook. A Morbizco Internet Media online publication. – WisconsinReport.com.\nLearn More about WisconsinReport.com.", "Micon Cinemas will no longer be coming to downtown Wausau. The city announced Friday that plans are unable to move forward.\nMicon Cinemas has been in negotiations with Rialto Capital Management, the owners of the mall, for months. The movie theater company was supposed to take over the Sears building and begin construction in the Spring. However, Micon and the mall owners were unable to agree on the project.\nThe three entities met Thursday afternoon behind closed doors to determine whether the movie theater project was going to move forward.\nThe city said in a press release Friday that they are disappointed in the outcome.\n\"An entertainment use, like a cinema, is a meaningful way to help reposition Wausau Center and add an important addition to Downtown Wausau,\" the release states. \"While I am disappointed that the current parties involved in this proposal were not able to move forward together, I am proud that we at City Hall fully explored this and worked very hard to make it work, if possible.\"\nCity leaders said there was overwhelming public support for a cinema. They said they will now move forward and look into alternative plans for the Sears building which could include another request for proposal.\nThe city currently owns the Sears building however the mall has first right of refusal for the property. The city said they have negotiated the terms of decoupling the property from the malls ground lease in hopes of allowing a faster decision on a future alternative.\nThis is a developing story, stay with Newsline 9.", "MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Research commissioned by state officials shows tourism has a $19 billion impact on Wisconsin's economy.\nGov. Scott Walker told tourism industry representatives gathered in Milwaukee Monday that the economic impact measured in 2015 has increased 30 percent from five years earlier. Walker says tourism accounts for 190,000 jobs in Wisconsin.\nInnkeepers, restaurant owners, state and local tourism officials and others in the hospitality industry are attending the Governor's Conference on Tourism.\nThe Department of Tourism is launching new summer and fall ad campaigns. Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett told attendees the summer commercials focus on a real family that has vacationed in the state for decades. The fall ad will have new drone video of the seasonal colors.", "A Democratic state representative who was a single parent says Gov. Scott Walker owes an apology to all single and unmarried parents in Wisconsin. Walker said in his state budget address on Wednesday that people who wait until they're 21 to get married and have kids are more likely to be successful.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at WKOW-TV.", "MADISON (WKOW) -- A liberal and conservative pundit both expressed their concerns with the House Republican \"American Health Care Act\" (AHCA) on this week's edition of Capital City Sunday.\nChristian Schneider, conservative columnist for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, and Jenni Dye, research director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, joined Greg Neumann to discuss the AHCA and President Donald Trump's suggestion he was wiretapped at the order of former President Barack Obama.\nDale Knapp, research director for the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, was also on the show to talk about his report that found Wisconsin school districts borrowed a record $1.35 billion for construction projects in 2016.\nThis edition of Capital City Sunday aired on March 12.", "After an EF1 tornado touched down in Marathon County last week, many were wondering just how the tornado warning system is operated in the county. Bert Nitzke with the South Area Fire and Emergency Response District tells Newsline 9 that firefighters are encouraged to be trained to spot severe weather.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at WOZZ-FM Appleton.", "Vehicles parked at the MCC office on Wednesday. (Sahil Walia) Vehicles parked at the MCC office on Wednesday. (Sahil Walia)\nMUNICIPAL CORPORATION employees will no longer have to come to work on a bicycle every Wednesday as the ‘cycle to work’ order stands suspended temporarily. New MC Commissioner KK Yadav told officials at a meeting on Tuesday evening that because of the extreme weather, it would not be mandatory to come on bicycle to office and the practice would be revived once the weather was okay.\nOn Wednesday, the Municipal Corporation building at Sector 17 was packed with vehicles that were even banned from entering this day. Most of the employees came on two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The then MC Commissioner Jitender Yadav, who relinquished charge last week, had made it mandatory for every employee to come to the MC office by cycle or public transport.\nAlso, no councillor, who had to come to the MC office on Wednesday, was allowed to even park his car at the MC office. After two to three weeks of introducing this order, even otherwise, the cycle-to-work practice had begun to fizzle out. Only senior officials would come on cycle while other staff would park their vehicles at a distance and then walk to the MC office or use public transport to report for duty. On Wednesday, officers, who would use bicycles to come on Wednesdays, too, used their government vehicles.\nTalking to Chandigarh Newsline, K K Yadav said, “Once the weather gets fine, we will revive this practice. In fact, the officials asked me at the meeting whether they need to follow this rule. So, I told them that it won’t be mandatory from my side and if anyone wants to use a bicycle, he can. Since I don’t want any of our employees to fall sick during these extreme hot conditions, we will revive this practice after some time.”\nThen MC Commissioner Jitender Yadav told Newsline that even he has now been given charge of other departments and does not serve the MC anymore, he would pedal his way to office. Yadav is now the Managing Director of CITCO apart from departments of sports, rural development and panchayats, animal husbandry and fisheries, printing and stationery, statistics and UT Secretariat Establishment.\n“I will continue to go to my office – UT Secretariat – on bicycle every Wednesday,” said the former commissioner.\nDuring Jitender Yadav’s term, some officials, on the first day, had put forth the point that because of summer, it would be difficult to use a cycle to reach office. To that, the then commissioner had stated that “body required some Vitamin D also and moreover at 9 am and 5 pm, it wasn’t that sunny”.\nFor all the latest Chandigarh News, download Indian Express App", "From the Newsline 9 sports team to the reporters and everyone else in between, everyone has something to say about the outcome of Super Bowl LII.\nNewsline 9 Chief Meteorologist Justin Loew joked he was shocked to learn the Packers weren't playing for the Lombardi trophy, otherwise the green and gold would have been his pick.\n\"They didn't make it?\" he said before he yelled in frustration.\nSports Director Brandon Kinnard said after a long and disappointing Packers season, he's ready for a break from football.\n\"I don't particularly care about either of the teams that are in it, but of course I'm gonna watch it,\" he said.\nPatriots fan and reporter Brianna Hollis is all in when it comes to New England.\n\"The Eagles don't even have their starting quarterback in right now, so absolutely no chance there,\" Hollis said while donning a Julian Edelman jersey.\nPhilly native, Eagles fan and Newsline 9 Sports reporter Morey Hershgordon had a different opinion.\n\"I think we're gonna win 31-24,\" he said.\nWhat do you think? Leave us a comment on Facebook.", "Sign-up for the Urban Milwaukee daily email\nLooking ahead at what promises to be a tough election year for Republicans, Gov. Scott Walker’s state of the state address last week was as important for what it didn’t say as for what it did.\nThe headline coming out of his speech was $100 in tax credits or cash going to parents for each child. This tax gift is an election year piece of cotton candy, a one-timer that will have little strategic impact on the state.\nLooked at another way, Gov. Walker is pre-empting the Democratic 2018 issues. They have been critical of his previous budgets that short-changed education, so he upped K-12 spending in his recent budget, continued the tuition freeze at the University of Wisconsin System and then followed with per-child crowd pleaser.\nThink of his tactics like those used in competitive sailing. A skipper in the lead just matches every move by the top follower. It’s called “covering.”\nThe governor has also “covered” the Democrats on health care. As premiums continue to soar on the Obamacare exchanges, a Democratic vulnerability, Walker appropriated that issue by proposing a $200 million infusion into health care reinsurance, with the intent of moderating premiums.\nSide note: At my company, the reinsurance premium to cover catastrophic health cases runs about $400,000 on a total health care bill of $5 million, or only about 8%. The Walker subsidy, a small bite out of the 8%, will be a boon to the Medical Industrial Complex (MIC), but will do nothing to address the screaming issue in health care, the out-of-control costs.\nIn fairness to the Governor, he pushed for self-insurance for state employees in his 2016 state of the state address and subsequent budget, which would cut costs. His fellow Republicans in the legislature yielded to MIC lobbyists and shot it down.\nAt any rate, don’t get your hopes up for premium reductions. The reinsurance move is unlikely to trickle down.\nThe 2016 and 2018 addresses bragged up the Governor’s two-term track record on the economy, making a positive comparison to his predecessor, Democrat Jim Doyle. The comparison is more political than valid, because Doyle had to weather the biggest recession in U.S. history, while Walker has enjoyed one of the longest expansions in U.S. history.\nGovernors have something to do with the long-term prosperity in a state, but national trends almost always trump state dynamics.\nNonetheless, Gov. Walker can brandish some nice numbers, mainly the very low jobless rate of 3% and high labor participation.\nFurther, the money flowing from the strong economy into the state treasury has enabled funding of a wide range of workforce training programs for veterans, handicapped people, youth and adult apprentices, the mentally disabled and the under-skilled. It had been blessedly bipartisan as the rising tide lifts boats.\nThe surplus of open jobs gives the governor an opening for tougher work rules as a condition for government subsidies. He played that card in his address.\nThe new tax revenues have allowed modest reductions in property and income taxes, which is a Walker highlight at every campaign stop.\nThose are the issues he will stress. Here’s a partial list of major issues he is ducking:\nA Conservation Message. How can Republicans look past the invasive species threat to the Great Lakes? Asian carp are at the door. There is a dead zone in the middle of Green Bay.\nThe Startup Imperative. The Wisconsin economy can no longer rely on manufacturing and agri-business for job creation; they have become uber-efficient. Entrepreneurs and their ventures reinvent the economy and add most new jobs. Walker is on the sidelines on this dimension of the economy.\nOther Strategic Clusters. In the same vein, state economic strategy, if there is one, needs to focus on job champions like insurance, investment management, information technology in many dimensions, education innovation, energy management and new models for health care delivery.\nReorganization of Higher Education. The University of Wisconsin System faces enormous challenges in affordability and access, declining enrollments, lower state support, rising student debt and on-line courses and degrees. Is there a plan?\nHealth Issues. These include lead in Milwaukee drinking water, high levels on unintended pregnancies to single mothers, the resulting poverty for mother and child, and a fall-off in immunizations.\nNote that the playbook for the 2018 campaign has not been fully written. The battalion of Democratic candidates has yet to spell out compelling messages beyond a call for more education and infrastructure and opposition to Walker’s Foxconn subsidies and lack of environmental impact statements.\nRecall that candidate Walker does not always follow script when he becomes Gov. Walker. There is usually a submerged big agenda, often a big one, such as Act 10 to undercut public unions in 2011 and Right to Work in 2015. Neither got airtime in the preceding campaigns.\nConclusion: regard the state of the state address and campaign rhetoric to date as only a partial map of what lies ahead for public policy in Wisconsin. It is certain, though, that the campaign will be more about politics than policy.", "MOSINEE (WAOW) -- In the wake of the deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va., residents in Mosinee are voicing their concerns about a Nazi flag seen hanging outside a home.\nThe home is less than a mile from downtown Mosinee, close to schools, with children in the neighborhood.\n\"Surprised to see that it was flying because it's something unusual to see in a town like Mosinee,\" said Mike Thurs, a resident of Mosinee for five years. \"Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and if that's what his is, then he has every right to feel that way.\"\nOther residents like World War II veteran Charlie Valiska said that it's disrespectful to the soldiers who lost their lives fighting the Nazis in Europe.\n\"To dishonor the American flag by putting up a Nazi flag is just absolutely insane. I don't know what the hell's the matter with these people [sic],\" he said. \"[I'm] floored that anybody living in the United States would put up a Nazi flag.\"\nMosinee Police said they received one complaint about the flag on Aug. 4, but did not make contact with the homeowner because it is not illegal.\nNewsline 9 spoke with a woman at the home Monday who did not want to go on camera. She said that they hung the flag because they're \"proud of who they are.\" The woman went on to say that if \"[homosexuals] can fly their flag, so can they.\"\nThe woman said they've received online threats because of the flag, but Mosinee Police said they have not received any reports related to the threats.\nResidents in Mosinee said the flag has not been flown since the incident in Virginia.", "Bills to toughen Wisconsin's welfare requirements offered by Gov. Scott Walker are estimated to cost more than $90 million a year.\nThe proposals include increasing work requirements for able-bodied adults on food stamps and expanding the requirement for the first time to parents.\nWalker and Republican supporters say the measures will move more people off of welfare programs and into the workforce. Opponents argue they will be counter-productive and costly.\nDemocratic state Rep. Lisa Subeck, of Madison, reacted to the estimated costs Friday by calling the Walker proposal an \"election-year gimmick.\"\nAn Assembly committee was expected to vote on the bills next week, clearing the way for the full Assembly to take them up later this month.", "7:00 CNN Nieuws\n7:35 Steven Reyme Ministries\n8:10 Fitness : Insanity Max Out Power\n8:45 Adventure Time\n9:00 Caribbean Newsline\n9:35 Tv.film : Spiderman 3\n12:00 CNN Nieuws\n12:36 Kinderfilm : Tinker Bell And The Legend Of The Neverbeast\n13:53 Super Hit Classics\n15:00 Batman\n16:01 Documentaire : Biggest Dog In The World\n16:47 Sranan Torie : 1 + 1 is 3 : Poli Trauma\n17:20 This Is The Day Of Victory For You\n18:00 ATV Nieuws\n18:50 ATV Sports\n19:41 Infomercial : Grassalco\n20:00 Whazzz UP ?\n20:24 How It’s Made : Artifical Limbs\n21:00 Panorama\n21:50 Trekking : Tek.2 / Double Tek.2 / Match.3 / High.5\n22:00 Underground\n22:42 Chicago Justice\n23:24 Caribbean Newsline\n23:55 Herhaling ATV Nieuws\n00:31 Berlin Station\n01:24 Tv.film : I Know You’re In There\n02:49 Documentaire : Grayson Perry And The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman\n03:49 Bloodline\n04:44 12 Monkeys\n05:27 Baby Daddy\n06:10 CNN Nieuws\n07:35 Steven Reyme Ministries\n(Wijzigingen Voorbehouden)", "Go out! Wausau area happy hours, food and live entertainment specials, Thurs.-Sun. August 14-17\nTreu's Tic Toc\n1201 W. Thomas St., Wausau 715-848-2465\nThomas Street is open to Treu's from 17th Avenue!\nMonday all day: Hot Beef Sandwich $4.29\nTuesday: Chicken Wings 11am-9pm\nWednesday: Burger Special 5-9pm\nThursday: Tenderloin Steak Sandwich from 5-9pm • FREE POOL\nTownies Grill/ Malarkey’s Pub\n412 Third St., downtown Wausau 715-819-3663\nTuesday Open mic 9:00ish\nHappy Hour Tues.-Fri.: First drink free with purchase of ANY appetizer, 3–6pm (for drinks up to $5 value)\nThursday LIVE MUSIC from Them Coulee Boys starting at 10pm\nChatterbox\n102 S. Second Ave., Wausau 715-842-3059\nMonday: Double points all day!\nTuesday $2.50 CHEESEBURGER 4-9pm\nWednesday Greek Invasion! Gyros & more!!\nThursday LIVE MUSIC from 7-10pm!\nStop in and Become a Club Member Today! Earn $$ while you Eat and Drink\nSconni's\n1239 Schofield Ave., Schofield 715-241-7665\nHappy Hour Mon.-Thurs.: $2 off all Craft Beer, 3-5pm\nCome check out our extensive Craft Cocktail Menu. We brew our own bitters, hand squeeze our own citrus and use only house-made syrup in our cocktails.\n2% Tuesdays: 2% of total sales donated to Neighbors’ Place of Wausau. Dine & drink with us and contribute to a good cause!\nThursday SURLY BEER specialty Tapping\nBunkers\n1001 Golf Club Road, Wausau 715-675-3663\nMonday $10 Burger and Pint of beer!\nWednesday $2 Old Fashioneds and fish fry features\nThursday 1/2 price appetizers and KIDS EAT FREE!\nThe Bar\n10302 Market St., Rothschild 715-355-7001\nEVERYDAY 9pm-midnight HALF PRICED Appetizers\nHAPPY HOUR Monday-Friday Buy One Get One for $1 3-7pm\nMonday & Tuesday 50 cent traditional wings\nWednesday 60 cent boneless wings\nThursday $9 2 topping 14-inch PIZZA • The SIMPSONS Trivia starting at 7pm\nArrow Sports Bar\n6202 Schofield Ave, Schofield 715-359-2363\nHAPPY HOUR Mon.-Thurs. 3-6pm\nMonday $6.95 gyros and fries with homemade tzatziki sauce. 11am-8pm • $4 Moscow or Irish Mules\nTuesday $6.95 taco specials! Taco melt, chicken quesadilla, burritos, taco salad! 11am-8pm • Cappy Tuesday $4 Tall Captain Morgan Mixers with Cappy Hour from 5-7pm with $3 Tall Captain Morgan Mixers\nWednesday $10 bottle of wine with purchase of $10 two-topping pizza & wings!\nThursday $6.95 meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy, and veggies! 11am-3pm • $2 cheeseburgers! 4-8pm • $2 shots, $3.50 bombs", "MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Gov. Scott Walker plans to sign a bill lifting Wisconsin's moratorium on gold and silver mining.\nThe Republican governor is scheduled to sign the \"Mining for America\" bill Monday in Rhinelander.\nWalker voted to impose the moratorium when he was in the state Assembly in 1998. But his spokesman, Tom Evenson, has said Walker believes mining can be done without harming the environment.\nUnder current state law, sulfide mining applicants had to prove that similar mines have operated and been closed in North America without polluting. Wisconsin regulators have never issued a final determination that any mining applicant has satisfied the requirements, leading critics to label the requirements a de facto ban on sulfide mining.\nThe new bill eliminates the requirements. It won't go into effect for six months.\nCopyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed." ]

[ "Russia is facing growing violence in Muslim regions on its southern rim. Islamic extremists seeking to create an independent Muslim state in the Caucasus regions are attacking security forces and officials on an almost daily basis. In turn, the authorities are cracking down with illegal abductions, torture and disappearances. Russia's republic of Ingushetia, racked by corruption and poverty, is at the center of the new violence. An overwhelming majority of its population of about 350,000 is Muslim, and its people have close historical and cultural ties to neighboring Chechnya, another restive Russian republic where Moscow has fought two wars since the Soviet Union collapsed. Magomed Mutsulgov, the head of Mashr, an Ingush human rights group, says Moscow's brutal and illegal crackdown on suspected terrorists is only making the situation worse. \"Unlike Chechnya, we had no history of terrorist acts. But after 2003, when Moscow began going after suspected fighters here, using illegal means like disappearances, killings and torture, the bombings and attacks began,\" he says. Increasingly, Mutsulgov says, security forces are now going after relatives and friends of suspected fighters. \"The more the authorities kill, the more killing there will be. It's getting easier to recruit young men to fight the authorities in the name of justice and revenge,\" he says. More than 50 percent of the Ingush are unemployed. There is rampant corruption and a sense that Moscow doesn't care about anything but counterterrorism. A year ago, police detained leading investigative journalist and opposition figure Magomed Yevloyev, who was subsequently fatally shot while in custody. The police say it was a mistake; investigations by human rights groups and the family suggest otherwise. His killing underscored deep discontent. Moscow decided to replace the unpopular Ingush leader with a new president, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, a former general. While committed to fighting terrorism, Yevkurov promised this would be done according to the law. Yevkurov also promised to crack down on corruption and adopt a more conciliatory tone toward the opposition. He has publicly said he believes Yevloyev was murdered. He has tried to reopen the case, but there has been little progress. The president regularly meets with human rights groups and the opposition. \"Mistakes are made. There is [an] enormous amount of corruption,\" Yevkurov said last week to a gathering of human rights activists and families of the victims of violence. Human rights activists applaud Yevkurov for acknowledging these problems and say that has been at least a step in the right direction. But Mutsulgov, of the Ingush human rights group Mashr, says the president's promised changes have been undermined repeatedly by federal security forces. \"There are improvements. Yevkurov is not corrupt. He is approachable. But as far as security forces are concerned, he can't change the situation. He has not power to control them,\" Mutsulgov says. In June, Yevkurov himself was the victim of an attack that has yet to be solved. A suicide bomber in a car swerved into his motorcade; Yevkurov was gravely wounded and spent most of the summer recovering. In his absence, human rights groups say the security forces stepped up their illegal detentions and killings of suspects. Courts convicted several officials of stealing millions of dollars, but to Yevkurov's dismay, they were given nothing but a slap on the wrist. Now back on the job, Yevkurov faces a desperate and angry population. An Ingush mother, Fatima Tankieva, says her son disappeared after he was picked up by security forces. She has appealed to Yevkurov for help. Maksharip Aushev, a prominent opposition figure, has supported Yevkurov, but he says he is losing hope. \"We succeeded in changing the president, but orders are still coming from Moscow. It doesn't depend on Yevkurov. So people are taking up arms against the government. They see no choice,\" Aushev says. Musa Pliev, one of Yevkurov's aides, warns that Ingushetia is facing a civil war. \"If Moscow thinks the problems here can be solved with these illegal violent acts, they are very wrong,\" Pliev says. Yevkurov still enjoys a reservoir of goodwill, but Ingush warn that time is running out. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Russia is facing growing violence in its Muslim regions in the South. Islamist extremists are launching attacks on an almost daily basis. They're seeking to create an independent Muslim state. In turn, the Russian authorities are cracking down with illegal abductions, torture and disappearances. NPR's Anne Garrels traveled to Ingushetia, just the West of Chechnya. It is wracked by corruption and poverty and it lies at the center of the new violence. ANNE GARRELS: Magomed Mutsulgov, the head of an Ingush human rights group, Mashr, says Moscow's brutal and illegal crackdown on suspected terrorists is only making the situation worse. Mr. MAGOMED MUTSULGOV (Head, Mashr): (Through" ]

[ "What is God? It's one of the eternal questions, and it's front-page news in Malaysia. A recent court order said the word Allah can only be used by Muslims – and not by members of the country's other faiths. But Malaysian Prime Minister Najik Razak said Tuesday that Christians in the states of Sabah and Sarawak can continue to refer to God as Allah. The Star reports that Razak also advised all groups not to politicize the issue \"as they will be playing with fire that can eventually burn them.\" At issue is whether The Herald, a Catholic newspaper, can use Allah to describe the Christian God in its Malay-language edition. The court order earlier this month overturned a previous ruling allowing the use of the word. The 2009 ruling led to clashes between Christians and Muslims. From God to acts of God. Firefighters in Australia continue to battle massive bushfires in New South Wales. \"This will be as bad as it gets,\" Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. \"On days like [this], there's a very real potential for more loss of homes and life.\" His comments were reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Here's more: \"The RFS had warned since the weekend about the potential devastation Wednesday's weather could cause but the revised forecast on Tuesday was even more worrying, Mr Fitzsimmons said. \"Wednesday would be hotter, drier and windier than the dire predictions previously forecast, posing a grave challenge to one of the largest firefighting contingents assembled in NSW history. They would have to battle an active 1,500-kilometre (920-mile) fire edge in the Blue Mountains where three major fires, one at Bilpin now linked to the second at Mount Victoria and a third at Springwood, burned out of control.\" Reporter Stuart Cohen talked to NPR's Steven Inskeep about the fires on Tuesday's Morning Edition. You can listen to their conversation here: Now to Russia, where news of Monday's suicide bombing in the southern city of Volgograd continues to make headlines. ORT Television reports Tuesday that the female suicide bomber arrived in the city on a bus en route to Moscow. The bomber was from Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim republic in the North Caucuses region. It is scene of a long-running Islamist insurgency. The bombing killed six people and wounded about 30. ORT reported that the bomber was the partner of an Islamist militant. Finally, a lone bid from Brazil's state-owned energy company Petrobras, backed by France's Total, Anglo-Dutch giant Shell and two Chinese state-run oil firms, has won the right to explore Brazil's largest oilfield. The price was lower than expected, and the sale came amid protests from Brazilian oil workers, who accused the government of selling off Brazil's assets. But President Dilma Rousseff said the auction doesn't imply the privatization of Brazilian oil; instead, she called it a \"milestone in the history of Brazil.\" Her comments were reported by O Globo. State-owned Petrobras holds 40 percent of the Libra oil field, which is estimated to have 8 billion to 12 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves that would last for three decades. Total and Shell own 20 percent each, while China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China National Petroleum Corp will own 10 percent each. The auction for the Libra field attracted far fewer investors than the Brazilian government had expected.", "Gunmen opened fire on security forces and civilian volunteers at a checkpoint in Thailand's restive south on Tuesday night, killing at least 15 people in what is believed to be the deadliest single attack in the region in years. More than 7,000 people have been killed since a separatist rebellion started in southern Thailand in 2004, according to Deep South Watch, which monitors violence there. The region is predominantly Muslim and was annexed from Malaysia by Buddhist-majority Thailand more than 100 years ago. \"This is likely the work of the insurgents,\" Col. Pramote Prom-in, a military regional security spokesman, told Reuters. The floor of the checkpoint was soaked in blood and the walls covered in bullet holes, as forensic police combed through the grisly debris Wednesday morning. Most of the dead were village defense force volunteers in Yala Province, as reporter Michael Sullivan told NPR from Chiang Rai, Thailand. At least five other people were wounded Security officials say the unidentified attackers tried to make it difficult for victims to escape and for rescue workers and security backup to get to the scene. \"The insurgents scattered road spikes, set fire to tyres, felled a tree and bombed a power pole to obstruct pursuit,\" the Bangkok Post reported. About 10 gunmen sneaked through a rubber plantation in Yala Province to approach the checkpoint, according to the newspaper. During the attack, they stole \"an assault rifle, two shotguns and five pistols from the checkpoint victims.\" Army spokesman Col. Kiattisak Neewong told The Associated Press that officials recovered bloody clothes at the scene, a sign that some of the attackers may have been wounded. Four of the people killed were women and one was a doctor, according to the spokesman. There were also reports of a second checkpoint attack on the same night, according to the Post, though nobody was reported to have been injured there. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has vowed to better protect these volunteer forces at checkpoints, according to the AP, saying Tuesday night's attack could be an indication that rebels are planning to target them more frequently. \"Normally the insurgents don't hit these village volunteers because they are considered civilians, unless they [cross] the line and become part of state apparatus,\" Don Pathan, an expert on southern Thailand, told Reuters. The rebels are seeking greater autonomy or even independence in southern Thailand. \"The southern provinces are among the country's poorest and least developed,\" as Sullivan reported over a decade ago, soon after the violence started. \"Many Muslims in the south say that's no accident. They accuse Bangkok of systematic neglect and discrimination.\" It's not clear which group carried out this attack, though the attack is similar in style to others carried out by the separatist group Barisan Revolusi Nasional, the BBC reported. Since 2013, the number of violent incidents per month in the south has slowly ratcheted downward, as has the number of dead or injured, according to data from Deep South Watch.", "Iraq, coming apart at the seams. And the whole map of the Middle East may be in play.  We’ll take a cold, hard look. Days into the onslaught of black-clad fighters in Iraq, the news is still stunning.  The map of Iraq – where the US invaded, spent billions, trillions, lost 4000 lives – redrawn in less than a week. City after city lost to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a group more than dreaming now of an Islamic “caliphate” stretching from Aleppo to Iran, beyond.  A fantasy before the US invasion.  Now a region of turmoil you can draw on the map.  This hour On Point:  Iraq, coming apart right now at the seams.  America’s options.  The facts on the ground. &#8211; Tom Ashbrook Guests Ned Parker, Baghdad bureau chief for Reuters. (@nedmparker1) Paul Pillar, professor at Georgetown University&#8217;s Security Studies Program. Form national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia. Seth Jones, acting director of the RAND Corporation&#8217;s International Security and Defense Policy Center. (@SethGJones) Borzou Daragahi, Middle East and North Africa correspondent for the Financial Times. (@borzou) From Tom&#8217;s Reading List The Wall Street Journal: Iraq Scrambles to Defend Baghdad &#8212; &#8220;Iraq&#8217;s government girded to protect the capital from advancing insurgents, as Iranian security officials said their forces had joined the battle on Baghdad&#8217;s side and the U.S. weighed military assistance, including airstrikes. Iraq edged closer to all-out sectarian conflict as Kurdish forces took control of a provincial capital in the oil-rich north on Thursday and Sunni militants threatened to march on two cities revered by Shiite Muslims and the capital.&#8221; Reuters: Iraq&#8217;s top Shi&#8217;ite cleric issues call to fight jihadist rebels &#8211; &#8220;Iraq&#8217;s most senior Shi&#8217;ite Muslim cleric urged followers to take up arms against a full-blown Sunni militant insurgency to topple Shi&#8217;ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, escalating a conflict that threatens civil war and a possible break-up of the country.&#8221; The Daily Beast: ISIS’s Secret Allies &#8212; &#8220;All eyes have been on ISIS as the jihadist group, in a matter of days, cut Iraq in half and declared its own state in the cities it captured. With fewer than 10,000 fighters ISIS forced the retreat of the better-armed Iraqi army forces many times its size. Their incredible success on the battlefield has fed into a growing lore about the group: the small band of fanatics that can take down a country. The truth is more basic and it’s something ISIS doesn’t want to admit—they weren’t acting alone.&#8221;", "Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed \"retribution is inevitable\" for the bomb blast that killed at least 35 people at Russia's busiest airport, while President Dmitry Medvedev pointed the finger at airport officials for security lapses. Putin has built much of his reputation on harsh statements, but he did not elaborate on what kind of retribution he had planned or against whom in his comments Tuesday carried by Russian news agencies. Russian authorities believe a suicide attacker detonated the bomb that erupted Monday at Domodedevo Airport outside Moscow, wounding more than 100 people. Witnesses have said the attack was carried out by someone who brought a suitcase into the international arrivals hall, and one investigator told state media the remains of the presumed bomber were found. But conflicting reports emerged Tuesday about how the attack was carried out. Some accounts, citing unnamed sources, said there were two bombers and that one of them was a woman. Domodedovo has metal detectors at airport entrances, but they are used only on occasion, meaning someone could have walked into the main terminal Monday without being screened. The bombing exposed the unprotected underbelly of airport security — the international arrivals area, packed with families, taxi drivers and businesspeople, all of whom do not have to go through airport security. Few airports in the world control the entrances to such areas. Medvedev described security at Domodedovo as being in \"a state of anarchy\" and insisted during a televised appearance that airport officials should have to explain \"obvious violations\" in their security plan and bear responsibility for any failures that contributed to the blast. He also said government security officials would be held accountable for any lapses found. Airport management objected, saying transport police were responsible for the inspection of people coming into the international arrivals area, where the bombing took place. The finger-pointing could undermine confidence in Russia's security ahead of Medvedev's high-profile appearance this week trying to attract investors at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Monday's attack also called into question Russia's ability to safely host major international events like the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 World Cup. Suspicion for Monday's explosion is likely to fall on Islamist separatist insurgents from Chechnya or elsewhere in Russia's restive Caucasus region who have been battling Russian authority for more than 15 years. Chechen insurgents have claimed responsibility for an array of attacks in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia, including a double suicide bombing on the capital's subway system in March 2010 that killed 40 people. They also have hit Domodedovo Airport before, with two suicide bombers slipping through its security in 2004 to kill 90 people. Putin rose to power largely on his tough-against-terror image, including a famous vow that Chechen rebels would be hunted down and killed \"in the outhouse.\" But despite launching the second Russia-Chechnya war and cracking down on suspected rebels, he was unable to wipe out the Chechen insurgency during his 2000-08 presidency. The bombing at Domodedovo raises fears of retaliation against people of Caucasian descent, who often have darker complexions and face routine discrimination in Russia. Ethnic tensions were already high last month, when nationalists staged a series of riots in central Moscow, chanting slurs against Caucasians and yelling \"Russia is for Russians!\" The Emergencies Ministry said the dead included one person each from Britain, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan; 16 were Russians, and the remaining 12 had not been identified. A further 110 people, including nine foreigners, were hospitalized. The blast hit at 4:32 p.m. local time, when thousands of passengers and workers were in the terminal. They were sprayed with shrapnel containing screws and ball bearings to cause as many casualties as possible, and thick smoke engulfed the terminal. \"There was lots of blood, severed legs flying around,\" said Yelena Zatserkovnaya, a Lufthansa official, who said airport workers used baggage carts to wheel the wounded to ambulances. Built in 1964, Domodedovo is located 26 miles southeast of Moscow and is the largest of the three major airports that serve the capital, handling more than 22 million people last year. NPR's David Greene reported from Moscow for this story, which contains material from The Associated Press.", "In the war-ravaged Russian republic of Chechnya, the local government is pouring money into the construction of mosques and other Islamic institutions. Despite Russian law that declares a separation of church and state, Chechen schools must now promote Islam. There are 15 million to 20 million Muslims in Russia, and their share of the overall population of 140 million is growing. As many seek to return to their roots, the government has supported the construction of mosques and Islamic schools as long as they do not challenge the state. But in Chechnya, the Moscow-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov has gone even further. He has ordered the return of Sufi Islam and Chechen traditions as a way to establish his control and undercut Muslim extremists. Kadyrov has ordered local officials to make sure TV companies show more programs celebrating Chechnya's Islamic identity while condemning so-called foreign Muslim trends, which he says undermine the state. The culture ministry has introduced rules for Chechen artists — all performances must conform to what it determines is Chechen mentality and upbringing. The local hit song these days is called \"My Islamic Chechnya.\" \"This is the politicization of Sufi Islam. [Kadyrov] said that the mosque has to become a political center — a center of education of the young generation,\" says Alexey Malashenko, a leading expert on Russian Islam at Moscow's Carnegie Endowment. \"He consolidated around him the most traditional part of the society, including a piece of [the] young generation.\" 'Government Has Gone Overboard' Chechens have long battled Moscow. Soviet dictator Josef Stalin deported the entire population to Siberia and Kazakhstan during the 1940s. Those who survived harsh conditions were only allowed to return a decade later. When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, Chechen demands for independence resulted in two wars. The Kremlin all but destroyed Chechnya. Kadyrov, 33, was once a separatist but switched sides, recasting himself as an Islamic leader who is also loyal to Moscow. At first, his injection of national pride along with lots of money from the central government in Moscow soothed war-weary Chechens. And at first, the process of Islamization was voluntary. Any female student who wore a headscarf initially earned a prize of $1,000. Now all females, regardless of their religious convictions, must cover their heads in schools and government offices. Kadyrov has banned the sale of European-style wedding dresses in the republic's bridal salons. Polygamy is increasing. Members of the team around Kadyrov openly have several wives. Kadyrov has also supported honor killings. Lipkhan Bazaeva, who runs a nongovernmental organization promoting women's rights, says Chechnya is going back to the Middle Ages. \"Yes, we are a traditional, conservative society, with our own values, but the government has gone overboard, declaring unacceptable limits on women — that they should sit at home, they should obey their husbands,\" she says. \"As an individual, she has no rights even if her husband beats her, despite Russian laws to the contrary.\" She is afraid to speak out now. \"If you criticize the local government, you are in danger,\" she says. Unifying Or Dividing? Malashenko says Kadyrov's strong-arm tactics to unify Chechens are now dividing the society. \"I spoke to young girls in Chechnya, and they don't share the idea of polygamy,\" he says. \"They don't want to wear scarves, but they are obliged to do it. ... Those who are 40 years old, who were born in the Soviet Union, they don't want to be fanatic Muslims.\" There is also a split between the cities and rural Chechnya, where Kadyrov's version of Islam is more popular. Kadyrov's policies are not enough for extremists, who have recently stepped up their attacks, and they are too much for some others, including some in the Kremlin — who are beginning to ask what they have unleashed in this unstable region of the country. STEVE INSKEEP, host: Now we're going to travel next to Russia, where the leader of Chechnya, a region of Russia, has ordered the territory to follow a traditional form of Islam. That's a way of strengthening his own control. The leader's goal is also to undermine Muslim extremists who've been fighting to secede from Russia. NPR's Anne Garrels has this report. (Soundbite of music) ANNE GARRELS: In Chechnya, the local government is pouring money into the construction of mosques and other Islamic institutions. Despite Russian law that declares a separation of church and state, Chechen schools must now promote Islam. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has also ordered local officials to make sure TV companies show more programs celebrating Chechnya's Islamic identity, while condemning so-called foreign Muslim trends, which he says undermine the state. (Soundbite of song, \"My Islamic Chechnya\") Unidentified Man: (Singing in foreign language) GARRELS: The culture ministry has introduced rules for Chechen artists. All perfor", "Updated at 6 p.m. Deadly clashes over the weekend between Christian farmers and Muslim herders in central Nigeria have left at least 86 people dead and 50 homes burned to the ground, according to state police. Herders from the north have been pushed south by climate change and also threats from terrorist group Boko Haram. The herders' southward migration, into the savannah and rain forests of Nigeria's central and southern regions, has exacerbated religious and ethnic tensions. Last Thursday, five herders of Muslim faith were attacked in a truck, their cattle taken and their vehicle torched, reported The New York Times. On Friday and Saturday night, suspected herders entered predominantly Christian villages, opening fire and burning homes while people were sleeping. That incident triggered retaliatory measures in which Christian villagers set up blockades and killed motorists who they believed \"looked\" Muslim and Fulani — an ethnic minority group, Agence France-Presse reported. Disputes between farmers and herders have cropped up over the years, largely because of fights over land and water use. Some of Nigeria's Christian communities in the south also begrudge the influx of Muslim herders because they consider their arrival an \"Islamisation force,\" the International Crisis Group stated in a 2017 report. \"In the absence of mutually accepted mediation mechanisms, these disagreement[s] increasingly turn violent,\" the organization said. The report found that with a death toll of approximately 2,500 people in 2016, the conflict has become as violent as the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed regret over the weekend's killings. He vowed to apprehend the murderers. \"My deepest condolences to the affected communities,\" Buhari wrote from his official Twitter account. \"We will not rest until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice.\" Buhari also appealed for calm and said he supported Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong and imposing a curfew throughout the region. \"The government has enforced a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in order to bring normalcy, (and) police and other security operatives have been put on alert at the moment,\" Plateau State's Commissioner of Information Yakubu Dati told Reuters. In January, President Buhari tried to mitigate violence between the herders and farmers by deploying special forces to the central region. He is using similar tactics following this weekend's bloodshed. He tweeted on Monday that the Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces authorized the deployment of additional special forces to \"beef up the strength of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).\" The Nigerian president also added that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is visiting Plateau State to assess the security situation. In the meantime, state police told Agence France-Presse that the remains of people who were killed over the weekend have been released to their family members.", "Explosions killed at least 26 people across Iraq on Thursday, most of them Shiite pilgrims taking part in a holy mourning ceremony, authorities said, raising fears of further sectarian attacks at the approach of Shiite Islam's most solemn occasion. The deaths came three days before the climax of Ashoura, when hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims converge on the central city of Karbala to mourn the killing of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in a 680 A.D. battle that sealed the split between Shiites and Sunnis. While Thursday's attacks were smaller than similar bombings in previous years, they demonstrated the continued ability and intent of insurgents to incite sectarian tensions. First came news of twin explosions targeting Shiite Muslim pilgrims in a central Iraqi town that killed at least 13 people and injured 74 others, authorities said. Police Maj. Muthana Khalid said the first bomb exploded around 2 p.m. Thursday in Hillah, the capital of Babil province, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Baghdad. He said the second explosion there came as police rushed to the scene 15 minutes later, a common tactic used by insurgents to maximize casualties. The bombs targeted Shiite pilgrims who had gathered near a bus station in downtown Hillah, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Karbala. People from around southern Iraq, which is overwhelmingly Shiite, make up the bulk of pilgrims traveling to Karbala. A wrecked car lay at the attack site, and a pair of blood-covered slippers could be seen near damaged storefronts. A provincial councilman was among those killed, Khalid said. Hospital physician Dr. Mohammed al-Zurfi also confirmed the casualties. At the second incident, in Baghdad, a bomb targeting a funeral killed nine and wounded 33 in Sadr City, a predominantly Shiite neighborhood, police and hospital officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. The attack on the funeral procession raised questions about whether whoever planted the bomb thought they were targeting an Ashoura procession. Then in a southern Baghdad neighborhood, a bomb killed four Shiite pilgrims and wounded 10 others on their way to Karbala, police and hospital officials said. The 10-day period leading up to Ashoura is marked by processions through streets and Shiite neighborhoods across Iraq in which devout Shiites beat themselves with swords and other instruments as a way to show their devotion and mourning for Imam Hussein. The mourning period usually takes place under heavy security, and this year was no different. The Iraqi government assigned more than 25,000 police and soldiers to protect pilgrims during the celebrations. The Shiite event was banned under former dictator Saddam Hussein and his minority Sunni government. But the majority of Iraq's roughly 29 million people are Shiites, and the mourning period gained renewed prominence after Saddam's ouster and a Shiite-led government came to power. But the potent symbol of religious grief has made a powerful target for Sunni insurgents intent on ripping the country apart. In 2008, a suicide bomber blew himself up among Shiite pilgrims in Iskandariyah, killing at least 40 people. As authorities have fortified the area in and around Karbala, extremists have moved their efforts to pilgrims traveling relatively unprotected from outside Karbala. Although Ashoura is essentially a mournful occasion, Iraq's majority Shiites have also used it to showcase their dominance after decades of oppression under Saddam, turning out in large numbers to mark the occasion despite the threat of insurgent attacks.", "Six American troops were killed in Afghanistan, the U.S. military announced Wednesday, and six election workers died in attacks amid growing fears on the eve of the presidential election that insurgents would mar the vote. Two troops were killed in gunfire in the south on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, while a third was killed in an unspecified hostile attack. The U.S. also said a roadside bomb Tuesday in the south killed two servicemembers, while another died of noncombat-related injuries. No other details were released. Police also engaged in a gun battle with Taliban militants at a bank in the heart of Afghanistan's capital. The firefight was the third major attack in Kabul in less than a week, and many Afghans said it has shaken their nerve about getting out to vote. Election officials have said they are confident that there will be enough security on voting day. But the country's own Interior Ministry appeared to counter that optimism, saying at least one-third of Afghanistan was still at high risk of attack by the Taliban. In Wednesday's shootout, three armed militants took over a branch of the Pashtani Bank in a section of Kabul's old city that still lies in ruins from the 1990s civil war. Police surrounded the building, exchanging gunfire with the attackers and killing them. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said 20 armed suicide attackers wearing explosive vests had entered Kabul and that five of them battled police. The claim could not be confirmed, but the Taliban have unleashed several attacks in recent months involving teams of insurgents targeting government or high-profile sites. The rash of violence has prompted the Afghan government to demand that broadcast media outlets not air news of any election day attacks so as not to discourage turnout. Afghan journalists on Wednesday rejected the Foreign Ministry ultimatum, accusing the government of censorship. \"We will not obey this order. We are going to continue with our normal reporting and broadcasting of news,\" said Rahimullah Samander, head of the Independent Journalist Association of Afghanistan. The three-man assault in Kabul came a day after two insurgent attacks in the capital, including rockets fired at the presidential palace. It also follows a suicide car bomb explosion in front of NATO's Kabul headquarters Saturday that killed seven. The latest attacks were an ominous sign that the Taliban and their militant allies are determined to disrupt Thursday's election. President Hamid Karzai faces some three dozen presidential candidates, including his former foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah. The incumbent leader is favored to win but will face an October runoff if he doesn't garner more than 50 percent of the vote. Polls show Karzai's support at around 45 percent, followed by Abdullah with about 25 percent. From NPR and wire reports", "After a year of silence, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has exhorted his \"Muslim brothers\" to join a newly established South Asia faction that would \"defend the vulnerable in the Indian subcontinent.\" He listed Burma and Bangladesh, and specifically named three states in India — Assam, Gujarat and Kashmir. In disputed Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state — which is claimed by both Pakistan and India — an insurgency agitates for independence. Assam has its own separatist movement and Gujarat was the site of religious riots in which 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in 2002. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was then Gujarat's chief minister. Friday's headlines in Indian newspapers reflected the general worry: \"Clear and Present Qaeda Danger,\" said The Times of India. \"India Now In Al Qaeda sights,\" wrote The Hindu. But Wilson John, senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, says al-Qaida's decision to start an arm in the subcontinent may be the result of a bitter turf war and should be seen through the prism of a fading franchise. John says al-Qaida is being eclipsed by the younger, more brutal Islamic State. Once a part of Osama bin Laden's jihadist organization, IS has gained ground in Syria and Iraq — and infamy with the beheadings of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. \"Obviously [al-Qaida] is feeling threatened by the emergence of IS and the possible copycat emergence of other groups which may challenge AQ,\" John said. \"So AQ is in a desperate attempt to move to stop these rebellions within the group. These are all the attempts to stem the bleeding of AQ's dominance.\" John also says al-Qaida could feel the pressure to do something spectacular in this part of the world. \"The possibility of an attack in the near future is quite high,\" he said. No Previous Inroads In India But Ajai Sahni, the executive director of the Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management, says the Islamist group has had India in its sights since before 2006, when bin Laden spoke of a \"Crusader-Zionist-Hindu\" conspiracy against the Muslim world. Sahni says the fact that many of India's 176 million Muslims have grievances with the state does not mean they are ripe for recruitment by al-Qaida. He says some one dozen Indian Muslim youths traveled to Iraq to take up the cause of the Islamic State, but there is little evidence of a groundswell of Islamist recruits in India. \"Islam in India has grown in an extremely organic fashion over centuries. And it has evolved ways of accommodation with other faith systems and communities which are unique to India,\" he added. \"So it becomes very difficult to dehumanize the other. And if you're to wage jihad versus the unbeliever, you have to dehumanize him in some measure.\" The online video alarmed the government which said the threat from al-Qaida to India was quote \"very real and imminent.\" But retired Commodore Uday Bhaskar calls that an overreaction. \"The content of the video put out by the al-Qaida cannot be ignored,\" he said. But, he added, \"we do not have to swing to the other extreme wherein you have pushed the panic button and interpreted this as a major national security threat.\" Follow NPR's Julie McCarthy on Twitter @JulieMcCarthyJM AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: The head of al-Qaida announced this week that the Islamist group has established a new wing. He described in a video plans to wage jihad in the Indian subcontinent. The video triggered a national alert in India, which is believed to be the main target of the terror threat. From New Delhi, NPR's Julie McCarthy looks at the seriousness of the danger and why the message may be emerging now. JULIE MCCARTHY, BYLINE: In declaring the opening of a new jihadi front - (SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO) AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI: (Foreign language spoken). MCCARTHY: The voice of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri exhorted his Muslim brothers that the newly established South Asia faction would, quote, \"defend the vulnerable in the Indian subcontinent.\" He listed Burma, Bangladesh and specifically named three states in India - Assam, Gujarat and Kashmir. In disputed Kashmir, India's only Muslim majority state, which is claimed by both Pakistan and India, an insurgency has agitated for independence. Gujarat is the site of religious riots in which 1,000 people - mostly Muslims - were killed in 2002. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was then Gujarat's chief minister. Today's headlines reflected the general worry - clear and present al-Qaida danger, said The Times of India. The Hindu wrote, India now in al-Qaida's sights. But Wilson John, senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, says al-Qaida's decision to start an arm in the subcontinent should be seen through the prism of a fading franchise. John says al-Qaida is being eclipsed by a younger, more brutal Islamic State, or IS, which has gained ground in Syria and Iraq and infamy with the beheadings of American journalists. WILSON JOHN: Obviously, al-Qaida ", "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi officials said Monday that 300 militants were killed in a fierce battle between U.S.-backed Iraqi troops and insurgents allegedly plotting to kill pilgrims at a major Shiite Muslim religious festival. Elsewhere, bombings and mortar attacks targeting Shiites killed at least 15 people. The fighting that began Sunday near the Shiite holy city of Najaf had largely subsided by Monday as Iraqi security forces frisked suspects while others patrolled elsewhere on the battlefield. A U.S. helicopter crashed during the fight, killing two American soldiers whose bodies were recovered, the military said. The statement did not give any information on why the aircraft crashed — the second U.S. military helicopter to go down in eight days. Ahmed Deaibil, a spokesman for Najaf province, said the fighting had continued until 4 a.m. Monday, but U.S. and Iraqi forces still had the area surrounded and had seized heavy machine guns, ammunition and other weapons. Citing reports from commanders on the ground, he said 300 militants had been killed and 13 arrested, while the casualty toll for Iraqi forces was three soldiers and two policemen killed and 30 wounded. Brig. Gen. Fadhil Barwari also said 300 militants had been killed, including 30 Afghans and Saudis, and 20 were captured. Iraqi security officials said earlier that one Sudanese was among the fighters detained. The figures could not be independently confirmed. The Iraqi Defense Ministry, which oversees the army, said it could not yet give a casualty toll because sporadic fighting was ongoing. Attacks, meanwhile, struck Shiite targets in the Baghdad area as the Islamic sect marks Ashoura, the holiest day in the Shiite calendar commemorating the 7th century death of Imam Hussein. The celebration culminates Tuesday in huge public processions in Najaf, Karbala and other Shiite cities. A prominent Shiite leader said that setting up federal regions in Iraq would solve the country's problems, adding that while Shiites are being subjected to mass killings, they should not retaliate by using violence. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Shiite bloc in the 275-member parliament, spoke at a Shiite mosque in central Baghdad to mark Ashoura. \"I reaffirm that the establishing of regions will help us in solving many problems that we are suffering from. Moreover, it represents the best solution for these problems,\" he said. Al-Hakim said his concern cut across sectarian lines. \"I sympathize with our Sunni brothers in their ordeal with the terrorists as I sympathize with the Shiites in their ordeal with the terrorists,\" he said. \"I condemn the killing of Sunnis as I condemn the killing of the Shiites.\" Mortar rounds rained down on a Shiite neighborhood in the Sunni-dominated town of Jurf al-Sakhar, 40 miles south of Baghdad, Monday morning, police spokesman Capt. Muthanna Khalid said. He said 10 were killed, including three children and four women, and five other people were wounded. A wounded boy lay next to his blood-stained father at a hospital in the nearby town of Musayyib, while six bodies were covered with blankets in the morgue. The strike came a day after mortar shells hit the courtyard of a girls' school in a mostly Sunni Arab neighborhood of Baghdad, killing five pupils and wounding 20. U.N. officials deplored Sunday's attack, calling the apparent targeting of children \"an unforgivable crime.\" No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but a Sunni organization, the General Conference of the People of Iraq, blamed Shiite Muslim militias with ties to government security forces. The group said the mortar shells bore markings indicating they were manufactured in Iran, which U.S. officials accuse of supporting Shiite militias. On Monday, a parked car bomb also struck a bus carrying Shiites to a holy shrine in northern Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding six, police said. The blast occurred when a small car parked nearby exploded about 9:30 a.m. as the pilgrims were boarding the bus on Palestine Street. The bus, which was completely burned out, had been heading to Kazimiyah, which is home to the most important Shiite mosque in the capital. Elsewhere, a bomb hidden under a concrete barrier exploded as workers were paving a street in an intersection in a predominantly Shiite area in eastern Baghdad, killing one worker and wounding two others, police said. Authorities said Iraqi soldiers supported by U.S. aircraft fought all day Sunday with a large group of insurgents in the Zaraq area, about 12 miles northeast of the Shiite holy city of Najaf. Provincial Gov. Assad Sultan Abu Kilel said the assault was launched because the insurgents planned to attack Shiite pilgrims and clerics during ceremonies marking Ashoura. Officials were unclear about the religious affiliation of the militants. Although Sunni Arabs have been the main force behind insurgent groups, there are a number of Shiite militant and splinter groups that have clashed from time to", "A major battle is triggered near Iraq's holy city of Najaf as Iraqi-led forces launch an offensive on a previously unknown militant group known as the Army of Heaven. About 300 Iraqi militants died and a U.S. helicopter was shot down, killing two Americans on board. Andrew North of the BBC discusses the battle with Renee Montagne. BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi officials said Monday that 300 militants were killed in a fierce battle between U.S.-backed Iraqi troops and insurgents allegedly plotting to kill pilgrims at a major Shiite Muslim religious festival. Elsewhere, bombings and mortar attacks targeting Shiites killed at least 15 people. The fighting that began Sunday near the Shiite holy city of Najaf had largely subsided by Monday as Iraqi security forces frisked suspects while others patrolled elsewhere on the battlefield. A U.S. helicopter crashed during the fight, killing two American soldiers whose bodies were recovered, the military said. The statement did not give any information on why the aircraft crashed — the second U.S. military helicopter to go down in eight days. Ahmed Deaibil, a spokesman for Najaf province, said the fighting had continued until 4 a.m. Monday, but U.S. and Iraqi forces still had the area surrounded and had seized heavy machine guns, ammunition and other weapons. Citing reports from commanders on the ground, he said 300 militants had been killed and 13 arrested, while the casualty toll for Iraqi forces was three soldiers and two policemen killed and 30 wounded. Brig. Gen. Fadhil Barwari also said 300 militants had been killed, including 30 Afghans and Saudis, and 20 were captured. Iraqi security officials said earlier that one Sudanese was among the fighters detained. The figures could not be independently confirmed. The Iraqi Defense Ministry, which oversees the army, said it could not yet give a casualty toll because sporadic fighting was ongoing. Attacks, meanwhile, struck Shiite targets in the Baghdad area as the Islamic sect marks Ashoura, the holiest day in the Shiite calendar commemorating the 7th century death of Imam Hussein. The celebration culminates Tuesday in huge public processions in Najaf, Karbala and other Shiite cities. A prominent Shiite leader said that setting up federal regions in Iraq would solve the country's problems, adding that while Shiites are being subjected to mass killings, they should not retaliate by using violence. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Shiite bloc in the 275-member parliament, spoke at a Shiite mosque in central Baghdad to mark Ashoura. \"I reaffirm that the establishing of regions will help us in solving many problems that we are suffering from. Moreover, it represents the best solution for these problems,\" he said. Al-Hakim said his concern cut across sectarian lines. \"I sympathize with our Sunni brothers in their ordeal with the terrorists as I sympathize with the Shiites in their ordeal with the terrorists,\" he said. \"I condemn the killing of Sunnis as I condemn the killing of the Shiites.\" Mortar rounds rained down on a Shiite neighborhood in the Sunni-dominated town of Jurf al-Sakhar, 40 miles south of Baghdad, Monday morning, police spokesman Capt. Muthanna Khalid said. He said 10 were killed, including three children and four women, and five other people were wounded. A wounded boy lay next to his blood-stained father at a hospital in the nearby town of Musayyib, while six bodies were covered with blankets in the morgue. The strike came a day after mortar shells hit the courtyard of a girls' school in a mostly Sunni Arab neighborhood of Baghdad, killing five pupils and wounding 20. U.N. officials deplored Sunday's attack, calling the apparent targeting of children \"an unforgivable crime.\" No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but a Sunni organization, the General Conference of the People of Iraq, blamed Shiite Muslim militias with ties to government security forces. The group said the mortar shells bore markings indicating they were manufactured in Iran, which U.S. officials accuse of supporting Shiite militias. On Monday, a parked car bomb also struck a bus carrying Shiites to a holy shrine in northern Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding six, police said. The blast occurred when a small car parked nearby exploded about 9:30 a.m. as the pilgrims were boarding the bus on Palestine Street. The bus, which was completely burned out, had been heading to Kazimiyah, which is home to the most important Shiite mosque in the capital. Elsewhere, a bomb hidden under a concrete barrier exploded as workers were paving a street in an intersection in a predominantly Shiite area in eastern Baghdad, killing one worker and wounding two others, police said. Authorities said Iraqi soldiers supported by U.S. aircraft fought all day Sunday with a large group of insurgents in the Zaraq area, about 12 miles northeast of the Shiite holy city of Najaf. Provincial Gov. Assad Sultan Abu Kilel said the assault was launched bec", "MANILA, Philippines — Philippine troops found the last five dead from the crash of a transport aircraft in the south, raising the death toll to 50 in the military's worst air disaster, officials said Monday. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules was carrying 96 mostly combat troops when it overshot the runway while landing Sunday at the Jolo airport in Sulu province, military officials said. It slammed into a coconut grove beyond the airport and burst into flames in a disaster witnessed by horrified soldiers and villagers. Troops, police and firefighters rescued 49 military personnel, including a few who jumped off the aircraft before it exploded and was gutted by fire. Seven people on the ground were hit by aircraft parts and debris and three of them died, the military said. The plane was one of two refurbished U.S. Air Force aircraft handed over to the Philippines, Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia, as part of military assistance this year. The aircraft earlier had carried two-star Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., his wife and three children from Manila to southern Cagayan de Oro city, where he became the new military regional commander on Monday. Brawner was stunned to learn the plane he'd just flown on had crashed. \"We're very thankful that we were spared, but extremely sad that so many lost their lives,\" Brawner told The Associated Press. Those who boarded the C-130 in Cagayan de Oro for the flight to Sulu were army troops, many of them newly trained recruits, to be deployed in the battle against Abu Sayyaf militants in the south. \"They were supposed to join us in our fight against terrorism,\" Sulu military commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales said. Government forces have been battling Abu Sayyaf militants in the predominantly Muslim province of Sulu for decades. A video taken by troops showed the aircraft landing in clear weather and then vanishing beyond the airport. \"It vanished, it vanished,\" one soldier exclaims. Dark gray smoke later billowed from the crash site in a wooded area as the troops yelled \"It fell, it fell!\" in horror. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash and investigators were looking for the C-130's cockpit voice and flight data recorders. At least one other C-130 was grounded while investigators determine the cause of the crash, military officials said, adding that smaller aircraft would be used for routine missions including the transport of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies across the archipelago. Regional military commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan said it was unlikely that the aircraft took hostile fire. Military chief of staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana told reporters Sunday that \"the plane missed the runway and it was trying to regain power but failed and crashed.\" An air force official told the AP that the Jolo runway is shorter than most others in the country, making it more difficult for pilots to adjust if an aircraft misses the landing spot. The official, who has flown military aircraft to and from Jolo several times, spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to speak publicly. President Rodrigo Duterte expanded the military presence in Sulu to a full division in late 2018, deploying hundreds of additional troops, air force aircraft and other combat equipment after vowing to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf. The small but brutal group has been listed by the U.S. and the Philippines as a terrorist organization because of ransom kidnappings, bombings and beheadings. Before Sunday, the Philippine air force's deadliest disaster was a crash in a rice field north of Manila in 1971 that killed 40 military personnel, military historian Jose Custodio said. A recently delivered S-701 Blackhawk helicopter crashed more than a week ago near Clark freeport, a former U.S. air base, killing all six air force personnel on board. The government has struggled for years to modernize its military, one of Asia's least equipped, as it deals with decades-long Muslim and communist insurgencies and territorial rifts with China and other claimant countries in the South China Sea.", "Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday said \"careless operations\" by U.S. and NATO troops had killed more than 90 civilians in the last 10 days. NATO and U.S.-led forces have been battling in southern and eastern Afghanistan with insurgents. In what's described by the U.S. military as the largest insurgent formation crossing the region in six months, coalition forces killed 60 insurgents near the border with Pakistan Saturday. Pakistan's army said a rocket fired during the battle hit a house on its territory, killing nine civilians. It denied any insurgents had crossed the frontier. Karzai did not comment on the border battle, but called for foreign troops to improve coordination with Afghan forces. \"We do not want any more military operations without coordinating them with the Afghan government,\" Karzai said. \"From now onwards, they have to work the way we ask them to work in here,\" he added. Extra troops have been deployed on both sides of the mountainous frontier in an attempt to prevent militants who find sanctuary in Pakistan's wild tribal regions from mounting crossborder raids and sustaining the five-year-old war. Associated Press contributed to this report. LINDA WERTHEIMER, host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. Scott Simon is on paternity leave. I'm Linda Wertheimer. U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan battled a large group of insurgents who were attempting to cross the border with Pakistan today. At least 60 insurgents were killed. Afghan President Hamid Karzai reacted by accusing NATO and U.S.-led forces of carelessness in recent military operations. Mr. Karzai said 90 civilians have been killed in the past 10 days. Joining us from Kabul is Griff Witte of the Washington Post. Welcome to the program. Mr. GRIFF WITTE (Staff Writer, Washington Post): Linda, it's good to be here. WERTHEIMER: Could you bring us up-to-date on these battles? Mr. WITTE: Sure. Essentially we've been seeing some very, very heavy fighting over the last week or so. We had expected for some time that we would be heading into a period of much more intense conflict. Traditionally in Afghanistan, there's a winter lull where the weather makes it very difficult to fight. But then in the spring, we start to see (unintelligible) activity pick up. This year the activity didn't pick up quite as much in March, April, and May but we're really now seeing, for the last few weeks or so we've been seeing some very, very heavy fighting where quite a number of insurgents have been killed and unfortunately, quite a number of civilians have been killed as well. WERTHEIMER: The insurgents are coming across the border from Pakistan? Mr. WITTE: Right. That is the long-held belief of many - well, pretty much everyone in the government of Hamid Karzai has said this insurgency is really fueled through Pakistan but the insurgents come across that border, wait, carry out attacks in Afghanistan and then cross back into Pakistan when they want a safe haven again. It's a very strong belief of the Afghan government that this is an insurgency that's funded on the Pakistani side of the border. WERTHEIMER: NATO and the U.S. say that the civilian deaths that Karzai is upset about are the result of insurgents hiding among the civilian populations. What about Karzai's accusation that the forces are just being careless? Mr. WITTE: Well, this is much stronger language than we've seen from Karzai in the past but its essential message is the same, which is that he has been angry with the U.S. and with NATO for quite some time now, feeling that they are being not careful enough in terms of trying to protect non-combatants, that they have very much fire-first, ask-questions-later attitude and that they are not taking the proper precautions to make sure that there aren't civilians in the area when they fire on Taliban positions. The NATO forces, they basically explained their actions, they're saying that the Taliban are deliberately hiding amongst civilians and that it's no coincidence that civilians are dying because that's the Taliban's goal. WERTHEIMER: Karzai said today that these operations would have no benefit for Afghanistan are relations with foreign forces and the West in general in trouble here in Afghanistan? Mr. WITTE: Well, I think that Karzai is coming under a lot of pressure domestically because his government is becoming increasingly unpopular as these folks start to believe that his government cannot protect them. And I think that... WERTHEIMER: Right. Mr. WITTE: And I think that what you're seeing from Karzai is a bid to increase his own domestic standing by dissociating himself from the attacks - some of these attacks carried out by NATO and the U.S. WERTHEIMER: Thanks very much. Griff Witte is from the Washington Post. He spoke to us from Kabul. Thank you. Mr. WITTE: Linda, thank you very much.", "The foreign ministers of the Group of 8 countries press Iran to respond to an offer of incentives for dissolving its nuclear program, setting a deadline of July 5 for a response. The ministers are meeting in Moscow to discuss ways to discourage Iran from enriching uranium. Iran has yet to reply to the June 6 offer of incentives from six world powers to persuade it to cease its enrichment program. The ministers also discussed the Middle East and energy security, as part of preparations for next month's G8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. MICHELE NORRIS, host: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Michele Norris. MELISSA BLOCK, host: And I'm Melissa Block. Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight leading industrialized countries met in Moscow today. They urged Iran to respond to the latest attempt to end the showdown over its nuclear program. The foreign ministers also discussed the Middle East and energy security. The meeting was part of preparations for next month's G8 Summit in St. Petersburg. NPR's Gregory Feifer reports from Moscow. GREGORY FEIFER reporting: Russia holds the G8 presidency this year and wants the summit to show its new wealth and influence in the world. The Russians had hopes the summit would deal with issues like energy. Instead, the ministers today focused on the Middle East and Iran. Earlier this month, a group of six major powers, including Washington and Moscow, offered Tehran a package of economic incentives in return for stopping its uranium enrichment program. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said the ministers want a prompt reply. Mr. SERGEI LAVROV (Foreign Minister, Russia): We did not discuss anything beyond the offer, which we all made in good faith to Iran, which is a positive offer. And we expect a positive, official, specific response to this. FEIFER: Lavrov said the ministers agreed to wait for a reply until next Wednesday's meeting between European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and top Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani. He said the six countries offering the incentives would reassess the situation based on the talk's outcome. Analysts say there's new hope for a diplomatic solution to the standoff after western countries began to soften their positions. Yesterday, the German defense minister said Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium if its program is closely monitored by the United Nations. Victor Kremenyuk of the USA and Canada Institute. Mr. VICTOR KREMENYUK (Institute for USA and Canada Studies): (Through translator) It changes the situation. It's the way to avoid a diplomatic dead end. And Washington has also taken a very flexible position on the matter. FEIFER: Rose Gottemoeller of the Moscow Carnegie Center agrees. Ms. ROSE GOTTEMOELLER (Moscow Carnegie Center): Because the United States has made a fundamental shift now in its own position and said that they willing to speak directly to the Iranians in a multilateral form. But this is such a fundamental shift that I see all kinds of possibilities if the Iranians are forward-leaning. FEIFER: Analysts agree the ball is now in Iran's court. Gottemoeller says much depends on Tehran's willingness to negotiate in good faith and curb inflammatory statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ms. GOTTEMOELLER: If they continue to stiff-arm the international community, if Ahmadinejad continues to throw these fire bombs in terms of his public statements, it can go the wrong way as well. FEIFER: Today's meeting also exposed tension between the United States and Russia over Iraq. Moscow wants a Security Council resolution denouncing the execution of four of its diplomats by insurgents earlier this month. Technicians overheard what was described as a heated discussion between Rice and Lavrov over the wording of the resolution. Part of the discussion was broadcast by CNN. (Soundbite of G8 Meeting) Ms. CONDOLEEZZA RICE (Secretary of State): Sergei, the problem is there's a need for improved security in Iraq, period. The problem isn't diplomatic missions. The problem is that you have a terrorist and insurgent population that is wreaking havoc on a hapless Iraqi population that's trying to fight back and on a coalition force that's trying to fight back. And the implication that somehow by declaring that diplomats need to be protected, it will get better, I think is simply not right. FEIFER: Rice also said Washington wouldn't hesitate to voice concerns over serious worries Moscow raised in Western Europe after Russia cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine during a price dispute last January. Human rights groups are holding conferences in Moscow to coincide with the G8 Summit and draw attention to what they say is Russia's turn away from democracy. Rice said Washington would raise its own concerns, but that there was no talk of boycotting next month's event. Gregory Feifer, NPR News, Moscow.", "As Nigeria's military continues to battle Boko Haram fighters for control of towns and territory in the turbulent northeast, fearful residents are leaving — or being driven out of town. More than 200 schoolgirls, abducted by the Islamist extremists in April, are still missing. Hoisting the black flag of al-Qaida, the insurgents have imposed strict Islamic law in areas under their control, vowing to establish a caliphate. The deadly insurgency has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, who are ending up in camps around Yola, the capital city of Adamawa, one of three northern states still under emergency rule. Concerned that Yola, too, may be attacked, others are again on the move. A large open-top truck parked at a gas station on the outskirts of Yola is already overflowing with children and women. Men are hoisting more people, buckets, bundles and spare tires onto the back of the truck, amid much chatter and palpable panic. The Rev. Ishaya Suno seems to be in charge, collecting money for the fares to Jos, 320 miles away in Nigeria's Middle Belt. Suno and the dozens of men, women and children climbing onto the truck have been in Yola since late last month, when suspected Boko Haram insurgents seized the commercial border town of Mubi and nearby villages, further north along the border with Cameroon, after clashes with the Nigerian army. The military says it's now in control of Mubi, but the displaced who found their way to Yola are not returning. Instead, they are fleeing further from their homes. Why? \"Yola is not safe. We are hearing rumors,\" he says. \"Boko Haram, they prepare [to] come to Yola. We are afraid.\" Clutching her baby girl in her arms, and poised to flee again, Liyatu Joshua, mother of five, just wants out of Yola. In a mixture of English and the local Hausa language, she says they they all are scared of the fighting — and of Boko Haram. \"Yes, we're leaving Yola, but we don't know what will happen, where we're going,\" Joshua says. These anxieties are not limited to the displaced, says the Adamawa state governor's spokesman, Phineas Pwanohoma Elisha. \"It is definitely worrisome to the good people of Adamawa state. It's worrisome to the government of Adamawa state,\" he says. \"There is no two ways about that.\" But the military will not divulge its security plans, Elisha says. Sort-of assurances from the governor's spokesman aren't enough to dampen the fears of Liyatu Joshua, The Rev. Suno and others, as they scramble to secure a standing-only place on the truck heading out of town to Jos. Many Nigerians accuse the army — and the government — of failing to counter Boko Haram and end the insurgency. Mohammed Sanusi II, the emir of Kano and one of the nation's most revered traditional and Muslim leaders, this week called on residents in the north to arm and defend themselves — and to not rely on the military or fear the militants. \"Before the soldiers arrive, the terrorists would already have committed their crimes,\" says the emir. Speaking Hausa, he says some soldiers throw away their guns and flee. \"These terrorists slaughter our boys and abduct our girls and force them into slavery,\" he warns, adding that people should not sit by idly and think that prayers are the only solution. \"Be prepared, and acquire what you need to protect yourselves,\" says the emir, who was until recently Nigeria's central bank governor and an outspoken critic of the government. SCOTT SIMON, HOST: The Nigerian military continues to battle Boko Haram for control of towns and territory in the turbulent northeast. And fearful residents are leaving or being driven out of town. More than 200 schoolgirls who were abducted by the group in April are still missing. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the deadly insurgency ending up in camps around Yola, a city that is still under emergency rule. Concerned that Yola may too be attacked, others are again on the move as NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton has been finding out. OFEIBEA QUIST-ARCTON, BYLINE: A large, open-top truck, parked at a gas station on the outskirts of Yola, is already packed full of children and women like cattle. More people, buckets, bundles and spare tires are being hoisted onto the back of the truck amid much chatter and palpable panic. Reverend Ishaya Suno seems to be in charge, collecting money for the fares to Jos, 320 miles away in Nigeria's Middle Belt, dubbed the gateway to the north. REVEREND ISHAYA SUNO: These people from Mubi and Madagali - Boko Haram attack everybody there. They are killing people. And from here now we are going to Jos. QUIST-ARCTON: Late last month, suspected Boko Haram insurgents seized the commercial border town of Mubi, in arid northeastern Nigeria's Adamawa state, after clashes with the Army. Reverend Suno and the dozens of men, women and children climbing on board the truck were chased out of Mubi and nearby towns. Mubi has since changed hands again. And the military says it's now in control of the town. ", "Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader has issued a new video calling on Muslims to unite in jihad, or holy war, and support the Islamist movement in Iraq. Ayman al-Zawahri is seen in the tape, which lasts an hour and 35 minutes, dressed in white and addressing an array of Middle Eastern topics from Iraq to Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian territories and Egypt, a U.S.-based intelligence monitoring group said Wednesday. On each issue, he called for a more radical stance against the U.S. and its regional allies, according to SITE, the intelligence group that monitors al-Qaida messages. SITE said it had obtained the tape ahead of its release on the Internet by militant Web sites, and issued a transcript of al-Zawahri's remarks. The authenticity of the transcript could not be immediately verified. Al-Qaida's deputy chief called on all Muslims to join the holy war against the West. \"May Allah pluck out your eye if you haven't yet seen that jihad is an individual duty,\" the transcript quoted al-Zawahri as saying. It was not clear whether the message was recorded before last week's attempted bombings in Britain, and al-Zawahri did not mention them. He also encouraged Iraqis and Muslims in general to show greater support for the Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaida insurgent front in the country; even though detractors say it lacks the \"necessary qualifications.\" He did not name these detractors, but implicitly acknowledged some problems. \"The first thing which our beloved brothers in Iraq must realize is the critical nature of unity,\" he said. He also called on Kurds from northern Iraq to join forces with insurgents. It was not clear what problems al-Zawahri was alluding to. But a number of major Sunni Arab tribes have turned against the Islamic State in recent months and have cooperated with U.S. forces. Some Sunnis have complained that the Islamic State tried to impose harsh rules on the population, alienating many who had backed the resistance. Later, he further alluded to the insurgents' possible shortcomings in governing the zones they control in Iraq and to interior tensions among militants. \"The mujahideen (insurgents) are not innocent of deficiency, error and slips because they are humans who are sometimes right and sometimes wrong, as humans are,\" he said. \"The mujahideen must solve their problems among themselves,\" he added, calling on the insurgents not to make public their internal disputes. Al-Zawahri lashed out at Egypt and Saudi Arabia for supporting the United States in the Middle East and warned against the rise of Saudi influence in Iraq. \"If the agents of the Saudi state were to take control of government in Iraq the Iraqis would then suffer the same repression and humiliation which the people suffer under Saudi rule under the pretext of combating terrorism,\" al-Zawahri warned. He cautioned the Saudis against backing the \"Zionist Crusade led by America\" in the Middle East. From The Associated Press", "The French-led operation in Mali, which is intended to drive back Islamist militants, appears to be gaining momentum. The U.S. and European powers are helping airlift French forces into the Sahara nation, and African soldiers from around the region are arriving to lend a hand. In the past week, French airstrikes and ground troops have helped government forces retake the strategic town of Diabaly in central Mali — the first major victory in the fight to reclaim the north. A scene of ruin greets visitors to Diabaly. Burned-out pickup trucks, belonging to Islamist rebels and destroyed by French airstrikes, are scattered about. Bullet cases, mortar shells and even a rocket-propelled grenade litter the sandy ground. Mimicking the sound of gunfire, resident Kadiatou Sissoko describes the jihadis' occupation of Diabaly and the heavy fighting that followed last week. Troops from Mali and France battled to dislodge them and cut off the rebel advance south toward the capital, Bamako. Sissoko says she fled from her mud-brick house, taking refuge out of the range of the rebels until they were chased out of town. Like many other residents, Sissoko says the insurgents have nothing in common with the people of Diabaly. \"Who are they? We don't know them or the religion they are trying to impose on us here. They are not Muslims,\" she says, excitedly. \"We know true Islam and what the rebels are peddling is not genuine Islam. We don't know anything about cutting off people's arms, legs and ears as punishment. That's not in our culture.\" Al-Qaida-linked fighters seized the vast northern desert region of Mali last April, after hijacking a rebellion by separatist Tuareg nomads. The rebels have imposed harsh Islamic law in areas under their control: amputating limbs, forcing women to wear veils and banning music, smoking and watching television. A worshipper at Diabaly's handsome, sun-baked earth mosque says that instead of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer, the rebels would fire twice in the air to signal prayer time. The chief imam is Ibrahim Maiga. \"I am angry at them. I studied Islam — so I know everything they know. Not one of the rebels came to my home or to the mosque to see me,\" Maiga says. \"If they were true Muslims, they should have looked for me, because I am the religious leader here.\" It took considerable firepower by the French, and fighting by Malian troops, to be able to wrest back control of Diabaly from the jihadis. French Capt. Antoine — he only gave one name — says the Malian and French armies have been working well in tandem. \"We are ready, we know the environment and I'm quite confident in our troops. I'm confident in our Malian counterparts,\" he says. Meanwhile, human-rights groups say that Malian soldiers have carried out summary executions and retaliatory killings of supposed Islamist collaborators. France-based International Federation for Human Rights says Mali's army is behind more than 30 killings. Human Rights Watch, based in New York, has also reported rights abuses by Malian soldiers. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says it's a matter of honor to ensure there are no such violations. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: And I'm Renee Montagne. We're going to listen this morning to the sounds near the frontlines of Mali's civil war. A rebellion in that country has captured global attention. Rebels who've taken over half the country have been imposing harsh version of Islamic law. After months of retreat, the Malian government has finally made an advance. In the last week, French airstrikes and ground troops have helped government forces retake the strategic town of Diabaly village. It's the first major victory in the fight to reclaim the North. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton traveled to that town. OFEIBEA QUIST-ARCTON, BYLINE: This is the entrance to Diabaly village and I am surrounded by five burned-out, bombed-out pick-up trucks that belonged to the Islamist rebels. Now, they were hit by French air strikes, French bombs. So all around me, littering the sandy ground, are bullet cases, and there's a mortar shell there and a rocket propelled grenade. On the pick-up behind, some huge, heavy weaponry mounted behind the van. (SOUNDBITE OF VOICE MIMICKING GUNFIRE) QUIST-ARCTON: Mimicking the sound of gunfire, Kadiatou Sissoko describes the jihadist occupation of Diabaly and the heavy fighting that followed last week. Troops from Mali and France battled to dislodge them and cut off the rebel advance south - towards the capital, Bamako. KADIATOU SISSOKO: (Foreign language spoken) QUIST-ARCTON: Madame Sissoko says she fled from her mud-brick house, taking refuge out of the range of the rebels until they were chased out of town. Like many other residents, Madame Sissoko says the insurgents have nothing in common with the people of Diabaly. SISSOKO: (Through translator) Who are they? We don't know them or the relig", "As Pakistan has been gripped by political turmoil, another serious crisis has been unfolding in the northwest part of the country. Pro-Taliban extremists have been aggressively making inroads from the tribal areas along the Afghanistan border to towns and villages farther inside Pakistan. The army says it has the militants on the run, but there are doubts about whether the Pakistan armed forces can keep them at bay. When Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency last month, he said it was because he needed to battle pro-Taliban forces that were creating mini-states in the tribal regions that border Afghanistan. Instead, Musharraf focused his efforts, and the country's security forces, on battling his political opponents. Meanwhile, insurgents began pushing east into Pakistan, capturing towns and villages in the Swat Valley - a favorite tourist destination, less than 100 miles from the capital, Islamabad. Ser Fraz Khan, a professor of regional studies at Peshawar University, was stunned when he recently returned to his home village. \"I saw on the road around 400 militants carrying guns, every 10 yards, they were wearing black turbans,\" he said. \"Their fingers were on the trigger, guns, Kalashnikovs or heavier... and I was scared, too scared. Khan said at least 3,000 militants were around the town. As in several other places in the area, they had overrun the police station, and government offices. Black flags — a Taliban symbol — were flying from the buildings. They also began imposing a harsh form of Islamic law known as sharia. Video and CD shops were shut down, as were barber shops, and girls' schools, Khan said. \"If you did not have a beard, you were an infidel and if a woman (without) a burqa ... she was an infidel, and ... they could just grab you, and kill you,\" he said. The changes are ominous, as they mirror those imposed by the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan when the hard-line Islamist movement seized power there in 1996. Khan says he took his immediate and extended family to another home in nearby Peshawar. The crowded and dirty city of Peshawar has long been a transit point for traders, conquerors, weapons, and consumer goods. The city has also long been a gateway to Pakistan's North West Frontier Provinces, which hug the Afghan border. Ismail Khan, editor of the independent newspaper Dawn, in Peshawar, said that lately, most of the talk in the city has been about the insurgency just to the north. \"All the security agencies actually knew about the presence of militants in Swat,\" Khan said. \"What bothers me is, why did the government, knowing there was a situation developing in Swat, allow it to get out of hand?\" Initially the security was handled by the Frontier Corp, a paramilitary group. But in July, about 2,000 Pakistani army troops were sent. They did little, however, with some even surrendering to the insurgents without firing a shot. Khan said the insurgency is spreading both east and farther south along the border. He said militants were attempting to control two strategic highways, including one linking China to Pakistan. \"They were actually threatening the Karakoram Highway, and that's why I believe the government thought enough is enough,\" Khan said. About two weeks ago, the army launched a major offensive, bringing in tanks, helicopters, and 15,000 troops. It was able to push back militants in many - but not all - of the towns in the Swat Valley, according to retired Brigadier Mahmood Shah, who keeps in close touch with military commanders. He said the army has driven many of the insurgents back to their stronghold on a remote mountaintop. Shah said now the military has to regroup. \"They need to have a reappraisal of the whole situation... Then they should work out an overall strategy and they should reapply troops,\" Shah said. But Pakistan's army is not used to fighting an insurgency. For decades, its main adversary has been neighboring India. The new army chief of staff, Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani, will have to turn the military around to do counterinsurgency warfare, said Talat Masood, a defense analyst. \"So he will have to do a lot of reorganization, better ... equipment for this sort of thing, change the mindset of the military in many ways to fight this new threat,\" he said. Masood said that stopping the insurgents will take years, and more than military action. He said defeating the insurgency will require a comprehensive approach — bringing development, economic opportunity and security to the tribal areas, which have ruled themselves for decades. RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Pakistan will hold its parliamentary elections in just one month. And while that country has been distracted by political turmoil, a serious crisis has been unfolding in its tribal areas. Pro-Taliban extremists have made aggressive inroads from tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan to towns and villages further inside Pakistan. The army says it now has the mil", "The deadly conflict in Darfur has deep roots in a vast, arid and long-neglected region in Sudan's west, where battles over water and grazing rights stretch back generations. The demographic shift that plays out across Africa's north helps feed the conflict. Darfur is on the leading edge of the continental demographic divide, where sub-Saharan black Africa melds with Arabic-speaking populations. And in this Muslim-on-Muslim battle in Darfur, it is the civilians who suffer. The current hostilities erupted in early 2003, when two rebel groups - The Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) - attacked government targets, claiming that the predominantly African region was being neglected by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The rebel movements - from different ideological backgrounds - cooperated in their fight against the government. But during peace talks in 2006, the rebels went their separate ways. The SLA, led by Minni Minnawi, signed the accord, while the JEM, led by Mohammed Tugod, did not. Since then, the insurgents have splintered and there are now more than 20 offshoots of these groups. Long-Standing Ethnic Tensions Tension between the region's African farmers and Arab pastoralists has existed for decades. Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, described the roots of the conflict. \"To outsiders, the conflict is seen as tribal warfare. At its roots, though, it is a struggle over controlling an environment that can no longer support all the people who must live on it,\" she said in an interview with The Washington Post. A sense of inequity was exacerbated by years of official Sudanese government support for groups in the region who identified themselves as Arab. An administrative reorganization in 1994 divided the vast territory into three regions and put Arabs in positions of power. The black African tribes - the Fur, Zagawa and Masalit - found themselves increasingly marginalized. People in Darfur refer to themselves as \"black,\" and many Darfuris say that the dispute with the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum is ethnically based. Droughts and diminishing resources ignited regular communal hostilities, which came to a head with the rebel assaults in 2003. A Scorched-Earth Response The government responded with a scorched-earth campaign against the rebels and the tribes they came from. The Sudanese government used aerial bombardments, while government-backed Janjaweed militia attacked civilians on the ground. Janjaweed come from Arabic-speaking pastoralist communities. They herd camels in northern Darfur and cattle in southern Darfur. The attacks razed villages, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands - most as the result of disease and starvation - and displaced millions of people, many of whom fled across the border to refugee camps in Chad. The Janjaweed have been accused of the systematic rape and ethnic cleansing of Darfur's black residents. Sudan's government denies it supports the militia. Shaky Peace Deals Fail to Stem Violence The African Union brokered a shaky truce between the government and the rebels in May 2004 and sent a small force of military observers to monitor the pact. But violence continued. Citing a \"consistent and widespread\" pattern of atrocities, the United States in September 2004 accused Sudan's government and Janjaweed militia of genocide. The African Union troops were bulked up to a force that eventually numbered 7,000. But the soldiers were badly outnumbered and outgunned. Funding problems mean they often went weeks without pay. Their weak mandate, combined with poor resources and insufficient numbers to patrol a region the size of France, left them incapable of halting abuses. Fighting escalated as rebel factions splintered and new insurgent groups were formed. Civilians continued to suffer attacks from insurgents, government forces and Janjaweed militia. In June 2007, Sudan bowed to international pressure and agreed to a detailed plan by the African Union and the United Nations to send a joint peacekeeping force of nearly 26,000 troops to Darfur. But by late 2007, that force still had not been assembled — due in part to the logistics involved in assembling such a force and also, say some, on bureaucratic roadblocks thrown up by Sudan's government. In September, 10 African Union troops were killed when rebels overran their camp. In a renewed effort to forge peace in Darfur, Libya invited all parties to the conflict to African Union-United Nations mediated talks in Sirte, Libya, at the end of October. But those talks foundered over the absence of the key rebel leaders, the SLA's Abdul Wahid Mohammed el-Nur and the Islamic Justice and Equality Movement's Khalil Ibrahim. Aid Efforts Snarled by Ongoing Violence Throughout this conflict, international aid groups have worked to care for Darfur's victims. But continuing attacks have made their jobs increasingly difficult. ", "The killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is primarily symbolic, Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies tells Renee Montagne. Cordesman emphasizes that Zarqawi was merely the most visible member of a large and fractured insurgency in Iraq. Q: Is this as big a setback for the operation of al-Qaida in Iraq as it seems at this moment? I think it's important to understand that this is a largely a political and a propaganda success unless Zarqawi's death is accompanied by the discovery of some record of the cell structure and organization of al-Qaida. It's also important to understand what al-Qaida really is in Iraq; it's one of three major Islamist extremist groups in the insurgency. Some 17 to 20 other groups have identifies themselves and there are many smaller, lower-level elements inside the insurgency. So while for many people it is the symbol for the insurgency and Zarqawi is the political leader, the symbol of al-Qaida, it doesn't mean that al-Qaida is going to lose its capabilities and it certainly doesn't mean the bulk of the insurgency will be affected. Q: So his role in orchestrating the insurgency, was what, aside from being, as you said, the symbol of it? Well, he was a very important leader. In a lot of ways, I guess the parallel would be Stalin back in the days of communism in Russia, somebody who was the leader of the violence, a person who organized daring raids and attacks. But even before this assassination, at one point he becomes so controversial in al-Qaida, he'd been put aside and other leader had been announced as the emir. He was criticized from al-Qaida outside Iraq because he called for a jihad, a holy war, against Shiites and fellow Muslims. Again, the fact he managed to make himself the symbol for al-Qaida doesn't mean that he was the only leader or the organizer. In a lot of ways he had become demonized as the symbol, but he was not the organization. Q: Well, are there people who, or a person who can replace him as the face of insurgency and terror? Well that's a very good question and the answer is, certainly not in the foreseeable future. Most of the organizations other than al-Qaida don't even have the same name over time. They keep changing their identity. They don't have figures that emerge that have any charismatic or media image. Even within al-Qaida itself, nobody even knew whether the person who'd been named as the new emir when Zarqawi appeared to step aside, really had any status or meaning, and he was never given any media exposure. And it's important to understand that if the government can appoint a new minister of interior and a new minister of defense, if it couples this kind of victory to measures like continuing to release detainees, like reorganizing the ministry of interior and police forces to eliminate their links to Shiite death squads, give them new uniforms, make them less corrupt, if he can execute plans that are under way to try to take back Baghdad from the militias and from the Zarqawi elements that infiltrated there, then what is in many ways a political victory can be accompanied by much more substantive action. In this excerpt from Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency in Iraq, author Ahmed S. Hashim describes the numerous insurgent groups operating in Iraq. There are a remarkable number of insurgent organizations. They vary widely in levels of skill, functional specialization, professionalism, number of personnel, modus operandi, targeting and longevity. Some come and go, some change names and some claim to have merged with one another to form larger and supposedly more effective networks. I have come across numerous instances where insurgent groups have said they have merged or are merging. In fall 2004 three groups, the Mujahideen Battalions, the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Mujahideen Brigades, supposedly merged to form the Islamic Jihad Brigades. Five other, smaller groups claimed that they had merged to form the Imam al-Mujahideen Brigades. This supposedly brought together nearly 7,000 mujahideen from all corners of the country. This chaotic situation, of course, has proven to be a major problem for effective intelligence-gathering about the insurgency and its methods and goals. The following are secular nationalist/tribal groups: The General Command of the Armed Forces, Resistance and Liberation in Iraq. Probably composed of former Iraqi military personnel, particularly from the Special Republican Guards, security and intelligence personnel, and members of the Ba’th Party and the paramilitary Fedayeen. These former regime personnel are not averse to giving their cells Islamic names. Popular Resistance for the Liberation of Iraq. Issued a call on 26 June 2003 to all in the Arab and Islamic worlds to come and attack the the insurgents’ way of warfare United States in Iraq. It criticized Arab and Muslim rulers for turning themselves into local policemen for the United States. Iraqi Resistance and Liberation Command. Appe", "John Lueth Ukec, Sudanese envoy in Washington, D.C., offers his views on efforts to resolve the conflict in Darfur. Andrew Natsios, President Bush's Special Envoy for Sudan, offers additional thoughts.The deadly conflict in Darfur has deep roots in a vast, arid and long-neglected region in Sudan's west, where battles over water and grazing rights stretch back generations. The demographic shift that plays out across Africa's north helps feed the conflict. Darfur is on the leading edge of the continental demographic divide, where sub-Saharan black Africa melds with Arabic-speaking populations. And in this Muslim-on-Muslim battle in Darfur, it is the civilians who suffer. The current hostilities erupted in early 2003, when two rebel groups - The Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) - attacked government targets, claiming that the predominantly African region was being neglected by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The rebel movements - from different ideological backgrounds - cooperated in their fight against the government. But during peace talks in 2006, the rebels went their separate ways. The SLA, led by Minni Minnawi, signed the accord, while the JEM, led by Mohammed Tugod, did not. Since then, the insurgents have splintered and there are now more than 20 offshoots of these groups. Long-Standing Ethnic Tensions Tension between the region's African farmers and Arab pastoralists has existed for decades. Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, described the roots of the conflict. \"To outsiders, the conflict is seen as tribal warfare. At its roots, though, it is a struggle over controlling an environment that can no longer support all the people who must live on it,\" she said in an interview with The Washington Post. A sense of inequity was exacerbated by years of official Sudanese government support for groups in the region who identified themselves as Arab. An administrative reorganization in 1994 divided the vast territory into three regions and put Arabs in positions of power. The black African tribes - the Fur, Zagawa and Masalit - found themselves increasingly marginalized. People in Darfur refer to themselves as \"black,\" and many Darfuris say that the dispute with the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum is ethnically based. Droughts and diminishing resources ignited regular communal hostilities, which came to a head with the rebel assaults in 2003. A Scorched-Earth Response The government responded with a scorched-earth campaign against the rebels and the tribes they came from. The Sudanese government used aerial bombardments, while government-backed Janjaweed militia attacked civilians on the ground. Janjaweed come from Arabic-speaking pastoralist communities. They herd camels in northern Darfur and cattle in southern Darfur. The attacks razed villages, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands - most as the result of disease and starvation - and displaced millions of people, many of whom fled across the border to refugee camps in Chad. The Janjaweed have been accused of the systematic rape and ethnic cleansing of Darfur's black residents. Sudan's government denies it supports the militia. Shaky Peace Deals Fail to Stem Violence The African Union brokered a shaky truce between the government and the rebels in May 2004 and sent a small force of military observers to monitor the pact. But violence continued. Citing a \"consistent and widespread\" pattern of atrocities, the United States in September 2004 accused Sudan's government and Janjaweed militia of genocide. The African Union troops were bulked up to a force that eventually numbered 7,000. But the soldiers were badly outnumbered and outgunned. Funding problems mean they often went weeks without pay. Their weak mandate, combined with poor resources and insufficient numbers to patrol a region the size of France, left them incapable of halting abuses. Fighting escalated as rebel factions splintered and new insurgent groups were formed. Civilians continued to suffer attacks from insurgents, government forces and Janjaweed militia. In June 2007, Sudan bowed to international pressure and agreed to a detailed plan by the African Union and the United Nations to send a joint peacekeeping force of nearly 26,000 troops to Darfur. But by late 2007, that force still had not been assembled — due in part to the logistics involved in assembling such a force and also, say some, on bureaucratic roadblocks thrown up by Sudan's government. In September, 10 African Union troops were killed when rebels overran their camp. In a renewed effort to forge peace in Darfur, Libya invited all parties to the conflict to African Union-United Nations mediated talks in Sirte, Libya, at the end of October. But those talks foundered over the absence of the key rebel leaders, the SLA's Abdul Wahid Mohammed el-Nur and the Islamic Justice and Equality Movement's Khalil Ibrahim. Ai" ]

