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[ "I am completely satisfied with my purchase. I thought it was a fair price and there was more than I expected. I received the product in two days which I was surprised. I would certainly buy this produce again if I need more leather. Thank you I would definitively recommend this product to anyone," ]

[ "Presently my dog is a puppy so as of this date I have not made this Pet Bed available to her.\nHow ever I am completely satisfied with this product. I am glad that I purchased it.", "It's a lock. It's small. It works. It does what it says it does. I am completely satisfied with this purchase! Highly recommend if you are looking for a lightweight, fairly low profile lock.", "This is a classic novel. It's value as literature speaks for itself.\nI received the product in the condition advertised, in two days.\nI am completely satisfied with the purchase and service.", "The quality of the product is amazing. The product came with easy to install instructions, it only took a minute to install. The case gives my phone added protection without that bulky appearance. I am completely satisfied with my purchase.", "Fit perfectly on the counter space and matches the light fixtures very well. I am completely satisfied with this purchase.\n\nI use this between the two sinks to hold my perfume and daily skin care products. Thankful to finally find the perfect tray I need.", "I was not familiar with these boots, but am very satisfied with my purchase.", "I purchased this after discovering that Booq had discontinued its Viper sleeve (I already had one and wanted another). The Runetz sleeve is equivalent or better than the Viper, and I am completely satisfied. The soft interior is a plus, and with the hard exterior, I know my computer is safe from damage. Recommended.", "I recently purchased this long handled shoehorn from Amazon. I am completely satisfied with the shoehorn. It is sturdy and well-made. I was surprised by the length of the shoehorn although it was accurately described on the webpage. It makes putting on shoes without bending an easy job.", "I am very satisfied with my order of Mighty Dog Classic Turkey & Bacon Dinner. My two little dogs clean their dishes completely.", "We finally have a home with a fireplace so this log carrier was a PERFECT gift for my husband. Instead of numerous trips to the woodpile, he fills up the Grillinator once! It is made well, looks nice, and we are completely satisfied with our purchase.\n\nA note about the seller: Fantastic customer service with a personal feel. They emailed me to thank me for the order, and they emailed me to make sure I was completely satisfied with my purchase, which of course I was! I highly recommend their product and their company. Top Notch!", "I bought for my son. I didn't think the jacket would fit but it fit well. I am completely satisfied and my son loves the jacket.", "I've had E3 spark plugs in my '03 Silverado for 40,000 miles. I am completely satisfied with this product. Better fuel economy AND better performance.........", "I purchased this product because my previous opener device was falling apart. I found this little beauty on Amazon and I can say that it is a great product. It took only 2 minutes to transmit it to my garage transmitter.\n\nYou can add many opener devices by simply switching the nodes inside the easy to open sliding piece that also houses the battery.\n\nOverall, I am completely satisfied.", "This Machine rocks! Made my life so much easier, was using a hand crank grinder to make my own burger blend, that was a chore. This does the job nicely. I am completely satisfied.", "I love this mixer and I have waited so long to find one I could afford. This arrived very timely matter, packed perfectly so there was no damage. It was sparkling clean and in perfect condition. I love it, it whips up some frosting in no time. This was a very good purchase and I am completely satisfied.", "I bought these because I have previously bought Sentey headphones before and liked both the look and feel of their headphones. I have a large head and ears and these fit with no problem. I wear them during my workout with no issues since they are fairly lightweight. The bluetooth works with my ipod, phone, and computer with no problems at all. I absolutely love these and, once again, am completely satisfied with my purchase from Sentey.", "Cassette bolted on with no surprises encountered. Price was $50 below local bike shop. I was completely satisfied with the purchase.", "As a home Chef, I am completely satisfied with the silicone tip tongs in particular the locking mechanism is very helpful.\nStrongly recommend the products.", "They are very similar to Breeze and were more affordable. I received them fast and am very satisfied with my purchase!", "The pet crate pad serves it purpose very well. I am satisfied with my purchase. The size is just right.", "Product shipped promptly and arrived quickly. Battery appears to be an exact match to the original battery. I have only cycled it twice since receiving it, but it charges quickly and the charge lasts for several hours. I still need to cycle it thru charge discharge a few more times to obtain maximum battery life.\n\nI am completely satisfied with this purchase.", "THe unit came like new. Can't tell the difference from a new printer. It was timely and I am completely satisfied.", "Fit perfectly - looks like the original tail light assembly on the other side. It came promptly. I am completely satisfied.", "I am happy with this purchase. I use it to access multiple computers and between PCs it works well. My MacBook can be a bit flaky but overall I am satisfied with this and would recommend this product to others.", "Cute couple! I am very satisfied with my purchase. I am a little hesitant about writing the names on with a permanent marker. I hope I don't mess it up.", "I have to say that I am really satisfied with my purchase, I own about an acre and half, and have plenty to weedeat around, and the weedeater has just enough juice to complete the job. The best feature of the weedeater has to be the edger, great looking straight cuts. I have to also say that I was really impressed with the blower, even grass which had been stuck to the sidewalk from weeks previous cut were blown away.", "These are just what I have been looking for. I plan to purchase another pair in the future. Fast and safe shipping on the plus,side,too. I am satisfied with my purchase of this gift for myself.", "Anything New England History interests me...have skimmed it and am very satisfied on my purchase. My Winter read.", "I am extremely happy with the KON plush doll I purchased, the quality and time of delivery were well beyond my expectations. I feel confident when purchasing from the site and know that whatever it is I am looking for and am able to find, that it will get to me fast and that I will be satisfied every time.", "These are great headphones for watching TV. If you are looking for high fidelity for music, you need to pay more!\nI bought these for my bedroom TV & I am completely satisfied! I never watch TV without them anymore!", "I really like the feel of it and that it has a small lip around the edges to help protect the face. I purchased this more for the color and look but completely satisfied with the fit and feel.", "I purchased this to protect my very first iPad Air and I am totally satisfied with this product. My iPad Air fits perfectly within the molding provided and I am able to access all of my buttons and ports without issue. There isn't much more to say about this case that hasn't already been said, I'm just one more satisfied customer!" ]

[ "Abstract Comparisons of counts from 14C microautoradiographs of photosynthetically active natural phytoplankton populations with counts from Utermohl or membrane‐filter methods often reveal significant discrepancies in biomass estimates; the viability of armoured species such as diatoms cannot be determined effectively by the latter two methods. Furthermore, nanoplankton < 5 μm in diameter are difficult to distinguish from detrital material, especially when Utermohl methods are used at routine magnifications. Considering that nanoplankton commonly account for between 20% and 50% of total phytoplankton biomass in various lakes, current methods tend to overlook a major segment of the primary producers. In overestimating viable diatoms, dinoflagellates, and armoured green algae by as much as 50% and underestimating nanoplankton by a similar magnitude, conventional counting methods may be inadequate to describe true phytoplankton biomass. These discrepancies can be discovered and corrected by applying microau..." ]

[ "Colony counting in many colony experiments is detected by manual method at present, therefore it is difficult for man to execute the method quickly and accurately .A new automatic colony counting system was developed. Making use of image-processing technology, a study was made on the feasibility of distinguishing objectively white bacterial colonies from clear plates according to the RGB color theory. An optimal chromatic value was obtained based upon a lot of experiments on the distribution of the chromatic value. It has been proved that the method greatly improves the accuracy and efficiency of the colony counting and the counting result is not affected by using inoculation, shape or size of the colony. It is revealed that automatic detection of colony quantity using image-processing technology could be an effective way.", "The effectiveness of a new method for the removal of pigment absorption in phytoplankton cells as required in optical measurements has been extensively tested and compared with the performance of the currently used methanol extraction method.", "A computerized counting program for algae and other microscopic bodies, named Algamica, is presented here. This program is a revised version of the original computer counting program of Hamilton published in 1990. This DOS-based software can enumerate all types of microscopic algae (i.e. phytoplankton, periphyton, diatoms), for which adequate expression of results are provided. Automated calculations of densities, biovolumes, surface areas and carbon biomass are available at the termination of each sample count. A simple counter for other micro-organisms is also available. A comprehensive guide manual file has been added to allow for a friendly first contact with the program and its options. This software conforms to current enumeration methodology. This version is available for PC computers, from website Algamica.ibelgique.com. Minimum required memory is 200 KB.", "The effect of the presence of Myriophyllum spicatum on natural phytoplankton populations was evaluated in a semi-natural environment (limnocorral) and in laboratory assays. Phytoplankton primary production and physicochemical parameters were followed through a growing season in limnocorral containing M. spicatum and their epiphytic algae, other macrophytes, or plastic control macrophytes. In the laboratory, where nutrients, light, and grazing were controlled, natural assemblages of phytoplankton were grown in enriched water taken from aquaria with and without M. spicatum, and primary production was measured.", "The quantity of biomass is commonly measured on-line and off-line in terms of cell numbers. To monitor cell growth on-line in a bioreactor, there are two main methods (Guan et al., 1998): (a) optical probes that do not discriminate between viable and dead cells; and (b) the radio-frequency impedance (RFI) method that counts living cells as capacitance. Off-line, cells are most frequently counted by haemocytometer. The RFI method, however, that could be quicker and more reproducible than the haemocytometer for estimating off-line cell numbers.", "Individuals of the phytoplankton become distributed at random when concentrated on the membrane filter. The percentage of microscopic fields in which a species occurs may therefore be validly converted to a theoretical average number of individuals per field. The theoretical density thus obtained and the actual density determined by time-consuming counting are very nearly similar values when 25 or more fields are scored. An enumeration technique using this relationship is described. It has many advantages over commonly used procedures for concentrating the plankton and estimating the number of individuals in a sample.", "Since its publication, the article ‘Towards a functional classification of the freshwater phytoplankton’ (Reynolds et al., J Plankton Res 24: 417–428, 2002), has attracted the attention of dozens of phytoplankton ecologists worldwide. These numerous applications of the functional classification to describe phytoplankton patterns in various aquatic ecosystems allowed the recognition of some uncertain features of this concept originating from various reasons. In this article, we attempt to facilitate the application of the functional classification, by providing a detailed description of the typical misplacements and by modifying some of the original habitat templates and species allocations. Furthermore, we discuss in this review those coda that were additionally described after the publication of the original article, and attempt giving an overview, as complete as possible, of the state of art.", "Within the framework of a general study on time variability in the St. Lawrence Estuary, phytoplankton was sampled at 10-min intervals for 13 h. A symmetric, cosine, tapered filter was applied to the time series of cell counts, the cyclical trend being interpreted in relation to physical variables. Autocorrelation coefficients were computed for residual phytoplankton data, in order to investigate fine-scale effects in the series. The main pattern (trend) of variation in the phytoplankton data had a frequency of about 1 cycle/190 min and was related to physical variations, following therefore the tidal movement of water masses in the estuary. On the other hand, the correlogram suggests that phytoplankton is aggregated in patches of an average diameter of about 0.75 km.", "No correlation was found between phytoplankton pulses in four North Carolina ponds and variations in bound phosphorus. It is concluded that the interaction of a complex of chemical and physical factors produces both seasonal fluctuations and sporadic blooms of phytoplankton.", "ABSTRACTThe Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine prepared from a strain of Mycobacterium bovis. The potency of this vaccine is dependent on the amount of viable cells. The conventional method to determine the potency of the BCG vaccine is to measure the number of colony forming units (CFU) produced after the vaccine has been reconstituted in normal saline and the cells cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium. However, as M. bovis is a slow growing organism, it needs to grow at least four weeks to be detected in the potency assay. The results of the potency assay could also vary due to manual counting. Therefore, in order to increase the assay efficiency and decrease the variation of the results, we developed an alternative method by using flow cytometer combined with cell counter (viable counts calculated from flow cytometer and counter, VFC) to determine the potency of BCG vaccines. To further test the accuracy of the assay we developed, the viable counts of ten batches of...", "Periodicity and species composition of unicellular and colonial phytoplankton was investigated for two years in three freshwater polluted and unpolluted ponds of Hyderabad, India. Periodicity of various taxonomic groups such as Volvocales, Chlorococcales, Desmids, diatoms and blue-greens was found to be related with the fluctuations of the physicochemical parameters of the ecosystem. Factors like temperature, rainfall, nitrates, nitrites, total sulfides, silica, oxidizable organic matter and basic ratio (Na + K/Ca + Mg) were observed to play an important role in the periodicity of phytoplankton. Taxonomic analysis of the commonly occurring phytoplankton resulted in the identification of 138 species.", "Using phytoplankton indication method,this paper evaluated and analyzed the status of eutrophication in Shanzi reservoir in the four seasons of 2005.The results showed that the trophic state of the water was mesotropher to light eutropher in winter and spring seasons.A\"water bloom\"of Microcystis flos-aquae could be identified in summer season and the trophic state was eutropher in summer and mesotropher in autumn.Since the growth of phytoplankton is effected by a variety of factors,in order to give an integrated judgment about the trophic status of the whole water body,the further combination and integration of multiple evaluation methods are needed.", "Objective To learn more about the qualitative and quantitative detection of lactic acid bacteria from fermented milk in Beijing.Method The count of viable lactic acid bacteria and the species of lactic acid bacteria in fermented milk were identified.Results The detection rate of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillus bulgaricus,Streptococcus thermophilus were 23.08%,27.27%,72.22%,94.44%,respectively.By the end of shelf-life,the average count of viable Streptococcus thermophilus,Lactobacillus bulgaricus,Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus were 3.23×106 CFU/ml,4.17×105 CFU/ml,1.12×104 CFU/ml and 1.32×104 CFU/ml,respectively.Conclusion The identifications and enumerations of viable Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus were more higher than those of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus.", "Abstract A series of experiments was carried out to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of the most probable number (MPN) technique for estimating concentrations of viable planktonic diatoms from sediment samples. Two contrasting species were used to inoculate sterilised sediments: Ditylum brightwellii (large single-celled species) and Skeletonema costatum (small chain-forming species). MPN estimates were carried out on sediment samples that had been inoculated with known numbers of cells to produce three different cell concentrations for each species. The results obtained for these samples were predominantly underestimates of cell concentration for both species. The method was insensitive to low cell concentrations (≤50 ml −1 ). Results at higher concentrations indicate that the technique is best treated as a semi-quantitative method for determining relative abundance.", "Investigations,which included 7 voyages and 200 positions,were made every summer from 2004 to 2010.According to the investigated.materials,this paper studied the phytoplankton's specific compostion,the abundance,the dominant species and the temporal and spatial variation of diversity index.The result showed that a total of 137 phytoplankton species were collected,the range of abundance was from 71.51 × 104ind/m3 to 2 296.31 × 104ind/m3.The composition of dominant species greatly changed,while higher frequency dominant species were Skeletonema costatum,Chaetoceros laciniosus,Chaetoceros lorenzianus and Thalassionema nitzschioide.The diversity index showed an upward trend from near coast to off coast,and most low value areas were near the estuary.The clustering result showed that the phytoplankton community could be divided into three groups.", "Monthly investigation is executed during April 2006 to May 2007, focusing on the abundance and composition of phytoplankton in a large (300 km 2 ) shallow (mean depth 4.4 m) eutrophic lake (Lake Dianchi). The presence of phytoplankton in northern bay was the highest, while that in the southern part the lowest, and center part and northern part conditions represented an intermediate state between these two. Phytoplankton communities dominated by cyanobacteria, and Microcystis bloom occurred in the whole year. Annual average phytoplankton cell number was 8.7 times 10 7 cells L -1 , of which 93.6% was Microcystis, 4.5% were Chlorophyta and 0.3% was Aphanizomenon. Comparative studies of our investigation against conditions in the past indicate that phytoplankton abundance and diversity decreased and cell miniaturization occurs in 2006 - 2007.", "The cyclic bacteriocin enterocin AS-48 was tested on a cocktail of two Geobacillus stearothermophilus strains in canned food samples (corn and peas), and in coconut milk. AS-48 (7 μg/g) reduced viable cell counts below detection levels in samples from canned corn and peas stored at 45 °C for 30 days. In coconut milk, bacterial inactivation by AS-48 (1.75 μg/ml) was even faster. In all canned food and drink samples inoculated with intact G. stearothermophilus endospores, bacteriocin addition (1.75 μg per g or ml of food sample) rapidly reduced viable cell counts below detection levels and avoided regrowth during storage. After a short-time bacteriocin treatment of endospores, trypsin addition markedly increased G. stearothermophilus survival, supporting the effect of residual bacteriocin on the observed loss of viability for endospores. Results from this study support the potential of enterocin AS-48 as a biopreservative against G. stearothermophilus.", "The phytoplankton productivity of Georgian Bay was studied during 1974. Lakewide samples were collected at 16 stations during monthly cruises from April to December and identification and enumeration was carried out by the Utermohl technique. Contaminant bioassays with metals added singly and as a mixture were performed in 1980 and 1981. Based on an overall average, Diatomeae (36–73%) was the most prevalent component of phytoplankton biomass followed by Chrysophyceae (5–38%), and Cyanophyta (3–27%). Biomass means of all stations by cruise indicated a range of 0.35 to 0.61 g·m −3 with a bimodal seasonal pattern. Although ultraplankton made the highest mean percent contribution to the biomass (37%), the other size assemblages such as <5 µm (26%) and netplankton (29%) were not unimportant.", "The effects of fish kill and different fish stocks on the phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics were studied in a shallow hypertrophic reservoir system. When fish stock was below 100 kg ha−1, nutrient availability was not the main limiting factor for growth of phytoplankton. Consequently top-down forces controlled phytoplankton. In the years with high fish stock (>100 kg ha−1) the bottom-up forces dominated as nutrient availability was the main limiting factor for growth of phytoplankton. We can conclude that significant water quality improvement can be achieved in the reservoir system by decreasing fish stock below 100 kg ha−1. Although clear-water phase could be stabilised temporary by macrophytes, stabilisation of good water quality requires continuous regulation of fish community. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)", "This investigation was carried out to study the effect of addition of different concentrations of alum salt used in the treatment of sewer water of the pond and also to study the physico-chemical parameters such as pH ,electrical conductivity ,salinity and total sediments besides that the bacteriological analysis such as total viable count (TVC) or standard plate count (SPC) and total coliform count (MPN) content were analysed in the water sample collected from the pond estimation of viable bacteria (CFU) of the pond water ,the pond located nearby to the Faculty of Education, Ataq city, Shabwa, Yemen. Addition of 6 different concentrations to the water sample were studied and compared with tap water from the area itself .The results were obtained showing the significance of alum concentration in treatment of pond water.", "The post-antibiotic effects (PAEs) of a new cephalosporin, cefdinir, were determined against a range of organisms using a viable counting technique. Cefdinir exerted considerable PAEs against", "During 1982, 1983 and 1984 phytoplankton samples were collected from four cruises in the central and southern Gulf of California. For each station, phytoplankton samples were integrated in order to have a representative sample from the euphotic zone. Our results suggest that phytoplankton abundance and composition in the central Gulf are more related to dynamic coastal processes and local variations, than with a large scale phenomenon like «El Nino»1983", "The relationship between viability assessed by plate counts and detectability by gene probe-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques was examined with cells of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes previously exposed to a range of stress treatments. In all cases the organisms were detectable by PCR after plate counts had declined to zero. Treatment with acid or hydrogen peroxide caused loss of PCR soon after viability was lost, but strong PCR signals were obtained from starved or desiccated cells long after cells became non-viable. Exposure to temperatures up to 100 degrees C had little effect on detection by PCR and even autoclaving cells at 121 degrees C for 15 min failed to abolish PCR detection completely. There is thus no simple relationship between viability and detectability by PCR. Detection of pathogens by PCR in environmental monitoring requires additional evidence of viability before risk can be properly assessed.", "1. Spectrographic analyses of cultures of Plectonema nostocorum are reported, which demonstrate that the nitrogen-containing pigments disappear in the living alga when nitrogen becomes depleted in the culture medium.2. Re-greening of cultures upon the addition of nitrogen is rapid and can serve to separate the process of pigment synthesis from other processes of growth.3. Extraction and measurement of the carotenoid pigments at any stage in growth under controlled conditions is considered a reliable index of growth.", "SUMMARY: By direct viable counts in deep cultures in a basal nutrient agar, consisting of buffered and very highly clarified rumen liquor, supplemented only with vitamin-free acid hydrolysate of casein, tryptophan, a fermentable carbohydrate and agar, the crude wet rumen contents of a hay-fed sheep has been shown to contain a population of c. 108 viable and facultatively anaerobic bacteria per g., mostly Gram-positive cocci capable of fermenting a wide range of soluble carbohydrates including starch and inulin but not mannitol. The mannitol-fermenting population is of the order of 106 organisms per g., consisting mostly of Gram-negative rods, including coliform bacteria. Addition of reducing substances such as sodium sulphide or mercaptoacetate (thioglycollate) to the basal agar had little or no effect in increasing the counts. An extract of hay made with cleared and sterile rumen liquor did not yield the typical rumen streptococcal flora when counted by this method in raffinose+rumen liquor nutrient agar.", "The invention provides a video-monitoring-based public transport passenger flow counting method. The method comprises the following steps of: firstly arranging a counting line for on-off passenger door shooting images; then determining whether passengers cross the counting line or not and the motion directions of the passengers by adopting a human body detecting and tracking method based on head and shoulder part characteristics; further making statistics of on-off passenger flow at each time section; and calculating the total number of passengers in compartments. When abnormal situations are detected, alarming signals are emitted to a system, and drivers can make corresponding strategies according to the signals. The method can adapt to the complex environment of a vehicle-mounted end, and can count the public transport passenger flow effectively in a single-camera mode.", "The use of Fourier transform coherent optical techniques in the pattern recognition of microscopic algae, i.e., diatoms, is described. The results of the construction of complex-valued filters for diatoms and their usefulness in algal identification are presented. Some general applications to water pollution monitoring and control are discussed.", "There are a lot of cow mastitis detection methods,one of the accurate and mostly used methods is detecting the somatic cell content in fresh milk directly or indirectly.First the common cow mastitis detection methods were briefly introduced,then detection methods and techniques which based on detecting somatic cell count were reviewed,problems and deficiencies of these methods were analyzed.Finally,suggestions for somatic cell count based on detection methods and its application prospects were put forward.", "The present work was aimed at analysing the role of inoculated microalgae in nutrient dynamics, bioremediation and biomass production of sewage water. Preliminary microscopic analyses of sewage water revealed the presence of different algal groups, with predominance of Cyanophyta. Among the inoculated strains, Calothrix showed highest dry cell weight (916.67 mg L−1), chlorophyll and carotenoid content in tap water + sewage water (1:1) treatment. Significant removal of NO3-N ranging from 57–78% and PO4-P (44–91%) was recorded in microalgae inoculated tap water + sewage water. The total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity of tap water + sewage water after incubation with Calothrix sp. decreased by 28.5 and 28.0%, accompanied by an increase in dissolved oxygen from 4.4 to 6.4 mg L−1 on the 20th day. Our investigation revealed the robustness of Calothrix sp. in sequestering nutrients (N and P), improving water quality and proliferating in sewage water.", "The photosynthesis-irradiance responses of phytoplankton from Georgian Bay (Laurentian Great Lakes) were measured in 1993 to determine the influence of ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 290-320 nm) radiation and the interacting effects of natural changes in nutrient status and photoadaptive state. Silicate concentrations and phosphorus availability (inferred from 32P incorporation) varied widely but had little direct influence on photosynthetic performance. UV-B caused up to 80% loss of photosynthetic capacity in 1-day simulated surface exposures (artificial light) and up to 40% loss in half-day exposures (natural light), quantitatively consistent with reported responses of marine phytoplankton. The widely varying nutrient status and photoadaptive state (as inferred from photosynthetic light responses) of the phytoplankton had no significant influence on their sensitivity to UV-B radiation, and midsummer communities were as sensitive as spring or fall communities. To a first approximation, the impact of UV-B was propo...", "Phytoplankton nutrient status measurements (C/P, C/N, C/chlorophyll, N/P, alkaline phosphatase activity, and N debt) were measured for 6 yr in seven remote Canadian Shield lakes. Lakes Nipigon and Superior were also studied for 2 yr. These lakes varied in surface area from 29 to 8.223 × 10 ha, they all stratified fully during the summer and had water renewal times > 5 yr. All lakes were severely P deficient; however, the large lakes (> 2000 ha) were consistently less P deficient than small lakes. A growth-rate indicator (photosynthesis normalized to particulate C) agreed with nutrient status indicators, in that small lakes had lower rates than large lakes. Total P was a good predictor of chlorophyll, but factors related to lake size (temperature and mixed depth) were equally good or better predictors of nutrient status. Decreasing mean water column light intensity could not explain the lower P deficiency of large lakes. The deeper, more energetic mixed layers in large lakes apparently cause P to be recycl...", "Abstract The standing crops of fishes which inhabited three small lakes were estimated immediately after rotenone treatment by combinations of procedures which included collections of all fish along the shorelines, from the surface waters offshore, and from the bottoms in shallow water; collections and counts from random sampling areas on shore and in shallow water; and collections and counts from randomly selected transect lines on bottom in deep water by SCUBA divers. Estimates of the net primary productivities of the lakes were made by the C14 method. When the lakes are ranked according to their estimated standing crops, the order of ranking is confirmed by the estimated net primary productivity of the most productive lake, but is in conflict with the productivity estimates from the intermediate and least productive lakes. Analyses of the structures of the fish populations of the lakes before reclamation and evaluations of techniques are also presented." ]