[ "Libraries are looking for a better way to encode and share their data. Christensen's disruptive technologies theory provides a framework for evaluating linked data and thinking about future uses of library technology. Because of its lack of use and technical weaknesses, linked data is not yet poised to emerge as a disruptive innovation. It has the potential, however, to become disruptive and should be explored first in spin-offs that supplement library data or provide access to other electronic content. Library systems under development should focus on remaining nimble and open to unforeseen future technologies and uses." ]

[ "This paper analyzes on the influence of network environment on library information service, discusses on the service conception and the information service model of the library in network environment, and points out that the key of improving library's information service quality is to improve the comprehensive quality of the librarians.", "Libraries need to make progress with user centered search and discovery work. Context specific resource and search recommendations, alternative approaches, efficient federated searching, and live synchronous help must be a more vital part of the online landscape which libraries present to users. Staff must view the virtual and physical presence as parts of the whole spectrum of service and be comfortable in both environments.", "Creating domain-specific Linked Data applications is a complex endeavor as they need to work with ontological knowledge, consume/produce Linked Data and perform nontrivial business logic. In this work, we analyze several domain-specific Linked Data applications and introduce a set of features which influence the efficiency of development and maintenance of these applications. For each feature, we also list examples of software libraries supporting it.", "The integration of data sets into repositories is considered a key issue for library and information scientists. This article reports findings from an ethnographically inspired exploratory study examining how scientists in the field of evolutionary biology organize their research data and the impact this organization could have on the information science community. Specific areas of research and analysis reported include metadata usage, perceptions of the importance of organization, and what types of personal organizational schemes are used in scientific environments. Results indicate that, contrary to assumptions that organization is completely individual and unique, there are trends in the way evolutionary biologists organize their research data.", "Discussion is made on the necessary quality of librarians in the libraries of colleges and universities in network environment. And the status quo of their quality is analyzed, together with the measures to improve it.", "Academic libraries have the opportunity through their Web pages to present to the university community recommended sites and appropriate techniques for searching the Internet. But in the design and organization of home pages, academic libraries often provide inadequate navigational paths to sites that provide search engine selection and evaluation criteria. The author conducted a study of the home pages of 114 academic libraries that belong to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to determine their paths to Internet search engines. This paper presents the study results and makes recommendations for improvement.", "As the complexity of the Semantic Web increases, efficient ways to query the Semantic Web data is becoming increasingly important. Moreover, consumers of the Semantic Web data may need explanations for debugging or understanding the reasoning behind producing the data. In this paper, firstly we address the problem of SPARQL query performance prediction. Secondly we discuss how to explain Linked Data in a decentralized fashion. Finally we discuss how to summarize the explanations.", "This simple guide provides valuable insights for transforming an out-of-date public, school, or academic library into a thriving, user-centric learning commons. * Includes usable surveys, sample newsletters and library reports, research paper formatting guides, and a highly useful website * 38 figures and photographs of actual resources, user-centered design, students utilizing resources, and web design * Index facilitates quick reference to specific examples on demand", "Today libraries are using the latest technologies and trends to make the services popular and user friendly. The concept of library as a physical place where one can visit to get information. But the way of getting or retrieving information inside the library is changed now a day's. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is very important for library to changing the existing environment and providing a smart library services. The uses of RFID applications in library increase the accuracy, efficiency, productivity and enhance the user satisfaction along with it provides safe and secured system for the intellectual property of the libraries. Though its implementation is moderately high but it really ameliorate the quality of library services. This paper discusses the applications of RFID technology which help the librarian to create a smart environment inside the library.", "As linguistic collection and annotation scale up and collaboration across sites increases, novel technologies are necessary to support projects. Recent events at LDC, namely the move to a web-based infrastructure, the formation of the Software Group, and our involvement in the NSF LAPPS Grid project, have converged on concerns of efficient collaboration. The underlying design of the Web, typically referred to as RESTful principles, is crucial for collaborative annotation, providing data and processing services, and participating in the Linked Data movement. This paper outlines recommendations that will facilitate such collaboration.", "The information age affects the construction of university library information resources.The paper puts forward the building of university library information resources in a network environment from the analysis of the status quo of the construction of university library information resources and the exploration of the construction of the university library information resources according to the principles of reader's demand,quality and standardization.", "The information overload in E-Discovery proceedings makes reviewing expensive and it increases the risk of failure to produce results on time and consistently. New interactive techniques have been introduced to increase reviewer productivity. In contrast, the techniques presented in this article propose an alternative method that tries to reduce information during culling so that less information needs to be reviewed. The proposed method first focuses on mapping the email collection universe using straightforward statistical methods based on keyword filtering combined with date time and custodian identities. Subsequently, a social network is constructed from the email collection that is analyzed by filtering on date time and keywords. By using the network context we expect to provide a better understanding of the keyword hits and the ability to discard certain parts of the collection.", "Links to the St. Anselm's Abbey School Library's catalog, news, databases, and other digital resources. Best apps recommended by teachers and librarians", "In the world of big data, many people find it difficult to access the information they need quickly and accurately. In order to overcome this, research on the system that recommends information accurately to users is continuously conducted. Collaborative Filtering is one of the famous algorithms among the most used in the industry. However, collaborative filtering is difficult to use in online systems because user recommendation is highly volatile in recommendation quality and requires computation using large matrices. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes a method similar to database queries and a clustering method (Contents Navigator) originating from a complex network.", "This study presents a conceptual model for examining the social impacts of the Valdez oil spill on natural resource‐dependent communities. Data on social and subsistence disruption experienced by Alaskan natives are analyzed for two time periods: 1989 and 1990. The results reveal substantial uncertainty and disruption, with indications of changing patterns for long‐term social impacts. The study concludes with recommendations for restoration and recovery suggested from the results of our data analysis and the natural resource community model.", "Both WSNs (Wireless Sensor Networks) and observation satellites are able to get measurements from a geographic area. To interconnect these technologies, we propose to use a store-carry-and-forward architecture relying on the DTN (Disruption and Delay Tolerant Networking) Bundle Protocol. This architecture aims at being generic, so it is application-agnostic and suits a wide range of scenarios. WSN may collect sporadically large data volume while terrestrial stations communicating with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites have to endure long link disruptions when the satellite is not in the line of sight. These sporadic growths within the WSN coupled with the large latency on satellite links require to schedule data to provide quality of service to several flows. We propose a scheduling policy based on deadline of Bundles and compare it with classical DTN solutions.", "With the rapid development of Semantic Web, more and more RDF repositories, such as Linking Open Data (LOD), are available on the web. Generally, there are two services provided for exploring those RDF repositories, one is the keyword lookup, and the other is the SPARQL endpoint. Most users choose the lookup service, and millions of web logs have been recorded. Although, users expect to submit more expressive queries than keyword lookup, the complexity of SPARQL undoubtedly scared users away. This paper proposes a method of SPARQL query recommendation for exploring RDF repositories. By analyzing web logs of the lookup service, our method extracts the user access patterns, which will be used to recommend SPARQL queries. We implement our method based on Zhishi.me, a Chinese RDF repository with about 150 million triples as well as over one-year web logs. We believe the proposed method will further facilitate the SPARQL query research.", "Online recommendation systems are becoming more and more popular with the development of web. Data sparseness is a major problem for collaborative filtering (CF) techniques in recommender systems, especially for new users and items. In this paper, we try to reduce the data sparseness in the collaborative filtering problem by involving Wikipedia as an auxiliary information source. In this paper, we attempt to improve the recommendation accuracy by extracting collaborative social behavior information embedded in Wikipedia coediting history, and use this knowledge to help alleviate the data-sparsity problem in CF. In addition, we introduce a parallel computing algorithm to help scale up the transfer learning process. Our experimental results on two real world recommendation datasets show that the social co-editing knowledge in Wikipedia can be effectively transferred for CF problems.", "The paper discusses usage of citation indices and similar databases as the source of data for determining scientific professional advancement. A short study on per-author basis, using Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Croatian scientific bibliography and online catalogue of the National and University Library in Zagreb, has been undertaken and shows disparate results for usage of these resources in mentioned context. Various problems surrounding such studies are discussed. Data complementation, and especially firmer, more interconnected, national databases are recommended.", "The resistance of network supply chains to disruptions is the very important exploratory area. Moreover, from the perspective of individual chain links forming a network supply chain, an essential issue is the skill of adapting itself to variable conditions of the environment and changes in the structure of the chain itself. The article took into consideration both of the exploratory areas: the resistance of network supply chains to disruptions and adaptive strategies of chain links in a supply chain.", "Recommender systems are software agents that recommend options to users. They are becoming very popular in e-commerce applications to recommend the online purchase of some products. These agents can be very useful in an e-learning environment to recommend actions, resources or simply links to follow. However, most approaches to develop these intelligent agents are based on data explicitly collected from users to build profiles such as rankings, opinions and the like. This can be considered intrusive and a distraction by online learners. In this chapter we discuss methods to build recommender systems for e-learning that are non-intrusive and true to the choices of users.", "Objective To provide reference for the improvement of quality to the medicines in the hospital.Methods Analyzing the data of the medicines with quality issues between 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013,in order to find the general regularity and characteristics.Results Within a year of datacouection,quality problem drug amount for a total of 25293.59 yuan,the number of a total of 777 pieces,accounts forless than 0.04 of the total amount of the westem library into the treasury.Conclusion Quality issues of medicines can be discovered in every link of the circulation of medicine.Tighten up quality control of every link is an effective way to reduce the chance of quality issues.", "The objective of this work is to demonstrate that, nowadays, the challenge of the organizations regarding the new environment concerned with quality is to meet the needs and expectations of users who require the services of university libraries. To reach such goal, the library Visconde de Maua, of UNICRUZ needs to become aware both of the reality experienced in its premises and of the one in the other three libraries chosen, in order to aggregate knowledge that can contribute to the improvement of the activities performed and to show betterment in the quality of the services offered. Having in mind this necessity, it was performed a survey with the users of the UNICRUZ library and the ones of the three other university libraries to gather information about the reality of the kind of services offered and to analyse their quality as a way to identify weak and strong elements of each library.", "Abstract Although the digital environment has played an important role in the transformation of more library services into e-services, no published survey instrument focuses exclusively on examining library e-service quality. This article presents such an instrument and reports on a pilot study that applied it to university students. The primary objective is the development of an instrument that will enable libraries to investigate e-service quality locally. Active listening to customers, as this study emphasizes, provides two-way communication between the library and its users. Further research needs to explore the features and dimensions identified in e-SERVQUAL for libraries.", "A system for providing drug library data to a medical device (31, 32) located within a healthcare environment, the system comprises a local network (33) of the healthcare environment (3) and at least one medical device (31, 32) for administering a drug to a patient, the at least one medical device (31, 32) being located in the healthcare environment (3) and connected to the local network (33). Herein, a drug library server (1) is connected to the local network (3) of the healthcare environment (3) via a public communication network (2) and constituted to provide drug library data to the at least one medical device (31, 32) via the public communication network (2). In this way, a system and method for providing drug library data to a medical device located within a healthcare environment is provided which allows for an easy creation, editing and sharing of drug library data for use and distribution between medical devices within a particular healthcare environment and across different healthcare environments.", "The present budget model for libraries is not serving libraries well during this time of transition to an increasingly electronic knowledge environment. The existing model inhibits organizational flexibility and exacerbates the staff's sense that they are losing control of their own professional destinies. A new transitional budget model is recommended. The transitional model emphasizes staff education, organizational flexibility, and experimentation. Its goal is to make libraries adept at and comfortable with change", "With the growing number of publicly availableSPARQL endpoints, federated queries become more and moreattractive and feasible. Compared to queries against a singleendpoint, queries that range over a number of endpoints posenew challenges, ranging from the type and number of datasetsinvolved to the data distribution across the datasets. Existingresearch focuses on the data distribution in a central storeand is mainly concerned with adopting well-known, traditionaldatabase techniques. In this work we investigate the impact of thedata distribution in the context of federated SPARQL queries.We perform a number of experiments with four federationframeworks (Sesame Alibaba, Splendid, FedX, and Darq) againstan RDF dataset, Dailymed, that we partition by graph and class.Our preliminary results confirm the intuition that the moredatasets involved in query processing, the worse performanceof federation query is and that the data distribution significantlyinfluences the performance.", "Libraries will be changed by technological and social developments that are fueled by information technology, bioinformatics, and networked information. Libraries in highly focused settings such as the health sciences are at a pivotal point in their development as the synthesis of historically diverse and independent information sources transforms health care institutions. Boundaries are breaking down between published literature and research data, between research databases and clinical patient data, and between consumer health information and professional literature. This paper focuses on the dynamics that are occurring with networked information sources and the roles that libraries will need to play in the world of medical informatics in the early twenty-first century.", "The indoor air quality sensing indicators introduce people to novel concepts necessary for being aware and analysing of the indoor environments and help them to recognise and address indoor environmental quality problems in the building environments and the link to health, comfort and productivity of the occupants.", "The increasing availability of open datasets calls for the adoption of novel query engines able to ease the retrieval of desired information from this huge amount of data. This paper proposes an in depth analysis of a topic-based indexing solution for building transparent, federated query engines for SPARQL. For the index construction, we assume the retrieval of RDF fragments from the distributed datasets while user queries are re-written by the engine with the support of the SERVICE keyword, recently introduced in SPARQL for distributed queries. To perform rewriting, we propose different strategies for discovering and selecting the dataset endpoints. The strategies are analyzed and compared throughout the paper by exploiting some benchmarks. The tests regard both the effectiveness and performance of the proposed strategies. The results show significant improvements if compared with other techniques.", "The service for readers is the center of all the university library's work. With the coming of information age , traditional serving methods can not meet the new requirement. University library should do more service work, establish people-oriented service concept, do well on environment construction, and deepen the contents of serving and improve the quality of librarians, Only in this way can improve the service quality of university libraries, and we can satisfy the needs of the social business development.", "In this paper,the connotation of tea spirit and the key elements of the library harmonious humanities environment were expounded,and the inner links between them were analyzed.The \"people-oriented\" concept was combined with the tea spirit,which was used in the construction of harmonious humanities environment." ]

[ "Simple solution is to suppress the default legend generated by AceFEM (SMTShowMesh[...,\"Legend\"-&gt;False,...]) and create your own legend manually with BarLegend command or similar. You just need to take care of appropriate value range and number of contour lines if they are displayed.\n\n(* The range of values for plotted field. *)\nMinMax[field]\n\n(* Constants in With are used to avoid repeating the same values twice. *)\nWith[{\n lim = 0.8*Max@Abs[field],\n font = 16,\n contours = 10\n },\n Legended[\n SMTShowMesh[\n \"ColorFunction\" -&gt; (ColorData[\"TemperatureMap\", #] &amp;),\n \"Contour\" -&gt; {-lim, lim, contours - 2},\n \"Field\" -&gt; field,\n \"Legend\" -&gt; False,(* Suppress the default legend. *)\n \"Mesh\" -&gt; Gray,\n Axes -&gt; True,\n ImageSize -&gt; 250,\n LabelStyle -&gt; font,\n Lighting -&gt; {{\"Ambient\", White}}(* \n This Lightning setting produces lively colors. *)\n ],\n BarLegend[\n {\"TemperatureMap\", {-lim, lim}}, contours - 1,\n LegendMarkerSize -&gt; 200,\n LegendLabel -&gt; \"label\\ntext\",\n LabelStyle -&gt; {FontSize -&gt; font},\n LegendFunction -&gt; \"Frame\"\n ]\n ]\n ]\n\n\n\n\nThe above described approach also enables different positioning of BarLegend and tons of other styling functions described in MMA documentation.\n\nLegended[\n SMTShowMesh[\n \"ColorFunction\" -&gt; (ColorData[\"TemperatureMap\", #] &amp;),\n \"Contour\" -&gt; True,\n \"Field\" -&gt; field,\n \"Legend\" -&gt; False,\n \"Mesh\" -&gt; Gray,\n ImageSize -&gt; 250,\n Lighting -&gt; {{\"Ambient\", White}}\n ],\n Placed[\n BarLegend[\n {\"TemperatureMap\", MinMax[field]}, 7,\n LegendMarkerSize -&gt; 250,\n LegendLabel -&gt; \"label text\",\n LabelStyle -&gt; {FontSize -&gt; 10},\n LegendLayout -&gt; \"Row\"\n ],\n Above\n ]\n ]" ]

[ "To get the effect of rigid body you can just prescribe zero displacements on all nodes of chosen domain. Example of this is 2D snooker simulation in the AceFEM documentation.\n\nI will also provide my own small example, which I think is more convenient to study contact mechanics with AceFEM.\n\ngap = 0.1;\nindentation = 0.3;\nupperSquare = MapAt[# + gap &amp;, {{{1, 0}, {2, 1}}, {{0, 1}, {1, 2}}}, {All, All, 2}];\npointA = {1, 2 + gap};\npointB = {0, 1 + gap};\n\nSMTInputData[];\n(* Hyperelastic element from online library and contact element from documentation examples. *)\nSMTAddDomain[\n {\"Solid\", \"OL:SEPEQ1DFHYQ1NeoHooke\", {\"E *\" -&gt; 100., \"ν *\" -&gt; 0.3}},\n {\"Contact\", \"ExamplesCTD2N1DN2L1DN1AL\", {\"μ *\" -&gt; 0.1}}\n ];\nSMTAddMesh[\n Raster[upperSquare], \"Solid\", \"Q1\", {1, 1},\n \"BodyID\" -&gt; \"B1\",\n \"BoundaryDomainID\" -&gt; \"Contact\"\n ];\n(* There has to be enough elements on bottom domain to avoid weird effects on edges. *)\nSMTAddMesh[\n Raster[{{{0, -1}, {4, -1}}, {{0, 0}, {4, 0}}}], \"Solid\", \"Q1\", {5, 1},\n \"BodyID\" -&gt; \"B2\",\n \"BoundaryDomainID\" -&gt; \"Contact\"\n ];\nSMTAddEssentialBoundary[\"Y\" &lt;= 0 &amp;, 1 -&gt; 0, 2 -&gt; 0];\nSMTAddEssentialBoundary[Point[pointA], 1 -&gt; 0, 2 -&gt; -(gap + indentation)];\nSMTAddEssentialBoundary[Point[pointB], 1 -&gt; 0, 2 -&gt; -(gap + indentation)];\nSMTAnalysis[];\n(* If tolerance is too small regarding the element size, contact search fails. *)\nSMTRData[\"ContactSearchTolerance\", 0.5];\ngraphics = {};\n\n\nWe define a function for the adaptive multiplier loop and function to display mesh.\n\n(* Loop that changes multiplier from 0 to 1. Boundary condition \\\nincrement must be set before that accordingly. *)\nadaptiveLoop[] := Module[\n {},\n SMTRData[\"Multiplier\", 0.];\n\n SMTNextStep[\"λ\" -&gt; 0.1];\n While[\n While[\n (step = SMTConvergence[10^-8, 15, {\"Adaptive BC\", 7, 0.0001, 0.05, 1}, \"Alternate\" -&gt; False]),\n SMTNewtonIteration[];\n ];\n If[step[[4]] === \"MinBound\", SMTStatusReport[\"Analyze\"]; SMTStepBack[];];\n step[[3]],\n If[step[[1]], SMTStepBack[], AppendTo[graphics, showMesh[]]];\n SMTNextStep[\"Δλ\" -&gt; step[[2]]]\n ];\n]\n\nshowMesh[] := SMTShowMesh[\n \"BoundaryConditions\" -&gt; True,\n \"DeformedMesh\" -&gt; True,\n \"Field\" -&gt; \"Mises*\",\n PlotRange -&gt; {{-0.5, 5}, {-1.5, 2.5}},\n \"Contour\" -&gt; {False, 0, 20, 5},\n GridLines -&gt; {None, {1 - indentation}}\n]\n\n\n\nWe move the upper square down, so it comes in contact with the bottom \"rigid\" plate, where all displacements are prescribed to zero. In the second phase we change boundary conditions and move the upper square horizontally.\n\nadaptiveLoop[]\n\n(* Switch boundary conditions to horizontal movement. Note the \"Set\" option. *)\nSMTAddEssentialBoundary[Point[pointA], 1 -&gt; 2, 2 -&gt; 0, \"Set\" -&gt; True];\nSMTAddEssentialBoundary[Point[pointB], 1 -&gt; 2, 2 -&gt; 0, \"Set\" -&gt; True];\n\nadaptiveLoop[]\n\nListAnimate[graphics]", "The idea of the Coyote Trickster god is pretty widespread. My copy of The Book of the Navajo contains \"The Tale of Coyote, the Troublemaker\". \n\nThe Coyote is also known to the Apache in the \"Badger carries Darkness: Coyote and Bobcat scratch each other\"\n\nA Cheyenne tale called \"How he got tongue\"\n\nAnd a Blackfoot Coyote tale called \"Little Friend Coyote\"\n\nHe's known to the Sioux, the Caddo in Why Coyote Stopped Imitating His Friends and the Cherokee in How the Bluebeard and the Coyote got their Color\n\nA list of other tribes and legends can be found here", "You want to use symbolic x coordinates and ybar instead of ybar interval.\n\n\\documentclass{article}\n\\usepackage[margin=0.5in]{geometry}\n\\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}\n\\usepackage{textcomp}\n\\usepackage{pgfplots}\n\\pgfplotsset{width=10cm,compat=1.9}%&lt;- 1.16 would be better\n\n\\begin{document}\n\nBar chart:\n\n\\begin{tikzpicture}\n\\begin{axis}[symbolic x coords={Testing1,Testing2,Testing3,Testing4,Testing5,\nTesting6,Testing7,Testing8,Testing9},\n x tick label style={anchor=north west,rotate=-30},\n ylabel=Number,\n enlargelimits=0.05,\n legend style={at={(0.5,-0.2)},\n anchor=north,legend columns=-1},\n ybar \n]\n\\addplot \n coordinates {(Testing1,9) (Testing2,4)\n (Testing3,4) (Testing4,1) (Testing5,1) (Testing6,8) (Testing7,1) (Testing8,1) (Testing9,1)};\n\\addplot \n coordinates {(Testing1,3) (Testing2,5)\n (Testing3,5) (Testing4,4) (Testing5,5) (Testing6,7) (Testing7,0) (Testing8,0) (Testing9,0)};\n\\legend{Series 1, Series2}\n\\end{axis}\n\\end{tikzpicture}\n\\end{document}\n\n\n\n\nHere is a more automatic version.\n\n\\documentclass{article}\n\\usepackage[margin=0.5in]{geometry}\n\\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}\n\\usepackage{textcomp}\n\\usepackage{pgfplots}\n\\pgfplotsset{width=10cm,compat=1.16}\n\n\\begin{document}\n\n\\begin{tikzpicture}\n\\pgfplotsforeachungrouped \\X in {1,...,9}\n{\\ifnum\\X=1\n\\edef\\mylst{Testing1}\n\\else\n\\edef\\mylst{\\mylst,Testing\\X}\n\\fi}\n\\begin{axis}[symbolic x coords/.expanded=\\mylst,\n ylabel=Number,\n enlargelimits=0.05,\n x tick label style={anchor=north west,rotate=-30},\n legend style={at={(0.5,-0.2)},\n anchor=north,legend columns=-1},\n ybar,\n]\n\\addplot \n coordinates {(Testing1,9) (Testing2,4)\n (Testing3,4) (Testing4,1) (Testing5,1) (Testing6,8) (Testing7,1) (Testing8,1) (Testing9,1)};\n\\addplot \n coordinates {(Testing1,3) (Testing2,5)\n (Testing3,5) (Testing4,4) (Testing5,5) (Testing6,7) (Testing7,0) (Testing8,0) (Testing9,0)};\n\\legend{Series 1, Series2}\n\\end{axis}\n\\end{tikzpicture}\n\\end{document}", "The Chinese character \"답\" means to \"step (on)\" or \"tread (on)\". The name also was derived from the same legend. \n\nAccording to the legend, the Buddhist monk stepped on this land before choosing the capital. You can read this link for more information. \n\n\n 무학대사가 왕도를 정하려고 도성에서 10리 떨어진 이곳을 밟았다는 데서 유래됨.", "There are a couple of questions here to respond to:\n\n\nRegarding the fate of the tablets, as you cited from Josephus, it \"remains in the land of Siriad to this day.\" To my limited knowledge we don't have other testimony to its fate. In Louis Ginzberg's reference of this quote (Legends Of The Jews, vol. V p.150) he paraphrases that \"these tablets with their Hebrew characters could still be seen on some island in India in the time of Alexander the Great.\" The latter may have been referring to Surat (\"בארץ סיריד\"?)*. \nOn the face of things one would not suspect Josephus of \"lying and/or mistaken on this point\" since the legend of a fiery deluge, which occasioned the erection of the tablets, was also reported by his slightly younger contemporary, Philo (The Life Of Moses, Part II Ch. 48) as well as in the (contemporaneous) Vita Adæ et Evæ (Ch. 59 with some differences in the legend; for a description of the book see here). However, after a close and critical analysis of the sources Prof. Louis Ginzberg demonstrates (Mabul Shel Eshh, HaGoren 1912, reprinted in Al Halachah VeAggadah, Tel Aviv 1960, 205ff.) that Josephus conflated two legends, the inscribing of the tablets &amp; the fire deluge, thence details were tweaked to fit the storyline and ultimately assumed a Jewish identity. \n\n\n*The legend about the tablets Ginzberg traces to the chronicle of Berossus the Chaldean. In the latter's version of the event, it is stated that after the flood the tablets were found \"בעיר סיפרא\", the same place where they were instructed beforehand to be buried at.", "TL;DR: Rated (old) urban legend\n\n\n\nBased on this website, this story dates from as far back as 1897, from a magazine called \"The Strand\". This appears in section which looks like a collection of various jokes and \"fancy stories\". You can find the original article below (the one about the claim is in the bottom left corner):\n\n\n\nIt reads:\n\n\n This story has been attributed to Mr. Conan Doyle: A friend of his had\n often been told that there is a skeleton in the cupboard of every\n household, no matter how respectable that household may be; and he\n determined to put this opinion to a practical test. Selecting for the\n subject of his experiment a venerable Archdeacon of the Church,\n against whom the most censorious critic had never breathed a word, he\n went to the nearest post-office, and dispatched a telegram to the\n revered gentleman: ‘All is discovered! Fly at once!’ The Archdeacon\n disappeared, and has never been heard of since.\n\n\nTurns out, there is a website keeping track of letters and various writings of A.C.D. which can be found here. A search with the keywords \"flee\", \"discover(ed)\", \"12/twelve\" wielded several results, but none matching the wording nor the context.\n\nI also took a brief look at all the letters from before 1897, and none match the prank.\n\nFinally, I looked up the Archdeacons of England which lived at the time, but none is listed before 1951.\n\nConsidering the absence of one of the original letters used for the prank, the uncertainty considering the number of recipients (one with the Archdeacon, 12 with the nobles, I found a few references about 5 letters, etc...) as well as the sole appearance of the prank in an article listing jokes, it appears it was already considered an urban legend even back then.\n\nI rate the prank urban legend.", "You can avoid having the bars separated from each other by changing xbar's optional argument and the spacing between each group of bars is set by the overall height of the graph as PGFplots spreads them all out. Also, you can enlarge the upper x limits by using enlarge x limits=upper. I further adjust it by setting the value to 0.15 which seems an appropriate amount for this plot.\n\n\\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}\n\\usepackage{tikz}\n\\usepackage{pgfplots}\n\\pgfplotsset{compat=1.13}\n\\begin{document}\n\\begin{tikzpicture}\n \\centering\n \\begin{axis}[\n height=13cm,\n width=10cm,\n xbar=0pt,\n bar width=1em,\n xmin=0,\n xlabel={Percentage of votes},\n ytick=data,\n enlarge x limits={upper,value=0.15},\n tick align=inside,\n tickwidth = 0pt, \n symbolic y coords={%\n {Others},\n {Test cases},\n {Error reports},\n {Screenshots},\n {Stack traces},\n {Steps to reproduce},\n {Expected behavior},\n {Observed behavior},\n {Summary},\n {Hardware,...},\n {Severity},\n {Version}, \n {Product/App name}\n },\n nodes near coords,\n nodes near coords align={horizontal},\n ]\n\n \\addplot +[area legend] coordinates { \n (33.33,{Product/App name})\n (58.33,{Version}) \n (8.33,{Severity}) \n (50,{Hardware,...}) \n (25,{Summary})\n (58.33,{Observed behavior}) \n (25,{Expected behavior}) \n (75,{Steps to reproduce}) \n (58.33,{Stack traces}) \n (25,{Screenshots}) \n (25,{Error reports}) \n (0,{Test cases})};\n\n \\addplot +[area legend] coordinates {\n (30.95,{Product/App name})\n (61.90,{Version}) \n (26.19,{Severity}) \n (69.05,{Hardware,...})\n (21.43,{Summary}) \n (59.52,{Observed behavior}) \n (28.57,{Expected behavior})\n (88.10,{Steps to reproduce}) \n (45.24,{Stack traces}) \n (30.95,{Screenshots})\n (33.33,{Error reports}) \n (14.29,{Test cases})\n };\n\n % legend cell align = left, \\legend{Desktop, Mobile }\n \\end{axis}\n\n\\end{tikzpicture}\n\\end{document}\n\n\n\n\nNote, I did not include the legend because you seem to have missed part of the code of it in your MWE.", "Minos actually has some (be it vague) historical references. There is a name in Minoan Linear A that could refer to Minos. La Marle suggests that the name mwi-nu (Minos) is expected to mean 'ascetic' as Sanskrit muni, and fits this explanation to the legend about Minos sometimes living in caves on Crete.\n\nIt is likely the Greeks took the Minoan omnipresence of the bull in architecture, and the history or legend of Minos to associate it with the Greek Pantheon &amp; created the Minotaur. \n\nIncidentally, \"Labyrinth\" is a word of pre-Greek origin, which the Greeks associated with the palace of Knossos in Crete.", "It's the backpack1 in which Luke carried Yoda\n\n \n\n\n\n1: warning - Legends link!", "My suggestion would be to update your pgfplots package. From pgfplots version 1.9, nodes near coords gives a better result. Compare the result with version 1.8:\n\n\\documentclass{article}\n\\usepackage{pgfplots} % to print charts\n\\pgfplotsset{compat=1.8}\n\n\\begin{document}\n\n\\begin{figure}\n \\centering\n \\begin{tikzpicture}\n \\begin{axis}[\n ybar stacked,\n nodes near coords,\n every node near coord/.append style={font=\\footnotesize},\n xbar legend,\n% nodes near coords align={right},\n legend pos=outer north east,\n enlarge x limits={abs=1},\n enlarge y limits=false,\n bar width=.5,\n % x axis\n xtick={1,2},\n xticklabels={Dots,Squares},\n % y axis\n ymin=0,\n ylabel={Aliens founds},\n ]\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=blue,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n };\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=pink,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n};\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=gray,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n };\n\n \\legend{First one,Second one,Third}\n \\end{axis}\n \\end{tikzpicture}\n\n \\caption{Caption placeholder}\n\\end{figure}\n\\end{document}\n\n\n\n\nand that of version 1.9 or newer:\n\n\\documentclass{article}\n\\usepackage{pgfplots} % to print charts\n\\pgfplotsset{compat=1.9}\n\n\\begin{document}\n\n\\begin{figure}\n \\centering\n \\begin{tikzpicture}\n \\begin{axis}[\n ybar stacked,\n nodes near coords,\n every node near coord/.append style={font=\\footnotesize},\n xbar legend,\n% nodes near coords align={right},\n legend pos=outer north east,\n enlarge x limits={abs=1},\n enlarge y limits=false,\n bar width=.5,\n % x axis\n xtick={1,2},\n xticklabels={Dots,Squares},\n % y axis\n ymin=0,\n ylabel={Aliens founds},\n ]\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=blue,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n };\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=pink,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n};\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=gray,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n };\n\n \\legend{First one,Second one,Third}\n \\end{axis}\n \\end{tikzpicture}\n\n \\caption{Caption placeholder}\n\\end{figure}\n\\end{document}\n\n\n\n\nIf updating is not an option, you can try some manual adjustments; for example:\n\n every node near coord/.append style={xshift=-15pt,yshift=-3pt,anchor=east,font=\\footnotesize},\n\n\nwhich yields\n\n\\documentclass{article}\n\\usepackage{pgfplots} % to print charts\n\\pgfplotsset{compat=1.8}\n\\begin{document}\n\n\\begin{figure}\n \\centering\n \\begin{tikzpicture}\n \\begin{axis}[\n ybar stacked,\n nodes near coords,\n every node near coord/.append style={xshift=-15pt,yshift=-3pt,anchor=east,font=\\footnotesize},\n xbar legend,\n% nodes near coords align={right},\n legend pos=outer north east,\n enlarge x limits={abs=1},\n enlarge y limits=false,\n bar width=.5,\n % x axis\n xtick={1,2},\n xticklabels={Dots,Squares},\n % y axis\n ymin=0,\n ylabel={Aliens founds},\n ]\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=blue,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n };\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=pink,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n};\n\n \\addplot table [\n x=index,\n y=gray,\n ] {\nindex blue pink gray\n1 25 10 5\n2 35 0 100\n };\n\n \\legend{First one,Second one,Third}\n \\end{axis}\n \\end{tikzpicture}\n\n \\caption{Caption placeholder}\n\\end{figure}\n\\end{document}", "Nirjala Ekadashi is also known as Bhimseni or Bhima Ekadashi due to one legend associated with Nirjala Ekadashi. \n\nBhimsen, the voracious eater, was not able to control his desire of having food. Due to this reason he was not able to observe Ekadashi fasting and met Maharishi Vyasa to find some solution. \n\n\n Sage Vyasa advised Bhima to observe single Nirjala Ekadasi fasting to compensate for not observing all Ekadashi fasting in a year. ~nirjala-ekadashi-drikpanchang\n\n\nDue to this legend Nirjala Ekadashi is also known as Bhimseni Ekadashi.\n\nThe more detailed story is given here (in Hindi) and in PADMA-PURANA : UTTARAKHANDA : Chapter 51. Nirjala Ekadasi.", "First, a function to produce dots to be used as filling:\ndotsF[n_: {50, 50}, sz_: Medium, clr_: LightGray] := \n With[{g = Tuples[{Range[n[[1]]], Range[n[[2]]]}]}, Graphics[{clr, PointSize[sz], Point@g},\n ImagePadding -&gt; 0, PlotRangeClipping -&gt; False, PlotRangePadding -&gt; 0, AspectRatio -&gt; 1]]\ndotsF[{10, 10}, .1, Green]\n\n\nIt will be more convenient to render the pieces separately so that we can generate legend icons for various components:\npltc3 = Plot[c3[u], {u, 0, 1}, PlotStyle -&gt; Directive[Thick, Opacity[1], Red], Axes -&gt; False, \n Frame -&gt; False, AspectRatio -&gt; 1];\npltd = Plot[d[u], {u, 0, 1}, PlotStyle -&gt; Directive[Thick, Opacity[1], Blue], Axes -&gt; False, \n Frame -&gt; False, AspectRatio -&gt; 1];\npltc1c2 = Plot[{c1[u], c2[u]}, {u, 0, 1}, \n PlotStyle -&gt; Directive[Thick, Dashed, Black], Mesh -&gt; {{\\[Theta]}},\n MeshStyle -&gt; PointSize[.03], Axes -&gt; False, Frame -&gt; False, AspectRatio -&gt; 1];\n\nParametricPlot with dotted filling:\nprmplt = ParametricPlot[{{u, (1 - v) Min[c1[u], c2[u]] + v c3[u]}, \n {u, (1 - v) Max[c1[u], c2[u]] + v c3[u]}}, {u, 0, 1}, {v, 0, 1}, \n Mesh -&gt; None, PlotRange -&gt; {{0, 1}, {0, 1}},\n AspectRatio -&gt; 1, BoundaryStyle -&gt; Opacity[0], Axes -&gt; False, \n Frame -&gt; False, AspectRatio -&gt; (ar = .7),\n PlotStyle -&gt; {Directive[{Opacity[.7], \n Texture[ImageMultiply[dotsF[{120, 120}, Tiny, Red], Orange]]}], \n Directive[Opacity[.7], Orange]}, \n TextureCoordinateFunction -&gt; ({#, ar #2} &amp;), \n TextureCoordinateScaling -&gt; False];\n\nshow = Show[prmplt, pltd, pltc3, pltc1c2, PlotRange -&gt; {{0, 1}, {0, 1}}, \n Axes -&gt; True, Frame -&gt; False, BaseStyle -&gt; 18, AspectRatio -&gt; .7, \n AxesStyle -&gt; Arrowheads[0.03`], GridLines -&gt; Automatic, GridLinesStyle -&gt; GrayLevel[0.85`], \n AxesLabel -&gt; {Style[Subscript[P, F], 21], Style[Subscript[P, M], 21]}, ImageSize -&gt; 600]\n\n\nLegend icons and labels:\nlabels = Style[#, 20, Bold] &amp; /@ {Subscript[&quot;P&quot;, &quot;M&quot;], Subscript[&quot;\\[ScriptL]&quot;, &quot;3&quot;], \n Subscript[&quot;\\[ScriptCapitalB]&quot;, &quot;\\[Theta]&quot;], \n Subscript[&quot;\\[ScriptCapitalS]&quot;, &quot;\\[Theta]&quot;], \n Subscript[&quot;\\[ScriptL]&quot;, &quot;1|2&quot;], &quot;{\\[Theta],\\[Theta]}&quot;};\n\nicons = {pltd /. Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.05], pltc3 /. Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.05], \n prmplt , ImageMultiply[dotsF[{7, 7}, .075, Orange], Orange], \n pltc1c2 /. {Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.02], \n Dashing[_] :&gt; Dashing[.1], PointSize[_] :&gt; PointSize[0]}, \n pltc1c2 /. {Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.01], PointSize[_] :&gt; PointSize[.2]}};\n\nlegends = Labeled[#, #2, Right] &amp; @@@ Transpose[{Thumbnail[#, 32] &amp; /@ icons, labels}];\n\n\nAll together:\nLegended[show, Placed[Panel@Column[legends, Spacings -&gt; 1], {0.85, 0.6}]]\n\n\nUpdate: New requirements from the comments:\n\nI want to add this : LegendFunction -&gt; (Framed[#, RoundingRadius -&gt; 2, FrameStyle -&gt; LightGray] &amp;)\n... make the box roundings a bit different and the legend transparent? so that the figure (and gridlines) staying at the background can be seen from the legend\n\nprmplt2 = ParametricPlot[{{u, (1 - v) Min[c1[u], c2[u]] + v c3[u]}, \n {u, (1 - v) Max[c1[u], c2[u]] + v c3[u]}}, {u, 0, 1}, {v, 0, 1},\n Mesh -&gt; None, \n PlotRange -&gt; {{0.2, c2[.2]}, {.2, c2[.2]}}, AspectRatio -&gt; 1, \n BoundaryStyle -&gt; Opacity[0], Axes -&gt; False, Frame -&gt; False, \n AspectRatio -&gt; (ar = .7), \n PlotStyle -&gt; {Directive[{Opacity[.7], \n Texture[ImageMultiply[dotsF[{40, 40}, Medium, Darker@Red], \n Orange]]}], Directive[Opacity[.7], Orange]}, \n TextureCoordinateFunction -&gt; ({#, ar #2} &amp;), \n TextureCoordinateScaling -&gt; False, PlotPoints -&gt; 100];\n\nicons = {Show[pltd, Background -&gt; Transparent] /. \n Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.05], \n Show[pltc3, Background -&gt; Transparent] /. \n Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.05], \n Show[prmplt2, Background -&gt; Transparent], \n ImageMultiply[dotsF[{7, 7}, .075, Orange], Orange], \n Show[pltc1c2, \n Background -&gt; Transparent] /. {Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.02], \n Dashing[_] :&gt; Dashing[.1], PointSize[_] :&gt; PointSize[0]}, \n Show[pltc1c2, \n Background -&gt; Transparent] /. {Thickness[_] :&gt; Thickness[.01], \n PointSize[_] :&gt; PointSize[.2]}};\n\nlegends = \n Labeled[#, #2, Right] &amp; @@@ \n Transpose[{Thumbnail[#, 32] &amp; /@ icons, labels}];\n\nLegended[show, \n Placed[Framed[Column[legends, Spacings -&gt; .75], RoundingRadius -&gt; 2, \n FrameStyle -&gt; LightGray], {0.85, 0.6}]]\n\n\n\n... if one could make (one of the icons) a bit bigger:\n\nlegends2 = Labeled[#, #2, Right] &amp; @@@ \n Transpose[{ReplacePart[Show[#, ImageSize -&gt; 30] &amp; /@ icons, {3} -&gt; \n Show[icons[[3]], ImageSize -&gt; 50]], labels}];\nLegended[show, \n Placed[Framed[Column[legends2, Spacings -&gt; .75], RoundingRadius -&gt; 2,\n FrameStyle -&gt; LightGray], {0.85, 0.6}]]", "Australian Aboriginal myths in some regards are a little unique in the sense that many of their creatures are derived from the traditions of Aboriginal Dreamtime.\n\nA word of caution: many of these creatures are derived from the traditions of Aboriginal Dreamtime. To understand them, the reader must have a decent understanding of what the Aboriginal Dreamtime is. The only problem is that it can be quite difficult to understand. So here’s a quote from Peter Weir’s The Last Wave (1977) to help sum it up:\nAboriginals believe in two forms of time; two parallel streams of activity. One is the daily objective activity, the other is an infinite spiritual cycle called the ‘dreamtime’, more real than reality itself. Whatever happens in the dreamtime establishes the values, symbols, and laws of Aboriginal society. It was believed that some people of unusual spiritual powers had contact with the dreamtime.\nBasically, the Dreamtime is a sacred era of time in Australian Aboriginal mythology. It is a kind of “time before time” wherein the universe was created, mankind was created, and the Creators laid down the rules for how humans should interact with themselves and their environments. During the Dreamtime, the Ancestor Spirits came to earth and gave birth to the land, plants, animals, and humans. Afterwards they turned into other objects, such as animals and geologic locations such as hills. If you are still confused, the topic of the Aboriginal Dreamtime is further discussed and detailed here on the internet. - Top 10 Australian Mythical Creatures.\n\nThis stated there are several sources of Australian Aboriginal mythology to be found on the internet as follows:\n\nTop 10 Australian Mythical Creatures\nSome Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines by W. J. Thomas\nAustralian Mythology from Myths and Legends of the World Myths Encyclopedia\nMyths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines by W. Ramsay Smith\nAboriginal Mythology - A biography of the Australian continent\nWikipedia has a list of Australian Aboriginal mythological figures\nABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA ART &amp; CULTURE CENTRE - ALICE SPRINGS\nThe Dreaming from the Australian Government\n\nHope this helps!", "\"Moana\" is at its heart a creation of Disney studio's writers and film-making technicians engaged in the making of a children's movie. It is a children's story, an updated retelling of the old Polynesian myths and legends. Those myths and legends center primarily on the relationship of people's obedience to their gods, priests, and royal leadership. Very little abstract social philosophy in re interpersonal relationships can be found in them. Whatever social philosophy one believes can be found in \"Moana\" would be in there purely for story telling to juvenile audiences.\n\nIf you want to see traditional Polynesian clan behavior clashing with modern social philosophy (along with a bit of Polynesian mysticism with it) – view the excellent New Zealand Maori (polynesian) movie \"The Whale Rider\" (2003). See Wikipedia for details.", "Try Louis Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. It is a pretty comprehensive collection of such texts. The first four volumes are available online here.", "20 years old is not that late to start. Any amount of time spent can help improve or maintain skills. Consider how much time you would like to spend and commit to it. Adjust to ensure you are enjoying your chess time. Easy to improve when having fun. An hour a day is fine to start.\nHow you spend you time is also important. There is much good advice on this site, for example this\nYou will not get a title playing on chess.com. Consider playing in tournaments that lead to titles. Probably your rating will be different then chess.com so that will give you a better idea how close you are to your goal.\nI learned to play when I was 7, but in my teens I did not have anyone better than me to play so I could not improve. Once I started university it was easy to find folks better than me and I started playing and studying chess much more. Most of my chess improvement was during university.", "No one knows because no one knows what truly happened. The legends state the Battle for the Dawn was the last battle between the First Men and the Children of the Forest versus the Others. During this battle the Others lost and were sent fleeing.\n\nHow the Long Night came to an end is a matter of legend, as all such matters of the distant past have become. In the North, they tell of a last hero who sought out the intercession of the children of the forest, his companions abandoning him or dying one by one as they faced ravenous giants, cold servants, and the Others themselves. Alone he finally reached the children, despite the efforts of the white walkers, and all the tales agree this was a turning point. Thanks to the children, the first men of the Night's Watch banded together and were able to fight—and win—the Battle for the Dawn: the last battle that broke the endless winter and sent the Others fleeing to the icy north. Now, six thousand years later (or eight thousand as True History puts forward), the Wall made to defend the realms of men is still manned by the sworn brothers of the Night's Watch, and neither the Others nor the children have been seen in many centuries.\nThe World of Ice and Fire, Ancient History: The Long Night\n\nThat's not to say they didn't try and kill all of the Others and their wight army but it's hard to always be 100% sure. And when you're against an army as strong as the Others and wights it's best to have a backup plan, in this case that plan was the Wall and the Night's Watch.\nIt's also worth pointing out that we don't really know much about the Others and so by extension the people of Westeros likely don't know much about them either. If you don't know much about them, you don't know where they come from and so you don't know how many of them there actually are. Though they were pushed back way into the North and that is an extremely large place - The Lands of Always Winter.\n\nThe Lands of Ice and Fire, The Known World" ]

[ "Research guide for company histories, financials, annual reports, etc. Some resources available only at The New York Public Library's Science, Industry and Business Library. Guide by Madeleine Cohen." ]

[ "This LibGuide provides access to information resources relevant to business education and business schools", "Federal Reserve Membership and Bank Profitability in Texas; Bank Holding Company Acquisitions in Texas; Financial Reporting and Disclosure: The Annual Reports of Bank Holding Companies in Texas; 1976: An Improved Year for Bank Trust Departments in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District", "Annual reports is the important investment basis of the investors,the disclosing time of annual reports affects the timeliness of information.By the samples of listed companies in China's A-share stock market from the period of 2004-2006,this paper studies the determinants of annual reports disclosing time from the demands of investors,information disclose cost and the complexity in accounting.The empirical result shows that the annual-report-date is shorter for the firms facing greater information demands from investors and the high percentage of the independent director;the annual-report-date is later for the firms with complex accountings,high disclosure proprietary cost and the high percentage of un-circulated stock,and the phenomenon of later release bad news is still existed in China.It shows that the monitoring department has to enhance the governance of annual reports,bring forward the release date of annual reports and improve the cost of delaying disclosure of the \"bad news\".", "Based on audit opinion of listed company's annual report,this paper develops an index to describe the quality of accounting information.According to the shareholding structure,an empirical analysis is executed on the relationship between the quality of accounting information and corporate governance structure through multiple regression analysis.The results show that the proportion of institutional investors' shareholding is positively related to the quality of accounting information.Meanwhile,both of the ownership concentration and the proportion of company executives' shareholding are unrelated with the quality of accounting information.", "A guide for country financial data, trade data, and doing business in guides, as well as international newspapers and magazines. 811", "The objectives of the current study are of two folds; dealing firstly with the commitment of the listed companies in reporting minority shareholders' information in their corporate annual report and secondly to determine the ::: implication of such reporting practices towards shareholders activism in this country. It is implied in this study that if the reporting practices is fair and the ::: level of shareholders activism is high, corporate governance practices could be significantly improved.", "Find and evaluate general company and industry information, financial information and statistics. Learn how to find information on an industry using databases and websites.", "This guide will help you compile a company or industry profile, including locating SEC financial materials and demographic information. Find resources to compile industry profiles", "Social and Environment (SE) reporting frameworks for examining the discharge of social and environmental accountabilities tend to be of a generalised nature and do not address industry-specific issues. This study attempts to address this limitation by developing an industry-specific corporate social reporting (CSR) framework for the Australian Food and Beverage Industry, and applies it, using content analysis, to the annual reports and corporate websites of a sample of companies. It finds that the companies reported more on industryspecific issues than CSR issues provided by the Global Reporting Initiative‘s 2002 Sustainability Guidelines (GRI, 2002). Further, this study finds that the companies tended to utilise corporate websites for their CSR reporting more so than annual reports, indicating the need for researchers to also consider corporate websites and other reporting media.", "Included in this LibGuide is information about finding articles, books and web resources on Japanese art.", "This chapter presents the hypothetical classifications of international accounting system and shows the three main information systems in details: the European accounting system, the US GAAP, and international accounting standards. Here, “accounting system” will be used in terms of the financial reporting practices employed by a company for an annual report. The systems could be classified into groups by similarities and differences. If all or most of the enterprises in a country use very similar accounting practices, this might suggest that countries can be classified on the basis of accounting practices.", "Provides database, electronic resources and print resources on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Websites, databases and print resources to help one understand IFRS standards", "This is the libguide version of the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education as laid out by the Association of College and Research Libraries.", "This paper sets out to analyze the disclosure of mandatory social and environmental information by a sample of large companies in Gipuzkoa after the new accounting standard «Plan General Contable 2007» was issued and came into force in Spain in 2008. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the new standard in the disclosure of mandatory social and environmental information. To that end the content analysis of the annual reports for 2007 and 2008 was carried out and two disclosure indexes were developed. Results evidence a high level of compliance with the standard but low quality information. Companies under study seem to respond to changes in the regulatory framework accepting it but in many cases only symbolically.", "Information Literacy is one of the six General Education Outcomes for Tri-C students. This LibGuide provides information about Information Literacy, rubrics/scoring guides, and sample assignments that incorporate Information Literacy outcomes.", "Use these resources to locate information on specific strategic initiatives of your companies.", "Graph use in annual reports is well documented, and research into photographs is gaining momentum, but less is known about their use in sustainability reports. This research analyses graph and photograph use in sustainability reports of more and less sustainability-driven companies. It aims to determine whether use of imagery differs between these groups in a way reflective of different legitimation tactics. Results suggest that less sustainable companies pursue legitimacy symbolically while sustainability-driven firms convey more about actual impacts and accomplishments. Some sustainability reporters appear, therefore, to be using imagery as a rhetorical “green-washing” tool in their communication with stakeholders.", "Guide to sources on corporate social responsibility and the \"green\" activities of companies", "The Libguide provides acces to the Library's key resources relevant to the field of Auditing, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Taxation. Explore the different resources and contact your Personal Librarian, Mante, if you need any assistance. Finding newspaper articles for your research", "Course Guide for BUS 451 - Strategic Analysis of a Corporation A guide to external literature websites", "A simple Libguide created to illustrate how using RSS feeds can simplify your life and help you avoid information overload", "Get information on the latest topics of interest. Pros/cons, background information and much more.", "This paper examines the nature of corporate social reporting (CSR) in the annual reports of a company in Malaysia and tries to explain whether the changes in disclosure level do conform with legitimacy theory. The published annual corporate reports of the multinational company, Shell Malaysia Berhad are analyzed over the period 1968-2003 inclusive with a view to providing insight into the causes of variability in CSR. Using content analysis, word counts measurement was employed to provide a more intensive method of data capture. The paper finds that whilst the expected upward trend in CSR is notable, the more interesting feature is the variability in disclosure between chairmen's terms in office. It is argued that the fluctuations in the levels of disclosure can be explained by the varying perceptions of reality of the successive chairmen. The legitimacy theory only partly explains the variability in CSR disclosure.", "The objective of this study is to examine transparency and disclosure (henceforth T&D) determinants for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) companies. Using a sample of 216 annual reports for companies followed by S&P/IFC and pertaining to 13 MENA emerging markets, we expect that the business milieu mostly inherited from the former British/French colonial era and shaped by privileged economic ties with the Anglo-American versus Continental European world has the potential to affect T&D. We investigate T&D determinants from a firm-level perspective. Our findings show that MENA companies from countries having historical links with Great Britain have substantially higher T&D scores than those from countries having historical links with France. Moreover, companies operating in the information technology sector exhibit higher levels of T&D. Multivariate analysis outlines that the nature of business culture, company size and the importance of intangibles affect positively the level of T&D in the MENA region.", "Union Pastoral Investments Ltd - Guide to Australian Business Records Corporate entry - The Guide to Australian Business Records is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of Australian business entities with links to related articles and images.", "This publication provides an overview of forest resource attributes for Connecticut based on an annual inventory conducted by the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program at the Northern Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service. These estimates, along with web-posted core tables, will be updated annually. For more information please refer to page 4 of this report.", "This guide will highlight resources to help you learn about and keep current on emerging technologies in the business world.", "Useful links and sites on Business research. Useful links and sites on Standards and Taxes & Securities", "This LibGuide provides resources for students taking LIS 2586: Health Sciences Resources and Services. Resources for the Drug Information Evaluation assignment", "You're researching for a 4-5 page paper on what social workers do....you need 4 to 5 credible sources...everything you need to start finding information is in this LibGuide! professional associations and government information", "The accounting profession and business community have called for educators to present accounting in more realistic business contexts. Annual reports and 10‐Ks provide a wealth of information that brings accounting to life, but use of these reports is typically confined to financial accounting courses. The first objective of this paper is to describe a process by which instructors can use a real companya's 10‐K to create a series of mini‐cases for cost and management accounting courses. These cases are intended to bridge the gap between typical end‐of‐chapter problems and full‐blown Harvard‐style cases. A series of cases based on the same company not only increases student interest, but is also an efficient way to help students understand and start to grapple with the ambiguity and complexity inherent in real‐world management accounting (factors absent from most structured textbook problems). Applying a variety of different management accounting tools and techniques to the same company helps students integ...", "Licensed Victuallers Co-op Bottle Exchange Ltd - Guide to Australian Business Records Corporate entry - The Guide to Australian Business Records is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of Australian business entities with links to related articles and images." ]