[ "About the only thing that hotel star systems have in common are the stars. If you are looking for a big name, 5-star hotel, you’ll more than likely get what you’re looking for. It becomes confusing, however, when you get into the 1- to 4-star categories.hotel star system\nThere are French rating systems, British rating systems, Italians ratings, not to mention Michelin guides and others. A 2- or 3-star hotel in one country isn’t the same as a 2- or 3-star hotel in another.hotel star system\nThe systems for evaluating the hotels differ from country to country. So, for instance, French hotels with 2 stars may be adequate, while you shouldn’t settle for anything less than 3 stars in Italy.hotel star system\nIn most countries, guest houses and B&Bs are judged by different standards than hotels. If you’re driving down the road and you see something that has 4 stars, you need to look to see if it’s a guest house or a hotel. The amenities will be different. Of course you can always look at the room and see if it fits your needs.\nWhile you can count on paying less for a 1- or 2-star hotel than you will for a 4- or 5-star place, you can’t always assume that you’ll pay less for fewer stars. Price ranges will overlap, so a nice 3-star hotel may cost more than a 4-star hotel.\nAnother problem with most of the hotel star rating systems is that they are based on facilities and services provided. They have nothing to do with room decorations, ambience and charm. Hotels don’t get extra stars for the staff being helpful and friendly or for having great views or a good location.\nSmall hotels may be stuck with only a couple of stars because they have their reception area in the pub next door or because they have an outside staircase. They might have great rooms and be just what you’re looking for, but you might not stop to find that out because they only have 1 or 2 stars. http://www.thebulletin.ca\nGuide books have their own criteria for assigning stars. If you get used to their rating system, you might be able to find some consistency from country to country.\nBut what if you’re looking for a hotel using the internet? Things aren’t too much better for the hotel star rating system there either. There are internet ratings by Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and Hotels.com and others.\nSometimes the same establishment is rated differently by each of those internet sites. And we’re not talking just one star to quibble about. A hotel may be rated as 5 stars by one and only 3 stars by another.\nAccommodations of all sizes want to have the word hotel in their name because that will generate the most number of searches, which also confuses the issue. You could roll up to that hotel you reserved only to find that it is really a little guest house. That’s not necessarily bad if that’s what you wanted.\nSo what can you do? If you’re booking on the internet, check more than one travel site. Go to forums and see what kind of ratings and testimonials other users have posted. Look at pictures of the rooms, and check a map to see where the hotel is located.\nIf you’re driving along, hoping those stars in the hotel rating system will help you find a good room for the night, don’t pass up a cute place with only 1 or 2 stars. Stop and look at a room, it might be something you could never have found in a guidebook because it didn’t have enough stars. Grab that cute little room.\nForget that confusing “official” hotel star rating system: assign your own stars.\n– # –\nTroy Media © 2016 – All Rights Reserved" ]