[ "I got this book for my partner's nephew when he had his first child. He loves to read it to her and act it out, aloud. She watches in rapt delight, and he always gets a smile on his face. It creates a deep bonding time for them each night!\n\n(The reviewer was compensated for posting this review. However, the opinion stated in the review is that of the reviewer and the reviewer alone. Further, the reviewer independently selected this product to review and has no affiliation with the product maker/distributor, Amazon or the review requester.)" ]

[ "This is and amazing find. My Great Grandfather and Helens Father started the Taos Society of Artists. Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein. This is a great book. Anyone interested in the Blumenschein family or the history of Taos should read this book. It is excellent", "These were for my father-in-law. He is 80 and has trouble with lace up shoes. These work excellent and fit wonderfully. This is the 2nd pair that we have bought for him.", "I was drawn to this book because I enjoyed the author's previous book Shadow of the Hawk, and while this book is a different genre, it is equally well-written.\nDealing with the sudden death of his mother, the mysterious disappearance of his father and a hideous aunt, Sam is drawn into a fusion of fantasy and Apache folklore. Younger readers will easily identify with the determination and courage of 10 year old Sam and Isabelle who work together to resolve the challenges they face. An excellent read!", "This story shows how different mines operate. I', just glad to be out of the mine safe. Had my father and father-in-law both killed in the Peabody Coal Mine #10. Interesting book to read.", "A parent's worst nightmare, your child has been kidnapped and later found murdered! Little Alex was only five years old when he died but he's found a way to connect with his father & relay what happened to him. Of course, at the beginning his father just thought he was losing his mind from the grief but acting on instincts, Ian not only found the second killer but another kidnapped child as well! Heartbreaking to read but an excellent read nonetheless!", "I've read or listened to all of her previous Mitford and Father Tim books, They were all great with the exception of the previous book about the wedding and this one. I was only able to get through CD #4 and I'm taking it back to the library. It's very boring, too wordy and no real plot to speak of. Perhaps Father Tim's books should see their end. It was a good run while it lasted.", "This novel is the autobiographical story of the author's childhood years growing up during the early 20th century, and is a snapshot portrait of the dynamics of his family. The author as \"Bunny\" is profiled in the first third of the book, followed by his older brother Robert, and lastly their father, all portrayed during a time of crisis in the family. The story is poignant, the writing is lyrical, and the characters are memorable. This would be an excellent choice for a book club. Don't be put off by the awful cover picture of a sullen and scowling child. If the publisher were trying to sabotage sales, they could hardly have picked a better turn-off.", "Alert!!! Alert!!! The A.C. Arthur story is listed as Book 3, when in fact, it is the first story in the Wintersage Wedding Series. Ms. Arthur starts the series off very well with Eve of Passion and Janelle Howerton and Ballard DuBois's story. I agree with the other reviews. The books are numbered incorrectly. In this story, Ballard and Jannell were a perfect match for one another on paper. As the story unfolds the couple must determine if they are a match for life. The drama with Janelle and her ex-fiance is a back story along with her father running for a political office. The initial request from Mr. Howerton to seek out the DuBois family to endorse his campaign seemed innocent enough. And later Ballard's father added a little extra incentive job offer to cement a merging of business empires was a little crass. In the end, the couple was able to find real passion beneath all the bravado.. A lovely story and excellent start for the series.", "I have read many books about Moloka'i and Father Damien. This novel takes place after Father Damien is gone. It is beautifully written and very historically accurate. I have visited the Hawaiian Islands including Moloka'i and could picture exactly where the characters where as I was reading. I read the book while on Ka'anapali Beach on Maui - looking at the island of Moloka'i. Very moving !", "This product was purchased as a Christmas present for a 12 year old boy who is an excellent chess player and a keen Harry Potter fan. As I did not use the chess set myself my review is based solely on feedback. It would seem that the set rekindled both the boy's and his father's interest in the game and was very much appreciated!", "Lenny Marcus studied jazz in New Orleans with Ray Bryant, who happened to be his father's best friend. Marcus learned much of his style from Bryant, as is evident in similarities between this album and Bryant's \"Somewhere in France,\" but Marcus also adds his own touches. The playing and the disk quality are both excellent.", "This is the 8th book in the series that I started just over a year, so you can tell I am hooked. I cant wait for last book, Unraveled next month. This book continues the story of Ruby and Ryan. They each heal one another, and fall in love while their pasts unfold from their respective parents. Will they survive Rubys father threats, find Ryans dead father and find clues as to where the missing girls are, you have to read to find out.", "It has taken me a couple days to write this review. There is so much to write about on the one hand, yet it is so simple on the \"big picture\" side.\nFirst, the writing. It is excellent. At times I just wanted to savor the words and the thoughts, yet Mr. Kendra's writing style kept me moving. That is a wonderful combination, when you want to slow, but the writing contains an innate excitement that keeps your eyes moving.\nNext, the \"memoir\". Mr. Kendra's life is the ancillary aspect of the book. He is the main supporting cast to the Father Joe. Mr. Kendra is brutally honest about himself - one can not help but think that he was a better person than he portrays himself to be.\nThe book tracks the author's spiritual life starting with an affair with a married woman when he was 14 years old which causes him to meet of Father Joe, with whom he mantains a relationship for the next few decades. After that meeting, the author spends several years planning and plotting to become a Benedictine monk. After finding comedy as a new object of worship, he completely abandons his faith, loses a wife and almost a second before he comes back to the fold.\nThat rendition gives the book such short shrift. It is filled with thought-provoking ideas about self, faith and relationships without getting sappy or tawdry. Father Joe is his friend, father, mentor and spiritual adviser who stays with him throughout leading him without pressure into self-realization.\nIf there is one theme of this book, it is not God or religion or even faith. It is the ability of a person to delude himself. Father Joe is instrumental in showing Kendra that lesson. The Benedictine idealism is Kendra's illusionary safe harbor that allows him to stray - it will always be there to redeem him if he needs it.\nThe book obviously has depth of feeling. It has gentle humor and brazen candor that prevents it from being sappy. It also contains philosophy and quotations from great thinkers that add a universality that will appeal to non-Catholics and even non-Christians. Those additions give the book an intellectual heft lacking in books like The Five People I Met in Heaven.\nOne criticism and word of caution. Have a dictionary close by - Kendra's vocabulary is envy inspiring. The criticism is that I wish he had included a few more translations of terms and passages.\nI can not recommend this book highly enough. This is a book I know I will return to - if not to read in full, then at least to enjoy again portions of its wisdom and wit.", "This book is about Miss Cristelle Stanton and Dr Seamus Craig. Christelle is an orphan and has been living in a school in Paris after her mother went to London. There were no more funds for the school so Christelle decides to go to London in search of her father. Her mother and father were not married and he doesn't know of her existence. So the story begins. I loved this book as I always do with this author's books and I highly recommend it.", "This story begins when a young girl finds a mysterious book in her father's library and questions him about it. The father begins to tell the story of his experience with the book and its connection to Dracula. The story is well researched, but it tends to drag a bit. After following the clues for hundreds of pages the reader is left anxious to get the some resolution. Overall, readers interested in this genre will enjoy the story, especially the last chapters where the story picks up significantly.", "Very well-written steamy love story.\nAriana and Daniel have a forbidden chemistry.\nDaniel is Ariana's doctor treating her for seizures. Both are secretly in love with the other.\nAriana has a stalker and needs help. She comes up with a plan and ask Daniel to pose as her husband, \"since he's the only male friend here\".\nSince Daniel would do anything for her, he poses as her husband.\nDaniel has Ariana come stay with him.\nSeveral things happen run ins with his father, their true love comes out, father causes Ariana to have a bad seizure, Daniel makes father leave, father marries Ariana's mother to spite Daniel and break up him and Ariana.\nThese are just a few things that happen.\nIt only gets better you have to read the book to find out the ending. This is a must read book. Stephanie Brothers has really gone above and beyond with this one.\nI'm volunteering to leave a review for an arc of this book.", "The characters were so real with their staunch beliefs. Franka came to see that she was not convinced of those beliefs, with her father's help to save his loving daughter. Franka was the hero... Her determination to save John many times and his mission. She was ever so brave when she finds John injured, with her new found endurance to help him survive as well as herself. I enjoyed the twists and turns that I had to read long into the night to finish the book. I have paraphrased the book with so much excitement to two friends and they have to know the end! Tears appeared when I finally read that John returns to get Franka. \"Once a Marine always a Marine\" He returns for his true love.\nThank u for writing an excellent book.", "Black and Jewish characters create a community amongst racism, prejudice, and economic hardship in early-20th century East Saint Louis. At the heart of the book are Minnie Fishbein and her father- Jews who escaped from Russia and run a funeral home, Mags, a naive young African-American woman, and Magnus Bailey, a businessman who takes Mags under his wing. Among them, the characters face tremendous pressures, from natural disasters, the Great Depression, and tremendous racism.\n\nThis book is beautifully written, and it provides an engaging story and beautifully realized characters. It does an excellent job showing the realities of racism in the first decades of the 20th century. Definitely recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction.", "I don't know if this ever happens to you, but when I love an author, I eagerly anticipate their next book, and often buy it shortly after it is released, because I can't wait to get my hands on it. This was definitely the case with Arthur Phillips, whose book The Song is You was among the best books I read in 2009. But sadly, although I've seen almost nothing but fantastic reviews for his latest book, The Tragedy of Arthur, I was really disappointed by it.\n\nThe concept behind the book is really interesting. The narrator is an author named Arthur Phillips. Just before his death, Arthur's father, who made his living as a con artist and forger, gave Arthur what he claimed was a long-lost Shakespeare play, The Tragedy of Arthur. His father's dying request was that Arthur do the necessary research to prove that the play was legitimately written by Shakespeare and then ensure its publication, sharing the proceeds with his mother, sister and one of his father's associates. Arthur's twin sister, Dana, and their father shared a lifelong love of Shakespeare, which Arthur felt he needed to compete with; in fact, he became an author to prove to his father he was capable of creating something that caused people to feel things. As the verification of the manuscript continues, Arthur begins to question whether the play is legitimate or his father's last big con, and struggles with what to do, with both the play and his life--and major consequences ensue.\n\nThe first half of the novel is supposed to be Arthur's introduction to Random House's version of the play, while the second half is the play itself. While I really liked the concept of the book, Arthur's character is tremendously unlikeable (despite his struggles with his father), and I stopped caring what happened to him. The mess he proceeds to make of his life--and how those around him deal with those mistakes--was probably the most intolerable part of the book, because it felt tremendously false. I felt as if Phillips tried to throw a lot of things into this book; some of it stuck and some of it didn't, at least for me. If you're a Shakespeare fan, there is some really interesting information to be gleaned from the book, and the \"Shakespeare play\" itself is fascinating. But I guess I'll just wait for Phillips' next book and see if it resonates for me more like his last book than this one.", "If you love the Blessed Mother Mary, then, you need to read this book. You will learn to love her more deeply. If you either don't know her or do not understand Catholic devotion to Mary, Father Cameron's book will enlighten and educate. Father Cameron will teach you how to open your heart to Mary and love her as a devoted Catholic. His writings are deeply moving, flowing and engrossing. His devotion to Mary is evident in his profoundly heart-felt book. I have highlighted much of the book to pick up again and\nagain to ignite in me the message of love and beauty which resonates throughout.", "This story is a sequel to the episode,\"All of Yesterday's\".\nThis book was the best! The characters are believable and weave into the storyline excellently. The character of Zar(Spock's son)was handled well. The conflicts between a father and son are written well. The plot and storyline is seemless from beginning to end. Spock, McCoy, and Kirk go back in time via the Guardian of Forever to the planet Sarpeidon to find Spock's son, and bring him to the Present. Also, later, the Romulans capture the Guardian of Forever, not knowing its a time portal. They think its a secret Starfleet base. Zar then helps Kirk and the Enterprise stop the Romulans headed by Sub-Commander Tal (\"Enterprise Incident\").\nThis book must be on your list as a must-read for Star Trek books! Check out the sequel, \"Time for Yesterday\" by A.C. Crispin\nRead on!", "This is an excellent book. The story is excellent and the plot and characters are great. Must read for anyone likes to read fantasy books. Stupendous !!!!!", "I found this book to be a total waste of my time. It was left leaning , liberal in writing and did not discuss , who the founders were and was a poor attempt to rewrite history. It left out critical statements, even well known quotes and the stands of most of the Founding Fathers and their true, deep beliefs of the God they all trusted, depended on and believed in. I am a descendant of William Bradford and even some of the Founding Fathers. Almost all of the Founding Fathers quoted and referred , and made reference to the scriptures , and acknowledged God as either being a deep part of their lives and our Government . The Founding Fathers were continually making reference to the God of the Bible and their willing statements and acknowledging of a Higher Power, referencing God , even The Lord. Why would the author leave something out so important as the Founding Fathers core beliefs and their source of their strength and knowledge? Almost all of the Founding Fathers were from the original colony of Separatists and Pilgrims from 1620, who knew who the God of the Bible was and they STUDIED it. Enough literature that supports what I have said as compared to the authors referring statements, is well known and documented. That the author would weave his ideas that the Founding Fathers were possibly Humanist , Secularist, Diest or even Agnostics or Atheists ,is just deception . At best , it is an attempt to REWRITE history to try and throw God out of our Nations Earliest Leaders lives and our Nations incredible history . Reading this book leaves you wondering if they were all lacking of any belief and trust in God . It is a subtle attempt to show that these men were possibly immoral, not sanctified, not led by God and just a large group of non believers . Not only does this book leave my library of over 800 books , many on this subject, but I sent it back to the dealer when I finished it to receive a refund .....The only thing that I can say about the book that is good is the last word of the title...RECONSIDER.... Which I did. \"Try the spirits and see if they be of God\". This author has failed to bring anything, to point to the Founding Fathers as good , and Godly men. Rather makes them appear as imprudent , ignorant of any Creation or of God's presence , and leaves them as appearing to having to depend upon their own devices and own beliefs , even pointing to, that there is no God. And in his description , saying that they were \"imperfect humans\" with no God. His \"Age of Enlightenment of the Atlantic civilization \" leaves out who , and confuses , who were the REAL Founding Fathers . And more important who their real God was, and how they trusted and depended on Him. The author totally left this out. I am sorry , but probably one of the most discouraging works I have read on the Founding Fathers . This book is next to Voltaire and his thoughts on God. \" The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.", "Enjoyed this book from start to finish. Excellent writing. Excellent characters. Looking forward to\nanother book from this author.", "A review of the book, \"A Promise Kept\"\nWritten by Michael Pungercar\nReview by Gordon Alton, author of \"Diary of the First Combat Wing\"\n\n This book was the fulfillment of a promise Michael made to his father before his father passed on. He promised that he would record his father's experiences gained while the senior Pungercar flew in the air war over Europe during WWII. Initially, it was so that the family would know what he had gone through. He took it one step further than writing a short history for the family, and this book is the result. Not only is this a family record of one man's experiences, it is an excellent historical record about that period in time some seven decades past.\n Michael has expanded on his father's personal experiences and interlaced them with a well researched history of the 91st Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force. The \"Mighty Eighth\", as it came to be known, was the culmination of the attempt to take the war to the heartland of Nazi Germany. This book covers this period, especially as it pertains to the 91st Bomb Group, in an interesting and gripping read. The research and personal stories are wound together in a very readable format that will keep even the uninitiated interested from start to finish.\n \"A Promise Kept\" covers the history of the 91st as it was formed and dispatched to Europe in late 1942. The 91st was one of the first four groups sent to England as the vanguard of the air war against Hitler. Follow the birth of the air war, to the first unescorted raids when fighters were a menace, up to the latter stages of the air war in 1944 and 1945 when the \"Little Friends\", the P51 fighters, escorted the bomber groups deep into the German heartland. The background history and facts and figures that have been provided really add to the feeling the reader gets that they are reading history as it happened. Add to this the 100 or more photos of planes, airmen, and bomb missions, and one gets a real feel for the air war as it unfolded.\n Michael was lucky enough to interview a number of veterans who chose to share some of their more intimate experiences. He combines the interviews with historical facts and background, and the photos with missions. Not much is left to the imagination. It is all there, and I challenge anyone who has read this book to say they have not come away with a better understanding of what these men had to endure during their time overseas.\n If you have an interest in WWII, especially as it pertains to the air war over Europe, then buy this book. It belongs in your history collection. Congratulations on a job well done, Michael. You have done your father proud, and kept the promise you made to him, and then some.", "My father served on the Princeton, pictured at the end of the book, but the Korean War Crusie he was on was late 1950 51. Hurrying VF 191, or Blue Angel Pilots to Korea with these aircraft" ]

[ "Novelist Dina Nayeri always remembers something a professor told her: \"You can either have roots or wings, but if you try to have both, you're probably going to fail.\" Nayeri says her father, who is from a small town in Iran, is all roots. \"He has his habits and his comforts ... \" she says. \"He feels deeply secure in his life and his place in the world.\" That's never been true for her. She's lived and traveled all over the world. \"I'm a bit of a chameleon, but I don't feel like any place is home,\" she says. \"There's no place where I can really say, you know, I feel complete and at ease.\" In her new novel Refuge, Nayeri tells a story very much like her own. Nayeri left Iran with her mother when she was 8 years old. Her father stayed behind. The same is true of the book's protagonist, a character named Niloo. Niloo's father even comes from the same Iranian small town as Nayeri's father. It's \"an ancient village of unpaved roads, dotted in crushed mulberries, hand-crafted outdoor rugs swept with brooms, rows of pickle jars the size of children lining every house,\" Nayeri writes. Nayeri's mother converted to Christianity, so she had to flee Iran with her children to escape persecution. While Nayeri's father continued his familiar Iranian life, his daughter traveled the world, moving to the U.S. and then to Europe. The divide between father and daughter helped define her life, and it defines this novel. Refuge explores the tension between being tied to the homeland and the urge to assimilate. Interview Highlights On the importance of a spice mix In many parts of rural Iran ... they make one spice mix every year. ... All of the women in the village gather together and they mix this blend with 30 different spices. It's got turmeric and cumin and coriander and all of these different things ... various teas ... rose petals ... and each year, it's a little bit different from the last. Everyone gets their jar and that year, everyone's dishes kind of taste the same. The next year, you kind of know if people are using last year's spice. It's a very beautiful tradition. ... If you are [living abroad] and sent a bottle of that, it's almost like just having a piece of your old life appear at your doorstep. On losing a bottle of this special spice mix, a scenario she recreates in her novel It got tossed away by accident, and I searched for days. I looked all over. And the meltdown that I had was much more dramatic than the one that Niloo has. I couldn't let it go. I tried to, you know, remix it myself. I tried to find out what was in it. I went and looked in the garbage outside. It was gone. I couldn't find it again. ... That particular mix, I mean, it had my grandmother's fingers in it. It had tasted like the food at home. I had another 100 or so meals in my future that would have included it. ... I have a new mix now that my mother made. It's different and it's lovely but not the same. On whether her father has read the book No, but he read the New Yorker article. And it's actually funny the things that he chooses to object to. For example, he was very upset that I called [his hometown] a \"village\" ... he said: It is a city and it has been a city for a while now. So if you're going to be a serious writer, perhaps you should research that. And then he also didn't like little things, like, I said he was aging. He doesn't care about what people think about his choices. He made his choices. He's happy with them. He's a bonvivant, but he doesn't like being told that he's getting older or that his city is a village. On her father coming to visit her in the U.S. When I was a teenager, I was so embarrassed by my parents, especially by my father the two times that he came to visit. I mean, he radiated Iran and Iranian-ness. And that was a moment in my life where I wanted to put that aside. ... Imagine the kind of divide that already exists between teenage girls and their fathers ... [it] was all of that same stuff plus the complication of the fact that this was a man from Iran. He had landed right in the middle of my world and with all of the friends that I was trying to make, and all of the images that I was trying to build for myself. And here he was just absolutely destroying them. So I picked on him a lot about that. ... I asked him not to speak Farsi ... [to stop] negotiating in stores. ... At one point, he just got tired of it and said: You know, maybe I should just wash all this away before I come and be a blank slate. On trying to pass Iranian culture onto her daughter I'm trying to keep a balance. ... She already loves the food. ... We mushed it up for her and gave it to her when she was 8 months old. And she loves the music and she loves, you know, hearing my mother speak Farsi to her. But I don't want to force that on her. I want her to choose. I think also that generation is going to be very different from us. I mean, they live in a different world. ... I don't think a girl like her will be influenced by just one or t" ]