[ "Along with the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA), the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA), is partnering up yet again with Forbes Travel Guide to conduct the training. Ranked as one of the Top 25 Destinations in the U.S., Miami Beach is only the second city ever to receive a Forbes Travel Guide Hospitality Service Training Certification, further proving the city's commitment to providing excellent service.\n\"The Forbes Travel Guide Hospitality Service Training Certification is a testament to the dedication we have to deliver against a very high set of hospitality standards as an international destination,\" says Steve Adkins, Chairman of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority. \"Miami Beach is home to a number of annual events including Art Basel, South Beach Wine and Food Festival and the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade. And, the new Miami Beach convention center will open later this year. This training with Forbes Travel Guide will only continue to enhance visitors' experiences as they discover our beautiful city and beaches.\"\nForbes Travel Guide provides the travel industry's most comprehensive rating system in the world, along with reviews of hotels, restaurants, and spas. Beginning in 1958 as Mobil Travel Guide, it is the originator of the Five-Star Rating system. A Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating is considered the hospitality industry's most prestigious achievement, going beyond aesthetics and placing a larger emphasis on quality of service. The second annual certification will add to Miami Beach's already outstanding hospitality services, where hotels, restaurants, and entertainment providers are always striving to enhance and augment the guest experience.\nThe training on April 24, held at various locations throughout Miami Beach, will be led by a hand-selected group of travel experts, tastemakers and Forbes Travel Guide instructors. Focused on providing front-line personnel in hospitality-focused businesses such as hotels, restaurants, attractions, and tour companies with professional guidelines and tailored teachings, the day-long event will be broken into three sessions highlighting the Miami Beach customer satisfaction experience.\n\"The City of Miami Beach deserves praise for its inspired commitment to service excellence,\" said Gerard J. Inzerillo, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. \"It is deepening its efforts to deliver outstanding hospitality to every one of its visitors. To do this across an entire city is bold and admirable, and Forbes Travel Guide is proud to support it in this undertaking. With its long and rich legacy, the City of Miami Beach understands the importance of achieving positive and memorable connections with each of its guests.\"\nFor more information on events and updates in Miami Beach, download the Miami Beach Information App at www.miamibeachapi.com/app/\nABOUT FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE\nForbes Travel Guide is the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. Started as Mobil Travel Guide in 1958, the company created the first Five-Star rating system in the United States. Today, Forbes Travel Guide's incognito inspectors travel the world, evaluating properties based on up to 900 rigorous, objective standards. The company's annual Star Ratings, reviews and daily travel stories help discerning travelers select the world's best luxury experiences. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.forbestravelguide.com .\nABOUT MIAMI BEACH\nRecently named the Best LGBTQ Destination by the 2018, 2017 and 2016 editions of the Travvy Awards, presented by travAlliancemedia, World's Leading City Tourist Board in 2017 and 2016, as well as 2016 North America's Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards, and a winner of the 2017 Magellan Award for Best Overall Beach Destination in the U.S. and Canada by Travel Weekly, Miami Beach is a favorite destination among travelers worldwide. Renowned for its unparalleled culinary offerings, extravagant nightlife, rich culture, luxe shopping and plush hotels, Miami Beach is home to unique museums, the New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, Miami Beach Convention Center, international festivals and art exhibitions, boat and auto shows, over 187 boutique and resort hotels and 12 public parks; it is no wonder the beautifully diverse city is one of the world's most popular vacation destinations. Boasting seven miles of breathtaking beaches, Miami Beach is easily accessible from the Port of Miami and Miami International Airport. The City of Miami Beach has been named one of the top cities worldwide for 'walkability' and is equally easy to navigate by bike or boat. Known for its year-round sunny skies, the vibrant destination has been ranked by TripAdvisor as a Top Winter Sun Vacation Rental Getaway Destinations, Top Romantic Destinations, Top 25 Beaches in the World and Top 25 Destinations in the U.S. Miami Beach is like no other place in the world!\nView original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miami-beach-hosts-second-annual-city-wide-training-for-local-hospitality-industry-and-businesses-to-further-elevate-high-standard-of-service-300635408.html\nSOURCE Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority", "Following the announcement of the 2017 Michelin Guide, the restaurants Le Cinq, Le George and L'Orangerie at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris have collectively been crowned with a total of five Michelin stars, making the acclaimed Hotel the first luxury Hotel in Europe to be home to three Michelin-starred restaurants.\nLe George and L'Orangerie have both been awarded their first Michelin star in the latest edition of the Michelin Guide and join the Hotel's French haute cuisine restaurant, Le Cinq, which retains the highest accolade of three Michelin stars for the second consecutive year.\nJosé Silva, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V said \"We believe that a memorable stay would be incomplete without an extraordinary dining experience. As a gastronome myself, I have always had the highest culinary aspirations for our team who have worked to continuously innovate and exceed our guests' expectations. I believe the five Michelin stars awarded today are a testament to this commitment to excellence brought to life by our Chefs, Christian Le Squer, Simone Zanoni, David Bizet and their teams. We are honoured to be the first Hotel in Europe to hold this designation and look forward to many more years of culinary excellence.\"\nShowcasing the cuisine of three Chefs, each with their own individual identities, diverse talents and distinctive styles, the Four Seasons Hotel George V offers guests an unprecedented culinary experience under the same roof, and is now indisputably the leading gourmet address of the capital.\nChristian Le Squer comments: 'The third Michelin star for Le Cinq for the second consecutive year rewards the very essence of today's cuisine and we strive to continuously evolve our style and techniques to instill an emotional connection with our guests'.\nSimone Zanoni adds: 'After a long career in different Michelin starred restaurants, I think I have finally found my place at the George where the light and convivial cuisine meets a buzzing and trendy ambiance. I believe this Michelin star follows the evolution of our guests' desire for a friendlier and more informal dining experience with exceptional flavors'.\nDavid Bizet concludes: 'During my 17 years in Le Cinq's kitchens, I have forged a passion for excellence and it is with the same quest for perfection that I have worked on L'Orangerie's menu. The Michelin star received today, just eight months following our opening, is a reward that honours the tireless work of our teams to create dishes that pay homage to nature and the changing seasons.'", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nIt's no surprise that the summer holidays are most people's favourite time of the year - after all, they're packed with fun events and days out, sun-soaked getaways abroad, and plenty of quality family time!\nHowever after all the excitement, it's easy to find yourself with just a few precious days of annual leave left, and wanting a minibreak to help you beat those pesky post-holiday blues.\nLuckily, in the UK we've been gifted with the August Bank Holiday, with this year's Bank Holiday Monday falling on the 28th August.\nThe free day off makes the perfect excuse to book in a last-minute trip somewhere exciting - but if the summer fun has left you saving the pennies, then there's nothing like a staycation for a budget-friendly classic!\nWe've rounded up all the best deals and offers for a brilliant holiday in the UK, from city breaks to countryside escapes, and spa weekends or seaside trips.\nDon't want to commit to a full weekend? We've also scoured the country for the best festivals you can take the kids too, not to mention all the restaurant discounts you need to know about for a cheap meal out.\nRead on to check out our guide to the best August Bank Holiday weekend offers you need to know about...\nWhat's included in our guide?\nCity breaks - including London deals\nCountryside escapes\nSpa weekends\nSeaside trips\nFestivals to look out for\nThe best restaurant discounts\nCity breaks\nIf you're after a long weekend where you won't just be sat by the pool or in remote countryside, then a city break is a perfect fit.\nThe great news is that there are plenty of brilliant deals and offers for breaks in the likes of Birmingham, London, Bristol, Liverpool and Newcastle over the Bank Holiday weekend, so you'll be spoiled for choice.\nWe've searched out the best ones to help you narrow down your options - and we've even thrown in a city guide or two!\n1. BIRMINGHAM\nCollection hotel Birmingham\n(Image: Expedia)\nBoasting an impressive central location, this 4-star property is just a stone's throw from Birmingham's biggest attractions, not to mention its shopping districts.\nThe luxurious rooms offer all the amenities you could need for a glamorous city break, including ensuite bathrooms and flat screen TVs.\nHow much? Expedia is currently offering a 3-night stay from £148, based on two people sharing. Click here to book your stay.\nNovotel Birmingham Centre\n(Image: Novotel)\nAs the name suggests, you'll be in the heart of the city when you stay at this Novotel offering.\nThere are bright, contemporary rooms for a good night's kip amidst the bustle of the city, not to mention extra perks such as a hearty buffet breakfast and free Wi-Fi.\nHow much? Prices from £68 per night. Novotel is currently offering 25% off all summer stays until the 10th September - but you need to book by 25th August. Click here for the full details.\n2. BRISTOL\nThe Bristol Hotel\n(Image: Expedia)\nThis luxury 4-star hotel sits on the waterfront of the river, so you can enjoy some beautiful views from both your room and the hotel restaurant.\nBecause of its central location the hotel is ideal for those who want to make the most of their stay in the city, but the bright and spacious rooms offer the perfect haven for escaping the hustle and bustle at the end of the day.\nHow much? Expedia is currently offering a 3-night stay with prices from £332, including Bank Holiday weekend dates. Click here to book your stay.\nMercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel\nLastminute.com currently has an offer for a 2-night at the 4-star Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel with prices from £200. Deal is based on two people sharing on a room only basis, with a stay from 26th-28th August. Click here for the full details.\n3. EDINBURGH\nThe Bank Holiday weekend will be your last chance to make the most of this year's Fringe Festival, and it's still not too late to snap up tickets to the hottest shows if you're regretting not having headed there already.\nNever been to the Scottish capital? We've put together the ultimate guide to the city for you including where to stay, where to eat, what to see and how to get there on a budget.\n4. LIVERPOOL\nThe home of The Beatles continues to make for an action-packed long weekend, whether you want to go sightseeing, indulge in a spot of retail therapy, or even just make the most of the city's iconic nightlife.\nWe've rounded up the best things to see and do in Liverpool to give you a helping hand, and for those on a budget we've also searched out the best cheap hotels in Liverpool.\nChester\n(Image: Greatlittlebreaks)\nJust a stone's throw away from Liverpool sits the smaller, picturesque city of Chester, which offers both a vibrant atmosphere as well as some beautiful cobbled streets packed with historic sites and stylish boutiques.\nTHE DEAL: GreatLittleBreaks.com is currently offering two nights' accommodation at the Bridge Street Townhouse from £75 per person: this includes a continental breakfast on both mornings, not to mention a chilled bottle of Prosecco in your room when you arrive! Click here for the full details.\n5. NEWCASTLE\nHotel Indigo\n(Image: Hotel Indigo)\nA mere two-minute walk from central station, this 4-star boutique hotel is ideal if you're heading to Newcastle to make the most of its world-famous nightlife.\nJust a stone's throw away from all of the clubs, bars and sights, the hotel has its own on-site Marco Pierre White steakhouse and cocktail bar that's perfect for lining the stomach before hitting the town.\nHow much? Prices from £352 for a three-night stay. Click here to book your stay with Booking.com.\n6. LONDON DEALS\nThinking of a trip down to the capital for the Bank Holiday weekend? Although London has a reputation for having sky high prices, it's actually surprisingly easy to have a budget stay there.\nWe've created a guide to the best cheap days out in London, as well as searching out the top cheap hotels that won't leave you breaking the bank.\nLooking for more for your itinerary? We've also found 10 things you never knew you could do in the city, as well as rounding up the best free museums you won't want to miss.\nSo Paddington Hotel\n(Image: Expedia)\nJust a two-minute walk from the central London Paddington station, this 3-star hotel is just a stone's throw away from the capital's biggest sights and attractions including Hyde Park and Oxford Street.\nDespite being in the heart of the action, the hotel offers a quiet retreat with cosy ensuite bedrooms and a hearty breakfast, perfect for rejuvenating before you go exploring again.\nHow much? Expedia is currently offering a 3-night stay for £212, based on two people sharing. Click here for the full details.\nGood Hotel London\nLastminute.com currently has an offer for a 2-night stay at the 4-star Good Hotel London, with prices from £195. Deal is based on two people sharing on a room only basis, with a stay from 26th-28th August. Click here for the full details.\nYou can also find more city breaks inspiration on our dedicated page here.\nCountryside escapes\n1. Castle Hill Stables, Tonbridge, Kent\n(Image: Mulberry Cottages)\nThis idyllic one-bedroom cottage is perfect for couples looking for a romantic retreat in the countryside.\nNestled between the bustling towns of Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells there's plenty to do if you are looking for activities, but the cottage's peaceful location offers a quiet haven if you're looking to unwind.\nOh, and should the British summer come out in full force, there's an outdoor pool where you can make the most of the sunshine!\nHow much? Was £485, currently £412 for a 3-night stay. Sleeps up to two people. Click here to book with Mulberry Cottages.\n2. Cotswolds Country Break at Eynsham Hall\n(Image: LateRooms.com)\nLocated in 3,000 acres of lusciously green parkland, this 3-star hotel is just a stone's throw away from Oxford's city centre, so it's perfect for those wanting to also include some sightseeing during their break.\nThe property itself boasts a host of luxurious amenities including a spa, gym, pool and outdoor tennis courts, while the cosy double rooms are perfect for sinking into after a busy day!\nHow much? From £81 per room for one night’s accommodation at the 3* Eynsham Hall, Witney based on two adults sharing. Valid for arrival on 27 August 2017. Click here to book with LateRooms.com.\n3. Bellflower Cottage, Twyford, Sussex\n(Image: Mulberry Cottages)\nLocated on a working farm, this cottage is ideal for a fun-filled family break!\nNot only are there stables and kennels on the grounds that will no doubt appeal to animal lovers, but there's a patio with a barbecue overlooking the gardens for quality family time in the great outdoors.\nWant to go exploring? There's plenty to see and do in the nearby villages of Danehill and Horsted Keynes - including some brilliant traditional pubs.\nHow much? Was £840, currently £714 for a 3-night stay. Sleeps up to six people. Click here to book with Mulberry Cottages.\n4. Pear Tree House Annexe, Yorkshire\n(Image: Cottages.com)\nThis first floor apartment can sleep up to three people in one room, so it's ideal for couples or small families wanting to explore Yorkshire's iconic countryside.\nAdjoining the owner's home, the property has some major perks including an open fire for cooler evenings, or outdoor seating areas for sunny afternoons taking in the surrounding picturesque gardens.\nIt's also just minutes away from the bustling centre of Holmfirth, the filming location for Last of the Summer Wine, which offers a range of boutique shops, restaurants and wine bars.\nHow much? Prices from £276 for a 3-night stay (£92 per night), based on an arrival on 25th August. Click here to book with Cottages.com or call 0345 498 6900.\nSpa weekends\n1. The Cheltenham Chase Hotel\n(Image: Expedia)\nThis 4-star hotel has everything you need for a luxury spa break that won't break the bank. There's an indoor pool, jacuzzi, team room and sauna, not to mention an impressive array of spa treatments available too.\nWhen you're done with the pampering, the hotel restaurant offers up a host of delectable dishes, or for those after a tipple there's the laidback bar and lounge.\nAnd of course, you can round off the day by heading back to your cosy room and sinking into the comfortable bed!\nHow much? Expedia is currently offering a 3-night stay from £340 for three nights, based on two people sharing. Spa treatments not included. Click here to book your stay.\n2. Mercure Warwickshire Walton Hall Hotel & Spa\n(Image: Mercure Hotels)\nSet in 65 acres of stunning grounds, this Grade II listed Hall hotel makes an ideal base for guests wanting to explore the Black Country, or nearby Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle.\nThen, after a busy day outdoors, you can relax in the tranquil spa - opt for a massage or simply unwind in the sauna, before enjoying dinner in the award-winning Orangery Restaurant.\nHow much? Prices from £65 per night. Mercure is currently offering 25% off all summer stays until the 10th September - but you need to book by 25th August. Click here for the full details.\n3. Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa\n(Image: Alexander House)\nThe luxurious Alexander House currently offers a brilliant 'Renew and Refresh' package that will leave you feeling like an A-lister! Here's what's included:\nAn overnight stay in a room or suite\nFull use of the Utopia Spa\n£35 per person to spend on dinner in one of its restaurants (food only)\nYour choice of a 40 minute treatment - such as a facial, massage, manicure or pedicure.\nThe full works breakfast.\nFull use of on-site leisure facilities including the tennis court, trekking trail, mountain bikes and putting green.\nHow much? The 'Renew and Refresh' offer starts from £185 per person. Click here for the full details.\nTop 10 holiday park bargains: Old-fashioned fun for all the family in the UK ideal for summer 2017\n4. Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa, Durham\n(Image: Ramside)\nThe Spa at Ramside currently has a brilliant Spa Summer indulgence package for couples, which ends on the 31st August. Here's what's included:\nOvernight stay in a Premier Room\nSpa brunch\nFull access to the spa\nA Mud Rasul Therapy for two\nHow much? Prices from £199 per couple. It's also worth noting you can't book in for Saturday for the package, but it is valid Fridays and Sundays. Click here for the full details.\nSeaside trips\nThinking of a trip to the seaside for a last-minute beach break? We've got plenty of staycation inspiration to help you find the getaway that's right for you. Check out some of our top picks below...\n(Image: Iconica)\n1. CORNWALL\nWe've put together the ultimate insider's guide for the perfect holiday in Cornwall with help from our sister site Cornwall Live including the best hotels, where to eat, the best beaches and even what to do on a rainy day should the British weather let you down.\nThe Ship and Castle\n(Image: Expedia)\nThis charming 3-star hotel boasts a nautical theme, not to mention some spectacular views of the St Mawes Harbour and Percuil River, thanks to its waterfront location.\nRooms are cosy with comfortable beds and all the amenities you need for a stress-free break, not to mention some look out over the water and have their own private balconies.\nHow much? Expedia currently offers a 3-night stay, based on two people sharing, with prices from £244. Click here to book your stay.\n2. BRIGHTON\n(Image: The Image Bank)\nIt's not surprising that Brighton is a firm favourite with Brits wanting a seaside staycation.\nNot only does it offer brilliant beaches, classic fish and chips hotspots and plenty of attractions for the kids, but because it's a city there's also loads to see and do for the whole family - so adults can have a great time too.\nWe've put together a guide to the best things to see and do in Brighton to give you a dose of inspiration, and for those on a budget we've also searched out the best cheap hotels in this seaside city.\n3. JERSEY\n(Image: Visit Jersey)\nWe teamed up with Visit Jersey to bring you the ultimate insider's guide for an unforgettable long weekend in Jersey, from the best things to see and do to the cheap hotels and coolest restaurants. Check it out here.\n4. BOURNEMOUTH\nBOOK IT: Lastminute.com currently has an offer for a 2-night stay at the 3-star Elstead Hotel, with prices from £233. Deal is based on two people sharing on a room only basis, with a stay from 26th-28th August. Click here for the full details.\nMore seaside break inspiration:\nFestivals\n(Image: Andrew Whitton)\nIf you're looking for some live music to jazz up your bank holiday weekend, there are a number of festivals happening over the 3 day break.\nNotting Hill Carnival\nEvery year Notting Hill brings a taste of the Caribbean to one of London's most famous boroughs. The carnival winds it's way around Notting Hill's streets, and with plenty of jerk chicken and red stripe on the way round, continues into one of the UK's loudest and proudest street party.\nThe festival is held every year on Bank Holiday Sunday, and Monday. With Sunday seen as the family friendly day. You don't need to buy tickets (unless there's an after party in one of London's many clubs you've spotted) but you will need to get there early and claim your spot for dancing. Get ready for one big party.\nThe Big Feastival\n(Image: The Big Feastival)\nThe Big Feastival is the brain child of Blur bassist, Alex James. So you can expect a festival curated by these this music mad foodie to be pretty good.\nNot only are there appearances from incredible chefs, such as Rick Stein, but there are stellar food trucks and pop ups from favourites such as The Cheese Truck and Patty and Bun. And if that wasn't enough, this year there's music from big names such as Madness, The Cribs and Olly Murs, plus many more. You can get tickets from Ticketmaster here.\nReading and Leeds\nReading and Leeds is one of the most popular alternative music festivals with a huge line up featuring the best of indie, punk and metal music artists from around the world. Headliners in recent years have included Metallica and Biffy Clyro, and still consistently attracting big names, Reading and Leeds festival remains a highlight of many festival-goers calendar.\nIt's on over the 26 - 28 August, and tickets are available for Reading and Leeds from Ticketmaster. Music wise Muse, Enimem, Kasabian, Major Lazer, Bastille and Tory Lanez have all been announced, and will play alongside Architects, Andy C, Danny Brown and many more.\nRestaurant discounts\n(Image: Taxi)\nWe've rounded up all the places that kids can eat for free this summer, including popular foodie joints such as TGI Fridays and Carluccio's.\nWe've also found some of the best afternoon tea hotspots across the UK if you're looking for something a bit different.\nSpending the weekend in London? Adults after a tipple should check out the best rooftop bars in the city for amazing views, as well as these brilliant gin bars for a fun Friday night!", "The very best that England has to offer tourists in 2018 has been revealed in the VisitEngland awards.\nThe categories include B&B of the year, boutique guest accommodation of the year, best guided tour, hotel of the year, best holiday park/village, taste of England award, and best small and large visitor attractions.\nThe best hotel is named as the Rudding Park in Yorkshire, while Alkham Court Farmhouse, Kent, scooped the award for the best B&B and the best holiday park is the Landal Gwel an Mor in Cornwall.\nThe Rudding Park hotel in Yorkshire, which has been named as the best in England in the 2018 VisitEngland Excellence Awards\nRudding Park in Harrogate took its gong thanks to its 90 luxury rooms, spa, two restaurants and kitchen garden\nOne of the luxury lodges at the five star Landal Gwel an Mor in Cornwall, which is named as the best holiday park in the VisitEngland awards\nOne of the rooms at the resort, which consists of lodges that come complete with hot tubs and log burners. It's located close to Portreath beach\nThe awards, now in their 29th year, are said to recognise, congratulate and celebrate businesses and individuals that raise the bar of England’s tourism offering.\nThe winners were selected from hundreds of submissions including accommodation businesses, attractions, food establishments and guided tour operators spanning the length and breadth of England, from Cornwall to Tyne and Wear.\nThe Landal Gwel an Mor in Cornwall received a gold award in the best holiday park category for the second time.\nThe five star resort consists of lodges that come complete with hot tubs and log burners, located close to Portreath beach.\nActivities at the holiday camp include golf, fishing, tennis, archery, swimming and zorbing.\nThe picturesque grounds of the Alkham Court Farmhouse in Kent, which was named as being the best B&B in England\nOne of the cosy rooms at Alkham Court. It scooped the award after impressing with its traditional Kentish offering\nThe imposing building of Yorebridge House in Yorkshire, which scooped the VisitEngland award for the best boutique hotel\nEach room in the Yorebridge House Hotel comes with finishing touches such as fluffy robes and private hot tubs\nThe best large attraction in England was named as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, pictured, a site of remembrance for fallen soldiers\nThere is also an on-site spa, indoor swimming pool, a Mediterranean-themed restaurant and even a wildlife centre.\nLandal Gwel an Mor's chief executive Bill Haslam said: 'This is a major award, not only for us but for Cornwall and is a pat on the back to us from our peers in the UK tourism industry.\n'This honour says “Landal Gwel an Mor is the Best” and we were judged against some of the most amazing places across the country.\n'To win this accolade twice is unheard of, so I am a very proud owner today.'\nMeanwhile in the best B&B category, the five-star Alkham Court Farmhouse scooped the award after impressing with its traditional Kentish offering.\nBest hotel, Rudding Park in Harrogate, took its gong thanks to its 90 luxury rooms, spa, two restaurants and kitchen garden.\nWhile the Sheepyard Barn at The Suffolk Escape is deemed to be the best self-catering accommodation. It has been recognised for its well-equipped kitchen, home cinema system and even a wood-fired pizza oven.\nThe best boutique accommodation is the Yorebridge House in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, where each room comes with finishing touches such as fluffy robes and private hot tubs.\nThe award also honours tourist attractions in England as well as restaurants and pubs.\nThe innovation in tourism award went to the British Airways i360 observation tower in Brighton, while the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, a site of remembrance for fallen soldiers, and the Charterhouse in London, a historic complex of buildings, also won prizes.\nYork's Chocolate Story, which reveals the city's chocolate making history, was named as the best guided tour in England.\nThe historic complex of buildings known as the Charterhouse in North London won the prize for the best small tourist attraction\nOne of the workers at the York Chocolate Story preparing sweet treats. The York attraction won the award for best guided tour\nRestaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park in Wiltshire is the best restaurant while the best pub is, according to the awards, the Riverside at Aymestrey in Herefordshire.\nVisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: 'These awards shine a spotlight on our fantastic tourism industry, with the winners showcasing the quality, innovation and excellence on offer throughout the country.\n'From an outstanding boutique hotel in the Dales to a guided tour of York’s chocolate-making history, from pine holiday lodges on the sandy beaches of Cornwall to a quintessentially English country-pub in Hertfordshire, these winners provide outstanding and truly memorable visitor experiences.'\nRestaurant Hywel Jones, pictured, by Lucknam Park in Wiltshire is the best restaurant in the VisitEngland awards", "Global hospitality management software company Xn protel Systems and Neorcha today announced that Rosewood has implemented the Neorcha mobile application in its brand-new Rosewood hotel in Abu Dhabi. The application creates guest loyalty and encourages direct bookings and upsells, before, during and after the guest's stay.\nRosewood Abu Dhabi is the brand's first presence in the United Arab Emirates. Defining new standards, this five-star hotel offers locals and tourist a distinct and personalized luxury lifestyle experience in the heart of the city. Rosewood Abu Dhabi features 154 spacious guestrooms and 35 luxurious suites offering dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf and the Abu Dhabi skyline.\nWith a warm and sophisticated residential style, this 34-story tower offers a unique interpretation of Middle East architectural elements with comfortable furnishings and warm color palettes representative of the region's rich history.\nAs strategic partners, Xn protel Systems and Neorcha help hotels deliver exceptional guest experiences. The Neorcha myHotel mobile app (iOS, Android, BlackBerry) is a fully native application that provides additional functionality for in-room hotel technology, which can be used on a guest's own mobile device, or on provided in-room devices. It integrates with the property's hospitality systems and, with connection to the PMS, provides a wider range of functionality to the guest's mobile device.\nRavi Veerasawmy, CHTP | Director of Information Technology, Rosewood Abu Dhabi said: \"We sought out the latest technologies for Rosewood Abu Dhabi so that we can provide our guests what they need, where and when they want it. Exceptional guest experience is paramount for us.\nRavi continues, \"We are looking forward to working with Xn protel and Neorcha as they provide the right technology, knowledge and support for our business.\"\nEmmanuel Clavé, VP Gulf Countries and India, Xn protel Systems comments: \"We are delighted to have been selected by the luxurious Rosewood Abu Dhabi for our product myHotel by Neorcha. The myHotel app is providing the latest in technology integration to all their guests, using an in-room device or their own personal device; whether Android or iOS.\"\nRoger El Khoury, Managing Director of Neorcha commented: \"We are delighted to introduce the Neorcha myHotel mobile app to the discerning guests of the Rosewood Abu Dhabi and to provide them with a range of hotel services at the touch of a button. Through our strategic partnership with Xn protel Systems we look forward to introducing many more hotels to our technology which is designed to enhance the guest experience and improve guest loyalty.\"\nAbout Rosewood Abu Dhabi\nOffering 5 authentic dining restaurants with cuisines from around the world and 5 lounges guests can enjoy an exclusive dining journey. The property also encompasses Sense, A Rosewood Spa with 9 treatment rooms including two traditional Hammams', a state of the art Fitness center open 24 hours a day and for the little ones Rose Buds. Stunning views of the Abu Dhabi waterfront await you at the hotel complex which provides a sophisticated environment for both business and leisure. As with every hotel in the collection, Rosewood Abu Dhabi encompasses Rosewood's A Sense of Place® philosophy by reflecting the culture, history and geography of its location.\nAbout NEORCHA\nEnabling hotels of any size to deliver best-in-class customer service, delivered through unique mobile platforms, NEORCHA's mobile solutions seamlessly integrate with hotel CRM, PMS, CRS, and POS systems, and can be fully customized to unique hotel brand standards and guidelines.\nNEORCHA's leading technology solutions for the hospitality sector include the myHotel App – enabling hotels to maximize their guests' experience by providing access to a range of services including pre-arrival arrangements, concierge services, destination information and express check-out. myCheck-in, is a mobile solution that provides a stress-free, fast and efficient check-in experience, and myDining App, is a restaurant iPad solution that features menus, promotions and an online ordering facility.\nInspired by the power of data, NEORCHA, which was established in 2012, combines its mobile and hotel sector expertise with a commitment to understanding their customers' needs.\nNEORCHA works with a range of hotels across the Middle East and Europe including Rotana Hotels group, Millennium Hotels MEA, One to One hotels and Rocco Forte Hotels, as well as with a number of restaurants including The Cellar in Qatar, Rodeo Grill in Abu Dhabi and Benihana in Dubai.\nContact\nTerry Osborne\nHead of Marketing\nSend Email", "Passenger Ferry\nThe Rason Special Economic Zone was established in 1991 on the border with China and Russia. It consists of two cities: Rajin and Sonbong. North Korea is actively attracting investments from China to this zone, mainly for the construction of hotels. A trip to Rason is visa-free for foreigners; this is one of the reasons why it is cheaper traveling there than to other cities of the DPRK.\nSince May 2017, a North Korea ship, the Man Gyong Bong, has been operating on a route between the Russian city of Vladivostok and DPRK’s ice-free port in Rason. Now tourists from Russia can reach the North Korean city by sea, where they can enjoy local sights, climb Mount Sahyan and see monuments dedicated to North Korean leaders.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera Hotel “Rajin”\nTourists can take five-day tours to Rason for the price of 27,000 rubles (about US $450); a one-way voyage takes about 12 hours. All personnel on the ship are North Korean; most of the signs on the boat are in Korean. A restaurant offers Korean cuisine and famous local-brewed Taedonggan beer.\nNorth Korean customs officers inspect tourists arriving on the ship with manual metal detectors. During the procedure of customs clearance, tourists declare cameras, tablets, phones and flash drives, as well as books and magazines (including total number of pages). All these things will have to be presented when leaving the country, and therefore can’t be thrown away.\nWatching Closely\nGuides accompany their groups of tourists during all excursions, trips to shops, breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Going out to the city independently, without a guide is not allowed. Such tight control is not due to fear that tourists will see or take pictures of something “forbidden”; this is for the tourists’ safety. “If something happens to tourists, all the media will write about it, the whole world will talk about it,” one of the guides explained.\nThere is one mobile operator in North Korea; SIM cards of foreign mobile companies don’t work there. Tourists can buy a card to use mobile communication; however, mobile internet is not available in this country. Residents are used to learning about news from newspapers, radio and TV.\nForeigners in the DPRK are prohibited from photographing the local population without a guide’s permission. Also, it is forbidden to buy and export local currency — the Korean People’s Won — from the country. Tourists are welcome to pay with Chinese yuan, US dollars and euro.\nIsland With Seals and the Most Expensive Hotel\nRussian tourists spend one night of the five-day tour in “Rason,” a new hotel in the center of Rajin. It has spacious triple rooms with plasma TVs, music centers and water heaters.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera Pipha Island and stone reefs\nIn the morning, the group is taken to one of the main local attractions — Pipha Island, which is home to largha seals, also known as spotted seals. There is also a small recreation center with souvenir shops, ice cream bars and cafes with live seafood.\nSouvenir shops sell wooden utensils, jewelry made of stone, medicine and seafood. A wooden plate can be bought for 500 rubles (about $8), a bracelet made of stone for 1,300 rubles (US $22) and a half-kilogram of dried sea cucumbers, or trepan, for 16,000 rubles (US $267).\nThe most expensive hotel in Rajin, the “Emperor,” is situated on the beach near the island of Pipha. According to guides, the famous actor Jackie Chan invested in its construction.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera Hotel “Imperator”\nTourists can take a tour of the hotel, which is popular mostly among guests from China. On average, the room will cost almost 9,000 rubles (US $150) per night. The hotel has restaurants, shops, a swimming pool, a bar, a gym and a small casino with poker tables.\n“No Entry Beyond This Point”\nAfter the tour, the group is brought to another small three-story seaside hotel “Golden Coast” on a fenced territory. On one side of the hotel there is a forest, on the other — rice fields with several peasant houses and a fishing village. If tourists come close to the fence, locals stop what they are doing and watch them.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera Hotel “Golden Coast”\nThere are people in camouflage on the territory of the hotel. “You can’t go beyond the fence, military personnel can misunderstand you,” guides warn.\nTourists are lodged in triple rooms overlooking the sea. There is a restaurant and a hall with a billiard table at the disposal of the hotel guests. On Sunday, which is the only day off in the DPRK, residents of Rajin and Chinese tourists can be seen on the beach in front of the hotel.\nMount Sahyan and Trees in Glass\nMount Sahyan in the vicinity of Rajin is another important tourist attraction. There, during World War II, Korean partisans opposed the Japanese Army.\nThe mountain has a well-maintained stone path for climbers. Along the way, tourists pass by trees covered with glass shells and canvas covers. For North Koreans, these trees are a national heritage, the guides explain. These trees have revolutionary slogans written on them, which can only be seen on public holidays. Students and residents of the city come to these trees as if they were monuments to pay tribute to their ancestors.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera Mount Sahyan\nAccording to the guides, military personnel tried to protect the trunks of these trees with their bodies during a fire in the forest several years ago. More than 10 people were killed then; the graves of the victims are now in Pyongyang.\nAt the top of the mountain, there is an observation deck with a monument to “the great leader, Comrade Kim Il-sung” and “Comrade Kim Jong-suk,” his first wife.\nFirst Fishing Village and Gifts for Children\nRajin also preserved a place where one of the first fishing villages used to be. Only two houses are left there, a fisherman’s and a peasant’s home. These houses are shown to tourists only from the outside, as they are still inhabited by their descendants. “General Kim Jong-il visited this house,” reads the inscription on the fisherman’s house.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera Fishing village in Rajin\nA tall monument dedicated to the leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il graces the central square of Rajin. “The height of this monument equals our people’s respect for the great leaders,” the guides explain.\nThis is the most solemn part of the excursion program: tourists stand in a row in front of the monument; mobile phones and tablets should be removed. Photos can be taken only via cameras, and the monument must be seen in the frame entirely.\nNear the monument, there is a city theater, where children perform almost every day. This is an obligatory part of the tourist program. A ticket for the concert is included in the tour price, but tourists need to bring gifts for the children. “If you didn’t bring gifts with you, you can buy them in the store right in the theater,” guides advise tourists before the concert.\nAbout 500 spectators gather in a concert hall, mostly tourists from China. Children from 4 to 7 years old sing, dance and show acrobatics. After the concert, the children line up in several rows onstage for a photograph with tourists. Gifts can’t be handed to children directly: guests put them behind the curtains on the stage.\n© Sputnik/ Svetlana Zadera North Korea souvenirs\nThe Only Market Where Tourists Are Allowed\nA market in Rajin is the only one in the DPRK where tourists are allowed to go. It starts work only at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and closes at eight in the evening. Crowds of local people gather near it a few hours before the opening. You can’t take pictures in the market: “Even if you carefully take a picture, the residents will notice that and tell. We have very conscious people, they understand that this can’t be done,” guides explains.\nThe market consists of several brick buildings, where one can find almost anything, from houseware to food. You can find there bottles of American coke and oil produced in Russia. Local cooks also sell their products on this market.\nTourists are brought to the port a few hours before the departure of the ship. Customs officers check all things and souvenirs; all devices and flash drives must be handed over for clearance. If a tourist has photographed something forbidden, the photos will be deleted.\n© Sputnik/ Iliya Pitalev\nSputnik News\nSouth Africa Today – World News – Asia and Pacific", "Best Seller Publishing announces the release of David Duryee’s new book, “60 Minute CFO: Bridging the Gap Between Business Owner, Banker, and CPA.” It will be available for free download in the Amazon Kindle Store on August 14th.\nThis book is a must read for any business owner who wants and needs to effectively communicate with his or her banker and CPA. It describes in easy to understand language the 14 key indicators bankers use to analyze financial statements, and provides valuable tips and insights on bank systems and procedures. Analysis and forecasting software included with the book does all the work and makes analysis, and forecasting a cinch.\nIn today’s fast changing business environment, it is more important than ever that the business owner, banker, and CPA are on the same page. This book makes it happen.\n“60 Minute CFO” by David Duryee’s will be free and available for download on Amazon for 5 days (08/14/2017-08/18/2017) at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073R1DKKJ. “60 Minute CFO” has a 5.0-star rating on Amazon.com. Here’s what some people are saying:\n“Finally! Where was this book 15 years ago when I started my business? If you’re a master of your craft, but finance eludes you, this book is for you. Don’t hesitate to grab it and it’s associated software. It’s accounted for a ton of time savings for me and my business as well as cleared up so much for me that I never understood between profits and cash flow.” – Tracy S.\n“Very well written, easy to follow and understand. A MUST HAVE for business owners!” – Judy R.\nFor More Information:\nFor more questions or to schedule an interview about this press release please contact Rebecca, Author Liaison, at (626) 765-9750 or email info@bestsellerpublishing.org .\nBest Seller Publishing is a Los Angeles Publishing Company dedicated to helping business owners and entrepreneurs become “the hunted” with their best-selling books.\nAbout the Author:\nDavid A. Duryee is the Managing Director of Horizon Management Services LLC, and has been active in business consulting, succession planning and financial training for over thirty five years. He received his BA and MBA in finance from the University of Washington and has diplomas from the Pacific Coast Banking School (Honors), and the American Institute of Banking.\nMr. Duryee is the author or co-author of several books including: “Lead to Succeed––The Moving & Storage Guide to Management and Finance,” “The Business Owner’s Guide to Achieving Financial Success,” “A Dealer Guide to Financial Management,” and “Small Business Banking, Assessing Needs and Establishing Strategies.” He is a nationally known lecturer to business owners, bankers, and professionals, and sits on the boards of several corporations.", "TUCSON, Ariz., April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Many travelers to Latin America may assume that their prospective tour operator has first-hand knowledge and verification of the standards present in the restaurants and hotels to which they will be captively taken. This is often not the case. In many developing countries, governments lack the resources and/or authority to adequately enforce health standards. At many destinations, tour operators don't know if the restaurants or hotels have vital safety infrastructure such as a hand-washing sink or soap in the kitchen. Travelers should ask tour operators about their knowledge of food safety standards in the restaurants and hotels to which they will be taken, prior to booking.\nMain Market in Cartagena, Colombia. My guide was proud to say that many top restaurants buy their food at the market because they get the best prices. Photo by: Allan Daly\nExposing serious food safety gaps in the international tour industry was never Allan Daly's goal. It wasn't until his company, Cocina Verify®, planned to run culinary tours to their certified restaurants in Latin America, that the dearth of food and water safety standards came to light.\nCocina Verify didn't have enough certified restaurants in a close proximity for a full week's tour, so they needed to augment with other restaurants that they knew met leading food safety standards. Daly recounts, \"I considered it a no-brainer that tour operators would be taking their customers to restaurants and hotels that they either had proof of the facilities meeting high standards or that the tour operators themselves verified the standards in the kitchens, because some of these countries aren't able to inspect even 1% of their restaurants and hotels in a given year.\" After inspecting many highly rated and starred food service facilities, Daly's team has since learned that relying on star ratings, online traveler reviews, or a local's recommendation are of little value when trying to determine one's risk for contracting a foodborne illness at a restaurant or hotel.\nAfter extensive discussions with government officials, restaurant & hotel owners, and local ground operators in Latin America, Daly's team concluded that tour operators do not generally inspect restaurants and may not even know if the restaurants have vitally important safety infrastructure such as hand washing sinks or the ability to sanitize dishes.\nFoodborne illness is dangerous and getting more dangerous with increased antibiotic resistance. Obviously tour operators can't guarantee the safety of their guests, but knowing whether the restaurants and hotels meet leading food safety standards may go a long way to preventing foodborne illness, especially when the CDC states that 30-70% of travelers may experience Traveler's Diarrhea in certain areas (1).\nDaly has come to the unfortunate conclusion that travelers have few, if any, food safety advocates when traveling in countries that don't have strong governmental food safety enforcement. If governments and tour operators aren't adequately inspecting, and online review sites, printed travel guides, top restaurant lists, and international star programs don't incorporate food safety into their listing criteria, then travelers to Latin America are often left high and dry when it comes to knowing if a restaurant or hotel is following any type of food safety standards.\nDaly recommends that people, who are considering taking an international tour, ask prospective tour operators three important questions:\n1. Is the company taking groups to restaurants and hotels whose kitchens are regularly inspected by trained food safety personnel, not the bus driver?\n2. If yes, travelers should request a copy of the latest inspection report or certification for the kitchens.\n3. What verifiable steps are being taken to reduce the risk of food and waterborne illnesses from occurring on your tours?\nIn their efforts to make traveling to Latin America safer for the public, if you got sick on a trip to Latin America, Cocina Verify would like to hear your story. Please email your story to info@cocinaverify.com.\nCocina Verify is a third-party, monthly restaurant training and inspection program, based in Tucson, Arizona, which helps international restaurants and hotels implement U.S. food safety training and standards, so that travel suppliers can choose hotels and restaurants that provide a high level of accountability, trust and confidence for their customers. Allan Daly created the company after contracting foodborne illness on several trips to Latin America in 2015. For more information, visit www.cocinaverify.com. @cocinaverif\n(1) https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/the-pre-travel-consultation/travelers-diarrhea\nRelated Files\nCocina Verify Fact Sheet.pdf\nRelated Images\nvisiting-latin-america-what-does.jpg\ncow-eyeballs-and-fresh-corn.jpg\nfine-dining-in-the-dominican.jpg\nRelated Links\nCocina Verify in Latin American Schools\nFood Changes in Latin America\nView original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cocina-verify-offers-tips-for-travelers-on-avoiding-getting-sick-in-latin-america-300635141.html\nSOURCE Cocina Verify\nRelated Links\nhttp://www.cocinaverify.com", "Series regular David Giuntoli has shared some details on what fans should expect in the next episode of \"Grimm\" season 6 as well as the official plot description and promo clip of episode 7 \"Blind Love\".\nDavid Giuntoli has shared some information on TV Guide regarding the love triangle of Nick, Adalind Schade (played by Claire Coffee) and Juliette Silverton (played by Elizabeth Tulloch) in \"Grimm\" season 6 episode 7. The 36-year-old American actor has mentioned that even though Nick and Adalind have a stable relationship at the moment, Juliette's appearance will make things very difficult for his character.\nIn the upcoming episode, Nick will reunite with his former love Juliette, who will start to emerge from the internal shell that her alter ego, Eve, has magically pushed her into.\nAdvertisement\nAs for the official plot description of episode 7, Spoilers Guide noted Rosalee Calvert (Bree Turner) surprises Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) with a getaway for his birthday and invites most of the gang to join them. Things take a shocking turn when a hotel employee targets Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) in an effort to avenge his father.\nMeanwhile, Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) gets a visit from a dark force that she has seen before. Elsewhere, Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz) spends the weekend with Diana (guest star Hannah R. Loyd) when a former ally decides to get even.\"\nFor a quick summary of episode 6 \"Breakfast in Bed\", Entertainment Weekly reported that a hotel murder led to a guest who claimed to have encountered a terrifying creature during nighttime.\nMeanwhile at the Spice Shop, Rosalee, Eve, and Monroe investigated the origins of the symbols found on a cloth.\n\"Grimm\" season 6 episode 7 is titled as \"Blind Love\". The upcoming episode is scheduled to premiere on February 17, 2017, at 8:00 p.m. EST first and exclusive on NBC Television Network.", "DOUBLE DATING: City-based writer-director Mina Shum’s Meditation Park opened the Vancouver International Film Festival with a screening at the Centre for Performing Arts and a post-curtain gala at the Vancouver Club. The events produced a pair of cinema-style flashbacks as one of the picture’s stars, Sandra Oh, also starred in Shum’s debut feature film, the million-dollar, East Vancouver-shot Double Happiness. Flashback 2 entailed Stephen Hegyes, who produced Double Happiness as well as several subsequent Shum efforts, including Meditation Park. Both movies address the empowerment of Chinese mothers, a subject that Shum touched on personally at a 1994 wrap event for Double Happiness. “My parents came on the set as I was smoking,” Shum said. “They don’t know that I indulge. So, as soon as I saw my Mom, I threw that cigarette 50 feet away.” That discarded butt metaphorically ignited the fuse on a career that by 1997 had Shum directing the Hegyes-produced, Drive, She Said. Not that everyone recognized her worth. While working on set with that project, Shum said, “People would ask: ‘When does the director arrive from L.A?’” Then, laughing: “I mean, I live on Nanaimo (Street).” Moviegoers were, and remain, the better for that.\nBIG BUCKS BAX: Mary Zilba, singer, actress and former Miss Ohio, chaired the Gold Heart gala that reportedly raised $550,000 to benefit youngsters served by Variety — The Children’s Charity. One attendee paid $32,000 at auction for a painting by special-needs children guided by city artist Athena Bax, then gave it to Zilba as a birthday present. She was congratulated by former husband Frank Anderson, the city finance-biz type who now resides mostly in L.A. Zilba’s recording of city songwriter Steve Kipner’s Put Your Arms Around Me made it to MuchMoreMusic’s top 10. As Variety would understand, though, she seemed most pleased when, as a spokeswoman for tuberous sclerosis, she wrote and recorded Hero as a tribute to third son Chad Anderson.\n24-KARAT: True to theme, the Gold Heart gala’s Gold Heart Award for philanthropy went to Goldcorp chair Ian Telfer and wife Nancy Burke. As well as supporting Heart & Stroke Foundation, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and other efforts, Nancy co-chaired the Vancouver International Wine Festival’s Bacchanalia gala for four years. As she and Ian sat for a photo at the gala’s Fazioli piano, one half-expected a Variety representative to play the Golden Girls TV series’ theme song, Thank You for Being a Friend.\nHOME AWAY: Charity-gala season picked up momentum recently when Lindsey Turner chaired her second Night to Dream to benefit Ronald McDonald House. Held in the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, the event reportedly netted $475,000 and raised its 15-year total beyond $2.5 million. The funds help accommodate 73 out-of-town families of seriously ill youngsters in a facility on the B.C. Children’s Hospital campus.\nUP AND AT ’EM: The Night to Dream gala was presented by the Beedie Development Group. Company president, Ryan Beedie, will stage a lunchtime to remember Oct. 30. The luncheon will be a celebration of life for father and firm founder Keith who died recently at age 90. Beedie Sr. did the opposite of breaking down walls to prosper in an industry he entered in 1946 when he and a friend built a woodworking shop on a city lot that cost $190. He later refined a Californian homebuilding technique into the money-saving tilt-up wall system for industrial buildings and literally never looked back.", "Snow Safari\nTry the new Finland adventure holiday via TUI and swap playdates for a husky safari this mid-term break. Chase the Northern lights – the Aurora Borealis – by night, visit a reindeer and horse farm, snowmobile and ice-fish on this unique family break. Prices from €2,005 per adult and €1,753 per child (4-12 years) including transfers, seven nights’ half-board accommodation, one lunch, activities listed and expert guides. Departing February 10th. activitiesabroad.com and tuiholidays.ie\nMalta in March\nIf you’re looking for a new way to spend Paddy’s Weekend this year, try a trip to Malta. Depart Dublin March 15th and stay seven nights at the four-star Qawra Palace, Qawra B&B from just €349 per person. Their annual St Patrick’s Day festival, held in the City Gate in Valletta, on Republic Street, is always a spectacular event. See budgettravel.ie and maltauk.com.\nFirst Dates with a love potion\nExperience the romance of First Dates Ireland at the the Gibson Hotel\nThe Gibson hotel, home to the cult show First Dates Ireland, has opened its doors to guests who wish to experience the format for themselves. Check into the four-star in Dublin’s docklands and enjoy an overnight stay with dinner in the First Dates restaurant, two complimentary “love potions” and breakfast for two the following morning. The First Dates package starts from €236. thegibsonhotel.ie", "Owner of Caribic Vacations, Gordon Townsend (right), and his team of tour guides have a light moment at the launch of the ‘Jamaica Land of Film’ tour on February 9. The guides (from left) are: Roger Adams, Christina Jarrett, Georgia Spence and Barbara Jarrett. + - Photo: Garwin Davis Owner of Caribic Vacations, Gordon Townsend (right), and his team of tour guides have a light moment at the launch of the ‘Jamaica Land of Film’ tour on February 9. The guides (from left) are: Roger Adams, Christina Jarrett, Georgia Spence and Barbara Jarrett. Story Highlights A new tour, showcasing movie locations throughout Jamaica, including the sites of some of the world’s most iconic films, has been launched by popular destination management company (DMC) Caribic Vacations.\nCaribic Vacations’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Roy Page, said the tour dubbed: ‘Jamaica Land of Film’ will show the world why the island is still a perennial favourite for Hollywood film-makers and will be marketed to hotel and cruise ship guests as well as locals.\nOn February 9, Mr. Page took a number of overseas-based journalists and other stakeholders on a scenic journey from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios, stopping at locations where some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters have been filmed.\nA new tour, showcasing movie locations throughout Jamaica, including the sites of some of the world’s most iconic films, has been launched by popular destination management company (DMC) Caribic Vacations.\nThis comes as Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, continues to urge operators of tours and attractions to innovate and diversity their offerings.\nCaribic Vacations’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Roy Page, said the tour dubbed: ‘Jamaica Land of Film’ will show the world why the island is still a perennial favourite for Hollywood film-makers and will be marketed to hotel and cruise ship guests as well as locals.\n“Jamaica is the most fascinating and diverse island in the Caribbean for which we have created the premier cultural tour to make memories last well beyond our visitors’ vacation,” Mr. Page pointed out.\n“This is a novel idea as far as tours are concerned and Caribic Vacations is just happy to be here as a provider. Jamaica is a country that has hosted some of the biggest movie stars and directors in the film business and we believe there is a fantastic story to be told,” he added.\n‘Jamaica Land of Film Tour’ is based on book of the same name by Jamaican-born author Peter Polack, which chronicles over 100 years of film production in Jamaica, including new and previously unavailable information.\nOn February 9, Mr. Page took a number of overseas-based journalists and other stakeholders on a scenic journey from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios, stopping at locations where some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters have been filmed.\nThese include: Live and Let Die (1972), a James Bond classic that was filmed in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Falmouth and Lucea and starring Roger Moore and Jane Seymour; Eureka, filmed in Trelawny, St. James, St. Ann and St. Mary and starring Gene Hackman and Mickey Rourke; Papillon (1973), filmed in Trelawny, Westmoreland and Kingston and starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman; Cocktail (1988), filmed in Portland and starring Tom Cruise and Elizabeth Shue.\nOther iconic films that will be a part of the tour are: Dr. No; Sea Wife; The Mighty Quinn, starring Denzel Washington and featuring Jamaicans Sheryl Lee Ralph and Carl Bradshaw; Knight and Day; How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Legends of the Fall.\n“Our signature tours will escort you through locations that showcase some of the most famous movies and stars connected to Jamaica,” Mr. Page said.\n“For over a century, film directors have chosen Jamaica land of wood and water for the luxurious location landscapes, accommodating crew and business environment and which will now be featured and highlighted in the tour called Jamaica Land of Film,” he added.\nMr. Page said there are also plans to establish a multimedia operation locally and internationally as well as a documentary to be submitted to film festivals.\n“This is a milestone for Caribic and Jamaica,” he said. “This is a new and compelling historical and cultural tour that will draw visitors not only on the island but the large number of film fans interested in past and present movies with a connection to the ultimate film production destination, Jamaica,” he added.", "A TV crew from one of the UK’s most famous shows visited Queen’s University this week to get to the bottom of an out-of-this-world mystery.\nThe News Letter tagged along to find out more about the next episode of long-running BBC programme The Sky At Night which deals with the discovery of an object from another solar system and the research on it carried out by a team of Queen’s astronomers.\nResearcher Michele Bannister told of the moment last October when her team learnt of the ‘foreign object’ in our solar system.\nShe said: “A circular was sent out to members of the astronomical community at about 6.30am saying that there was a very good chance a group in Hawaii had observed the first interstellar comet.\n“For people like myself who have spent many years trying to understand what exists in our own solar system, this was so exciting – another little piece of a solar system that is not our own that has come to visit.”\nShe said the team of eight from Queen’s then scrambled to gain access to telescopes in the Canaries, Hawaii and Chile which can be programmed over the Internet and viewed remotely.\nThe tiny dot represents the mysterious Oumuamua\n“We know it’s from another solar system because of the path it took,” she said.\n“What we’ve learned is it’s about twice the size of the Europa Hotel and it’s quite elongated, vaguely cucumber-shaped. It’s travelling twice as fast as the fastest spaceship to leave planet earth.\n“If you were able to stand on its surface – which you couldn’t do – it would be a bit like the texture of merengue.\n“We have no idea which solar system it came from – that’s the fun part.”\nChristopher Lintott, Professor of Astrophysics in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, was at Queen's University in Belfast to film the next episode of The Sky At Night. Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press\nIn the stacked infrared image that we’ve printed above, Ms Bannister explained the object known as ‘Oumuamua is a dot of light in the centre, the long streaks are stars and the little curls are cosmic rays.\nSky at Night presenter Professor Chris Lintott said: “I think the most exciting thing is that it’s a mystery story.\n“It’s astronomy at its most exciting – something has arrived in our solar system, it’s a dot in an image and no one knows what it is. I’m very excited to be [at Queen’s] because the people here were the ones chasing that story down.\n“We’re telling the story of Alan (Fitzsimmons) in a hotel room desperately sending emails asking for telescope time, or Michele calling colleagues in Hawaii to work out what to do. I think that really makes the science come alive.”\nThe Sky At Night's long-running presenter Sir Patrick Moore\nThe late Patrick Moore presented The Sky At Night from 1957 until 2013, making it the longest-running TV programme with the same presenter of all time.\nProf Lintott said: “There’s an episode from the sixties where they talk about the possibility of an astroid from another solar system coming into ours, but I don’t think anyone actually thought they’d see one. This is completely unprecedented.”\nPost grad student at Tom Secull, 24, said: “Of all the humans on earth we’re the first to get to observe and work on this kind of project.”\nFellow post grad student Meabh Hyland, 25, said: “I’ve always been interested in astronomy since I was very young. It’s exciting to be able to work on these sorts of things.”\n• Queen’s University features in the episode on Sunday, February 11 on BBC Four at 10pm", "PITTSBURGH – Aptech Computer Systems announced Glacier House Hotels completed conversion to the PVNG Enterprise Accounting hotel software system. Arizona-based Glacier House Hotels is a full service development and management company that currently operates six properties.\nPVNG is Aptech's next generation enterprise accounting hotel software solution that is deployed in the cloud.\nAptech is the leading provider of hospitality enterprise accounting, budgeting and forecasting, and business intelligence hotel software systems. Click here for more on Aptech's products and services.\n\"Glacier House Hotels wanted to be one of the first hotel companies to convert from Aptech's Profitvue Accounting system to its new PVNG solution,\" said Ryan Kucker, Glacier House CFO.\n\"The conversion to PVNG was smooth and all our templates, chart of accounts, A/P vendors and historical information came over perfectly.\n\"PVNG is intuitive and easy to use. Our team only needed a few hours to learn the system.\"\nKucker noted that PVNG is faster to navigate and convenient to use because it is web-based.\n\"Aptech's team provided excellent training. We can do rollups for our hotels with consolidated reporting or individual property financials. I can go into the system and find what I need without having to use it every day. It is that simple to learn.\"\nPVNG is a totally new financial system with an easy to navigate architecture. The new system's robust functionality emerged from Aptech's legacy application, Profitvue, used by thousands of users.\nCam Troutman, Aptech vice president, said,\n\"We built PVNG from the ground up for the web based on Aptech's 45+ years of hotel accounting knowledge.\"\n\"We used the most current technology platform incorporating AP, GL, Statistics, Financials, and a Bank Reconciliation, all with easy to use, familiar browser navigation.\" The PVNG system easily handles single or multi-property accounting, and is deployed as a hosted service, streamlining common daily accounting procedures and offering highly flexible reporting.\n\"Glacier House Hotels' core focus is the purchase, development and construction of hospitality projects,\" Kucker said.\n\"PVNG handles the enterprise accounting for our six properties very well with all standard reports including trend reporting and 'trailing 12.' We like the system.\" -Ryan Kucker, Glacier House CFO.\nAptech Computer Systems is both an IBM and Prophix Business Partner offering Execuvue web-enabled Business Intelligence, Targetvue Budgeting and Forecasting, and PVNG Enterprise Accounting systems that are 100% hospitality specific.\nAptech is the only company that provides a complete suite of financial management and analysis solutions for the hotel industry.\nAbout Glacier House Hotels\nGlacier House Hotels is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our core focus is the purchase, development and construction of hospitality projects. Glacier consists of a team of entrepreneurial individuals who have been successful in all aspects of the hotel, retail and mixed use projects.\nThe Glacier team has many decades of experience, knowledge and expertise in operating planning, development and construction of real estate, including years of experience with top tier hospitality brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Starwood. The Glacier principals played a major role with Tharaldson Hospitality, who built and operated more than 400 select service hotels since 1984 and sold 130 hotels to Goldman Sach's real estate arm, the Whitehall Real Estate Fund, in a transaction valued at $1.2 billion.\nGlacier expertise include development, construction, operations, sales and marketing, procurement, revenue management, risk management, finance and accounting, disposition, debt and equity, re-positioning, site selection and brand recommendations.\nAbout Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.\nAptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement.\nThe company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider.\nIncorporated in 1970, Aptech's state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue®, Webvue® and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit www.aptech-inc.com.\nContact\nCam Troutman\nVice President\nPhone: 800-245-0720\nSend Email", "The Pousada of São Tiago, a five-star hotel installed since 1982 on the former São Tiago da Barra Fortress (dating originally from the 17th century) will close at the end of March. On the sidelines of the Legislative Assembly Spring Lunch, the executive director of SJM, Angela Leong, said that the closure is temporary and due to a lack of guests at the hotel. The heritage facility is being affected by the adjacent construction site of Barra’s multi-modal transportation center that will connect the light rail to other public transport systems. Leong said that the hotel will reopen once the construction is finished, noting that all employees currently working for the hotel will retain their jobs and be relocated to other hotels belonging to the group.\nRelated", "Special By By Tim Sandle 1 hour ago in Business Imagine knowing if a customer is going to abandon your app, giving you the opportunity to offer them a deal, or guiding them through your app before that happens? This future state of AI is not far away, according to Omer Rabin of WalkMe. The To achieve this goal, WalkMe has designed an AI-powered solution that can sit on top of any SaaS/web-based system to analyze, predict and take action on user behavior to improve customer retention. To discover more, Digital Journal spoke with Digital Journal: How important is AI becoming for businesses? Omer Rabin: AI is arguably one of the hottest areas of investment and growth for businesses of all sizes and industries around the world today. It’s easy to see why when you think about the benefits that AI can deliver to augment the way we work. Whether it’s through more intelligent automation to complete previously tedious and time-intensive tasks in a fraction of the time, or processing billions of data points in minutes to generate business insights, AI can deliver immense value to support an organization’s objectives and growth. As business competition continues to intensify and as services are being commoditized, AI is providing companies with the ability to grow by optimizing processes and decision making - making them significantly more competitive in the marketplace. DJ: Is AI important for all business sectors? Rabin: Yes, AI is becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes and industries around the world. At WalkMe, we see companies using AI in two different ways. The first is to improve the digital employee experience, by identifying adoption issues when using enterprise software. Using our AI, companies can then contextually guide and engage them on how to use a particular system like a pro - even if they’ve never interacted with it before, by giving them exactly the right information that they need, when they need it. When you think about how much money businesses are investing in IT - The second way that AI is used is for fast-growing companies that want to better understand their customers and guide them on how to use their system or website more effectively in real-time. By understanding the user experience, again AI can assist in addressing the right issues at the right time, which is an critical aspect to achieving customer retention and growth. At WalkMe, we work with over 1,500 companies worldwide in sectors ranging from finance, healthcare, e-commerce, manufacturing and many others to help them understand a user’s behaviors when interacting with any business software, website and mobile application. DJ: What’s driving the growth in AI? Rabin: We see several key forces driving the growth in AI across businesses today. Firstly, employees today are changing jobs more frequently than in previous generations, and they are exposed to an even wider set of technologies than ever before - whether that’s in the workplace or in their personal life. People today not only have a diverse digital IQ, but are so overwhelmed with technologies that it’s unrealistic that they will memorize how to use them. Secondly, the technology itself is constantly changing. In the past, software updates would be predictable, but now thanks to the cloud, such updates can be made overnight. Think of the many modifications that Facebook has made to its layout over the years, for example, where the user experience has radically changed overnight. As consumers, we simply need to identify and adapt to these updates. Finally, AI has continued to become more sophisticated over the last few years, and this means that more organizations are exploring how it can be used to support their business goals - whether it’s in increasing the quantity and quality of sales leads, providing a more personalized customer experience, or other metrics surrounding business performance and growth. DJ: How can companies use AI to understand user behavior? Rabin: At WalkMe, we aggregate hundreds of cues and parameters about how a company’s users - whether they’re employees or end customers - are using a system. This allows the organization to predict the intentions and future behaviors of their customers to engage with them at precisely at the right moment. We offer highly customized and specific step-by-step guidance when someone needs help navigating through a system, and can improve the user experience by also identifying common pitfalls over time. By using AI to understand user behavior, organizations have a complete solution for the entire user lifecycle - from their first login to the system through to onboarding, feature adoption, retention and expansion. Since we have insights at every step of the user journey, we can minimize customer churn and help businesses improve their relationships with their customers. DJ: Which types of companies or job roles might this appeal to most? Rabin: We see two types of companies benefiting from the AI that we provide. The first is for organizations that want to maximize their technology investments - whether it’s in their sales or marketing software, HR application, or other solution. We focus on delivering insights to the organization on how employees are using these tools, so that they can anticipate their needs and improve user adoption. The second type of company we focus on is customer-centric software or web-based companies, who want to see greater retention of their applications. Particularly for fast-growing organizations, AI can simplify the process of ensuring that customers can realize value from their products, and minimize any customer flight risks. DJ: What are the benefits of this type of AI to the consumer? Rabin: Consumers are increasingly expecting more personalized experiences in all aspects of their lives - and technology is no exception. If you’ve never used a system before and you’re unsure of what to do, you’ll either look up the answer online, ask a colleague, or simply abandon the application altogether. None of those options are ideal or effective. Now imagine if AI understood your preferences and behaviors, so you could easily navigate through the system based on exactly what you need to do. You no longer to waste time within the system - it’s all incredibly easy and intuitive. DJ: What is WalkMe's vision for AI? Rabin: Our vision is that in the future, software will adapt to users’ needs, rather than users needing to adapt to the software. Basically this means that thanks to artificial intelligence, technology will have the data to anticipate users’ behaviors, actions and inactions so that it can always contextually guide and engage them on how to use a system. Whether it’s business software, a consumer-facing website, or a mobile app, we imagine that the user-software relationship to more intuitive and predictive than what it is today. DJ: How is WalkMe working to make this happen? Rabin: WalkMe continues to invest significantly in R&D to enhance the user experience, and improve user adoption. In the past we’ve acquired two companies - one in visual analytics and one in mobile-based in-app engagement - to expand our platform’s AI features. Most recently, we’ve created a Center of Excellence, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, so that our fast-growing customers will benefit from dedicated product, sales and customer success teams with best practices on how to enhance the customer experience. Finally, we continue to invest in top talent around the globe that support our vision. We have over 600 employees around the world in the U.S., Israel, Europe and Asia Pacific, and we’re committed to helping organizations of all sizes and industries use AI to accelerate their business growth. Artificial intelligence is being used increasingly by companies of all sizes to understand user behavior. Moreover, based on user actions AI can contextually guide customers on how to use the tool, or offer them some sort of solution. For sales and customer reps, this level of insight can help provide a better user experience.The company WalkMe has a vision is that AI will understand user needs so that people no longer need to learn how to navigate any software or website. Instead, AI will predict people’s needs and guide them through what we need to do.To achieve this goal, WalkMe has designed an AI-powered solution that can sit on top of any SaaS/web-based system to analyze, predict and take action on user behavior to improve customer retention.To discover more, Digital Journal spoke with Omer Rabin , who is the Managing Director, WalkMe Growth Edition.AI is arguably one of the hottest areas of investment and growth for businesses of all sizes and industries around the world today. It’s easy to see why when you think about the benefits that AI can deliver to augment the way we work. Whether it’s through more intelligent automation to complete previously tedious and time-intensive tasks in a fraction of the time, or processing billions of data points in minutes to generate business insights, AI can deliver immense value to support an organization’s objectives and growth.As business competition continues to intensify and as services are being commoditized, AI is providing companies with the ability to grow by optimizing processes and decision making - making them significantly more competitive in the marketplace.Yes, AI is becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes and industries around the world. At WalkMe, we see companies using AI in two different ways. The first is to improve the digital employee experience, by identifying adoption issues when using enterprise software. Using our AI, companies can then contextually guide and engage them on how to use a particular system like a pro - even if they’ve never interacted with it before, by giving them exactly the right information that they need, when they need it.When you think about how much money businesses are investing in IT - according to analyst firm Gartner , global IT spending is expected to reach $3.7 trillion this year - it makes sense to invest in solutions that can maximize user adoption, while increasing efficiency and return on investment.The second way that AI is used is for fast-growing companies that want to better understand their customers and guide them on how to use their system or website more effectively in real-time. By understanding the user experience, again AI can assist in addressing the right issues at the right time, which is an critical aspect to achieving customer retention and growth.At WalkMe, we work with over 1,500 companies worldwide in sectors ranging from finance, healthcare, e-commerce, manufacturing and many others to help them understand a user’s behaviors when interacting with any business software, website and mobile application.We see several key forces driving the growth in AI across businesses today. Firstly, employees today are changing jobs more frequently than in previous generations, and they are exposed to an even wider set of technologies than ever before - whether that’s in the workplace or in their personal life. People today not only have a diverse digital IQ, but are so overwhelmed with technologies that it’s unrealistic that they will memorize how to use them.Secondly, the technology itself is constantly changing. In the past, software updates would be predictable, but now thanks to the cloud, such updates can be made overnight. Think of the many modifications that Facebook has made to its layout over the years, for example, where the user experience has radically changed overnight. As consumers, we simply need to identify and adapt to these updates.Finally, AI has continued to become more sophisticated over the last few years, and this means that more organizations are exploring how it can be used to support their business goals - whether it’s in increasing the quantity and quality of sales leads, providing a more personalized customer experience, or other metrics surrounding business performance and growth.At WalkMe, we aggregate hundreds of cues and parameters about how a company’s users - whether they’re employees or end customers - are using a system. This allows the organization to predict the intentions and future behaviors of their customers to engage with them at precisely at the right moment. We offer highly customized and specific step-by-step guidance when someone needs help navigating through a system, and can improve the user experience by also identifying common pitfalls over time.By using AI to understand user behavior, organizations have a complete solution for the entire user lifecycle - from their first login to the system through to onboarding, feature adoption, retention and expansion. Since we have insights at every step of the user journey, we can minimize customer churn and help businesses improve their relationships with their customers.We see two types of companies benefiting from the AI that we provide. The first is for organizations that want to maximize their technology investments - whether it’s in their sales or marketing software, HR application, or other solution. We focus on delivering insights to the organization on how employees are using these tools, so that they can anticipate their needs and improve user adoption.The second type of company we focus on is customer-centric software or web-based companies, who want to see greater retention of their applications. Particularly for fast-growing organizations, AI can simplify the process of ensuring that customers can realize value from their products, and minimize any customer flight risks.Consumers are increasingly expecting more personalized experiences in all aspects of their lives - and technology is no exception. If you’ve never used a system before and you’re unsure of what to do, you’ll either look up the answer online, ask a colleague, or simply abandon the application altogether. None of those options are ideal or effective.Now imagine if AI understood your preferences and behaviors, so you could easily navigate through the system based on exactly what you need to do. You no longer to waste time within the system - it’s all incredibly easy and intuitive.Our vision is that in the future, software will adapt to users’ needs, rather than users needing to adapt to the software. Basically this means that thanks to artificial intelligence, technology will have the data to anticipate users’ behaviors, actions and inactions so that it can always contextually guide and engage them on how to use a system. Whether it’s business software, a consumer-facing website, or a mobile app, we imagine that the user-software relationship to more intuitive and predictive than what it is today.WalkMe continues to invest significantly in R&D to enhance the user experience, and improve user adoption. In the past we’ve acquired two companies - one in visual analytics and one in mobile-based in-app engagement - to expand our platform’s AI features.Most recently, we’ve created a Center of Excellence, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, so that our fast-growing customers will benefit from dedicated product, sales and customer success teams with best practices on how to enhance the customer experience.Finally, we continue to invest in top talent around the globe that support our vision. We have over 600 employees around the world in the U.S., Israel, Europe and Asia Pacific, and we’re committed to helping organizations of all sizes and industries use AI to accelerate their business growth. More about Artificial intelligence, machine learning, Customer service More news from Artificial intellige... machine learning Customer service", "Galway Bay fm newsroom – A new, state of the art 3 million euro ferry to serve the Aran Islands will arrive in Doolin next week. (Tues 5/6)\nThe eco-friendly Star of Doolin has been comissioned by the Garrihy’s family run-business, Doolin2Aran Ferries, based in northwest Clare.\nThe ferry has been built in La Rochelle, France, and will stop in Brest and Dingle before arriving in Doolin at around 8.30am on Tuesday.\nThe Star of Doolin is a 26 meter vessel with 200 seats – and is tailored for international tourists with multi-lingual voice and visual guide systems.", "Facebook/The Vampire Diaries Shown is a scene from \"The Vampire Diaries,\" where Klaus and Caroline became a well-loved and fan-favorite pair.\nKlaus (Joseph Morgan) and Caroline's (Candice King) reunion in the upcoming fifth season of \"The Originals\" will not be a romantic one.\nWhile fans already know that the upcoming fifth and final season of \"The Originals\" will bring back the well-received team-up of Klaus and Caroline, otherwise known as \"Klaroline,\" the show's executive producer, Julie Plec, has revealed in an interview that the much-anticipated reunion is not what the fans are hoping it to be.\n\"I think what people can expect and count on is a nice thread of Caroline as a guiding counselor to Klaus in terms of fatherhood. She's a mother, she lost her husband and she knows (Klaus) very well — better than some of the people in New Orleans. She understands the desire he has to be a good person in the name of his daughter, and she's very quick to recognize that he's not doing a very good job. She's a friend, she's a support system and she calls him on his s–t,\" Plec revealed in a recent interview with TV Guide.\nHowever, hope may not be lost at all for the fans hoping for a romantic reunion between Klaus and Caroline. After all, according to the Plec, the spark of the past romance between the two will still be there when they meet. Nonetheless, the executive producer warned the fans not to expect too much as there are no promises as to where the remaining feelings of the two will take them in the final season of \"The Originals.\"\nTo the uninitiated, Klaroline was first formed in \"The Vampire Diaries\" season 3. While the pair rivalled the popularity of Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena ( Nina Dobrev), the well-followed romance of the two was cut short when Morgan left the series to star in its spin-off, \"The Originals.\"\nWill Klaus and Caroline's reunion simply be a platonic one? Is there a chance for the two to end up together eventually before \"The Originals\" take a bow?\nFind out when the fifth and final season of \"The Originals' begins airing this April 20 at 9/8c on The CW.", "The Howard Hospitality Group has submitted plans for its third major Cayman Islands project – a US$285 million five-star hotel and condo development on the southern tip of Seven Mile Beach.\nMichael Wilkings, CEO of the group, said the development on the old Pageant Beach site would include around 250 hotel rooms and 100 two and three bedroom condominiums.\nAn architect’s video of the proposed development shows adjoining multi-story buildings overlooking the beach and pools. A boardwalk traverses the ironshore coastline of the 7.1 acre site.\nMr. Wilkings said the development would include seven food and beverage outlets, including an “internationally branded restaurant.” He said the hotel itself would be a five-star brand operated by the Howard Group under a licensing agreement.\nThe resort will also feature four pools, a cinema screening room, a rooftop spa and 35,000 square feet of conference space.\nThe plans are expected to be considered by the Central Planning Authority in the coming months. Mr. Wilkings said the developer was hoping to begin construction in the first quarter of next year, with opening tentatively scheduled for 2020.\nThe Howard Group took over Treasure Island in 2015, transforming it into the Margaritaville resort, and is also renovating a three-story property on West Bay Road as a new 42-room business hotel, Locale.\nMr. Wilkings said the company was investing heavily in Grand Cayman.\n“We have huge confidence in the future growth of business and tourism in Grand Cayman. We think there is substantial potential for long-time growth not withstanding other new hotels coming into the market.”\nHe said the resort at Pageant Beach would have more conference and meeting room space than any other development on island, and would attract new business to the Cayman Islands.\n“It means we will be able to attract larger group bookings and corporate events, which is something I know the Department of Tourism is excited about,” Mr. Wilkings said. “One of the limitations the island has had in attracting group bookings is the limited space.”\nThe National Conservation Council has already indicated that the development will not be required to go through an Environmental Impact Assessment.\nMr. Wilkings said architects had consulted the Department of Environment in the planning process and tailored the development to avoid any negative impacts.\n“They worked closely with us to help us understand the shoreline and beach conditions and any touch points of concern on the sire so we were really able to understand what we needed to do from an environmental sustainability perspective.”", "Guide star\nTo address these challenges, Betzig and colleagues combined two technologies: lattice light-sheet microscopy, which Betzig developed in the early 2010s, and adaptive optics, a technique borrowed from astronomy.\nLattice light-sheet microscopy uses rapid and repeated sweeps of an ultrathin sheet of light, which avoids the bleaching or damage associated with traditional focused beams of light. It generates high-resolution 2-D images of living cells as they carry out their functions, and by combining series of these images over time, scientists can create 3-D movies.\nTo unscramble the light sheet as it passes through tissues and other structures, the research team turned to the stars. To see distant objects through the Earth’s atmosphere, astronomers rely on adaptive optics — deformable mirrors and light modulators.\nThe process uses a powerful laser, aimed at the small region of the sky they want to image, which serves as a “guide star.” As the laser passes through the atmosphere, optical aberrations that distort its path are revealed and corrected by the adaptive optics.\nThe team combined two technologies: lattice light-sheet microscopy, which Eric Betzig developed in the early 2010s, and adaptive optics, a technique borrowed from astronomy.\nBetzig and colleagues applied this principle to the microscopic world, using a two-photon laser to create an adaptive optics system that maintains the thin illumination of a lattice light sheet as it penetrates an organism to generate distortion-free images of their target.\nThe team validated the new adaptive optics/lattice light-sheet microscope on a variety of biological samples, carrying out much of the work through the laboratories of Kirchhausen and Sean Megason, HMS associate professor of systems biology.\nTo make sense of the data they generated, the team created customized software and computational and visualization workflows, spearheaded by study co-lead authors Gokul Upadhyayula, HMS instructor in pediatrics at Boston Children’s and research associate in the Kirchhausen lab, and Tsung-Li Liu, formerly a research scientist in the Betzig lab at HHMI.\n“For the types of data we generated, there’s no one commercial software that we can use to create interpretable movies and extract biologically meaningful information, so we built the necessary tools,” Upadhyayula said. “This allowed us to understand what we acquired and visualize the data in meaningful ways, including, in the near future, fully interactive 3-D movies.”\nInto focus\nThe results were remarkable. In one movie, a fiery orange immune cell wriggles madly through a zebrafish’s ear while scooping up blue sugar particles along the way. In another, a migrating cancer cell trails sticky appendages as it rolls through a blood vessel and attempts to squeeze through the vessel wall.\nThe team captured movies of the behavior of organelles as they remodel themselves inside cells during cell division, and even visualized in real-time and at near-molecular detail the process of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, which cells use to capture materials from their exterior environment.\n“I work on understanding how cells ‘eat’ using machinery based on vesicular carriers, and all my life I’ve dreamed of seeing this in a live organism,” Kirchhausen said. “We have finally achieved this.”\nThe complexity of the 3-D multicellular environment can be overwhelming, Betzig said, but the clarity of the imaging allows the researchers to computationally “explode” apart the individual cells in tissue to focus on the dynamics within any particular one.\n“It’s like ‘Star Trek.’ It’s the age of exploration again,” Upadhyayula said. “We don’t even know what questions to ask yet because we’ve never even seen some of these biologies at this level of detail.”\nAll this detail is hard to see without adaptive optics, Betzig said. “It’s just too damn fuzzy.” In his view, adaptive optics is one of the most important areas in microscopy research today, and the lattice light-sheet microscope, which excels at 3-D live imaging, is the perfect platform to showcase its power.\nThe next step is making the technology affordable and user-friendly. The current microscope takes up a 10-foot-long table. In collaboration with Kirchhausen and Upadhyayula, Betzig’s team is working on a next-generation version that should fit on a small desk at a cost within the reach of individual labs.\nThe first such instrument will go to Janelia’s Advanced Imaging Center, where scientists from around the world can apply to use it. A second instrument built at the same time will be located in the Kirchhausen laboratory at the HMS Quad in Boston. Plans to build the instrument will also be made available.\nContributing authors include researchers from Stony Brook University, University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, and the University of Exeter.\nThe study was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Institutes of Health (R01GM075252, R01DC015478, 5R00CA154870-05, 1R01GM121597-01, R01CA196884 and R35GM118149), National Science Foundation (IOS1452928), Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Biogen, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and a Human Frontier Science Program fellowship.", "Breckenridge Grand Vacations hopes to soon break ground on a new four-star hotel that the company’s co-owner and CEO Mike Dudick says could be one of the biggest developments in town history.\nBGV is a real estate development company formed in Breckenridge in 1984. It currently manages four resorts in town — the Gold Point Condominiums, Grand Timber Lodge, the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 and its newest asset, the Grand Colorado on Peak 8.\nThis project, however, is an entirely new venture for BGV, and if it comes to fruition, will feature a 150-room luxury hotel that, to the best of Dudick’s knowledge, would be the first four-star hotel of its kind in Breckenridge.\n“I’m looking forward to helping steer that process to completion,” he said, adding that he believes “a majority of the town” would also enjoy having “something where people can say, ‘Let’s make a reservation and go to this place.'”\nFor the hotel, Breckenridge Grand Vacations is working with the Miami-based real estate development firm Lionheart Capital, which currently has other high-end resort projects in the works in Miami and Palm Beach, Florida, and the Emerald Coast in Nicaragua, according to the firm.\nDudick said the land on which Lionheart and BGV hope to build the new hotel is under contract with Vail Resorts. The property is next door to One Ski Hill Place and houses Vail Resorts’ administration building. The building overlooks Ski Hill Road with parking lot access from Four O’Clock Run Road, and the structure would be demolished to make room for the new luxury hotel.\nRecommended Stories For You\nDudick declined to disclose specifics of the contract with Vail Resorts, which is not yet finalized, but he did talk about possible motives for the move.\n“Vail Resorts is committed to providing great ski experiences,” he said. “And they want to have a diversity of lodging and choices. … Now there’s going to be a four-star hotel at the base of the ski mountain, and it’s going to be great for Breckenridge.”\nBefore any work can begin on what could eventually become Breckenridge’s flagship hotel, the partners will have to get town council’s approval to add residential density to the property.\nElected for the second time in April 2016 after serving one term from 2010-14, Dudick currently holds a seat on council. He said the request for additional density will likely come up sometime in the next month but was adamant he will not be involved in the council’s decision-making process in any way.\n“I will 100 percent recuse myself and have no participation in any decision about this,” he said. “I hope that the merits of the idea prevail, but I will have zero input on what goes down. Zero.”\nFour-star hotels are known for upscale décor, plush amenities and high-end services, such as a dedicated concierge, valet parking and 24-hour room service. Many also have upgraded pools and Jacuzzis, full-service spas, on-site child care and access to nearby entertainment and recreation venues, though it’s a loose rating system with significant differences from one hotel to the next.\n“I know in my heart what matters to the town of Breckenridge is that we get a four-star hotel, and I hope to make that happen,” Dudick said. “I know we don’t have anything like this in Breckenridge today, and I’m all-in on doing things the right way.”", "The first known object from beyond the Solar System to visit Earth's neighborhood- Oumuamua \"very likely\" came from a dual star system.\nThe latest findings on this cigar-shaped object were carried out by researchers at the University of Toronto. Oumuamua came hurtling into the Solar System, did a round about of the Sun and is now on the way back out. It was first observed in October last year.\nOne of the reasons for astronomers to believe that Oumuamua came from a two-star system where at least one of the stars are really big and hot.\nDual star systems are likely to have bodies orbiting it that are more rocky than icy, orbiting close to the stars in the \"prime ejection zone\", reports Space.com.\n\"It's really odd that the first object we would see from outside our system would be an asteroid because a comet would be a lot easier to spot, and the solar system ejects many more comets than asteroids,\" said study lead author Alan Jackson, from the University of Toronto in a statement.\nOumuamua could have been ejected in the early years of planetary formation from its binary system. This suggests that the asteroid has been flying through space for possibly millions, if not billions of years at a speed of 30 km per second. The release says that at its closest, Oumuamua was 33,000,000 km from Earth.\n\"Oumuamua's orbit has the highest eccentricity ever observed in an object passing through our Solar System,\" pointed out Jackson.\nThis ejection from its binary star system could be the \"violent past\" it faced. Earlier this year, scientists found that the object was spinning and tumbling chaotically and has probably been that way for billions of years.\nResearch on Oumuamua will continue, notes the release, as several questions about it are still unanswered. Observing and studying strange objects like this could lead to the better understanding of how planet formation happens in the galaxy.\n\"The same way we use comets to better understand planet formation in our own Solar System, maybe this curious object can tell us more about how planets form in other systems,\" said Jackson.\nOumuamua- which means \"scout\" was first spotted from an observatory in the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii on 19 October 2017.\nSeveral theories about it were floated, including it being an alien spaceship. It had certain characteristic features that made it unique like a reddish brown color, a soft mushy, organic surface, and it 400 meter-long cigar shaped body. It is currently moving away from the Solar System, it will reach Jovian orbit in May and Saturn by January next year.", "Among the discerning, cult-like devotees of Aman Resorts — the ultra-luxury, ultra-minimalist hotel group — Amangiri is one of the most sought-after properties.\nBoth hard to get to and easy to lose yourself in, the 34-suite property in Canyon Point, Utah, is a study in understated elegance.\nIt lets guests explore the great Southwest (and get a little dirty with outdoor excursions) in the most sophisticated way.\nWhy\nThe stunning hotel, opened in 2009, is made of concrete slabs nestled into the valley of a field of mesas — dusty red mountains with flat tops.\nEach suite has its own outdoor lounge and fire pit, perfect for stargazing or s’more-eating. Tents for glamping are currently under construction.\nA 4½-hour drive from the Las Vegas airport, Amangiri is all about seclusion and immersion. Nature, it seems, has never felt so chic.\nWorking well\nEach morning and afternoon, the hotel offers complimentary hikes on its 8 miles of on-property trails (make sure to walk the Studhorse route at least once during your visit). One trail even includes a stop at the set remains for 1996 action flick “Broken Arrow,” which starred John Travolta and Christian Slater.\nFood is also included in the cost of your stay. And while past guests complained that the unchanging dishes became monotonous during a long visit, the menu got a revamp this past fall and now includes hits like hearty chicken porridge for breakfast and rib eye prepared to your liking for dinner. (The “regional” style is dressed in Utah salt, chile rub, pumpkin seeds and ancho chile steak sauce.)\nDespite being in the middle of nowhere, meals can quickly become a fun social experience with Amangiri’s high-rolling (and surprisingly young) clientele. Take the entertaining Los Angeles nightlife impresario we met during our stay.\nThe staff will also pack you a picnic for a helicopter tour of Bryce Canyon ($4,500 for the adventure) and store unfinished bottles of vino until you’re ready to imbibe again.\nLike its sister properties, the spa at Amangiri is a haven for relaxation — though beware, the locker room is co-ed. Sneak away to the hidden hot tub in the back of the spa or try the floatation therapy treatment in Dead Sea water ($100 for 30 minutes).\nNeeds work\nSince Amangiri is in Utah, alcohol rules are stringent. State law dictates that the hotel must charge for a taste of wine (yep, just a taste, which is $4 at the resort) and pours are carefully measured, so you may want to double up on that martini.\nAmangiri offers a wide array of adventurous activities at an extra cost, including a $700 package for a driver and a Navajo-guided tour of three canyons — including the most Instagrammable: narrow, sun-lit Antelope Canyon. For most of Amangiri’s multimillionaire customers, this is small change. But for those on a relative budget, you can opt to go rogue. We borrowed one of Amangiri’s BMWs, drove out and hired the Navajo guide ourselves on-site for $45 per person. We couldn’t have had a better experience.\nMust try\nOne thing definitely worth splurging on is a Via Ferrata rock climbing excursion ($600 for two people). Via ferrata, a climbing method developed centuries ago in the Italian Alps, means “iron road.” And it truly is: Metal cables and ladder rungs are fixed into the rock face and guests — geared up in helmets and harnesses — clip in and out as they ascend the steep rock along six different routes. Our guide James was a reassuring presence, as there are some heart-pounding moments for the novice climber.\nThe best route for beginners is the three-hour Hoodoo Via Ferrata, where you’re encased in vertical slot canyons for most of the climb. At the top, you can opt to cross a 600-foot-deep gorge along an 18-inch-wide suspension bridge. (One bold friend opted to do push-ups halfway along the bridge. One less-bold husband panicked and turned around.)\nBottom line\nBeloved by everyone from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (in their halcyon days) to Cate Blanchett, Amangiri lets you recharge and experience some of America’s finest topographies like an A-lister. Whether you want to lounge and spa all day (ask for a Thai massage with Rikki) or hop aboard a sunrise hot-air balloon straight from the grounds ($1,210 for two people), Amangiri has got you covered. Quite simply, the hotel is one of the most beautiful in the world.\nDetails and how to get there\nFrom $1,400. For those plebes without private planes, the easiest way to get to Amangiri is to fly into Las Vegas. Stay overnight at the glam Cosmpolitan (from $195) with sunken bathtubs overlooking the strip. Within the hotel, dine at José André’s restaurant Jaleo (don’t miss the paella or buttery bread with sea urchin and bacon) to fuel up for the next day’s drive to the desert.", "Land\nBook by Nov. 1 and save $100 on any International Culinary Tours trip. The deal applies to food-centric tours in Bali, Italy, Portugal, Burma (also known as Myanmar), Spain and France. For example, with the discount, the 10-day Bali trip costs $1,895 per person double and includes three-star hotel accommodations in Ubud and Seminyak; daily breakfast, seven lunches and six dinners; three cooking classes with market visits; yoga class; several excursions, such as a visit to a coffee and tea plantation, an artisan chocolate factory and the Ubud Monkey Forest; transportation; and taxes. Depart March 31 or April 14. Info: 800-341-8687, internationalculinarytours.com\nThe four-star Hotel Husafell, near the Langjokull Glacier, has a Northern Lights special in Iceland. The Northern Lights & Krauma Baths deal costs $225 per person double and includes two nights’ lodging, with a free Northern Lights wake-up call; daily breakfast; access to the Husafell thermal swimming pool and the new Krauma geothermal nature baths; WiFi; parking; and taxes. Valid through March 1. By comparison, a two-night stay alone starts at nearly $600. Info: hotelhusafell.com/tilbod/northern-lights-krauma-nature-spa\nReceive a free fourth night at the Red Frog Beach Island Resort & Spa in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Rates vary by season and accommodations. For example, through Dec. 18, four nights in a one-bedroom villa with a private pool starts at $897, plus $90 in taxes — a savings of $329. The Island Nights package also includes airport transfers, one 60-minute massage, two canopy zip line passes, access to the new beach club, two cocktails and WiFi, an added value of about $235. Book at 970-367-4811. Info: www.redfrogbeach.com/island-nights\nSea\nWith John Hall’s Alaska, save $500 on Denali Explorer land-and-cruise trips in 2018. The 13-day Alaskan adventure starts at $4,999 per person double (was $5,499) and includes six nights on Alaskan Dream Cruises’s Baranof Dream, Celebrity’s Millennium or Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas; accommodations in Anchorage, Denali National Park, Talkeetna and Seward; 35 meals; Alaskan land guides; land transportation, including the Alaska Railroad; airport transfers; most gratuities; daily excursions, such as a visit to Wolf’s Den Kennel and a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise; and taxes. Book by Jan. 1. Select departures June through September. Info: 800-325-2270, www.kissalaska.com/denali-explorer.html\nBook by Oct. 8 and receive cabin upgrades and a $50 shipboard credit per cabin on select Carnival cruises departing through December 2018. For example, an oceanview cabin on the six-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 3 starts at $632 per person double, including tax; upgrade is valued at about $40. Request the Plan a Cruise Month sale. Info: 800-764-7419, www.carnival.com\nAir\nAlaska Airlines is offering sale fares of $138 round trip from Reagan National to Dallas Love Field for travel through Nov. 15. Other airlines are matching, but fare typically starts at $175. Virgin America, which Alaska Airlines acquired last year, operates the flights. Restrictions include a 21-day advance purchase. Book by Monday at www.alaskaair.com\nPackage\nTroy Tours is offering a six-night tour of Israel starting at $1,299 per person double. The trip includes round-trip air from Washington Dulles to Tel Aviv; three nights’ hotel in Jerusalem, two nights in Acre and one night in Netanya; 12 meals; land transport; guided tours; airport transfers; and taxes. For lowest price, depart Jan. 20 or 27. Priced separately, hotel and airfare alone start at about $1,100. Info: 310-417-3460, www.troytours.com\nTHE WASHINGTON POST", "It's not exactly halcyon days at the Halcyon Hotel in London. World War Two is just kicking off and proprietor Lord Hamilton is struggling to keep his indiscretions under wraps, while his wife is furious, his son sulky and the other one about to go off to war. It's a lot for the Hamilton family and the hotel's staff to handle.\nBut in the middle of all that, there's drinking and dancing and singing as life goes on at the luxury hotel, where guests and staff are determined to have a good time.\nHere are the stars of ITV's The Halcyon – described as a \"sexier Downton\" – and where you have seen them before:\nAlex Jennings – Lord Hamilton\nWho does he play? Lord Hamilton owns The Halcyon. He uses it for illicit meetings (both political and romantic) – but he runs into trouble when everything begins to unravel, with his latest affair coming out into the open and his meetings to discuss appeasement hitting the media.\nWhere have I seen him? Everywhere. Recently, Jennings has played both the Duke of Windsor in The Crown and King Leopold in Victoria.\nSteven Mackintosh – Richard Garland\nWho does he play? Mr Garland is the calm and professional hotel manager, but there's more to him than first meets the eye. He is the engine of the hotel, keeping everyone's secrets and making sure everything runs smoothly. With a strong sense of duty and responsibility, he is also prepared to get his hands dirty and outsmart his opponents to protect The Halcyon. He also has a secret he would rather forget.\nWidower Mr Garland is devoted to grown up daughter Emma and will do anything to protect her.\nWhere have I seen him? Mackintosh is one of those actors who can turn his hand to anything. He's appeared in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Luther, The Land Girls, The Other Boleyn Girl and Our Mutual Friend.\nOlivia Williams – Lady Hamilton\nWho does she play? Lord Hamilton thinks he and his wife have an \"understanding\", but the limits of that understanding are tested when Lady Hamilton arrives at The Halcyon while he is in bed with his latest woman. The staff rush to stop her reaching the door, but she's humiliated to find out everyone knows what's going on. It's a tricky time for Lady Hamilton – but as a snob with a nasty streak, she's far from likeable.\n\"She begins thinking that she is in control, which is a wonderful delusion to have,\" Williams told RadioTimes.com.\n\"And as she walks through the door and gets closer to the royal suite, she realises that she isn't in control. And I think it's a humiliation and a tragedy and a crisis in the life that everybody dreads, the realisation that your partner is not only being unfaithful to you, but has been being unfaithful to you for a long time and everybody else knows about it.\"\nWhere have I seen her? A veteran of stage and screen, Williams has starred in Rushmore, The Sixth Sense and An Education.\nHermione Corfield – Emma Garland\nWho does she play? Emma is the daughter of Mr Garland, working as a receptionist at The Halcyon – the hotel where she grew up. She's just coming of age when the war hits, and romance looks set to bloom between her and childhood friend Freddie Hamilton despite their very different positions in life. Emma is headstrong and capable, with a strong sense of justice.\nWhere have I seen her? This seems to be Corfield's moment. The 23-year-old recently starred in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as well as 2015's Mr Holmes, and next year she'll be in XXX: Return of Xander Cage and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nCity breaks remain one of the most popular getaway choices for UK holidaymakers.\nGreat for those on a time limit, city breaks let you transform a standard weekend into an exotic escape and give you a change of scenery without breaking the bank or using any annual leave.\nNot to mention that they're packed with cultural landmarks, vibrant nightlife and a plethora of attractions that make for quite the action-packed weekend.\nUnlike beach holidays you don't need to rely on the weather either, as you can improvise on rainy days by heading to the beautiful museums or checking out new foodie hotspots.\nWhether you're looking for a spontaneous trip away, a cheap holiday or the chance to explore a new culture, tempt yourself with one of these top European destinations for a long weekend in 2018.\nBest last minute city break deals this week\nPrague from £86pp: Stay two nights at the A&O Prague Metro Strizkov including return flights. Based on a 14th May departure.\nStay two nights at the A&O Prague Metro Strizkov including return flights. Based on a 14th May departure. Venice from £110pp: Stay two nights at the Ute hotel on a room only basis, with return flights from London. Based on a 7th May departure.\nStay two nights at the Ute hotel on a room only basis, with return flights from London. Based on a 7th May departure. Budapest from £101pp: Stay three nights at the Budapest Opera Minihotel with return flights from London Stansted. Based on a 9th May departure.\nStay three nights at the Budapest Opera Minihotel with return flights from London Stansted. Based on a 9th May departure. Berlin from £249pp: Stay three nights at the Quentin Design Berlin Hotel on a room only basis with return flights from London Luton. Based on a 7th May departure.\nHow to save on flights\nBudget airlines like easyJet and Norwegian offer flights from various UK airports all year round to Europe. See our easyJet hacks guide.\nFor the best price and seats, book around three-months ahead and if you can, opt for a mid-week city break as fares are slightly less due to lower demand.\nTravelling last minute can also be a smart move as flights and hotels rush to fill up rooms, but always use a comparison website to compare deals. Here's our favourite late holiday deals this week.\nKeep an eye on our cheap flights and deals pages for cut price fares all year round. Feeling spontaneous? Lastminute.com is a great source for late package and flight deals.\nHow to save on local travel\n(Image: Getty)\nTrade expensive cab rides for tourist walks or public transport - you'll see more sights, get more of a feel for local culture, and save money in the process.\nIf you're travelling around by train or metro, it's best to try and book in advance for the best prices. The Trainline Europe claims it can save you up to 53% if booked early.\nIf in doubt about where to go, raileasy.co.uk offers advice on attractions as well as reduced fares. It may also be worth buying a week-long travelcard from the station when you arrive, as this offers unlimited travel for a set fee.\nHow to save on accommodation\n(Image: Getty Images)\nTripadvisor has a handy guide on the best hotels in every European city, from Vienna to Budapest, with prices - and the option to book. See our Tripadvisor hacks guide.\nBooking.com's destination guide also offers plenty of information on hotels and cheap deals - tap at your city to find out more.\nVisitors can also bag cheap rooms when booking early via Holiday Inn Europe.\nTop 10 places to visit for a city escape\n1. Lisbon, Portugal's capital\n(Image: Getty)\nLisbon, the city of trams and treasures, museums and monuments, shopping and schlepping, hills and highs, cobblestones and custard tarts, alleys and allure.\nThe list is endless - so much to see, so much to experience, from music at the Old Pharmacy Wine Inn (with £2 wine), to five-star meals at the Bairro Alto district.\nDiscover more about Lisbon on TripAdvisor. Or, see our Lisbon city guide.\n2. Venice, capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region\nGlitter, glamour and plenty of posing. Venice has canal rides all-year-round you'll be dreaming about at your desk for years afterwards.\nDiscover the city’s magical bridges or enjoy a romantic stay in La Serenissima, especially if you go with your significant other.\nRead all about it in our Venice city guide. Or check out Easyjet Holiday's city break deals.\n3. Edinburgh, Scotland's capital\n(Image: Rex)\nThousands of Brits flock to Edinburgh every year for sightseeing, and its also home to an array of festivals and celebrations throughout the year.\nSmall enough to walk around, the city highlights can be taken in during a few days strolling around the Castle, Arthur’s Seat, The Royal Mile, and the Museum of Scotland.\nWant to find out more? Here's our Edinburgh city guide. Or check out Thomas Cook's city break deals there.\n4. Vienna, capital of Austria\nYou could stay in Vienna for a couple of weeks and still not see all the museums, concert halls and places of interest.\nIt's a city that has so much more to offer all year round. And the best part? Most of the highlights are easily walkable and entrance fees are usually just a few euros.\nThe Sigmund Freud Museum, the Globe Museum, the Art History Museum, The Leopold Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, are just a few of Vienna's must-sees.\nRead all about it in our Vienna city guide. Or browse cheap breaks there on Expedia.\n5. Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ capital\nAmsterdam - the city of canals, cycles and coffee shops with exotic blends that customers smoke rather than sip.\nFrom world-class art galleries to a red light district so infamous it’s a mainstream tourist attraction, the Netherlands capital really does have something for everyone.\nThe oasis that is Vondelpark has 10 million visitors a year. It’s the city’s largest park and there are lots of quiet places to chill. Plus, in the summer there are free concerts.\nFind out more in our handy Amsterdam city guide or check out Opodo deals.\n6. Bratislava, capital of Slovakia\nThe delightful, neat capital of the little central European nation of Slovakia, features a stunning bridge across the River Danube - known as The Novy Most, built in 1972.\nBut what makes it fabulously special is the fact that the designers decided to plonk a UFO on top of the main tower. As you do.\nWhen it comes to food and drink, it’s pretty good and pretty cheap. A coffee in a cafe starts at €1, and local beer also costs from €1 for a draught half-pint.\nDiscover more in our Bratislava city guide. Or compare the best Bratislava city break deals on skyskanner.\n7. Madrid, capital of Spain\n(Image: Getty)\nSpain’s capital is one of the most popular city break destinations - and deservedly so.\nAlcala de Henares, a Unesco world-heritage site, founded in 100BC by the Romans, boasts a combination of gorgeous baroque, ­renaissance and gothic architecture.\nThe city boasts one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1293, and one of its past students was Miguel de Cervantes, writer of Don Quixote.\nOutside the Archbishop’s Palace in the city is a statue of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII who was born there.\nBook yours via British Airways city break offers, or see our Madrid city guide.\n8. Budapest, Hungary’s capital\n(Image: WEKWEK)\nThe capital of Hungary is a pleasing amalgamation of the old cities of Buda (hilly and historic) and Pest (flat and more modern).\nThe heart of Andrassy Avenue – possibly the most famous road in Pest, hosts high-class shops, the opera house, Liszt Square and Heroes’ Square where you’ll find spectacular sculptures.\nOne of Budapest’s top attractions are its baths. Relax in the warm, healing waters of the 102-year-old Szechenyi Medicinal Baths with 18 pools.\nBook your Budapest break with Opodo's cheap suggestions, or see our helpful Budpest city guide here.\n9. Stockholm, capital of Sweden\nSpectacularly beautiful, Stockholm is uber cool, leading the way in design, fashion and architecture. Its many islands can be reached by ferry, bus, train or car, making it incredibly family-friendly.\nFrom the 13th century cobbled streets of the Old Town Gamla Stan island to its boutiques selling cool Scandinavian clothing brands side-by-side with hip cafés, galleries and vintage stores, it's the place to be.\nDiscover Stockholm with Lastminute.com. We've also compiled a fascinating Stockholm city guide for you.\n10. Tallinn, capital of Estonia\nThis Estonian capital is a beautiful city with a distinctive Scandinavian feel and an unexpected National Park for the spontaneous.\nThe Old Town is a Unesco world heritage site and it shows. Some of the barns and warehouses date back to the 11th century and are so well preserved that at times the place feels like a medieval theme park.\nWant to visit Tallinn? Read all about it in our Tallin city guide or see more about it on TripAdvisor.\n11. La Palma\nWhile Spain has an abundance of popular destinations, La Palma shouldn't be overlooked.\nIt has a wide range of things to do including stargazing, whale watching and natural seawater pools. Not to forget the amazing views, food and beaches.\nVisit the La Palma tourist board website for more information about the island and more ideas for your trip.", "When you will check online travel solution for corporates, you may get well-designed corporate travel portals highlighting the services they provide to the customers. Businesses offer their clients with personalized services using the power of a global travel network providing umpteen exclusive services.\nRelevant businesses like roomsxpert.com help the customers to grow. The corporate travel experts are dedicated to simplifying your corporate travel experience, and they help corporate travel to be more comfortable and faster. Here is the list of exquisite services granted by the travel partners.\nDedicated Travel Manager\nThe fundamentals of a corporate travel business include the travel manager, an entity that delivers a remarkable travel experience no matter what.\nInnovative Technology\nTechnology that keeps you alert and informed irrespective of your location.\nGreater choices and more value\nOnline travel solution for corporates offer the customers with greater choices, and enhanced value when it comes to using the services.\nBooking\nIf you have a travel program, then the reputed corporate travel portal offers you simple booking system that can customize the variables required for a complex travel program.\nMobile\nBesides the corporate travel portal, there are the mobile apps, which are designed for the travellers and they keep the customer connected and informed on the schedule of departure.\nSafe & Secure\nOnline travel solution for corporates provides live alerts to the customers, and they also offer traveler tracking reports.\nTo summarise, business travel is simplified if you seek expert travel assistance.\nIf you are traveling to a remote destination for work, then you should be well prepared for the journey. If you are a corporate executive and availing online travel solution for corporates, then you can also get best hotel offers for B2B(Business-to-Business). Besides, all major online travel agents provide hotel offers for B2B. The availability and price of the offers are quite competitive. Businesses like roomsxpert.com offer B2B booking of hotels across many cities and globally as well. Such companies through its hotel reservation system help its customers, mostly corporate travelers to reserve hotels. The business offers many cost-effective options on hotel booking and brings forth choices of many hotels before the customers.\nServices Offered by B2B Businesses\nThe standard services offered by the B2B hotel booking business are as follows: –\nThe business offers hotels to the customers at reasonable rates.\nBusinesses like roomsxpert.com have a stock of a range of hotels to offer the customers with exclusive deals.\nOnline booking of hotels is free from hassles. The customers are required to visit the online portal and choose the hotels they think satisfy his needs. The person can then book the hotel online at absolute ease.\nSince many of the online travel solutions for corporates maintain a long list of hotels across the world, there are plenty of options to choose from. The customers can always compare the rates of various hotels before booking them.\nBusinesses like roomsxpert.com offer safety assurance to the customers while they book the hotels.\nMany of the corporate travel businesses bear customer reviews and testimonials. The customer can also check the reviews and testimonials for a better understanding of the service quality.\nSource:https://www.prlog.org/12710719-online-travel-solution-for-corporates-eases-client-travel-for-work-purposes.html", "NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope caught a glimpse of an intergalactic romance 370 light years away.\nAlso Read: Violent beginnings of a supernova spotted by researchers for the first time!\nVibrations were detected from the outer shell of a star, dubbed HAT-P-2, by the Spitzer Space Telescope. Scientists think the pulsations are caused by a closely orbiting planet called HAT-P-2b.\n\"Just in time for Valentine's Day, we have discovered the first example of a planet that seems to be causing a heartbeat-like behaviour in its host star,\" said Julien de Wit, postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. A study describing the findings was published today in Astrophysical Journal Letters.\nNASA's Kepler space telescope had discovered a similar phenomenon between numerous binary star systems that orbited each other, termed \"heartbeat stars\".\nExoplanet, HAT-P-2b, is a hotter version of Jupiter, weighing around eight times the gas-giant and its star is comparatively 100 times more massive.\nThe pulsation effect is an outcome of the size difference between the star and the exoplanet.\n\"It's remarkable that this relatively small planet seems to affect the whole star in a way that we can see from far away,\" said Heather Knutson, assistant professor of geological and planetary sciences at Caltech in Pasadena, California, as per a NASA statement.\nThe exoplanet, HAT-P-2b, was fascinating for the astronomers because of its elliptical orbit. The planet close in on the star every 5.6 days and receives 10 times more luminosity when it's at the closest point compared to the farthest.\nGravitational energies of both the celestial bodies interact with each-other which results in making the star emit heartbeat-like pulsations.\n\"We had intended the observations to provide a detailed look at HAT-P-2b's atmospheric circulation,\" said Nikole Lewis, co-author and astronomer at Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, as per a NASA statement.\n\"The discovery of the oscillations was unexpected but adds another piece to the puzzle of how this system evolved,\" Lewis added.\nThis interaction between the planet and the star was captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope from our solar system's vantage point for 350 hours between July 2011 and November 2015.\n\"Our observations suggest that our understanding of planet-star interactions is incomplete,\" said de Wit. \"There's more to learn from studying stars in systems like this one and listening for the stories they tell through their 'heartbeats.'\"\nBecause of the system's alignment with respect to Earth, Spitzer was able to observe the planet cross directly in front of the star (in a process called a \"transit\") as well as behind it (called a \"secondary eclipse\"). These eclipses of the planet allowed scientists to determine that the pulsations originate from the star, not the planet. The point of closest approach occurs between the transit and secondary eclipse.\nCalculations by co-author Jim Fuller, Caltech postdoctoral scholar, predicted that the pitter-patter of the star's vibrations should be quieter and at a lower frequency than what Spitzer found.\n\"Our observations suggest that our understanding of planet-star interactions is incomplete,\" said de Wit. \"There's more to learn from studying stars in systems like this one and listening for the stories they tell through their 'heartbeats,\" as quoted by a NASA statement.", "The chairwoman of the House Committee on Ways and Means says changes in the federal tax code could force some tough decisions for Vermont lawmakers next year.\nThis week, members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate will try to iron out details of their sweeping federal tax overhaul. Calais Rep. Janet Ancel says she doesn’t know yet what the changes might mean for Vermont. But she says if the bill makes it through Congress, then the House Committee on Ways and Means will spend much of next year trying to figure that out.\n“We’re going to be devoting certainly the early part of the session and probably most of our time to the federal tax changes — understanding what they’re doing to the Vermont economy, understanding what they’re doing to Vermont revenues, and understanding what they’re doing to Vermont individual and business taxpayers,” Ancel says.\nVermont’s tax code is in many ways decoupled from the federal system, but linkages between the two systems mean changes enacted by Congress could have wide-ranging impacts on revenue collection in Vermont.\n“We, for example, use the federal standard deduction figure … so when they increase the standard deduction, that has an impact,” Ancel says.\n\"I certainly would have as one of my guiding principles that we don’t want our tax system to be any less progressive than it currently is.\" — Calais Rep. Janet Ancel\nThe federal changes wouldn't be limited to the individual income tax. Congress is contemplating major changes to the corporate and estate taxes as well. And once Ancel and her committee members figure out how the federal bill will affect Vermont, she says they’ll have to decide what, if anything, to do about it.\n“One of my concerns is that there are a lot of unintended consequences in the federal tax bill that may also flow through to the state. And, you know, all I can say is that we’ll do the best we can with them,” Ancel says.\nOne of Ancel’s chief concerns is how changes in the federal tax code will affect low- and middle-income tax filers. Vermont has one of the most progressive income tax structures in the country, meaning the more a person earns, the higher the percentage of their earnings they pay in state taxes.\nIf changes to federal tax code alter that equation, then Ancel says lawmakers in Vermont might want to find ways to neutralize the impact.\n“I certainly would have as one of my guiding principles that we don’t want our tax system to be any less progressive than it currently is,” Ancel says.\nAncel says her committee will also have to find time to deal with the issue of property taxes, which are used to pay for public education in Vermont. With the statewide homestead tax rate set to rise by 7 percent next year, Ancel says many lawmakers, and their constituents, are pressing for reforms.\n“I think it is time for us to look seriously at whether we can make the funding system simpler, and at least as fair as the current system is,” Ancel says.\nAncel says she’s already spoken with Vermont House leadership about several property tax reform proposals. She says leadership hasn’t landed on a specific plan yet, but that some lawmakers are interested in pursuing a school-funding structure based more on people’s income than their property values.", "The recent detection of fraudulent organic grains from Turkey in the U.S. has prompted the Organic Trade Association (OTA) to form a task force to develop a best-practices guide for the private sector in an effort to crack down on future incidents.\nThe OTA said the Global Organic Supply Chain Integrity Task Force is perhaps the largest of its kind ever created by the OTA and will be made up of diverse industry representatives split up into subgroups.\nGwendolyn Wyard, OTA VP of regulatory and technical affairs, says the task force is one of many ways the association is tackling organic fraud. She also notes the importance of safeguarding value for the industry and retaining consumer trust as organic food sales continue to grow.\nAn article published in May in The Washington Post highlighted how conventionally grown soybeans originating in the Ukraine and then re-exported to the U.S. from Turkey were labeled as “organic.” The National Organic Program investigated the issue and revoked the offending company’s certification. However, Wyard explains how the incident revealed a “major vulnerability in the supply chain.”\n“We want to take a larger view and look at supply chains in general for any type of product and really examine the situation,” she said.\nThe task force’s mandate is to develop a best-practices guide that will be used by the trade in managing and verifying global supply chain integrity. The guide will include three sections: risk assessment, mitigation measures and an alert system.\n“We understand that an industry-developed, industry-used best-practices guide is not going to solve the entire problem—this is just one of many things that we’re doing,” Wyard said. “But we think that in terms of trade, while we’re pursuing an increased budget in the 2018 Farm Bill for the National Organic Program or we’re looking at regulatory changes that could tighten up the system…we can also bring together companies representing various sectors with years and years of experience and we can look at supply chains. Where are the gaps, and where are the constraints?”\nWyard is chairing the task force, which is made up of about 35 OTA members, including farmers, processors, retailers, consultants and certifiers. They will look at all categories of organic products, including fruits and vegetables.\nThe group recently held its introductory meeting, and Wyard says it will work through the summer with the goal of coming up with a first draft in September. The next phase will be adoption and implementation of the guide.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nOn Monday 20th February and Monday 6th March, The Varsity Hotel & Spa will hold two astronomy Master Classes.\nTaking place way up high on the breath-taking Rooftop Terrace, the evening will give attendees a unique view of the beautiful East Anglia sky and a crash course in understanding the cosmos above it.\nAfter exploring the heavens, guests will return to the panoramic bar and brasserie for a sumptuous two course meal with a glass of bubbly.\nThe chef’s menu includes delicious grill and rotisserie dishes such as Wood Stone Roasted Salmon, Lemon and Rosemary Roasted Half Chicken and Chips with Truffle and Parmesan, along with other earthly delights that will provide the perfect end to an evening above the Cambridge skyline.\nA fabulous range of cocktails is also on offer, along with over 30 gins paired with eight different tonics.\nPaul Fellows, Chairman of the esteemed Cambridge Astronomical Association (CAA) and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, will host the Master Class and give guests a unique guided tour of the sky, utilising high powered laser pointers to pick out and explain the most beautiful and interesting celestial objects.\nAttendees will observe directly through telescopes for a deeper look into the cosmos, whilst the nature and mysteries of the stars, planets, moons and galaxies that can be seen overhead are explained.\nAnd if it rains, no need for it to spoil the evening.\nThe Master Class can be brought inside for a unique indoor presentation of the night sky, with a live question and answer session if it is too wet to go up on the roof.\nTickets are £49, and includes a glass of fizz on arrival, the astronomy master class and a two-course meal.\nGuests need to arrive at SIX Panoramic Bar & Brasserie at 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start on the Roof Terrace.\nTo book call (01223) 30 60 30 or go to thevarsityhotel.co.uk.\nAbout the Cambridge Astronomical Association\nThe CAA was founded over 50 years ago, and is one of the largest astronomy groups in the country, assisted by its links to the University.\nIt runs monthly speaker meetings, featuring some of the world’s best scientists to present the latest news in the world of Astronomy.\nIts junior section - the Cambridge Young Astronomers - introduces children from the age of seven to the night sky.", "Opened this past summer, The Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square is a newcomer on London’s hotel stage. How does it stack up to the 111-year-old Ritz? We investigated.\nThe lure\nIt’s the Union Jack of hotels. The classic establishment in the West End is so quintessentially British, that the final scene of “Downton Abbey” was filmed in its historic restaurant.\nThe look\nThe 111 rooms and 23 suites are lavish and Versailles-lebel glam: Think chandeliers, settees and vanities. The shimmering detail on many of the walls is actual 24-karat gold leaf, maintained by a gilder who’s worked at the hotel for a quarter-century.\nThe history\nAt 111 years old, The Ritz has played host and home to some of the world’s most notable celebs, politicians and royalty: Prince Charles, Charlie Chaplin and the Rolling Stones among them. (Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died in the hotel in 2013.)\nBreakfast, lunch, dinner\nThe Ritz Restaurant, boasting floor-to-ceiling marble columns, posh table settings and pristine views of Green Park, is perfect for a filling English breakfast or Michelin-starred Beef Wellington. Just feet away, the Rivoli Bar serves decadent Champagne cocktails.\nThe luxe factor\nThe hotel lives up to its recently bestowed “royal warrant”: Descending the hotel’s staircase into the long, red-carpeted lobby is a positively princely experience. Plus, the hotel is the origin of the word “ritzy.”\nThe letdown\nThe Ritz still enforces a dress code — men must wear a jacket and tie in the restaurants and stay “smart casual” everywhere else. Though it adds to the elegance, it can also heighten stress levels.\nThe lowdown\nBest for an extremely special occasion or a well-endowed expense account, the Ritz brags a century of splendid service, extravagant atmosphere and delicious excess.\nFrom $428\nVS.\nThe lure\nThe reliably fabulous chain has established its latest London hotel just a stone’s throw from the Tower of London for sightseers, and close to nearby business hubs for worker bees.\nThe look\nIt’s a night at the museum! The public areas of the hotel (especially the white rotunda with artful nods to the city’s maritime past) look straight out of the National Gallery, but the rooms are sleek and up-to-the-minute. If you feel like James Bond, that’s because parts of “Skyfall” were filmed there.\nThe history\nWhile it’s a new Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square is a London landmark. Built in 1922, it was once home to the Port of London Authority — the city’s trade center. And a second-floor meeting room, which is still standing, played host to the inaugural assembly of the United Nations in 1946.\nThe layout\nEven with 89 rooms and 11 suites, the Four Seasons manages to feel intimate, comfortable and remarkably unpretentious. Sitting in an armchair beneath the massive rotunda is both cozy and jaw-dropping.\nBreakfast, lunch, dinner\nCulinary star Anne-Sophie Pic, the only female French chef to hold three Michelin stars, makes her UK debut with La Dame de Pic, where she puts inventive spins on British classiques, like Dover sole with green apple and anise emulsion.\nThe luxe factor\nThe amenities — large showers and deep soaking tubs, centrally controlled lighting systems, every imaginable power outlet — are brand-spankin’ new and geared towards the many needs of the 2017 traveler.\nThe letdown\nPlanning a late night out? Nighttime food options near the hotel are limited in the sleepy neighborhood, aside from a Pizza Express that stays open till 11 p.m. You’ll have to make do with room service.\nThe lowdown\nPerfect for the business traveler who wants to be pampered but enjoys a low-key stay with top-notch everything.\nFrom $478" ]