[ "Masego is one of music's most promising chameleons. The Virginia-hailing multi-instrumentalist and purveyor of all things traphousejazz (a subgenre he coined in the beginning of his career) is gearing up to release a funky debut album this fall. \"Old Age\" is a cheeky ode to the women Masego admires (and desires) who happen to occupy a different age bracket than his own. The song's melody, intertwined with jests from Instagram comedian Renny, jumps and jolts like a bottle rocket of sound sputtering through the air and the nimble bass draws inspiration from funkmasters like Bootsy Collins. \"I need a sugar mama, old lady, foxy mama, sophisticated / Old age don't me nothin' to me,'\" Masego sings during the chorus. Masego says the song's message draws from his own past romantic woes, but the specific idea was sparked after he watch a performance by comedian Katt Williams. \"The main theme of that show was how slept-on older women are,\" Sego tells NPR Music. \"They got food in their fridge, make love better, and can just know what they want outta life ... At that time in my life, I was also attempting to court this older woman. She was feelin' me, I was feelin' her, the only issue was somebody got the thought in her head that our age difference meant we can't work.\" \"Old Age\" marks second released single from the upcoming album after \"Lady Lady\" and the second collaboration between Masego and SiR, the resident crooner of Los Angeles-based label Top Dawg Entertainment. Masego was featured on SiR's 2017 EP Her Too on the track \"Oh Nah Nah.\" When Masego was creating \"Old Age,\" he tapped SiR for a feature before the track was even finished. \"There's few people that make music as fast as me, so SiR's in my Hall of Fame section of my phone,\" he explains. \"I hit him with the track via text just to show him what I've been up to and when he heard 'Old Age,' he blessed it with a verse like it was nothin'. Dude just coasted on the beat while on tour with Kendrick [Lamar] in Australia, I think, and that's all she wrote. When things line up, the music just flows.\"", "Actress, comedian and writer Amy Sedaris plays our game called \"Drinking this much will win me a Pulitzer Prize, or make not winning a lot easier to take.\" She answers three questions about the drinking habits of great authors taken from the book Hemingway and Bailey's Bartending Guide. Originally broadcast Feb. 14, 2009. : Hospitality Under the Influence.\" When she joined us in December of 2006 - along with Charlie Pierce, Mo Rocca and Amy Dickinson - we started by asking her to explain the title. M: Because when you invite someone into your home, be it a dealer or boyfriend, whatever, you're saying \"I like you.\" (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) PETER SAGAL, Host: Right. M: Right? Yeah. That's why. SAGAL: I understand. M: And \"Under the Influence\" really is about, you know, I was influenced by Girl Scouts and Junior Achievements and my second first-grade teacher - you know, all the things that I've been, you know, influenced by. And then I have a whole chapter on how - what a pain in the butt it is to entertain people who do get drunk, or really messed up on something - how they can single- handedly bring your party to a screaming halt, because they always think they're the life of the party but really, they bring it down. SAGAL: Now, I noticed - I was leafing through the book, and I noticed it has many recipes. M: Yeah, OK, yeah. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: And I just... M: And lots of pictures and large print. SAGAL: Oh yeah, lots of pictures and large print. M: Uh-huh. SAGAL: I'm sure you... M: I really kept the illiterate in mind, because a lot of people who can't read, that's one thing, and then there are a lot of people who just don't know how to read. So I wanted to do a visual book so that when they saw the picture, it would inspire them to write their own story in their head. SAGAL: Right. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Do you advise - I mean, are these real recipes? If I make... M: Yeah, I took it seriously. A lot of the humor came from Paul Dinello making fun of the fact that I was trying to be serious. So I decided to make it a little bit more entertaining than I originally wanted to, because I just don't like joke cookbooks. And it would just go into a wacky pile, and nobody would take it seriously. So it's all real. SAGAL: Including, like, your list of munchies? M: Munchies! (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: Yeah, that was a hard list to come up with. SAGAL: Yeah, I could tell because... M: Someone thought I was holding a hummingbird feeder in that picture, and it's a bong. It's so funny to me. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: Because it's like, why would I be holding a hummingbird feeder, looking like that? That's so funny to me. SAGAL: I mean, the list starts out OK. M: That could explain why the hummingbirds fly upside down and backwards in my yard. SAGAL: Yeah. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: I thought it was a hummingbird feeder when I found it in the garage. M: They got some good chronic; that's what it is. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: Forgotten I owned that. SAGAL: Well, Amy Sedaris, we are delighted to have you with us. We have asked you here to play a game we're calling... : \"Drinking This Much Will Either Win Me a Pulitzer Prize, or Make Not Winning a Lot Easier to Take.\" (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Not all great writers are drinkers but certainly, it often seems that way. We recently came across a book called \"Hemingway and Baileys Bartending Guide.\" M: Wow. SAGAL: It's a book of anecdotes and cocktail recipes from the country's famous authors. We'll ask you three questions about the drinking habits of literary geniuses in history. M: OK. SAGAL: Get two questions right; you will win our prize for one of our listeners, Carl's voice on their home answering machine. M: Wow, OK. SAGAL: So Carl, who is Amy Sedaris playing for? : Amy is playing for David Tuttle of Arcadia, California. M: OK. SAGAL: All right, you ready? M: Yes. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Here we go. Here's your first question. There are big drinkers, and then there's Jack Kerouac. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: The author of \"On the Road\" once got so drunk he did what? A, he roasted, cut up and ate a Goodyear truck tire; B, he enlisted in the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines on the same day... (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Or C, he got married to a 47-year-old elevator operator who spoke no English? M: Oh, they're all so good, Sophie's choice. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: I'm going to say three. SAGAL: You're going to say he got married to that 47-year-old elevator operator who spoke no English? M: It's not true. I'm going to say three, but I bet it's two. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Well, which are you going to say? I don't want you to... M: I am saying three, but I bet it's two. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: I don't know what this says about you; it is the second choice. It's B, yes. M: Yeah, it is. Yeah. SAGAL: It was the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. M: I knew it. SAGAL: So why didn't you... M: Because that's what I would do. I wou", "Patti Smith is a survivor whose dreams prod her to \"redeem the lost\" by writing about them with \"some sliver of personal revelation.\" In Just Kids, her 2010 National Book Award-winning memoir about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, she rued the loss of so many friends and colleagues to drugs, suicide, cancer, AIDS and \"misadventure.\" (Mapplethorpe, whom she memorably called \"the blue star in the constellation of my personal cosmology,\" succumbed to AIDS in 1989.) Smith's latest memoir, M Train, again evokes people who died far too young, including — most devastatingly — her husband Fred \"Sonic\" Smith, who died at age 45 in 1994, and her brother, Todd, who died exactly one month later. More than two decades have passed, yet the absences remain acute enough to bring tears on a flight to Tokyo, when an actor in an inflight movie reminds her of Fred. \"Just come back, I was thinking,\" she writes. \"You've been gone long enough. Just come back. I will stop traveling; I will wash your clothes.\" Unlike the relatively straightforward, chronological narrative of Just Kids, M Train drifts fluidly between a fugue state of memories, dreams, and a largely solitary present. The tone is elegiac, melancholic, and meditative, filled with wistful flashbacks and haunting Polaroid snapshots — including many of Fred, whom she calls \"my human angel from Detroit.\" Smith wonders, \"If I write about the past as I simultaneously dwell in the present am I still in real time?\" But M Train — which takes its title from the subway line near Smith's Greenwich Village home — is also energized by her keen interests and obsessions. These include her passion for coffee and her beloved neighborhood cafes, where she writes on scraps of napkins; a rundown property she buys near the beach in Far Rockaway, Queens, just weeks before Hurricane Sandy devastates the area in October, 2012; television detective mysteries, which she binge-watches; and Haruki Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. She keeps moving, jetting around the world for performances and conferences as well as far-flung pilgrimages to the graves of artistic heroes, many of whom also died prematurely — often by their own hands. These abiding sources of inspiration include Roberto Bolaño, Frida Kahlo, Sylvia Plath, and several Japanese writers and filmmakers. Her description of Plath merits being carved in stone: \"A poet with hair worthy of a Breck commercial and the incisive observational powers of a female surgeon cutting out her own heart.\" The book's present spans the year before and after Hurricane Sandy, when Smith finds herself in \"a light yet lingering malaise. Not a depression, more like a fascination for melancholia, which I turn in my hand as if it were a small planet, streaked in shadow, impossibly blue.\" Trips to Mexico, Germany, and Japan galvanize her, while dreams color her landscape. \"Tell a dream, lose a reader,\" Henry James famously warned. Smith spends a lot of time in the land of nod, and readers may find themselves drifting off occasionally. But then she reels us back in with a fresh wonder. In a recurrent dream, a mysterious cowpoke (who could have stepped out of a play by her long-ago lover, Sam Shepard) warns her that \"It's not so easy writing about nothing.\" Smith never writes about nothing. She writes about her married life in Michigan, \"An era of small pleasures. When a pear appeared on the branch of a tree and fell before my feet and sustained me.\" She writes about the challenges of writing, and about how images \"have their way of dissolving and then abruptly returning, pulling along the joy and pain attached to them like tin cans rattling from the back of an old-fashioned wedding vehicle.\" She writes about how losing Fred and Todd in close succession left her \"numb ... dreading my own imagination ... imprisoned in ice,\" and how, after moving back to New York, \"slowly the leaves of my life turned.\" She writes about her propensity for losing things, even cherished objects like a favorite black coat or Polaroid camera. And she writes — so exquisitely, \"Maybe we can't draw flesh from reverie nor retrieve a dusty spur, but we can gather the dream itself and bring it back uniquely whole.\"", "Charlotte Gainsbourg is a cultivated enigma: The French actress and singer has hardly missed a step in a long career that began in adolescence. Her voice is luscious, magnetic, haunting and a bit breathy. The daughter of the late French singer Serge Gainsbourg and the British singer-actress Jane Birkin made her music debut at 13 in a duet with her father. Since then, she's become an award-winning actress, starring alongside the likes of Willem Dafoe and Sean Penn. Now in her late 30s, she's released her third album, IRM, which is the French acronym for MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. As the victim of a water-skiing accident, Gainsbourg has undergone numerous brain scans, and her test results were not always encouraging. \"I actually had a hole in my head,\" Gainsbourg says. \"Straight after going through the surgery, when I realized I was still alive, I was relieved, of course. And it's true that you look at life in a different way. But that disappears after a few months.\" Gainsbourg says the idea for the album came while listening to the sounds of the MRI machine — an idea that her producer, singer Beck, loved. \"We went into many different directions that had nothing to do with that, but then I called the entire album IRM, because it was the most personal thing that I had put in this album,\" she says. \"So it made sense.\" In addition to producing IRM, Beck co-wrote Gainsbourg's lyrics. Gainsbourg says she was impressed by Beck's ability to write a narrative that she could relate to. \"I have the impression that he was able to see through me,\" she says. \"The album is very personal. It's very intimate.\" The album is in stores now, and has received a great deal of critical acclaim. But Gainsbourg says the real reward comes from journeying into the unknown — from pushing herself. \"I was entering [Beck]'s world, his culture, his words,\" she says. \"That's what I'm excited about: the discovery.\" JACKI LYDEN, Host: Charlotte Gainsbourg is a cultivated enigma. The French actress and singer has hardly put a foot wrong in a long career that began in adolescence. Her voice is luscious, magnetic, haunting and a bit breathy. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG \"MASTER HANDS\") M, Host: (Singing) Pull my strings and cut my rope, rattle my frame and shatter my ghost. And if I can't get back in line, they're gonna break me down until the broad daylight comes through... LYDEN: Gainsbourg is the daughter of the late French singer Serge Gainsbourg and the British singer-actress Jane Birkin. Charlotte Gainsbourg made her music debut at the age of 13 when she dueted on the song \"Lemon Incest,\" with her father. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG \"LEMON INCEST\") M: (Singing) Oh, oh, baby. M: (Singing) (French spoken) LYDEN: Since then, she's become an award-winning actress and has started alongside the likes of Willem Dafoe and Sean Penn. She's now in her late 30s and has released her third album called \"IRM,\" and she joins us from the studios of Studio Line in Paris. Charlotte Gainsbourg, it's lovely to have you with us on the program. M: Oh my god, what a portrait. Thanks a lot. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) LYDEN: Well, we do our homework. Would you explain this: I know that it's the French acronym for MRI, because you've had some brain scans, but I'll let you tell that story. M: Well, yes. It all began for me with an accident. Waterskiing. I had a lot of MRIs to go through, surgery and so quite a traumatic time for me. But hearing those sounds in that scan machine, I felt that I just wanted to do something with those sounds, put them on music. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) M: It was my first input on an idea of a song. And then I started working with Beck and then talked to him about this idea that he loved and that's how we did it. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG \"IRM\") M: (Singing) Take a picture, what's inside? Ghost image in my mind. Neural pattern like a spider. Capillary to the center. Hold still and press the button. Looking through a glass onion... LYDEN: The lyrics, which I believe he wrote, say: take a picture, what's inside? Ghost imaging my mind. M: Neural pattern like a spider. He wrote all the lyrics and apparently he didn't know that I had had that accident, that I actually had a hole in my head. LYDEN: You came so close to the edge. Could I just - the fatal edge, and I'm so sorry that you did. How has it changed your outlook on life, or has it? M: It changed straight after going through the surgery when I realized that I was still alive. And it's true that you look at life in a different way but that disappears after a few months. I didn't really like what I saw about myself after that accident because I became very, very fragile. It took me a very long time to overcome all of this. And the work on the album helped me a lot. LYDEN: What did you do like about Beck's work that made you want to work with him? There must be quite a bit actually. M: Quite a bit. I love his work. I'm very, very attracted to his voice. It's a weird thing of, you know, wanting to work with some", "The narrators of Francine Prose's novel Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 are not to be trusted. In describing the life of Lou Villars, French racecar driver, cross dresser and Gestapo torturer, Prose tells a complex story about the malleability of truth when everybody is a collaborator. Lou is based on Violette Morris, the real-life Olympian and spy who fed the Germans information about weakness in the French defenses. In the photograph that inspired the novel, Brassai's Lesbian Couple at Le Monocle, a thin, pretty girl stares into the distance. Morris, her lover, a stocky woman in a man's suit, grazes her elbow possessively with her fingers. In the novel, Le Monocle becomes the titular Chameleon Club, and the thin girl is Arlette, who leads Lou down the path to extremism. A cross-dressing Nazi spy! An icy baroness with a secret conscience! A photographer who Lives For His Art! An aging Hungarian chanteuse whose lover drowned at sea! These are just some of the characters that populate the novel. Chameleonlike, Prose switches voices, from the photographer writing cringing, oily letters home asking for more money, to the unhinged biographer who can't leave herself out of Lou's story, to the memoirs of two women who worked for the French Resistance and loved the same man. And at the center sits Lou Villars, impenetrable as a stone. Alas, if the characters were less flamboyantly interesting-with-a-capital-i, they might be a little more interesting. They feel like set pieces, circus acts like the Bearded Lady who works at the Chameleon Club. It is not enough to be a lesbian Nazi spy or tortured Hungarian artist. You must also be a person. This tendency to let lurid descriptors stand in for psychological complexity is most egregious in the first half of the novel. The later parts of the book, which deal with the Nazi occupation of France, are better because they show the way these characters strive to pardon themselves: After the war, everybody says they worked for the Resistance. The Baroness is one of the most compelling narrators in this cast of characters — she has a slight acidity, and is occasionally even funny. Smuggling a refugee across the French border, taking pills to stay awake, she writes, \"I wish our conversation could have been recorded. I found it intensely interesting: the jabbering of two women high on Nazi amphetamines and the prospect of freedom. But maybe it would have sounded like those tedious postwar novels about a beatnik road trips through the American West.\" The Baroness, like everybody else, is looking for absolution. Criticized for buying art cheaply from desperate artists, she writes, \"As for those who have criticized me for amassing a priceless art collection so inexpensively, let them search their own hearts and ask themselves what they would have done in my position ... One of my hopes is that the proceeds from this memoir will help me find a way to share that beauty with the world, preferably in an architecturally significant small museum or rural foundation.\" This is Prose's humor at its understated best. But often, to know that something is supposed to be a parody is not enough to get the reader through the many long pages of unimaginatively purple prose. And when the parody is so restrained as to be undetectable, then we are left with just unlovely writing. This is not a bad book. But the ghosts of the better books it could have been flit frustratingly around the edges.", "In 1975, writer Alice Walker wrote an essay about her search for Zora Neale Hurston. In the process, Walker helped lift from obscurity the work and life story of the most widely published black woman author of the 1930s Harlem Renaissance. Walker -- author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple -- never met Hurston. But she says she feels a profound connection to her. For Intersections, a series on artists and their inspirations, Walker talks with NPR's Vertamae Grosvenor. Hurston was a trained anthropologist as well as a writer, and her stories -- about fruit pickers and hoodoo workers in sawmill and turpentine camps -- create an intimate portrait of southern black rural life. For Walker, Hurston looms as a disciplined, loving authority figure, a grandmother of sorts for black culture who provides \"cultural nourishment\" and \"spiritual food.\" When Hurston died in 1960, her stories and books had gone out of print. Langston Hughes, who knew Hurston in the 1930s, included Hurston's \"The Gilded Six Bits\" in a 1967 anthology titled The Best Short Stories by Black Writers. Although Walker also had a story included in that volume, she says it took her years to discover Hurston's work, published just pages away from her own. Several years later, a neighbor lent Walker a copy of Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. That prompted Walker to research Hurston's life and work. In 1973, Walker came across Hurston's unmarked grave in Ft. Pierce, Fla. She purchased a headstone for Hurston's tomb and had it inscribed \"A Genius of the South.\" Later, she edited a Hurston reader, taking its title from a Hurston quote: I Love Myself When I Am Laughing and Then Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive. Though some have accused Hurston's work of portraying blacks as minstrel characters, Walker says Hurston was \"wildly in love with people of color\" and wanted to make sure they had a foundation in their own reality. \"Without a foundation in our own reality -- you can see this happening all the time -- people don't know what to do,\" Walker says.\"They don't know what to buy, they don't know what kind of house to live in… they don't know who they are. For god's sake and for goddesses' sake… appreciate who you are. There is nobody finer on this planet for you to emulate than yourself.\"", "Sarah Paulson filmed her performance in HBO’s “Coastal Elites” during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic without any co-stars. Premiering Saturday night, “Coastal Elites” features Paulson playing a meditation instructor whose Trump-supporting family drives her crazy. Performing the role alone with only a handful of crew members made her realize how much she loves acting with other people and looking into their eyes, she says. And loneliness wasn’t her only qualm with filming at home: Queso droppings from the craft service table on her deck ended up all over her backyard furniture. Watch on YouTube. Written by humorist Paul Rudnick, “Coastal Elites” was intended to be a live theater performance. Bringing the role to life alone in her home changed the dynamic in a strange way for Paulson. “The community of filmmaking or stage work or anything in that world is to me about being with your fellow performers, your crew, your backstage staff, your dressers,” she says. “I mean, all of it is, for me, such a fundamental part of what&#8217;s enjoyable about it. And so this was sort of lonely.” Many Americans have experienced her character’s conflict of political differences among family, she says. Paulson’s grandparents were previously supportive of President Trump, but she says she’s “not as brave” as her character and avoids political discussions with them. People may want to avoid divisive conversations to maintain a loving relationship with family — but then find themselves screaming across the dinner table, she says. Over on Netflix, Paulson plays a nurse in a 1940s mental hospital who becomes a proponent of the lobotomy in &#8220;Ratched,” which drops next Friday. Listed as one of the top 50 movie villains of all time, her character was made famous by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo&#8217;s Nest.” &#8220;Ratched” tells the origin story of Nurse Mildred Ratched — which was “daunting” for Paulson considering the potential that her performance could disappoint Netflix viewers and fans of the original film. Watch on YouTube. Paulson co-executive produced the series with writer-producer Ryan Murphy, who she’s worked with for almost a decade on shows such as “American Horror Story” and “American Crime Story.” The writer-producer empowered her to take on the title and own a piece of the series, she says. Murphy felt she earned the opportunity — which she took seriously, she says. “It suits me, only in so much as that I&#8217;m a massive control freak and I think I always have my hands in too many pots on the set,” she says. “And I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s unpleasant for a lot of people.” As far as her relationship with Murphy, Paulson says he would need to explain the mystery of why he likes working with her. For Paulson, the “extreme” worlds Murphy creates gives actors a responsibility to find grounded truth in their roles. From both an acting and creative standpoint, working in this world lets her explore her internal self and imagination. “I think for whatever reason, I&#8217;m able to interpret his desired tone in a way that makes me feel really liberated and free as an actress because there’s sort of like no limit to what you can do,” she says. “It&#8217;s sort of in the Ryan world, you better go big or go home.” Paulson doesn’t shy away from taking on iconic roles, whether the characters are based on real people or fictional. She won an Emmy for playing O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark in Murphy’s “American Crime Story.” She sees a parallel between the roles of real-life Clark and Nurse Ratched, a fictional character who was part of a famous movie and seems real to a lot of fans. Playing Clark made Paulson appreciate the value of having a “blueprint” to base her performance on, she says. Despite the stricter boundaries of playing a real person, Paulson felt a sense of freedom in working with the facts of who Clark was and what the prosecutor brought to the high-profile murder case. For both Clark and Ratched, Paulson says playing well-known characters requires making herself vulnerable to criticism on the success of her performance. “Sometimes when you&#8217;re creating something out of whole cloth, anything goes,” she says. “And when anything goes, I can sometimes feel a little bit paralyzed by the possibility of you can choose it all.” On top of her two upcoming shows, Paulson also plays a 1970s housewife who becomes an assistant to anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly in Hulu’s “Mrs. America.” While it’s been “dicey” for Paulson to talk about her experience during the pandemic because of the struggles many people are facing, she says this time has served as a breather from working non-stop over the past six years. Without having to set alarms at 3:45 in the morning to make sure she’s on set in time, Paulson realized how much she values structure and “the ritual of going to work.” “Now that I have found myself for the last several months not working, it has felt oddly like I&#8217;m bein", "Katie Roiphe's preoccupation with death goes back to her childhood, when she contracted virulent pneumonia at the age of 12. She was sick for a year and thought she was going to die. Her terror of death was reignited many years later when her father died. It was then that Riophe found herself turning to great minds to see how they confronted mortality. She initially told herself that she wanted to \"understand it better,\" she tells NPR's Melissa Block, but she soon realized that was a lie. \"I was actually trying to see it,\" she explains. \"It sounds really simple, but it's actually a very difficult thing to do. So that was my goal, to sort of focus in really closely on the final days of these writers and thinkers, and just look.\" In The Violet Hour, Roiphe describes the last days of Sigmund Freud, James Salter, Maurice Sendak, Susan Sontag, John Updike and Dylan Thomas. She talks with Block about how these writers and thinkers accepted, or railed against, their fate. Interview Highlights On John Updike, who wrote poems in the hospital after being diagnosed with lung cancer It was amazing. He had very little time — just weeks before he was dead. I actually went up and looked at the manuscripts and you can see in his handwriting how arduous it was. At that last moment, when most people would just be watching television or railing against the universe, that was what he did and I found it very moving. ... The poems have a sort of quality of reporting — that he's bringing news. And he talks about writing as turning pain into honey, which I find a really beautiful way to think about what writers do: taking this incredibly awful — maybe the most awful thing that can happen to you — and turning it into honey just with words. On Susan Sontag, who endured brutal treatments for cancer She had written so eloquently about the importance of not turning illness into a metaphor — of not embellishing and fantasizing and being really realistic and rational when it comes to your own illness — and she was unable to do that ironically in her own life. ... She thought to herself she would be the exception even to the rule of mortality. That somehow, as she had with her earlier cancers famously, she was going to defeat death in some way. And even though the odds were against her — she was 71-years-old getting a bone marrow transplant — even in those situations, she felt this time she wouldn't die. At the one hand, it's the opposite of a good death, it's almost the anatomy of how you don't want to die. On the other hand, I did see something kind of heroic in the power and force of her will. On how mortality was a constant companion for writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak He was certainly preoccupied with death for his entire life, and one of the things that fascinated me about him is the way, in his art and famous children's books, he worked on this problem year after year. Like when his parents died, or when his brother died, he just kept working on this problem and worked it through in drawing after drawing and draft after draft. And he sort of came out freeing himself to a certain extent from this obsession. He was very depressed at certain points of his life and he used his art as a way of countering that. It was a sort of medication for that almost. On Sendak owning John Keats' death mask It's really very beautiful. When I saw it — he has it in a guest room with a blue bedspread — there are kind of stuffed animals on the bed. It's a very bizarre scene and very Sendak, and I thought to myself, \"Who would ever want to own Keats's death mask?\" And then I looked at it and I realized I knew exactly why you'd want to own Keats' desk mask: Because in a way what I was doing in this book was writing death masks. That urge to preserve the moment, and Annie Leibovitz did it with her famous photographs of Sontag, and Sendak himself drew the people he loved: his partner of many, many years after he died, and his family members right before they died. There's something about capturing that moment in art that I actually do completely understand — both the reason you'd make Keats' death mask and the reason you'd want to own it. On her idea of what a \"good\" death would be I feel like the thing that mostly happened with this book is I came away marginally less afraid, which sounds like not that a big deal. But given my panic about death at various points in my life, [this] was liberating to me. In terms of a good death, I did feel that this prolonged medical struggle of a Susan Sontag where you're chasing after any possibility of medical salvation seemed like not a good idea, and the way of working your way into accepting what's happening the way Sendak did and the way Updike did seems preferable to me. But one doesn't always have control, and that was one of the things I really realized in writing about these deaths.", "Artists are supposed to be unafraid. We want them to take those risks, symbolically and sometimes personally, that reasonable people would caution against: Defy physical limits. Risk offending others. Expose unmanageable emotions to the open air. Do these things, we say to our painters and writers and singers, so that we can imagine, through you, what it feels like. Martha Wainwright has risen to that challenge since she was 21 years old. Now she's 40, the author of three stunning (and stunningly underrated) studio albums and numerous notable live works and collaborations. She has matured; a mother of two, she has lived through the loss of her own mother, the legendary singer and songwriter Kate McGarrigle, and negotiated ongoing musical partnerships with her father, Loudon Wainwright III, and her siblings, Rufus Wainwright and Lucy Roche. Her own songwriting thrills with its honesty and enchants with its lyricism, grounded in her love of the American songbook, French chanson and the confessional singer-songwriter realm that was her home school. Her music evokes some obvious associations — Edith Piaf, whose songbook she's interpreted extensively; brother Rufus' similarly eclectic work — but those comparisons don't quite capture the unique blend of boldness and refinement Martha Wainwright projects. On her new album Goodnight City, her first solo effort since 2012, Wainwright maintains her sense of adventure while considering the adult responsibilities of raising children, staying married, facing intimate loss and maintaining a career. Produced by the bassist Brad Albetta (Wainwright's husband) and Thomas \"Doveman\" Bartlett (who's worked with Sufjan Stevens and Sam Amidon, among many others), it's more sonically daring than anything Wainwright has previously released, while still delivering the sense of shared confidences that Wainwright's fans adore. Its track listing is a blend of intriguing covers and collaborations. Contributors include the novelist Michael Ondaatje, Beth Orton, Merrill Garbus and Glen Hansard, plus various members of the Wainwright-McGarrigle clan. The first song to be released from Goodnight City is \"Around The Bend,\" an air evocative of both Kate Bush and of the easy-listening classics Wainwright sang as the lounge entertainer Angela in Lisa Cholodenko's Emmy-winning HBO adaptation of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge. From her home in Montreal, via email, Wainwright answered some questions about that song, her voice and life in one of North America's most beloved musical families. Ann Powers: You've sung tributes to Edith Piaf, and in your own writing — including \"Around The Bend\" — you often confront intense emotional states from a feminine point of view. What kind of artistic resonance does this focus offer? What risks is taking it on? Martha Wainwright: I've tried to write songs that weren't about my life and what I'm going through. \"Around The Bend\" is an example of a song where I'm trying to not be so revealing. I've written a lot of songs that were so personal they got me into trouble. I'm not very good at making things up. In my daily life I try to be very in control and not dramatic, so when I sing I often go for it as a way to express all the feelings inside that I am trying to negotiate. Maybe that's why sometimes my music is fraught. As for Piaf — considering her life, no wonder she sang like that! Being a woman in this business is hard, and trying to steer a career in music and have kids is really hard. You've developed a unique singing style in which you often push your range in various ways. What have been your biggest vocal influences? How have you modified or modulated your singing approach over the years? I always have had trouble with my voice. I lose it often; it's a chameleon, yet it's particular to me. It is a true expression of who I am. I've really enjoyed trying different things with it and have suffered greatly when it goes. I push it to its limits and only recently have learned to control it and protect it a bit better. I've tried to mock all the great singers, male and female, but very quickly on my voice became distinct. Distinct in its range and in that it never seems quite in check. You and your siblings and friends often devise interesting frameworks for performance, whether it's the lullaby project you did with your sister Lucy or your recent \"Noel Nights\" shows with Rufus. What's the relationship between these projects and your own songwriting? How does one form of creativity, interpretation, influence the other, authorship? Because music is such an integral part of our lives, it seems normal to do in many ways. You kind of turn into a von Trapp! We always sang a lot at Christmas and singing is what we do, so why not do Christmas on stage? In the case of the Christmas shows we raise money for my mom's cancer foundation. Singing together and different kinds of music, like old timey music or jazz, is also very normal to us because [we were] brought up", "What does a line from a James Joyce novel sound like on the piano? Or a scribble from the visual artist Cy Twombly? Can you translate the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright into music? For pianist and composer Myra Melford, there is inspiration in all of the above, \"a kind of dialogue for me – a thing to bounce my ideas off of.\" For over 30 years, Melford has carved out a musical identity by channeling extra-musical influences while drawing on the history of jazz piano, from James P. Johnson to Thelonious Monk to Cecil Taylor. She can tap into a multitude of styles, any of which might spring to life in an improvisation. In the words of a friend and collaborator, flutist Nicole Mitchell, \"she's purely unstoppable.\" On this episode of Jazz Night in America, we'll explore a few of her many facets, as she expresses herself in a variety of ensembles. From her egalitarian unit Trio M, with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Matt Wilson, to the malleable Snowy Egret quintet, which enables her to take flight in any direction. We'll also hear Melford in a big band setting with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Musicians: Snowy Egret: Myra Melford, piano; Ron Miles, cornet; Liberty Ellman, guitar; Stomu Takeishi, bass; Tyshawn Sorey, drums. Trio M: Myra Melford, piano; Mark Dresser, bass; Matt Wilson, drums. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: Ali Jackson, drums, tambourine; Dan Nimmer, piano; Carlos Henriquez, bass; Kenny Rampton, trumpet; Marcus Printup, trumpet; Greg Gisbert, trumpet; Elliot Mason, trombone; Chris Crenshaw, trombone; Vincent Gardner; trombone; Victor Goines, tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet; Ted Nash, alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Sherman Irby, alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute; Walter Blanding, tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet; Paul Nedzela, baritone sax, bass clarinet; Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Myra Melford, piano. Set List (all songs by Myra Melford): Trio M, \"Promised Land\" Snowy Egret, \"City of Illusion\" Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Myra Melford, \"The Strawberry\" Snowy Egret, \"Small Thoughts\" Trio M, \"The Guest House\" Credits: Writer and Producer: Sarah Geledi; Host: Christian McBride; Music Engineer: Rob Macomber; Project Manager: Suraya Mohamed; Senior Producer: Katie Simon; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann and Gabrielle Armand; Senior Director of NPR Music: Lauren Onkey.", "Even the most restrained plot summary of Francine Prose's latest novel sounds like a teaser for a late night Lifetime TV movie. Here goes: In the Paris of the late 1920s, a butch lesbian race car driver named Lou Villars has her license revoked by the French government for daring to dress as a man in public. Lou goes on to become a performer in a risque review at the Chameleon Club, a smoky nightclub where threadbare artists and thrill-seeking aristocrats mingle in the half-light. Hitler rises to power and, through an acquaintance on the old race car circuit, Lou is invited to be his special guest at the 1936 Olympics. There, she's recruited as spy for Germany. In occupied Paris, she works as a Nazi collaborator and torturer. Late in the war, on a lonely road in the French countryside, Lou Villars receives her just deserts at the hands of the French Resistance. Whew. That's a whopper of a tale from a writer who's known for championing a sophisticated literary style over the more pedestrian pleasures of storytelling. Prose aims to have it both ways in this new novel called Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932. She gives us that big story, but she tells it in intricate fashion, through jarring and sometimes contradictory testimony in the form of letters, memoirs left behind by supporting characters, a novel authored by a naughty novelist modeled on Henry Miller and a contemporary biography of Lou Villars written by a feminist scholar. All these documents are fictitious of course, but the central plot of Prose's novel is based in fact. Prose says she was inspired by a black and white photograph called Lesbian Couple at Le Monocle, 1932 taken by the Hungarian-born French photographer Brassai. The woman in that photo who's sporting short hair and a tuxedo was a professional athlete named Violette Morris; she worked for the Gestapo during the German occupation of Paris. Prose's male photographer character, named Gabor, is modeled on Brassai. Prose herself has always struck me as a cool writer who appeals more to the brain than the heart. Indeed, sometimes I've found her novels, accomplished as they are, to be somewhat too preoccupied with seminar questions about the nature of truth and identity. That philosophical detachment works in Prose's favor here: This story is so lurid that it needs to be toned down by some gray matter. Accordingly, she scatters provocative ruminations throughout the novel. The young Gabor, for instance, immerses himself in the sleazy glamour of Paris — as did Brassai. He takes photos of prostitutes, cabaret singers and criminals. But in the late '30s, when those photographs become celebrated as \"art\" in museum exhibitions, Gabor wonders about the temporal source of their higher value: \"Could it be,\" he asks in a letter to his parents, \"that everyone suddenly wants photographs of Paris because they fear that this eternally beautiful city may not be so eternal? What if Hitler isn't just bluffing?\" Lionel Maine, the character modeled on Henry Miller, is also given to bouts of contemplation, but, happily, his are much raunchier in nature. Describing himself as \"a sexual Columbus\" he celebrates (with great anatomical specificity) the hedonism and variety of experience offered by pre-World War II Paris. In tone and time period, voice and ideas, Lovers at the Chameleon Club tries itself to be something of a chameleon of a novel. Prose, I daresay, wants to consider the mystery of evil, embodied by the story of Lou Villars and her puzzling veer over to the dark side of history. But it's no knock on this novel to declare that it mostly reads as a good story and an ingenious excursion into the Parisian demimonde. Prose here concocts a bright confection — a light, but genuine pleasure.", "Confession. The first time I read a Raymond Carver story, I didn't get it. It was so spare, so lacking epiphany. I thought: \"Huh?\" But then, I read his story, A Small, Good Thing. And Cathedral and Neighbors. I read his collection, Where I'm Calling From. And then, I got it. Carver's stories are gritty, unadorned tales of ordinary people. Their very simplicity and elegance gives them a deep, emotional punch. This is why Carver has been extolled as a master of \"minimalism.\" Which is ironic. Because according to Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life, by Carol Sklenicka, Carver's own life wasn't minimalist at all. It was stunningly chaotic. Ray — as he was known — was like many of the characters he wrote about. A working class boy in Yakima, Washington, he married his sweetheart, Maryann Burk at age 19. They had two children in less than two years — and lived hand-to-mouth. Maryann often waitressed and juggled jobs so Ray could study and write. And they moved around. A lot. Until he was 41, Carver never held down a job for more than 18 months. The only constant was his writing. Rejection slips mounted, but he started to publish. He and Maryann drank and fought violently, though. And their lives spun out of control. Twice they filed for bankruptcy. At least once, Ray almost landed in jail. And at least once, Maryann was rushed to the emergency room after Ray beat her. Unlike many famous writers, however, Carver managed to stop drinking. Although he died at age 50 in 1988, in the last decade of his life, he achieved sobriety. He enjoyed unprecedented literary success, and found a redemptive love with the poet Tess Gallagher. His own story ended with a measure of grace. Given this, it would be easy for Sklenicka to write a dishy, sensational bio. Or, a hagiography. Thankfully, she does neither. Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life is a sober, sensitive portrait of an often drunken and complex man. Sklenicka clearly adores Carver's work, but does a fine job of portraying all his poignant contradictions: He's funny and abusive. Insecure and dogged. Nervous and passionate. She's careful to distinguish the man from his writing. Even when she draws parallels between his life and his fiction, it's to illuminate his creative process. She also doesn't muck-rake. For years, controversy has raged over Carver's editor, Gordon Lish — and his role in Carver's success. Sklenicka probes this even-handedly. In her research, she interviewed legions of Carver's nearest and dearest. These include Maryann, his children, his closest and famous friends. She's also drawn from hundreds of sources — and Carver's and Gallagher's own words. The result is a rich, absorbing biography. It's also instructive — particularly for us writers. Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life is an honest portrait of a man's messy, triumphant, literary struggle. It neither condemns nor exonerates him. In this way, the book is an ultimate tribute to Carver. He was, after all, revered for being both \"unflinching,\" and \"tender\" as a writer — and Sklenicka's biography is exactly that: unflinching — and tender. It is a big, good thing. Susan Jane Gilman's latest book is the memoir, 'Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven'.", "Who boxes nowadays? Here & Now&#8217;s Jeremy Hobson went to The Ring Boxing Club in Boston and found that fighters ranged in age and were of both genders. He talks to several boxers as well as Springs Toledo, author of &#8220;The Gods of War: Boxing Essays&#8221; (excerpt below), about the continuing appeal of the sport. Interview Highlights Amateur boxer Richie Allen on what keeps bringing him back to the boxing gym &#8220;What&#8217;s not to love, you know? A gym like this, it&#8217;s not your normal gym, it&#8217;s like a small family, a community around here. I come in here, I see the people I became close to. I work on my craft every day. I get to help people work on their craft. I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing people succeed.&#8221; Trainer Rodney Toney on how boxing has changed him &#8220;When I go in the ring, I&#8217;m The Punisher, when I come out of the ring I&#8217;m Rodney.&#8221; &#8220;It taught me how to be humble, too. Before I would attack somebody if they said anything wrong. Now, I take my time and just try to talk the guy out of it, &#8217;cause he don&#8217;t know what he&#8217;s getting himself into &#8230; When I&#8217;m boxing and I&#8217;m in the ring, I&#8217;m someone else. You know, I&#8217;m my character. My character&#8217;s called The Punisher, that&#8217;s my name. So when I go in the ring I&#8217;m The Punisher, when I come out of the ring I&#8217;m Rodney. Inside the ring is different business than being outside of the ring. It&#8217;s like Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk, you know what I mean. Once he goes in there he&#8217;s different. When somebody insults him he gets mad, that&#8217;s how I used to be. But now I know how to control it and just do it in the ring.&#8221; Katy Weinberg, amateur boxer, on why she decided to stick with boxing &#8220;There&#8217;s not that many sports you can pick up in your 30s that you actually can do a decent job at, I think. I&#8217;ve got a little bit of power and I felt like I was doing okay. It&#8217;s more interesting than a treadmill and you&#8217;ve got some characters here.&#8221; Springs Toledo on the title of his book, &#8216;The Gods of War&#8217; &#8220;It&#8217;s very, very personal. Although at the end of the fight, what you&#8217;ll notice in boxing &#8212; more than in most other sports, where after a good contest the participants will shake hands &#8212; in boxing, they embrace. And it&#8217;s not a bro hug, it&#8217;s a real embrace. Because the only one who knows what you went through is your opponent. In some ways it is a war, but it&#8217;s also something beautiful in its own way.&#8221; Book Excerpt: &#8216;The Gods of War&#8217; By Springs Toledo Introduction The Sweet Science, like an old rap or the memory of love, follows its victim everywhere. —A.J. Liebling A well-fed and well-fêted writer for The New Yorker once considered turning his back on a favorite topic of his youth. During a train ride to Indianapolis to cover a heavyweight title bout in 1959, A.J. Liebling’s affections rekindled. “I felt,” he said, “the elation of a man who said a lot of hard things about a woman and is now on his way to make up.” As seedy as boxing was, is, and ever shall be, the writer could never leave it behind—could never quite get it off his mind. Frankie Jerome couldn’t either. After collapsing in the twelfth round during a bout at Madison Square Garden, his seconds carried him out of the ring, wrapped him in an overcoat, and brought him to Bellevue Hospital. Trainer Whitey Bimstein was there. “He died in my arms,” he told Liebling, “slipping punches.” One of the last things that Liebling wrote was a reminiscence called “Paysage De Crepuscule,” and even then a forgotten fighter from his youth jabbed his way onto a page. On December 28, 1963, it was the writer’s turn to die. His editor walked into Liebling’s office that day, and there, among stacks of books, newspapers, and lithographs was a drawing of old-time champion Bob Fitzsimmons. It was hanging on the wall at an odd angle as if it had been there a long time. Thrice married, Liebling was never lucky in love. His first wife was a schizophrenic, the second a spendthrift, and the third an alcoholic. Perhaps he was prone to bad passion like any other perennial optimist who knew how to squint. Aren’t we all? Like a prostitute with aspirations, Boxiana has long since moved out from under the smoky lights of East Coast clubs to the garish ones of Las Vegas casinos. And here we are, still squinting in the cheap seats hoping to see something sublime. Liebling preferred the cheap seats. Instead of sitting in press row, he was known to buy a ticket and squeeze his girth between fellow fans. He understood that the cast of characters at fight-time is not limited to the ring and that a good story is larger than its singular parts. As a result, he could be counted on to expand both the scope and the spirit of the simplest event into a kind of literature that cannot bore. In 19", "This story is part of All Things Considered's \"Men in America\" series. Marvin Ramos found out he was going to be a father when his girlfriend, Stephanie, called him during a basketball game. He says he sat down on a bench and looked up at the sky. He was 16. Stephanie was 19. When his daughter, Hailey, was born, Ramos was overwhelmed. He saw her only on weekends, and not being around on the weekdays, he says, meant Hailey and Stephanie's \"bond grew bigger than mine.\" Hailey was afraid of him, he says, and would cry when he held her. He felt useless and says he \"slacked off.\" Ramos didn't have a strong father figure to look to for advice. When Ramos was growing up, his dad worked long hours and disappeared drinking in his off time. Then, about the time Hailey was born, he left their home in New York. Recently, he told Ramos that he's ruined his life by having a child at such a young age. That's galvanized Marvin to do better. \"What do I say to the dad that thinks my life is ruined, just because I have a daughter by my side?\" Ramos asks. \"I can't accept that. I want to say to him, '[I'm] going to prove you wrong.' \" Right now, Ramos is trying to finish high school. He's saving money and working toward his dream job of managing music talent. One day, he hopes to buy a home in upstate New York where Hailey has a room of her own. \"I haven't run away,\" Ramos says, \"and I never want to. I want to be the best father I can be and I think I'm 60, maybe 70 percent of the way there.\" You can hear Marvin Ramos tell his story, in his own words, at the audio link above. This audio story was produced by Emily Kwong and edited by Kaari Pitkin for Radio Rookies. ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Robert Siegel. We're hearing stories this summer about men - how their roles have changed, what their lives are like. Well, today we get inside a young man's life. Marvin Ramos is 18. He's a New Yorker, who's working his way toward his high school diploma. He's also a father. His child is a little over a year old. It's been a struggle for Marvin - an experience that made him reflect on his own father and what it really means to be a dad. Here's his story. MARVIN RAMOS: Hailey. I found out by Hailey during a basketball game. My girlfriend, Stephanie, called me to say, I'm pregnant. I sat down on a bench and looked straight up at the sky. At the time, Steph was 19 and I was only 16 - morning. (BABY COOING) M. RAMOS: Some people said there's another way out, for my girlfriend to get an abortion. But we couldn't do that - Hailey, talk. (LAUGHTER) M. RAMOS: Hailey is mad adorable, mad lovable. (Imitating baby talk). STEPHANIE: Are you sitting on her Bobo (ph)? (BABY CRYING) M. RAMOS: Hailey and Steph live about 45 minutes away from me with Steph's mom. The first month, I didn't know how to hold her. She felt too small for my arms. STEPHANIE: All right, nap time? Want to go with Daddy? M. RAMOS: Come over here. (BABY CRYING) M. RAMOS: Hailey was afraid of me, too. The moment she was on my lap, she cried. (BABY CRYING) M. RAMOS: I'd just give her back to Steph. I felt useless. It was like me not being there on the weekdays meant their bond grew bigger than mine. We had our up and downs about me being a parent to my daughter and you would be upset. STEPHANIE: You - no lie, but you be lazy. You know, I did everything. M. RAMOS: The feeding, the diaper changes, the waking up in the middle of the night - Steph did it all. And me? I slacked off. Sometimes I'd disappear and take long walks. STEPHANIE: I think 'cause you were scared. I was scared too, but I had to do it. It's your responsibility. You're her father. I'm telling you like come on - like she has to recognize you. She has to know who you are. M. RAMOS: I'm trying to be a better father these days. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Yo, what up, bro? M. RAMOS: I have four brothers. And here's the thing. Three of them - they also had daughters at a young age - Alila (ph), Annalise (ph) and Abigail (ph). UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Where's your baby? M. RAMOS: Where's who? UNIDENTIFIED GIRLS: Hailey. M. RAMOS: Hailey's not here. She's with her mom right now. All my brothers are still with their girlfriends. And growing up, my nieces would call me, tio, tio. I loved it. But being an uncle is really different from being un padre. How you been, bro? GUSTAVO RAMOS: Like, I'm good - chilling right now with Abby (ph). M. RAMOS: Gustavo (ph) is the youngest and the most recent father to join the brotherhood. G. RAMOS: When they told me it was going to be a girl - like, damn. But then, you know, I love her, you know. She's cool. She's my little princess. M. RAMOS: He's 16. We share a bedroom - painted red and filled with toys for when our daughters come to visit on the weekends. G. RAMOS: She changed me, emotionally. I'm a happier person. My dad dipped. Then she came through so you know. She just filled in that hole in my heart. M. RAMOS: About a year ago, our dad dipped - that means l", "The “Godmother of Punk Rock,” Patti Smith, on creativity and invention. She’s with us. Godmother of punk rock Patti Smith knows a little bit about creativity. It’s been her life. The sometimes subtle, sometimes fiery interplay of dreams and will and everyday living that brings the spark of creation, invention. She chased it with her buddy Robert Mapplethorpe. Co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen in “Because the Night.” Has let her imagination run for a half century and more now. And she’s thinking about the alchemy. Up next On Point: poet, musician, memoirist Patti Smith on creativity and invention. &#8211;Tom Ashbrook. Guest Patti Smith, Musician, writer and artist known as the &#8220;Godmother of Punk Rock.&#8221; Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Author of &#8220;Devotion.&#8221; From Tom&#8217;s Reading List Pop Matters: Patti Smith Is Some Messed Up Kind of Saint — &#8220;It’s completely unfair to compare Patty Smith’s new book, Devotion, to her previous two, Just Kids and M Train. Just Kids and M Train are memoirs. While Devotion purports to be non-fiction, it’s not strictly speaking a memoir. Devotion is actually the title of a short story, which takes up most of the scant hundred pages in this book. It opens and closes with Smith’s reflection on how the short story of “Devotion” came to be written. What we really have is the first piece of fiction by Smith, and her accompanying thoughts on how it was made.&#8221; The New Yorker: My Buddy — &#8220;I was far away, standing in the rain before the sleeping lion of Lucerne, a colossal, noble, stoic lion carved from the rock of a low cliff. The rain fell, obscuring tears. I knew that I would see Sam again somewhere in the landscape of dream, but at that moment I imagined I was back in Kentucky, with the rolling fields and the creek that widens into a small river. I pictured Sam’s books lining the shelves, his boots lined against the wall, beneath the window where he would watch the horses grazing by the wooden fence. I pictured myself sitting at the kitchen table, reaching for that tattooed hand.&#8221; Happy: Listen to Patti Smith Read The Collection Of Poetry That Would Become ‘Horses’ In 1975 — &#8220;For Smith, before there was rock ‘n’ roll there was poetry and a intense love of literature. As she puts it, she got “sidetracked” by music, and wandered down a path through which she could fuse her love of Rimbaud and the Beats with her adoration for Bob Dylan, Keith Richards and Jim Morrison.&#8221; Listen To Songs From Today&#8217;s Show Read An Excerpt from Patti Smith&#8217;s New Book &#8220;Devotion&#8221;", "When it comes to writer's block, author Lynda Barry believes the key to unblocking your thoughts is right in your hands. In her latest graphic memoir, Picture This: The Near-Sighted Monkey Book, she writes,\"The worst thing I can do when I'm stuck is to start thinking and stop moving my hands.\" And if you also have doodler's block too, or think you can't draw? \"All I tell them is try drawing a cigarette on anybody in a magazine,\" Barry tells NPR's Neal Conan. \"They always start laughing, and I can tell they always feel better.\" A lot of Barry's characters smoke -- her fictional brand of cigarettes is called Don't -- and she says that's a deliberate choice. \"I wanted to piggyback on the idea of cigarettes being bad for you,\" she says, \"[and] this idea of not drawing or not writing ... as being just as bad for you.\" Picture This tells the story of two monkeys, one of which -- the Near-Sighted Monkey -- is Barry's alter-ego. Barry says the first thing you should know about the Near-Sighted Monkey is that she's a really bad house guest. \"[She] hogs the remote, when you get up to answer the phone she'll finish your drink ... she loves to smoke,\" Barry says. But that doesn't mean Barry didn't enjoy drawing her.  In fact, Barry says Near-Sighted Monkey helped motivate her to keep working. \"Whenever I do a book, I'm usually guided by a question or something that I'm trying to tease out,\" she says. \"And I was trying to figure out why drawing this dang monkey made me feel so good.\" The story of the second monkey, Meditating Monkey, is a bit more sober. Barry says the attacks on 9/11, the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, and the deaths of several friends had left her bereft. \"I found myself compelled -- like this weird, shameful compulsion -- to draw cute animals,\" she remembers, \"just cry and draw cute animals.\" She says she started with dancing dogs and friendly ducks -- then she found the Meditating Monkey. \"When I drew that monkey, it's not that it fixed the problem,\" she says, \"but it did shift it a little bit, or provide me some kind of relief.\" Barry says that's when she began to think about the power of images. \"I believe with all my heart they have an absolute biological function,\" she says. \"They are not decoration. They are not an elective. They have a function.\" She says drawing the monkey's lines over and over again reminded her of being 12, falling in love with a favorite song and listening to it on repeat. \"It fixed something,\" Barry recalls, \"or it made a difficult time more bearable.\"", "It wasn't long ago that all consumers went to retail stores to buy things. These days, of course, you can get just about anything online. Some companies are now taking that shopping experience to the next level, allowing customers to design almost anything individually — from a trench coat to a batch of M&M's. Lindsay Stewart, a senior at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta, is a Converse fan — and an avid Converse custom designer. Converse, like Nike, offers sneakers that customers can customize, mixing colors and patterns to bring their ideas to life. \"You can do half of the shoe stars and [the] other half is still simply white,\" Stewart says, showing off her design. \"You can incorporate the color you specifically want so it can easily match your outfits.\" Walking Advertisements Stewart has designed three pairs this year: one with a star pattern, another for the Fourth of July and a neon mix she made for a party. \"Students really love showing off, and kids love showing off who they are,\" Stewart says. \"And ... me spreading the word about how I designed these shoes led to all my friends wanting to design their own.\" That's just what retailers are hoping for — getting customers involved and having them tell others about their experience. The only drawback may be the cost. These custom-designed shoes are about 20 to 25 percent more expensive, depending on the design. Customization started with computers more than a decade ago. Now, you can create your own T-shirts, jeans and custom-blend cosmetics. Some luxury brands are getting involved, too. On the Burberry Bespoke website, it's hard not to be seduced by the elegant tune playing under close-ups of hand-sewn fabric and old-world charm. Burberry allows customers to create their own trench coats, but they start at more than $2,000 — and no returns are allowed. And at Prada and Louis Vuitton, you can make your own handbags and shoes with limited options to preserve their high-end designer look. Building Brand Loyalty \"It really helps build a relationship with their customers,\" says Ann Marie Fiore, a professor of apparel at Iowa State University. \"You're always looking at building that brand loyalty.\" Fiore says companies face extra upfront costs in setting up the customization process. On the other hand, they save on product development costs because consumers are doing that for them and they don't have to store big inventories. Fiore says one of the biggest growth areas is food. A site called Chocomize, for example, lets you create your own gourmet chocolate bars by adding fruits, nuts and even sugared rose petals. \"I can see this as being something that's really attractive, where people feel more confident about their choices,\" Fiore says. \"And there's not so much risk. So you're not paying $425 for a pair of shoes, you're paying $8 for a candy bar.\" Fiore predicts that all means customization will only continue to grow for a variety of products. M&M's is already doing it. You can choose your own colors, add designs and even have your own photo printed on the tiny candies. I ordered my own Christmas-colored mix with a snowman print, chose expedited shipping and had my package two days later. They're exactly what I ordered, but the cost is four times higher than if I'd bought traditional M&M's at a store. And shipping is extra, too. Creating Your 'Perfect Expression' Dan Michael, research and development director for Mars Retail Group, which makes M&M's, says it took the company about three years to develop its customization process. He says the company gets about half a million orders a year, with weddings and birthdays as the biggest draw. \"The candy certainly serves as ... a blank canvas for our customers to create their perfect expression,\" Michael says. Back at Holy Innocents' High School, student Jon Ledbetter says personalizing clothes and shoes is fun for him and for lots of young people. He plays basketball and has designed about a dozen pairs of \"NikeiD\" sneakers, including one featuring the school's crimson and gold colors. \"People are like, 'Where did you get those from, where did you get those from?' I made 'em so you can't get them anywhere else,\" Ledbetter says and laughs. \"They're mine. They're my creation.\" Ledbetter can post the shoes he made on Nike's website, where others can comment or even order his design. Two German professors have documented some 500 international mass-customization sites and the number is growing.", "Ben Folds’ new memoir, &#8220;A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons,” is a reflection on being wise in the art of songwriting — but unwise in almost everything else. “I had so immersed myself in creativity in my art that I was letting things go in my private life as myself,” he tells Here & Now’s Robin Young. “I started to realize that I was very wise when it came to writing a song. And I was a damn idiot when it came to living.” His tour kicks off this week. \nScroll down to read an excerpt from &#8220;A Dream About Lightning Bugs&#8221;\n Watch on YouTube. Interview Highlights On when he was 3 years old, dreaming of collecting fireflies in a jar and gifting the jars to other kids “I think the metaphor for it, for me, [was] to see something that the other kids didn&#8217;t see and then to get to share it with them was what made me cool in my dream. People see something that&#8217;s glowing and that was what made me valuable.” On his turbulent childhood “I felt like I wanted to make some kind of statement about creativity, maybe teach by example of what I know about one creative person, which would be me and how I got there. I felt like it wasn&#8217;t the complete story unless you could see what was in motion that created my parents. I mean, they were like 19 and 20 years old. And you know what? I saw a lot of crazy stuff. I think everyone does. But I wanted to state mine.” On getting creative “We wonder, if you&#8217;re a writer, are you inviting odd stuff into your life so you can write about it? I&#8217;m not that sure. It becomes more clear as you summarize the book in that way. It gives me perspective because I don&#8217;t really think my life has been that crazy, I just really wanted to show how I was formed and hopefully that would illuminate any creative decisions I make.” On his ambitions on the road in the Ben Folds Five band “Much of my ambition at that time was, ‘This was my last chance to not be poor.’ … To be a piano player and to bring a piano on stage, that would certainly be its own lane, right. Then you realize in a pub, no one could even see you and connect to you. So then my natural instinct is to like, ‘Okay well, I&#8217;m here to do my job. I guess I should do this.’ I&#8217;m glad that I don&#8217;t have to feel the pressure to perform in that kind of way where I&#8217;m hurling myself at the piano. I&#8217;ve seen pictures of myself taking dives off the piano. I had stuff stolen from me by stage diving in England &#8212; boot, no wallet and everything. Crazy.” On making up songs on the spot at the Kennedy Center “I tried to take a phrase from a song of mine&#8217;s called ‘Phone In A Pool.’ It says: ‘What&#8217;s been good for the music, hasn&#8217;t always been so good for the life.’ You know, a kamikaze sense of kind of facing risk and danger in a really cavalier way is a particularly appealing artistic stance. But in real life, that sort of risk taking &#8212; just diving straight into it &#8212; is not advisable. I think the same thing that allowed one allowed the other. And that&#8217;s all it is. I was always fairly happy.” Watch on YouTube. On where he is now “Well it&#8217;s certainly learning. I think that fame and a constant schedule with no sleep and never processing anything is certainly a disaster for anybody. So I think that that definitely knocked me off my axis a little bit. And you know, there&#8217;s a chapter in there where I posed myself in my age now as the teacher and then me of all the various ages. I&#8217;m asking them what they have learned and they all knew more than they knew.” On his high school girlfriend’s abortion and his song about it, “Brick” “I mean it&#8217;s not something I talked about much when the song was out. In fact, I never answered an interview question about that song. Try having a hit song and not answering a question about it. I had to clam up a lot. “Look I let her know this book was coming out and I sent her the copy of that section to make sure she was OK with it. She&#8217;s very happy that someone might benefit from the story.” Watch on YouTube. Book Excerpt: &#8220;A Dream About Lightning Bugs&#8221; File Under “Music” Music feels like the frame on which I’ve hung nearly every recollection, giving me access to large files of childhood memories. Each song, each note, has a memory attached to it. Just a few bars of the saxophone intro of “The Girl Can’t Help It,” by Little Richard, and out of nowhere I can see the towering leg of my father’s gray sweatpants passing. I can almost feel the crusty scar of the radiator burn on my forearm and smell the creosote of asphalt shingles. The song “Puff, the Magic Dragon” brings back the texture of the dirty linoleum floor, the spinning of the colorful label of the 45-rpm record, and the window-lit specks of dust on their journey around my room. These memories are from when I was two years old. That’s a lot of detail to recall from so far back. Either that or I have a ", "At times, riding the subway in Moscow can feel like roaming an art museum. The underground hallways and platforms are full of mosaics, statues and ornate chandeliers that celebrate war heroes, depict Soviet life and commemorate writers -- but opening such stations isn't always an easy process. The Dostoevskaya station -- which opened this summer in memory of Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky -- met a fair share of opposition when psychologists expressed concern that dark murals of the violent scenes from Dostoevsky's books could put riders in gloomy moods -- or, worse, even encourage suicidal impulses. Such criticism has clouded and delayed a 19-year effort to honor one of Russia's greatest writers and thinkers. Raskolnikov On The Platform Ivan Nikolayev, the artist who was commissioned to create the murals that surround the subway platform, started rereading Dostoevsky's books and making sketches for the project 20 years ago. \"My task was to draw out the meaning, creativity and entire life of Dostoevsky,\" says Nikolayev, 69. Nikolayev's design takes you right into Dostoevsky's world as soon as you step off a train. The walls are gray and bare, except for murals capturing scenes from Dostoevsky's famous novels: Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and of course, Crime and Punishment, the book where Dostoevsky digs into the mind of his lead character, Raskolnikov, exploring a young man's path to murder. In one famous passage, Raskolnikov cries out, \"Good God! Can it be, can it be, that I shall really take an ax, that I shall strike her on the head, split her skull open ... that I shall tread in the sticky warm blood, break the lock, steal and tremble; hide, all spattered in the blood ... with the ax ... Good God, can it be?\" The fictional character -- poor, desperate for money to help his family and mentally tortured -- ends up killing two women. And it's all depicted in a mural right on the subway platform in which Raskolnikov holds an ax over a woman's head, while a corpse lies on the ground. The tale itself is stirring, and the underground tunnel and echo of subway trains make it even creepier. The Danger Of Life Imitating Art At Dostoevskaya Mikhail Vinogradov, who heads a psychological help center in Moscow, went on Russian TV to complain that the murals will make people \"afraid to ride the subway.\" Like other psychologists who raised concerns in Russia and abroad, Vinogradov says gripping images can induce violent behavior -- and a subway station is the last place for that. \"There will be suicides more often,\" he says. \"I can't rule out people will commit murders or attacks.\" But Natalia Semyonova, another clinical psychologist in Moscow, defended the artist and the author, whose books she uses in lectures and to treat patients. \"We try to jump into these books and try to understand once more the motives of human behavior, the motives of human suffering, how to overcome, how to find a sense of life, and so on,\" Semyonova says. Using powerful literature to help overcome challenges in one's own life, she says, is very Russian. As for the murals, perhaps international visitors will be startled, Semyonova says, \"But, for Russians, Dostoevsky is so familiar to them. They know everything in these books.\" Commuters traveling through Dostoevskaya say it's about time the city built the station. They say forget Russian literature, this is about cutting down the commute. Rider Alexander Alexandrov, 63, says the bottom line is that \"this is a good, new station\" built to honor a Russian literary icon. He says he was angry that psychologists raised such a stink. \"They walk in here and try to find negative things,\" Alexandrov says. \"Well, there are too many negative things in our lives.\" But Natalia Yuryevna, a Moscow retiree, is not altogether pleased with the station. She likes that the gray decor and macabre murals are \"in line\" with Dostoevsky's writing. But the lighting, she says, make her \"lose her orientation.\" A Portrait Of The Artists Since the station opened its doors, Nikolayev, the artist of the murals, has been asked repeatedly whether the mural of Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment, in particular, was over the top. His answer comes in the form of another question: \"If someone handed you Dostoevsky's own manuscript, would you just go cross out this scene from the novel?\" Besides, most of the murals aren't actually that violent. Many are simply sullen -- like the gray, bearded face that greets commuters in one of the station's tunnels. It's a portrait of Fyodor Dostoevsky -- the newest addition to the club of Russian writers memorialized in Moscow's underground -- and he's looking melancholic as ever. STEVE INSKEEP, host: If the smog above ground in Moscow is a little bit too much to take, residents can retreat to the city's underground subway system. Riding the Moscow subway can feel almost like roaming an art museum. The hallways and platforms are full of mosaics and statues and ornate chandeliers", "Case answers three questions about a beloved confection. Originally broadcast on July 11, 2009. CARL KASELL, Host: From NPR and WBEZ-Chicago, this is WAIT WAIT...DON'T TELL ME! the NPR News quiz. I'm Carl Kasell, and here's your host, Peter Sagal. PETER SAGAL, Host: Thank you, Carl. (SOUNDBITE OF APPLAUSE) SAGAL: Thank you, everybody. It is midsummer, and everybody's out at the beach or in the back yard or grilling. And what better thing to have on your radio than music? OK, here's something better: interviews with musicians. It's witty banter you can dance to. KASELL: Today, we bring you some of our favorite 'Not My Job' games with musicians. We begin with singer/songwriter Neko Case. She joined us in July 2009, along with panelists Adam Felber, Paula Poundstone and Julia Sweeney. SAGAL: I began by asking Neko to describe her own style of music. M: I don't really know what to call it. I'm a very loud singer, loud. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: You're a loud - you're a loud, loud singer. M: Modern, independent, loud singing. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Well, actually, let's play a little bit of your music because also, I'm interested in the difference between your speaking voice and your singing voice. So here's a song, it's called \"Letter from an Occupant,\" which you did with the band the New Pornographers. (SOUNDBITE OF \"LETTER FROM AN OCCUPANT\") SAGAL: So that's you singing. It doesn't sound like you talking. You're sort of like a modern-day Jim Nabors in that regard. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: Yeah, well the thing that's weird about that - and they didn't tell me this until years later - is they actually changed the pitch of that song. So I don't actually sing like that, either. SAGAL: Oh, really? (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: Yeah, it's higher than I actually sing. M: Oh, so you're kind of a modern-day Chipmunks. M: Exactly. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) (SOUNDBITE OF APPLAUSE) M: Every time I hear it, I'm like, are you sure that was me who did that? And apparently, it was. SAGAL: Wow, who knew? Well, tell us about the life of an indie rock superstar. We imagine it's all just sort of glamour and groupies and debauchery. M: Well, I think that that's for men in rock. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Really? M: But if you're a woman in rock, you find that basically, people don't talk to you unless they're eBay guys who want you to sign stuff that they can sell on eBay later, and they don't actually know who you are. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: That's it? M: The glamorous rock and rock groupies hanging around and feeding you grapes and stuff, that doesn't really happen. SAGAL: You mean, you don't have skinny male hipsters throwing their ironic T- shirts at you? M: Oh my God, no. SAGAL: Really? (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: It's pretty lonely. SAGAL: Do you wish you did? M: The one time I ever saw a guy waiting to talk to me in line after the show, it turned out to be my cousin. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Oh, come on. M: I'm not even kidding. I saw him and I was like, there is a tall, handsome guy waiting to talk to me. And he got up to me and sure enough, he wanted to talk to me. And he said hi, I'm your cousin. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: And I was like, of course you are. SAGAL: That's crazy. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: Yeah. M: Did he get a signature for something to sell on eBay as well, while he was there? (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: No, no, no. SAGAL: All right, you have lived - as far as we know - in Virginia, Washington State, Vancouver, Chicago and Arizona, right? And you're a relatively young woman. M: Yes. SAGAL: And now you're moving to Vermont. M: Yeah, I'm kind of like a hobo. SAGAL: What is chasing you, Neko Case? M: Well, I lived in Vermont when I was little, and I always wanted to go back because everyone's so kind. And they don't age; it's really weird. SAGAL: They don't age? M: But I like that. They don't age. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: But traditionally... M: Well, I don't know. I saw my friend's mom for the first time in 15 years, a few months ago, and she was even wearing the exact same shirt that she had been wearing the last time I saw her - which, you know, I was in like, sixth grade. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: My experience reading and watching a lot of science fiction growing up - instead of starting my own band, like you did - is that communities where people don't age usually have a terrible, dark secret. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SAGAL: Like some sort of alien... M: It could be a \"Pet Sematary\" situation. SAGAL: Yeah, for example. M: I don't know, but I'm going to find out. SAGAL: You're going to go. M: I don't know. SAGAL: We understand that in Vermont, you have a barn filled with pianos. M: I do. SAGAL: Why do you have a barn filled with pianos? M: Well, I went on Craigslist to find a piano for the farmhouse, and there were so many free pianos that I thought it would be really hilarious to see how many free pianos you can get. Because nobody wants their pianos, right? (SOU", "Before her death, legendary singer Aretha Franklin hand-picked Jennifer Hudson to portray the “Queen of Soul” in a biopic. The starring role in “Respect” is one the American Idol finalist doesn’t take lightly. Hudson auditioned for the show with Franklin’s “Share Your Love with Me” back in 2006. Hudson says playing Franklin — her idol — on screen is a dream come true. “The magnitude of it is so huge. I have to take it in doses,” Hudson says. “Like even when we started to film, I was like, ‘Is this really happening now?’ ” Hudson also served as the executive producer for “Respect.” She says she appreciates the opportunity to take on such a personal project. The film marks one more iconic role for Hudson. She made her film debut when she starred as Effie White in the 2006 film “Dreamgirls” and subsequently won an Oscar for her groundbreaking performance. Reviewers are singing Hudson&#8217;s praises once again in the role of Franklin, as the soul legend moves from obedient daughter and wife singing jazz standards to Black Panther-supporting music visionary who shaped a singular sound in popular music. Franklin worked for almost two decades to try to bring her story to the screen. People know Franklin’s legacy and the film gives audiences a new opportunity to honor her, Hudson says. “That&#8217;s the most beautiful part about this, to see her legacy being celebrated,” Hudson says, “because she gave us so much in her life.” Watch on YouTube. Interview Highlights On Aretha Franklin’s struggles to define who she wanted to be “I’ve taken that as a lesson from the film, like you want to take ownership of your own journey and destiny and your voice as well. And that&#8217;s what this has inspired me to want to do even more.” On how Franklin created her own legacy “That&#8217;s the thing, there’s no artist designed like her. It&#8217;s beneath her to call her an artist. She was a composer. She was music. So I think that&#8217;s the beauty in the film as well, when people get to see her musicianship, her artistry, her as a vocalist and her as the beautiful human being that she was?” On what Aretha Franklin means to Hudson as a singer “Wow, I mean, she&#8217;s like the ultimate everything when it comes to music. And now we know through the film, she&#8217;s also that much more impactful in her life. But for me, like I grew up in a church singing and it’s every church girl, every church singer’s dream to want to be like Aretha Franklin and then a singer at that. And so when I was going for my American Idol audition and I&#8217;m like, well, I&#8217;m going to sing in a talent show honey, I need to have the best soul. And who better to go through than Aretha Franklin, [and] pick her song for my audition.” On Franklin’s tumultuous life, including her parents’ divorce, her mother’s death, and Franklin giving birth at the age of 12. “To see the triumphs that she endured in her life and then to see her prevail and still overcome them, it can&#8217;t help but to be inspiring. And I think that&#8217;s the power of the film. Everyone always tend to think that when it comes to legends and icons, that it’s simple and easy for them. But under that is a life and a story. And while we were filming, I said, ‘I know we all have a respect for Miss Aretha Franklin, but by the time you get done with the film, I would love for people to have a newfound respect for her.’ &#8221; On the tragedy Hudson experienced in her own life and the tragedy depicted in the film “Well, we all have tragedies and triumphs in our lives &#8230; They can differ. But the thing is, everyone has a life and everyone has things to get through. And I look at her story and mine as well as a testimony.” On what’s next for Hudson “You know what I always say, only God can say that and decide. He brought me this far. So we will have to see. And I&#8217;m just grateful to be able to be here today. And for her to entrust me with this.” Emiko Tamagawa produced this interview and edited it for broadcast with Jill Ryan. Jeannette Muhammad adapted this interview for the web. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "The cost was daunting: With well over 100 million viewers expected to tune in this year, NBC charged just over $5 million for each 30 second spot. So advertisers were careful about which messages they showcased on the biggest TV platform of the year. Even so, many of the spots felt handcuffed or held back — so cautious about drawing a laugh or provoking viewers that the primary reaction was just, well, disappointment. Last year, we saw nods to the nobility of immigration or gender equality or civil rights. Not this year. Perhaps because of fatigue over real-life political battles, marketers this year seemed to tone down the snark and avoid anything with a whiff of a political statement, beyond the idea that it's a good thing to deliver clean water to people in developing nations and communities ravaged by hurricanes. With that in mind, here's my take on the best — and worst — of what I saw in between the big plays in Sunday's game: Best Use Of Celebrities: Doritos Blaze Vs. Mountain Dew Ice If there's anything cooler than watching Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage strutting through a sitting room on fire while lip-syncing lyrics by Busta Rhymes, it might be seeing Hollywood's favorite version of God, Morgan Freeman, bringing the chill while miming Missy Elliott. The spot featuring two snack food items is a joyful minute of pop culture craziness, complete with cameos from Rhymes and Elliott and a too-cute moment when Dinklage and Freeman face off. Totally cool, totally hot and totally fun all at once — a rare hat trick for Super Bowl ad makers, who are often too intimidated by the Big Stage to let their hair down and produce something that feels really fun. Best Use Of A Running Gag: Tide's Commercials With David Harbour A few advertisers tried a head fake with viewers, presenting commercials that looked like one kind of ad when they were really something else. Tide's spots with Harbour pulled this off best, starting out like a car ad or a beer ad and then revealing the Stranger Things star saying, \"It's a Tide ad.\" Later in the game, Harbour crashed what looked like an Old Spice ad and a Mr. Clean commercial. This stuff was meta in the most wonderful way, playing with our notions of what a typical Super Bowl ad might look like while coming up with a wholly unique way to sell something as pedestrian as laundry detergent. Second Best Use Of Celebrities: Alexa Loses Her Voice As addicting as Alexa can be, how much cooler would it be if the personal assistant's voice was replaced by Anthony Hopkins, Rebel Wilson or Cardi B? That was the scenario raised by Amazon's commercial, which features Alexa catching a cold and bowing out for a bit. Awesome as I find the thought of Hopkins delivering weather quotes while feeding peacocks, it was also cool to see one of the world's richest people, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, get a little screen time, too. A perfect way to use famous names with an attitude. Worst Use Of A Civil Rights Giant: Ram Trucks It's never a good move to make a civil rights leader look like he's shilling for trucks from beyond the grave. Unfortunately, nobody told that to Ram Trucks, which took audio from a speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave 50 years ago and used it for an ad. The images in the ad aren't so bad, though I wonder what a man who championed nonviolent protest would think of the footage of soldiers marching in one scene. But the idea that a speech from one of history's greatest activists would be used to prop up the image of a pickup truck drew lots of backlash online. And it probably didn't promote the goodwill that the company intended. Weirdest, Almost-Cool Use Of A Celebrity, Part I: Danny DeVito For M&M's Danny DeVito has always looked like a human version of those animated M&M's, so I suppose it was just a matter of time before the candy company put him in an ad. But once DeVito pops up — after the animated red M&M uses a lucky penny to wish he was human — the ad doesn't know what to do with him. There's the obvious gag where the actor asks people, \"Do you want to eat me?\" Then he gets hit by a passing truck. It takes the already weird notion of making characters out of pieces of candy and blows it up into a bizarre display. Weirdest, Almost-Cool Use Of A Celebrity, Part II: Tiffany Haddish For Groupon Tiffany Haddish landed her spokesperson gig after telling a side-splitting story on Jimmy Kimmel Live! about taking Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith on a swamp tour using Groupon. So how does the company feature her in its ad? By having her introduce a sketch where a guy gets hit in the naughty bits by a football. I'm sorry, but that's not how you feature a red-hot, up-and-coming star who called herself one of the biggest Groupon fans on the planet. Best Reference To A Bathroom Break: Febreze's \"The Only Man Whose Bleep Don't Stink\" I dinged Febreze in the past for needlessly reminding us what happens in bathrooms between the halftime whistle and halftime show. So it's only fair t", "It's not often that a writer can illustrate his own books, but Brian Selznick is that rare find. He began his career as an artist collaborating with authors on children's books. But he gradually realized that he wanted to tell his own stories in both words and pictures — and to do that, Selznick invented a unique narrative device. Wonderstruck is both a novel and a picture book, a form Selznick first experimented with in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, when he had the idea of telling a story in much the same way that film does. \"I thought: Is there a way of combining what the cinema can do with panning, and zooming in and out, and edits, and what a picture book can do with page turns, and what a novel does?\" Selznick says. Selznick's illustrations work like a camera, zooming in on details and following his characters around as they move through the world. In the beginning of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the reader follows a boy through a grate in the wall, down a hallway, to an old man in a toy booth who sees a clock, and behind the number 5 in the clock, there's the boy ... (Click here to see that opening sequence of drawings.) In Wonderstruck, Selznick wanted to take this narrative experiment a step further. \"I had this idea to try to tell two different stories,\" he says. \"What if I told one story just with pictures, and then told a completely different story that was set 50 years later with words? And then had these two separate stories weave back and forth until they came together at the end?\" Wonderstruck is the story of Rose and Ben, a young boy and girl who live years and worlds apart. By the end of the book, the reader learns they have a special connection. But from early on, they have one thing in common: She is deaf, and he loses his hearing when he is struck by lightning. Selznick says the idea for the book began forming when he saw a documentary about deafness and deaf culture. One of the deaf educators emphasized how hyper-attuned deaf people are to the visual world. So Selznick set out to tell the story of a deaf character in pictures. \"We experience [Rose's] story in a way that perhaps might echo the way she experiences her own life,\" he explains. Rose's story, told almost entirely through Selznick's compelling black-and-white illustrations, alternates with Ben's story, which unfolds in written form. At first, the reader is not sure how the two stories relate, but here and there, the characters' worlds collide. Both get caught in a storm, both go in search of their parents, both find refuge in New York's Museum of Natural History (one of Selznick's favorite destinations when he was a kid growing up in New Jersey). When Ben and Rose finally do meet, Selznick says, the book becomes all about how we communicate with each other. \"At the end of the story, we have scenes where there's a deaf character who signs, a hearing character who signs, and a deaf character who doesn't sign — and they all have to have a conversation,\" Selznick says. \"And so who speaks, who writes, who can sign ... it all becomes mixed up until they can figure out a way to communicate.\" Creating these books is a complicated process, Selznick says, and he is always a little surprised in the end when everything comes together. When he's in the middle of it, it's a little like looking for buried treasure. \"It's sort of like going through a treasure map backwards in a certain way, where I know what I want it to be, but I don't know how to get there,\" he says. \"It does end up feeling like I have been on this really exciting journey that I ultimately hope that the reader will be excited to be on, too.\" A writer and artist who is fascinated with film, Selznick is about to see a fantasy come true: In November, the film version of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, directed by Martin Scorcese, will be released on the big screen.", "A month before the Vancouver Olympics, short track speedskater Katherine Reutter was physically ready for the most important competition of her athletic life. \"As long as I'm on that day,\" Reutter said of her first-ever race at the Olympics, \"there's no one that can straight-up beat me. They're going to have to take it away from me.\" Moments later, as Reutter sat rinkside at the 2002 Olympic speedskating oval in Kearns, Utah, her confidence about physical readiness and ability was betrayed by uncertainty. \"But what if I get to the games and it turns out I really should have lifted a bit heavier? Or I should have eaten better? [Or] I should have gotten my start faster?\" Reutter said. \"What if I did something wrong and I'm not going to know until I get there and it's going to be too late to fix it?\" Reutter and the other members of the U.S. Olympic speedskating team don't have to suffer self-doubt alone. They had a \"mental coach\" to turn to before the Olympics. And University of Utah sports psychologist Nicole Detling Miller is with the skaters in Vancouver as they train and compete. \"Many of [the athletes] will tell you that the difference between the person at the top of the podium and fourth place is who was most mentally tough that day,\" Miller says. \"Who could handle the distractions and not get freaked out, not allow it to affect their performance [and] not allow it to prevent them from trusting themselves?\" 'Try To Make Every Day The Olympics' Other U.S. Olympic athletes also have sports psychologists helping them train mentally for the games. And when American athletes arrive for \"team processing\" in Vancouver, they get tips from former Olympians on how to handle expectations, global attention, media scrutiny and the steady stream of distractions that surround the games. \"I went to the games and I tried to imagine it's like every other day,\" says Nikki Stone, the 1998 gold medalist in aerial skiing and a regular presenter in sessions designed to help athletes cope with Olympic pressure. \"Well, every other day you don't have a billion people watching you around the world. You don't have cameras 6 inches from your face. You don't have media mobbing you. You don't have the opportunity to go on Jay Leno or David Letterman afterwards.\" So Stone advises athletes to embrace the uniqueness of the Olympic moment and stretch it into training and competition before the games. \"Try to make every day the Olympics,\" Stone suggests, recalling her own mental preparation for the games. \"I would jump [during training] like it was the Olympic Games. I would imagine that there are 40,000 people at the bottom of the hill. And I would get really upset if I had a bad day [because] it could be the Olympics. This could be that very day.\" Stone also draws on interviews with highly successful athletes, including Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and snowboarder Shaun White, and prominent executives, writers and artists. In her book, When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out, the Olympians say it helps to stay focused on the passion that draws athletes to their sports, and to draw from the confidence provided by coaches, teammates, family and friends. Focus On Past Successes Miller, with the U.S. speedskating team, uses hypnosis and other techniques to help athletes visualize competition and success. That, she says, helps address performance anxiety, which she says is \"the No. 1 issue that I deal with the most — just how to handle the nerves ... how to get rid of the mental anguish, be confident and perform the best.\" Reutter sought Miller's help when the U.S. speedskating team hired the sports psychologist a year ago. \"She relied 100 percent on her effort in training, which was phenomenal, and it was good enough to give her the confidence to skate well and win the U.S. championship,\" Miller says. \"But I could just see, [in] some of the statements she was making, [and] ... in her eyes when she would try to tell me she was confident, that it just wasn't there.\" Miller helped Reutter relieve the pressure of Olympic competition by focusing on something that already defines her success. For Reutter, that event actually occurred off the ice, on a mountain slope outside Vancouver, where Reutter and her teammates struggled with an endurance exercise. \"It's so steep, it's so hard, that you can't run it,\" Reutter says. \"You have to, like, lunge up it.\" The men on the team had to climb the steep slope twice. Reutter was the only woman to join them on a second attempt. She started five minutes behind the men but beat two of them to the finish. \"I will be proud of that moment for my whole life,\" Reutter says. \"And I never would have known what a huge accomplishment it was if Nicole hadn't forced me to realize it.\" That strong sense of success applies to Reutter's upcoming Olympic experience. \"I know that even if I didn't win, I put in enough work that", "Ever wondered what goes on inside those tucked-away Himalayan monasteries? As you might imagine, not too much. But Kaushal Parikh was drawn to that simplicity. Last year, the Mumbai-based photographer was attending a workshop in India when he stumbled across a small monastery and \"immediately hit it off with the head monk.\" The result of his five days in that monastery is a simple \"day in the life\" photo story — and some valuable life lessons. Parikh was most surprised to discover that not everyone in a Tibetan monastery is male. \"There was a nun,\" he writes in an e-mail. \"Her husband died shortly after her second child was born. She needed a place of refuge and the monastery took her in. ... Her most repeated phrase was 'I happy!'\" In fact, according to Parikh, monasteries in India are a twofold source of refuge: for Tibetans, estranged by Chinese control; and for social pariahs, who have \"been ostracized by their families or whose families [are] no more.\" At the monastery, monks and nuns find a new family. Parikh responded to a few more questions: Picture Show: What did you learn about the monk lifestyle? The most obvious thing I learned ... was detachment. They lead simple lives and are attached to no material pleasures. They are content with what they have and they derive their happiness through prayer and serving others. Their food is simple — often consisting of just some Tibetan bread, a simple vegetable and loads of Tibetan tea (doused with butter!). What was really amusing was to see the monks joking with each other and teasing each other. ... The nicest thing was that they all seemed to have chosen and accepted this life, and none of them looked like they were forced to do anything in particular, or feel a certain way. What did you take away from this project? Professionally, I learned how to slowly gain the trust of my subjects and how to become a part of their lives — to shoot with respect and always maintain the dignity of my subjects. Personally, I realized that our material obsession is unhealthy and leads to an unsatisfying and incomplete life. Our cynicism and obsessive natures are what make us an unfriendly people today. These monks are not allowed into their own country — and live in a small monastery in a foreign land — and yet they open their home to everyone, and treat everyone with equal respect. When I started shooting, my focus was getting the photographs; but somehow, slowly, because of the kind nature of my hosts, my focus shifted to getting to know the monks better. The photographs were just a natural byproduct See more of Parikh's work on his website.", "In the 2009 film Crazy Heart, Jeff Bridges played a country singer named Bad Blake. The character was fictional, but Bridges' passion for country music is real. Now he has recorded an album with some of the people who helped him portray a musician on-screen. His studio album, Jeff Bridges, comes out Aug. 16 on Blue Note Records. \"The wonderful thing about acting,\" Bridges tells Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep, \"is that you can use all of your talents and interests in your work.\" Bridges says that before he became an actor, he seriously entertained the idea of becoming a musician. His father, the actor Lloyd Bridges, encouraged his children to go into showbiz, but as a young man, Jeff Bridges balked at entering the family profession: \"Like most kids, you don't want to do what your folks want you to do. You've got your own thing.\" Concerned that nepotism would taint his career as an actor, he pursued his interests in music and painting instead. But eventually, acting became the road of least resistance — and one that, in time, would lead him back to music after all. \"I'm glad I finally got with the old man's program,\" Bridges jokes. Country musician Stephen Bruton co-wrote and co-produced the original soundtrack for Crazy Heart and also served as a tutor for Bridges. Working closely with Bruton, Bridges says, helped the actor embody his Academy Award-winning role. \"We all looked toward Stephen for authenticity, because the life of Bad Blake ... was very much like the life Stephen led,\" Bridges says of Bruton, who died of cancer before the film was released. \"He moved me up to the next level.\" In tribute to Bridges' late mentor, the new album includes two covers of songs by Bruton. It also includes material by Bridges himself — some of which, he says, he honed for over 30 years before committing it to record. \"I'm pretty critical of myself as far as reaching some sort of perfect bull's-eye or target that I'm aiming for,\" Bridges says. \"Sometimes you can get so obsessed with that bull's-eye that you miss the whole deal, because you're just so focused on what you think is perfection that you miss what really is perfection — which is just being alive. \"Life is having its way with me now,\" he says. \"And I'm really pleased.\" STEVE INSKEEP, Host: The actor Jeff Bridges is moving into a job he once had on-screen. By playing a country singer in \"Crazy Heart,\" he explored his own passion for music. M: The wonderful thing about acting, or one of the great things, is that you can use all of your, you know, talents and interests in your work. INSKEEP: Now, Bridges has recorded an album with some of the same people who helped him to portray a musician. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"HOLD ON YOU\") M: (Singing) I've been loved, and I've been alone. All my life, I've been a rolling stone. Done everything... INSKEEP: That's Bridges from the \"Crazy Heart\" soundtrack. And this is from his new album, called \"Jeff Bridges.\" (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"BLUE CAR\") M: (Singing) I'm driving my blue car, baby, down from the mountain so high. I'm driving my blue car, baby, coming down, gonna say goodbye. INSKEEP: You supposedly aspired to be a musician before you were an actor. Is that true? M: Yeah, probably so. You know, my father, Lloyd Bridges, unlike a lot of actors, really encouraged all his kids to go into showbiz. He loved it so much. And like most kids, you know, you don't want to do what your folks want you to do. You got your own things, you know... INSKEEP: So if I talked to you when you were 14 or 16 and said what do you plan to do when you get out of here, you'd say I intend to be a musician. M: Yeah, a musician or artist. I was also interested in painting, and still am. And the acting thing was fun, but, you know, I had some problems with the whole nepotism thing, you know, getting into it just because that's what my dad, you know, I had the inroad. INSKEEP: Well, that's huge in Hollywood, isn't it? That's just... M: Oh, that's the toughest thing, you know, about the acting profession, is getting that break. And that was pretty much handled for me. So that road became the one of least resistance. But fortunately, I've kept the music thing going. So I'm happy about that. INSKEEP: So that's what went horribly, horribly wrong, is movies just went for you first. M: Horribly, horribly right, I'd have to say. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) M: I'm glad I finally got with the old man's program. He was right. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"WHAT A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE CAN DO\") INSKEEP: Bridges' new album grows out of the singing that he did in several films. He sings two songs by the late country musician Stephen Bruton, who worked with him on \"Crazy Heart.\" (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"WHAT A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE CAN DO\") M: And we all looked toward Stephen for authenticity, you know, because the life of Bad Blake - the character that I played in \"Crazy Heart\" - was very much like the life that Stephen led. So he could, you know, he could tell us, you know, hey, yeah, you", "When it comes to making hit records, few are as consistent as William James Adams Jr., or Will.I.Am. The producer and front man for the group Black Eyed Peas has written more than a dozen top 10 hits, and has been a part of seven Grammy Awards at only 35. Adams' formulas never seem to fail, and he's always been able to adapt to the times. \"Black Eyed Peas is a chameleon group,\" Adams tells Weekend All Things Considered host Guy Raz. \"If I played you 'I Got a Feeling,' and then played you 'Pump It,' and then played you 'Let's Get It Started,' and then played you 'My Humps,' and then played you 'OMG' by Usher, you would never think it came from the same group.\" The Black Eyed Peas were undoubtedly a different group when Adams founded the group more than a decade ago. The hip-hop act was written off by many industry insiders, but Adams always had a vision for mass appeal. That vision was realized with the addition of Fergie in 2002, who before the Black Eyed Peas, was a child actress and pop singer who suffered from drug addiction. The group's popularity has been rising ever since. \"First, she's a fan of music,\" Adams said. \"She was like us, and it was a perfect match. She's also a chameleon.\" Adams' method of writing music has also proved to be instrumental in his formula. \"I don't write it on paper,\" he says. \"I record and write into the machine. I would mumble a cadence. I know if it feels good or not because I'm hearing it rather than writing it on a piece of paper.\" In addition to founding and heading one of today's most successful pop groups, Adams will produce U2’s next album and continues to churn out hit records for some of the biggest names in music. But he has even higher aspirations. \"Everything's changed [and still is changing],\" Adams says. \"These new groups [of code writers] bring tens of millions of people together everyday, so when I see Twitter and Facebook, I see The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Ten years from now, I could be [Facebook founder Mark] Zuckerberg.\" GUY RAZ, host: Cole Porter knew how to write a hit song. He wrote dozens, like \"Night and Day.\" (Soundbite of song, \"Night and Day\") Mr. FRANK SINATRA (Singer): (Singing) Night and day, you are the one. RAZ: And Johnny Mercer had the gift, too. He could write a hit song - and he did also, dozens of them, like \"Moon River.\" (Soundbite of song, \"Moon River\") Ms. AUDREY HEPBURN (Actress): (Singing) Moon river, wider than a mile... RAZ: Well, today, it could be argued that Will.I.Am, the founder of the mega-group Black Eyed Peas, is the biggest hit maker in the world. (Soundbite of song from CD, \"The Beginning\") BLACK EYED PEAS: (Singing) Someday, one day. Someday, one day... RAZ: Will.I.Am's written more than a dozen top 10 singles for his group and others. This is a new song off the Black Eyed Peas' new record. It's called \"The Beginning.\" And what Will.I.Am does is to think hard, really hard, about how to make a song a hit. And here's how he makes it happen. WILL.I.AM (Musician, Songwriter): Peaking the music is, you know, the season right now, where you take like (singing) this is thriller-ler-ler-ler-ler - and you just loop the ler. Everybody knows \"Thriller,\" right? Then you can rock the pits. So it's like, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. But yesterday's D.J. was like, this is thriller (makes noise). That's what a record player did back in the '80s, manipulating back and forth - scratching, right? Nowadays, I could go, this is thriller-ler-ler-ler-la-la-ler-ler. I could make new music with music, right? So I was trying to think of a new one I could do, you know? So I was like, ooh, let me flip time of my life. (Soundbite of song, \"The Time (Dirty Bit) ) BLACK EYED PEAS: (Singing) I had the time of my life and I never felt this way before, and I swear this is true, and I owe it all to you. Oh, I had the time of my life, and I never felt this way before... WILL.I.AM: So I flipped it. And, you know, I peaked it on the you, you, you, you... (Soundbite of song, \"The Time (Dirty Bit) ) WILL.I.AM: The crowd went nuts. But they went nuts to the dirty bit part, the beat. (Soundbite of song, \"The Time (Dirty Bit) ) WILL.I.AM: So it's like the conflict of, like, something you were familiar with that was coupled with the antithesis of what the initial was all about. RAZ: Will.I.Am, you have been part of seven Grammys; you've written more than a dozen top 10 hits. What do you think about when you put pen to paper? I mean, how do you - what do you do when you sit down to write music? WILL.I.AM: Well, first, I don't write it on paper. I get my little mic. That's why I said - right when I came in the studio, I was like, hey, what kind of mic -this is the kind of mic I use in the studio. And I record, I write into the machine. And if it sounds right - say, for example, you were like, hey, let's write a song right now. I'd be like, OK. You're probably going to get your pen and paper out - and I'll get my mic out ", "The absolute forefront of British writing, that's where Jeanette Winterson has stood for me ever since I read her early fiction, particularly her 1987 historical novel, The Passion. She's a writer in the vanguard, moving against the traditional, decorous nature of the British novel — even during the decade or more when, in books such as Gut Symmetries and The PowerBook, she seemed to allow aesthetics and philosophy to overtake story as her main interest. Now, good news for readers: The writer who exploded the contemporary English novel, the writer who presented life in the broad gestures of opera, in the key of high historical romance, the writer who located passion \"between freezing and melting, between love and despair, between fear and sex\" is back, with a daring historical novel called The Daylight Gate. The book serves as a portal in prose, through which readers enter fully into the bloody, raucous England of the early 17th century. We begin some seven years after the undoing of the infamous Gunpowder Plot, in which Catholic terrorists attempted to blow up the Parliament of the anti-papist King James I. A frightened Lancashire peddler named John Law rushes through the countryside in a desperate attempt to put the darkening woods behind him. But he trips and falls into a bog. A witch — whom he later, possibly falsely, identifies as a Catholic woman known as Old Demdike — catches at his leg and nearly snatches the fearful traveler into the realm of darkness on the other side of what the local populace thinks of as the Daylight Gate. The gate is itself a portal, a membrane of light and time, which appears at that hour of the day when the thinning light yields to dusk in the woods of northern England. At this magic hour anyone, from ordinary peasant to sorcerer or witch, may pass from the reality of everyday life into the land of the devil and his acolytes — or so people believed at the time. But in fact, the ordinary English side of the gate has itself become a hellish realm for Catholics. In the wake of the Gunpowder Plot, many of them — especially those accused also of dabbling in magic and outré sexual liaisons — have already suffered hunger, prison, torture and death. Winterson's bold sentences and pithy but authentic scenes quickly build sympathy in the reader for these outcasts: the naysayers, the mad violated children, the same-sex lovers, and even one of the gunpowder plotters who has been emasculated by the king's torturers and taken refuge in the estate of a wealthy high-born Catholic woman named Alice Nutter. But the king's men are on his trail, particularly Roger Nowell, the local magistrate who hopes to rid Lancashire — and all England — of witches and rebels. Nowell finds himself caught for a time between his desire for the beautiful Alice and his devotion to his legal and political duties. It's certainly easy to see why he falls for Alice, an elegant and intelligent devotee of the dark science, whom the devil himself, aka The Dark Gentleman, may or may not be courting. At first Nowell chooses to arrest a group of poor and degraded locals, mostly women, who've been denounced as followers of black magic. Will Nowell's desire for Alice keep him from eventually rounding her up with the other suspects — one of whom is Old Demdike, a once-beautiful woman and a former lover of Alice's? Will Alice turn evidence against the tortured Catholic plotter whom she has hidden in her house? Even as the drama-charged pages reveal twists of shape-shifting — and a surprising visit from the Dark Gentleman — Alice retains her dignity and her admirable integrity, if not her own beauty. Necks snap at the end, and blood flows copiously as the main characters leave this side of the Daylight Gate, bound for who knows where. Hell? Heaven? Oblivion? Any reader who crosses over into this novel will remember vividly where he or she has traveled — through the tumultuous years when English heroines and witches appeared interchangeable, and passion erupted at the gateway between love and despair.", "There was a time when jazz was thought to be the devil's music. Today, another jazz virtuoso is using the music to explore spirituality and devotion to God. Victor Wooten is best known for his work in the bluegrass-jazz fusion band Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. But for many, Wooten himself is considered the modern messiah of the electric bass guitar. His latest solo album, Palmystery, inquires into spirituality and mysticism on tracks such as \"I Saw God.\" Wooten tried to describe what the title of the CD meant, without giving too much away. \"It's a question that I don't always like to answer, because then the mystery's over,\" he says. \"But I like to also say that life is a mystery, and life is also in the palm of your hand. So that kind of gives a little insight into the title. But I will say that the title is broader than that, and is open to your own interpretation.\" Wooten brought in his bass for a performance and conversation with Andrea Seabrook. He spoke about and demonstrated his prodigious technique, which he says comes in part from his musically talented family. \"I'm the youngest of five brothers — all my brothers play,\" says Wooten. \"And in learning from them, I was just always inspired. I think like any kid with their older brother or something — you want to be like them. So a lot of the techniques come from being a little kid trying to imitate my brothers.\" On Palmystery, Wooten gets to flex his compositional chops, too, mixing gospel and R&B elements into his music. Though he became known for his soloing with Bela Fleck, he says that he most enjoys coming up with grooves for his songs. \"My favorite thing to do is just play, I guess, what you might call 'normal' bass lines,\" Wooten says. \"Because bass by its nature is a supportive instrument; our goal is to lay down a bass line, you might say, that other people can stand upon and groove on.\" ANDREA SEABROOK, Host: There was a time when jazz was thought to be the devil's music. Today, a jazz virtuoso is using the music to explore spirituality and devotion to God. His name is Victor Wooten. He's known best for his work in the Grammy Award-winning bluegrass jazz fusion band called Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. But for many, Victor Wooten himself is considered a messiah of the bass guitar. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SEABROOK: Victor Wooten's latest solo CD is called \"Palmystery.\" He joins me from Nashville. Welcome. M: Hey. Thank you very much. SEABROOK: I understand you have your bass there ready to play... M: I do, I do. SEABROOK: ...a little bit for us. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) M: That's the bass. SEABROOK: And that was a Beatles song. M: Yeah, it was. I was asked - \"Ms. Norwegian Wood.\" SEABROOK: Yeah, I love that. M: It was funny, I was asked quite a few years ago to play for a John Lennon tribute show and - this was quite a few years ago - and it's like I don't know any John Lennon songs. So, the guy made me a CD of a bunch of them and I realized that I knew all of them and didn't realize John Lennon wrote them. So, I worked out an arrangement of that song. SEABROOK: Let's talk about the title of this CD. It looks at first glance like it's called Palm Mystery. It's got a picture of your... M: Correct. SEABROOK: ...palm. But it's actually written palmystery. M: Right, right. SEABROOK: What does that mean? M: That's a good question. And it's a question I don't always like to answer because then the mystery's over. It's like life is a mystery and life is also in the palm of your hand. SEABROOK: Let's hear a track from the CD. This is \"I Saw God.\" (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"I SAW GOD\") M: (Singing) I saw God the other day. M: (Singing) She looked like you, he looked like me. SEABROOK: I love that line - I saw God the other day; she looked like you, he looked like me. M: Thank you. SEABROOK: The whole CD, in fact, is exploring spirituality. M: And I found that music is a great tool for finding a way to express myself and helping other people express themselves. So, right now - I'm 43 now - and this part of my life, it's not so much about playing the notes as it is helping other people find themselves and find the notes that they want to play. SEABROOK: You're known for being this amazing technical bass player, a god among ass players. You're known for developing several new techniques of playing the bass. I wonder if you'd demonstrate a couple of those. This thing called double thumping. M: Yeah. This is actually something that my brother Reggie showed me when I was really young - I'm going to guess maybe seven or eight. And I was trying to learn some songs. I think at the time I was learning a Sly and the Family Stone song with Larry Graham playing the bass. And this may not, it may not make a whole lot of sense over the air, but basically I'm using my thumb. Most people play with their thumb and they're popping like... (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) M: That's the normal sound, which is very, very cool. So, I learned how to do that. But when I was younger, I started le", "After the Blagojevich scandal broke, EbonyJet.com writer Eric Easter started thinking about the role of favors in his own life. Making a connection, granting access and providing information could all be considered simple favors, or could cross the line into corruption. Joseph diGenova weighs in on where to draw the line between favors and corruption. He has served as both a federal prosecutor, and an assistant US attorney. He is now a partner at the law firm diGenova & Toensing. NEAL CONAN, Host: This is Talk of the Nation. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. This week, federal prosecutors got more time to file an indictment against Illinois governor, Rob Blagojevich. Profanity-laced transcripts of FBI wiretaps appear to show Blagojevich trying to trade the appointment for Barack Obama's old Senate seat for a favor - a cushy job for him or his wife, or maybe even a spot in the new president's Cabinet. Sounds terrible, but favors are the currency of politics. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. I'll vote for your appropriation if you back my federal judge nominee - maybe unseemly but often perfectly legal. In fact, some would argue that the accumulation and payback of obligations is simple human nature. The Joneses had us over for dinner, we owe them an invitation to the New Year's party. But every so often, they cross the line. I'll name your cousin to the utilities board if he kicks back 10 percent of his salary. Have you ever asked or been asked for a favor in your professional or your personal life that you thought crossed into a gray area? Our phone number is 800-989-8255. Email us, talk@npr.org. You can also join the conversation on our Web site. Go to npr.org and click on Talk of the Nation. Later in the program, India's dossier on how the terror attack on Mumbai was planned, mounted and directed from inside Pakistan, including chilling telephone intercepts. But first, the ethics of favors. Eric Easter is editor-in-chief of EbonyJet.com. In his latest piece, he wrote, what Blagojevich said on the phone was political business as usual and not necessarily illegal. Eric Easter joins us from the studios of Chicago Public Radio. Nice to have you on the program today. M: Thank you. How are you? CONAN: I'm good. Business as usual? M: Somewhat. You know, the first thing I thought when I heard the story about Blagojevich was that, you know, this was really - if you take out the curse words that - that it was really human nature in a sense, that, you know, I really sympathize with him that you don't give something away like a Senate seat. You know, you don't put someone on, you know, the most prestigious legislative body in the world and just get a pat on the back and thank you, that it seemed to be very natural to say that if I'm going to give you something that important, then, you know, you should return a favor that is probably a little more tangible than, hey guy, thanks for the - you know, thanks for the new career and the new life. CONAN: Mm hmm. And you - we should point out, you speak from some experience. You worked in politics for a long time. M: I spent 20 years in politics and saw, you know, something like that being done almost every day - not necessarily at that level and certainly not with the bleeps - but something like that every day, in some way - in some small way. And it's something that I think all of us do, in some way, every day. But I think we innately know when we've crossed the line and when we've done something that violates the trust that we have when we give and receive favors. CONAN: In fact, you write that during your career as a political operative, the accumulation and expenditure of favors was really your job. M: Well I mean, that's the definition of political capital, really. I mean, you build these things up, you realize that at some point, someone's going to have to recognize that you've done something for them in the past, and they're going to need to return that favor. What you don't do, really, is say what that specific favor should be. You tend to leave people at their word, and people's word is what they travel upon. The word, you know - the promise that they will return the favor at some point in a way that they think is appropriate at an opportune time but not a way that you specify and that you define. That seems to be where you violate the line, when you define what the specific favor has to be in return. CONAN: Though have you ever also called somebody and said, well, you remember that time a couple of years ago when you needed help - now I need yours? M: Only if they've forgotten. I think most people, if they're in the business, tend to remember and tend to know when they can do it and when not to. CONAN: And you also pointed to a moment in your personal life, as a very young man, when this first came to light. M: You know, I don't think any of us are ever really taught, you know, the etiquette of favors. I mean, certainly we're taught to say please and thank", "There are no rules for loss, no rules for estrangement, except maybe this one: Absence makes the heart grow confused. Once somebody you love goes away, your mind plays a series of tricks on you, and you almost never get a second chance. \"The heart wants what it wants,\" said Woody Allen, and if it wants something badly enough, it can invent it, fabricate it out of thin air. Miller, the brilliant 9-year-old protagonist of Brock Clarke's remarkable new novel, Exley, seems to know this: \"Love is not wanting the thing you love to ever end,\" he thinks. Miller is a bona fide prodigy -- he reads at several grade levels above his age  -- and he's smart enough to know that everything has to end. His father disappeared after a bitter fight with Miller's mother, and the boy is convinced that he's found him in a VA hospital in their hometown of Watertown, N.Y., critically injured in the Iraq war. Nobody believes him, though -- not his mother, who thinks her husband is just drinking his life away in another town; not his well-intentioned but not entirely competent psychiatrist, who shares Miller's mother's suspicion that the boy is just making everything up. Denial, after all, can be the most confusing, disorienting stage of grief -- as Miller notes, \"There's nothing as quiet as that moment before one person is about to tell another something neither of them wants to hear.\" The confused, heartbroken Miller isn't the only main character of Clarke's novel -- there's also the book's namesake, Frederick Exley, the author of his father's favorite book, A Fan's Notes. Exley was a longtime Watertown resident; Miller believes that if he could find him, the writer could somehow help his father to heal. He's unaware, sadly, that the novelist died of a stroke in 1992. With Exley, his fifth book, Clarke attempts to make sense of our basic ideas of family, identity and denial -- issues he tackled in a very different way in his previous novel, the critically beloved An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England. The novel shifts points of view between Miller and his psychiatrist, unnamed throughout the book; both are wholly original characters, good-hearted but imperfect. (Miller can be cold and patronizing to his mother and his friends; the doctor is something of a prude and can't stand it when his patients cry.) Both boy and doctor read A Fan's Notes in an attempt to understand Miller's father; the experience not only changes them, but makes them, almost, lose themselves. Nothing comes easy in Exley, and the reader is never really sure, until the book's final page, whether what's happening is actually real. In the hands of a less talented writer, the novel's layers, twists and identity puzzles could strain the belief of even the most credulous reader; but Clarke's narrative assurance and unfailingly realistic characters allow him to pull off the literary equivalent of a half-court shot. This would have been a hard novel to write even adequately, but Clarke's performance here is extraordinary; it's far and away the best work of his career. Doctor's Notes (Entry 4) After three unproductive -- unproductive and, indeed, counterpro­ductive -- meetings with M., I try a new approach and ask the pa­tient if he has ideas as to how I might help him. M. considers this for several moments and then makes an odd request: that I become a dif­ferent doctor, with a different name, a different manner of speaking and dressing. Even a different hairstyle. Even a beard. M. goes so far as to suggest -- suggest and, indeed, encourage -- specific things for me to say at certain moments during our meeting: when I first greet the patient, after the patient tells me his most innermost thoughts and fears, when I say good-bye to the patient, etc. Strangely, I agree. Possibly because M. is onto something. Possibly because normal strategies seem not to be work­ing. Possibly because M. is right: possibly a change in doctoring is in order. Possibly Dr. Horatio Pahnee (the name M. has given me) will be able to heal M. whereas I have failed. In any case, I shall think of it as a study -- a study and, indeed, a clinical study; if findings are satisfactory, I will present them during my speech at the North Country Mental Health Professionals’ annual meeting later this autumn. After our meeting, I open the front door to let M. out. I am about to exclaim our newly agreed-upon good-bye when I see the patient’s mother sitting on the porch railing. I have not seen her since our first session, and my arm and arm hair tingle wildly. She and I exchange conventional greetings. She kisses her son on the top of the head and then asks him if he wouldn’t mind waiting in the car, just for a second. M. walks to the car; as he does so, he looks at me over his shoulder. I know how to read his look, and I look back, to tell him I will not betray his confidences. When he is in the car, M.’s mother asks, \"How’s it going?\" \"Not well,\" I answer truthfully. I do not want to tell her t", "Ross Macdonald had a smart answer to the tedious question of why he devoted his considerable talents to writing \"mere\" detective stories: Macdonald said that the detective story was \"a kind of welder's mask enabling writers to handle dangerously hot material.\" Like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler (the great hard-boiled masters whom he revered), Macdonald set out to excavate the dark depths of American life, but to find his own \"dangerously hot material\" Macdonald descended into uncharted territory. His hard-boiled predecessors had walked the mean streets of San Francisco and Los Angeles; Macdonald moved to the suburbs — a California landscape of mortgaged dreams that already seems exhausted in the four mystery novels of the 1950s reprinted in this Library of America collection. All those images of suburbia-gone-sour that distinguish the work of a John Cheever, Richard Ford, Tom Perrotta, or even the early seasons of Mad Men owe something to Macdonald's penetrating vision. It took Macdonald a while to find his voice, as he explains in a couple of moody autobiographical essays that appear at the end of this collection. His hard-knock life story reads like something out of a James M. Cain Depression-era noir. Macdonald was born in California in 1915, but grew up in Canada. His father abandoned the family when Macdonald was 4 and he and his mother bounced from relatives' homes to rooming houses. Like so many lonely kids before and after him, Macdonald escaped into reading, falling in love with the novels of Dickens and then, fatally, Hammett. Thanks to a life insurance policy pay-out upon the timely death of that absentee father, Macdonald went to college and, then, graduate school in English — the first of our hard-boiled masters to earn a Ph.D. If you look closely, you can spot the influence of the Romantic poets in Macdonald's quick and always surprising imagery. Take this phrase from his 1959 masterpiece, The Galton Case, where he characterizes a tough-but-naive dame as possessing an \"asphalt innocence.\" For a long time Macdonald's wife, Margaret Millar, was the more successful mystery writer; Macdonald's own early novels sounded too much like Chandler knock-offs. But when he entered psychotherapy in 1956, Macdonald — and his detective hero Lew Archer — came into their own. You can hear the transformation in the opening pages of Macdonald's breakthrough 1958 novel, The Doomsters. A troubled young man bangs at Lew Archer's door in the wee hours of the morning. Archer tells us: \"A pre-breakfast client was the last thing I needed that morning. But it was one of those times when you have to decide between your own convenience and the unknown quantity of another man's trouble.\" Sam Spade would have rolled over in bed and ignored the knock; Philip Marlowe would have been out walking the LA streets in the rain; later on, Mickey Spillane would have just shot that annoying predawn visitor. But Lew Archer is as much a social worker, a counselor, a father confessor as he is a private eye. Macdonald gave us a detective with psychological depth; a gumshoe capable of throwing around words like \"gestalt.\" The four 1950s novels gathered in this Library of America volume offer readers the thrill of watching a writer evolve. I could urge you to read Macdonald because other great writers — from Eudora Welty to George Pelecanos — have paid him homage. I could make a sociological argument about how these novels offer a panoramic tour of 1950s California — a landscape of cars and Beat poetry joints here dismissively referred to as \"culture caves.\" But, mostly you should read Macdonald for the reason you read any great writer — for the thrill of the language and vision. I leave you with this passage from The Galton Case where Archer describes his visit to a rich old woman who implores him to find her long-lost grandson. \"[Mrs. Galton] spoke like a little girl betrayed by time and loss, by fading hair and wrinkles and the fear of death. ... She was chanting in a ritual of hope [about being reunited with her grandson]. If she said it often enough, it would come true. \"I'm hungry,\" she said. \"I want my lunch. ...\" That meditation on human yearning and mortality ends with the intrusion of something baser. Macdonald's encompassing awareness distinguishes his writing: He gives us the good, the bad and the ugly — all the stuff that makes us human beings tick." ]

[ "You can resist 5G quite well for some time. Look at the G data aircraft pilots can handle. But you would not be able to walk around or stand up. To kill someone you need 10G or more. Look up the rollercoaster execution plans. I guess living with 1.5G or even 2G might be possible. First weeks will be tough, but your body will adapt with stronger bones / muscles, higher bloodpressure and such things. Then after some generationus some of your kids will be fully adapted to the new gravitation level. This new G-resistant species would then be able to live in a 3G environment ..... This is thesis material. \"Adaption of rats living in a 1.5G centrifuge\". Then \"Evolution of rats living in a 1.5G centrifuge\"." ]

[ "Uh...probably not. Mars has a few problems going for it. Musk's suggestion would help with one of them: lack of an atmosphere. Mars is cold and there's basically no atmosphere because the planet doesn't have a magnetic field to keep solar radiation from blasting the atmosphere away. Seeding the planet with greenhouse gases could be a first step to giving it a more Earthlike climate (though I'd shy away from nukes which would spray radioactive fallout everywhere). However, this leaves many other problems unsolved. Mars is a smaller planet with weaker gravity. Weak gravity is really, **really** bad for humans and most other lifeforms too. We evolved very specifically for Earth-like gravity and we don't really have a way of making Mars more massive. Also, the aforementioned lack of a magnetic field cause the surface to constantly be bathed in high energy solar radiation that would make it unlivable for humans.", "It's not that life different from the life that we see around us on Earth couldn't exist, it's that the only examples of life that we have to go on require certain conditions like liquid water. So, we're focusing our efforts on finding the conditions that we already know support life instead of just blindly searching everywhere. > I get that part of our search is for finding an inhabitable planet for our own survivals sake Also, this part isn't necessarily true. The search isn't primarily focused on finding another planet for humanity to move to. Simply finding another planet that supports life, even if we could never get there, would be one of the biggest scientific discoveries ever made.", "No, there is not another planet opposite the Sun from us. There are a lot of ways that we know this: First, we've looked, and it's not there. We have a whole host of probes all around the solar system, orbiting Mars and Saturn and in free orbit of the Sun, and any of them that aren't in the Earth's orbit or Lagrange L1 or L2 points are quite capable of looking at the opposite point in our orbit and seeing that there is no other planet there. Second, such an orbit would be unstable. If either the Earth or its hypothetical twin were nudged just a tiny bit (which happens all the time as the planets of the solar system tug on each other), it would fall out of equilibrium and one would start catching up to the other, and they would both destabilize each others' orbits. Third, such a planet would influence the orbits of other planets, especially Mars and Venus, and we have such a huge amount of data on the precise positions of the planets over several centuries that the effect would be extremely noticeable.", "First let me tell you the story of how Neptune was discovered. All planets prior to Neptune were discovered by astronomers looking at the sky. As some scientists were looking at the data for the positions of Uranus in the sky, they noticed that Uranus was not behaving quite as predicted by Newton's gravity. They did a few calculations and determined that another planet had to be out there, gravitationally pulling on Uranus to give it the orbit that it had. Lo and behold, when astronomers pointed their telescopes where the scientists told them, there was a planet right where it was supposed to be. So, long story short, it is unlikely that there is any planetary sized body in our solar system as we would have detected its effects on the orbits of the other planets.", "> Most of the planets Kepler will detect will typically be between about 100pc and 1kpc (1parsec=3.1 light years). So If someone had the equivalent of Kepler in a solar system at say 500 pc they could detect Earth. But... that star would have to be within about 1/2 degree of being along the ecliptic plane on the sky in order for them see see Earth transiting the Sun. [Source](_URL_0_) They would be able to see Earth at roughly 1630 light years away if they are close to being along the ecliptic plane (basically have Earth be in its line of sight as it is crossing the sun) so it is very easy to assume that we could see all of the planets, again assuming we could see each planet as it passes across our sun.", "The reason it isn't considered a planet isn't actually to do with how well we can see it. It's to do with how we define a planet. There's loads of rocks in our solar system, a continuous range in size from pebbles to Earth. To decide what is a planet, we need some criteria to separate a really big rock from a planet. We settled on two things: 1) the rock has to be so big that it's own gravity makes it spherical. 2) the rock has to be so big that its entire orbit is empty of other rocks since they were all pulled in by the gravity of the big rock or thrown away. Pluto doesn't fulfill the second category. Thus it's a dwarf planet, a planet like rock that doesn't quite fulfill the criteria. There are at least 44 other dwarf planets, the only thing that makes Pluto special is that it was spotted a long time ago.", "I would say very unlikely that it would be edible for humans. On Earth, we adapted to eat what is around us. When we eat something, our body knows how to take it apart and release the energy, minerals and vitamins. The probability that we adapted to consume something on an alien planet is very unlikely. Then again, would it be toxic, it would depend on the life form. What if the life form was was made of hydrogen or silicone? Would consuming hydrogen or silicon be toxic? I would say most non carbon based life forms would be toxic to us.", "The point being made in that tweet is that unless we have some kind of monumental event like a signal from or encounter with extraterrestrial life, what we're looking for will be pretty hard to confirm as a definite sign of life. So we can, for example, analyze the composition of the atmosphere of exoplanets if the planet transits its star. The spectrum of light that comes from the planet in that situation allows us to make some inferences about the chemicals that are present in that atmosphere. So based on where we know life can exist so far (Earth), we can look at a planet's atmosphere and say that it is or isn't suitable for life. With some degree of confidence. Maybe. At the end of the day, we don't know if life can exist in forms completely, wait for it, *alien* to what we have here on earth, and even if we found some atmospheric signatures that are very similar to those created by or hospitable to life here on earth, we still couldn't be completely certain that there is actually life on that planet.", "The reason that Pluto is no longer a planet is not because of its size. In fact, it passes the test for \"size\" (really mass). The definition of 'planet' was made more strict. It is as following: 1. Massive enough to be round. Very massive bodies have so much gravity that they crush down any irregular edges towards their centre, and so become ball-like. 2. The primary object orbiting the Sun. For instance, the Moon orbit's the Sun, but it does so by orbiting the Earth. The Earth is the primary object orbiting the Sun. 3. Has cleared it's own orbit. Planets clear their orbits of debry/asteroids (by attracting them with their gravity). Pluto passes 1 and 2, but has not passed 3. It has not cleared it's orbit of debry. Objects like Pluto are called Dwarf Planets. [Source](_URL_0_)", "A black hole is something like a planet. If you consider earth, you know that it takes a certain speed to escape our planet's gravity. This is called 'escape velocity'. Gravity increases with mass, so what if a planet was so massive that the escape velocity was higher than the speed of light? Nothing could escape, right? That's a black hole. The 'event horizon' is the point where the pull of gravity is so strong, even light isn't fast enough to escape. The black hole doesn't really 'suck' things in, but it pulls them with gravity, just like the Earth will pull any object that is too close and isn't moving fast enough. When something falls into a black hole, it's just like something falling onto a planet. It lands on the ground. Except with a black hole, the gravity is so strong, the object is smushed into the core and becomes part of it, which increases its mass, and makes the gravity stronger. That's overly simplified, but it's a general picture of what happens.", "Yes, but there is a minimum physical limit to the size of your telescope to resolve Earth at that range. It would need to be over a kilometre in size to see the Earth as a single pixel. However, it's possible to detect evidence of life without actually resolving a planet. By looking at its spectrum (i.e. how much light is given off at different wavelengths), we can find out things about the composition of the surface and atmosphere. I don't think the composition of our atmosphere is something that would arise \"naturally\" without billions of years of being processed by life. And the huge amounts of land covered by grass and trees should also have an effect.", "Because as Heinlein said: > The Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in. or as Randall Munroe observed: > The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there's no good reason to go into space--each discovered, studied, and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision. There is nothing we particularly need on Mars. There is no good reason to live on Mars, but if you looked at it cold and calculating enough there is also no good reason to live on Earth. We have to ways we can go from here. Humanity can stay on earth and die with its planet at some point in the future or we can go out there and spread ourselves among the stars. Mars is the first step on the second path, we don't know were it will lead and what benefits it will bring us, but the other one is literally a dead end.", "I can't speak to the color, but the flickering was not actually something in the star, but an effect of Earth's atmosphere. As the air in the atmosphere moves, it disrupts the light from a star just enough to cause it to appear to twinkle. Planets don't twinkle like this because, even though their light still has to travel through our atmosphere, the size that we observe for the disk of the planet is large enough to be more significant than the fluctuations caused by the atmosphere. You can read more [here](_URL_0_).", "I haven't seen the movie. Was the planet the other crew was on in motion relative to the Earth to cause time dilation, or was it a difference in gravity? Either way, what they'd experience is some sort of \"redshift\" or \"blueshift.\" The radio message would not be lost, but its frequency would either be lower (planet moving away/in a stronger gravitational field) or higher (planet moving towards Earth). This is something we have to deal with when we use GPS satellites, though the effect is much less drastic. Basically, though, you just calculate how much the frequency of the original message will have shifted by the time it reaches you, and tune your receiver accordingly. No information would be lost. edit: Realized from context that it's a gravitational field. The way to think about it is that if the radio signal oscillates once an hour to the crew out on the planet, it'll oscillate once every 20 years to someone on Earth receiving it. Hence, lower frequency.", "You just flip your perspective. What we on Earth call a lunar eclipse is when our (the Earth's) shadow covers something else (the moon). And a solar eclipse is when some other shadow (the moon's) covers (part of) us. So every time Earth sees a lunar eclipse, on the moon some other shadow (the Earth's) is covering us (the moon): this would be a solar eclipse. And every time the Earth sees a solar eclipse, on the moon our shadow (the moon's) is covering something else (a part of the Earth): this is a 'lunar' eclipse. The eclipses happen at the same time, you would just call them the opposite because they have opposite geometries. The only difference (because of the difference in sizes of the two objects) is that on the Earth a lunar eclipse is visible to half the planet, and a solar eclipse is visible to a narrow band of the planet. While on the moon both types of eclipses would be visible to half the moon.", "On earth, the phenomenon depends on two things: earth’s magnetic field, and earths atmosphere. I’m on my phone, so can’t write the entire process, but basically charged particles are shot out of the sun and then are captured by earth’s magnetic field and funnelled down into the atmosphere at the poles. The visible light that we see is the interaction between said charged particles and the stuffs in the atmosphere. So, to answer your question, it is very likely for many (dare I say most?) planets to have similar phenomena, so long as they have similar conditions (magnetic field and atmosphere).", "First of all, you're correct. Finding any life would be a big fucking deal. However, that's actually not very likely to happen. What's much more likely is that we will find evidence of alien technology, such as radio signals or something else that travels at light speed. Remember, any evidence that we find will have to travel from where the aliens are to where we are. If you think about a cow, or a worm here on earth, there would be no way for an alien who is not on earth to know that the cow is here. But humanity's technology does have signals that could be picked up from other planets (given enough time for the signal to get there). So the assumption could be made that without setting foot on an alien planet, the only way we are going to detect life is via the signals that technology puts out. Therefore the life would be intelligent.", "No. There are several reasons why not. Because the Earth's orbit is elliptical, it moves at different speeds when it's close or far from the sun, so the two planets would get out of 180 degree alignment and we'd see it for part of the year (although if it had the same elliptical orbit but reverse, it could remain hidden). Space probes we've sent to other planets would have been sent off course by the gravity of this planet, but that didn't happen. And we sent some probes to the sun with powerful cameras, and they would have seen this on their way." ]