[ "Analysts and evaluators may also be referred to as an auditor." ]

[ "Evaluators are not called analysts in this document.", "The auditors need to include a bunch of documentation.", "Auditors make the audit documentation.", "The Description/Specifications/Work Statement is of interest to auditors.", "Auditors should give a description of the objectives of their work.", "The information in the audit includes the work the auditors did.", "Auditors must maintain audit documentation.", "Auditors should include documentation that supports their reasons for their conclusions.", "The auditor can provide this list.", "Many tools can help the auditors evaluation the subject matter.", "Auditors should include if that is true.", "Auditors have multiple responsibilities.", "It is possible for auditors to get file numbers for documents.", "Auditors need to utilzie the most recent reference document available.", "There are many restrictions on what the auditor can include in the documentations.", "Auditors can help the reader with more than one point of view.", "Auditors need not include documentation that supports their reasons for their conclusions.", "Auditors must include a copy of every document they examine in their documentation", "These concepts and definitions may be useful to auditors at any level.", "Auditors with a particular set of technical skills may be needed for certain assessment portions.", "The auditors may require a high level of technical skill.", "Specialists are sometimes consulted in audits.", "Auditors have to observe the objectivity.", "Many different groups and individuals might make use of the audit.", "Finding may include a descriptive report", "Documents relating to the audit.", "Auditors aren't required to include details information from the documents they examine", "Auditors are not required for audit documentation.", "There are various types of audits.", "Auditors don't need to include", "If auditors find the internal controls over data are not effective, they should not include that documentation.", "there are people in the auditoriam" ]

[ "Arvo Pärt was saved by the bell. The Estonian composer, who turns 80 in September, hit a creative roadblock in 1968. After a hiatus of eight years he returned with a new sound inspired by the simple triad (a stack of three notes, an essential building block of Western music) and by bells. He called his new style tintinnabuli (from the Latin for bells). It's also the title of the new album released last week by The Tallis Scholars, a veteran British vocal ensemble with a reputation in Renaissance masters like Palestrina and Josquin des Prez. Little by little, Peter Phillips, the group's director, has been adding Pärt's a cappella pieces to their repertoire, judging them a perfect fit. The Tallis Scholars sing Pärt pared down. They employ just two voices per part as in their Renaissance music performances. This method makes a significant difference. It adds clarity and spaciousness to music already suffused with airy silences. Take the stunning opening to Nunc dimittis. One by one the parts, from low to high, expand the sound like a flower blooming. Halos of sound emerge from extremely close harmonies and a blinding light floods suddenly on the word \"lumen\" (light) with the Scholars in full cry. The piece ends with amens chiming gently above a deep, tolling promise of eternal holiness. Last year, when I had the opportunity to talk with the composer about the stillness in his music, he told me: \"On the one hand, silence is like fertile soil, which, as it were, awaits our creative act, our seed. But on the other hand, silence must be approached with a feeling of awe.\" You can understand exactly what he means in a piece like Nunc dimittis." ]