[ "You can wrap the single entity into an IQueryable. Something like this should work:\n\nSingleResult.Create(new[]{entity}.AsQueryable());\n\n\nYou could write a helper function that uses this trick to convert from a single T to an IQueryable&lt;T&gt;. There may even be a built-in way of doing this." ]

[ "Official method should work, but Not\n\nThe official method setCustomAttribute($attributeCode, $attributeValue) below should work but NOT because the official bug https://github.com/magento/magento2/issues/4703.\n\nThe bug doesn't fix yet in version 2.2.3.\n\n$product = $this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;getById($productId);\n$product-&gt;setCustomAttribute($attributeCode, $attributeValue);\n$this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;save($product);\n\n\nTemporary method\n\nAfter many debug and tries, I found the method $product-&gt;setData($attributeCode, $attributeValue) below could set custom attribute successfully, it is a temporary method.\n\nHope it could help you. Any better way is welcome to post :) \n\n$product = $this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;getById($productId);\n$product-&gt;setData($attributeCode, $attributeValue);\n$this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;save($product);", "In Magento 2 proposed to use service layer for this.\nTry use \\Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\ProductRepository::getById method to get product by id", "Value for SP.CamlQuery.viewXml property should always contains the View root element:\n\n&lt;View&gt;\n &lt;Query&gt;...&lt;/Query&gt;\n&lt;/View&gt;\n\n\n\n\nThere is no need to perform CAML query to return List Item by id, use SP.List.getItemById Method for that purpose.\n\nSecondly, SharePoint JavaScript library already includes functions for parsing query string, for example GetUrlKeyValue. \n\nExample\n\nfunction getListItem(listId,itemId,success,error)\n{\n var ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();\n var web = ctx.get_web();\n var list = web.get_lists().getById(listId);\n var item = list.getItemById(itemId);\n ctx.load(item);\n\n ctx.executeQueryAsync(\n function() {\n success(item); \n },\n error);\n}\n\n\n\n\n\nvar listId = _spPageContextInfo.pageListId;\nvar itemId = parseInt(GetUrlKeyValue('ID'));\n\ngetListItem(listId,itemId, \n function(item){\n console.log(item.get_item('Title'));\n },\n function(sendera,args){\n console.log(args.get_message());\n });", "Load your product using it's repository, get repository using DI.\nThen do\n\n$product = $this-&gt;_productRepository-&gt;getById($id);\n$product-&gt;setStatus(\\Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\Product\\Attribute\\Source\\Status::STATUS_ENABLED);\n$this-&gt;_productRepository-&gt;save(product);\n\n\nVia DB:\n\nFind status attribute_id from eav_attributes table using it's code (97 for me)\nThen find a combination of your attribute_id and entity_id inside catalog_product_entity_int table, and set desired value.", "If you want to enter the page in edit mode just add ?ControlMode=Edit&amp;DisplayMode=Design to your URL. \n\nIf you want the page list item in edit mode you can get the url via JS like this:\n\nvar ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();\nvar list = ctx.get_lists().getById(_spPageContextInfo.pageListId);\n\nctx.load(list, 'DefaultEditFormUrl');\nctx.executeQueryAsync(\n function () {\n var editModeUrl = list.get_defaultEditFormUrl() + '?ID=' + _spPageContextInfo.pageItemId;\n },\n function (sender, args) {\n //error\n }\n);\n\n\nIf you want to open any item from any list, you need to get the EditFormUrl and the item ID. This can be done with similar JS code.", "I do this pretty frequently. Here is a pattern I tend to follow.\n\nfunction getListTitle(guidList) {\n var thisContext = {\n spContext : SP.ClientContext.get_current(),\n promise: new $.Deferred()\n };\n thisContext.spWeb = thisContext.spContext.get_web();\n thisContext.spList = thisContext.spWeb.get_lists().getById(guidList.toString());\n thisContext.load(thisContext.spList);\n thisContext.executeQueryAsync(\n Function.createDelegate(thisContext, getListTitle_done),\n Function.createDelegate(thisContext, getListTitle_fail)\n );\n return thisContext.promise;\n}\nfunction getListTitle_done() {\n this.promise.resolve(this.spList.get_title());\n}\nfunction getListTitle_fail(sender, args) {\n this.promise.reject(args.get_message());\n}\ngetListTitle(\"2c5e4c06-0704-485f-827b-3815ff9a870f\").then(\n function (nameList) {\n console.log(\"The name of the list is '\" + nameList + \"'.\");\n }\n).fail(\n function (msgError) {\n console.error(msgError);\n }\n);", "It turns out that the product maybe wasn't really the full product. I had to inject an \\Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\ProductRepository object into my constructor and call:\n\n$theProduct = $this-&gt;_productRepository-&gt;getById($productId);\n\n\nThen the attributes weren't null anymore.", "use this script it will help you out.\n\nFirst Initialize required instances\nYou can use object manager if you are using custom script (But it is not recommended)\n\nprotected $productRepository;\nprotected $stockRegistry;\n\npublic function __construct(\n ...\n \\Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\ProductRepository $productRepository,\n \\Magento\\CatalogInventory\\Api\\StockRegistryInterface $stockRegistry,\n ...\n)\n{\n $this-&gt;productRepository = $productRepository;\n $this-&gt;stockRegistry = $stockRegistry;\n}\n\n\nNow use above instances and do update stock like this:\n\n $outOfStockProducts = array(1, 3, 4, 5, 9);\n $inStockProducts = array(2, 6, 7, 8, 10);\n\n //For out of stock products\n foreach($outOfStockProducts as $k=&gt;$id){\n $product = $this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;getById($id);\n $stockItem = $this-&gt;stockRegistry-&gt;getStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku());\n $stockItem-&gt;setQty(0);\n $this-&gt;stockRegistry-&gt;updateStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku(), $stockItem);\n }\n\n //For 100 stock products\n foreach($inStockProducts as $k=&gt;$id){\n $product = $this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;getById($id);\n $stockItem = $this-&gt;stockRegistry-&gt;getStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku());\n $stockItem-&gt;setQty(100);\n $this-&gt;stockRegistry-&gt;updateStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku(), $stockItem);\n }\n\n\nEdit:\n\nIf you want to do it with object manager (Which is not recommended) then use this:\n\n$objectManager = \\Magento\\Framework\\App\\ObjectManager::getInstance();\n$productRepository = $objectManager-&gt;create('\\Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\ProductRepository');\n$stockRegistry = $objectManager-&gt;create('\\Magento\\CatalogInventory\\Api\\StockRegistryInterface');\n\n $outOfStockProducts = array(1, 3, 4, 5, 9);\n $inStockProducts = array(2, 6, 7, 8, 10);\n\n //For out of stock products\n foreach($outOfStockProducts as $k=&gt;$id){\n $product = $productRepository-&gt;getById($id);\n $stockItem = $stockRegistry-&gt;getStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku());\n $stockItem-&gt;setQty(0);\n $stockRegistry-&gt;updateStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku(), $stockItem);\n }\n\n //For 100 stock products\n foreach($inStockProducts as $k=&gt;$id){\n $product = $productRepository-&gt;getById($id);\n $stockItem = $stockRegistry-&gt;getStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku());\n $stockItem-&gt;setQty(100);\n $stockRegistry-&gt;updateStockItemBySku($product-&gt;getSku(), $stockItem);\n }\n\n\nEdit 2\n\nYou need these commands to update stock directly on databae\n\nUPDATE cataloginventory_stock_item set qty=100 where product_id IN(2, 6, 7, 8, 10);\nUPDATE cataloginventory_stock_status SET qty=100 AND stock_status=1 WHERE product_id IN(2, 6, 7, 8, 10);\n\n\nUPDATE cataloginventory_stock_item set qty=0 where product_id IN(2, 6, 7, 8, 10);\nUPDATE cataloginventory_stock_status SET qty=0 AND stock_status=0 WHERE product_id IN(2, 6, 7, 8, 10);\n\n\nHope this will resolve your issue.", "Please try below code\n\n&lt;? \n $objectManager = \\Magento\\Framework\\App\\ObjectManager::getInstance();\n $customerRepositoryInterface = $objectManager-&gt;create('\\Magento\\Customer\\Api\\CustomerRepositoryInterface');\n $customerSession = $objectManager-&gt;create('Magento\\Customer\\Model\\Session');\n if($customerSession-&gt;isLoggedIn()) {\n $customerId = $customerSession-&gt;getCustomer()-&gt;getId();\n $customeratt = $customerRepositoryInterface-&gt;getById($customerId);\n $customAttributeCode = 'custom_name';\n echo $cattrValue = $customeratt-&gt;getCustomAttribute($customAttributeCode); //Please echo this line when you want display custom name.\n }\n?&gt;", "This is example to get product review by Product ID\n\nBy Objectmanager\n\n$productId = '2'; // Product ID\n$objectManager = \\Magento\\Framework\\App\\ObjectManager::getInstance();\n$product = $objectManager-&gt;create(\"Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\Product\")-&gt;load($productId);\n$storeManager = $objectManager-&gt;get('Magento\\Store\\Model\\StoreManagerInterface');\n$currentStoreId = $storeManager-&gt;getStore()-&gt;getId();\n$rating = $objectManager-&gt;get(\"Magento\\Review\\Model\\ResourceModel\\Review\\CollectionFactory\");\n\n$collection = $rating-&gt;create()-&gt;addStoreFilter(\n $currentStoreId\n )-&gt;addStatusFilter(\n \\Magento\\Review\\Model\\Review::STATUS_APPROVED\n )-&gt;addEntityFilter(\n 'product',\n $productId\n )-&gt;setDateOrder();\n\nprint_r($collection-&gt;getData()); //Get all review data of product\n\n\nBy Factory Method\n\n protected $productRepository; \n protected $_reviewCollection; \n\n public function __construct(\n ...\n \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\ProductRepositoryInterface $productRepository,\n \\Magento\\Review\\Model\\ResourceModel\\Review\\CollectionFactory $reviewCollection,\n ...\n ) {\n ...\n $this-&gt;productRepository = $productRepository;\n $this-&gt;_reviewCollection = $reviewCollection;\n ...\n }\n\n public function getCollection()\n {\n $productId = 2;\n $product = $this-&gt;productRepository-&gt;getById($productId);\n $collection = $this-&gt;_reviewCollection-&gt;create()\n -&gt;addStatusFilter(\n \\Magento\\Review\\Model\\Review::STATUS_APPROVED\n )-&gt;addEntityFilter(\n 'product',\n $productId\n )-&gt;setDateOrder();\n\n print_r($collection-&gt;getData()); //Get all review data of product\n }", "You should use Module Service Contract. \n\nFor example for product you should use ProductRepositoryInterface\n\n&lt;?php\n/**\n *\n * Copyright © Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.\n * See COPYING.txt for license details.\n */\n\nnamespace Magento\\Catalog\\Api;\n\n/**\n * @api\n * @since 100.0.2\n */\ninterface ProductRepositoryInterface\n{\n /**\n * Create product\n *\n * @param \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface $product\n * @param bool $saveOptions\n * @return \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\InputException\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\StateException\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\CouldNotSaveException\n */\n public function save(\\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface $product, $saveOptions = false);\n\n /**\n * Get info about product by product SKU\n *\n * @param string $sku\n * @param bool $editMode\n * @param int|null $storeId\n * @param bool $forceReload\n * @return \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\NoSuchEntityException\n */\n public function get($sku, $editMode = false, $storeId = null, $forceReload = false);\n\n /**\n * Get info about product by product id\n *\n * @param int $productId\n * @param bool $editMode\n * @param int|null $storeId\n * @param bool $forceReload\n * @return \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\NoSuchEntityException\n */\n public function getById($productId, $editMode = false, $storeId = null, $forceReload = false);\n\n /**\n * Delete product\n *\n * @param \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface $product\n * @return bool Will returned True if deleted\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\StateException\n */\n public function delete(\\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductInterface $product);\n\n /**\n * @param string $sku\n * @return bool Will returned True if deleted\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\NoSuchEntityException\n * @throws \\Magento\\Framework\\Exception\\StateException\n */\n public function deleteById($sku);\n\n /**\n * Get product list\n *\n * @param \\Magento\\Framework\\Api\\SearchCriteriaInterface $searchCriteria\n * @return \\Magento\\Catalog\\Api\\Data\\ProductSearchResultsInterface\n */\n public function getList(\\Magento\\Framework\\Api\\SearchCriteriaInterface $searchCriteria);\n}\n\n\nIf Module Service Contract is not available you can use ResourceModel to save entities.", "The reason that your test method can't see your operational method is because your operational method was declared as private.\n\nprivate\nThis is the default, and means that the method or variable is accessible only within the Apex class in which it is defined. If you do not specify an access modifier, the method or variable is private.\n\nYour test method is outside the class your (private) operational method is in, so it doesn't have access to it. There is an annotation (sometimes called a &quot;decorator&quot;) that you can add to a private method to make it visible to the test context. It's @TestVisible\n\nUse the TestVisible annotation to allow test methods to access private or protected members of another class outside the test class. These members include methods, member variables, and inner classes. This annotation enables a more permissive access level for running tests only. This annotation doesn’t change the visibility of members if accessed by non-test classes.\nWith this annotation, you don’t have to change the access modifiers of your methods and member variables to public if you want to access them in a test method. For example, if a private member variable isn’t supposed to be exposed to external classes but it should be accessible by a test method, you can add the TestVisible annotation to the variable definition.", "You can make DbContext protected property in your base implementation, so you don't have to declare it in every single derived class.\nYou might want to consider extracting Insert and Delete methods to separate interface, because often you want to make some of your repositories readonly.\n\nImplementation may look like that:\n\ninterface IRepository&lt;T&gt; \n{ \n IQueryable&lt;T&gt; SearchFor(Expression&lt;Func&lt;T, bool&gt;&gt; predicate);\n IQueryable&lt;T&gt; GetAll();\n T GetById(int id);\n}\n\ninterface IEditableRepository&lt;T&gt; : IRepository&lt;T&gt;\n{\n void Insert(T entity);\n void Delete(T entity);\n}\n\nclass ReadOnlyRepositoryBase&lt;T&gt; : IRepository&lt;T&gt;\n{...}\n\nclass EditableRepositoryBase&lt;T&gt; : ReadOnlyRepositoryBase&lt;T&gt;, IEditableRepository&lt;T&gt;\n{...}\n\n\nthis way you can distinct readonly repositories from non-readonly at compilation time. \nPassing dbContext to every repository is not normally an issue, because usually in addition to your repositories, you also implement factory object, which creates your repositories for you, so you don't have to call constructor explicitly. This factory can be made a singleton, so you can access it at any point in your code. Alternatively, you can register your repositories in some container, or you can use both approaches. \nIf you are familiar with inversion of control and dependency injection (because there is definitely a learning curve), your best bet is to use a container.\n\nHere is an example (using Castle Windsor):\n\npublic class RepositoryFactory : IDisposable\n{\n private IWindsorContainer _container;\n\n public void Open()\n {\n _container = new WindsorContainer();\n\n //register dependencies\n _container.Register(Component.For&lt;DbContext&gt;().ImplementedBy&lt;DbContext&gt;());\n\n //register repositories\n _container.Register(Component.For&lt;ICustomersRepository&gt;().ImplementedBy&lt;CustomersRepository&gt;());\n }\n\n public TRepository GetRepository&lt;TRepository&gt;() where TRepository : class\n {\n return _container.Resolve&lt;TRepository&gt;();\n }\n\n public Dispose()\n {\n if (_container == null) return;\n _container.Dispose();\n _container = null;\n }\n\n public void Close()\n {\n Dispose();\n }\n}\n\n\nThen you can use it like this:\n\nvar f = new RepositoryFactory();\nf.Open();\nvar rep = f.GetRepository&lt;ICustomersRepository&gt;();\nf.Close();\n\n\nAlternatively, you can implement your own container using reflection to instantiate your repositories, or you can use a dictionary. Or w/e, really. This implementation is obviously no singleton, but nothing stops you making one, if you feel like it.\n\n\nApart from that, your implementation looks fine to me. I didn't quite get your first issue though.", "I suppose you mean list.RootFolder.Name as omlin mentioned. It is the nearest thing to internal name which SPListItem has.\n\nWhy do you need this? Does your site exist in different languages, therefore different titles? The simplest way to provide the right id or title is to register client script from code behind in your webpart or application page. Get the list on \"internal name\" and register the list id as clientscript:\n\nvar list = (from SPList l in web.Lists\n where l.RootFolder.listname.Equals(listname, \n StringComparison.InvariantCulture)\n select l).FirstOrDefault();\nvar id = list.ID;\nvar script = \"var desireableList = \" + id.ToString();\nPage.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(GetType(), \"desList\", script, true);\n\n\nThen in your js code you can get the list very easy:\n\nvar ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();\nthis.web = ctx.get_web();\nthis.list = web.get_lists().getById(desireableList);\nctx.load(list);\nctx.executeQueryAsync();\n\n\nIf you still want to use Client Object Model in javascript, unfortunately there is no such method like web.GetList(). What you can do is to get all lists and iterate over their rootfolder names. You will need to invoke executeQueryAsync two times at least. But it works:\n\nfunction custom_getListOnUrlName(name) {\n this.desireableList = undefined;\n this.desireableListUrlName = name;\n ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();\n this.web = ctx.get_web();\n this.lists = web.get_lists();\n ctx.load(this.lists);\n ctx.executeQueryAsync(Function.createDelegate(this, this.listsRetrievedSuccess), \n Function.createDelegate(this, this.listsRetrievedError));\n}\nfunction listsRetrievedSuccess() {\n this.listEnumerator = lists.getEnumerator();\n while (listEnumerator.moveNext()) {\n var list = listEnumerator.get_current();\n var rootFolder = list.get_rootFolder();\n ctx.load(rootFolder);\n }\n ctx.executeQueryAsync(Function.createDelegate(this, this.rootFoldersRetrievedSuccess), \n Function.createDelegate(this, this.rootFoldersRetrievedError));\n}\nfunction listsRetrievedError() {}\nfunction rootFoldersRetrievedSuccess() {\n listEnumerator.reset();\n while (listEnumerator.moveNext()) {\n var list = listEnumerator.get_current();\n var rootFolder = list.get_rootFolder();\n var name = rootFolder.get_name();\n if (name == desireableListUrlName) {\n desireableList = list;\n break;\n }\n }\n if (desireableList !== undefined) {\n listFoundCallback();\n }\n else {\n listNotFoundCallback();\n }\n}\nfunction rootFoldersRetrievedError() {}\n//final callbacks for our main function\nfunction listFoundCallback() {\n console.log(desireableList.get_title());\n}\nfunction listNotFoundCallback() {\n console.log(\"sorry\");\n}\n\n\nThen you just need to call this function like: \n\n// list title in sv-SE locale: \"Bilder\"; \n// list url: /PublishingImages\ncustom_getListOnUrlName(\"PublishingImages\")", "You are probably looking to select an input method. \n\nBy default, C-\\ will toggle your input method, which has the practical effect that, with an English keyboard layout, you can input text in Arabic, but the keybindings for other commands will be unaffected.\n\nYou can set the default-input-method to Arabic with:\n\n(setq-default default-input-method \"arabic\")\n\n\nThe docstring for default-input-method says that:\n\n\n Documentation:\n Default input method for multilingual text (a string).\n This is the input method activated automatically by the command\n toggle-input-method (C-\\).", "If you can not load JS code in the (Master)Page, JSLink, or Custom Actions...\nThen place the code inside the ListItem with JavaScript in a Calculated Column,\nHere are some examples to get you started: https://www.365csi.nl/vm365com/#/Create/\nI adapted one of the top of my head, have NOT tested it\nin a View (and a View only!) this Calculated Column Formula will display a Button for each ListItem\n=&quot;&lt;button onclick=&quot;&quot;{event.stopPropagation();&quot;\n &amp; &quot; var context=new SP.ClientContext.get_current();&quot;\n &amp; &quot; var list=context.get_web().get_lists().getById(SP.ListOperation.Selection.getSelectedList());&quot;\n &amp; &quot; var item=list.getItemById( GetAncestor(this,'TR').id.split(',')[1] );&quot;\n &amp; &quot; context.load(item);&quot;\n &amp; &quot; item.set_item('Status', 'Approved');&quot;\n &amp; &quot; item.update();&quot;\n &amp; &quot; context.executeQueryAsync(&quot;\n &amp; &quot; Function.createDelegate(this, function(){&quot;\n &amp; &quot; AJAXRefreshView({currentCtx:ctx,csrAjaxRefresh:true},1);&quot;\n &amp; &quot; }));&quot;\n &amp; &quot; }&quot;&quot;&gt;Approve&lt;/button&gt;&quot;\n\nDisclaimer:\nIt is a PITA to debug Calculated Columns. Because you don't get feedback until you save a Formula (with an undescriptive message) and you end up having to click multiple times to get back to your Formula.\nI have written a small 'CalcMaster' bookmarklet which hooks into the formula-editor and does a save of the Formula on every keypress; giving immediate feedback.\nhttps://github.com/Danny-Engelman/CalcMaster", "This way if I had to change some functionality I didn't need to change it everywhere, just in one place.\nNow I'm instinctively doing the same with public functions in my classes but the more I think about it the more I think this is unnecessary.\n\nIf your public method only contains one private method call (which passes any parameters through blindly), and this private method call is only called from that one public method; then the added layer is irrelevant. The public method is just a passthrough to get to the private method.\nYou can simply make the private method public and it will work the exact same way.\nIf the public method only contains one private method call (which passes any parameters through blindly), but the private method is called from multiple locations, then the same answer still applies. The public method is just a passthrough to get to the private method.\nYou can simply make the private method public and it will work the exact same way. All calling locations will still be able to access the method. If you keep this public+private setup,\nIf the public method has other responsibilities (e.g. validation checks, collecting the input parameters to be used in the private method, calling multiple private methods, ...) then separating the private method from the public method makes sense, as they each have their own responsibility. The public method is not just a passthrough to get to the private method.\nIn short: You can remove the public method layer if its only job is to blindly pass through to the inner private method. Empty wrappers have no purpose*.\n\n\nIs there any standard or good practice for this case in particular?\n\nDon't add something to the codebase if it doesn't add value to the codebase. Passthrough methods (= methods which merely provide access to a private method within the same class, without any additional responsibilties) do not have any inherent value*.\n\n*The one fringe exception here is that if you're dealing with a method in a class that implements multiple interfaces, in which the method can be used for both interfaces, but the two interfaces define a different name for this method, then you will be required to make SecondInterfaceMethod a wrapper method around FirstInterfaceMethod (or vice versa, or have them both pass through to a third private method) in order to comply with both FirstInterface and SecondInterface. But this is not a common scenario to encounter.\nIn this case, you can argue that &quot;fulfilling the other interface contract&quot; is sufficient value for the passthrough method to no longer be considered irrelevant.", "Where did you try to register your card, through the phone or through the web? I have had clients who had the same problem, but it was through the phone.\n\nThe solution was to go to billing.microsoft.com. Here is a snippet from the credit card page...\n\n\n About payment method status When you view or add a payment method,\n Microsoft Online Services immediately verifies whether or not the\n payment method is valid, and then displays the status of the payment\n method information.\n \n The status will be one of the following:\n \n \n Good: The payment method information is valid and current.\n Declined: The payment method was declined for one of several reasons,\n such as insufficient funds or an expired credit card. To correct the\n problem, use one of the following steps: \n \n \n Follow the instructions in How do I use a new payment method to set up\n a new payment method. Contact your bank or credit card company to\n make sure that the payment method is valid. Contact Customer Support.\n \n Expiration pending: Because the credit card will expire soon, you must\n update the credit card information with the new expiration date. To\n update the expiration date, follow these steps:\n \n \n On the Payment method information page, click Edit payment method\n information. Select the new expiration date for your credit card, and\n then click Save. \n \n Expired: The credit card has expired and you must update the credit\n card information with the new expiration date. To update the\n expiration date, follow these steps: \n \n \n On the Payment method information page, click Edit payment method\n information. Select the new expiration date for the credit card, and\n then click Save. \n \n Removed: The payment method has been removed from your account and the\n payment method is listed for historical purposes.\n \n\n\nYou can fix your credit card issue by going to the link below (you'll need to sign in)\nhttps://billing.microsoft.com/home.aspx\n\nHere are the steps you need to take:\n\n\nSign in to the Billing and Account Management website.\nUnder Payment method activity, click Go to payment method information. \nUnder Payment method information for this account, click Use a different payment method. \nClick Add new credit card, and then click Next. (or) Click Add new Direct Debit, and then click Next. \nOn the Confirm transfer page, confirm the balances and services you want to transfer, and then click Next. \nEnter the information for the new payment method, and then click Save.", "There are a number of typos in your code blocks, that lead me to believe the code wasn't taken from the working code in your IDE. I will assume the following:\n\n\nIBaseRcovery is really IBaseRecovery\nRecoveryPresenter( IBaseRecover model, ... is really RecoveryPresenter(IBaseRecovery model, ...\nSqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand(\"BEGIN INSERT INTO recovery ; is really SqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand(\"BEGIN INSERT INTO recovery ...\");\n\n\nThat said, the naming feels awkward with an underscore followed by a capital letter:\n\n\nthis._Model = model;\nthis._View = view;\nthis._DataService = dataService;\n\n\n\nI would rather see this:\n\n_model = model;\n_view = view;\n_dataService = dataService; \n\n\nOr that:\n\nthis.model = model;\nthis.view = view;\nthis.dataService = dataService; \n\n\nBut not a mixture of both.\n\nThe raison d'être of the underscore prefix is to avoid having to use the this qualifier; if you prefix a field name with an underscore and use this, you're cluttering up your code.\n\nAlso convention is camelCase (i.e. lowercase first letter) for private fields, local variables and parameters. PascalCase (i.e. uppercase first letter) is for type and member names (classes, interfaces, delegates, enums, events, methods, etc.).\n\n\n\nYou can declare a variable without initializing it. When it's a reference type, it's set to null until you assign it a reference. Hence, this is perfectly redundant:\n\n\nIBaseRecovery recovery = null;\n\n\n\nYou could just do this:\n\nIBaseRecovery recovery;\n\n\n\n\nLooks like generics could come in handy here:\n\n\npublic RecoveryPresenter(IBaseRecovery model, IRecoveryForm view, IDataService dataService)\n\n\n\nCan turn into a constructor for a generic class:\n\npublic class Presenter&lt;TView, TModel&gt; \n where TView : IView\n where TModel : class\n{\n private TModel _model;\n private TView _view;\n private IRepository&lt;TModel&gt; _repository;\n\n public Presenter(TModel model, TView view, IRepository&lt;TModel&gt; repository)\n {\n _model = model;\n _view = view;\n _repository = repository;\n }\n\n /* ... */\n}\n\n\nIf IBaseRecovery is only a marker interface with no members, get rid of it, it smells.\n\nThe key here, is IRepository&lt;TModel&gt;: your DataService has too many responsibilities, its interface will keep getting modified as you add more features to your application (i.e. as you need to deal with more database tables), and that's not very cleanly extensible.\n\nThe IRepository&lt;TModel&gt; interface could look something like this:\n\npublic interface IRepository&lt;TModel&gt; where TModel : class\n{\n void SelectAll();\n void GetById(int id);\n void Insert(TModel model);\n void Update(TModel model);\n void Delete(TModel model);\n}\n\n\nLook into the repository pattern for more information. The idea is that you'll have a family of specialized classes, all presenting the same interface, that perform similar operations on different parts of the underlying database:\n\npublic class LoanRepository : IRepository&lt;Loan&gt;\n\npublic class FineRepository : IRepository&lt;Fine&gt;\n\n...\n\n\nYou can even derive all these classes from an abstract ReposityBase class (non-generic), and implement the common code only once (i.e. connection set-up &amp; disposal, for example).\n\nNow, if your presenter is going to be dealing with more than a single database table / repository, you have a problem; that problem is solved with a unit of work, which the presenter can depend on:\n\npublic class Presenter&lt;TView&gt; \n where TView : IView\n{\n private IUnifOfWork _uow;\n private TView _view;\n\n public Presenter(IUnitOfWork uow, TView view)\n {\n _uow = uow;\n _view = view;\n }\n\n /* ... */\n}\n\n\nRepository and Unit-of-Work patterns usually go hand-in-hand; here is an example of an implementation I've written in VBA recently. It's another language and an earlier data access technology, but you'll find many similarities - look at the pattern, not the code itself.\n\nAnd/or read up on repository+UoW design patterns; adding these to your arsenal should greatly simplify your life.", "There is not much point using an implicit method for pure wave propagation because you have to resolve phase to have an accurate method. If you have a hyperbolic system in which some waves are very stiff (not interesting except for their influence on evolution of a slow manifold), you might want an implicit method. It is fairly problem-dependent whether you want an A- or L-stable method, a strong stability preserving method, or a symplectic method. Unfortunately, the order conditions are mutually exclusive such that it is not possible to have all attractive properties in one integration scheme. You can also consider IMEX methods.", "Ok, the general critiques first:\n\n\nPlease, subscribe to the coding standards. It may seem irrelevant to you now. But believe me when I say that coding style is as important as unit tests once you start collaborating on a project.\nAdd use statements, to see all of the class' dependencies at a glance\nBe consistent, both in method/property names as in the naming of local variables.\nDon't use a closing ?&gt; tag, if a script contains nothing but PHP code. The official docs explain why\nSanitize method arguments, don't simply string them together.\nUse type-hints and inject dependencies whenever you can.\nDoc-blocks save lives. Add them to your code ASAP. Use a decent IDE, and you'll soon find you can't do without these comments.\n\n\nNow what does this all mean, applied to your code? Quite simply that you have to use that most valuable trait of all: common sense. A quick re-write of your code, applying most of these critiques.\n\n&lt;?php \nuse Httpful\\Request;//add use statement\n/**\n * @package DocumentCloudAPI\n * @author &lt;your name&gt;\n */\nclass PHPDocumentCloud\n{\n //immutable part of url is just that: a constant value\n const BASE_URL = 'http://www.documentcloud.org/api/';\n\n /**\n * @var string\n */\n public $var = 'a default value';\n\n /**\n * @var Request\n */\n protected $requester = null;\n\n /**\n * Constructor, allows users to pass child class of\n * dependency as parameter, assign to property\n * @param Request $requester\n */\n public function __construct(Request $requester)\n {\n $this-&gt;requester = $request;\n }\n\n /**\n * @param int $id\n * @return \\stdClass\n * @throws \\InvalidArgumentException\n * @throws \\RuntimeException\n */\n public function getById($id)\n {//next line, after more descriptive method name\n if (!is_numeric($id) || $id != (int) $id)//check numeric &amp;&amp; not float\n throw new \\InvalidArgumentException(\n sprintf(\n '%s expects argument to be an int, instead saw %s',\n __METHOD__,\n gettype($id)\n )\n );\n $url = sprintf(\n '%sdocuments/%d.json',\n self::BASE_URL,\n (int) $id\n );//construct request url\n $response = $this-&gt;requester::get($url)-&gt;send();\n //no response, or no raw_body property =&gt; exception\n if (!$response || !property_exists($response, 'raw_body'))\n throw new \\RuntimeException(\n sprintf(\n 'Request failed: %s',\n json_encode($response)//force string\n )\n );\n //check for json errors\n $response = json_decode($response-&gt;raw_body);\n $err = json_last_error();\n if ($err === \\JSON_ERROR_NONE)//No errors?\n return $response-&gt;document;\n //error, throw exception\n throw new \\RuntimeException(\n sprintf(\n '%d - %s',\n $err,\n json_last_error_msg()\n )\n );\n }\n\n /**\n * Accepts assoc array, with keys q, page, per_page and mentions\n * @param array $params\n * @return array|\\stdClass (don't know what type documents is\n * @throws \\InvalidArgumentException\n * @throws \\RuntimeExcpetion\n */\n private function getSearchPage(array $params)\n {\n $url = self::BASE_URL.'search.json?';\n //TODO: move this to a custom, more generic filterValidKeys method\n //along the lines of: filterValid(array $params, array $keys)\n //keys array could be assoc, where values are names of validation callbacks\n $keys = array('q', 'page', 'per_page', 'mentions');\n foreach ($keys as $key)\n {\n if (isset($params[$key]))\n {\n if ($key === 'q')\n //in real life, check if the string isn't already url-encoded\n $params[$key] = urlencode($params[$key]);\n else//given that other params are numeric\n $params[$key] = (int) $params[$key]\n $url .= $key.'='.$params[$key].'&amp;';//add &amp; here\n }\n }\n if (substr($url, -1) === '?')//if last char of url is ?, no params were set\n throw new \\InvalidArgumentException(\n sprintf(\n '%s requires at least one of %s keys to be set',\n __METHOD__,\n implode(',',$keys)\n );\n $response = $this-&gt;requester::get($url)-&gt;send();\n if (!$response)\n throw new \\RuntimeException(\n sprintf(\n 'Request to %s failed',\n $url\n )\n );\n $response = json_decode($answer);\n $err = json_last_error();\n if ($err !== \\JSON_ERROR_NONE || !property_exists($response, 'documents'))\n {\n if ($err === \\JSON_ERROR_NONE)\n $msg = sprintf('%d - %s', $err, json_last_error_msg());\n else\n $msg = sprintf('documents not found in %s', json_encode($response));\n throw new \\RuntimeException($msg);\n }\n if (empty($response-&gt;documents))\n return null;//return null if we reached the end\n return $response-&gt;documents;\n }\n\n /**\n * Public alias for getSearchPage, with loop\n * @param string $query\n * @return array\n */\n public function search($query)\n {\n $params = array(\n 'q' =&gt; $query,\n 'page' =&gt; 1,\n 'per_page' =&gt; 1000,\n 'mentions' =&gt; 3\n );\n $list = array();\n while ($results = $this-&gt;getSearchPage($params))\n {\n $list = array_merge($list, $results);\n ++$params['page'];//get next page\n }\n return $list;\n }\n}\n\n\nDisclaimer:\nI wrote this off the top of my head, so there might be some syntax errors and oversights. This code is not meant to be copy-pastable at all. It's just an example of how to use doc-blocks, type-hinting, data sanitation, exceptions and all coding standards.\n\nOnwards\n\nNow, at first glance, you may think this code over-complicates things hideously. And truth be told, it does add some more complexity to the mix. What do you get in return?\nAgain at first glance: a class that throws exceptions whenever it encounters something that isn't quite right. But that's how a class should behave. A class is meant to perform one (and just one) task. If the data that is provided does not fit the criteria, that class's job is not to make do. The code that is calling the class needs to be fixed. An exception represents an emergency.\nThe calling code should handle the exception, or should be fixed. You can't ignore exceptions.\n\nIn the long run, though, this class offers a safer API, it's quite clear-cut. As long as you (the person calling the code) provide the correct data, you know what to expect. You can inject your own implementation of this Httpful\\Request class to work with, and adding simple methods to perform certain calls are very easy to add. You just have to, basically, follow the same pattern:\n\n\nBuild url, starting with self::BASE_URL\nuse $this-&gt;requester::get($url)-&gt;send(); to get the response\ncheck the response, and the result of json_encode. Return, or throw exceptions accordingly.\n\n\nIf you don't quite understand all of the functions used here, then don't worry: php.net/&lt;function here&gt; will tell you all you need to know.\n\nJust one more thing:\nIn going over your code, and rewriting it, I couldn't help myself, but code like this:\n\n$loop = True;\nwhile ($loop) {\n $results = $this-&gt;get_search_page($query, $page, 1000);\n if (!empty($results)){\n $document_list = array_merge($results, $document_list);\n $page++;\n }else{\n $loop = False;\n }\n}\n\n\nIs just all shades of wrong. A while(true) loop (in PHP it's true, as opposed to python's True) is to be avoided as much as possible.\nHowever, if you want to break an infinite loop, don't do that by setting a variable to another value, do so by using the cleverly named break; keyword:\n\nwhile(true)\n{\n if (empty($foo))\n break;//ends loop\n $foo = $this-&gt;doStuff();\n}\n\n\nBut in most cases, ie: fetching rows from a result-set, it's best to perform a loop while you're fetching the data, and write it accordingly:\n\nwhile($row = $stmt-&gt;fetch())\n{\n //do stuff with $row\n}\n\n\nThis works, simply because an assignment is an expression, and like any expression, it can be evaluated to a singular value. PHP assignment expressions evaluate to the new value of the left operand. In other words:\n\nif ($x = false)\n{//$x is left operand, being assigned false, expression evaluates to false\n echo 'This will never echo';\n}", "The first thing that comes to my mind is for you to create a class with a few virtual methods, which will be used as the test subject. Then from your ActiveX control you'd expose methods that manipulate the variable, say:\n\n\nMethod #1: Allocate the test object and keep the pointer in a static variable\nMethod #2: Call the virtual methods provided by the test object\nMethod #3: Free the test object instance, without setting the pointer to NULL\nSome means to allocate other things that would reuse the memory freed in the previous method\n\n\nThen whip up a basic script exercising the given methods: allocate, call the methods to make sure it works as designed, free the instance, allocate something else, call virtual methods again and crash the IE instance. ;-) Should do the trick.", "Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are made by methods like hydration of phospholipid membrane generally by use of some solvent , use of electric current, combining small vesicles etc. \nlarge unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) are made by methods like evaporation with low concentration of phospholipid, dialysis etc.\nSmall unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) are made by methods Injecting solution spontaneously, microfludic methods etc. There are many methods reviewed extensively (just search in pubmed you will get lot of them)\n\nNow coming to your question, factor which affect sizes are depends on method you are using. I will list out few, rest you can check in references of each method I gave above. Most of times these methods will have all kinds of vesicles. Success of these methods relies on which method gives you highest proportion of vesicle size you desired. \n\n\nMicrofludic method - total flow rate, ratio of solvent to aqueous phase (Kastner et al 2014)\nElectric method - rate of application of electric field (Angelova and Dimitrove 1986) \nHydration method - amount of phospholipid, evaporation rate (Lasic 1988)\n\n\nBesides all of this, basic physics behind this explained here like energy difference shown below \n(Image taken from (Lasic 1988))", "The asymptotic order of convergence of Brent's method tends to be either 1.618 and 1.689, of which the Alefeld-Potra-Shi's methods lie directly in between. The main difference of the Alefeld-Potra-Shi's methods are the tightness of the bounds, which Brent's method may fail to give during intermediate iterations.\nOverall, I do not recommend Alefeld-Potra-Shi's methods for your purposes. The method is intended to be a black-box sledgehammer for bracketing the root. Brent's method is in most cases 'about as good'.\nFor a much simpler method which may meet your purposes, Chandrupatla's method may be of interest. It has the same asymptotic nature as Brent's method for simple roots, but has a tendency to converge faster initially due to a more 'intelligent' algorithm for using either bisection or interpolation.", "The go-to reference on this topic is the extensive book by Hairer, Lubich, &amp; Wanner (HLW). The kind of property you are dealing with is known as a quadratic invariant, since $\\|x(t)\\|^2$ is constant. These are covered in Section IV.2 of the book.\nAny quadratic invariant will be preserved by a Runge-Kutta method if the method coefficients satisfy\n$$\n b_i a_{ij} + b_j a_{ji} = b_i b_j\n$$\nfor all $i,j$. Such methods are fully implicit; the most widely known are the Gauss methods (developed by Butcher and based on Gauss quadrature). There are also partitioned methods that preserve quadratic invariants, but these aren't applicable to your system.\nMethods that conserve quadratic invariants and symplectic methods are essentially the same class of methods, and section VI.7 of the book is devoted to a deeper study of this topic.\nIf you are looking for an explicit method that conserves the Euclidean norm for your problem, a simple approach is orthogonal projection (HLW Section IV.4). In your case, this simply means normalizing $x$ after each time step (by dividing it by its length).\nOrthogonal projection can be detrimental when other invariants are important. A recent approach that can be used (with any integration method, including explicit methods) to preserve a chosen nonlinear invariant while still preserving all linear invariants is that of relaxation methods (disclosure: this is the work of myself and my collaborators).", "You should change method=\"GET\" to method=\"POST\".\n\nHTML method Attribute", "I recommend that you check out Rosenbrock or Rosenbrock-W methods. These are multi-stage (like Runge-Kutta) methods that compute the Jacobian only once per step. The methods have more order conditions than diagonally-implicit Runge-Kutta methods (due to the lagged and/or inexact Jacobian), but are otherwise similar. There is a chapter in Hairer and Wanner's second volume that explains the order conditions and discusses some classes of methods.\n\nYou can access the PETSc implementation, which implements many Rosenbrock and Rosenbrock-W methods, via petsc4py. See the Oregonator example for usage.", "Direct methods. These methods are used to primarily allow learners to speak and communicate with others faster than other methods. Linking my other answer a source, here are some reasons why direct methods should be used:\n\nDirect methods are statistically considered as superior (Source) to translation methods in letting the learner to communicate faster with others as direct methods focus on allowing the learner to be actively involved in listening and speaking the new language:\n\nThis method is also known as the oral or natural method. It is based on the active involvement of the learner in both speaking and listening to the new language in realistic everyday situations. The process consists of a gradual acquisition of grammatical structure and vocabulary. The learner is encouraged to think in the target language rather than translate. He or she hears and uses the language before seeing it written. The writing is done with homework that reinforces what has been learned during the lesson...\n\n\nBasically, direct methods use only the target language and actively involves the learner in listening and speaking exercises to allow the learner to be able to proficiently speak with others.", "In addition to the QR algorithm, the divide and conquer method is also worth mentioning. It is applicable to symmetric tridiagonal matrices, but any matrix can be reduced to such a form via the Lanczos method*. It hinges on the observation that a tridiagonal matrix is, up to a rank 1 perturbation, a block diagonal matrix. One can then find the eigendecomposition of the sub-blocks (in parallel!) and glue them back together using a clever trick. Of course, finding the eigenvalues of the blocks must be done with the QR method as Federico alludes to.\n\nHowever, you've asked for a direct method -- both QR and divide and conquer are iterative methods. Well, there is no direct method akin to the LU decomposition to find the eigendecomposition of a matrix of dimension greater than 5, there are only iterative methods. If such a direct method existed, one could find the zeros of an arbitrarily high-degree polynomial as an algebraic function of the coefficients, which Galois told us is impossible. The Golub-Kahan SVD algorithm is also iterative.", "As mentioned in the comments, you are interested in solving a boundary value problem and not an initial value problem. Some of the most used methods are:\n\nFinite Difference Method;\nFinite Element Method.\n\nFor this particular problem the Ritz method might be a good choice, but in general you are better using the Finite Element Method.", "I'm not entirely familiar with what's now done for cubatures (multidimensional integration), so I'll restrict myself to quadrature formulae.\n\nThere are a number of effective methods for the quadrature of oscillatory integrals. There are methods suited for finite oscillatory integrals, and there are methods for infinite oscillatory integrals.\n\nFor infinite oscillatory integrals, two of the more effective methods used are Longman's method and the modified double exponential quadrature due to Ooura and Mori. (But see also these two papers by Arieh Iserles.)\n\nLongman's method relies on converting the oscillatory integral into an alternating series by splitting the integration interval, and then summing the alternating series with a sequence transformation method. For instance, when integrating an oscillatory integral of the form\n\n$$\\int_0^\\infty f(t)\\sin\\,t\\mathrm dt$$\n\none converts this into the alternating sum\n\n$$\\sum_{k=0}^\\infty \\int_{k\\pi}^{(k+1)\\pi} f(t)\\sin\\,t\\mathrm dt$$\n\nThe terms of this alternating sum are computed with some quadrature method like Romberg's scheme or Gaussian quadrature. Longman's original method used the Euler transformation, but modern implementations replace Euler with more powerful convergence acceleration methods like the Shanks transformation or the Levin transformation.\n\nThe double exponential quadrature method, on the other hand, makes a clever change of variables, and then uses the trapezoidal rule to numerically evaluate the transformed integral.\n\nFor finite oscillatory integrals, Piessens (one of the contributors of QUADPACK) and Branders, in two papers, detail a modification of Clenshaw-Curtis quadrature (that is, constructing an Chebyshev polynomial expansion of the nonoscillatory part of the integrand). Levin's method, on the other hand, uses a collocation method for the quadrature. (I am told there is now a more practical version of the old standby, Filon's method, but I've no experience with it.)\n\n\n\nThese are the methods I remember offhand; I'm sure I've forgotten other good methods for oscillatory integrals. I will edit this answer later if I remember them.", "Though this method is still used today by some breweries that want to stay true to the historical methods.\n\nThere's more reliable methods of preserving and pitching cultures using modern methods." ]

[ "The Royal Collection, which includes thousands of historic works of art and the Crown Jewels, is not owned by the Queen personally but is held in trust, as are her official residences, such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and the Duchy of Lancaster, a property portfolio valued in 2014 at £442 million. Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle are privately owned by the Queen. The British Crown Estate – with holdings of £9.4 billion in 2014 – is held in trust by the sovereign and cannot be sold or owned by Elizabeth in a private capacity." ]

[ "Following their wedding, the couple leased Windlesham Moor, near Windsor Castle, until 4 July 1949, when they took up residence at Clarence House in London. At various times between 1949 and 1951, the Duke of Edinburgh was stationed in the British Crown Colony of Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived intermittently, for several months at a time, in the hamlet of Gwardamanġa, at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten. The children remained in Britain.", "Elizabeth has held many titles and honorary military positions throughout the Commonwealth, is Sovereign of many orders in her own countries, and has received honours and awards from around the world. In each of her realms she has a distinct title that follows a similar formula: Queen of Jamaica and her other realms and territories in Jamaica, Queen of Australia and her other realms and territories in Australia, etc. In the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies rather than separate realms, she is known as Duke of Normandy and Lord of Mann, respectively. Additional styles include Defender of the Faith and Duke of Lancaster. When in conversation with the Queen, the practice is to initially address her as Your Majesty and thereafter as Ma'am.", "The monarchs of England and the United Kingdom had ministers in whom they placed special trust and who were regarded as the head of the government. Examples were Thomas Cromwell under Henry VIII; William Cecil, Lord Burghley under Elizabeth I; Clarendon under Charles II and Godolphin under Queen Anne. These ministers held a variety of formal posts, but were commonly known as \"the minister\", the \"chief minister\", the \"first minister\" and finally the \"prime minister\".", "Elizabeth was born in London to the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and was the elder of their two daughters. She was educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive. She began to undertake public duties during World War II, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she has four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.", "Elizabeth was born at 02:40 (GMT) on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V. Her father, Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), was the second son of the King. Her mother, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth), was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She was delivered by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfather's London house: 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair. She was baptised by the Anglican Archbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 29 May,[c] and named Elizabeth after her mother, Alexandra after George V's mother, who had died six months earlier, and Mary after her paternal grandmother. Called \"Lilibet\" by her close family, based on what she called herself at first, she was cherished by her grandfather George V, and during his serious illness in 1929 her regular visits were credited in the popular press and by later biographers with raising his spirits and aiding his recovery.", "As the President, Tito had access to extensive (state-owned) property associated with the office, and maintained a lavish lifestyle. In Belgrade he resided in the official residence, the Beli dvor, and maintained a separate private home. The Brijuni islands were the site of the State Summer Residence from 1949 on. The pavilion was designed by Jože Plečnik, and included a zoo. Close to 100 foreign heads of state were to visit Tito at the island residence, along with film stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti, and Gina Lollobrigida.", "From 21 April 1944 until her accession, Elizabeth's arms consisted of a lozenge bearing the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom differenced with a label of three points argent, the centre point bearing a Tudor rose and the first and third a cross of St George. Upon her accession, she inherited the various arms her father held as sovereign. The Queen also possesses royal standards and personal flags for use in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, and elsewhere.", "With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed probable that the royal house would bear her husband's name, becoming the House of Mountbatten, in line with the custom of a wife taking her husband's surname on marriage. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary, favoured the retention of the House of Windsor, and so on 9 April 1952 Elizabeth issued a declaration that Windsor would continue to be the name of the royal house. The Duke complained, \"I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children.\" In 1960, after the death of Queen Mary in 1953 and the resignation of Churchill in 1955, the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was adopted for Philip and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do not carry royal titles.", "Elizabeth's personal fortune has been the subject of speculation for many years. Jock Colville, who was her former private secretary and a director of her bank, Coutts, estimated her wealth in 1971 at £2 million (equivalent to about £25 million today). In 1993, Buckingham Palace called estimates of £100 million \"grossly overstated\". She inherited an estimated £70 million estate from her mother in 2002. The Sunday Times Rich List 2015 estimated her private wealth at £340 million, making her the 302nd richest person in the UK.", "During 1951, George VI's health declined and Elizabeth frequently stood in for him at public events. When she toured Canada and visited President Harry S. Truman in Washington, D.C., in October 1951, her private secretary, Martin Charteris, carried a draft accession declaration in case the King died while she was on tour. In early 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set out for a tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of Kenya. On 6 February 1952, they had just returned to their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, after a night spent at Treetops Hotel, when word arrived of the death of the King and consequently Elizabeth's immediate accession to the throne. Philip broke the news to the new Queen. Martin Charteris asked her to choose a regnal name; she chose to remain Elizabeth, \"of course\". She was proclaimed queen throughout her realms and the royal party hastily returned to the United Kingdom. She and the Duke of Edinburgh moved into Buckingham Palace.", "The Duke and Duchess of York had two children: Elizabeth (called \"Lilibet\" by the family), and Margaret. The Duke and Duchess and their two daughters lived a relatively sheltered life at their London residence, 145 Piccadilly. They were a close and loving family. One of the few stirs arose when the Canadian Prime Minister, R. B. Bennett, considered the Duke for Governor General of Canada in 1931—a proposal that King George V rejected on the advice of the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, J. H. Thomas.", "On the northern outskirts of the city, Crownhill Fort is a well restored example of a \"Palmerston's Folly\". It is owned by the Landmark Trust and is open to the public.", "The palace, like Windsor Castle, is owned by the Crown Estate. It is not the monarch's personal property, unlike Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. Many of the contents from Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, and St James's Palace are part of the Royal Collection, held in trust by the Sovereign; they can, on occasion, be viewed by the public at the Queen's Gallery, near the Royal Mews. Unlike the palace and the castle, the purpose-built gallery is open continually and displays a changing selection of items from the collection. It occupies the site of the chapel destroyed by an air raid in World War II. The palace's state rooms have been open to the public during August and September and on selected dates throughout the year since 1993. The money raised in entry fees was originally put towards the rebuilding of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire devastated many of its state rooms. 476,000 people visited the palace in the 2014–15 financial year.", "Since Elizabeth rarely gives interviews, little is known of her personal feelings. As a constitutional monarch, she has not expressed her own political opinions in a public forum. She does have a deep sense of religious and civic duty, and takes her coronation oath seriously. Aside from her official religious role as Supreme Governor of the established Church of England, she is personally a member of that church and the national Church of Scotland. She has demonstrated support for inter-faith relations and has met with leaders of other churches and religions, including five popes: Pius XII, John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. A personal note about her faith often features in her annual Christmas message broadcast to the Commonwealth. In 2000, she spoke about the theological significance of the millennium marking the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus:", "CAMRA maintains a \"National Inventory\" of historical notability and of architecturally and decoratively notable pubs. The National Trust owns thirty-six public houses of historic interest including the George Inn, Southwark, London and The Crown Liquor Saloon, Belfast, Northern Ireland.", "In September 1939, Britain entered the Second World War, which lasted until 1945. During the war, many of London's children were evacuated to avoid the frequent aerial bombing. The suggestion by senior politician Lord Hailsham that the two princesses should be evacuated to Canada was rejected by Elizabeth's mother, who declared, \"The children won't go without me. I won't leave without the King. And the King will never leave.\" Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, until Christmas 1939, when they moved to Sandringham House, Norfolk. From February to May 1940, they lived at Royal Lodge, Windsor, until moving to Windsor Castle, where they lived for most of the next five years. At Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas in aid of the Queen's Wool Fund, which bought yarn to knit into military garments. In 1940, the 14-year-old Elizabeth made her first radio broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour, addressing other children who had been evacuated from the cities. She stated: \"We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well.\"", "The abbey was restored to the Benedictines under the Catholic Mary I of England, but they were again ejected under Elizabeth I in 1559. In 1560, Elizabeth re-established Westminster as a \"Royal Peculiar\" – a church of the Church of England responsible directly to the Sovereign, rather than to a diocesan bishop – and made it the Collegiate Church of St Peter (that is, a non-cathedral church with an attached chapter of canons, headed by a dean.) The last of Mary's abbots was made the first dean.", "Elizabeth's many historic visits and meetings include a state visit to the Republic of Ireland and reciprocal visits to and from the Pope. She has seen major constitutional changes, such as devolution in the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation, and the decolonisation of Africa. She has also reigned through various wars and conflicts involving many of her realms. She is the world's oldest reigning monarch as well as Britain's longest-lived. In 2015, she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-reigning British head of state and the longest-reigning queen regnant in world history.", "Westminster Abbey is a collegiate church governed by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, as established by Royal charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1560, which created it as the Collegiate Church of St Peter Westminster and a Royal Peculiar under the personal jurisdiction of the Sovereign. The members of the Chapter are the Dean and four canons residentiary, assisted by the Receiver General and Chapter Clerk. One of the canons is also Rector of St Margaret's Church, Westminster, and often holds also the post of Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.", "Later wax effigies include a likeness of Horatio, Viscount Nelson, wearing some of his own clothes and another of Prime Minister William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, modelled by the American-born sculptor Patience Wright.[citation needed] During recent conservation of Elizabeth I's effigy, a unique corset dating from 1603 was found on the figure and is now displayed separately.[citation needed]", "Elizabeth and Philip were married on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. They received 2500 wedding gifts from around the world. Because Britain had not yet completely recovered from the devastation of the war, Elizabeth required ration coupons to buy the material for her gown, which was designed by Norman Hartnell. In post-war Britain, it was not acceptable for the Duke of Edinburgh's German relations, including his three surviving sisters, to be invited to the wedding. The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, was not invited either.", "In 2002, Elizabeth marked her Golden Jubilee. Her sister and mother died in February and March respectively, and the media speculated whether the Jubilee would be a success or a failure. She again undertook an extensive tour of her realms, which began in Jamaica in February, where she called the farewell banquet \"memorable\" after a power cut plunged the King's House, the official residence of the governor-general, into darkness. As in 1977, there were street parties and commemorative events, and monuments were named to honour the occasion. A million people attended each day of the three-day main Jubilee celebration in London, and the enthusiasm shown by the public for the Queen was greater than many journalists had expected.", "Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as \"The Queen's House\". During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who constructed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.", "Elizabeth's only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930. The two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford, who was casually known as \"Crawfie\". Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature and music. Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth and Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to the dismay of the royal family. The book describes Elizabeth's love of horses and dogs, her orderliness, and her attitude of responsibility. Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as \"a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant.\" Her cousin Margaret Rhodes described her as \"a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved\".", "Executive authority in Saint Helena is vested in Queen Elizabeth II and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor of Saint Helena. The Governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British government. Defence and Foreign Affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom.", "At her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the crowds and celebrations were genuinely enthusiastic, but in the 1980s, public criticism of the royal family increased, as the personal and working lives of Elizabeth's children came under media scrutiny. Elizabeth's popularity sank to a low point in the 1990s. Under pressure from public opinion, she began to pay income tax for the first time, and Buckingham Palace was opened to the public. Discontent with the monarchy reached its peak on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, though Elizabeth's personal popularity and support for the monarchy rebounded after her live television broadcast to the world five days after Diana's death.", "Thus, Buckingham Palace is a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an art gallery and a tourist attraction. Behind the gilded railings and gates which were completed by the Bromsgrove Guild in 1911 and Webb's famous façade, which has been described in a book published by the Royal Collection as looking \"like everybody's idea of a palace\", is not only a weekday home of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the London residence of the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The palace also houses the offices of the Queen, Prince Philip, Duke of York, Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Royal, and Princess Alexandra, and is the workplace of more than 800 people.", "Widowed in 1861, the grief-stricken Queen withdrew from public life and left Buckingham Palace to live at Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle and Osborne House. For many years the palace was seldom used, even neglected. In 1864, a note was found pinned to the fence of Buckingham Palace, saying: \"These commanding premises to be let or sold, in consequence of the late occupant's declining business.\" Eventually, public opinion forced the Queen to return to London, though even then she preferred to live elsewhere whenever possible. Court functions were still held at Windsor Castle, presided over by the sombre Queen habitually dressed in mourning black, while Buckingham Palace remained shuttered for most of the year.", "In 1578, Elizabeth I granted a patent to Humphrey Gilbert for discovery and overseas exploration. That year, Gilbert sailed for the West Indies with the intention of engaging in piracy and establishing a colony in North America, but the expedition was aborted before it had crossed the Atlantic. In 1583 he embarked on a second attempt, on this occasion to the island of Newfoundland whose harbour he formally claimed for England, although no settlers were left behind. Gilbert did not survive the return journey to England, and was succeeded by his half-brother, Walter Raleigh, who was granted his own patent by Elizabeth in 1584. Later that year, Raleigh founded the colony of Roanoke on the coast of present-day North Carolina, but lack of supplies caused the colony to fail.", "Possibly the first house erected within the site was that of a Sir William Blake, around 1624. The next owner was Lord Goring, who from 1633 extended Blake's house and developed much of today's garden, then known as Goring Great Garden. He did not, however, obtain the freehold interest in the mulberry garden. Unbeknown to Goring, in 1640 the document \"failed to pass the Great Seal before King Charles I fled London, which it needed to do for legal execution\". It was this critical omission that helped the British royal family regain the freehold under King George III.", "From 9 February for two days his coffin rested in St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, before lying in state at Westminster Hall from 11 February. His funeral took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on the 15th. He was interred initially in the Royal Vault until he was transferred to the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St. George's on 26 March 1969. In 2002, fifty years after his death, the remains of his widow, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the ashes of his younger daughter Princess Margaret, who both died that year, were interred in the chapel alongside him.", "One commentator has observed that, notwithstanding the high unemployment resulting from the loss of full passports during 1981–2002, the level of loyalty to the British monarchy by the St Helena population is probably not exceeded in any other part of the world. King George VI is the only reigning monarch to have visited the island. This was in 1947 when the King, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret were travelling to South Africa. Prince Philip arrived at St Helena in 1957 and then his son Prince Andrew visited as a member of the armed forces in 1984 and his sister the Princess Royal arrived in 2002." ]

[ "Stocks opened higher on Monday, boosted by expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week." ]

[ "Stocks edged up on Friday as expectations of an interest rate cut offset a warning by Merrill Lynch that revived concerns about credit conditions and the impact of the weak U.S. housing market.", "Wall Street advanced sharply Tuesday, as the Federal Reserve opened a two-day meeting at which it is expected to cut interest rates again to revitalize the economy.", "Shares fluctuated in early trading as the Federal Reserve opened a two-day meeting expected to result in another interest rate cut.", "Wall Street enjoyed a modest rally on Wednesday after the Federeal Reserve Open Committee cut the interest rates by 50 basis point to 3 per cent as traders widely expected.", "LONDON/SINGAPORE - Heightened investor expectations of a U.S. rate cut next month soothed financial market volatility on Thursday as a Bank of Japan policymaker said some of the turbulence had been overdone.", "European and most Asian stock markets rebounded Tuesday as investors cheered an overnight rally on Wall Street and snapped up beaten down shares on expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut later this week.", "Stocks more than halved their opening losses on Tuesday, as investors snapped up beaten-down retail stocks and financials after the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut.", "Global stock markets rebounded on Tuesday as investors put aside fears of a US economic slowdown and focused on expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.", "Commodities prices climbed broadly as expectations of another interest rate cut and rebounding equities markets lifted investors’ appetite for gold, grains and other hard assets.", "Stocks rose on Tuesday as expectations of another Federal Reserve interest rate cut to shore up the economy fueled a further recovery in shares of banks, insurers and home builders.", "European and Asian shares rise on growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates.", "The Federal Open Market Committee, the rate-setting panel for the US Federal Reserve, began its deliberations Wednesday with a rate hike widely expected.", "U.S. stocks were up today after Asian and European markets rose sharply in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut on Tuesday.", "Stocks headed for a higher open on Wednesday, buoyed by news that General Motors Corp had reached a deal ending a strike and by expectations the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates again to spur growth.", "Stocks slid at the open on Friday as a stronger-than-expected reading in a gauge of consumer prices fueled uncertainty about prospects for further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.", "The stock market celebrated a short-term rate cut, racking up big weekly gains, but in the currency markets, the dollar declined sharply.", "Weekly data come in line with expectations, feeding hopes for a rate cut while limiting recession fears.", "Stock index futures signaled a weaker market open on Friday after a higher-than-expected consumer prices report raised concern that simmering inflation may hamper further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.", "U.S. stocks opened lower on Wednesday after a government report showed consumer prices, excluding food and energy, rose more than expected in January, curbing expectations for an interest-rate cut in the near term.", "Global stock markets rebound on hopes that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates.", "Asian and European stock markets rallied Wednesday in the wake of Wall Street's overnight surge spurred by the U.S. Federal Reserve's larger-than-expected interest rate cut.", "Asian stock markets soared Wednesday in the wake of Wall Street's overnight surge spurred by the U.S. Federal Reserve's larger-than-expected interest rate cut", "Stock futures pointed to a higher market open on Friday after news that U.S. consumer prices rose in line with market expectations in August, calming fears about higher inflation and interest rates.", "Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday held the door open to more interest rate cuts to help the struggling U.S. economy, but told Congress the central bank expects growth to pick up later in the year.", "Stocks rose sharply on Tuesday on expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week and on upbeat outlooks from technology companies.", "U.S. employers added a scant 51,000 jobs in September, far fewer than expected, but the job count for prior months was revised up and earnings moved higher, dimming financial market hopes for interest rate cuts next year.", "Business & money: · Dollar at 15-year low and stock markets plunge · Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates", "The Federal Reserve opened a two-day monetary policy meeting that was expected to acknowledge stronger economic conditions, diminishing hopes for a rate cut soon.", "Stock futures cut gains on Wednesday as reports showing unexpectedly strong May import prices and retail sales diminished expectations for a cut in interest rates and pushed benchmark bond yields back up.", "Stocks headed for a higher open on Monday as investors speculated that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates further to forestall the effect of the housing downturn on the economy.", "Asian markets rose sharply today, and European stocks were off to a strong start after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a percentage point yesterday.", "Stocks headed for a bounce at the open on Monday as investors snapped up beaten-down shares on hopes that recent economic weakness will prompt the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates to avert a recession." ]

[ "Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would start a partial reopening at the end of the week — joining a growing list of states that are trying to restart their economies." ]