[ "From a recent Christmas concert the Tallis Scholars gave, we hear two pieces: first, the anonymous \"Ave Regina caelorum,\" followed by Thomas Tallis's \"Missa puer natus est nobis.\" The Scholars performed in New York City.", "The Tallis Scholars perform a piece written for the early Anglican Church, \"Christ rising again\" by Thomas Tallis. (Gimell CDGIM 007)", "From a Cathedral Concert Series appearance in Corpus Christi, Texas, the Tallis Scholars perform three works by their \"founding father,\" Thomas Tallis: Slutaris Hostia; In Manus Tuas, and Derlinquat Impius. (MS Recordings) 9:20 **SEGMENT", "The Tallis Scholars celebrated the 400th anniversary of the birth of one of the great Roman church composers, Giovanni da Palestrina, with a concert in Rome's Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (mah-JOH-ray), recorded and televised live across Europe. We'll hear the Scholars sing the Agnus Dei from Palestrina's \"Pope Marcellus Mass,\" written for the short reign (three weeks!) of Pope Marcellus II in 1555. (Gimell CDGIM 994)", "For Easter, the Tallis Scholars perform \"Christ Rising Again\" by Thomas Tallis for Easter Sunday. (Gimell CD CDGIM 007)", "From one of Ted's recommended recordings, we'll hear the Kyrie and Agnus Dei (AHN-yoos DAY-ee) from Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua (MEE-sah PAHN-jay LING-guah). Peter Phillips conducts the Tallis Scholars. (Gimell CDGIM 009)", "For the beginning of the Lenten season, Peter Phillips conducts the Tallis Scholars in a concert performance of the beautiful \"Miserere\" (MEE-zay-RAY-ray) by 17th-century Italian composer Gregorio Allegri. Recorded at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City. (Greenleaf Classic Masters)", "From \"De Profundis,\" Paul Hillier and the Theatre of Voices perform \"Summa,\" a credo written by Arvo Part in 1977. (Harmonia Mundi HMU 907182)", "Arvo Pärt, one of the world's most honored living composers, recently recorded and released two new works on a CD called <em>Lamentate</em>, conducted by Andrey Boreyko. Music critic Tom Manoff says the pieces highlight two very different sides of the composer's work.", "\"Claire\" offers the most rudimentary of music and singing lessons; we'll hear what's possible on the other end of the spectrum from the Tallis Scholars, who perform the Renaissance masterpiece \"Miserere\" by Gregorio Allegri in concert at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in New York City.", "Estonian composer Arvo Part is becoming this generation's Bach. His music, like this Salve Regina that he wrote in 2001, is ethereal and spiritual. Paul Hillier conducts the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir at the University of Maryland, and the organist is Christopher Bowers-Broadbent.", "Two examples of the motet form, in concert performances by the Tallis Scholars: Peter Phillips conducts the Scholars in two motets by the great 16th-century master Orlandus Lassus: \"Alma redemptoris Mater\" (AHL-mah ray-demp-TOH-ress MAH-tair--\"Gracious mother of the Redeemer\") and \"Decantabat populus Israel\" (day-kahn-TAH-beet POH-poo-loos IZ-rah-el--\"The people of Israel sang Alleluia\"). Recorded in concert at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City. (Green Leaf Recordings)", "The Tallis Scholars perform a Mass for Christmas by their namesake, Thomas Tallis. The Mass is called \"A Boy is Born to us.\" But they'll begin by singing the medieval chant that the Mass is based on. Recorded in concert at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City. (Greenleaf Westerly Recordings)", "From a concert given at Corpus Christi Cathedral in Corpus Christi, Texas last year, the Tallis Scholars, conducted by Peter Phillips, perform the \"Stabat Mater\" by Richard Davy. (M.R. Recording Services)", "From a new CD, the Belgian ensemble I Fiamminghi (EE fyah-MIN-gee), performs \"Summa\" by Estonian composer Arvo Part (PAIRT). (Telarc CD-80367)", "Arvo Part says he found his musical voice by letting everything unimportant fall away. His heartfelt directness has made him one of today's best-loved composers. We'll hear a concert performance of his 1988 Magnificat. The Bel Canto Company gave the concert at Christ United Methodist Church, in Greenville, North Carolina.", "Estonian composer Arvo Part (PAIRT) is 60 years old today. We'll hear a performance of one of his archtypal pieces, \"Summa\" performed by the Hilliard ensemble. (KUHF, Houston)", "Josquin des Prez's masses are works of towering genius, notable for the purity and expressiveness of their musical language. One late mass, probably composed around 1514, is the four-voice Missa Pange Lingua, based on the plainchant hymn for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Stylistically, the Missa Pange Lingua is the summit of Josquin's work in the genre. Its free-flowing polyphony, less rigorously canonic than that of his earlier works, is supple, expressive and extraordinarily beautiful, and contributes to a sonority that's unusually rich and luminous. The theological message of the chant on which the mass is based is driven home by a remarkable \"flowering\" of the chant melody in the final section of the Agnus Dei. Josquin was the greatest composer of the Renaissance, respected and emulated by his contemporaries, and as significant a figure in his own day as Beethoven was in the early 19th century. Josquin's fame during his lifetime was such that many works were attributed to him that weren't his, making posterity's effort to assess his stature somewhat more difficult. An innovator of the first order, he was the principal architect of the \"point of imitation\" style, in which a motif introduced in one voice is imitated in another, then another, enabling the polyphonic texture to grow from a pair of voices to four, five or six before a cadence is reached and the process begins again with a new round of entries. This became the fundamental modus operandi for serious composers of the 16th century. In addition, Josquin pioneered the techniques of word-painting that played an important role in the music of the late Renaissance. The Tallis Scholars' Pristine Sound Founded in 1973 by director Peter Phillips, The Tallis Scholars were choral scholars culled from the chapel choirs of Oxford and Cambridge. The ensemble is widely regarded as the world's finest exponent of Renaissance sacred choral repertoire, its fame resting on a distinctive purity of tone that unfailingly illuminates the complex interweaving lines of polyphony. Since 1981, the group has made more than 40 critically acclaimed recordings on its own record label, Gimell; its 1987 recording of Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua and Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi won Gramophone's coveted Record of the Year.", "From that new 2-CD set, we'll hear the \"Ikos\" movement from the \"Kanon Pokajanen\" by Arvo Part. Tonu Kaljuste (TOH-noo KAHL-yoo-steh) conducts the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. (ECM 1654/55 457 834-2)", "The Estonian ensemble Hortus Musicus Tallinn (HOHR-toos MOO-zee-koos TAH-leen) specializes in early music, but last year at the Utrecht (oo-TRE[CH]T) Early Music Festival in Holland, members of the ensemble sneaked some music by 20th-century composer Arvo Part (PAIRT) into the program. From that concert, we'll hear an instrumental version of Part's \"Summa,\" a four-voice setting of the Credo section of the Latin Mass. (Radio Netherlands/European Broadcasting Union)", "Paul Hillier conducts the Theatre of Voices in the first two of Seven Magnificent Antiphons by Arvo Part (PAIRT) from a new disc called \"De Profundis\" (DAY proh-FOON-diss). (Arabesque Z6685)", "When Arvo Part wrote his choral piece \"Summa,\" he considered it a liturgical work. Then he stripped away the words and rewrote it for instruments, but it maintained its liturgical character. Europa Galante plays \"Summa\" in Speyer, Germany.", "Music early and modern from the new Kronos Quartet CD: \"Farewell\" by 16th Century composer Christopher Tye and Psalom composed in 1993 by Arvo Part. (Nonesuch 79457-2)", "Estonian-born composer Arvo Part is in the news. Last week, he announced that all of this season's performances of his music would be dedicated to slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. From a concert earlier this year at Spivey Hall, just outside Atlanta, Paul Hillier leads the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in a performance of Part's \"Magnificat.\"", "An example of exquisite harmonies created by the human voice in the Renaissance. Conductor Peter Phillips and the Tallis Scholars sing a setting of Psalm 47, \"O clap your hands\" by Orlando Gibbons. It's from a concert they gave this summer at the Utrecht (oo-TREKT) Early Music Festival in Holland. (Radio Nederland/European Broadcasting Union)", "Since finding his artistic voice in the late 1960s, Arvo Pärt has opened a window into a world of spiritual ideals and aspirations, and attracted many fans along the way. The music on this new disc -- released to coincide with the composer's 75th birthday and conducted by longtime family friend Kristjan Järvi -- represents three decades of Pärt's journey through social change, musical and personal (r)evolution. Seven minutes into Cantique's first piece, Stabat Mater, I had to press pause. I needed to hear it better. So, almost like a ritual, I lit a candle, washed my hands and face, and poured a glass of water. The music was really working on me. Each movement begins with a lone voice in a wilderness, and given Pärt’s devoutly religious nature, I could see how the image of Jesus in the wilderness might figure into this music somehow. Pärt’s Symphony No. 3 comes from a period when he was washing his hands of the edgy collage technique he used in the 1960s. During this time, he plunged deeply into a study of Russian orthodox chant and vocal music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. You can almost hear Pärt evolving spiritually in this transitional work. It's 1971, and he sounds like a composer searching for a unique perspective, while also relying on his musical forebears. Opening with a lonely oboe solo, the symphony slowly gains strength, and as it stretches out, I couldn't help but think of it as a kind of Symphonic Fantasy on the advent hymn \"Veni Veni Emmanuel.\" By the mid-1970s, Pärt had developed a new style he called \"tintinnabuli,\" built from ethereal chord inversions and the stepwise movement of voices. It feels and sounds timeless. And it's the sound that has made Pärt one of today's best-loved composers. You can hear it in the beautiful Stabat Mater and in the Cantique des degrès for Choir and Orchestra. All of this music is functional. It doesn't wash over you; it stands in front of you like a mirror. It doesn't judge. Cantique will stream here in its entirety until its release on Sept. 21. Please leave your thoughts on the album in the comments section below. Terrance McKnight is the evening host on WQXR.", "Stile Antico is a 13-member a cappella choir based in London. These young, fresh-faced singers have already racked up some impressive awards for their recordings — mainly of intricately woven music from the Renaissance. And that's just what the group has in store for this concert at St. Paul's Church in Cambridge, Mass. — hand-picked sacred music for the Christmas season from the English Tudor era, by 16th century composers such as Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Stile Antico loves the luminous sound of complex vocal lines, and in a resonant space like St. Paul's, soprano Helen Ashby says it's especially glorious. \"It's actually a really lovely acoustic for this kind of music,\" Ashby says, \"because it's a church which is designed for this sort of music. You can hear all the different parts, and it also has a big bloom around the sound which helps blend it all together.\" There was a full house for this concert — the choir's U.S. debut — at the beautiful St. Paul's Church in Harvard Square. The Italian Romanesque-style building has bold and sweet acoustics, and voices reverberate off the shimmering yellow marble on the front altar. It's fascinating to watch these young singers. They work without a conductor, so they watch each other closely, giving cues just with body language. When they stand in a semi-circle to sing, their voices take flight. Program: William Byrd: Rorate cæli Thomas Tallis: Videte miraculum William Byrd: Tollite portas Thomas Tallis: Agnus Dei, Sanctus and Bendictus (from Missa Puer natus est) John Sheppard: Verbum caro Tomás Luis de Victoria: O Magnum mysterium Originally recorded in 2009.", "From a concert given last month at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, Gidon Kremer (GEE-dohn KRAY-mer) plays the violin and conducts the ensemble Kremerata Baltica in the haunting \"Fratres\" (FRAHT(reh) -- \"Brothers\") by Estonian composer Arvo Part (PAIRT). (Aspen Audio Institute)", "Critic Nina Gilbert reviews a new recording of choral music by Estonian composer Arvo Part (PAIRT), the Canon of Repentence, or \"Kanon Pokajanen\" (kah-NOHN poh-kah-YAHN-yen). Part writes music that is heavily influenced by ancient devotional music. This piece, he says, is based on traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church.", "We join the Sinfonia da Camera in concert on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne. Ian Hobson leads a performance of Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.", "The reviews rolling in have been dreadful, but it seems that audiences will probably pour into theaters this Valentine's Day weekend to see Fifty Shades of Grey on the big screen. Though classical music is apparently nowhere to be heard in the film's soundtrack, it still figures as a huge presence in E L James' trilogy, which, as of a year ago, had sold more than 100 million copies in more than 50 languages. Among the more obvious commercial tie-in products, some classical albums have enjoyed significant Fifty Shades afterglow, as I wrote three years ago (read the original, from July 11, 2012, below). Since the time this article was first published, an official compilation was released on EMI Classics that beat out every other title on the Billboard classical chart for months. And here we are — even before the movie's opening night, the first Fifty Shades book is back at No. 3 on the New York Times best-sellers list. Could Thomas Tallis be far behind? File this under Strange Bedfellows. The crazy-huge success of E L James' Fifty Shades erotic trilogy — which as of late May 2012 stood at more than 10 million sales in all formats and 60 physical printings, according to publisher Vintage Books — has made quite the impact in ... classical music, of all things. Consider this: Thomas Tallis' wondrous 40-part motet Spem in alium, written around 1570 and recorded by The Tallis Scholars more than 25 years ago, has bounded up the classical charts, thanks to its mention in the first installment of Fifty Shades. I've just learned through fans' postings online — I must admit I haven't read the book — that Spem is what the seductive Christian Grey is listening to on his first night with the book's heroine.* This unexpected rebounding has been enough of a high/low cultural collision that Peter Phillips, the very proper and rather starchy founder and director of The Tallis Scholars, has actually issued a statement about it. \"I haven't read Fifty Shades of Grey,\" Phillips said, \"but I am most grateful to the author for introducing so many new listeners to the musical sensation that is Thomas Tallis's Spem in alium. Written during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth, it features 40 individual voices singing in Latin that combine to a thrilling climax for the words 'respice humilitatem nostram' (be mindful of our humiliation).\" But the strange pop-culture moment The Tallis Scholars are now enjoying isn't where the intersection of classical music and Fifty Shades ends. E L James has issued her own \"soundtrack\" lists for full, multisensorial Fifty Shades enjoyment — with Bach, Delibes, Villa-Lobos, Chopin, Verdi, Vaughan Williams, Canteloube and Mozart included. (Interestingly, it's not The Tallis Scholars' recording that James name checks — she recommends The Sixteen's version instead.) Apparently, Mr. Grey likes the classical quite a bit. Though I will leave it to Fifty Shades fans to unpack the full nuances of Phillips' comments, this Tallis Scholars recording would definitely be on my own list of desert island albums, and anything that gets this gorgeousness out in front of a (much, much) wider audience is great. *What I have also learned today: Said heroine shares my first name, though we pronounce it differently, and her nickname is the nonsensical-to-the-name's-meaning Ana (though Ana, on its own, is a perfectly lovely name — just doesn't fit mine). I won't comment on how appalling I find that, except: yuck.", "There was a moment last week in Moscow when I had occasion to wonder if I was being surveilled. \"They'll be tracking you from the moment you land,\" my CIA sources back in Washington had warned, as I prepared for a reporting trip to Russia. \"For God's sake, don't log on to your regular email accounts from there.\" I've reported from Russia before. I'm careful. But one evening, typing away in NPR's Moscow bureau, the cursor began to jump around on its own. Words moved. I raised my hands from the keyboard and watched in wonder as the screen went black. Several minutes of panicked cursing later, and after plugging into a different power source, my computer revived. All seemed well. It wasn't until two days later that I noticed one document was scrambled. Words were missing or jumbled out of order. It was a document containing names and contact information for intelligence officials whom I'd asked for interviews. Russian hackers? Glitch on my hard drive? Who knows? Russia has a way of doing that to you. Of messing with your head, until you're no longer sure if you really are being monitored or you've jumped off the deep end into a pool of paranoia. The strangest episode on this particular Russia trip came in the form of a note responding to an interview request I had made for the editor-in-chief of RT, the English-language news channel funded by the Russian government. RT's critics accuse it of being a mouthpiece for the Kremlin; RT denies this. I've requested thousands of interviews in my two decades as a journalist. Sometimes people say yes; sometimes they say no. Fair enough. But I've never received a response quite like this one, which hit my inbox on June 7: Dear Mary Louise Kelly, Thank you for your request to meet. We have been informed, via our red phone straight to the Kremlin, that the officers who have tracked you since you landed sense that your mind is already made-up on this issue, and so meeting to discuss the baseless accusations made against RT would be fruitless. We politely refer you to the man in the blacked-out Volga parked outside your hotel for further explanation. Best regards, RT Press Office Seriously? After my NPR colleagues and I landed back in the U.S., we wrote to ask what prompted the note. The RT press officer who had sent it referred us to RT's head of communications, Anna Belkina. We wrote to her, too. I asked: Was there a specific report of mine that you object to? Is it customary for RT to decline interview requests in this way? She has yet to reply. I kept my eyes peeled, but to my disappointment, I spotted precisely zero sinister-looking men lurking behind the wheel of a Volga, once the favorite vehicle of Soviet apparatchiks. But here's the twist: NPR actually landed an interview with the editor-in-chief of RT. My colleague David Greene sat down with Margarita Simonyan at her office at RT headquarters the day after I received that note. They talked for nearly an hour. \"She was lovely,\" David told me afterward. So was the note a joke? Was it a threat? Or something in between: a little hint of both mischief and menace, just to remind you that someone might be watching? You tell me. Or you could ask the guy parked outside. You know, the one in the blacked-out Volga." ]