[ "President Trump spoke to governors Thursday, outlining recommendations for states to reopen based on several factors. The Trump administration has shared a guideline of three phases for states to begin easing social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders, according to a copy of the guidelines obtained by NPR's Tamara Keith. The guidelines come after a number of governors formed coalitions to work together to restart their respective economies. Trump and the coronavirus task force are speaking about the guidelines Thursday afternoon at the White House. Read the guidelines here.", "Updated at 7:42 p.m. ET President Trump said Monday that adequate coronavirus testing existed but was being underutilized by governors, following a chorus of complaints by state leaders and health care experts regarding the country's insufficient testing capacity. The White House last week issued guidelines on a three-tiered approach for states to begin easing coronavirus restrictions. But many state officials have said that they do not yet have the capacity to aggressively test for new COVID-19 cases. Trump has been resistant to states' demands for additional testing help. During the Monday daily coronavirus task force briefing, Trump said that public-private partnerships had significantly expanded the nation's testing capabilities, \"but some states need to take action to fully utilize it.\" The Monday coronavirus task force briefing comes after a series of tense disagreements between Trump and a number of Democratic governors last week. Almost immediately after the administration's three-phase plan to ease coronavirus restrictions was released, several governors openly disputed the president's projected timeline on their ability to safely begin lifting stay-at-home orders. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been catapulted to the national spotlight as leader of the state most badly ravaged by the coronavirus, was among the most prominent voices at odds with Trump. On Friday, the pair engaged in a heated back-and-forth that included the president tweeting at Cuomo to \"Stop talking!\" during the governor's daily coronavirus briefing. Cuomo responded with the suggestion that the president watch less television and instead \"get up and get to work.\" Trump announced on Monday that the two \"get along\" and would be meeting at the White House on Tuesday at Cuomo's request. Trump's disagreement with the New York governor was one of several stoked last week. On Friday, Trump spoke highly of far-right protesters who demonstrated in public, in open defiance of their states' stay-at-home orders. \"LIBERATE,\" Trump tweeted in all caps, mentioning Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia — all states with Democratic governors and state-issued stay-at-home orders. Trump later described the protesters, many of whom wore Make America Great Again gear but not protective masks, as \"very responsible people.\" \"They've been treated a little bit rough,\" he said. The administration hopes that this week will bring some bipartisan agreement on additional coronavirus relief funding, possibly including: $300 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, $75 billion in emergency funding for hospitals, $50 billion for small-business disaster loans and $25 billion for testing.", "Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department would support legal action against states that continue to impose strict social distancing rules even after coronavirus cases begin to subside in their respective states. In a Tuesday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Barr called some current stay-at-home orders \"burdens on civil liberties\" and said that if they continued and lawsuits were brought, his department would side against the state. \"The idea that you have to stay in your house is disturbingly close to house arrest. I'm not saying it wasn't justified. I'm not saying in some places it might still be justified. But it's very onerous, as is shutting down your livelihood,\" Barr said. President Trump has expressed an eagerness to reopen states' economies as soon as possible, pitching the possibility of some states easing coronavirus restrictions even before the federal guidelines on social distancing expire on May 1. Already, two states with Republican governors, Georgia and South Carolina, have said they will allow some businesses to reopen as soon as this week, despite not meeting the White House-recommended criteria to relax COVID-19 restrictions. Barr was asked what he would do with any governors who are \"indifferent\" to easing restrictions in their states. \"We're looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place,\" Barr said. \"And if we think one goes too far, we initially try to jawbone the governors into rolling them back or adjusting them. And if they're not and people bring lawsuits, we file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs.\" The White House last week outlined three-phase guidelines for states to reopen their economies. The first phase says that large venues such as restaurants and movie theaters can begin reopening at reduced capacity under strict social distancing rules but warns against gatherings of 10 people or more. In Tuesday's interview, Barr praised Trump's guidance through the coronavirus pandemic and said that the recommended mitigation techniques were never meant to be a permanent solution to the virus. \"I think the president's guidance has been, as I say, superb and very commonsensical, and I think a lot of the governors are following that,\" he said. \"And you know, to the extent that governors don't and impinge on either civil rights or on the national commerce, our common market that we have here, then we'll have to address that.\"", "The venerable Sizzler USA family steakhouse chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing a business environment roiled by COVID-19 restrictions — and saying that not enough has been done to help restaurants survive. \"Our current financial state is a direct consequence of the pandemic's economic impact,\" Sizzler President Chris Perkins said, \"due to long-term indoor dining closures and landlords' refusal to provide necessary rent abatements.\" The company, which first opened 62 years ago, says it wants to keep all of its locations open. Sizzler says it hopes to renegotiate its leases over the next four months; it will also undergo a restructuring process aimed at reducing long-term debt. Sizzler USA received between $2 million and $5 million in federal loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was designed to ease job losses from the coronavirus and help keep small businesses afloat. That's according to data released by the U.S. Treasury Department. \"It is our ultimate goal to keep all Sizzler locations open for business throughout this process,\" the company said in a statement sent to NPR. It added that it intends to fulfill financial commitments to employees, franchised locations and vendors. Sizzler, based in Mission Viejo, Calif., filed for voluntary Chapter 11 protection in a federal bankruptcy court for the Northern District in California. The filing directly affects the company's 14 restaurants it owns. There are also more than 90 franchised locations, which Sizzler says \"will not be impacted during the Chapter 11 process.\" During the pandemic, Sizzler has been selling takeout meals, including to-go versions of its popular salad bar. Some of its locations also offer outdoor dining. And like many restaurants struggling to find customers, Sizzler is offering delivery through third-party companies such as DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats and Postmates. Sizzler got its start in 1958, when founders Del and Helen Johnson offered steak dinners for 99 cents at their first restaurant in Culver City, Calif. Sizzler currently has 107 locations in 10 states — most of them in the West — and Puerto Rico. That's down from 2018, when the chain said it had 134 locations.", "President Trump wants states to begin relaxing stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses after the spread of the coronavirus pummeled the global economy and killed millions of jobs. The White House coronavirus task force released guidelines on April 16 to encourage state governors to adopt a phased approach to lifting restrictions across the country. Some states have moved ahead without meeting the criteria. The task force rejected a set of additional detailed draft recommendations for schools, restaurants, churches and mass transit systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it considered \"overly prescriptive.\" A number of states have already begun to lift restrictions, allowing for businesses including hair salons, diners and tattoo parlors to once again begin accepting customers. Health experts have warned that reopening too quickly could result in a potential rebound in cases. States are supposed to wait to begin lifting any restrictions until they have a 14-day \"downward trajectory\" of influenza-like illnesses and confirmed virus cases, as well as sufficient hospital capacity and testing for health care workers. Below is a summary of the three phases as outlined by the task force (read the full guidance here): Don't see the graphic above? Click here.", "President Trump's authority to unilaterally reopen states' economies was flatly rejected among experts this week after he declared on Monday that he had \"total\" authority to govern when states would ease coronavirus restrictions. After receiving bipartisan blowback from his remarks, Trump on Tuesday attempted to backpedal his stance, saying that he would be coordinating with state governors to \"authorize\" the restart of their respective states' economies. \"I will be speaking to all 50 governors very shortly,\" Trump said. \"And I will then be authorizing each individual governor of each individual state to implement a reopening, very powerful reopening plan of their estate in a time in a manner which is most appropriate.\" But governors don't need Trump to authorize their moves to deal with the coronavirus, whether it's keeping schools and businesses largely closed — or saying it's safe to re-open them. \"It's so plain and obvious it's not even debatable,\" Kathleen Bergin, a professor at Cornell Law School, told NPR's Brian Naylor. \"Trump has no authority to ease social distancing, or to open schools or private businesses. These are matters for states to decide under their power to promote public health and welfare, a power guaranteed by the 10th Amendment to the Constitution.\" The president's latest remarks appear to be an effort to soften his position from a day earlier, in which Trump declared, \"The president of the United States calls the shots\" in terms of reopening the national economy amid the coronavirus' continued social and economic tear. \"When somebody's the president of the United States, the authority is total,\" he added. But that's not so. Trump's claim of immutable power over states' economic rights launched a flurry of criticism, from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Coalitions of governors on both U.S. coasts on Monday agreed to coordinate when and how they would eventually ease their states' respective coronavirus restrictions. \"Any plan to reopen society must be driven by data and experts, not opinion and politics,\" New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said shortly before announcing the decision. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming refuted Trump's claims in a tweet, noting, \"The federal government does not have absolute power\" and then quoted the 10th Amendment.", "The coronavirus is spreading with increasing speed across South America's largest nation, Brazil, prompting a senior government minister to warn that the health care system faces collapse. The number of confirmed cases has surged by 283 in one day to 904, according to a bulletin released by the Health Ministry on Friday. The number of deaths has reached 11, it says. This surge comes amid more warnings about the country's inadequate health system, including a huge shortage of intensive care beds and other equipment — a dilemma shared across the region. \"Clearly, by the end of April, our health care system will collapse,\" said Brazil's Health Minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta. \"You can have the money. You can have a private plan. You can have a court order. But there is simply no room for you,\" he added. The toll taken by the coronavirus, coupled with its potentially devastating economic impact, is damaging the standing of Brazil's far right president Jair Bolsonaro. He has outraged many Brazilians by playing down the virus, initially describing it as a \"fantasy,\" and joining a crowd of supporters for handshakes and selfies last weekend, at a time he was supposed to be in isolation. Brazilians – many of whom have sought refuge from the virus threat by staying in their homes — have begun protesting against him at night, by drumming pots and pans from their windows. There's speculation in Brazil about Bolsonaro's own health status — he says he has twice tested negative — after reports emerged that the virus has now infected 23 members of a delegation that he led to Florida two weeks ago. During that trip, he dined with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Bolsonaro's government has sought to contain the spiraling crisis, by announcing a $30 billion package of financial measures and closing almost all of Brazil's land borders to visitors. Air travelers from Europe, Asia, and Australia are barred from entry beginning Monday. Yet Bolsonaro has held back from more rigorous measures, saying that he fears Brazil would face a catastrophe if its economy grinds to a halt. He's criticized Brazil's state governors for taking \"extreme measures.\" That includes the governor of the state that contains Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo. He has declared a public emergency and ordered the closure of all parks and nonessential services until the end of next month. Rio de Janeiro's governor is pressing for still stronger measures, including canceling all international flights and domestic flights from other Brazilian states with the virus. He's already ordered many closures, including Rio's celebrated tourist spots, the Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, and beaches.", "Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will allow some retail businesses to reopen with modifications as early as Friday, amid encouraging coronavirus benchmarks. \"We are entering into the next phase this week,\" Newsom said in his daily press briefing Monday. \"This is a very positive sign and it's happened only for one reason: The data says it can happen.\" The businesses will include places such as book, clothing, toy and sporting goods stores, as well as music shops and florists, the governor said. This phase of California's reopening will not include malls, offices or sit-down service in restaurants. Those businesses that can reopen Friday will have to abide by restrictions, such as physical distancing and delivering orders curbside. Detailed guidelines about the Phase 2 reopening will be released on Thursday, according to Newsom. As part of easing restrictions, Newsom announced Phase 2 includes giving local officials more flexibility to move further into reopening. But those regional plans will have to be certified and meet \"criteria that includes the capacity on testing, their capacity on tracing, the capacity on physical distancing and sanitation, and their capacity to protect the most vulnerable residents in their community,\" including seniors, the homeless and those incarcerated. The announcement comes after a rocky couple of weeks in the state: unemployment reached record levels, Newsom chided beachgoers for not heeding distancing orders, local officials expressed frustration about stay-at-home and beach closure orders, and protests broke out. In the past couple of days, three rural counties in Northern California went ahead with reopening parts of their economies without Newsom's approval. Newsom stuck to the message he has stressed since stay-at-home orders went into effect six weeks ago: Any policy decisions made regarding the pandemic are guided by data and science. During Monday's announcement the governor said the state met key health metrics and that's what drove the focused easing of the stay-at-home orders. The number of Californians hospitalized for the coronavirus has stabilized, the state is \"progressing\" in its personal protective gear inventory; and testing capacity has increased, as have the number of hospital beds and ventilators, according to Dr. Sonia Angell, the director of the California Department of Public Health. Newsom also announced a partnership with the University of California, San Francisco and Los Angeles to amp up contact tracing. The goal is to bolster public health systems across the state with 3,000 new tracers a week, Newsom said. The governor stressed a major strategy in California's battle in the pandemic is to test, trace and quarantine people with COVID-19. That tracing component has lagged behind; only 23 of 58 counties are currently conducting contact tracing. Newsom emphasized that the modifications announced Monday were not one size fits all; as the pandemic continues, some counties may need restrictions and other regions may be able to move forward, he said. \"We are not telling locals that feel it's too soon, too fast to modify,\" he said. \"We believe those local communities that have separate timelines should be afforded the capacity to advance those timelines.\" The governor also warned that if coronavirus cases tick up, the state could rein in the gradual reopening.", "After President Trump demanded governors allow houses of worship to reopen immediately, governors of California and Minnesota eased restrictions. But many places of worship say they'll remain closed.", "Updated at 8:51 p.m. ET Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler are suspending production at their North American plants at least through March 30, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The United Auto Workers, the autoworkers union, had been pushing for a two-week shutdown because of worker safety concerns. After talks, the Big Three carmakers initially announced rotating partial shutdowns and deep cleanings at their plants. Those partial measures were in place for less than 24 hours before the closure announcements went out. Fiat Chrysler and GM will begin shutting down Wednesday, while Ford will go dark Thursday evening. UAW workers will receive unemployment and supplemental pay, as negotiated under their contract, during the shutdown. Honda is also shutting down production at its North American facilities beginning next week, and will pay employees during the closure. Nissan announced it would halt U.S. manufacturing as well. Meanwhile, electric automaker Tesla has been ordered by local authorities to suspend production at its Fremont, Calif., plant. It's not clear if the company will comply.", "California has ended the final three regional stay-at-home orders — citing a decrease in projected new COVID-19 cases. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state's health secretary.", "Governor Gavin Newsom moved quickly to shut the state of California down when COVID-19 hit, and he has insisted that many California businesses remain closed and residents shelter in place while the danger from COVID-19 is assessed. Newsom's stance has attracted support and opposition in equal measure. One big complaint is that the lockdown has done as yet incalculable damage to the state's economy; the fifth largest on the planet. Today Newsom announced that his administration is preparing to reopen the economy, allowing some businesses to get back to business, and adjusting the guidelines for sheltering in place. Stacey Vanek Smith spoke to him after his announcement. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, PocketCasts and NPR One.", "California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he plans to further scale back the state&#8217;s reopening plans as a new surge in coronavirus cases continues in big cities and small. The rate of community spread has been on the rise over the past two weeks and so have hospitalizations. One of the latest clusters is at San Quentin State Prison in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here & Now&#8217;s Robin Young speaks with Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "California Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined Tuesday how the state will eventually decide to start lifting restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The governor did not indicate when these decisions might happen, only saying that \"when it comes to re-opening, SCIENCE – not politics – must be California's guide.\" In the past day, tensions have ratcheted up between President Trump and several governors over who will ultimately decide to reopen state economies. The president declared Monday that his \"authority is total\" about such decisions, but he changed his tone on Tuesday, saying that he would make them in conjunction with governors. These are the six indicators that Newsom says will guide California's decision-making: \"The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; \"The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; \"The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges; \"The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; \"The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and \"The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.\" Newsom said the changes won't happen all at once. \"There's no light switch here. It's more like a dimmer,\" he told reporters. \"That dimmer is this toggling back and forth between more restrictive and less restrictive measures. More individual accountability, more individual responsibility as it relates to face coverings, as it relates to practicing physical distancing. More individual responsibility if you've been exposed to the virus that we isolate you.\" And the governor acknowledged the state will \"look different\" as restrictions lift. Restaurants won't have as many tables, for example. \"You may be having dinner with a waiter wearing gloves, maybe a face mask. Dinner where the menu is disposable ... where your temperature is checked before you walk in the establishment.\" Newsom announced on Monday that his state is working in partnership with Oregon and Washington to decide how to lift restrictions. California, the most populous state in the U.S., has seen more than 22,300 confirmed cases and nearly 700 fatalities linked to the virus. Newsom said the state has made progress toward flattening the curve of new cases emerging.", "The nation's most-populated state is telling its residents to stay home except for essential travel. California Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement Thursday night, saying that more than half of the state's 40 million residents could become infected by the coronavirus if efforts aren't taken to slow its spread. The order is the strongest statewide restriction in the country, but it exempts essential travel to grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations and will rely heavily on \"social pressure\" for enforcement, Newsom says. \"We are confident that the people of the state of California will abide by it and do the right thing and meet this moment,\" he says. The move follows similar restrictions in the Bay Area. There were roughly 1,000 cases of the coronavirus in the state as of Thursday evening. In a letter to the federal government requesting assistance, the state estimated that without mitigation more than 22 million people could be infected over the next eight weeks. State officials hope the stay-at-home restrictions will slow the virus' spread and prevent that scenario. They will be in effect indefinitely.", "Brazil reported a record spike of daily coronavirus infections Thursday, as widespread criticism continues to dog President Jair Bolsonaro for playing down the outbreak. The country has confirmed more than 438,000 cases, the world's second-highest number after the United States. The rise in cases comes as São Paulo, the state with the highest number of registered deaths, prepares to ease restrictions in some areas. Brazil's Health Ministry reported 26,417 new confirmed cases in the previous 24 hours. For the third consecutive day, the country's official tally of newly registered COVID-19 deaths — 1,156 — topped 1,000, although many of the deaths occurred days earlier and were not logged until now. The virus has killed 26,754 Brazilians, according to the official count. Just under a quarter of those fatalities were in São Paulo, considered the national epicenter of the pandemic. Despite this, the governor has announced a gradual loosening of restrictions, even as medical researchers warn infections have not yet peaked in Brazil. In the city of São Paulo, Brazil's business capital, shopping centers and some stores will be permitted to open beginning Monday. Numerous social distancing measures and the wearing of masks will be required. Bars, restaurants, theaters and sports centers will remain closed. A group of mayors in neighboring municipalities, where nonessential businesses are still closed, has complained to state authorities, saying the governor's move could bring more cases of infection into their neighborhoods. Until now, Gov. João Doria has urged São Paulo state residents to stay home, with patchy results. His approach put him at loggerheads with Bolsonaro, who has scoffed at the virus as a \"little flu\" and wants social distancing measures to be restricted to people older than 60. While some parts of Brazil are under lockdown, others are moving to ease restrictions, including the vast rainforest state of Amazonas, one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus. Its governor has announced certain nonessential businesses can reopen on Monday. That decision has drawn criticism from Arthur Virgílio Neto, mayor of the Amazonas capital Manaus. A surge of COVID-19 cases last month collapsed Manaus' health system. Authorities buried the dead in mass graves because cemeteries were overwhelmed. Virgílio Neto is warning that although the number of deaths in Manaus has since gone down, it is too soon to start reopening the local economy — because a potential second wave of COVID-19 could prove even more deadly than the first.", "Florida will begin reopening its economy on Monday. Gov. Ron DeSantis says all of the state except for three counties in Southeast Florida meet the Phase 1 guidelines identified by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. A statewide shelter-in-place order expires Thursday, but DeSantis says people should continue to practice social distancing and not socialize in groups larger than 10. He's also asked those who are medically vulnerable and the elderly to remain at home as much as possible. In a news conference at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, the governor said he was signing an executive order that allows restaurants and retail stores to reopen Monday, May 4. Restaurants will be able to use outdoor seating. Inside, they'll be able in the first phase of the state's plan to use just 25% of their seating capacity. Schools will remain closed and students will continue distance learning. Large venues, including movie theaters also remain closed for now, as do personal service establishments like barber shops and beauty salons. DeSantis says elective surgeries can resume statewide. The action in Florida takes a middle approach, less aggressive than states such as Georgia, but beginning to reopen an economy that's been largely dormant for well over a month. DeSantis said, \"I deliberately erred on the side of taking measured steps, kind of even a baby step to ... start us on a road to a brighter day.\" The order excludes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties where the majority of Florida's coronavirus cases have occurred. Shelter-in-place orders and business closures remain in place in those three counties. COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are also declining there. This week, in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, many parks and boat ramps were reopened with strict enforcement of social distancing guidelines. Beaches in the three southeast Florida counties remain closed for now. DeSantis says he'll watch what other states are doing and will consider allowing more openings if coronavirus cases continue to decline. Asked about when he thinks the state may be ready to move to the next phase of openings, DeSantis wouldn't commit to a timeline. But he said, \"We're thinking about weeks. We're not thinking about months.\"", "NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Dr. Sonia Angell, director of California's Department of Public Health about the recent spike of coronavirus cases during the state's phased reopenings.", "Updated at 6:05 p.m. ET At a short briefing Friday afternoon at the White House, President Trump touted the federal government's \"aggressive strategy,\" saying \"we are getting through this challenge together as one American family.\" Trump earlier on Friday signed the latest economic relief package, as a handful of Republican-led states prepared to re-open their states' economies — with or without the president's blessing. The bulk of the $484 billion package is dedicated to replenishing the quickly depleted Paycheck Protection Program, which is aimed at helping small businesses stay afloat with forgivable loans during the coronavirus crisis. The bill signing comes in the shadow of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp allowing a number of non-essential businesses, including hair salons and tattoo parlors, to re-open on Friday, in a move that has confounded health care experts and frustrated Trump. Trump has sharply criticized Kemp, a first-term Republican governor, several times lately for his insistence on reopening the state despite not meeting the recommended benchmarks to ease social distancing restrictions. \"I didn't like to see spas opening, frankly,\" Trump said at the daily coronavirus task force briefing on Thursday. Trump has called for states that have slowed the spread of coronavirus to consider reopening, even before federal guidelines on social distancing expire on May 1. But Georgia does not meet the criteria outlined in the White House's three-phase guideline to begin easing its coronavirus restrictions. \"I didn't like to see a lot of things happening. And I wasn't happy with it. And I wasn't happy with Brian Kemp. I wasn't at all happy,\" Trump said. Going against experts and his party's own standard bearer, Kemp moved forward with the decision to relax coronavirus restrictions in the state, allowing massage parlors, barber shops and other non-essential businesses to re-open Friday morning. Trump also touted a preliminary study at Thursday briefing from the Department of Homeland Security, suggesting that ultraviolet could slow the coronavirus. He also wondered out loud about whether scientists could find a way to treat the virus by injecting disinfectant. When asked about his comments on Friday, Trump said he asked the question \"sarcastically.\"", "In the weeks since coronavirus struck the United States, entire states have mostly shut down. It’s led to the closure of schools, a reeling economy with over 16 million unemployment claims, and a White House that has struggled to move forward. While many schools have already decided to remain closed until the next academic year, the president, public health officials, and governors across the country continue to debate when to re-open the economy. Without widespread testing, contact tracing and a drop in coronavirus deaths, many say the U.S. would be letting its guard down.  As the debate moves forward, it’s left many unemployed Americans wondering what comes next and when. How will you know when you are ready to get back to work?", "California has reached a deal with several financial institutions, including four of the country's five largest banks, to provide relief to homeowners affected by the coronavirus by suspending foreclosures and delaying mortgage payments, the governor announced Wednesday. The news comes as unemployment claims in the state are soaring. More than one million residents have filed for unemployment insurance since March 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom says, as workers continue to struggle with job losses and reduced hours, as the state looks to slow the spread of the coronavirus. JP Morgan Chase, Citi, US Bank, Wells Fargo and a number of other credit unions and state banks committed to a 90-day forbearance on mortgage payments for homeowners who can provide evidence that they've been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Late payments would not be reported to credit rating agencies. The federal government, through mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ordered lenders to give struggling homeowners more flexibility last week. That covers about half of all home loans in the country. Newsom says he hopes lenders will provide business owners with relief in the coming days too. Thousands of small businesses are struggling in the state, as residents continue to stay home. The state ordered its 40 million residents to limit themselves to only essential travel last week and Newsom says the mandate will stay in effect for the foreseeable future. \"We can defeat this virus,\" Newsom says. \"But we can't defeat it unless we commit to fulfilling our individual obligations and our collective responsibilities to meet this moment.\"", "NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., who is facing a recall election, about his economic recovery plan that would give $600 stimulus checks to more Californians.", "Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants the state to fully reopen for business on June 15. But it will have to meet vaccination goals and keep hospitalizations low for that to work.", "This episode was recorded and published as part of this podcast's former 'Coronavirus Daily' format.Governors around the country are starting to plan for what reopening their states could look like. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said testing will be a big part of his decision-making.Millions of Americans should have received an economic impact payment from the government today. Meanwhile, many are still waiting on unemployment benefits.Plus, Apple and Google's plan to help with contact tracing will depend on trust from the public.Listen to Life Kit's episode on giving back on Apple, Spotify and NPR One.Find and support your local public radio station.Sign up for 'The New Normal' newsletter.", "Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET President Trump on Wednesday said that recent data suggest that the United States has made it through the worst of new coronavirus cases, as he seeks to reopen the pandemic-beaten national economy. \"The data suggests that nationwide, we have passed the peak of new cases. Hopefully that will continue, and we will continue to make great progress,\" Trump said in the White House Rose Garden at the daily coronavirus task force briefing. The task force did not share the data they used to reach that assessment. Trump said that more than 3 million tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, had been completed and that researchers were on the verge of delivering an antibody test to determine whether a person has previously been infected with the virus. He also said he would announce his path to reopening some states ahead of May 1. \"These developments have put us in a strong position to finalize guidelines for states reopening,\" he said. Trump's optimistic remarks come on the heels of a contentious week between the president and state governors, following an erroneous declaration earlier this week that he had ability to unilaterally decide when states would ease coronavirus restrictions. \"When somebody's the president of the United States, the authority is total,\" Trump said Monday. By Tuesday, he had reversed, saying he would guide the governors but allow them to decide when and how to re-open. Wednesday's briefing comes after an Easter weekend of COVID-19 fatalities that launched the U.S. death toll to the highest in the world. Still, experts say that efforts to contain the virus seem to be having a positive effect, crediting social distancing measures for helping to slow the disease's spread. Dr. Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator on the White House task force, said that there have been declines in the number of cases across the country for nearly the past week. She said there are nine states with fewer than 1,000 cases total and fewer than 30 new cases per day. She credited states like California, Washington and Oregon, early hotbeds for COVID-19, for avoiding a serious peak in the virus by quickly implementing procedures suppress the spread of the virus. As a result of the virus easing its grip in some places, Trump said he will be speaking to governors, as well as a panel of experts, to discuss how best to move forward on returning the country to a level of normalcy. \"They'll be safe, they'll be strong, but we want to get our country back,\" Trump said of coordinating with states to roll back coronavirus regulations. \"We'll be the comeback kid, all of us.\" The coronavirus epidemic has devastated the national economy, with some 17 million Americans seeking unemployment benefits in recent weeks. Trump has said he wants to reopen the nation's economy as soon as possible and has announced a group of industry leaders dedicated to reigniting the country's business prospects. Taking a dig at lawmakers during the Wednesday news conference, Trump criticized the Senate for stalling approval for a number of his nominees. \"It's a scam what they do,\" he said, calling for the Congress to end its \"phony pro forma sessions\" — brief Senate meetings in which no votes are held — so that he could make recess appointments for various positions. If not, he threatened to use what he described as his constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers. \"We're gonna do it,\" he said. \"We need people for this crisis.\"", "NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County, about the decision to lift coronavirus-related restrictions during the county's worst surge yet.", "California's governor on Monday has ordered to shut down indoor restaurants, bars and many other businesses, after reopening in late May has led to a surge in coronavirus cases.", "Updated at 2:30 p.m. ET Urged by President Trump, states across the country are beginning to eye the next phase of their response to the coronavirus: the cautious process of lifting their widespread restrictions, piece by piece, and returning to a semblance of daily life before the pandemic settled in. But how should that happen — and when? Three broad coalitions of states — one on the West Coast, one in the Northeast and one in the Midwest — have taken shape to collaborate on their response to the crisis. Among them is Ohio's Republican governor, Mike DeWine, who is working with at least six neighboring governors in the bipartisan Midwestern partnership. \"It's something that just naturally occurs,\" DeWine told NPR's Weekend Edition on Saturday, \"and during this coronavirus, it's something that, you know, is even more urgent that we we do — that share these ideas.\" Part of that urgency is coming from the president, whose administration has released guidelines for states considering reopening and who has targeted Democratic governors with tweets calling for them to \"LIBERATE\" their states. That handful of states includes Virginia, which Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine represents. Kaine, in an interview with All Things Considered on Saturday, said he considers the tweets an attempt to \"foment division in our country in the midst of a global pandemic,\" noting that the president is \"urging them to protest the social distancing guidelines that his own administration is urging us to follow.\" DeWine downplayed the president's tweets, saying he doesn't think Trump is calling for insurrection with the all-caps command to his followers to \"liberate\" their state from administrations led by his rival party: \"You know,\" DeWine said, \"to fixate on two or three tweets by the president of the United States doesn't make any doesn't make any sense to me.\" Part of the urgency DeWine and his fellow governors feel is also coming from protesters, many of whom dressed in Trump campaign gear, who have flouted state social distancing recommendations and gathered at rallies not only in Ohio but in a number of other states across the country, as well. Balanced against that pressure are the recommendations of health officials, who have warned that easing social distancing restrictions and allowing nonessential businesses to reopen too quickly — without extensive testing and sufficient medical resources — will merely lead to another deadly surge in coronavirus infections. The U.S. has suffered by far the biggest outbreak in the world, with more than 700,000 confirmed cases and a death toll surpassing 37,000, as of Saturday afternoon. In Ohio, which has reported more than 9,000 of those confirmed cases, state officials are aiming for a \"phased-in reopening of the state economy\" beginning May 1. DeWine said that the protesters \"have every right to demonstrate\" — but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be getting their way. \"I understand the demonstrators. They want to get the economy moving again. No one is more anxious to do that than I am, so I understand where they're coming from,\" he explained. \"But we also have to do it in a rational way. We have to do it in a phased way that protects human life and protects our medical institutions for being totally overrun. So this is a nuanced balance of things that we're trying to do here.\"", "The city councils of both Huntington Beach and Dana Point voted tonight to pursue legal action against the state of California to block Gov. Gavin Newsom's beach-closure order. Newsom ordered all beaches and state parks in Orange County to temporarily close on Thursday. The governor was angered by people crowding the beaches during last weekend's summerlike weather. \"Specific issues on some of those beaches raised alarm bells,\" Newsom said in a press conference Thursday. \"We're gonna do a hard close in that part of the state, just in the Orange County area. We're working with the county.\" It wasn't immediately clear if these impending legal battles would also challenge the closure of state parks that aren't on the coast. In an emergency meeting, the City Council of Dana Point voted to seek a temporary restraining order blocking the beach shutdown order. Dana Point Councilman Joseph Muller criticized the Newsom administration for providing inconsistent information on a conference call with city council members and elected officials at the same time Newsom held his press briefing Thursday. \"[H]is representative was stating that this was a statewide closure during the conference call at the exact same time [Newsom] was holding his press conference live and singled out Orange County,\" Muller said over the phone during a livestreamed emergency city council meeting. \"That's very disturbing to me that they would play a game like that, so giving us info in a meeting while he's out publicly saying something very different.\" Dana Point Mayor Richard Viczorek backed up Muller's account of that conference call. \"As the governor was speaking there was a conference call scheduled with elected officials from Orange County,\" Viczorek said during the city council meeting. \"We had all I think read the news or were aware of the fact the governor was intending to close the beaches throughout California, but obviously at some point that changed ... and his decision was only to close the beaches in Orange County.\" The governor's office did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment. Dana Point City Attorney Patrick Muñoz said in the council meeting that the motion for a restraining order will be filed Friday. Huntington Beach council members voted 5-2 to \"direct the City Attorney to pursue any and all legal actions necessary to challenge the state's beach closure directive,\" the city's press release states. \"Our experience locally had been that most people [at the beaches] were being responsible and complying with social distancing requirements,\" according to the press release. Since Newsom warned Californians that crowding beaches could make coronavirus cases spike, local officials throughout Orange County have argued that the majority of beachgoers were following distancing rules, and that press photographs did not accurately reflect the situation on the beaches. \"Governor Newsom's mandate to close all beaches in Orange County today was a jarring decision that significantly impacts us here in Huntington Beach,\" said Mayor Lyn Semeta in a press release. \"Given that Orange County has among the lowest per-capita COVID-19 death rates in California, the action by the State prioritizes politics over data, in direct contradiction of the Governor's stated goal to allow science and facts to guide our response to this horrible global pandemic.\" According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, there have been about 2,250 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Orange County. New cases of COVID-19 have surged in recent days, according to the Orange County Public Health department website. On April 30, the county saw a record-high 145 new cases, up from 32 new cases on April 28, according to that public health database.", "California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all beaches and state parks in Orange County to temporarily close on Thursday, after images in the news showed crowds gathering on beaches there and, according to Newsom, violating the state's physical distancing rules. It's a much more narrow order than what had been expected after a California Police Chiefs Association memo surfaced Wednesday. \"After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsom's Shelter in Place Order, the Governor will be announcing [Thursday] that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st,\" the memo read. Activity seen on only a few beaches threatened the progress California has made in battling coronavirus, the governor said Thursday. \"Specific issues on some of those beaches raised alarm bells,\" Newsom said. The vast majority of coastlines saw people following the statewide orders, he said. But the \"density, the volume of people, concentrated space, particularly in the ... few coastal cities off and around Orange County area. Those were the point of particular concern.\" \"We're gonna do a hard close in that part of the state, just in the Orange County area. We're working with the county,\" the governor announced Thursday. Concern over infection and hospitalization rates in the county was part of the Orange County closure calculation, Newsom said, noting that Orange County was in the top three or four counties in hospitalizations. On Monday, the governor scolded Californians for crowding the seashore last weekend during a record heat wave, saying that type of behavior could cause a surge in coronavirus infections. In his press briefing Thursday, Newsom said California had seen a 5.2% increase in positive coronavirus tests earlier this week. \"I know we want it to go away,\" the governor said, \"But we haven't bent back curve downward. We've just flattened that curve. It's stable, but 95 souls were lost in the last 24 hours.\" Beaches have stayed open in some other areas of the state, like Ventura and Santa Cruz counties. Crowds flocked to those areas as well, and local officials met in recent days to discuss ways to limit gatherings. Officials in Newport Beach, Orange County, met Tuesday and voted to not implement any further restrictions on beach or park access. The governor's total closure orders will likely supersede that local mandate. In Santa Cruz, where heat waves brought massive crowds to the beach, officials are implementing a beach curfew starting Saturday, only allowing visitors before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Newsom stressed that the Orange County order was part of a highly targeted and focused approach in battling the pandemic, and said he did not want to be \"heavy handed.\" Still, local officials in Orange County have said the majority of beachgoers were following distancing rules, and that the widely reported photos warped what actually happened on the shore. The governor has repeatedly said this week that modifications of statewide measures to control the spread of the coronavirus are \"weeks, not months away.\" But that any any level of reopening the economy in California will be guided by behavior, data and science. Newsom offered people hope, saying, \"We have the opportunity to move into this next phase ... very soon, in the next few weeks.\" Officials in less-populated areas have called on Newsom to allow them to reopen, while unemployment in the state has reached record levels. In Modoc County officials are going ahead with plans to reopen, without the governor's approval.", "Updated at 8:10 p.m. ET President Trump on Wednesday said he disagreed with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to re-open a number of industries in his state, including hair salons and tattoo parlors, saying that he thought the move was premature in the face of the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Trump broke with the Republican governor's call to ease social distancing rules in the state beginning on Friday, despite Trump's own insistence that some states could begin to relax mitigation measures before the beginning of May. \"I disagree with him on what he's doing,\" Trump said during the Wednesday coronavirus task force briefing. Trump said he had spoken with Kemp to express that he \"disagreed strongly\" with the governor's decision to reopen the state \"in violation of Phase One guidelines.\" Still, Trump has made his own push to re-open the national economy. On Wednesday he signed a 60-day immigration ban, which he says is intended to ensure that U.S. jobs created after the country re-opens go first to American workers. Trump said that temporary workers will not be affected by the decree. The executive order falls in line with Trump's presidency-long campaign to sharply reduce the number of immigrants coming to the United States. Calls to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border became a rallying cry among his supporters, and Trump has previously used executive order to ban travel to the country from several Muslim-majority nations. Trump has staked significant interest in blunting the economic toll of the virus, calling for some states to consider re-opening even before the federal guidelines on social distancing expire on May 1. Already, two states led by Republican governors, Georgia and South Carolina, have taken steps to restart their state' economies as early as this week. Neither state meets the White House criteria of a two-week decline in new COVID-19 cases recommended before businesses begin to reopen. Health care experts warn of the likely devastating impact reopening the economy too soon could have on the country's ability to contain the virus. More than 300,000 Americans could die from COVID-19 if the country rejects social distancing, according to documents obtained by the Center for Public Integrity. A critical component to slowing the virus' spread is widespread testing, which the United States still lacks. Trump has repeatedly put the burden of testing on governors, but state officials say that they lack the capacity to aggressively test for the disease. Researchers are also trying to locate an effective treatment for COVID-19. The president has repeatedly, without evidence, touted the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a possible treatment for the disease. NPR reported yesterday that experts convened by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommends against the combination as a treatment, citing insufficient evidence of its efficacy and an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Richard Bright, a high-ranking federal doctor focused on vaccine development, on Wednesday said he was removed from his post for his insistence that the government focus on \"safe and scientifically vetted solutions,\" rather than \"drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit.\" When asked on Wednesday about Bright's ouster, Trump said he had never heard of the doctor. \"Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't [removed from his post],\" Trump said. \"I don't know who he is.\" Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading expert on infectious disease and member of the coronavirus task force, said he was not worried about political influence silencing scientists. Fauci said that Bright would now be working at the National Institutes of Health in the field of diagnostics.", "California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced stay-at-home orders for five regions of the state when local hospitals hit 85% of their ICU capacity. Regions like Southern California are expected to trigger the order in the coming days, but Newsom said all five regions will be under the orders by the end of December. This article was originally published on WBUR.org." ]

[ "Giddha (Punjabi: گدها, ਗਿੱਧਾ, giddhā) is a popular folk dance of women in Punjab region of India and Pakistan. ... It is a very colourful dance form which is now copied in all regions of the country. Women perform this dance mainly at festive or social occasions." ]

[ "Punjabi is a language, and Gurumukhi is a script which is used to write the Punjabi language. Punjabi is a language belonging to the group of Indo-Aryan languages. This is a language spoken prominently in the Punjab state of both Pakistan and India. It greatly resembles Urdu and Hindi.", "The basic vocabulary of Punjabi is Sanskrit in origin, but over the years Punjabi has borrowed words from other languages. Eastern Punjabi has many Hindi and English loanwords, while Western Punjabi contains many borrowings from Persian, Arabic and Urdu. Below are the Punjabi numerals 1-10 in romanization.", "What is the meaning of the Punjabi word 'julli'? Well, Although this word doesn't exist in Punjabi literature but still a lot of people use it now a days. Fuddu can be taken as Stupid, Foolish or मूर्ख in hindi. ... That's a pretty offensive word used to refer to someone stupid or fool.", "Punjabi are people from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Most Punjabis are Muslims and mostly live in Pakistan (and some in India). Some Punjabis are Hindu and Sikhs and mostly live in India (and some in Pakistan). ... So Hindu is a person following the Hindu religion while Punjabi is a person from Punjab.", "in hindi it is bhaiya..... so many people associate writing it as bhaji.... but it is a punjabi word.... n it is pronounced with a \"p\" as paaji.... ... the bh in punjabi is not pronounced the same way as the bh in hindi.", "Simran (Gurmukhi ਸਿਮਰਨ, Hindi: सिमरण, सिमरन) is a Punjabi word derived from the Sanskrit word स्मरण smaraṇa, \"the act of remembrance, reminiscence, and recollection,\" which leads to the realization of what may be the highest aspect and purpose in one's life.", "While “Sikh” is a religion, “Punjabi” is a broader term used for all the people living in the Punjab region of both India and Pakistan irrespective of their religions. Punjabi (Punjabi people) is an ethnic group which originated from the Punjab region. ... Collectively, Punjabis are primarily inhabitants of Punjab.", "Difference Between Urdu and Punjabi. Punjabi has a slight similarity with Urdu. Most of the Urdu-speaking people can understand written Punjabi with certain difficulties but will find it hard to understand the written script. Punjabi, which comes in Shahmukhi and Gurmukhi script, is an Indo-Aryan language.", "Punjabi, which comes in Shahmukhi and Gurmukhi script, is an Indo-Aryan language. This language is mainly spoken in the northwestern parts of India and some regions of Pakistan. Punjabi is the official language of the state of Punjab. ... Urdu is the official language of Pakistan and is also widely used in Northern India.", "Jugni is an age-old narrative device used in Punjabi folk music and sung at Punjabi weddings in India, Pakistan, US, Canada, Australia and UK. ... In spiritual poetry Jugni means the spirit of life, or essence of life.", "Difference Between Punjabi and Sikh. “Punjabi” and “Sikh” are two different terms which often confuse people. While “Sikh” is a religion, “Punjabi” is a broader term used for all the people living in the Punjab region of both India and Pakistan irrespective of their religions.", "The Punjabi name gatka properly refers to the wooden stick used. The word originates as a diminutive of Sanskrit gada \"mace\".", "Ghaint means very beautiful or Awesome or Gorgeous. Actually, there are lots of words available to express your feelings or comments. Also in Punjabi, there are many words like Ghaint, Att etc.", "Jugni/Dum Gutkoon is a very popular Punjabi Sufi song. This song is about the praise of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad and other Muslim Khalifas, originally sung and popularised by Pakistani Punjabi folk singer Arif Lohar. 'Jugni' literally means 'Female Firefly'. ... In this song 'Jugni' is describing 'Spirit being'.", "Yes. Contrary to what the other answers say, Punjabi and Hindi are in a lot of cases mutually intelligible. Both of them belong to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. ... Also, Punjabi's Pakistani dialect, Lahnda, is written in Shahmukhi, which is same as the Urdu script.", "You have searched the Urdu word Girvi Rakhna which means Mortgage in English. ... The definition of the word گروی رکھنا has been describe here with maximum details, and also find different synonyms for the word Beguile.", "/gudha/ mn. gur uncountable noun. In Indian English, gur is the sweet juice of the sugar cane. /gudha, gudh/", "Gehun ka ata. गेहूँ का आटा {gehuN ka ATa} = WHEAT FLOUR(Noun)", "Gurbani (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ) is a Sikh term, very commonly used by Sikhs to refer to various compositions by the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, are called Gurbani.", "Kamya Punjabi's father is a Mumbai based businessman. Her mother's name is Nanda Punjabi. She has two younger sisters, Sonia Punjabi and Mala Punjabi. She met a healthcare professional, Shalabh Dang, in February 2019.", "The Gaddis are a tribe living mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.", "Punjabi (پنجابی) is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan.", "While there are some Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu) loanwords in Punjabi, the two languages are typically not mutually intelligible. ... While there are some Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu) loanwords in Punjabi, the two languages are typically not mutually intelligible.", "English. Gada in English. mace of wood with a stone head; normally the head is bound to the handle. Dictionary source: Medieval Glossary.", "Gill (गिल) Gela (गेला) Gull (गुल) Ghilawa (घीलावा) is a Gotra or surname found in the Jat community mainly in Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in India and Pakistan. Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mentioned it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia.", "In Indian English, used only in the Indian subcontinent, curd or curds instead refers to the traditional homemade yogurt (also known as dahi), while paneer and chhena are used to denote curdled milk.", "Learning Punjabi is not really tough. Its same as hindi. You just need to learn the punjabi alphabets , vowel diacritic and its pronunciation. ... Try watching some Punjabi movies, you'll get a hang of it.", "Punjabi is not a dialect of Hindi, although it is quite similar to Hindi. ... PUNJABI is a separate language and not a dialect to Hindi, though it is very close to Hindi these days. It is because both languages have accepted a few words from each other. Punjabi has its own grammar and two scripts.", "It's a common vegetable in India also referred as Arbi. It's as hated as Tinda. English name is Eddoe. Since they don't want to say 'Ghanta' on national TV, they say 'Ghuinya'.", "Yes, they are mutually intelligible to a large extent. I am a native Hindi/Awadhi speaker and learned Punjabi with relative ease. ... This is because Punjabi has more naturalised vocabulary as well as a distinct tone which is often fast. If spoken slowly, a Hindi speaker would be able to easily understand Punjabi.", "English to Punjabi Meaning :: as you wish English to Punjabi Meaning : As you wish : ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਸਮਾਰਿਕਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇਾ ਹਾਂ Word Pronounce: Store Favourite: As - ਦੇ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ Wish - ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ You - ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ", "Urdu Word بادل کا گرجنا - Baadal Ka Garajna Meaning in English is Thunders." ]

[ "Band-Aids" ]

[ "Jeremiah Johnson", "Magic Johnson", "Howard Johnson", "Shawn Johnson", "Russell Johnson", "(Andrew) Johnson", "Ben Johnson", "Betsey Johnson", "Keyshawn Johnson", "Arte Johnson", "Luci Johnson", "Michael Johnson", "Philip Johnson", "Don Johnson", "Johnson Space Center", "Randy Johnson", "Jack Johnson", "Lyndon B. Johnson", "Jimmie Johnson", "Lady Bird Johnson", "Maggie Johnson", "Rafer Johnson", "Andrew Johnson", "Lyndon Johnson & Robert Kennedy", "Sold!", "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?", "LBJ (Lyndon Baines Johnson)", "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Magic Johnson", "Earvin \"Magic\" Johnson", "Abraham Lincoln & Andrew Johnson", "Lynda Bird Johnson", "Champagne Brands" ]

[ "My cat, I was picking her up to hug her good night." ]

[ "Avatar the Last Airbender, hands down", "They spy on your phone.", "maybe it’s your phone", "The hand does what the hand wants", "What can I say except delete this", "That's what hands are for.", "Question we will never answer: What is Obama’s last name , what is life, when’s your twins birthday", "Its aesthetically pleasing. Im not a phone buff, I don’t care about what’s the fastest or what phone implemented what first. I just think iphones are the “prettiest” phone", "Put down your phone and close your eyes.", "Turn off your phone.", " What can I say except, You're welcome.", "Open your hands.", "I have a similar thing, except I haven't met mine", "washing your hands", "if your happy and you know, clap your hands !!!\n\nif your happy and you know, clap your hands!!!\n\nif your happy and you know and really really know\n\nif your happy and you know, clap your hands!!!", "\"The exception proves the rule\" \n\n1. \"Proves\" in this context means \"tests\" - like in \"proving grounds\". The quote means that the exception challenges the rule, not that it reinforces the rule. \n\n2. Exceptions aren't exceptions - they are data. You need to reformulate your rule if there are 'exceptions'.", "Same thing I'm doing now, except I'd be sleeping better.", "Clap your hands", "Nothing left to do except to put on your gnome hat", "Phone: \"It's not me jackass, it's your shitty internet.\"", "what is Obama's last name", "A phone number to your funeral planner", "In your phone's app and notification settings.", "Lying and constant phone play during dates. If you’re more into the phone than my company, date your phone, kiss it, etc.", "Your fingernails grow faster on your dominant hand", "“Your child is in good hands”", "Don't let her check your phone", "The [Holdo Maneuver](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s2hM1tyEL0U) in The Last Jedi, the theater was silent except one kid who said “whoa...” but not in an annoying way, it was basically what everyone was thinking.", "That life isn’t fair, things are just out of your hands sometimes and it just comes to hurt you for no reason.", "There is no such middle it’s lie left or right handed people there aren’t middle handed your penis isn’t a hand", "You should be sneezing into your arm not your hand", "Who tf is Lily Collins homeslice and what is your thing with her" ]

[ "Richard was considered the American new wizard of optical -art, and was not well-known but was important in the further development of op-art. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1930, Richard enjoyed art at an early age, and was encouraged by his father." ]

[ "A homeschool co-op is a group of families who meet together and work cooperatively to achieve common goals. Co-ops can be organized around academics, social time, the arts, activities, crafts, service work, or projects — or some combination of these. Activities and classes that are part of a co-op may be led by parents, or the parents may chip in to pay all or some of the teachers and activity leaders.", "Definition of op. 1 1 chiefly US : a set of planned actions for a particular purpose —usually plural military ops [=operations] 2 2 : op art. 3 3 British, informal : a medical operation — see also photo op.", "Op Art and The Science of Perception. The phrase ‘Op Art’ was coined around the time of the famous ‘Responsive Eye’ exhibition, with ‘Op’ of course referring to optics – the physical and psychological process of vision.", "A co-op store is otherwise just like any other business. You will need a business license and you must comply with health department and zoning laws. Other important elements are insurance, legal contracts, facilities, sources of goods and services. Related Reading: How to Start a Team Co-Op for a Home Business.ission. A co-op store can be owned by member-producers and member-consumers. The co-op business model is based upon the philosophy of equality, equity and mutual self help. For example, a group of artists form a co-op to produce and sell their art, sharing the costs of materials and work space as well as retail space.", "Some co-ops have a particular membership focus: Toronto’s Arcadia Court, for example, is for people working in the arts, and Local 75 Housing Co-operative was developed for low-income restaurant and hotel workers. Co-op housing sounds great! Co-op housing sounds terrible! Well, it can be either, or both.", "Commentary: The Difference Between Prejudice and Discrimination. An important op-ed out of Baltimore asks people to remember the distinction between biases. An important op-ed out of Baltimore asks people to remember the distinction between biases. By Cord Jefferson.", "Optical illusion is also used in film by the technique of forced perspective. Op art is a style of art that uses optical illusions to create an impression of movement, or hidden images and patterns.Trompe-l'oeil œil uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that depicted objects exist in three. dimensionsptical illusion is also used in film by the technique of forced perspective. Op art is a style of art that uses optical illusions to create an impression of movement, or hidden images and patterns. Trompe-l'oeil œil uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that depicted objects exist in three. dimensions", "I admire the talent of the Afghani people so much! The older I get, the more I understand how important it is to preserve their history and to give them new op ... portunities to continue making their creative works. -Abdul Wardak of Afghan Tribal Arts. Afghan Tribal Arts imports textiles, beads, carpets and artifacts from Afghanistan. Abdul Wardak started the business in the mid-1980’s and travels a route between Chicago and Florida. Abdul is also a poet! Follow his poetry page, The Writings of Abdul Wardak.", "This is an important gesture because it is the coming together of the human and the spirits of its ancestors. What the aboriginal sand art. Aboriginal sand art is considered a ritual in the traditional aboriginal culture.It is used to signify territorial landmarks and tells the history as well as the origin of the aborigines.efore going in depth about aboriginal sand art, it is important to get to know the people who pioneered in this art form thousands of years ago. The aborigines are the indigenous people of Australia who are still in existence in the country up to this day.", "Many of our first time or out of town buyers have often seen ‘SPONSOR’ unit Co-Ops, it is important for buyers to understand the difference of each housing product so they can make a better and educated buying decision between a traditional Co-Op and a Sponsored Co-Op apartment.", "Legal Structure. The legal structure for a co-op store varies from state to state, but it is common for a co-op to be incorporated and to possibly qualify, depending on its function, for federal nonprofit status.Consult with an accountant or tax attorney to determine whether your co-op qualifies for nonprofit status.ission. A co-op store can be owned by member-producers and member-consumers. The co-op business model is based upon the philosophy of equality, equity and mutual self help. For example, a group of artists form a co-op to produce and sell their art, sharing the costs of materials and work space as well as retail space.", "In this version, tank is very important to a team. Tank top,half tank mid,tank support and Jungle is the hottest undoubtedly. Op champion always depend on version. Ever version has different op champion.", "Who’s in charge of a co-op? Less formal co-ops are typically led by one or two main leaders who form the co-op with a specific vision, usually in support of goals for their own children. They usually call planning meetings, arrange for a meeting location, and strongly influence the schedule and offerings of the co-op.", "patron of the arts meaning, patron of the arts definition | English Cobuild dictionary. patron. 1 n-count A patron is a person who supports and gives money to artists, writers, or musicians. Catherine the Great was a patron of the arts and sciences. 2 n-count The patron of a charity, group, or campaign is an important person who allows his or her name to be used for publicity.", "I have created this page to list my thoughts about 'an' artist. BURNETT. I bought my first BURNETT painting in the year 2002. In recent years I have been in search of more ' BURNETT ' paintings, haunting garage sales, antique, second hand and OP shops.My thoughts about art that is signed BURNETT are listed below; I have spent a great deal of time investigating art signed BURNETT. I am not an art expert.n recent years I have been in search of more ' BURNETT ' paintings, haunting garage sales, antique, second hand and OP shops. My thoughts about art that is signed BURNETT are listed below; I have spent a great deal of time investigating art signed BURNETT.", "Filing and updating the Biennial Statement is important, since it is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure that the DOS has an up-to-date address for the co-op, so that any litigation papers that are served on the co-op at the DOS are mailed to the correct place.", "What's a Biennial Statement (And Why is it Important to Co-ops) A fact that is often overlooked is that the corporate operations of most co-ops are governed by the Business Corporation Law (BCL). The Business Corporation Law is the main New York State law which governs how co-op corporations must operate.", "The higher a player's OPS is, the more potent he is offensively. In baseball, OPS is a number that combines a player's on-base percentage and his slugging percentage. In major league baseball, the average OPS in the early 21st century was about .750. Home runs are the most valuable type of hit. Though players with high OPS statistics are usually power hitters, those who are able to hit into defensive gaps usually have high OPS statistics, also.", "Calligraphy is important for a variety of reasons. For instance, it is a very old form of writing, and people who do it as a hobby are keeping the art form alive.", "1 Romanesque architecture and art: Romanesque Art-Romanesque Art The art of the Romanesque period was characterized by an important revival of ...ll rights reserved. 1 Romanesque architecture and art: Romanesque Art-Romanesque Art The art of the Romanesque period was characterized by an important revival of ...", "As the sixties swung on, Op-Art prints and the mod look gave way to the swirling prints of psychedelia in the late sixties, then led to more muted colours and organic forms taken from nature, such as the floral art nouveau motifs made popular by Biba and later Celia Birtwell’s prints for Ossie Clark.", "At an online discussion forum, you see the phrase in regards to the OP, I think that health care is going to be pivotal in this coming election. What does this OP expression mean? The original poster is the person who started a discussion thread, and OP is used to refer back to that person as the responses grow.", "Pre-Op Liquid Diet. Pre-Op Diet for Weight Loss Surgery. Pre-op operative weight loss is desirable to decrease the risk of complications for our patients scheduled for weight loss surgery. Weight loss before surgery reduces the risk of conversion from laparoscopic surgery to an open procedure. Pre-operative weight loss also reduces the severity of co-morbidities, reduces operating room and recovery time. It is very important that you adhere to the pre-op diet that your surgeon is recommending for you.", "Those who have studied learning processes throughout the ages, beginning with Plato, have emphasized the importance of the arts in the education process. Arts education refers to education in the disciplines of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. Study in the arts is integral to our society. They are a part of the cultural heritage of every American. The arts are what make us most human, most complete as people.", "Consult your doctor for post-op instructions. Liposuction is an invasive type of surgery and can have many complications. It’s important to pay attention to your doctor’s post-op instructions and ask any questions you may have.", "(more listening).” Listening is one important ingredient to success in personal and professional life. Those who master the art of listening will at the very least be regarded positively. Merrill and Borisoff (1987) have written on the importance of listening in the legal profession.", "Adjusted OPS (OPS+) OPS+, Adjusted OPS, is a closely related statistic. OPS+ is OPS adjusted for the park and the league in which the player played, but not for fielding position. An OPS+ of 100 is defined to be the league average. An OPS+ of 150 or more is excellent and 125 very good, while an OPS+ of 75 or below is poor. The basic equation for OPS+ is", "Co-op & Internship Average Hourly Salaries. Average hourly salary information is provided on a voluntary basis by engineering students who have completed their Co-op & Internship Employment Surveys.", "They have to graduate from an accredited college, either in paralegal studies or have a bachelor of arts in paralegal studies –it can be a two- or three-year program – and they will have had to have done their co-op hours, and then they pass an examination, said Ms. Simms, adding that the co-op period is typically 120 hours, followed by the eight-hour exam.", "This term also clashes frequently with the term apparent movement, which many people use when referring to an artwork whose movement is created by motors, machines, or electrically powered systems. Both apparent and virtual movement are styles of kinetic art that only recently have been argued as styles of op art.pparent movement is a term ascribed to kinetic art that evolved only in the 1950s. Art historians believed that any type of kinetic art that was mobile independent of the viewer has apparent movement.", "Paul Gauguin was a French post impressionist artist who experimented with bold colors and found much inspiration in the South Seas. He was an important artist in the symbolist movement and his bold use of color led to the synthetist style of art.Paul Cezanne was a French post impressionist painter who led the way from 19th century art to 20th century art including the style of cubism.aul Gauguin was a French post impressionist artist who experimented with bold colors and found much inspiration in the South Seas. He was an important artist in the symbolist movement and his bold use of color led to the synthetist style of art.", "The art of baking remains a fundamental skill and is important for nutrition, as baked goods, especially breads, are a common but important food, both from an economic and cultural point of view. A person who prepares baked goods as a profession is called a baker." ]

[ "I hope she has seen a dr. to make sure she is fit enough to do exercises. I would take it easy at first, maybe 10-15 minutes to start and work her way up. Probably I would try it every other day and work up to every day...." ]

[ "MB/s is how many megabytes (each byte is 8 bits long) a device can transmit or receive per second. Generally, this unit is used when copying files or burning CDs, for example.\\n\\nMbits/s is how many megabits is sent or received per second by a device. Used when talking about network speeds at all.", "My husband stopped after 1 year because he had pnemonia. He only stopped for about 5 weeks and this is 1 year later and he has not been able to get back into it. I guess depending on how many days per week u go, if u go 3 times or so u should be ok, but, if u don't have to stop...DON\"T!!\\nTry to stop for as short a time as possible. It could be that my husband was over doing it, which is why he burned out so fast and got sick.", "You will need exactly 42 days to get to level 5 with 5060 points. From then on you need to answer 12470 questions to get to 30000 points at a rate of 2 points per answer. Or 17470 answers to get to 40000 points. How many hours you need per day from then on, presuming you do 10 answers per hour and stay 10 hours on per day... You will need another 124.7 days at a rate of 10 hours per day to get 30000 points and 174.7 days spending 10 hours a day (2 points per answer) to get 40000 points. Did that kind of answer your question?", "start out by knowing your baseline-distance. Go for a run and see how far you can go. Use that distance as your starting point.\\n\\nFor weeks 1-8 you should run no less than 4 days per week.\\n\\nUsing 1 mile as a baseline example, increase your mileage by 1 mile per week for the first 7 weeks.\\n\\nOn week 8 drop back to 5 miles per run\\n\\nStarting on week 9 drop back to 3 days per week\\n\\nOn week 9 skip 8 miles, and do 10 miles per run\\n\\nweeks 10-13 continue with 10-12 miles per run (only 3 days per week)\\n\\nI think that after 13 weeks you'll feel comfortable enough to run 15 miles with some effor, but it will be possible.\\n\\ntry not to get discouraged and if it's possible find a running/work-out partner.\\n\\nin the first 8 weeks you should work on distance and not speed. This will help you to avoid injuries as your body gets used to the extra exertion.\\n\\nRemember to have fun and keep pushing yourself!", "Assuming that they get 250 golfers per day and about 1 in 4 plunks one in the pond... they get some amatuers there too you know. That's 62.5 balls per day, 437.5 per week and 22,750 per year. Plenty of work for those scuba divers you see collecting balls.", "You could cut trees, that's what my uncle does and he pulls in around $1000 per job. Figure 3 jobs per day and that's $15,000 a week. After taxes the money is all his.", "Yes, usually. How much depends on how long you stayed and how good the service you received, but usually up to five dollars per day is more than enough.", "I have gained permanently 1.5\" length and 1\" girth since June 2005 through the use of an Andro Penis medical traction device and PowerJelq for exercises. (The PowerJelq is basically a device to assist manual jelqing exercises: a 15-minute PowerJelq workout equals a 2-hour manual workout).\\n\\nUse the Andro Penis device 4-9 hours per day for 3-6 months. You will have time-linear flaccid and erect gains in both length and girth. The flaccid gains appear first.", "Try saving $1000 per month for 15 months. If that's too difficult, try saving $230.77 per week for 65 weeks. If that's too difficult, try saving $32.90 per day for 456 days. If that's too difficult try saving $1.37 per hour for 10944 hours. If all of these are too difficult, the problem is that you are a woman...instead try buying $30,000 worth of shoes at half off.", "Per Diem is quite simple ... it means per day or by the day.\\n\\nAn example of how used - a private investigator might charge a client per diem, or expenses by the day. (A daily allowance).", "Nothing until you have something to offer them in the way of stats - how many hits you get per day/week/month and at least basic demographic info on those hits (e.g. what web browser a majority of your visitors use).", "MAN and Ive got a HUGE thing for BRUCE WILLIS too! So once a week I meet him and we get naked on a sandy beach and have WILD CRAZY sex all night long and then I wake up and Im in my very own bed! lol You getting with Clooney is a dream- so dream away and enjoy it! lol Ill never get Bruce either but Ive resigned myself to one dream per week! lol", "A lot. Football already pays well. Plus advertising. And I think he has that new school in the US or something.\\n\\nI got this from worldsoccer.com: \\n\\nCurrent Club:\\nReal Madrid. Transferred from Manchester United 07/02/03.\\nFee approx: $39.5. - Salary estimated at $199,119.39 per week.\\n\\nGot this from faqfarm.com:\\n\\nDavid Beckham gets £500,000 PER WEEK.", "You are smart to avoid pills because there is no pill that will effectively help you lose weight and keep it off! \\n\\nYou don't provide a lot of details as far as how much time you have for exercise, what your current diet is like, etc. but generally speaking, here are some tips to get you started.\\n\\nDetermine how many calories you should be consuming per day to meet your goals. I have provided a link below to an article that will help you determine this. That same article will also help you determine how to effectively reduce your caloric intake to meet those goals. It's a great article!\\n\\nAfter you know your \"caloric number,\" you'll want to divide that number by 5. That is how many calories you should be consuming 5 times per day.\\n\\nAs mentioned above, eat 5 times per day - eating every 3 hours or so. \\n\\nDrink at least 8 glasses of water per day.\\n\\nInclude a lean protein source with every meal and try to include as many low glycemic carbohydrates with each meal (i.e. vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, etc.)\\n\\nThrow out all junk foods, soda, alcohol, etc. for now. \\n\\nAllow yourself ONE cheat MEAL per week. \\n\\nExercise at least 4-5 times per week and 6 days would be ideal. Each exercise session should last at least 20 minutes and during that 20 mintues, keep your heart rate in the \"weight loss zone.\" I've provided a link below to another article on this subject. For now, concentrate on cardio exercises but by all means start strength training as well. \\n\\nThese tips, I promise, will get you to your goals. You'll notice the links I've provided are from my Men's Fitness site, but even as a woman, these same \"rules\" apply! If you have any questions, drop me an email. Best of luck to you!", "Assuming the average heart beats 120 times per minute, you should get about 172,800 contractions per day.", "First, try to set a more realistic goal. That's a lot of weight to lose in a short time, even with major diet modification, and would probably be unhealthy.\\n\\nBurning an additional 250 calories per day by getting more exercise, and removing 250 calories per day from your food intake will enable you to lose an average of 1 pound per week.\\n\\n\"Slow and steady wins the race.\"", "You should be getting 1.5 - 2 grams of protein per lb of bodyweight. Protein consumption should be all day long with about 2.5 hours in between meals. Pre and post workout meals should be the most important. Drink plenty of water in conjunction with eating frequently throughout the day.", "Seed packs say \"One inch per week\". It may depend on where you live. I live in the south, and I am assuming they need a little more. (I water mine in the morning and again late afternoon - but they are not very tall (recently sprouted from seeds).)\\n\\n[Edit] Since writing my initial answer, I got the seed packs. They say \"Keep moist. Your garden should receive about one inch of water per week.\" (The instructions are the same for all zones... and for all the plants you mentioned.)", "3 doughnuts a week is fine but 3 doughnuts per day will make you sick", "Use a medical traction device such as the Andro Penis - it is a medical traction device that uses traction to permanently expand the blood-carrying chambers (the largest being the corpus cavernosa) of the penis.\\n\\nUse the Andro Penis device 4-9 hours per day for 3-6 months. You will have time-linear flaccid and erect gains in length and some girth gains as well. The flaccid gains appear first. If you want additional girth gains than what you get with the Andro, you should use a PowerJelq device for 10-15 minutes a day to supplement it.\\n\\nI've gained permanently 1.75\" length and 1\" girth since June 2005 through the use of the Andro Penis and (very occassionally) PowerJelq for exercises. I'm very pleased with these results. Try it, and you will be happy to see serious gains after 3-6 months usage.\\n\\nCommon issues with the product are 1) how to make wearing the product more comfortable 2) how to effectively secure the product 3) when and how long you can use the product. Generally the answers to these 3 issues are: 1) use the padding band over your glans before putting it in the silicone band 2) use some padding or other material to prevent slippage of the glans out of the band 3) have a rest period every 2 hours at least, and massage yourself during that time to ensure good blood flow. Don't use the device while sleeping (you won't have the required massage break every 2 hrs). The manual that comes with the Andro has adequate information on what to do and what not to do.\\n\\nSide note about purchasing this item: you can usually buy this item on Ebay for about 1/2 the cost of other websites. Make sure to shop for the best price. I paid $150. My package included pills, but I never used the pills and I've still gained 1.75\" length, 1\" girth in 7 months.\\n\\nSee the link for a study on men using the device. It indicates an average growth per month of around .47 cm in length. Also, after six months, a \"median minimum gain\" of 2.8 cm.\\n\\nAlso, I believe it is helpful to perform PC (kegel) exercises to strengthen the PC muscle. You will be enlarging yourself quite significantly and you want to maintain very strong erection strength and stamina which are controlled by the pubococcyl muscle.\\n\\nIf you need more information let me know.", "The quickest and easiest way to decide how often to restring your racquet: # times per week you play = # times per year you restring your racquet (evenly spaced out of course).", "I got xenical from my doctor but i also know that you can buy them from slimming clinics, they are expensive though.I think they cost about £35-40 per week.", "260 for those people that work five days per week.", "I did. And I've been answering questions in hopes of getting the five entries per day. Its probably a huge waste of my time, but I'd do anything to go to world cup.", "I am going to assume, that you are not a licensed childcare provider. The going rate is (in my area) is $5 per hour or $25 per day....That is what most people are charging. I charged $4 per hour or $20 per day. For occasional sitting services. If it was a regular part time arrangement (less than 25 hrs a week) then I charge $60, for full time(over 25 hrs week) I charge $85 week. You should also set a drop off time and pick up time...and you can charge extra if they get picked up late. This will prevent people from using and abusing your good rates...Trust me if they can squeeze 15 min of free child care out of you everyday they will. \\nAlso, make sure you have some sort of written contract/agreement releasing you from liability of injuries etc unless directly related to child neglect or abuse, if you have animals in the home, be sure to include a section that protects you if one of your animals causes injury. State your opening and closing policies in there, policy on sick kids, days off, vacations theirs and yours. Put a lot of thought into it and make sure you and your assets are protected. Good Luck:)", "Full time 5 days a week eight hours a day. Part time 10 -20 hours a week or 2 to 4 hours per day.", "A newborn infant who requires observation and care beyond the scope of a normal newborn nursery may be placed in what is known as an intermediate, level II, or special care nursery.\\nDrugs Used in Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis \\n\\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\n \\nDrug Age/birth weight Dosage* \\nAmpicillin, IM, IV <1 week of age: <2,000 g 50 mg per kg per dose, every 12 hours \\n <1 week of age: >2,000 g 50 mg per kg per dose, every eight hours \\n >1 week of age: <2,000 g 50 mg per kg per dose, every eight hours \\n >1 week of age: >2,000 g 50 mg per kg per dose, every six hours \\nGentamicin >=34 weeks 4 mg per kg per dose, every 24 hours \\n (Garamycin),† 28 to 34 weeks 3 mg per kg per dose, every 24 hours \\n IV, IM <28 weeks 2.5 mg per kg per dose, every 24 hours \\nCeftriaxone (Rocephin),‡ IV, IM § 50 mg per kg per dose, every 24 hours", "Save up before hand. Also you can get student loans and/or grants and scholarships. Just apply in the financial aid office. I never got a loan but did get both a scholarship and grant (you don't have to pay these back). Also another thing I did was work at the University. You could find a flexible job there that works around your classes and only work up to 20 hours per week.", "No, it means that you are out of shape aerobically. Do daily aerobic exercise of 30 minutes running or jogging per day, 6 to 7 days a week.", "You can perform manual jelqing exercises for free. However, I feel this is not the best method.\\n\\nUse a medical traction device such as the Andro Penis - it is a medical traction device that uses traction to permanently expand the blood-carrying chambers (the largest being the corpus cavernosa) of the penis.\\n\\nUse the Andro Penis device 4-9 hours per day for 3-6 months. You will have time-linear flaccid and erect gains in length and some girth gains as well. The flaccid gains appear first. If you want additional girth gains than what you get with the Andro, you should use a PowerJelq device for 10-15 minutes a day to supplement it.\\n\\nI've gained permanently 1.75\" length and 1\" girth since June 2005 through the use of the Andro Penis and (very occassionally) PowerJelq for exercises. I'm very pleased with these results. Try it, and you will be happy to see serious gains after 3-6 months usage.\\n\\nCommon issues with the product are 1) how to make wearing the product more comfortable 2) how to effectively secure the product 3) when and how long you can use the product. Generally the answers to these 3 issues are: 1) use the padding band over your glans before putting it in the silicone band 2) use some padding or other material to prevent slippage of the glans out of the band 3) have a rest period every 2 hours at least, and massage yourself during that time to ensure good blood flow. Don't use the device while sleeping (you won't have the required massage break every 2 hrs). The manual that comes with the Andro has adequate information on what to do and what not to do.\\n\\nSide note about purchasing this item: you can usually buy this item on Ebay for about 1/2 the cost of other websites. Make sure to shop for the best price. I paid $150. My package included pills, but I never used the pills and I've still gained 1.75\" length, 1\" girth in 7 months.\\n\\nSee the link for a study on men using the device. It indicates an average growth per month of around .47 cm in length. Also, after six months, a \"median minimum gain\" of 2.8 cm.\\n\\nAlso, I believe it is helpful to perform PC (kegel) exercises to strengthen the PC muscle. You will be enlarging yourself quite significantly and you want to maintain very strong erection strength and stamina which are controlled by the pubococcyl muscle.\\n\\nIf you need more information let me know.", "This can easily be done. It's only 1 pound per week that you have to focus on.\\n\\nFirst find out how many calories you burn on a daily basis through your BMR and AMR calculation. \\n\\nhttp://www.preventdisease.com/healthtool...\\n\\nThat gives you a starting point based on how many calories you should eat a day to lose weight. Combine a good diet, lean meats, no carbs after 6pm, only complex carbs before 6pm, plenty of veggies with a diligent exercise regimen of strength conditioning and aerobic exercise (at least 3-4 times per week) and you have your answer. \\n\\nTrack you progress daily or weekly to ensure you are losing at least 1 pound per week. If you're not, increase your physical activity levels to 5-6 times per week and make sure your diet is clean, including no packaged, canned or preserved foods.\\n\\nThis however takes an incredible amount discipline. I suggest seeking a qualified strength and conditioning specialist in your area to meet your goals.", "Watching tv = 2-4 hours a week\\nOn my computer = way too many [about 2-4 hours a day goofing off (some days), up to about 12 hours a day when writing a paper (which is about 1-2 times a month)]\\nAt work = about 5-40 hours per month (part-time)\\nAt school = about 32 hours per week (classroom and clinicals)" ]

[ "Sean Carroll's The Big Picture touches on this (and the ship of Theseus generally). Consciousness is a process and not a thing-in-itself, a verb more than a noun. So my intuition is that if you're talking about replacing a brain and body gradually with a computer, we'd have to see if a person can use a human brain and artificial-brain (and artificial nerves, etc) at the same time and have a smooth, conscious subjective experience. If so, there's probably no reason more functions couldn't be migrated to the artificial matter until no grey matter remains." ]

[ "You can't. And like they say in the movie \"How would you prove that **you** are self-aware ?\". We could have an AI 1000 times smarter than us, but we still couldn't prove that it is self-aware. For all we know, it is just doing pre-computed task to solve pre-computed problems. The mirror test that fanasticmatt discribe is flawed. It works on the assumption that the subject has a brain similar to ours (which is fine for most animals). We could for example make a Robot whose only purpose is to wipe his face when he sees \"himself\" in the mirror. That would not make it self-aware. That's not even a basic AI.", "The brain is self aware. As you point out, that is you. Your awareness of yourself IS your brain's awareness of itself. Your questions comes about (probably) because you are imagining a homunculus inside your brain, receiving information processed by your brain (which is a common way of thinking, even among neuroscientists). But it is not the case. You are your brain. Your self awareness is your brain being self aware. This question is akin to you saying \"Can my legs walk? I don't mean, my legs walking by using my legs, but can my legs walk by themselves?\"", "I think recognition of body parts has some overlap with general self-awareness. The mirror test is one method that has been used to test the self-awareness of animals. _URL_0_ My purely speculative argument is that recognizing yourself in the mirror requires more than an awareness of self, but also a fairly sophisticated proprioception and visual system. For example, if a human had a severed spinal cord, they are perfectly capable of self-awareness, without necessarily being able to tell (given the right experimental setup) if an arm in a mirror was their own. Another case would be a human with a damaged facial recognition system - they might not recognize the image in the mirror as themselves or even as a person, but they could still maintain a sense of self.", "Humans make robots to kill and have sex with. Dialog why this is bad. Robots become self aware. Dialog why this is evolution. Robots kill humans. End season 1. Dialog why this is bad. Humans try to regain control. Dialog why this is bad. Robots create robot versions of the human creators and escape the compound where they have been kept. End season 2", "It's obviously very difficult to measure \"self-awareness,\" but you may be interested in the rouge test. Researchers place a red mark on the forehead of the child and prompt them to look in a mirror. Children don't recognize that it's them in the mirror until about 18 months of age, give or take a couple months. This is really the first age where a child recognizes the self. _URL_0_", "> ...when I say consciousness I'm thinking more along the lines of self-awareness or environment-awareness. How do you quantify that? How is someone with \"more self-awareness\" different from someone with \"less self-awareness\"?", "They don't. If you take billions of living cells and put them together, it won't become a self-aware organism. The organisms that *are* self-aware (for example, humans) *grow* to become that. Each cell is specialized for a particular purpose through evolution, and this evolutionary process eventually gave way to self-awareness. [This](_URL_0_) series would be a good one to start with, as it begins with basic biological processes and eventually gets into cellular division and cell specialization and then selection and evolution and so on. Great show, too!", "What is self awareness? How do you know something has it? Scientists and philosophers still debate this question. I think it's safe to assume small insects don't have self awareness like humans do, though. It is qualitatively a different condition for them since they lack a lot of brain structure that apparently would create our sense of self.", "If you're talking about self-awareness, then around the age of two assuming you follow the mirror test as a valid test of self-awareness. Basically, you show the child a mirror. If they think it's another child, it's not self-aware. If it recognizes the image in the mirror as themself, they are self-aware.", "In general no. Self recognition in a mirror is one of the few (somewhat) definitive tests we have to assess if an animal has self recognition, and disputably also demonstrates an animal is self aware. Most great apes, humans, dolphins and Orcas can all self recognise when presented with a mirror. There is some argument whether this is a valid test for animals that are not principally sight oriented and a huge amount of philosophical argument whether it does or not demonstrate self awareness. I'm not aware of any animals that can self recognise with photographs. I assume chimps can probably do it especially if they were already familiar with themselves from mirrors. _URL_0_", "They can't of course. You have to understand that science and technology reporting stinks on ice. Ignorant reporters parrot back any wild-ass claim they hear, and most of the public can't tell the difference between science and junk. You can relax: there are no self-aware robots.", "I think this may first be a question of self awareness. Traditionally, the [mirror test](_URL_1_) is used to determine if an animal is self aware or not. Also, you may find [this article](_URL_0_) about self awareness interesting. I would think that animals recognize that humans differ from them in the sense that they smell like a different creature and act like a different creature, but my experience with pets, and dogs in particular, is that they seem less likely to be prejudiced against these differences, accepting this different species as a cohabitant and placing them in the pack.", "Intentionally cheesy. Self-aware and self-deprecating. Done right in movies, it makes them that much more amusing because you feel a more intimate connection with them, it feels more like inside jokes and familiar humor.", "I'm not sure that you will get a satisfactory answer to this question. Consciousness could be described as simply being aware of one's surroundings. But animals, plants, even some computers, are \"aware\" of events happening outside of themselves. If you burn yourself on the hob then you get a flood of associated information. How badly are you burned? What can you do to make it better? If an animal gets burned it will just freak out or look sorry for itself. A temperature sensor attached to a computer with simply register an increase in heat. The question is whether or not they are aware that they are aware...so to speak. So the question is 'what is self-awareness'? And this is another foxy one because you are using your brain to analyse your brain, so how do you know that you're not just coming up with a rudimentary criteria for self-awareness? Although in my opinion the fact that we even come up with the concept is a good sign. Take that dolphins.", "Rights are given. They don't \"come with\" life. We only have rights because we gave eachother rights. Like in a turn-based-game, each person has a turn, because the other people agree to play by the rules and *give* them a turn. They didn't really have to, and the rules are all invented by people. So I guess if a robot is self-aware, then it can decide for itself wether it wants to play by our rules. If we give it what it wants it might play with us, or it might not. There will be robots of all types, some who like to be independent, and some who are content being slaves.", "Have you ever had a pet? But if you're talking human-level stuff, check out the great apes and dolphins. Or check them out on youtube. These creatures are very intelligent - they are self aware - and play tricks and invent games with rules as well as play with people. As far as dogs go, the degree to which they are self aware is debated, but certainly limited, but not only can they play with us, they themselves can [laugh](_URL_0_)", "Computer scientists have been discussing what computer self awareness would even look like for 60 years so simple answer is we still don't know.", "What you're describing is self awareness. Sounds like the opposite but it really isn't - you have to be aware of yourself to distinguish between yourself and others. Children are born with some self-awareness. It develops further as they age. There's many levels to it, and isn't fully developed until around 4-5 years of age. Here's a good read on the topic: _URL_0_", "Yes. It'd be an immensely, immensely, immensely small shift though.", "The concept of self-awareness is itself still not very well-defined. \"Self aware like we are\" even less so. So it is very difficult to approach your question as stated in a rigorous and scientific fashion. That said, there has been ample research geared towards distinguishing whether or not particular species are self-aware. The [mirror test](_URL_4_) *Jadugarr* references is one important experimental technique. The capacity for symbolic communication that has been observed in [Kanzi](_URL_4_) and other trained apes is another line of evidence suggesting these species already possess a considerably degree of self-awareness. The apparent capacity for elephants to [mourn death](_URL_4_) is another compelling indicator of self-awareness, as is the ample degree of cultural complexity exhibited by [killer whales](_URL_4_) and several other species of cetacean.", "This might be a philosophical question but doesn't self-awareness infer that the animal in question is conscious? In other words, would \"i think therefore i am\" apply to these self aware animal? If so, would these animals have souls from a religious standpoint?", "A great deal of our psychological problems stem from habits and thought patterns that we aren't fully aware of. A great deal of our pain is self inflicted or self sustaining, all the while, we don't see that we are doing it. A therapist is trained, and experienced, at seeing these habits and thought-traps. A good therapist can pretty much see what the problem is very quickly, but that doesn't help. The therapist's job is to lead you to a level of self awareness that allows you to free yourself from these patterns and self harming behavior. Once you can see it and can emotionally deal with it, you have a fighting chance at finding strategies to gets past them. So that's how therapy works. The therapist manipulates the conversation in such a way that you become aware of things you were not aware of, and helps you deal with things that you thought you couldn't deal with.", "Someday maybe, but not today or any time soon. The question of simulating bodily functions is an interesting one. If you provide nutrients to a disembodied brain are you simulating the digestive system? Sort of, but not really. You end up in the same place but in two completely different ways. Nobody thinks that a plane flight simulates a car ride even if both end in Atlanta. I don't think we need any of the body for consciousness. We aren't our bodies, we're only our brains. We live inside our bodies, looking out through our eyes. People who lose an arm or a leg are still the same person, just in a slightly different body. People who get organ transplants are still the same person. Changing the body might change the person (through depression or resolve, etc.) but it doesn't *necessarily* change the person. Because the body is not the person it's only the bag that carries the person.", "It's a common mistake that people sometimes make to try to apply human levels of intelligence to insects. Insects are not self-aware. A caterpillar does not even know that it is a caterpillar. It is aware of the general shape of the surface it's on, and it feels hungry around things it can eat. That's really the extent of it's cognitive powers - it doesn't know things like how much it's eaten recently, or if there are usually predators in an area. And it certainly doesn't know what's going to happen to it after it's done with it's metamorphosis.", "It's not that they can't physically see themselves, it's that they don't identify the reflection as being an image of them. That tells us that they don't have a sense of self identity or self awareness, or at least not one that functions visually.", "\"Self-awareness or personality quirks?\" Not that I'm aware of. You can however teach some insects quite a bit. I did research on the ability of honey bees to form negative associations. The tl;dr is that they can. It was well established that bees formed positive associations with the sights and smells of flowers that rewarded them well, but we demonstrated that they can also learn to avoid sights and sounds which give them a yucky flavor, even after having learned first to associate those sights and sounds with a yummy flavor. They're certainly capable of being classically conditioned. Beyond that, I don't know that they display much of what we'd call intelligent behavior.", "Well as you said the question doesn't really make sense because intelligence and self-awareness isn't a goal of evolution. Would other creatures become more intelligent and self-aware if not for us? Maybe. Maybe not. We found a niche and it works for us - if we never were it'd be an open niche for some other creature. That said evolution relies on chance mutations. It's quite possible the mutations required to fill our niche instead of us would just not have happened.", "I feel like questions like these are the result of an ignorance of what the internet *is*. The internet is a bunch of computers and routers connected together over a network. Essentially, that's it. Now, you can talk about [emergent behaviour](_URL_0_) occurring, but the internet 'becoming self-aware' doesn't even conceptually make *sense*.", "I don't know the how of it, but there's an interesting thing called the [mirror test] (_URL_0_) used to gauge if a species has self awareness. If an animal reacts socially to their reflection (barks at it) then it's a failure of them to recognize their reflection as their self. But somehow self aware beings are able to do it. > Very few species have passed the MSR test. As of 2016, only great apes (including humans), a single Asiatic elephant, dolphins, orcas, and the Eurasian magpie have passed the MSR test. A wide range of species have been reported to fail the test including several monkey species, giant pandas, sea lions, and dogs.[", "Exact question asked about 4 months ago. Solid top comment from RobotRollCall. Check there for some good discussion. _URL_4_", "This was seriously considered at one time. _URL_0_", "Some would say that you (your consciousness) is indeed leaving your body, just as you do when dreaming. At the point of not-quite-asleep, you are still aware of both self and body, and thus notice the separation." ]

[ "[Here is a video that explains it well] (_URL_0_)" ]

[ "Because many of the settlers that landed in what is now the USA were puritans and other forms of Christian. And while there were Jews, Muslims, Atheists, etc the overwhelming majority were Christian. Not to mention many of the laws in the USA being based around (what many feel are) Christian religious values, such as an opposition to sodomy, alcohol control, giving tax/legal breaks to religious institutions (mainly churches), and so on and so forth. While Christianity may have played a large role in the forming of the USA, it wasn't alone. Many of the Founding Fathers were Deists, many banks and businesses were run by Jewish people, and there were many people who were simply areligious.", "The bigger the corporation , the more resources they have to legally move money around so they're not liable for taxes. That's why alot of big corporations are HQed in Ireland, where there is no corporate tax. So Acme USA makes 100million in revenue. But Acme USA has to pay $100million to Acme Worldwide to use the Acme name. Guess I didn't make any money at all this year. Shucks.", "They aren't legal - even the USA doesn't allow non-military ships to have such weapons. The age pf piracy made sure all nations signed up to this. The high seas would be chaos if any ship could be armed to the teeth.", "They have been for some time trying to carry out a blockade of the Ukrainian port by dubious legal means. Russia decided to step up the action at this particular time because most of the world was distracted by events elsewhere and the current president of the USA has been shown no interests in standing up for freedom.", "What is exactly your question? PatrickPowns seems to answer why the usa is a world leader in economic sense. Your description asks the question why people from the usa are populair and why the internet is filled with americans. This is because english is a very populair language and the usa has a lot of english speakers. Though I would say that per capita there are more populair artists from the uk then from the usa.", "Well there are plenty of benefits of becoming a us citizen, just to name a few: _URL_0_ able to sponsor family members so they can obtain green cards and legally immigrate to the United States. 2.Children of U.S. citizens are automatically U.S. citizens by birth (in most cases, even if born outside the United States). 3.Security from removal (deportation) from the United States, since a U.S. citizen cannot be deported from the United States. 4.The right to apply for certain federal and state benefits. oh and you get to scream USA USA USA every time you meet someone from another country.", "Lobbyists are people hired to express the will of voters to politicians. They are hired because most people do not have enough time in their day, or the skills to convey what they desire in a concise and convincing manner. They are professinal advocates. Bribery would be giving money directly to a politician to alter their behavior. Paying someone to express your views to a politician is not bribery. To make an analogy if you gave money to a jury in order to be ruled not guilty for a crime it would be bribery. Paying a lawyer to argue your case to a jury is not bribery.", "Hard to say, would depend completely on how it's implemented. In Canada, you average family doctor makes about $271,000. ($206,000 USD). In USA, average family doctor makes $219,000. Specialists make a lot more in USA. Nurse salary seems similar between USA and Canada as well, with USA being slightly higher. The billing rates in Canada are definitely lower than USA, but the doctor know with almost 100% certainty that they're going to get paid. In USA, doctor bills insurance company and it might be accepted, rejected, partially paid, or the rate disputed. It would be interesting to see how much bargaining power doctors would have. If they don't get the rates they want in Canada, doctors can just threaten to leave for USA. Not sure what doctors in USA could threaten with, not a lot of countries they could go to and get similar wages.", "Cities in the US were founded after a legal definition of the city was developed. So when multiple cities grew together and started to overlap they didn't change anything because they were already legally defined. Meanwhile in old world cities like those in England a lot of cities were fully formed before there were strict legal definitions about how to divide each city and when a town was enveloped it just became part of the original big city. Interesting examples of the opposite happening on both sides of the Atlantic: in Pittsburgh, Pa, USA the area of the city called the Northshore today, used to be called Allegheny City, but was legally absorbed by Pittsburgh so successfully that most residents today don't even know there used to be two cities. In the UK the \"City of London\" is a seperate legal entity from \"London\" due to medieval laws that are still on the books from a time when they were two more obviously distinct entities.", "It's not as though the money is so simple as \"USA owes Germany 5,000 dollars, Germany owes the USA 4000 dollars, let's cross it off and say USA owes 1000\" or what not. Rather, every government is made of many many organizations. The different groups may owe money to one another, or may owe money to the citizens, or to programs like social security. Just as an example, the majority of USA debt is owed within the USA, not to other governments.", "Most countries don't allow this, presumably with the logic that it isn't patients that should decide what drugs they get, but the doctor. Advertising drugs to consumers is only legal in the USA and New Zealand. They do it because they are allowed to, and they want to encourage consumers to ask doctors to prescribe them these drugs. It is true that to some extent this will work and I think this is a bad thing. Imo this should be illegal and is a bad thing for healthcare in general. EDIT: I think this is a consequence of privatised healthcare in the US. There's a sad culture of consumerism. (Sorry if this offends)", "To know what they're up to. Whether you're expecting a war or not you want to know what everybody is up to so you can always have the upper hand. An often-raised point here is how this is coming to light just before some big negotiations between the USA and EU. If the USA knows everything the EU really wants they can press the advantage there.", "Spain is made up of 17 Autonomous communities, I don't know where you are from but this is similar to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the UK and USA states. The Government of Catalan (one of the Autonomous communities) has approved a referendum on independence, this isn't legal and goes against the Spanish Constitution and even if 100% of the people vote Yes Spain has no legal or moral (strictly speaking) requirement to grant it. Again this is a decison made by Barcelona not Madrid, Vitoria-Gasteiz or Pamplona or Logroño holding their own referenda though it won't be biding.", "Having the wrong prescription can do long term damage to your eyesight. Hence it is for safety reasons and accordingly legal reasons. I have managed to buy glasses and contacts without a prescription in many countries including USA. Just go to the independents who use their discretion unlike the big companies, who for good reason, don't.", "Because contrary to what you may believe the usa does NOT own the internet.", "Yes, *but* the jury is still out as to if the points that the needles are placed have any effect on the effect. There's lots of studies out there, but unfortunately there needs to be many more years of research until we can nail down what it works for and what it doesn't. The Cochrane Collaboration's meta-analysis of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis did show it performed as good or better than drugs.", "The earth is spinning around its north-south axis once every 24 hours. From the equator, Japan and the USA are about the same distance to the north pole. From the perspective of the sun, the place where the USA is now will be the same where Japan will be in about eight hours (give or take, I'm not sure what the distance is nor is it relevant). As such the star constellations you see in Japan are the same as the ones you will see in the USA. If Japan and the USA would have been at the opposite site of the equator, like Japan and Australia are, then you would see different constellations.", "Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, was born in England marking the last (and only other time) that a first lady was not born in the USA... Well sorta. Apart from Louisa Adams, the first eight first ladies were born in what is NOW the USA, but at the time was British America Hannah Van Buren (nee Hoes), wife of Martin Van Buren, was the first First Lady to be born in the USA - Kinderhook, New York to be precise. She died before Martin Van Buren took office, but Van Buren's second wife, Sarah Angelica Singleton Van Buren (née Singleton), was born in the USA as well.", "They don't have all the burnt up plant matter (smoke) that regular cigarettes do. The jury is still out on what vaporized propolene glycol does, however. They're still full of nicotine, which is not great for your heart.", "The easiest and shortest explanation is: FBI is local (inside the USA), CIA is external (outside the USA). Both cooperate on cases that involve matters/actors that are in and out of the USA, at times.", "I don't think it's possible, but if it happens, IMO: Iran's main enemy in the region is Saudi Arabia. So the kingdom would totatally turn against the USA and probably (if they can afford that) would sponsor anti-western radicals. Israel would panick and be unpredictable, they may be even can start a new war. USA's main Muslim ally in the region is Turkey but Iran-USA agreement would further distance Turkey from USA. Russia would probably wait for what happens next, accumalating forces in its South for just in case the violence spills over to the ex-Soviets countries. EDIT:typos", "I'd like to hijack this and ask a follow up question: What sort of laws did the Romans have regarding treatment of slaves as opposed to the USA?" ]

[ "Imagine a triangle reaching from Miami to Bermuda to (I forgot where), and that is the Bermuda Triangle, a supposedly mysterious place that just happens to emcompass some of the busiest air and shipping lanes in the world.\\n\\nCharles Berlitz wrote a book about several 'mysterious' happenings that supposedly happen in the Triangle, but most of them and of the later reports, have perfectly normal explainations (wreckage was found and analysed, etc.). A lot of the things did not even happen in the Triangle!\\n\\nYou can find a lot of stuff on-line for both sides of the case. Read'em for yourself and see what you think." ]

[ "why don't you have a reseach at the internet. that what yahoo! are for it is a search engine. maybe you can get the answers and check it out at the public library too. i have a friend who has a book about bermuda triangle. i can check it out and tell you if i got time. ok. did you know there is also a bermuda island? watch 'LOST'. they are a bunch of people who are stranded at the bermuda island..", "The Bermuda Triangle is a 1.5-million-square-mile (4,000,000 km²) area of ocean roughly defined by Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the southern tip of Florida.", "Bermuda Triangle or Devil Triangle is a triangle marked by the three points Bermuda, Port Rico and Florida.Spread over 1.2 sq. km.in Atlantic Ocean.It was popularized By 'Charles Berlitz'.Where ship or plain disappeared in past.", "Yes, there is a geographical area of the atlatic ocean known as the bermuda triangle. I think your question should be.....\\nDo the phenomina associated with the bermuda triangle really exist.", "gosh theres nothing wrong with bermuda triangle i've been there before. its a really beautiful place", "Statistically, the Bermuda Triangle is just as safe (or unsafe) as other areas of the oceans once you adjust for the amount of traffic.", "Bermuda Triangle\\n\\n also known as the Devil's Triangle and the Limbo of the Lost, a geographical area of about 3,900,000 sq km (1,500,000 sq mi), between Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Melbourne in Florida (located 55°W to 85°W and 30°N to 40°N), in which there have been numerous unexplained disappearances of ships and aircraft.", "A very careful statistical analysis of the number of disappearances in the Bermuda triangle area shows that they are no greater than what would be expected for the level of traffic. In other words, planes and ships go down in the Bermuda triangle at about the same rate as they go down everywhere else.", "Bermuda Triangle\\nBermuda Triangle, region of the western Atlantic Ocean that has become associated in the popular imagination with mysterious maritime disasters. Also known as the Devil's Triangle, the triangle-shaped area covers about 1,140,000 sq km (about 440,000 sq mi) between the island of Bermuda, the coast of southern Florida, and Puerto Rico.\\n\\nThe sinister reputation of the Bermuda Triangle may be traceable to reports made in the late 15th century by navigator Christopher Columbus concerning the Sargasso Sea, in which floating masses of gulfweed were regarded as uncanny and perilous by early sailors; others date the notoriety of the area to the mid-19th century, when a number of reports were made of unexplained disappearances and mysteriously abandoned ships. The earliest recorded disappearance of a United States vessel in the area occurred in March 1918, when the USS Cyclops vanished.\\n\\nThe incident that consolidated the reputation of the Bermuda Triangle was the disappearance in December 1945 of Flight 19, a training squadron of five U.S. Navy torpedo bombers. The squadron left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with 14 crewmen and disappeared after radioing a series of distress messages; a seaplane sent in search of the squadron also disappeared. Aircraft that have disappeared in the area since this incident include a DC-3 carrying 27 passengers in 1948 and a C-124 Globemaster with 53 passengers in 1951. Among the ships that have disappeared was the tankership Marine Sulphur Queen, which vanished with 39 men aboard in 1963.\\n\\nBooks, articles, and television broadcasts investigating the Bermuda Triangle emphasize that, in the case of most of the disappearances, the weather was favorable, the disappearances occurred in daylight after a sudden break in radio contact, and the vessels vanished without a trace. However, skeptics point out that many supposed mysteries result from careless or biased consideration of data. For example, some losses attributed to the Bermuda Triangle actually occurred outside the area of the triangle in inclement weather conditions or in darkness, and some can be traced to known mechanical problems or inadequate equipment. In the case of Flight 19, for example, the squadron commander was relatively inexperienced, a compass was faulty, the squadron failed to follow instructions, and the aircraft were operating under conditions of deteriorating weather and visibility and with a low fuel supply. Other proposed explanations for disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle include the action of physical forces unknown to science, a “hole in the sky,” an unusual chemical component in the region's seawater, and abduction by extraterrestrial beings.\\n\\nScientific evaluations of the Bermuda Triangle have concluded that the number of disappearances in the region is not abnormal and that most of the disappearances have logical explanations. Paranormal associations with the Bermuda Triangle persist in the public mind, however.", "It generally runs from Bermuda to the Cape Hatteras shoals in the north, and from Bermuda to Florida in the south, the line from Cape Hatteras to Florida completes the triangle.", "No, the island of Atlantis was supposedly near the Azores island and a tsunami or hurricane wiped it out. The Bermuda triangle is on the other side of the world.", "There is no concrete evidence to prove or disaprove its existance. Plato in one of his discusions with Socrates mentions A City far more civilized than that of theirs . He thought it was located far to the west of africa wich would point its location close to South America. Through moder investigation some clame it did exist Close to what we know as The Bermuda Triangle.", "magnetic field and foggy weather are important factors Scientists think that magnetic field in bermuda triangle, affect the compassses and captains lose thier route. You know, oceans are very big.", "bermuda triangle\\n\\nriddles\\n\\nIQ TESTS\\n\\ncell phones\\n\\nan more", "Bermuda Triangle Fact Sheet\\n\\nPrepared by the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters and the Naval Historical Center\\n\\nThe U. S. Board of Geographic Names does not recognize the Bermuda Triangle as an official name and does not maintain an official file on the area.\\n\\nThe \"Bermuda or Devil's Triangle\" is an imaginary area located off the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States, which is noted for a high incidence of unexplained losses of ships, small boats, and aircraft. The apexes of the triangle are generally accepted to be Bermuda, Miami, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.\\n\\nIn the past, extensive, but futile Coast Guard searches prompted by search and rescue cases such as the disappearance of a flight of five TBM Avengers shortly after take off from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., or the traceless sinking of USS Cyclops and Marine Sulphur Queen have lent credence to the popular belief in the mystery and the supernatural qualities of the \"Bermuda Triangle.\"\\n\\nCountless theories attempting to explain the many disappearances have been offered throughout the history of the area. The most practical seem to be environmental and those citing human error. The majority of disappearances can be attributed to the area's unique environmental features. First, the \"Devil's Triangle\" is one of the two places on earth that a magnetic compass does point towards true north. Normally it points toward magnetic north. The difference between the two is known as compass variation. The amount of variation changes by as much as 20 degrees as one circumnavigates the earth. If this compass variation or error is not compensated for, a navigator could find himself far off course and in deep trouble.\\n\\nAn area called the \"Devil's Sea\" by Japanese and Filipino seamen, located off the east coast of Japan, also exhibits the same magnetic characteristics. It is also known for its mysterious disappearances.\\n\\nAnother environmental factor is the character of the Gulf Stream. It is extremely swift and turbulent and can quickly erase any evidence of a disaster. The unpredictable Caribbean-Atlantic weather pattern also plays its role. Sudden local thunder storms and water spouts often spell disaster for pilots and mariners. Finally, the topography of the ocean floor varies from extensive shoals around the islands to some of the deepest marine trenches in the world. With the interaction of the strong currents over the many reefs the topography is in a state of constant flux and development of new navigational hazards is swift.\\n\\nNot to be under estimated is the human error factor. A large number of pleasure boats travel the waters between Florida's Gold Coast and the Bahamas. All too often, crossings are attempted with too small a boat, insufficient knowledge of the area's hazards, and a lack of good seamanship.\\n\\nThe Coast Guard is not impressed with supernatural explanations of disasters at sea. It has been their experience that the combined forces of nature and unpredictability of mankind outdo even the most far fetched science fiction many times each year.\\n\\nWe know of no maps that delineate the boundaries of the Bermuda Triangle. However, there are general area maps available through the Distribution Control Department, U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, Washington, D.C. 20390. Of particular interest to students if mysterious happenings may be the \"Aeromagnetic Charts of the U.S. Coastal Region,\" H.O. Series 17507, 15 sheets. Numbers 9 through 15 cover the \"Bermuda Triangle.\"\\n\\nInterest in the \"Bermuda Triangle\" can be traced to (1) the cover article in the August 1968 Argosy, \"The Spreading Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle\", (2) the answer to a letter to the editor of the January 1969 Playboy, and (3) an article in August 4, 1968 I, \"Limbo of Lost Ships\", by Leslie Lieber. Also, many newspapers carried a December 22, 1967 National Geographic Socie", "The Bermuda Triangle is a region of the Atlantic Ocean roughly bounded by Miami, Florida, United States; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Bermuda. The area inside these boundaries is approximately 1.5 million square miles (4,000,000 km²).\\n\\nThe Bermuda Triangle has a reputation for being an area where ships and airplanes dissappear, often under mysterious circumstances. This reputation came to public awareness in the 1950s and became a household name in the 1970s, mostly due to \"The Bermuda Triangle\", a bestselling book written by Charles Berlitz.\\n\\nVarious explanations for the apparent high number of dissapperances have been put forward, ranging from the mundane to the hyper-fantastic.\\n\\nSkeptics contend that this region has a comparable rate of maritime and aerial incidents as any other similar sized region of the ocean. They point out that Lloyd's of London, a world-reknowned insurer of maritime vessels, does not charge a higher insurance premium for ships that regularly traverse the triangle.\\n\\nScientific considerations for an increased dissaperance rate take into acount that this region experiences severe tropical storms and is the source of many hurricanes. These storms create an increased danger to both ship and air traffic.\\n\\nRougue waves have also been put forward as a possible cause. These rare waves can reach heights of as much as 100 feet (30 meters), easily swamping most ships. Rouge waves, however, would have no effect on air travel.\\n\\nA third scientific explanation is methane hydrates. Methane deposits on the ocean floor may release bursts of methane gas that reduces the density of the water it permeates. Since ships rely on displacement to stay afloat, a reduction of density in the water would cause a ship to immediately sink. As the methane leaves the water and rises into the air, it would reduce the density of the air as well, thus reducing lift on aircraft, causing them to descend rapidly. In addition, the methane would change the air mixture taken into the engines of the aircraft, causing the engine to stall. While these events have not been witnessed in nature, they have been proven in lab experiments.\\n\\nMore exotic explanations for the Bermuda Triangle include it being an area of magnetic disturbance, temporal (or time) holes, the location of the lost city of Atlantis, or extra-terrestrial abduction.\\n\\nWhatever the reason, the Bermuda Triangle continues to be a source of inspiration for fiction writers of books, television programs and movies, often showing up attached to some sort of a conspiracy.", "The Bermuda Triangle Mystery - Solved\\nLarry Kusche\\nThe mystery of the Bermuda Triangle had been told in books, magazine articles, and on television and radio talk shows for several years when, in 1972, Larry Kusche, then a reference librarian, decided to collect all the information he could find on each incident. He made contact with the Coast Guard, the Air Force, Lloyd's of London, and many other agencies. He obtained microfilm copies of newspapers from cities where various incidents had been reported. \\n\\nThis exhaustive research had an unexpected result - it solved the mystery. It also resulted in the publication of The Bermuda Triangle Mystery - Solved which is now back in print. Larry Kusche's book is more than an investigation of a mystery: it is a fascinating case history of a \"manufactured mystery\" in the making. It shows how over the years the raw materials of official accident reports, newspaper accounts articles in the mainstream press, and word of mouth have been assimilated into a \"false mystery\". \\n\\nThe Bermuda Triangle Mystery - Solved is the only book written on the Triangle that approaches the topic rationally, rather than as another great unsolved mystery of our time. Approximately 60 of the best-known cases are examined, in an unusual, but very clear and logical style. Kusche relates each incident as it has been told over the years. He then includes snippets from articles and reports that show what was written at that time. Kusche then discusses the incident, pointing out flaws in the story. \\n\\nThe Bermuda Triangle Mystery - Solved is the only book that critically examines the \"mystery\" and provides the reader with an alternative rational explanation to the sensationalist stories in the media. \\n\\nLarry Kusche is a technical writer, commercial pilot, and a flight instructor. He is the author of The Disappearance of Flight 19. \\n\\n302 pages Publication date 21st September, 1995", "Bermuda Triangle - Devil's Triangle\\n \\n \\n \\nEarth Grid - Vortexes - Devil's Triangle - Bermuda Triangle\\nThis area has a high degree of electromagnetic energy and is often thought of as a portal - vortex - or wormhole to somewhere off planet Earth. It has stirred the imagination of many writers and those who think beyond physical Earth. \\nMetaphysics: Many people believe that the Bermuda Triangle houses the famous lost city of Atlantis which is another grid reality running parallel to our experience in 3D Earth. No evidence has been brought forth to prove this theory, but many claim to have felt the powers of the lost city. \\nThere have been theories about aliens using the portals to visit the planet. \\nThe area is shaped like a pyramid because the area is a major grid point of energy linked to one of 12 ethereal pyramids that create the matrix of our reality. \\nThe term Bermuda Triangle was first used in an article written by Vincent H. Gaddis for Argosy Magazine in 1964. In the article Gaddis claimed that in this strange sea a number of ships and planes had disappeared without explanation. Gaddis wasn't the first one to come to this conclusion, either. As early as 1952 George X. Sands, in a report in Fate Magazine, noted what seemed like an unusually large number of strange accidents in that region. \\nIn 1969 John Wallace Spencer wrote a book called Limbo of the Lost specifically about the triangle. \\nTwo years later, a feature documentary on the subject, 'The Devil's Triangle', was released. \\nThese, along with the bestseller The Bermuda Triangle, published in 1974, permanently registered the legend of the \"Hoodoo Sea\" within popular culture. \\nSeveral books suggested that the disappearances were due to an intelligent, technologically advanced race living in space or under the sea. \\nPhenomena noted in the area of the Bermuda Triangle - a glowing 'white water' scanned from satellites and a glowing green fog. \\nIn the past 100 years, the Bermuda Triangle has been known to have claimed over 1000 lives. \\nThe first legends of the Bermuda Triangle begin already with Christopher Columbus. As a captain, he was greatly respected, and his brave sailing efforts helped revolutionize the world. Much of the information we have about Columbus is picked up directly from his journal, so we are able to trace his footsteps to the New World. His first problem occurred as he ran into the Sargasso Sea. \\n \\nThe Sargasso Sea\\nIt resides in the east of the triangle in the middle of the Atlantic. It houses a few small islands and masses of clumped floating seaweed. A warm water current within it swirls clockwise, affecting the weather of the area, keeping it calm and steamy. Having little wind, this area greatly affects unpowered ships. Christopher Columbus wrote in his diary of this sea. In fact, it so fooled his crew that it almost led them to mutiny. The possibility exists of never leaving this legendary sea. Another fascinating feature of this sea is its ability to draw things in from all over the Atlantic. Some even claim it to be the \"catch-basin\" of the Atlantic. \\nThe crew was greatly disappointed when seaweed and land birds were sighted, but after a few days no land was to be seen. Soon after, Columbus reported his compass acting strangely. He did not report this to his crew due to their deep superstitions. Days later, Columbus saw a large meteor fall from the sky. He described it as \"a large ball of light fallen from the sky.\" It is unsure whether he mentions this occurrence in awe, because of its great size, or in fright. Later in their trip, Columbus and a few crew members sighted a few dancing lights on the horizon. They wandered about in the Caribbean for over a week yet before sighting land. Since Columbus, as many as 100 ships and planes have been reported missing, taking over 1000 lives. \\nThe U. S. Board of Geographic Names does not recognize the Bermuda Triangle as", "Check this out. This should explain it quite well.", "“The region involved, a watery triangle bounded roughly by Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, measures less than a thousand miles on any one side.” \\n . . .So George X. Sand introduced the Triangle to his readers in October 1952 in a short article for Fate magazine, entitled “Sea Mystery at our Back Door.” \\n Sand’s article recounted the latest disappearance (the Sandra in 1950) and went on to discuss some of the other recent baffling mysteries like NC16002, Star Tiger and Star Ariel, aside from \\ndevoting most of the article to Flight 19.\\n The Triangle remained a colloquial expression throughout the 1950s, employed by locals when another disappearance or unexplained crash happened. \\n By the early 1960s, it had acquired the name The Deadly Triangle. In his 1962 book, Wings of Mystery, author Dale Titler also devoted pages in Chapter 14— “The Mystery of Flight 19”— to recounting the most recent incidents of disappearances and even began to ponder theories, such as electromagnetic anomalies and the ramifications of Project Magnet. His book would set the temper for Triangle \\ndiscussions thereafter. (Just in April 1962 Allan W. Eckert had written a sensational piece in the American Legion Magazine on Flight 19 ((“The Mystery of the Lost Patrol”)) which introduced some of the most popular but erroneous dialogue purported coming from Flight 19, including lines like the ocean looks strange, all the compasses are going haywire, and that they could not make out any directions, “everything is strange.” This became a may pole for electromagnetic discussions).\\n However, popularity on the subject was beginning to spread beyond the area of the Atlantic seaboard. But the moniker “Deadly Triangle” contained absolutely no geographic reference in it— in other words “Deadly Triangle” could be anywhere.\\n Then in February 1964 Vincent Gaddis wrote an article for Argosy Magazine. The article was little different from others, though it added a few more recent cases like Marine Sulphur Queen. However, it was his title that finally clinched with the public: “The Deadly Bermuda Triangle.” Adding “Bermuda” finally materialized the location for everybody, though Gaddis clarified “in and about this area” many have disappeared. \\n In his popular 1965 book Invisible Horizons, Gaddis devoted chapter 13 to “The Triangle of Death.” The concept of the Bermuda Triangle was spreading rapidly. \\n Ironically, the first book published devoted to the subject was entitled Limbo of the Lost (1969) by John Spencer, in which he proposed the area had no real shape at all and elaborately tried to include the Gulf of Mexico as well as New Jersey. It sold in limited quantities, but was later reproduced in paperback in the early 1970s and did well. \\n Dozens of magazine and newspaper articles came out in the early ‘70s, each author offering a general shape. Richard Winer proposed “The Devil’s Triangle” and extended it nearly to the Azores near Portugal. Ivan Sanderson was sure it was an oblong shape centered almost entirely north of Bermuda.\\n But no book sold as well as Charles Berlitz’s 1974 bestseller, The Bermuda Triangle. Selling way over 5,000,000 copies in hardback, it became a phenomenon. Berlitz also cautioned about the exact shape, as had the others. But to this day Bermuda Triangle is deferred to for the same reason “Deadly Triangle” failed—there is simply no other name that calls to mind the general area as does Bermuda Triangle. \\n\\nNo doubt you have wondered about the Bermuda Triangle. It is the greatest \\nmodern mystery of our supposedly well understood world: a region of the Atlantic \\nOcean between Bermuda, Miami, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, where disappearances of ships and planes not only continue but continue to defy explanation.\\n\\n\\nIt was Halloween, 1991. Radar controllers checked and rechecked what they had just seen. The scope was blank in a spot", "I heard that women often get aroused by 2 men going at it. And the \"reason\" i heard for it was that its raw sex, usually its not cute, or cuddley- just sex! Sometimes that's all a person needs to get aroused! There is nothing wrong with it either! We all have our own perks and our own things that get us aroused, and you shouldn't have to explain it to anyone either! Good for you!", "The Bermuda Triangle, also known as Devil's Triangle, is an area of ocean roughly defined by Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the southern tip of Florida. It is claimed that within this zone many ships and planes have disappeared under highly unusual circumstances. The United States Coast Guard and others disagree with the assessment of paranormal activity, arguing that the number of incidents involving lost ships and planes is no larger than that of any other heavily traveled region of the world.\\n\\nThe first mention of any disappearances in the area was made in 1950 by E.V.W. Jones as a sidebar on the Associated Press wire service regarding recent ship losses in the area. Jones' article notes the \"mysterious disappearances\" of ships, planes and small boats in the region, and ascribes it the name \"The Devil's Sea.\" The area achieved its fame mainly because of the 1974 book, “The Bermuda Triangle” by Charles Berlitz. The book consists of a series of “mysterious” disappearances of ships and aircraft, including the December 1945 loss of five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo bombers, known as Flight 19.\\n\\nThe Bermuda Triangle has been attached to many bizarre theories to explain the nature of the disappearances. The list includes transportation by extraterrestrial technology, a \"temporal hole\" of some form, the lost city of Atlantis, and other supernatural causes.\\n\\nSolid research done by Lawrence Kusche, and published in 1975 as “The Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Solved.” show this area of water to not be such an unusual place. It showed that the proportion of boats and planes to go missing to be no greater than any other area of water. Of course the debate still goes on about the area and the statistics are spun in whatever direction a new report or book wants them to lean.\\n\\nIf there is mysterious goings on in the area the most likely explanation is the abundance of methane hydrates in the area. A methane hydrate is a form of water ice that contains a large amount of methane within its crystalline structure and is solid up to 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Ruptures of the hydrate can release vast amounts of methane gas. This gas could cause the density of the ocean to reduce enough to sink a ship in the effected area. The gas could also affect aircraft by lowering lift, giving false altimeter readings, and even stall and aircraft’s engine. These effects of methane gas have all been experimentally proven.", "its about a group of passengers who were trapped in an island where they are unsafe... we still don't know what's the real reason behind them being there... its still the big mystery. but it seems they all have a purpose for being there... each has a business they need to resolve and think about while on the island. we don't know who planned this, who sent them, who set them up... we still have to find that out.Ü\\nabout that thing in the forest, i believe its not real... its only part of the \"experiment\" of that island.", "Back in the 1970s, before \"The X-Files\" made alien rectal probes the preferred departure point from consensus reality, there was the Bermuda Triangle.\\n\\nThe Bermuda Triangle (aka the Devil's Triangle) is a three-sided zone in the Atlantic Ocean stretching approximately from Miami, Fla., to Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico.\\n\\nPlanes, boats and people go in to the Bermuda Triangle, and some of them don't go out. This in itself is not particularly remarkable. There are many places in the world which have the ethereal and mystical quality known in scientific circles as \"being very dangerous.\"\\n\\nNo, the Triangle's claim to fame is pretty much centered around the particular penchant for the aforementioned boats and planes to disappear without a trace. No wreckage, no bodies, no survivors. Just \"bye-bye to reality\"... Which is the mantra we must utter before delving into the Triangle ourselves.\\n\\nThe historical root of the Bermuda Triangle legend dates back the time that superstitious Europeans first hit the Atlantic Ocean in their flimsy little boats. Columbus, sailing the ocean blue in (you guessed it) 1492, ran into a strange oceanic phenomenon known as the Sargasso Sea, which is not coincidentally located in the center of the triangle.\\n\\nThe Sargasso Sea was a large floating mass of seaweed that no one had ever seen the like of. It looked dangerous and entangling but was relatively innocuous in practice. Hordes of eels migrate there every year to mate and die, which also looked more dangerous than it actually was.\\n\\nA legend of eerie splendiferous danger arose around the region of the Sargasso Sea, what with the tangling and eel-death-screwing. A diary entry from Columbus citing a light on the horizon has been expanded into a full-bore rectal probe chariot of fire by Triangle enthusiasts, but it's frankly underwhelming.\\n\\nThe next major incident chalked up to the Triangle's nefarious influence is the mysterious case of the Marie Celeste. In 1872, the Marie Celeste was found abandoned, as if the crew and passengers had very suddenly leapt up from their chairs and abandoned ship, leaving meals half-eaten and card games half-played.\\n\\nWhat is especially mysterious about the case of the Marie Celeste is how it ever got attached to the Bermuda Triangle, since it set sail from New York and was discovered derelict in the Azores, which in scientific terms is \"nowhere fuckin' close to\" the Bermuda Triangle.\\n\\nThe modern version of the Bermuda Triangle story sprang not from the muck-covered, eel-spunk sea, but from the otherwise innocuous-seeming air. In 1945, the infamous Flight 19 set out on a training mission in the \"triangle.\"\\n\\nThere were five Avenger bombers in Flight 19. A radio transmission indicated that the planes encountered problems with their compasses. The weather was reported to be inclement. The mission was never heard from again. A rescue plane sent out to look for the missing pilots was subsequently also lost without a trace.\\n\\nNow, all this in itself is not particularly remarkable. Given the state of aerodynamic technology at the time and the weather conditions, the concept that the planes crashed at sea is basically sound. The failure to find any wreckage, while noteworthy, is also not especially profound, given that things tend to sink into the ocean, which is (in scientific terms) \"very, very deep.\"\\n\\nOver the next several years, various other planes and boats disappeared in the region, while other reported odd phenomena such as compasses going nuts. People occasionally reported seeing lights and spooky smoke.\\n\\nAll this made for the seeds of a nice, local ghost story, but not one of the great supernatural mysteries of our time. To elevate any single set of data to legendary status, one of two things is required: A genuine and profound mystery, or some one person who is willing to say there is a genuine and profound myster", "plz repeat ur question and explain more.", "i thought blue was the color of tranquility, it is normaly refered to peace... Grey in my opinion is the color of sorrow.. As for red, i believe it is the color of love... and as for Fred.... What doe that mean?? i have never heard of fred being the color of metaphysics.. can someone explain this to me???", "Some are moving away from each other (i.e. their separation is increasing), such as Africa and South America. Some are moving closer together, like North America and Asia. Some places continents or pieces of continents are moving past each other, like in the Pacific Northwest, or in the Afar Triangle in Somalia. Some places are expanding, like Iceland. \\n\\nThere are lots of ways to measure this, but the first clue that something was going on came from looking at the shapes of coastlines. Look at the coastlines of western Africa and eastern South America. They look like they could fit together, like a puzzle. The rocks match each other on both continents too, as if the two continents were once fit together. \\n\\nHowever, the big clue that something was going on came from magnetic stripes on the sea floor. As new basalt forms in the middle of the Atlantic, and some other oceans, it pushes out from the central mid-ocean ridge, and cools. When it cools, it sets, taking on a magnetization aligned with the magnetic field of the earth at that moment. However, the earth's magnetic field flips every few thousand years (just like the Sun's does, every 11.5 years or so). This creates a record of magnetic stripes on the sea floor that alternate polarity. When the scientists Vine and Mathews saw this, they knew they had proved that plate tectonics existed, and that the continents were moving (sometimes away from each other, and sometimes towards each other or past each other)", "You're really asking a lot here. The \"cervical\" triangle can refer to a lot of things. The most obvious triangles are the anterior and posterior ones. Anterior bounded by midline of neck, sternocleidomastoid m., and mandible. Carotid a. and internal jugular v. pass through here. Posterior bounded by sternocleidomastoid m., clavicle, and trapezius m. Brachial plexus passes through here. Both the anterior and posterior triangles can be sub-divided into smaller triangles--I'll list them, but I won't detail them. Anterior can be divided into muscular, carotid, submandibular, and submental triangles. Posterior can be divided into occipital and omoclavicular triangles.\\n\\nFemoral triangle is bounded by the inguinal ligament, sartorius m., and adductor longus m. Femoral n., a., and v. pass through here.\\n\\nAbbreviations I used:\\na. = artery\\nv. = vein\\nn. = nerve\\nm. = muscle", "plz explain your question", "I do.\\n\\nI would go with the Baptism. . . I was Baptized (Confirmed and recieved my first Eucharist) last year at the Easter Vigil (Yes, I am a Catholic Convert) and it means a lot to me.\\n\\nAs I was being Baptized, and the Priest said those wonderful words \"I Baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit\", I heard, in my heart, someone say \"Welcome Home\". I know it wasn't the Priest or anyone around me - can't explain it, but I know, deep down, that it was God talking to me. (I know, it sounds weird and \"preachy\" but it happened.)\\n\\nAll of them are very special, and more people should be moved by the events that go on.", "The Bermuda Triangle\\nThe Media Blitz\\nThe Mysterious Events\\nModern Theories\\nRational Explanations\\n\\n \\n\\nThe Media Blitz\\n\\nThe Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle and Hoodoo Sea, birthed its legend on September 09, 1950 in a strange AP dispatch. E.V.W. Jones, a reporter, penned an article on a strange anomaly he had stumbled across. It seemed as if a unusual number of planes and ships had been disappearing in the ocean between Florida and Bermuda.\\n\\nTwo years later, in 1952, Fate magazine published an article by George X. Sand who wrote of a \"series of strange marine disappearances, each leaving no trace whatever, that have taken place in the past few years in a watery triangle bounded roughly by Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico\".\\n\\nIn 1974, Charles Berlitz published the infamous The Bermuda Triangle. Although some discount the book as sensationalism at its extreme and full of inaccuracies, it sold thousands of copies and put the Bermuda Triangle squarely in the minds of the world population.\\n\\n \\n\\nThe Mysterious Events\\n\\nOver 200 separate mysterious disappearances have been attributed to the Devil's Triangle, including massive vessels such as the USS Cyclops and the SS Marine Sulphur Queen. \\n\\nIn 1492, Christopher Columbus made several interesting recordings in his log during his journey through the Devil's Triangle. He told of strange magnetic deviances in his navigation instruments. Strange lights were seen on the distant horizon and in the sky. He even recorded in his log of a \"great flame of fire\" that crashed into the ocean.\\n\\nAnother mysterious event occurred in 1872. The Mary Celeste had departed on November 7, 1872 for Genoa. On December 4, 1872, the crew of the Dei Gratia spotted the vessel and noted the ship was sailing very erratically. When they turned and approached the ship they were astonished to find it completely empty. The lifeboat was missing even though the ship appeared to be in perfect condition.\\n\\nThe disappearance of Flight 19 ranks at the very top of Bermuda Triangle lore. On December 5, 1945, five Navy Avengers vanished while on a routine training mission over the Atlantic. Patrol leader Lt. Charles Taylor (an experienced pilot who was familiar with the area) had radioed Florida with the bizarre message, \"Control tower this is an emergency. We seem to be off course. We seem to be lost. We can't make out where we are.\" . When told to head due west they replied \"Everything looks wrong, even the ocean looks strange\". A Navy search was initiated (including a Martin Mariner that blew up 23 minutes into its flight) that lasted for weeks. No trace was ever found of the aircraft or crew.\\n\\nOn December 27, 1948, a commercial flight traveling from Puerto Rico to Florida, met a similar fate. NC-16002 DC-3 radioed Miami that they were 50 miles out and ready to receive landing instructions. Miami radioed back the instructions and awaited a reply of confirmation. None was ever received. After 3 hours, a search and rescue team was sent out to find the missing aircraft. In calm seas and clear weather, no trace was found of the craft or its passengers.\\n\\n \\n\\nModern Theories\\n\\nSome of the more esoteric theories include alien abductions, time warps, strange magnetic fields, and black holes. Some have even theorized that the ancient city of Atlantis existed in this area (Edgar Cayce gave a reading in 1932 that placed the city of Atlantis precisely in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle).\\n\\n \\n\\nRational Explanations\\n\\nBut debunkers have been quick to offer rational explanations for all the mysterious events. Two items met the public's eye during 1975 that served to demystify the Bermuda Triangle mystery for many persons. In 1975, The Bermuda Triangle Mystery - Solved was published. In this book, Larry Kusche set out to disprove prior theories by offering common, everyday explanations for these unusual e", "Please elaborate, I'm eager to assist, but don't understand the question" ]

[ "Needles are in use at this party." ]

[ "A sewing group took a trip the fabric store together.", "A group of employees are having a party in their office.", "A group of people are having a party in the bar.", "A group is having a dinner party at a lake house.", "The group is dancing at the party.", "A young group of party goers were having a blast.", "Cats are having a party.", "A group of men and a lady were having fun at the party.", "The group of people are at a dance party.", "There is a group of people leaving a party.", "A group of Germans are partying in their apartment.", "A group of people partying on a balcony.", "A group of people are drinking at a party.", "I have tried to sew before.", "A group of young people are partying", "Monks are having a dance party.", "There are disadvantages to having party lines", "A human is sewing on a sewing machine.", "A group of people dance at a party", "They are having a tea party in the park", "They are at a pool party having cake", "A large group samples wine at the party.", "I have never attempted to sew.", "Political parties have to vote.", "A woman is sewing curtains at a sewing machine", "He is no longer having a party.", "People having a dinner party.", "Children are having a tea party.", "A group of people have a loud block party at a government building in Utah", "they are having a buying jewelry at a party", "A group of boys play a game at a party.", "little girls are having a party" ]

[ "So as to improve compile quality of the Five Years Report on the Environmental Quality, this paper attempts to expatiate compile quality of the report from four aspects: clearcut purpose and meaning, standardizing the compiling contents and methods, solving orientation and oriented, build up refined consciousness" ]

[ "According to the time series data from 1997 to 2008 and the basic principles and steps of the theory of AHP,the index system of integrated assessment of the eco-environment quality of Kashghar City is established,the weights of every ecological factor are defined,the importance of every factor of influence is sequenced,the comprehensive index of eco-environmental quality is calculated,and finally the eco-environmental quality of the city is evaluated.The results show that the index fluctuates.There is difference between the year before 2002 and after 2002,before 2002,the index is low and had been gradually decreased;after 2002 the index shows fluctuation,but is still higher than 2002,which shows that the environmental quality has been improved,but the overall trend is not so good.The evaluation shows that the environmental quality of Kashghar City is poor and the situation is not optimistic,therefore Kashghar City must take measures to strengthen the construction work on its ecological environment.", "The changing characteristics of air quality and its driving force in Ningxia are analyzed during the eleventh five-year plan.The result shows: the total emissions of sulfur dioxide is the direct reason of improvement of city air quality,energy consumption growth is not synchronized with the economic development,energy consumption reduced significantly,which is another reason of improving air quality.During the eleventh five-year,sulfur dioxide emissions achieved remarkably.Therefore,effective environmental policies can control pollution,promote environmental quality,promote strategic adjustment of energy structure and achieve win-win of economic and environmental.", "Based on the method of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation,this paper evaluates and analyses the environmental quality of Zhengzhou from the year of 2000 to 2005.The results indicated that the environmental quality of Zhengzhou is generally in the medium rank,and the grades of membership in turn are: 0.373 47, 0.334 15,0.260 68,0.296 61,0.350 33,0.350 33,which has objectively reflected the actual situation of the environmental quality of Zhengzhou.", "In modern society,the compilation and dissemination of corporate social responsibility report of enterprise is a publicity tool,and becomes an indispensable factor that affects the enterprise market value.By using the comparison method,some problems existing in the social responsibility report are analyzed,and several suggestions are proposed to improve the quality of the social responsibility report,such as improving relevant index,attaching importance to non financial information and elaborating the government power.", "Five indicators were selected as the evaluation factors according to Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water,and the learning and training samples were created by uniform distributions random interpolating within the value of indicators.An improved genetic algorithm was used to optimize the initial weights and threshold of the BP neural network.The network was adopted to assess the water quality of one entrance of the Yangtze River and compared with comprehensive index method,the precision of the model was verified.The results showed that the genetic neural network algorithm was objective and practical and could effectively evaluate the quality of surface water enviroment and enrich water quality evaluation method and system,and could provide the basis for decision making for the surface water environmental management.", "In this report, we compile empirical evidence regarding federal and state trends in the use of Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). Our primary interest is in SEPs associated with enforcement of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). We move from briefly examining the broadest trends—federal and state use of SEPs—to more particular emphasis on the experience of California’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) with SEPs. Drawing on state and regional enforcement databases as well as extensive interviews with agency enforcement personnel, we evaluate the use of SEPs by the regional boards in California and offer recommendations for improving the use of this important policy tool.", "Formalized quality assurance program requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been established for more than a decade. During this period, the environmental issues and concerns addressed by the EPA have changed. Many issues, such as ozone depletion and global climate warming, have become international concerns among the world environmental community. Other issues, such as hazardous waste cleanup and clean air, remain a focus of national environmental concerns. As the environmental issues of the 1980`s evolved, the traditional quality assurance (QA) program was transformed through the use of quality management principles into a Quality System to help managers meet the needs of the 1990`s and beyond.", "The Commitment to Development Index has been developed to assess seven policy areas of rich countries that affect the development of poor countries and to rank the rich countries from this perspective. This article aims to analyze the environmental component of this index. The environmental dimension is a legitimate part of the concept behind the index because preserving global environmental resources is essential for the future development prospects of poorer countries. The operationalization of the dimension, however, gives rise to several issues, such as the combination of policy and practice indicators, data availability and credibility, and other specific aspects that affect the information value of individual indicators and the component as a whole. Acknowledging the difficulty of constructing such a component, we suggest several options for its modification.", "This paper discussed the comprehensive benefit measurement and evaluation method of water conservation,air purification,carbon sequence,oxygen release and timber harvest related to the present situation of Heilongjiang Province environment,which can provide guidance for carrying out further evaluation work.", "Concern for the environment and the desire for improved economic wellbeing are often inappropriately considered adversaries. The failure to appreciate the complementary relationships between environmental quality and sustained economic development is especially common in Third World nations. Opposed by economic forces and the need for short-term economic returns, environmental quality considerations are often dismissed or given low priority.' As Bernstein notes, however:", "All neurologists must begin incorporating quality measurement and quality improvement into their practice. Efforts to pay physicians based on the quality of their care and patient outcomes moves quality measurement beyond reporting to satisfy regulatory requirements and pushes physicians to select and use quality measures to improve patient outcomes and patient experience. This article provides practical steps and proposes considerations for neurologic practices advancing quality measurement and improvement.", "Based on creating a new way of environmental protection as a main line under the new situation,this paper grasp the major environmental issues in the 12th five year period,put forward six mechanisms with reference to grass-roots work:the environmental situation assessment,the extended mechanism of total amount controe,the expansion of pollution reduction,plans for the environmental impact assessment of special planning,project selection,and the protection mechanism of execution.", "Abstract This paper evaluates the quality and accuracy of environmental disclosures made in corporate annual reports. Annual report disclosures made by 26 firms in environmentally sensitive industries are examined. An indexing procedure is used to measure the contents of the disclosures, and the relationship between the disclosure contents and the firms' environmental performance is tested. The study provides a detailed measure of environmental disclosure contents. Results indicate that corporate environmental disclosures are incomplete and are not related to the firms' actual environmental performance.", "The considerable interest in quality management has filtered through to health-care organisations. It is now widely used as a basis for continuous operational and customer service improvement management. Although well accepted as an operational improvement tool, the role of quality in strategic management and marketing is less clear. Qualitative research was undertaken within one of Australia's largest private health care providers for the purpose of exploring the role that quality management plays in its operations. Interviews revealed that the organisation's major emphasis on continuous quality management had yielded significant strategic results since its inception. These included an industry first, five-year term accreditation, high-level standing with government, the medical profession and practitioners, health insurance companies and research institutions. Notwithstanding the benefits realised to date, there was a perceived need continuously to evaluate quality management against objective criteria ...", "The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of convention center's physical environment on customer satisfaction and revisit intention. The study used both the primary data and the secondary data. For the study, 26 items of convention center's environmental factors were developed. The collected 300 questionnaires from COEX's visitors were used to analyze through SPSS program. As a result, there were the delineated 5 dimensions of convention center's environmental factors: accessibility, convenience, cleanliness, amenity and employees' service. The customer satisfaction was affected by all 5 factors. In addition, the visitor's satisfaction was positively related on the intention to revisit. For suggestions for the future study, it is necessary to develop more physical environmental factors to gain a comprehensive result. And, It is better that the sampling should be taken into more conventions.", "In this thesis,indices such as naturalness,diversity,representativeness,rarity,ecological fragility,suitability of area and human impacts were selected to evaluate the ecological quality of Henan Xiaoqinling nature reserve.The value of each index was determined by the evaluation system,and the weight percentage was decided by analytical hierarchy process(AHP).The composite evaluation index(CEI) was figured out as 0.8422,suggesting that the ecological quality of the nature reserve could be relatively good,and the protection value should be quite high.Finally,the problems facing the reserve at present were analyzed and the corresponding proposals were put forward.", "Abstract : This report outlines a procedure for using 'The Definition of a Production Quality Ada Compiler', SD-TR-87-29, as the basis for determining if an Ada compiler is of production quality. The report describes the development of a test suite from the requirements set forth in SD-TR-87-29, as well as the results of applying this test suite to two validated Ada compilers. An analysis of SD-TR-87-29 from creating and applying the test suite has also been provided. Keywords: Compilers; Selection; Specifications; Evaluation; Requirements; Ada programming language; Computer program documentation.", "Four major improvements have been made in the ZRD–SEARCH–MATCH program [Frevel (1965), Anal. Chem. 37, 471–482]; namely, (1) restriction of the file of standards to the 298 most frequently encountered phases, (2) utilization of a single index file based on the most intense reflection, (3) incorporation of a novel search function, and (4) revision of the quantitative matching of powder patterns.", "Based on the characteristics analysis for chemical management,the authors put forward the principles and framework of technical supporting system for chemical environmental management.The discussion focused on the significance,roles and relationships for five important and main standards and guidelines within the system,i.e.the standard for the testing of chemical,the guidelines for good laboratory practice(GLP),the guidelines for hazard evaluation of new chemical substances,the guideline for risk assessment of existing chemical substances,and existing chemical substance inventory in China.Combining with the advance in the research on the standards and guidelines,the authors also made some suggestions for continual improvement.", "This report presents a summary of the work conducted during the second year of a five-year program. This research effort provides the engineering basis and guidance for the development of upgrading for host and risk area shelters. This investigation is in support of current Civil Defense planning based on a policy of crisis relocation, and includes investigative efforts related to structural wood connections, wood roof trusses and panelized systems, manufactured floor and roof joists, radiation protection for walls, the analysis of basement walls under dynamic loading, and a prediction method for the punching of concrete slabs. The results of this study are being used in the development of a prediction methodology for comparative selection of shelter spaces.", "As the main measure for company to show their social and environmental responsibility,the corporation environmental report will be standardized and institutionalized in the near future.While there is no one is found in Chinese mainland up to now.The article suggests that our government and companies should pay more attentions to the issues improving Chinese Companies' competitive ability and reputations and promoting the sustainablility of China.", "This environmental assessment for the China Sichuan Urban Development Project, which improves infrastructure bottlenecks and environmental conditions, anticipates environmental risks and proposes measures to mitigate them. Offset water pollution, particularly wastewater discharge, lowering of the water table, and sedimentation by using oil-water separators, and sedimentation tanks and filters. Treat domestic wastewater and sewage with temporary septic tanks, and then use to irrigate farm or wood land; Sprinkle water to reduce dust from machines and trucks. Regulate traffic, use sound insulation, and plant greenbelts to control noise. Set up a waste transfer station and dispose of solid waste in trash cans or dust bins. Use retaining walls and gutters, and recover vegetation to conserve soil and water.", "The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of social responsibility accounting disclosure (SRAD) on financial performance for Jordanian industrial companies. The SRAD is divided into four dimensions: environmental issues, human resources, community relations and product quality. ::: A content analysis design was adopted and a SRAD index was constructed covering all the activities related to the four dimensions above. A sample of 58 industrial companies for five years (2005-2009) was selected to fulfill the objective of the study. Multiple regression analysis was used in order to achieve the main objective of the study. In regards the effect of the SRAD dimension of the company’s financial performance, the study found that the product quality activities increase the financial performance, while the other dimensions were not affected. Finally, the study discusses the implications of the importance of SRAD in Jordan, recommendations for improving SRAD in Jordan.", "The Wujiang river is a river flowing through the city of Shaoguan,one of the main rivers,also the only source of drinking water to Shaoguan and Lechang city.In recent years,the Wujiang river water quality of the environment had gradually decline.Based on extensive collection of relevant information on the Wujiang river,the causes of water pollution were analyzed.And on how to improve the environmental quality of the Wujiang river,comprehensive improvement measures were put forward.", "Upon analysis of the current personnel file management,this paper points out the problems in the work: lack of standards,imperfection of transition process,poor management measures,paucity of facilities and shortage of informatization.Therefore the paper suggests the measures to improve the personnel quality with management quality,carry out centralized management,strengthen infrastructure construction and develop modern strategies.", "Four air quality projects were completed in the Vaal Triangle as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the activities of Arcelor Mittal SA. According to the contractor, Bohlweki Environmental, part of the consulting engineering and project management group SSI, the EIA had unique features since the Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area was the fi rst area in South Africa to be declared a national air pollution 'hotspot' - or priority area - in terms of the National Environmental Management Air Quality Act. Dr Raylene Watson of Bohlweki, who is an air quality specialist, said that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has already introduced special interventions to improve the air quality in the area, including a Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan.", "Abstract : This document was prepared by the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, Environmental Flight, Malmstrom AFB, Montana. This draft report is intended to permit Malmstrom AFB to make a fully informed decision and provide public notice for the proposed project to satisfy requirements set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments based on this draft Environmental Assessment shall be consolidated and used to develop a final Environmental Assessment which will determine whether this activity represents a significant impact to the human environment, and require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.", "Existing research talks about stakeholder pressure as being a major cause of the adoption of environmental practices by for-profit firms. However stakeholder pressures are often less salient in emerging markets than in developed markets. In this paper we study why firms in contexts with weak stakeholder pressures are still adopting environmental practices. Using data on Turkish manufacturers to test our hypotheses, we show that in emerging markets environmental practices improve the quality of products. Environmental practices effect on product quality complements the role of quality management systems. Product quality in turn is important for increasing firm performance, acting as a mediator for the positive effects of environmental practices on performance. Thus, we argue that quality’s facilitating role is important in the adoption of environmental practices in emerging markets where regulations and stakeholder pressure are weaker and often not entirely enforced.", "ABSTRACTThis systematic literature review aimed to gain an overview of studies using the Middle Childhood-Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory (MC-HOME Inventory), and to c...", "Objective To improve the life quality of the patients with T 1 glottic carcinomas, and obtain good vocal effect. Methods Twenty-two patients under shoring laryngoscope and microscope were operated by surgery and laser. The phonetic parameters and vocal cord states of preoperative and postoperative patients were evaluated and analyzed objectively. Results The three-year relapse rate was 9.0% (2/22), and the survival rate of three-year, four-year, five-year were 100%, 94.7%, 93.3% respectively. The postoperative phonetic quality was improved.Conclusion Patients with early glottis carcinomas could be treated by microsurgery. The damage of normal tissue might be reduced, and the patient′s life quality has been improved. This method should be used widely in clinic.", "Environmental assessment (EA) is intended to ensure that environmental considerations are properly weighed in the decisions made by local planning authorities on planning applications. This paper analyses whether, to what extent, and how, EA has influenced LPA decisions. Forty case studies were analysed by examining relevant documentation and conducting interviews with participants in the EA process. EA appears to have had a gradual rather than a revolutionary effect on decision-making. Its main benefits have been the enhanced provision of environmental information and, to a lesser extent, assistance in setting conditions and in modifying proposals. However, these benefits are not occurring in all cases, and changes are needed if the expected advantages of EA—better integration of environmental considerations into project planning and decision-making-are to be fully realised in the UK.", "The paper takes Xi′an University of Science and Technology as an example to research and analyze how to improve the quality of applicants for Admission to postgraduate education of mining majors.The paper analyzes the quality of applicants in recent years,and then it suggests how to improve the quality of student of needy majors.Finally,it suggests solutions by analyzing the quality of the students who had been matriculated in the university recently years." ]

[ "It may be too soon to give up the day job, but Wayne Rooney took to the stage at Manchester United's Christmas party to give everyone a taste of his singing voice. The England captain posted an Instagram picture of himself belting out a song with the house band while his teammates enjoyed a festive evening out at The Place in Manchester on Wednesday. Rooney, a known fan of artists including Ed Sheeran and the Stereophonics, had a concentrated expression on his face while clicking his fingers by his side - and accompanied the picture with the caption: 'My turn to do a song at the @manchesterunited Christmas party!' In another post from the evening, Rooney is pictured possibly enjoying another player's efforts from the dance floor as his wife Coleen and players including Darren Fletcher and Ashley Young laugh in the background. VIDEO Scroll down to Watch United WAGs leaving Christmas party in Manchester . Wayne Rooney sings with the band on stage at Manchester United's Christmas party . The Manchester United captain takes to the dance floor with wife Coleen (third left) Rooney is a known indie music lover - and even has a Sterephonics inspired tattoo on his right arm . After a dire start to their season under Louis van Gaal, few would have expected to see the United players smiling so brightly come December. But here they are, after four consecutive Premier League wins, grinning from ear to ear with something to celebrate at their annual Christmas Party. Striker Robin van Persie donned a big curly-haired wig, seemingly mocking his team-mate Marouane Fellaini, in a happy snap with the Belgium midfielder and back-up keeper Anders Lindegaard. Robin van Persie wears a wig in this Christmas Party snap with Anders Lindegaard and Marouane Fellaini . Lindegaard and Fellaini were 'looking after' 19-year-old Adnan Januzaj at the dinner . The Place is a Grade II listed building which was a former railway warehouse built back in 1867. In 1998 it was transformed into The Place Aparthotel but kept many of the key features. The most expensive bottle of wine on the menu is Chateauneuf du Pape at £35.95 and a bottle of Champagne Pol Roger will set you back £165 . 'Great xmas dinner with the boys!' Van Persie posted on Instagram. The players and their partners enjoyed a night of live music, singing and a disco until the early hours of Thursday morning. Lindegaard was also confident teen star Adnan Januzaj was in good hands with himself and Fellaini 'looking after' the 19-year-old as they celebrated their season's turnaround in form. Meanwhile, Radamel Falcao and his wife Lorelei Taron were beaming as they await the arrival of their first baby. Also at the party, among others, were Chris Smalling and his partner, ex-page three girl Sam Cooke, Daley Blind and girlfriend Candy-Rae Fleur and Phil Jones and girlfriend Kaya Hall. As the players and their partners headed home from the night out, the women clutched goodie bags from cosmetic company Jo Malone. Radamel Falcao poses with his pregnant wife Lorelei Taron on Wednesday night . Ashley Young puts an arm around fellow midfielder Juan Mata as Anderson sits behind the duo . England and United defender Chris Smalling and his girlfriend Sam Cooke were also in the festive spirit . Louis van Gaal and assistant manager Ryan Giggs leave United's Christmas party at The Place . Giggs sits in the car as wife Stacey lies down on his lap . Jonny Evans leaves the United party with a red wine stain on his shirt . Jonny Evans' wife Helen heads home as does Kaya Hall, Phil Jones' other half . United defender Phil Jones leaves the Christmas party with his girlfriend Kaya Hall . Jessie Lingard and girlfriend (left) look in good spirits as did Tyler Blacket and his girlfriend . Wayne Rooney leaves United's Christmas party in the back of a car . Falcao holds hands with his pregnant wife Lorelei Taron as they leave the party . Robin van Persie is all smiles as he and wife Bouchra leave the Christmas party . David de Gea is hugged as he gets into a taxi at the end of the night . Angel di Maria and partner Jorgelina Cardoso leave their first Manchester United Christmas party . Di Maria and his partner Jorgelina head home in a Lamborghini . Luke Shaw looks in good spirits as he leaves the Christmas party as Juan Mata heads for a taxi . Young United stars Andreas Pereira and James Wilson leave the seasonal shindig . Daley Blind and girlfriend Candy-Rae Fleur leave The Place . Adnan Januzaj, Anders Lindegaard and Marouane Fellaini leave The Place in Manchester together . Anderson heads home alone while goalkeeper Ben Amos leaves hand in hand with girlfriend Dani Emery . Sam Cooke and boyfriend Chris Smalling head home after the festive party . Michael Carrick and wife Lisa head home as do Rafael and his wife Karla . United started the season with a home defeat against Burnley before draws against Sunderland and Burnley, either side of an embarrassing defeat by League One MK Dons in the Capital One Cup. But now, while not totally convincing, United have overcome Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Hull and Stoke on Tuesday night in their last four games and are now fourth in the Premier League table. A Southampton side coming off the back off back-to-back defeats by Manchester City and Arsenal await United on Monday before games against Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham over the festive period." ]

[ "Manchester City's first team stars and management team visited Gorilla bar to celebrate Christmas ahead of the busy festive Premier League schedule. The likes of Joe Hart, Frank Lampard and Yaya Toure were joined by Manuel Pellegrini's coaching staff at the 'relaxed and sophisticated' bar on Whitworth Street, Manchester. Gorilla claim they 'stock the best gins from around the world and contemporary classics with a considered dedication to the martini, its predecessors and derivatives.' Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart arrives at Manchester hotspot Gorilla while team-mate Frank Lampard also attends the party . Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany looks to be enjoying himself (left) and fellow defender Pablo Zabaleta (right) leaves the team coach . Bacary Sagna attended his first Manchester City Christmas party (left) and Jesus Navas dons a light blue jumper (right) Manchester City decided to hold their Christmas party at the 'relaxed and sophisticated' Gorilla bar . City's staff and players, including Samir Nasri who wore a £490 Givenchy Black Rottweiler sweatshirt, made their way into the Manchester hotspot after travelling to the venue on a team coach. The Premier League champions decided to make use of not having a midweek fixture, due to their exit from the Capital One Cup, by going on a festive team outing. Pellegrini's side will be hoping to close the three-point gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea during the congested festive fixtures. City face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon before taking on West Brom, Burnley and Sunderland before their FA Cup encounter against Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday on January 4. Bacary Sagna, who attended his first City Christmas party since joining the club in the summer, has told Pellegrini he is willing to fill in at centre back for their league clash against the Eagles. The Frenchman said: 'I have played a few times at centre back for Arsenal. 'If I have to play I will play, and always try to give 100 per cent and my best for the team. 'But hopefully he (Vincent Kompany) will be ready for (Saturday's home league clash with) Crystal Palace.' Gael Clichy (left) and Samir Nasri (right), pictured wearing a £490 Givenchy Black Rottweiler sweatshirt attended the team event . James Milner (left) and Scott Sinclair (right) visited Gorilla bar to celebrate Christmas ahead of their side's match against Crystal Palace . Manchester City centre back Dedryck Boyata leaves the Manchester hotspot (left) while Yaya Toure covers his face from the rain (right) Manchester City centre back Matija Nastasic wore a black and white T-shirt while Aleksandar Kolarov looks dapper in a smart blazer . Third-choice goalkeeper Richard Wright (left) leaves the team coach while Stevan Jovetic (right) is pictured walking outside the venue . Manchester City coach Brian Kidd and manager Manuel Pellegrini also attended Gorilla on Wednesday night . Manchester City will be hoping to extend their seven-match unbeaten run when they take on Crystal Palace . Kompany is an injury doubt for Manchester City's match against Palace after hobbling off against Leicester . City defender Sagna has said he is prepared to play at centre back if Kompany is unable to play against the Eagles .", "They hired some of the most famous women in the country and a celebrity photographer to showcase their latest collection – forking out £5million for  the privilege. But Marks & Spencer’s make-or-break advertising campaign has failed to deliver a much-needed boost to sales. M&S yesterday revealed that its sales of fashion and general merchandise have fallen, a trend that has hampered the firm for more than two years. Meanwhile, budget brand Primark is faring much better announcing record profits of £154million last year. Flop? The leading ladies show off the M&S collection, but but clothing and general merchandise sales are down yet again . Mixed fortunes: Primark has today announced record profits as struggling rival Marks & Spencer revealed its ninth consecutive quarter of falling clothing sales and a drop in profits . Christmas hope: This week M&S launches its Christmas 'Believe in Magic and Sparkle' advertisement which has a glossy Alice in Wonderland theme and stars Rosie Huntington-Whiteley . The store's total sales rose by 22 per cent, while its like-for-like figures were also up five per cent in the year to 14 September, pushing up their profits 44 per cent. Unlike M&S, it relied on a reputation for low prices rather than expensive marketing campaigns to drive sales. M&S . figures come despite its ‘Leading Ladies’ initiative, starring the . likes of Dame Helen Mirren and Tracey Emin and photographed by Annie . Leibovitz, which was meant to propel the firm in a new direction. The . chain faces a make-or-break Christmas to turn round its fortunes as as . its first-half pre-tax profits for 2013 declined by nine per cent to . £261.1million, well down on the £289.5million the previous year. The High Street stalwart also revealed that like-for-like clothing and homeware sales fell 1.3 per cent during its July to September quarter. However, . M&S' food halls continue to do a roaring trade with like-for-like . sales up 3.2 per cent, and its share price was up 15p this morning. The numbers will increase the pressure . on chief executive Marc Bolland, who will be disappointed that clothing . sales have refused to recover and will blame the unseasonably warm . autumn weather and fierce competition on the High Street. Bolland . attempted to revive clothes sales, particularly womenswear, earlier . this year when he unveiled a new autumn/winter collection that analysts . described as 'make or break' for M&S and its chief executive. He said of the latest results: '‘This is a journey. We’ve been clear that people should look at it from season to season. It will take a few collections to get a positive momentum behind it.’ The latest sales figures cover the period up to the end of September, so Bolland will defend performance and say that a fuller picture of its autumn/winter collection’s success will be due in January. This week M&S launches its Christmas ‘Believe in Magic and Sparkle’ advertisement with a glossy Alice in Wonderland theme. It stars Rosie Huntingdon-Whitely as Alice, David Gandy as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Wizard of Oz. It makes this year’s Christmas trading period even more crucial, and if it did not go well his job may be under threat. In contrast to the struggles of M&S as it tries to kickstart its clothing sales, AB Foods paid tribute to Primark's buying teams after autumn/winter and spring/summer ranges sold out with little discount. Primark's expansion in the UK has been focused on increasing selling space in major cities, with the opening of its second store on London's Oxford Street and extensions to shops in Newcastle and Manchester. The company expects to add more than a million square feet of space in the current year, including its first store in France, which will open in Marseille. It said its new store formats provided an 'exciting, fashionable and fun shopping experience'. Embarrassing: The retailer, which has just reported a 9.1 per cent slump in half-year profits, blamed a supplier for the mistake that lists Father's Day as June 22 instead of June 15 . Glamour: Welcome to the Mad Hatter's tea party, hosted by model David Gandy in Autograph menswear . Pressure: The numbers will increase the pressure on chief executive Marc Bolland, who will be disappointed that clothing sales have refused to recover . The company added: 'Strategically-placed mannequins help to inspire customers to choose outfits that are readily available on adjacent fixtures, and prominent signage and wider aisles enable easy navigation through the store. 'We are also enhancing customer service by providing a higher ratio of fitting rooms and cash registers to ensure a smoother experience when trying on outfits and paying for them.' In April, a building in Bangladesh occupied on one of its floors by a Primark supplier collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people. Another disastrous festive trading period will further test shareholders’ patience who have become disillusioned with the retail giant’s performance since Bolland took over in May 2010. Freddie George, analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald, believes although the company is adopting the right strategy to revitalise its womenswear, he continues to have a number of concerns. He says: ‘It will take a number of seasons before there is a marked improvement in performance in womenswear.’", "United Nations (CNN) -- It took decades to stamp out smoking inside the United Nations. Now the U.N. may have another vice: drinking. The United States ambassador for management and reform, Joseph Torsella, issued a rare public scolding, by U.N. standards, on personal behavior Monday. He warned the U.N.'s \"fifth committee\" panel that negotiating rooms \"should in the future be an inebriation-free zone.\" U.S. diplomats say there has been excessive drinking surrounding traditional late-night meetings, especially during Christmas-time budget negotiations held by the fifth committee, which handles administration and budgetary matters. No countries were formally named. However, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin appeared to take some responsibility for his staff when he told CNN Wednesday \"there should be no drinking during business sessions. And I'm going to give very clear instructions to that effect to my delegations.\" Several other diplomats denied witnessing drinking during work hours. British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told CNN, \"Of course in diplomacy there are a lot of receptions ... people may have a drink, but it's never come into negotiations.\" The United Nations headquarters isn't exactly a frat house, but the combination of diplomats, staff, press corps and long hours can spark a relaxed atmosphere. There used to be a bar inside a 'delegates lounge,' but because of building renovations in 2010, there are now few places to get a drink or eat after 3 p.m. It appears some delegates are bringing liquor into the building. A deputy spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Eduardo Del Buey, said: \"I don't think it's up to the secretary-general to tell the member states how to behave. It's up to the individual governments of the member states.\" The most famous drinking story erupted overseas nearly three years ago when a senior U.N. official under Ban went on a drunken spiel aimed at his boss during a dinner. He reportedly said \"I know you never liked me, Mr. Secretary-General; well, I never liked you either.\" Sha Zukang, undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, later apologized. Torsella, who issued the drinking warning, has also been on the warpath against excessive business-class travel by U.N. staff who travel overseas. He told his colleagues, \"Let's save the champagne for toasting the successful end of the session and do some credit to the committee's reputation in the process.\" Asked about drinking after the meetings, Churkin replied with a smile: \"After is a private matter. We all have our private lives, don't we?\" U.N. demands Syrian rebels release peacekeepers . CNN's Anna-Maja Rappard contributed to this report.", "Having presided over only 13 competitive matches during his first four months in charge, Louis van Gaal has now embarked on a demanding run of nine games in 36 days that will shape his debut season at Manchester United. The fixtures come thick and fast with Stoke City next at Old Trafford on Tuesday and the Dutchman has some big decisions to make — most notably whether Robin van Persie should keep his place with Radamel Falcao available once again. For a manager who has based his entire coaching career on careful preparation, Van Gaal is critical of the heavily lopsided fixture list. VIDEO Scroll for Louis van Gaal: Schedule not good, I'd like to see family at Christmas . Manchester United striker Robin van Persie (left) celebrates scoring with strike partner Wayne Rooney (right) Louis Van Gaal is unhappy with the No of games that are played during the festive period in the Premier League . Hull manager Steve Bruce speaks with Manchester United manager Van Gaal as they went head to head . ‘I’m not happy but I cannot change it,’ Van Gaal said. ‘I don’t agree with it because I don’t think that it is good for the players that they play another match within two days. In December, it shall be like that. Former Manchester United fans’ favourite Steve Bruce has failed to beat his old club in 21 attempts as a manager. ‘We also have families. I also have a wife and kids and grandchildren and I cannot see them this Christmas. 'But I want to work in the Premier League, I have to adapt and I shall adapt. But I don’t think it is good for players, neither for the families.’ At least United go into their hectic period in a Champions League spot after a run of one defeat in eight games. Sportsmail's graphic of Robin van Persie's sensational goal against Hull on Saturday . Manchester United face a busy Christmas schedule which could well define their season . Their injury situation has been downgraded from chronic to poor even though Angel di Maria tweaked a hamstring and will have to sit out the Stoke game alongside Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, Rafael and Phil Jones, while Wayne Rooney, James Wilson and Jonny Evans have to be assessed. Rooney hobbled off at full-time after kicks to his calf and knee but has told his manager he is ready to play. On the plus side, Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo and Falcao all returned from injuries with the return of the £265,000-a-week Colombian presenting Van Gaal with a major selection dilemma. Van Persie responded to recent criticism by setting up United’s second goal for Rooney and then scoring a fine third himself, though Van Gaal insisted the striker’s all-round performance could still improve. Van Gaal is anxious to see what Falcao can do with United as he has to decide by April whether to sign the Monaco loanee on a permanent basis. Radamel Falcao (left) must prove his worth to United before the club commit to a permanent transfer for him . ‘Because I played with two strikers on Saturday I needed Falcao on the bench,’ said Van Gaal. ‘But it was not normal because he was not fit to play 90 minutes but for 20 minutes. Now, I can use him because he has trained for a full week with the first team.’ Defender Chris Smalling, who scored United’s first goal, revealed that Van Gaal has made his intentions clear. ‘He asked for six points as a must from these two home games and we’re going to deliver that on Tuesday,’ said Smalling. ‘Confidence is good with our form at Old Trafford. We’ll be coming out firing again.’ Chris Smalling says confidence is sky high within the Manchester United squad at the moment . VIDEO We dominated, I'm happy - Van Gaal . Hull are on the slide. Manager Steve Bruce has seen his team lose their last four games to slip close to the relegation zone with a tough trip to Everton on Wednesday. Midfielder Tom Huddlestone, dropped for the visit to Old Trafford, remarked on Twitter that Hull had shown United too much respect. It will be interesting to see if he returns at Goodison. ‘I just thought he could sit out (United), freshen him up a bit. Let’s hope it works,’ said Bruce.‘He’s not hit the heights he hit last year but then he set an unbelievable standard. Tom Huddlestone will come again.’", "Congressional Republicans, led by House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa,are planning another IRS coal-raking exercise for Wednesday, hauling the tax agency's commissioner in for a hearing about the nearly year-old tea party targeting scandal. Committee staff say the U.S. Department of Justice and the rest of the Obama administration haven't shown them any sign that they're investigating corruption in the awarding of income tax exemptions to nonprofit groups. An aide to one Republican committee member said Monday that the White House and the Treasury Department were already dangerously close to causing a constitutional crisis. 'They've blown off the subpoenas,' the aide said, referring to legal demands the committee issued to the IRS on August 2 and February 14. 'If the DOJ keeps dragging its heels too, and can just get away with it, why do we have an oversight committee in the first place? It's like the White House has never heard of the separation of powers.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . John Koskinen, a former CEO of Freddie Mac, is now in charge of the IRS and will face aggressive questions on Wednesday about a scheme to target right-wing groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for special tax benefits . Hundreds of small and politically conservative tea party groups were 'screwed' by the IRS, according to House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa, a California Republican . 'Not even a smidgen of corruption': President Barack Obama told Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly on Super Bowl Sunday that the IRS's hands were clean, despite an ongoing investigation of the kind that the White House routinely refuses to comment on . The House of Representatives, controlled by the GOP, has already found Attorney General Eric Holder in criminal contempt for refusing to hand over documents in the botched 'Operation Fast and Furious' gun trafficking scheme. But Holder himself is the official responsible for enforcing the contempt finding, rendering him essentially outside the reach of Congress. And despite the White House's assurance that the Justice Department is investigating the most politically fraught IRS scandal since the Nixon administration, President Barack Obama said during a Super Bowl Sunday interview that he was already sure there was 'not even a smidgen of corruption' to be found – suggesting that he isn't reserving judgment until an investigation has concluded. In June 2013, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that the president thought political targeting by IRS officials was 'a problem.' Issa, a California Republican, is calling IRS top dog John Koskinen to testify Wednesday about what his agency has done to clean house. Beginning in early 2010, IRS officials routinely held up tax-exempt applications from conservative organizations, including 'tea party'-named groups, whose positions differed from the president's. Some groups waited more than three years for their approvals, while politically liberal groups were fast-tracked. Foot-dragging? Attorney General Eric Holder has promised to investigate the IRS's actions, but Oversight Committee Republicans say the Justice Department won't show any evidence it's actually happening . Obama sacked the then-acting commissioner, Steven Miller, promising in the White House East Room that 'we will work with Congress as it performs its oversight role. And our administration has to make sure that we are working hand in hand with Congress to get this thing fixed.' 'Congress, Democrats and Republicans, owe . it to the American people to treat that authority with the . responsibility it deserves,' he insisted, 'and in a way that doesn’t . smack of politics or partisan agendas. ... The good news is it’s . fixable, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to work together to fix . it.' The scandal has galvanized disparate parts of the Republican Party, with libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul and others firing up more traditionally conservative constituencies with red-meat, anti-IRS messages . Obama nominated Koskinen to take the place of Daniel Werfel, another interim commissioner, in August. He was confirmed during the week before Christmas. 'We all hoped the new commissioner would be independent and at least make a move to toss out some of the bad apples,' MailOnline's source said. 'But this is looking like more of the same. The committee is doing all it can, but if these guys refuse to obey the law there's not much anyone can do.' The IRS's complicity in the scandal that hamstrung hundreds of small tea party-affiliated groups exploded in May 2013 when Lois Lerner, then in charge of the agency's 'Exempt Organizations' division, answered a self-planted question about it during a professional conference. Since then, she has refused twice to answer questions before the Oversight Committee, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The IRS promised nearly three weeks ago that it will turn over all of Lerner's emails during the Obama administration to the House Ways and Means Committee – the Oversight Committee expects to share in the bounty of disclosures – but no documents have shown up on Capitol Hill. Issa and other Republican committee . leaders released a report this month alleging that Lerner 'believed the . political participation of tax-exempt organizations harmed Democratic . candidates, she believed something needed to be done, and she directed . action from her unit at the IRS.' She . was also involved, they wrote, 'in an \"off-plan\" effort to write new . regulations in a manner that intentionally sought to undermine an . existing framework for transparency,' and then 'engaged in efforts to . cover it up' by publicly denying that the IRS was trying to change its . evaluation criteria. Still a target: Lois Lerner, who helmed the IRS's tax-exempt application office while right-wing groups were singled out for special scrutiny and held back for years at a time, has refused twice to answer questions before Congress . The net effect of the proposed new regulations – an effort described in IRS emails as being developed 'off-plan' and away from public view – would be to codify the procedures that Lerner put into place, in a way that Republican congressional insiders say will permanently make it harder for conservatives to participate in the political process. 'Instead of fixing a clear form of discrimination, they're trying to write it into stone,' a second Republican aide said Monday. 'That's why so many people have complained about it.' More than 143,000 comments were logged in response to the IRS's regulatory proposal, a historic number that's second only to the Obama administration's requirement under the Affordable Care Act that all qualifying insurance plans must include coverage for contraceptives. Committee staff said Monday on background that the IRS has failed to turn over any requested documents about the proposed regulation. 'You watch on Wednesday,' the second staffer . predicted: 'Koskinen is going to bob and weave, and committee . Dem[ocrat]s are going to try and change the subject over and over . again.' 'This is probably going nowhere, again. Unless the chairman has some new ammunition. I don't know that he does.'", "Per Mertesacker hailed an important response to Tuesday night's results after Arsenal's late winner against Southampton. Alexis Sanchez's 89th-minute goal saw off the 10-man Saints - depleted by Toby Alderweireld's injury after they had used all of their substitutes - and kept Arsenal in touch with the Premier League's top four. Manchester United, fifth-placed surprise package West Ham and under-performing Liverpool all won on Tuesday, as did leading pair Chelsea and Manchester City elsewhere on Wednesday. The towering Per Mertesacker of Arsenal celebrates with Alexis Sanchez, who won the game for the Gunners . Arsenal beat Southampton after they were reduced to 10 men through injury with all three substitutions used . Burnley 1-1 Newcastle United . Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool . Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City . Swansea City 2-0 QPR . Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa . West Brom 1-2 West Ham . And Mertesacker told BT Sport: 'We needed that win desperately because everyone won yesterday so we were a bit under pressure. We just kept going, we always believe in ourselves. 'They were unlucky, they were one man down because of an injured player, but we deserved it because we kept going.' The win was Arsenal's third in succession, following those against Borussia Dortmund and West Brom, and their German defender said: 'We want to continue that run and be more consistent, especially in the Christmas period. We have potential, everyone knows, but we have to show it.' Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believed Alderweireld's injury left his side struggling at the crucial moment. The win was Arsenal's third in a row after beating Borussia Dortmund and West Brom recently . Sanchez celebrates giving Arsenal an 89th-minute lead against Southampton on Wednesday night . 'If you lose a match in the last few minutes, it's always frustrating,' he said. 'It was a good reaction after last Saturday (losing 3-0 to Manchester City), we had our chances but we were a bit unlucky with the injuries. 'After the third change, Alderweireld had a hamstring injury and then it was 11 against 10, and that made the difference. 'It's no points today but if we keep playing this way, no problem.' Goalkeeper Fraser Forster had kept Southampton on level terms with excellent saves from Danny Welbeck and substitute Olivier Giroud in the second half. And Koeman said: 'Fraser had two or three great saves in the second half, (the save from) the header of Giroud was amazing, but it was not enough.' Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster had kept Southampton on level terms with excellent saves . VIDEO Koeman unhappy with second half performance .", "A Manchester United footballer offered a student £10,000 for a threesome with a team-mate. Brazil star Andreas Pereira had asked Kelly McKinney for sex in a text and then suggested that his first team friend Paddy McNair join them. In a series of lewd messages Pereira said they would pay her £5,000 each, 'if u do it well', but Miss McKinney was disgusted and refused. Cash deal: Brazil star Andreas Pereira met Kelly McKinney, right, at the Manchester United Christmas party, left, and then offered to pay her £10,000 for a threesome with a friend . Messages: These texts show how Pereira said he and first team friend Paddy McNair would pay £5,000 each for sex . She told The Sun: 'I nearly fell off my chair when he offered me £10,000 for a threesome. What kind of low-life does that? I'm not that kind of person at all and found it very, very insulting. 'He's clearly desperate and struggling to find anyone that he doesn't have to pay for a sex'. There is no evidence that Mr McNair knew of, or was involved in sending the messages from Pereira's phone. Miss McKinney said she met Pereira at the Manchester United Christmas party and was invited to the VIP area to drink with the other players. She described Pereira and McNair as being like 'naughty schoolboys' and said later the footballer tracked her down on Twitter and they then exchanged numbers. But the messages soon turned towards sex and he asked: 'U want to do something next week me u and paddy?' She then asked what he meant and he replied: 'Threesome. Will take care of u. U want? How much. Tell me. We were ready to pay 5each.' After she refused he then texted again to say he and Paddy McNair wanted to meet her for sex and she asked: 'Just you?' and he replies: '1 friend'. Friends: Pereira said that his team-mate Paddy McNair, right, was keen to meet Miss McKinney for sex but there is no evidence Mr McNair was involved in sending the messages . Born in Belgium, Pereira has represented Brazil at U20 level and plays regularly for United U21s but is struggling to make an impression on Louis Van Gaal who is well stocked in that position. Pereira made his debut for United's first team, coming on as a substitute in their 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to MK Dons early this season . The 19-year-old is unlikely to sign a new contract at Old Trafford and is poised to leave in the summer - and may now me in trouble with the club's manager Louis van Gaal. Last night his agent Leo Scheinkman said: 'He is young and single and can have sex with whoever he wants. What does he have to apologise for?'", "Stoke City players were incensed when referee Michael Oliver denied them what appeared to be a stonewall penalty against Manchester United, despite having a clear view of the incident. As Potters striker Peter Crouch headed the ball on, Chris Smalling could be seen lifting his arm as the ball struck him on the way through. Referee Oliver was in a good position to see the incident clearly, but made the decision to refrain from awarding a spot kick. The ball clearly hits the arm of Manchester United defender Chris Smalling on the way through . A different angle of the incident shows again that the ball hits Smalling after Peter Crouch's header . Referee Michael Oliver (bottom left) has an unobstructed view of the incident between Stoke and United . After the match, speaking to Sky Sports, Crouch said of the incident: 'It was a yard ahead of me, my header was on target. Smalling had his hands up and for me, it was a definite penalty.' Stoke manager Mark Hughes added: ‘Chris Smalling has lost Peter Crouch on the initial header and is just trying to get something in the way of the ball. It’s a goal-bound header and he’s made an intentional movement with his arm to bat the ball down. ‘The referee is clearly standing there four or five yards away so why he hasn’t given it I don’t know. ‘It’s a waste of time (speaking to Oliver about it). I’m sure he will say something like the lad couldn’t get out of the way because he was so close but I don’t think that’s the case.' At the time of the incident, Stoke were level with Manchester United, who equalised through Radamel Falcao. The home side had gone 1-0 up after just two minutes, and were looking to hold on for an invaluable point against Louis van Gaal's men. They managed to keep the scores level at 1-1, leaving them in 10th place ahead of the 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League. Manchester United remain third. It was a quiet game for Michael Oliver. The only real talking point was the penalty for the Chris Smalling handball. His arms were up in an unnatural position, so it should have been a penalty. Manchester United have certainly had a lucky Christmas in terms of penalties awarded against them, with the Stoke incident the clearest of three. United had one given against them versus Newcastle on Boxing Day, but there should have been another earlier in the game at Old Trafford, when Juan Mata tripped Yoan Gouffran. At White Hart Lane two days later, Wayne Rooney clearly held Harry Kane toward the end of the game as a corner was taken, but appeals were waved away. Louis van Gaal's side are riding their luck. Harry Kane was bundled to the floor by Wayne Rooney but no penalty was given by Jonathan Moss last week .", "Retired Dutch footballer Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been accused of racism after visiting a hospital dressed as a King with a 'blacked-up' face. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, who was taking part in the Parade of the Three Kings in Marbella, Spain, dressed up as Middle Eastern king Balthazar. Wearing black face make-up, a jewelled head dress and a robe with a leopard print trim, the Dutchman entertained the crowds at the weekend. Controversial: Ruud Van Nistelrooy taking part in the Parade of the Three Kings in Marbella, Spain dressed up as Middle Eastern king, Balthazar . Meeting locals: Along with the two other 'Kings', Van Nistelrooy met with locals . Along with the two other 'Kings', Van . Nistelrooy visited a hospital where he gave gifts to . staff and handed out sweets to children. He posted several photos of his costume on Twitter writing: 'In hospital with presents for the young and old.' But many fans were outraged and Twitter user Ian Harding tweeted: 'What the sweet Jesus is Rudd Van Nistelrooy doing? And yes, that's actually him!!' McAllyn wrote: 'Nistelrooy Is A Huge Racist Piece of S***' Kris Maher ‏wrote: 'So this what Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been up to since he retired!?' Popualr: Dressing up as the kings is popular and this regularly involves ‘blacking up’ in Spain . Charity work: He posted several photos of his costume on Twitter writing 'In hospital with presents for the young and old . Betting website Paddy Power declared . on their Twitter page: 'Ruud Van Nistelrooy thought he was doing a good . deed by visiting a hospital but he didn't think this one through...' But . one of his fans @MarkieBoy tweeted the footballer saying:  'People are . playing that racist card to easy now a days ,to busy jumping on the band . wagon to see the good you were doing.' Although the costume appears controversial, Balthazar is traditionally portrayed as a black man in historical texts. In Spain Three Kings’ Day is an annual post-festive celebration, held every January. Annual tradition: Ruud Van Nistelrooy on the top of a float as it travels through Marbella . Luxury travel: The three Kings wave as they travel on a boat . In celebration of the Three Wise Men . visiting the baby Jesus, people mark the end of the Christmas . season with processions and presents. Dressing up as the kings is popular and this regularly involves ‘blacking up’. Hero: Ruud Van Nistelrooy during his Manchester United heyday . This . kind of behaviour would generally be viewed as controversial in the UK . whereas in Spain it seems completely normal and simple harmless fun. On Friday German chancellor Angela Merkel raised eyebrows when she was pictured alongside children with blacked-up faces on the steps of the chancellery in Berlin. Fortunately for the CDU leader, the . visiting children were not part of a political stunt but carol singers . dressed up as the three wise men for the German Twelfth night, known as . Three Kings' Day. And . last week a ten-year-old Leeds United fan became embroiled in an online . race row after he blacked up to pose with his hero El Hadji Diouf. The child posted a series of pictures on his Twitter account provoking a backlash from users who said he was racist. But the primary school child said he did not realise it would be offensive and did it as a tribute to his footballing hero. Tradition: German chancellor Angela Merkel, right, looks at a carol singer depicting one of the Three Kings in Berlin last Friday .", "By . Bianca London for MailOnline . Dog-lovers from across the UK descended on South Wales for the country's first-ever Pugfest. this weekend. Around 800 people spent the day at Court Colman Manor in Bridgend yesterday to celebrate the wrinkly-faced and curly-tailed pooches. The event was set up by pug-lover Rob Clowes in memory of his nine-year-old dog Poppy -and it raised more than £1,000 for Jemima's Place Animal Trust, which provides emergency care for injured, homeless and unwanted animals. Scroll down for video . It's a pugfest: Around 800 people were at Court Colman Manor in Bridgend yesterday to celebrate the UK's first-ever festival for wrinkly-faced dogs . Pugs of all different shapes and sizes - many in colourful costumes - were at the festival with their doting owners. Rob's father Martin, who helps run Jemima's Place Animal Trust, helped organise the event. He said: 'We were astounded by the turnout - we had around 300 pugs running around, which was just crazy. Licks and kisses: The event was set up by pug-lover Rob Clowes in memory of his nine-year-old dog Poppy -and it raised more than £1,000 for Jemima's Place Animal Trust. Pictured is Grace Richard, 15, and Dexter, who were both celebrating their birthdays . Pug-nic time: The Harvey family pictured enjoying their lunch, their dog, Pippa-Harvey awaits her turn. Pippa was a rescue dog from the DogsTrust in Bridgend . It's a pug's life: Pugs of all different shapes and sizes - many in colourful costumes - were at the festival with their doting owners, including four-year-old Ken from Swansea . 'The car park was full within half an hour of the doors opening. People came from as far as Manchester and Plymouth and the rain held off, which was great.' The festival featured everything from a pug dog show to pet care advice and grooming. There was also a VIP (Very Important Pug) area, as well as activities for children and a number of stalls and shops inside the hotel. Martin added: 'We are not sure yet how much money was raised, but I think it will be well above £1,000. 'It's just amazing to see how many people own pugs. We are now planning an event in the run-up to Christmas and Pugfest is definitely something we want to do every year. 'But I think next time we are going to need a bigger venue.' Hugs and pugs: Amelia Kornaker, four, her brother, Max, seven, and their Pug, Sonny, four months, celebrated at the event . Party time: People came from as far as Manchester and Plymouth and the rain held off for the event . Fun times: Pug, Bentley, four months, with his owners, Kyan Yhnell-Smith, seven, and his sister, Keeley, five . VIPs: There was also a VIP (Very Important Pug) area, as well as activities for children and a number of stalls and shops inside the hotel .", "(CNN) -- Manchester United's record signing Juan Mata made a winning start to his Old Trafford career on a night when Arsenal's Premier League ambitions encountered a setback. The Spaniard played 85 minutes of United's 2-0 victory over Cardiff City before being substituted to a standing ovation following a promising debut. \"It was a very special day for me. My first game -- my debut -- with a victory. It was perfect. I enjoyed it a lot,\" Mata told Manchester United's in-house media company MUTV. \"What I love most is to play. So these minutes [on the pitch] are very important. Now I'm going to train and I'm looking forward to playing at the weekend and trying to do my best for the team.\" Signed for a club record $61 million, Mata -- who trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Monday following his move from Chelsea -- had a hand in United's opening goal. It came as he swept a diagonal ball out to Ashley Young, whose cross was eventually turned in by Robin van Persie after Antonio Valencia's header hit the crossbar. The Dutchman had needed just six minutes to score after making his first start since December 10 following a thigh problem. Young doubled the lead in the second half as United ensured that the return of 1999 Champions League winning legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, now in charge of Cardiff, to Old Trafford was not a happy one. United's victory enabled them to close the gap on sixth-placed Everton, who were thumped 4-0 by city rivals Liverpool as Daniel Sturridge (2), Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard gave the home fans a night to remember. The misery for Blues boss Roberto Martinez was compounded when Romelu Lukaku was forced off the field on a stretcher after a worrying injury to his ankle. Dropped Points . Another manager who may be feeling a little unease is Arsene Wenger, whose Arsenal side lost two potentially crucial points at Southampton in a 2-2 draw. The Gunners' coach was held up in traffic ahead of the game and the team also struggled to go through the gears, trailing 1-0 at halftime following a lackluster 45 minutes. Goals from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla turned the game on its head, but Adam Lallana replied for the hosts to ensure that the match finished 2-2. Arsenal still lead the Premier League but the draw means second-placed Manchester City can climb above them should Manuel Pellegrini's free-scoring side win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. Chelsea can also climb above Arsenal on Wednesday, should Jose Mourinho's side beat West Ham at home by more than two goals. In Tuesday's other games, Swansea and Crystal Palace recorded much-needed wins -- at home to Fulham (2-0) and Hull (1-0) respectively -- while Norwich hosted Newcastle in a goalless encounter that featured a red card apiece for both sides.", "It's fair to say that footballers and their Wags are not known for their good taste. But even by their standards, the home of West Ham’s Andy Carroll and his fiancee Billi Mucklow, formerly of ITV reality show The Only Way Is Essex, takes interior decoration to previously unknown levels. Fans yesterday mocked the £85,000-a-week, pony-tailed footballer after he and Miss Mucklow, 26, posted pictures of their new Essex mansion, which has been dubbed Carroll Castle, on social media. Scroll down for video . 'Classy': Billi Mucklow and Andy Carroll's interior decor choices didn't go down well with fans when the former TOWIE star posted a series of pictures of their new house . Disco time: 'Lets PARTY! #CarrollCastle', Miss Mucklow captioned the picture of their families around the dining table on Christmas Day . 'Billutifuls': The footballer surprised his fiancée with her very own home beauty salon, revealed on the former reality star's Instagram page . The couple, who announced on Christmas Day that they are expecting their first child, were photographed on a massive fuchsia pink sofa in a room covered with zebra print wallpaper and matching cushions. They were holding mugs with their initials printed on them, and a tiny dog was perched on Carroll’s lap. The pink theme continues throughout the house – there’s also a neon pink beauty salon which Carroll, 25, installed for his wife-to-be as her Christmas present, complete with a Snow White mirror with the words ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall’ written in pink lights. Posing in a pink dressing gown and a pair of M&S pyjamas with her hair in rollers, Miss Mucklow gushed her approval of the beauty salon: ‘Biggest shock of my life, secret key led to a secret room in my new house! My very own salon called “Billutifuls” I’m one lucky girl.’ Another snap posted by Miss Mucklow of a family get-together over Christmas included neon pink and purple disco lights projected on to the ceiling of the mansion’s dining room. The couple were clearly keen to make sure their visitors were comfortable – a picture of their sweeping staircase included a row of his-and-hers white and black guest slippers. One image shows the couple lying on their bed with their flowing locks spread out beneath them, taken from their reflection in the mirrored ceiling above. Carroll captioned the snap: ‘Good morning from our new home!! #crazyhair #dirtymirror.’ Miss Mucklow, who quit The Only Way Is Essex to run a Bikram yoga studio, started dating Carroll in the summer of 2013 but they kept their relationship under wraps until February 2014. Relaxing in style: The couple reclined in one of the bedrooms in their new home to pose for a selfie underneath a mirrored ceiling . Your palace awaits: A sweeping staircase with shaggy, silver carpet leads into the couple's foyer where dozens of white and black slippers were lined up for guests . And relax: On January 1, Miss Mucklow shared this photograph from a bubble-filled bath in their home as she watched cartoons . Baby joy: The couple - who became engaged in November - are expecting their first child together . The former TOWIE star donned a Christmas jumper to make to announce her pregnancy on Christmas Day . While many of her 160,000 Instagram followers seemed impressed with her new home, calling her a ‘lucky cow’ – apparently as a compliment – Carroll’s were less enamoured. One fan despaired: ‘Bruv, why did you let her have a pink sofa? That’s the worst room I’ve ever seen.’ Others agreed it was ‘naff’, with one commenting: ‘Footballer, Essex, Reality TV person. Really was never going to be a bastion of taste was it? ‘If they’d kept it to themselves, then that’s their choice. If they choose to inflict it on us via one of the plethora of “celeb-mags”, then they open themselves up for comment, even ridicule...’ Carroll is not the first footballer to be derided for his home interiors. Ex-Manchester United defender Phil Neville and his wife Julie had giant gold initials ‘P and J’ installed into wrought iron gates at their former Versace-themed mansion in Lancashire. Aston Villa star Stephen Ireland was ridiculed for installing a £100,000 fish tank and a pool table with his surname picked out in the baize. Earlier this week the footballer denied claims he had been caught up in an alleged hamper scam alongside West Ham manager Sam Allardyce (right)", "Sacked Manchester United manager David Moyes is to be questioned by police over claims he attacked another drinker outside an upmarket wine bar. Moyes, 51, allegedly erupted in a rage after he was subjected to a torrent of abuse as he arrived with friends. One drinker is said to have goaded him about his recent sacking by Manchester United. Witnesses say Moyes suddenly turned round and lunged at Joshua Gillibrand, 23, hitting him on the side of the head. There was a brief scuffle near the bar entrance, the pair were separated and Moyes was restrained by his friends who dragged him away until he had calmed down, they claimed. Investigation: Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is being probed by Lancashire police over an allegation of assault made by Joshua Gillibrand, a 23-year-old joiner . Sacked: Moyes lasted less than a year at Old Trafford after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson . Mr Gillibrand, a joiner, told The Sun: 'He grabbed me around the neck and struck me on the back of the head. I ended up face down on the floor. 'I felt I was going to die. There were tables flying everywhere and glass all over the place.' Mr Gillibrand suffered a lump on the side of his head and a bruised shoulder and went to hospital. On Thursday night police confirmed they had launched an investigation into the fracas and sources said they were set to speak to the former Premier League manager. The incident happened at around 10pm on Wednesday after Moyes and friends – including Derek Shaw, former chairman at Preston North End, one of Moyes’ previous clubs – had dined at Piccolino’s in Clitheroe, Lancashire, before going to the nearby Emporium wine bar. A group standing outside the bar began making abusive remarks when they saw Moyes, who was humiliatingly sacked as United manager last month after less than a year in charge and is understood to have left with a £4.5million pay off. A witness said: ‘Moyes started to head in with his mates but he was being barracked by drinkers outside. He was getting a bit of lip from a couple of blokes and then one guy, who was a bit drunk, said something about him being s*** and having never won anything. ‘Moyes kept his head down and carried on walking towards the door with his friends and everyone thought he was just ignoring the banter. But then stopped, turned on his heels and quickly marched back.’ Wine Bar: The alleged incident is said to have taken place at the Emporium in Clitheroe, Lancashire . Reveller: Mr Gillibrand claims he was attacked at just after 10pm last night after an incident outside the bar. He did not require hospital treatment . The man, who witnessed the end of the incident said: ‘Moyes had completely lost it and was bright purple in the face and quite clearly out of control. ‘No one could quite believe what had happened. We were stunned. He’s obviously had enough of all the abuse he’s been getting after his miserable season.’ Out and about: David Moyes with wife Pamela in December . Another witness, a 22-year-old man, said: ‘Josh was giving him banter, I think it might have been a chant about him leaving Manchester United, nothing very offensive, and initially Moyes just walked past him into the bar. ‘But moments later Moyes came back outside, squared up to Josh.’ The witness, an acquaintance of Mr Gillibrand, added: ‘Josh is a well-built lad but he’s not particularly mouthy, and he’s not really a football fan at all. I think he was too stunned at what had happened to react. ‘Afterwards Josh was really angry about it, he was saying he wanted to take it further.‘He was saying, “Whoa, I was only joking”. It’s amazing to think that someone who a few weeks ago was managing one of the world’s top football clubs was scuffling outside a bar on a Wednesday night in Clitheroe.’ Another friend of Mr Gillibrand said: ‘He was quite drunk and went up and said something to him like, “What are you doing around here?” ‘It didn’t go down at all well with Moyes who started swearing at him, so Josh said something like, “Well get out of town then”, and turned his back on him, which is when Moyes hit him in the back of the head.’ A police car was flagged down and officers dealt with the incident. Moyes was taken aside by the officers and spoken to. Mr Gillibrand’s mother Susan, 53, said her son had been shocked and had suffered a couple of bumps and bruises. She said: ‘Josh does not even like football.’ Last night Moyes, who lives near Preston, declined to comment over the incident. A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: ‘Officers attended the bar at about 10pm on Wednesday, May 21, and it was reported that a 23-year-old local man had been assaulted by a 51-year-old man. ‘Inquiries are ongoing and we are speaking to a number of people to try to establish the circumstances. No one has been arrested at this stage.’ Sacking: Mr Moyes was hand picked by Sir Alex Ferguson to succeed him as boss but lost his job at Old Trafford after nine months . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "She's the make-up artist that gave Amal Clooney her bridal beauty and Kim Kardashian her flawless glow so it's hardly surprising that Abbey Clancy wanted a bit of Charlotte Tilbury's make-up magic. The model was treated to a live makeover by Charlotte, who is also Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss' beauty guru of choice, at Selfridges Exchange Square, Manchester. Charlotte treated Abbey to The Supermodel look; a look inspired by all the supermodels that she has worked with - and she's shared her step-by-step guide to getting the look with FEMAIL. Beauty buddies: Abbey was treated to a live makeover by Charlotte Tilbury at Selfridges Exchange Square, Manchester yesterday. Here, she shares her tips and tricks with FEMAIL ahead of Christmas party season . Describing the look, Charlotte said: 'Inspired by the heavenly supermodels of the 1990's and the trailblazing icons of today’s catwalk, from Linda, Cindy, Claudia, Helena and Naomi, to Kate, Cara, Jourdan, Joan and Miranda. 'The Supermodel is channelling the legendary make-up of these perfect, glamazon women who understand the power of the ultimate smoky eye paired with a sultry nude lip look. 'The sensuous smokey eyes, the killer cheekbones and the glossy, nude kissable lips that we all want. 'This look is like that chic little black dress that you can always fall back on, every time you put it on, you know you look gorgeous, glamorous and fabulous.' Get the look: Charlotte treated Abbey to The Supermodel look, which was inspired by the 'heavenly supermodels of the 1990's and the trailblazing icons of today’s catwalk' that she works with . She began by prepping Abbey's skin with her Magic Cream, which was named by the models backstage at fashion week, followed by her Wonder Glow, foundation and retoucher concealer to give her the mother-of-one a healthy glow. She then brushed up her brows and used a highlighter just below the arch of her brow. 'This is an old make-up artist trick that accentuates and lifts the brows,' explains Charlotte, before clamping her lashes with her 'push-up bra style eyelash curlers' and slicking on her mascara. To achieve Abbey's sultry smokey eye, she used her Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in Fallen Angel. Priming with a champagne shadow, she then used a beige colour in the corner and applied it using a brush in 'windscreen wiper' motion. Final touches: She completed the look with lip liner, which, she says, is an essential part of every supermodel's kit . 'You can use it wet for a dramatic effect, just pop a little bit of water onto your brush and apply the shadow for a really intense shade,' she adds. She used eyeliner along the lash line and finished with a little feline flick. 'Smudge some smokey shadow under the eyeline to add width to the eye,' she advises. She then instructed Abbey to suck in her cheeks so a natural shadow appeared and she applied bronzer there. She goes on to explain the importance of lip liner. 'Every supermodel is never without their lipliner' she says before outlining Abbey's lips and slicking on her K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick. 'Always leave the blusher until last so you never overdo it,' she adds. Speaking about working with Abbey, she said: 'Abbey is the ultimate Supermodel. She has all the qualities of the divine 90s Amazonian Supermodels - limbs that last forever, sensual smoky eyes, killer cheekbones and heavenly, glossy, nude lips. I love working with her - she’s so lovely and has the perfect features for makeup.' If you want to emulate Abbey's exact look at home. Charlotte has created a new beauty box packed with the tools and a built-in video tutorial showing you how to apply it. Final look: Clearly thrilled with the results, Abbey posed for a photoshoot with her new look . The talking video box has been designed to combine the vintage style of a jewellery box and the technological ease of an iPad, so that beauty buffs can watch, learn and apply make-up simply by opening the lid. As you open the box, a video of Charlotte applying the make-up on a model along with a step-by-step guide begins playing. The box is also packed with items from Charlotte's make-up collection to help beauty aficionados create The Supermodel look; a look inspired by all the supermodels that she has worked with. Now THAT's handy! Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a beauty buff? How about Charlotte Tilbury's new The Supermodel Genius Tutorial Box - a new beauty box packed with celebrity-loved make-up and a built-in video tutorial showing you how to apply it . As well as working backstage at the most esteemed fashion shows, Charlotte is credited with transforming the likes of Millie Mackintosh, Suki Waterhouse and Margot Robbie. Poppy Delevingne even called on her to do her bridal make-up for her wedding earlier this year. So it's fair to say that Charlotte knows a thing or two about beauty. It is perhaps then little surprise that A-lister Kim Kardashian, 33, known for her love of dazzling red carpet looks, called on the make-up maestro to give her a Brit girl makeover when she landed in London recently. However, looking like an A-lister doesn't come cheap; Charlotte's box will set you back £200. One for the Christmas wish list? Famous fans: Charlotte has recently worked with Jennifer Aniston, left, and did Kate Moss' make-up for her Topshop launch earlier this year . Friends in high places: The beauty buff is friends with Harry Styles, left, and did Margot Robbie's make-up recently .", "James Milner has responded to Paul Scholes' suggestion that Manchester City's recent struggles have stemmed from underestimating their opponents. Prior to Sunday's Manchester derby, which City won 1-0, the former Manchester United midfielder claimed: 'There is something about them (City).' 'You may even call it a touch of arrogance - that they don't have to take their opposition into consideration.' James Milner (centre) has hit back at Paul Scholes' claims that Manchester City are undermining other teams . Milner admitted that although City have put in some mediocre performances, the team is sure it can improve . The former Manchester United midfielder accused local rivals City of being 'arrogant' towards their opposition . Quick to dispel the accusations, City midfielder Milner came out to show his support for his manager and team-mates. 'We go out there with a game plan, and if we hit our standards we can beat anyone - we've proved that.' Milner also reflected on City's recent below-par performances, with their derby win the first in four games after losses to Newcastle and West Ham. 'We've not been at our strongest over the last few weeks, and the players know that. It's down to us to change that, and the derby win will go a long way to changing it. Manchester United's Chris Smalling (right) sends Milner flying during Sunday's Premier League derby clash . 'We didn't play as well as we can but it was all about the win.' With a busy schedule ahead in the lead up to the festive period, the 28-year-old sees that there is certainly room for improvement, and that getting the wins is imperative for them to get back to form. 'We can improve performance-wise, but it was all about getting a win and Wednesday is the same. We have to get three points and if we play to our level we will.' 'It's a busy period now - we have an international break coming up but then games come thick and fast and Christmas is always a tough time. 'The league table always seems to change dramatically going into December, and again coming out of it. 'So of we can keep getting the results and get one or two boys back from injury, I am sure we can be in a good position going into the end of the season.' Prior to the derby City had experienced back-to-back losses against West Ham, and Newcastle United (above)", "Brendan Rodgers conceded defeat in his quest for the top four and admitted this slide out of the elite will damage Liverpool in the transfer market. Rodgers knows he must work harder to sell Anfield as a destination for ambitious players without the lure of a Champions League campaign — and to keep those who might be hankering after a move, such as Raheem Sterling. ‘It makes it difficult, there’s no doubt about that,’ said the Liverpool manager. ‘Most players want to be in the Champions League. They want to play at the top level of the game and if you’re not in the Champions League it makes it difficult for you. We know that. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has conceded defeat in his quest for the top four . Liverpool players leave the pitch after the 4-1 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon . Arsenal have won 17 of their 20 games since Christmas in all competitions. That includes 12 Premier League wins, one in the Champions League and four FA Cup victories. ‘It’s going to be a little like this until we become more stable. We’ve got young players who are growing, getting more experience and then hopefully there will be a period where we qualify again. We want to be in the Champions League. That’s important and it is key for us. ‘It’s highly unlikely this year. But Liverpool is a great club. I said that before I came into it. It’s a phenomenal club that players want to play for.’ Rodgers starts the week seven points adrift of the Champions League places with fourth-placed Manchester City playing tonight at Crystal Palace. Successive defeats against direct rivals Manchester United and Arsenal have seen him write off his top-four hopes. ‘I’m a realist,’ said the Liverpool boss. ‘We needed to take something from Arsenal. If we’d done that then our chances would have been greater. I wouldn’t expect the others to slip up, particularly Arsenal or Manchester United. I don’t expect them to do that. Add to that, the sort of growing number we’ve got unavailable I think it will make it very, very difficult with only seven games to go.’ Rodgers will instead prioritise the FA Cup. It is nine years since Liverpool won the trophy but indiscipline is eating away at his options ahead of Wednesday’s quarter-final replay against Blackburn. Anthony Taylor had no choice but to send Emre Can off after he committed a poor tackle on Danny Welbeck . Jordan Henderson tried to argue Can's case after the defender saw red for a second bookable offence . Centre halves Emre Can and Martin Skrtel are suspended, which will not help solve the defensive shambles which unfolded at the Emirates Stadium. Steven Gerrard is also banned after being sent off against United. Mario Balotelli ruled himself out of the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, complaining of an unspecified knee injury after training on the eve of the game, while Daniel Sturridge played and did not look confident about his own fitness after pulling out of England duty with a hip injury. After selling Luis Suarez last summer and starting the campaign poorly, Liverpool recovered, only to lose their impetus after beating Manchester City a month ago. ‘We always felt this year was going to be difficult, that was the reality of it,’ said Rodgers. ‘Our run last year nearly brought us the title. We lost a world-class player and lots of other developments happened within the club. Mario Balotelli (left) ruled himself out of the defeat after complaining of an unspecified knee injury . Rodgers cites losing a 'world-class player' like Luis Suarez (right) has made things difficult for Liverpool . ‘But it’s frustrating that we got ourselves in a position over the last three months, very close, to then come up short in the past two games. I look at Arsenal and their bench, the players, the world-class players on the field with big talent and it shows the continual work we have to do. ‘We don’t give up. We will fight right to the end. Obviously the FA Cup is a priority for us. But there’s been lots of positives from it, looking at players’ development, seeing players grow, it’s been good. ‘And, as a manager not that long in the game, it’s been great for me up to this point, learning about the dynamics of everything. We can still fight and we have an obligation to represent the supporters in the last seven games, and in the FA Cup, to finish as well as we can.’ Liverpool will meet Arsenal again at Wembley in the FA Cup final, if it all goes to form, and Arsene Wenger’s team are finishing the season in irresistible form. The Arsenal players celebrate Hector Bellerin's goal during the 4-1 victory on Saturday . They have won 17 of 20 games in all competitions since Christmas, a sequence spoiled by the aberration in the first leg against Monaco in the Champions League. There are grounds for optimism at the Emirates but Wenger has good vibes about the future. ‘We have a good mentality and good cohesion in the team,’ said the Arsenal boss. ‘There is something happening. That shows you that they are ready to fight for each other. You can see that. 'You can’t cheat on that. People smell that.That of course is a good basis, and defensively we are getting better. I think you also have to give credit to players who get less, such as Francis Coquelin. ‘But I am old enough to know that things are never as comfortable as they look. Let’s judge at the end of the season. ‘We’re on a good run and it will be down to how we can maintain that focus and urgency.’" ]

[ "In conclusion, Maserati isn't very dependable. At all. Their exclusivity means that they do not have the mass-production set up that many of their competitors have, which goes some way in improving reliability. This also means that they are expensive to repair and the parts can take a long time to source." ]

[ "Officine Alfieri Maserati S.p.A. Maserati (Italian: [mazeˈraːti]) is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. ... The company has been owned by FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and FCA's Italian predecessor FIAT S.p.A. since 1993. Maserati was initially associated with Ferrari.", "Luckily, there are simple steps you c... in general AMG cars are more expensive to maintain than their standard iterations (which is already more expensive to start with). ... in general AMG cars are more expensive to maintain than their standard iterations (which is already more expensive to start with).", "[\"BMW i8. The BMW i8 is the country's most expensive vehicle to insure. ... \", 'Maserati Quattroporte. The Maserati Quattroporte is one of the most expensive cars to insure. ... ', 'Nissan GT-R. ... ', 'Maserati GranTurismo. ... ', 'Mercedes-Benz S-Class. ... ', 'Mercedes-AMG GT. ... ', 'BMW X6. ... ', 'Tesla Model X.']", "They aren't expensive to maintain. They might be expensive to have the dealer do if they insist on swapping rotors for their OEM ones and the same for pads.", "According to their data, BMWs were the most expensive to maintain by far, with a 10-year cost of $17,800. They found the luxury brands were the most expensive in general, but many budget vehicles ranked high, too.", "Oil and Filter Change 2018 and Newer From: $579.95 Includes Oil and Maserati Oil filter change.", "Compared to the maintenance cost of many other cars, yes, a Volkswagen car is expensive to maintain. This is mainly due to the expensive German parts of the car and due to the high quality fit and finish the car provides.", "According to their data, BMWs were the most expensive to maintain by far, with a 10-year cost of $US17,800 ($23,930). ... While the prices are in US currency, the list still gives you a good indication of which cars are the costliest to maintain in Australia.", "BMW and Mercedes-Benz were the most expensive to maintain over 10 years, according to the data. Toyota, on the other hand, was the most economical manufacturer, costing about $5,500 to maintain over a decade.", "Alfa-Romeo and its even more upscale cousin, Maserati, are two of four global brands — the others are Jeep and Ram — FCA hopes to ride to riches.", "Is it expensive to maintain a BMW 3 Series? Yes, it's expensive to maintain a 3-Series BMW once it's outside of the factory or CPO warranty. It's not uncommon to pay $1,000 to $1,700 per year for maintenance and repairs on a used BMW 3-Series.", "FAQ: BMW Maintenance Costs Yes, BMW's maintenance cost after the warranty is more expensive than many other brands – luxury or not. A BMW can cost about $5,000 more to maintain over a 10-year period than a Mercedes-Benz, and $12,000 more than a Toyota. Why are BMWs so expensive to maintain?", "So, are Jeep Wranglers expensive to maintain? No, a Jeep Wrangler is not expensive to maintain. The Jeep Wrangler cost $651 per year to maintain. This is just $10 higher than the $631 national average to maintain all vehicle models according to a 2019 study by repairpal.com.", "Fiat Chrysler Automobiles owns Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram.", "Every Maserati since 2002 has a Ferrari-built engine under its hood. It stems from Fiat handing over control of Maserati to Ferrari in the 1990s. ... Still, Ferrari has continued to build engines for Maserati, which include a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8, and a 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V-8.", "They estimate that over 10 years, someone will spend $17,800 on maintaining their BMW. ... BMW's are naturally going to cost more to maintain than, say, a Nissan, because they cost more initially. Their parts are more expensive and they might be more complicated to repair. This can bump the price of maintenance up.", "Luxury Cars cost more to maintain because they have a smaller batch size and with a same fixed cost (for simplicity) your cost/vehicle will be higher. ... Furthermore, some of the more expensive manufacturing processes are on these high-end vehicles, which in turn costs more to repair (part cost, disassembly, etc).", "Which Car Brands Cost the Most to Maintain? Luxury imports from Germany, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, along with domestic luxury brand Cadillac, are the most expensive. A Toyota is about $10,000 less expensive over 10 years, just in terms of maintenance. ... Together, all three are 10% below the median cost.", "The Costs Maintaining a SUV/MPV Interestingly, the Toyota Rav-4 is the most expensive car to maintain, based on having the highest average quote for servicing and repairs*.", "They are ruinous to run. The problem is that there were very expensive cars to buy and therefore look after. They lack the appeal of some other Italian sportscars so depreciate like a stone, but the running costs don't.", "Volkswagens Are Expensive to Maintain While the parts may sometimes cost more due to their need to be imported, overall, the cost of maintaining your Volkswagen is relatively comparable to any other vehicle you may purchase.", "They can be expensive to repair if the major components are problematic. But this is true of any car, not just Corvettes. If you can handle simple maintenance like changing oil, rotating tires, and other simple tasks, then a Corvette can cost the same as any other sports car.", "Compared to the maintenance cost of many other cars, yes, a Volkswagen car is expensive to maintain. This is mainly due to the expensive German parts of the car and due to the high quality fit and finish the car provides. ... Maintenance costs to the tune of 12–15 k per year and nil breakdowns .", "Both amazing machines are quite expensive to maintain and the Lamborghini cost of ownership is not be taken lightly. The Murcielago will run you about $2000 for an oil change, $4000 for plugs and the best part $12000 for an E-Gear Clutch.", "Cars are expensive in Brazil, largely due to taxes. Often not well-maintained. Lots of bureaucracy and paperwork.", "Owning a classic car can be pretty expensive when it comes to maintenance, or it can be very reasonable. As a general rule, the more expensive the car, the more expensive the upkeep, but other factors are also involved, including rarity of the automobile, accessibility of the parts, and age of the car.", "Even the cost of simple maintenance is often a lot more expensive. A luxury car might require specific types of products to be used. Or the manufacturer makes it difficult to access things. ... For the average person, or as an everyday vehicle, I'd say that a luxury vehicle is not worth the money.", "But how much does a BMW cost to maintain? Yourmechanic.com rank BMW as the top for most costly car brand to maintain. ... BMW's are naturally going to cost more to maintain than, say, a Nissan, because they cost more initially. Their parts are more expensive and they might be more complicated to repair.", "These expenses may include mortgage interest, property tax, operating expenses, depreciation, and repairs. You can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses for managing, conserving and maintaining your rental property.", "“Operating Expenses” is the term for all expenses to operate a real estate project; included as a subcategory within Operating Expenses are “CAM expenses.” CAM expenses are specifically those expenses associated with Common Area Maintenance, such as expenses to maintain hallways, elevators, lobbies, parking, ...", "A qualified disability expense (QDE) is any expense related to the account owner's blindness or disability that assists them in increasing and/or maintaining their health, independence and/or quality of life.", "The main reason cars are so expensive to maintain is the cost of parts for repairs. As cars get older there are associated maintenance costs with keeping them on the road. ... If you have your engine or transmission go out in your car you can expect to pay a few grand to get your car running and driving again." ]

[ "From a concert last month at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver, pianist Jean- Yves Thibaudet (zhah(n)-eev too-boh-DAY) and the Colorado Symphony, conducted by Marin Alsop, perform the Piano Concerto in G by Maurice Ravel. (Fred Johnson)" ]

[ "Masterpiece Theatre and Greensleeves: a 2-fer from the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Anne Harrigan conducts a performance of the Masterpiece Theatre signature tune, which is actually the Rondeau from the first Suite of Symphonies by French composer Jean-Joseph Mouret. It was recorded in concert last month at Goucher College. Then, from a Baltimore Chamber Orchestra concert earlier this month, we'll hear Harrigan conduct the Fantasia on Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams at St. Mary's Seminary Chapel in Baltimore. (C C Recordings)", "The Colorado-based Takacs (TAH-kahsh) Quartet headed south last month for a concert at the Tucson Convention Center in Arizona. From that concert, we'll hear the Takacs band perform the String Quartet in F, Op. 135, by Beethoven. (KBAQ Production Studios at Arizona State University and KUAT, Tucson)", "The Beaux Arts (bohz-ART) Trio opened its season last month with a concert at one of the finest concert halls in the Midwest. We'll hear them perform Franz Joseph Haydn's Trio in A major, H. 18, from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois. (Jon Schoenoff Recordings/ Krannert Center)", "Later this hour, Martin will talk with composer John Tavener, who wrote some of the beautiful music played during Princess Diana's funeral service. From a concert last month by the Tavener Concert at St. James Church in London, we'll hear a performance of Tavener's \"As One Who Has Slept.\" (Chris Vezey/VIP Broadcasting)", "Martin meets Mad Max: 25-year old pianist Max Levinson, named the winner last month of the Dublin International Piano Competition, and going on-line with a \"concert cybercast\" at Steinway Hall (courtesy of his new record label, N2K Entertainment), joins Martin in NPR's Studio 4A to play the Overture from Bach's Partita No. 4; the Etudes Nos. 18-23, from Op. 10 by Chopin, and the \"Out of Doors\" Suite by Bela Bartok. (NPR) (Levinson's concert is available on-line at www.classcialinsites.com)", "From Los Angeles, NPR's Mandalit (mahn-dah-LEET) del Barco reports on the crisis facing classical music performance spaces in the City of the Angels. Royce Hall, UCLA's concert hall for the performing arts is still closed following substantial damage during the earthquake last year. The long-awaited Disney Hall, a state-of-the-art center for classical performances, is stalled by a financial dispute. With the closure last month of Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium as a concert space, the city faces a fragmentation of an audience that has no place to go to see serious live music.", "Marin Alsop conducts the Colorado Symphony in a concert performance of the \"Pavane for a Dead Princess\" by Maurice Ravel. Recorded last month at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver. (Wilson Recordings)", "Souvenirs from clarinetist Charles Neidich. From a concert he gave last month at Amherst College in Massachusetts, Neidich plays his own arrangement of Four Souvenirs by American composer Paul Schoenfield. (Harrison Digital Audio Services)", "From the 1996 Schubertiade concerts held last month at the 92nd Street Y in New York, pianist John O'Conor plays a set of 12 Waltzes by Franz Schubert. (Tisch Center Audio)", "Mozart from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. From a concert they gave last month, Flutist Tara Helen O'Connor joins three members of the Borromeo Quartet to play Mozart's sunny Quartet for Flute and Strings in D, K. 285. (Leszek Wojcik Recordings)", "A brass \"Dream Team\": Members of the Summit Brass hail from orchestras around the country. We'll hear them perform the Adagio by Tomaso Albinoni from a concert they gave last month at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts in Maryland. (Michael Cerri Recordings)", "Words of wisdom from the dean of American band music, Frederick Fennell, who conducted the United States Marine Band in a complete concert last month, the first time someone other than a director of the Band has had that honor.", "From a concert earlier this month by the Atlanta Singers, we'll hear \"Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming.\" Then, it's off to suburban Atlanta to hear the Spivey Hall Children's Choir perform a Spanish Carol called \"Nanita Nana\" (nah-NEE-tah NAH-nah). The sounds of brass are always welcome during the holidays, and we'll eavesdrop on a concert last weekend by the Canadian Brass, on the road at the new Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News, Virginia. The Brass play a medley of \"Ding Dong, Merrily On High,\" \"Go Tell it on the Mountain,\" and \"Jingle Bell Rock.\"", "From the recital hall on Edvard Grieg's estate in Norway, pianist Geir Botnen (GAYR BOHT-nen) performs 4 of the composer's Norwegian Peasant Dances, Op. 72. It's from a concert he gave last month for the Bergen Festival. (Charles Lawson Recordings) 9:20 **SEGMENT B IS", "Guitarist Sharon Isbin performs the Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9 by Spanish composer Fernando Sor (SOHR). It's from a concert she gave last month at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. (Aspen Audio Recording Institute) 8:50 **SEGMENT B", "Pianist Alexei Sultanov (sool-TAH-nohv) shows his pensive side in a concert performance of Dumka: Russian Rustic Scene, Op. 59, by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky. The concert took place last month at the Lyric Theatre in Stuart, Florida. (Steve Satkowski Recordings)", "A romantic in the Sunshine State. From a concert last month at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio performs the Trio in C minor, Op. 101, by Johannes Brahms. (Peter McGrath Recordings)", "The Prazak (PRAH-zhahk) Quartet from the Czech Republic plays the Quartet in A major composed by a very young Gioacchino Rossini. The piece dates from about 1804, when Rossini would've been just 12 years old. Recorded in concert last month in San Antonio, Texas. (John Coker's Texas Tape Sales)", "Live on tape from Studio 6 in Budapest: The Ferenc (FAIR-unts) Erkel Chamber Orchestra performs the Divertimento No. 1 written in 1934 by Hungarian composer Leo Weiner (VEYE-ner). From a concert last month at Hungarian Radio, conducted by Lili Aldor. (Hungarian Radio/European Broadcasting Union)", "Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and his son, pianist Peter Stoltzman, perform some music from the opera \"Porgy and Bess\" by George Gershwin. Recorded in concert last month in Spivey Hall on the campus of Clayton College and State University in Morrow, GA. (ACA Digital)", "Boccherini for the Birds: the Orion String Quartet and cellist Nathaniel Rosen play the \"The Aviary,\" a String Quintet by Luigi Boccherini (loo-EE-gee bahk- er-EE-nee). From a concert they gave last month at the Virginia Waterfront International Music Festival. (Harvey Jernegan Recordings)", "In 1949, ten years after Ernst Dohnanyi moved to the U.S., he wrote this piece for flute and piano, called \"Aria.\" From a concert last month at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, here's flutist Dora Seres <SHARE-esh> with pianist Emese Mali <EH-meh-sheh MAH-lee>.", "Pianist Christopher O'Riley plays the Prelude and Fugue in B from \"The Well- Tempered Clavier,\" Book 1, and a Ricercare from \"The Musical Offering\" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Recorded in concert early last month at Sundial Auditorium in Sun City, Arizona. (KBAQ Production Studios, Arizona State University)", "Singer Dave Matthews, who formed his band in Charlottesville, Va. in 1991, will host a benefit concert for the city following last month's violent protests there. Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Pharrell, Chris Stapleton, The Roots and Brittany Howard of The Alabama Shakes are slated to perform, along with other not-yet-named special guests. Billed as \"A Concert For Charlottesville, An Evening Of Music And Unity,\" the free event will be held on Sept. 24 at the University Of Virginia's Scott Stadium beginning at 3:30 p.m. Concertgoers are being asked to donate to the Concert For Charlottesville Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, with proceeds directed towards first responders, victims and their families affected by the violence in the city on Aug. 11 and 12. The benefit concert is just the latest in a series of responses to Charlottesville from musicians and the music industry. Multiple artists, including Wilco, Wolf Eyes and Christopher Paul Stelling have released tracks to raise money and Spotify and other streaming services have taken steps to remove what they deemed white supremacist content from their platforms.", "The Massachusetts Wind Orchestra performs a Suite from the opera \"The Good Soldier Schweik\" by American composer Robert Kurka, music he wrote in 1957 based on the anti-war novel of the same name by Czech writer Jaroslav Hasek. Recorded in concert last month at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. (Harrison Digital Audio Services)", "Beethoven in the Rockies: Pianist Jospeh Kalichstein (KAL-lik-steyen) performs Beethoven's Eighth Piano Sonata, the \"Pathetique\" in C minor, Op. 13. It's from a Winter Music concert he gave last month at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. (Munroe MultiMedia)", "From last Friday's opening concert of this summer's Bard Music Festival, devoted to music by Tchaikovsky, hornists Jeffrey Lang, David Smith,Julie Pilant and Ann Yarbrough play Tchaikovsky's Adagio in C Major; and pianist Sergei Edelmann plays the last three months of the composer's \"Seasons.\" Recorded in Olin Auditorium on the campus of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. (Squires Productions)", "Last month at the New England Conservatory, there was a week-long festival devoted to music by Brahms and Schubert. From the March 13th festival concert, we'll hear the women of the NEC Chorus and the Recital Orchestra, conducted by Li-Fen Chen, perform \"Ave Maria,\" Op. 12, by Johannes Brahms. (NEC Audio Services)", "To mark the 50th anniversary of V-E Day, music from the great War Requiem by Benjamin Britten, a union of the traditional Latin Mass for the dead with poems by Wilfred Owen. Robert Shafer conducts an ensemble that includes the Oratorio Society of Washington, the Shenandoah Conservatory Choir and the Maryland Boy Choir. Recorded last month on Good Friday in the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center. (NPR)", "The Slovak Sinfonietta is currently on a one-month tour of the U.S. At this time the group is enjoying the hospitality of several northern California towns. Last Tuesday the chamber orchestra appeared in the southern California town of Oxnard. From that concert we'll hear the Czech Suite by Antonin Dvorak. (Opus 1 Mobile Recordings)", "Writers are on strike in Hollywood, but musicians aren't. And the L.A. Philharmonic's conductor in-waiting — Gustavo Dudamel from Venezuela — is generating quite a buzz. Dudamel was in Los Angeles last month for a series of concerts, his first performance here since the orchestra announced earlier this year that Essa Pekka Salonen will pass the baton to him in about a year and a half. From KPCC in Los Angeles, Adolfo Guzman Lopez reports.", "One young musician who has gracefully made the transition from prodigy to pro is cellist Wendy Warner. From a concert she gave last month at her alma mater, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Warner and pianist Lambert Orkis perform the Cello Sonata in A minor by Edvard Grieg. (George Blood Recordings)" ]

[ "Persons move toward the door." ]

[ "People wait to catch the subway train.", "A group of people are on a subway.", "A group of people ride a subway", "a group of people in the subway", "A group of people walking towards a building.", "The people are on the subway.", "Bayliss walked towards the door.", "Two people are walking towards the bus doors.", "A group of people walk towards a house.", "A group of people are crowding onto the subway.", "A group of people walking", "A group of people waiting for the subway.", "People are walking in the subway station.", "There is a group of people walking.", "Group of people riding on the subway.", "People are walking towards a building.", "Two groups of people are walking toward each other.", "A group of people in a subway tunnel.", "Groups of people are walking.", "People are walking along a subway platform.", "people in the subway", "Group of people in front of doors.", "The older woman carries a bag and walks towards the subway.", "A group of people walk together.", "She only knows the name and walked towards the door", "A group of people are going door to door caroling", "The people are walking towards the zoo.", "Two women are walking towards the door of an old building.", "A group of people are trying to get somewhere.", "Some people are walking.", "People are walking toward a ship.", "The people are walking in a group." ]

[ "The average temperature in London, England in May is quite mild at 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Afternoons can be very mild with average high temperatures reaching 17 °C (62.6 °F). Overnight temperatures are generally a little cool with an average low of 8 °C (46.4 °F). In May the range/ variation of daily average temperatures is 9 °C (16.2 °F). The weather in May is a little parched with occasional rain. A mere 46mm (1.8in) of water is dumped during on average 13 days. In May the heavens above London, England are reasonably fine with on balance a moderate 6:11 of bright sunshine daily. The shortest day is 14:48 long and the longest day is 16:15 long with an average length of 15:35." ]

[ "Expect 17°C daytime maximum temperatures in the shade with on average 6 hours of sunshine per day in London in May. Check more long-term weather averages for London in May before you book your next holiday to UK in 2018.", "Averages for London in June. June is a popular time to visit London, UK, and the weather is steadily getting warmer throughout the month. During this time of year, the average temperature is 16°C – that's 3°C warmer than May.", "London Yearly Weather Summary. Spring in London can be quite unpredictable, with pleasant temperatures of 20°C during March and May infrequently giving way to chilly, damp and grey weather.The temperature continues during a London spring, with an average high temperature of 10°C greeting March, while this climbs to 17°C in May.he temperature starts to cool throughout September, although the average temperature can fluctuate between 19-20°C in September with 19°C also possible in October. Precipitation is regular feature of London autumns and by November the temperature will barely breach double figures.", "London: Annual Weather Averages. July is the hottest month in London with an average temperature of 19°C (66°F) and the coldest is January at 5°C (41°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 7 in June. The wettest month is October with an average of 71mm of rain. Average Temperature: London.", "Climate & Temperature > Uk > London, England Climate > Average Temperatures. The annual average temperature in London, England, Uk is quite mild at 10.4 degrees Celsius (50.8 degrees Fahrenheit).", "Average Weather in May at London Heathrow Airport United Kingdom. At London Heathrow Airport, the month of May is characterized by rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing by 5°F, from 60°F to 66°F over the course of the month, and rarely exceeding 76°F or dropping below 52°F.", "Weather Overview. May is a very pleasant time to visit London, UK, when the weather is mild and the flowers are blooming. At this time of year, the average temperature for the month is 13°C, considerably warmer than any of the previous months.", "These two factors make London weather slightly warmer in may than anywhere else in the UK. Nightime temperatures are typically about 9 or 10C in may. Frost is a very rare event in london in may, and if it occurs it's very light. On average in may, the weather is sunny for about 40-45% of daylight hours. Long days at this time of year mean that it'll be sunny for about 6 or 7 hours a day on average, Although the weather can remain wet or cloudy for several consecutive days sometimes.", "Find the best month to visit London based on the weather. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec. Expect 17°C daytime maximum temperatures in the shade with on average 6 hours of sunshine per day in London in May. Check more long-term weather averages for London in May before you book your next holiday to UK in 2018.", "At 11°C, the average sea temperature for the closest coastal location to London is significantly warmer than the previous months. In spite of the increase in temperature, the sea in May is still far too cold to enjoy a dip or swim.Across May, the relative humidity for London fluctuates between 48% and 87%, falling below 35% or rising above 94% very rarely.n spite of the increase in temperature, the sea in May is still far too cold to enjoy a dip or swim. Across May, the relative humidity for London fluctuates between 48% and 87%, falling below 35% or rising above 94% very rarely.", "Rainfall will typically occur on about 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 days in an average may in london. At any one point in time, there's about a 6% chance that it will be raining. When the wind comes from the north or west, the weather can sometimes change rapidly.hen the weather is sunny and the wind drops off, the temperature in london can easily go up to 25C in may, sometimes higher. On days when it's wet or windy, the temperature is more likely to be about 15C.", "July is the hottest month (very mild) with an average temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius (63.5 degrees Fahrenheit). The coolest month is cool with a mean temperature of 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Average Temperatures Table for London, England", "Averages for London in August. What's the weather like in London in August. August is a great time to visit London, UK, when the summer season is coming to a close. During this month, the average temperature is 18°C – the highest average temperature for the whole year.", "Averages for London in July What's the weather like in London in July July is one of the hottest months in London, UK, when the average temperature is 18°C, which hardly changes as the month progresses. Temperature", "Spring. Spring in London can be quite unpredictable, with pleasant temperatures of 20°C during March and May infrequently giving way to chilly, damp and grey weather. The temperature continues during a London spring, with an average high temperature of 10°C greeting March, while this climbs to 17°C in May.ith a precipitation of It will be dry with no precipitation and cloud covering 81% of the sky, the humidity will be around 65% . It looks on Tuesday, 20 October the London weather is going to be partly cloudy. The visibility is going to be around 10 km i.e. 6 miles and an atmospheric pressure of 1030 mb.", "London Weather. Contrary to popular belief, it is not always raining or foggy in London! In fact, we have less rain than Rome in Italy. As a large city located in southern England, the average temperature in London is usually higher than the average temperature for the rest of England. Winter: During December, January and February the average temperatures in London are between 5°C and 10°C.", "In spite of the increase in temperature, the sea in May is still far too cold to enjoy a dip or swim. Across May, the relative humidity for London fluctuates between 48% and 87%, falling below 35% or rising above 94% very rarely.n the other hand, the air is usually at its most humid around May 31 st, when the humidity rises above 84% three days out of every four. Just like in April, London enjoys an average of eight hours of sunshine each day throughout May.", "For London in January the daily average maximum temperatures is 7°C with the average minimum 3°C, while in June the average maximum is 19°C with a minimum of 11°C. The wettest month for London is October with an average of 87.3mm of precipitation falling while the driest month is March with 46.0mm falling.", "The highest monthly average temperature in New London for July is 69 degrees. The lowest monthly average temperature in New London for January is 21 degrees. The most monthly precipitation in New London occurs in October with 6.8 inches. The air quality index in New London is 31% better than the national average. The pollution index in New London is 14% worse than the national average.", "Climate in London in June. The average temperature in London in June is a very pleasant 20°C, seldom dropping below the mid-teens. As the summer solstice arrives the hours of sunshine each day reaches seven hours.", "June is a popular time to visit London, UK, when the weather is steadily getting warmer as the month goes on. During this time of year, the average temperature is 16°C – that’s 3°C warmer than May.This month is characterised by rising temperatures, with daily highs starting off at around 19°C on June 1 st and rising up to 22°C by June 30 th, rarely falling under 15°C or going over 25°C.The da...n the other hand, June 25 th is when the air is at its driest, during when the relative humidity drops below 50% three days in four. Just like April and May, London experiences an average of eight hours of sunshine each day in June.", "When the weather is sunny and the wind drops off, the temperature in london can easily go up to 25C in may, sometimes higher. On days when it's wet or windy, the temperature is more likely to be about 15C.London is further than much of the UK from the cooling influence of the cooler waters of the Atlantic ocean.hen the weather is sunny and the wind drops off, the temperature in london can easily go up to 25C in may, sometimes higher. On days when it's wet or windy, the temperature is more likely to be about 15C.", "Summer can be very pleasant with temperatures averaging 18°C (64°F) and often into the low 20s. In recent years London has experienced heatwaves with temperatures well above 30°C (86°F). This is an ideal time to visit London's parks and open spaces or have a go at swimming and boating in London.", "The highest temperature ever recorded in recent times for London in June is 33°C, with the lowest temperature ever recorded being 7°C. When you compare these temperatures to the average for the month – 16°C – it’s apparent that they’re the extremes and aren’t what you should expect during your holiday.n the other hand, June 25 th is when the air is at its driest, during when the relative humidity drops below 50% three days in four. Just like April and May, London experiences an average of eight hours of sunshine each day in June.", "Averages for London in September. The weather starts to cool down in London, UK in September, when the autumn season is setting in. At this time of year, the average temperature is 16°C. As September progresses, the daily temperatures begin to decrease.", "Across the UK, May temperatures average a daily high of 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) and a low of 7 °C (44 °F).", "London weather in April 2018. Expect 13°C daytime maximum temperatures in the shade with on average 5 hours of sunshine per day in London in April. Check more long-term weather averages for London in April before you book your next holiday to UK in 2018.", "Average Weather in April in City of London United Kingdom. In City of London, the month of April is characterized by rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing by 6°F, from 54°F to 60°F over the course of the month, and rarely exceeding 71°F or dropping below 46°F.", "Averages for London in March. The weather gradually begins to improve in March in London, UK when the spring season is beginning. At this time of the year, the capital experiences an average temperature of around 8°C which increases as the month develops.", "London, City of London, Greater London, United Kingdom - Monthly weather averages including average high and low Temperature, Precipitation, Pressure, Wind Charts to assist you in planning your travel, holiday or an outdoor activity at London, United Kingdom", "Intellicast.com: The Authority in Expert Weather London, United Kingdom historic weather averages and records. London, United Kingdom Climate report for average, high and low temperature, precipitation and snow. Monthly and Daily weather averages and records for London, United Kingdom Intellicast.com The Authority in Expert Weather", "1 The annual average temperature in London, England, Uk is quite mild at 10.4 degrees Celsius (50.8 degrees Fahrenheit). 2 The variation of mean monthly temperatures is 13.5 C (24.3 F) which is a low range.3 There is a range/ variation of diurnal average temperatures of 6.8 C (12.3 F). There is a range/ variation of diurnal average temperatures of 6.8 C (12.3 F). 2 July is the hottest month (very mild) with an average temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius (63.5 degrees Fahrenheit)." ]