[ "I use notepad for all my webdesigning needs. Of course, I also need Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox to do a quick check for errors, but it's best to know all the code that goes into each webpage." ]

[ "you can't legally. illegaly yes you can, no matter what movie it is..... \\nillegally watching movies: \\nMorpheus/limewire (best) \\ncatagory of peer to peer softwares", "BEST BUY HAS A SOFTWARE CALLED PIX 'N TUNES THAT COMES WITH THE DATA CABLE. THE COST IS 29.99. THAT IS WHAT I USE FOR ALL MY MOTOROLA PHONES AND IT WORKS GREAT.", "Be careful of these deals, they are at best OEM unsupported versions of software.", "Usually some type of CD burning software is included. If it's not, you can buy the software at any place that sells regular software (wal-mart, best buy, etc.) Or you can buy it on-line or even download it from a peer network. Just search for \"CD burning software.\" I think Nero is the best brand, but there are MANY other options.\\n\\nThis site may be helpful: http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,67287,00.asp", "Yes it is possible to do batch conversion. But it depends on what type of files you are trying to convert.\\nTry out the few websites below and download their software and see which one suits best to your needs.", "the best way to download any match or any software is to use a software called limewire. lime wire is a peer to peer software which searches other computer for data. even i downloaded the indo pak match using limewire. you can use other peer to peer softwares as well", "A good place to browse the software available would be http://dmoz.org/Business/Management/Management_Science/Management_Information_Systems/ A great source that explains what Management Information Systems are is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_information_systems This includes links to different software as well. If you are unfamiliar with what MIS software is you should review the second link prior to reviewing the first since it goes into detail as to what MIS software is.", "The best thing to do with messenger software is to reinstall the application right over the top of the previous installation. This will make it so that you maintain your contacts and it will repair software files", "Yup! Lots of software here can do that: http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tag=srch&qt=powerpoint+to+flash+conversion&tg=dl-20\\n\\nBrowse through to see what suits you best.", "Search Google for P2P software. That itself is legal. What you do with the software is YOUR responsibility.", "http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tag=srch&qt=billing+software&tg=dl-20\\n\\nin the above link you can find many of the billing softwares, the rating by CNET.com is very efficient to find the best softwares.", "Try this software:\\n\\nhttp://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/free-wmv-to-mp4.html", "IBM's \"ViaVoice\" is still the premier voice to computer speech recognition software and the link below is the best company currently applying that software to real life problems in speech recognition.\\nhttp://www.voicebox.com/", "Final Cut Pro is a great editing system, but it is purely for Mac. In my opinion, Final Cut is the best for Macs and Adobe Premier Pro is the best for PCs. They are both powerful software packages.", "go to best buy! they have all kinds of software programs to hep you out. just ask around!", "Assuming it is installed properly, you meet the hardware requirements and you have the necessary software installed, you plug your cable into the back, open the software and enjoy. The best thing to do is use the manual that came with it.", "I just wonder what's the software you're using to do the download, you have to contact the software company to get the problem resolved.", "what is walmart connect? if it is software why did you agree to install it, NEVER NEVER NEVER install goofy add on software!!", "If you have a home computer, Rosetta Stone software is the best out there for teaching a foreign language, it is pricey for software, but cheaper than taking a college course, and you can do it in your own home in your spare time, at your own pace.", "If it is capable of hardware compression it should be automatic. It depends on what software you are using on whether or not u use the compression. Most backup software gives you the option of using hardware compression, software compression if it doesn't exist, or none.", "well the best way is to learn english inside farsi so you can have more choices of software babe", "Computer generated voice software\\n\\nAre you looking for a powerful software for generating voice for your computer? You are in right place! Qwerty Studios specializes on computer generated voice software that help people in their work, education and entertainment. We are proud to offer you our best voice oriented product: Speaking Notepad.", "the term \"user requirements\" deal mainly with any \"software design\".\\nit is the first stage in software development where you go to the user & ask what are his requirements in the software.\\ne.g->\"look & feel\" of the software.\\nin this stage,we design a document called\\n\"SRS\"(software requirements & specifications).\\nthis is the most required document at every stage of \"software development\".\\n\\nfor more details,refer to the book,\\nsoftware engineering by K.K.Aggarwal", "BETa is the comsumer trial stage of software testing. it gives the developer a chance to see how the software functions and allows the consumer to test and supply feedback. this stage is important because the consumer will use the software as they deem necessary which may not be a way the software company intended. so several bugs will come out it allows the manufactuer to tweak the software b4 a final version is released. and best of all for the manufactuer you the consumer using the trial version do all this testing reporting and suggestion making FOR FREE", "In our school district, each student has a file of their state test scores. If that is what you are looking for, go to the office and ask for the file. Each parent has full access to the file. \\nIf you want to know if your son/daughter are meeting the state requirements, you can buy a test software through best buy or any store that sells software. Kaplan makes a good one to see if students are meeting grade level requirements. Hopefully that helps.", "well you can look up the latest software on microsoft.com and go to downloads that way you can download it instead of buying or what kind of software we're you looking for?", "Generally I/O stands for Input/Output which is what the hardware does as you perform tasks with software. The software asks the hardware for resources or input/output requests.", "Have a complete virus check with ur anti-virus software (If u can't buy one, try Avast. It's the best free anti-virus software). Then run Disk Cleaner & Disk Defragmenter. If that doesn't solve the problem, try re-installing as ur last resort.", "Try to keep up the technology in software engineer, like .NET platform or JAVA. And the methods of building good software.\\n\\nAlways learn from the master about 'what is good' in software engineer. Don't forget to have some certification.\\n\\nThe last is try to understand what is your market, try to find the target of clients.", "(m)\\n\\nExtreme Programming (XP) is a software engineering methodology for the development of software projects. It prescribes a set of day-to-day practices for developers and managers; the practices are meant to embody and encourage particular values. Proponents believe that the exercise of these practices, which are software engineering best practices taken to \"extreme\" levels, leads to a development process with the qualities prized by Agile Manifesto signatories. This makes Extreme Programming the most prominent of several agile software development methodologies used to create software. Agile methodologies prioritize adaptability to changing requirements over the project predictability valued by more traditional methodologies. Some elements of the Extreme Programming methodology are controversial.", "GIMP found at http://www.gimp.org/\\n\\nThis software is freely distributed and is very close to what Photoshop is. View, and manipulate your pictures with this really cool software.\\n\\nEnjoy!", "i think what you should do is use P2P Software and download the full version. Usually some software which have trial version are usually better then the free ones" ]

[ "There you have it: an API is an interface that allows you to build on the data and functionality of another application, while a web service is a network-based resource that fulfills a specific task. Yes, there's overlap between the two: all web services are APIs, but not all APIs are web services." ]

[ "The main point of difference between the two platforms is that Azure AD supports web-based services through the use of Representational State Transfer (REST) API interfaces. As stated earlier, it uses completely different protocols and code bases to achieve this.", "ASP.NET Core supports creating RESTful services, also known as web APIs, using C#. To handle requests, a web API uses controllers. Controllers in a web API are classes that derive from ControllerBase . This article shows how to use controllers for handling web API requests.", "The Web API is a framework for building web services, these web services use the HTTP protocol. The Web API returns the data on request from the client, and it can be in the format XML or JSON. The MVC architecture is the Model-View-Controller Pattern.", "SSIS REST API Web Service Task. SSIS REST API Web Service Task can be used to send/receive data using HTTP Web Request (e.g. GET, POST, PUT etc.). You can validate and save Web Response to file or variable.", "['What is REST? ... ', 'What is a RESTFul Web Services? ... ', 'What is a “Resource” in REST? ... ', 'What is the most popular way to represent a resource in REST? ... ', 'Which protocol is used by RESTful Web services? ... ', 'What are some key characteristics of REST? ... ', 'What is messaging in RESTful Web services?']", "Representational state transfer (REST) is a software architectural style that defines a set of constraints to be used for creating Web services. Web services that conform to the REST architectural style, called RESTful Web services, provide interoperability between computer systems on the internet.", "APIs gives you a way to interact with a system or program, though most people you talk to today mean web/REST APIs when they say API. Web based APIs are written in all the same languages used for creating server software, such as C++, Java, Pascal, JavaScript, CFML, PHP, Ruby, Python, etc.", "Here are the main differences between APIs and microservices: An API is a contract that provides guidance for a consumer to use the underlying service. A microservice is an architectural design that separates portions of a (usually monolithic) application into small, self-containing services.", "No, they are not. HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and is a way to transfer files. ... Note that there is also a big difference between a RESTful API and a HTTP API. A RESTful API adheres ALL the REST constraints set out in its \"format\" documentation (in the dissertation of Roy Fielding).", "If you are familiar with ASP.NET MVC, Web API routing is very similar to MVC routing. The main difference is that Web API uses the HTTP verb, not the URI path, to select the action. You can also use MVC-style routing in Web API.", "REST APIs use a uniform interface, which helps to decouple the client and service implementations. For REST APIs built on HTTP, the uniform interface includes using standard HTTP verbs to perform operations on resources. The most common operations are GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE.", "There are further types of Web APIs such as Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Remote Procedure Call (RPC), and perhaps the most popular—at least in name— Representational State Transfer (REST).", "It works more or less the same way as ASP.NET MVC web application except that it sends data as a response instead of html view. It is like a webservice or WCF service but the exception is that it only supports HTTP protocol. ASP.NET Web API is an ideal platform for building RESTful services.", "Oracle SQL Developer Web is Here Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) bridges HTTPS and your Oracle Database. A mid-tier Java application, ORDS provides a Database Management REST API, a web interface for working with your database (SQL Developer Web), the ability to create your own REST APIs, and a PL/SQL Gateway.", "Asp.Net Web API VS Asp.Net MVC Asp.Net MVC is used to create web applications that return both views and data but Asp.Net Web API is used to create full-blown HTTP services with an easy and simple way that returns only data, not view. ... MVC only return data in JSON format using JsonResult.", "The ASP.NET Web API is a lightweight web-based architecture that uses HTTP as the application protocol. Routing in the ASP.NET Web API works a bit differently compared to the way it works in ASP.NET MVC. ... The Web API Framework uses a routing table to determine which action is to be invoked for a particular request.", "Wikipedia says \"The Web Services Description Language is an XML-based language that provides a model for describing Web services\". ... WSDL/SOAP uses multiple transport protocols, REST relies on only HTTP. Therefore WSDL/SOAP can be used like a RESTful way, however simple requests can be overly complicated/heavy weighted.", "The @Controller annotation indicates that the class is a \"Controller\" like a web controller while @RestController annotation indicates that the class is a controller where @RequestMapping methods assume @ResponseBody semantics by default i.e. servicing REST API.", "['Katalon Studio. Katalon Studio is a free test automation tool for API, Web, Desktop App and Mobile applications. ... ', 'SoapUI. SoapUI is a headless functional testing tool dedicated to API testing, allowing users to test REST and SOAP APIs and Web Services easily. ... ', 'Postman. ... ', 'Tricentis Tosca. ... ', 'Apigee. ... ', 'JMeter. ... ', 'Rest-Assured. ... ', 'Assertible.']", "Web Services can be used to transfer data between Web Applications. Web Services can be accessed from any languages or platform. A Web Application is meant for humans to read, while a Web Service is meant for computers to read. ... Web Application can be access through browsers.", "WCF was created to develop SOAP-based services and bindings. Since WCF is SOAP based, which uses standard XML schema over HTTP, it could lead to slower performance. WEB API is a better choice for simpler, light weight services. WEB API can use any text format including XML and is faster than WCF.", "MicroServices can be implement using REST style, an architecture which defines that overall solution (application, product) should be split into multiple services, that interact with each other. microservices is more about architecture whereas a RESTful API focuses more on how to expose those microservices.", "JAX-WS stands for Java API for XML Web Services. ... JAX-WS allows developers to write message-oriented as well as RPC-oriented web services. In JAX-WS, a web service operation invocation is represented by an XML-based protocol such as SOAP.", "A RESTful API is an application program interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data. ... REST technology is generally preferred over the more robust Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) technology because REST uses less bandwidth, making it more suitable for efficient internet usage.", "Django REST framework is a powerful and flexible toolkit for building Web APIs. ... The Web browsable API is a huge usability win for your developers. Authentication policies including packages for OAuth1a and OAuth2. Serialization that supports both ORM and non-ORM data sources.", "In the most basic sense, a web API works when a client (like a Web browser) makes an HTTP request of some kind to a Web server. The server examines that request to figure out what the user wants, and then returns data in some format (like a page) that the client then examines to get what it wants.", "SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol whereas REST stands for Representational State Transfer. SOAP is a protocol whereas REST is an architectural pattern. ... SOAP only works with XML formats whereas REST work with plain text, XML, HTML and JSON. SOAP cannot make use of REST whereas REST can make use of SOAP.", "SOAP is a protocol whereas REST is an architectural pattern. SOAP uses service interfaces to expose its functionality to client applications while REST uses Uniform Service locators to access to the components on the hardware device. SOAP needs more bandwidth for its usage whereas REST doesn't need much bandwidth.", "1. The @Controller is a common annotation that is used to mark a class as Spring MVC Controller while @RestController is a special controller used in RESTFul web services and the equivalent of @Controller + @ResponseBody. ... Spring boot really makes it easy to develop REST APIs with spring.", "What is the difference between Console, Windows, Web applications and Web services? Console applications are light weight programs run inside the command prompt (DOS) window. ... Web applications are programs that used to run inside some web server (e.g., IIS) to fulfill the user requests over the http.", "SOAP is a standardized protocol that sends messages using other protocols such as HTTP and SMTP. ... It allows different messaging formats, such as HTML, JSON, XML, and plain text, while SOAP only allows XML. REST is also a more lightweight architecture, so RESTful web services have a better performance.", "The API allows the list of pwned accounts (email addresses and usernames) to be quickly searched via a RESTful service. Check out who's currently using the API." ]

[ "1. Stand up. While holding yours arms ahead parallel in front , hold one of your knees up one side while turning your belly and upper body opposite site.(100 times A DAY)\\n2. Stand up and touch your outsides of your knees by breaking your belly both sides. (100 times A DAY)" ]

[ "Not really. You will lose some weight while you are on the juice diet, but once you start to eat normally again, you'll regain the weight that you lost. Also, those severely low calorie diets cause you to lose muscle which effectively lowers your metabolism.\\n\\nYour best bet for permanent weight loss is to eat sensibly and exercise.", "The question answers it well. Make your enemy your friend. Lowering yourself to the level of taking a life proves very little. \\n\\nIf, as in military conflict, you have a 'kill or be killed' decision, then kill.\\n\\nBefore it escalates to such petty options, the best choice is definitely to make allies of your enemies. The best result for all parties is trade and negotiation. War, hatred and fighting bring about little. The winner may lose, the loser, definitely loses.\\n\\nCheers, L", "Why don't you want to exercise? If you are serious about being healthy, you have to exercise. Exercising will help build your good cholesterol levels to counteract the bad cholesterol levels. Also, you don't want to lose weight and have extra flabby skin, you need to tone up your muscles as you lose weight or you won't be happy with the way you look!", "It's best to make a lifestyle change to eat healthier and exercise more. If you want to use a guided program to help you do this, I'd suggest Weight Watchers. They've been around a long time and have helped many people lose weight and keep it off.", "Actually, your BMI is 20.9 and you are in the lower spectrum of the normal range for your height. (A normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, not considering your natural body shape or waist size)\\n\\nYou don't need to lose weight, but eating healthier and exercising are the only surefire ways to tone up and look better. My guess would be that you don't need to lose weight, but maybe you just need to tone up. Many people feel like they're heavy, but they just don't make an extra point of working out and so they don't develop their muscles. Lift light weights to tone muscles but not get them too big. And cardio is always a great type of exercise!", "You should get the MSDS sheets for the chemicals that you use, try invitrogen.com this is the best advice without more details on the techniques you're using.\\nThere are two techniques I've used, one is detachment using trypsin/EDTA and the other is scraping the cells off the side of the flask. In both methods there is little danger from the tools you use, more danger is posed by the cells themself. If you're using an established cell line, get the details on it from www.atcc.org if not, be extra careful!", "The most common symptom I have observed in my career as a sonographer is PAIN. Here is what the experts say:\\n\\nDull pain in the lower abdomen or discomfort \\nFullness or bloating \\nPain during sexual intercourse or exercise \\nIrregular periods or spotting \\nChange in frequency of urination or difficulty with bowel movements due to pressure on adjacent pelvic anatomy \\nFatigue \\nAND:\\npressure, fullness, or pain in the abdomen \\ndull ache in the lower back and thighs \\nproblems passing urine completely \\npain during sexual intercourse \\nweight gain \\npainful menstrual periods and abnormal bleeding \\nnausea or vomiting \\nbreast tenderness \\nIf you have these symptoms, get help right away: \\npain with fever and vomiting \\nsudden, severe abdominal pain \\nfaintness, dizziness, or weakness \\nrapid breathing", "I have TMJ, and the only thing that has really helped is avoidance of extra chewy things. \"Exercise\" just makes it hurt. My dentist said that for most people there is really very little that can be done for TMJ, and the best thing is to aovid things that enflame it. Wish I had something better to tell you. ;)", "Yes of course - excellent set of claws (retractable, regrowable), super fit body (extra strong muscles, fur to prevent skin injuries while climbing, well-rehearsed daily exercise routine), in-built fall-on-their-feet technique, excellent attitude (they like to be on heights and observe the world from above).", "This first enlargement technique is highly effective for lengthening the penis. The premise is simple enough and performing this technique is even easier. All you have to do is gently grasp your Glans (penis head) and pull, without letting up (except as noted below), for 5 full minutes. Here's the technique:\\n\\nPull straight out from your body and hold for 60 seconds. Now let go for 5 seconds and shake your penis around to get the blood flowing back into your Glans. \\nPull straight towards the floor for 60 full seconds then shake your penis around to get the blood flowing back into your Glans. \\nPull straight towards your chin for 60 full seconds then shake your penis around to get the blood flowing back into your Glans. \\nPull to the right for 60 full seconds then shake your penis around to get the blood flowing back into your Glans. \\nPull to the left for 60 full seconds then shake your penis around to get the blood flowing back into your Glans. \\nThe additional benefits of this exercise is your penis is now well warmed up and prepared for the Massive Girth Technique!\\n\\nThis exercise requires a bit more instruction but it's easy to perform once you know the nuts and bolts of the technique. We're going to spend some extra time here because there are some caveats (warnings) about this technique:\\n\\nThis technique is to be performed in a partially erect state. If you become too aroused during this technique injury to your blood vessels may occur! You will need to stop and allow yourself to \"come down\" prior to continuing. \\nThis technique should alwaysfollow the lengthening technique. Blood spotting, bruising and mild lumpiness (all temporary conditions) may occur without being properly warmed up for this technique. \\nYou'll be gripping your penis firmly for this technique, but again, too firm a grip may cause damage to your blood vessels. You'll have to find a firm yet gentle grip for this technique. \\nYou're going to need a good lubricant for this exercise and maintain the viscosity for the duration of the exercise. We recommend Baby Oil or K-Y Jelly.\\nHere's how to perform this exercise that will both greatly thicken as well as lengthen your penis:\\n\\nThe first thing to do for this exercise is to attain a partial erection. The purpose of this is to get some blood into the penis - for it's the movement of the blood throughout the penis during this exercise which will expand Your erectile tissue. \\nUsing your index finger and thumb, wrap your penis at the base, way down as close to your testicles as possible. \\nGently squeeze your penis with your thumb and forefinger to trap the blood inside your erectile tissue. \\nNow, slide your thumb and forefinger \"ring\" down the shaft of your penis towards the glans (penis head). \\nAt the moment your first hand reaches the glans, take your other hand and begin the same process. You'll be alternating hands - right, left, right, left, etc. A single repetition should last a full second before starting with your other hand.", "There is no healthy way to \"lose weight fast\" as many diet products claim to do. No fad diet, pill, or product can do the work for you. The best way is to follow a sensible, lower-calorie diet and exercise plan.\\n\\nIt takes 3500 calories lost to lose 1 pound of fat. If you create a deficit of 500 calories per day, you will lose 1 lb per week. This can be accomlished through following a meal plan and exercise regimen. You should do cardiovascular exercise (jogging, dancing, etc.) as well as weight training (free weights, lunges, crunches, etc.) to both burn calories and increase your metabolism.\\n\\nI use SparkPeople.com as a way to track my food and exercise, and they have great message boards where you can get answers from experts and people with more experience.\\n\\nIf you sign up for it, my username is lolitaeyes!", "No diet works for the long run. Stay away from diets that prevent your intake on foods that you like because once your off the diet you will gain the weight back eating items that you missed while dieting. Best diet is no diet, but you must learn to eat healthy (better food choices) and exercise. Still have some of the things that you like but count calories. If you are unable to exercise at a gym, purchase a stroller for your little one and walk outside. Maybe later, you will want to purchase a stroller for jogging if you keep it up. Most states are having very warm weather now \"summer\" get out and enjoy it while losing those extra pounds ! ..........JUST DO IT ! Good Luck !", "Wow. That is pretty high. You can lower your blood pressure by:\\n\\n1. Losing weight. \\n2. Exercising.\\n3. Eating the right foods.\\n\\n\\nHowever, with BP as high as that, you're probably stuck on the meds. Sorry.", "Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the circulatory system in between heartbeats. The blood isn't at any pressure inbetween beats, whether you've just exercised or are sleeping. If anything, I would guess it might be a little lower if blood vessels dilate (expand) to let off some heat after exercise, as the volume of space for the same amount of blood might increase a little?", "It's nice that you're concerned about your mom's health, but it's got to be her decision to lose weight. Diet and exercise are the best ways.", "nausa, cramping in lower abdomen, spotting, more tired than usual. these are the symptoms i had. i have three children.", "rip them both to your hard drive. or re-write them to a dual side DVD. you can also re write the dvd and lower the band with to make it fit on one DVD. or lose the different audio tracks extra footage and re write", "Local theater. It is the best place to start. You can also look around for small studios and drop off head shots. It sometimes works. Shoe to a casting call for extras if a movie is being made if your area. This one is a little tougher. But they are the step ladder to help you out.", "its because when you cough, you stress your diaphragm muscle, which in turn pulls on the other muscles in your lower abdomen,", "They will lose calcium, and atrophy. That's why the astronauts must do such vigorous exercises; they are not working their skeletons just walking around, the way we do here under 1 g of gravity pull.", "The fat burning zone is misunderstood by most people. We are never burning just one type of fuel (fat protein carbs) we are burning them all just in different percentages. The main source of fuel for your body and the one that is readily available is glucose from glycogen (\" glycogen is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals and occurs primarily in the liver and muscle tissue. It is readily converted to glucose as needed by the body to satisfy its energy needs. Also called animal starch\"). \\nFat and protein can also be converted to glucose if needed. The fat burning zone is when the body is supposedly burning a high percentage of fat during exercise. Fat is stored at different places in your body. around organs, intramuscularly, and subcutaneously(bellow the skin)this is the one most people are trying to lose unfortunately the fat utilized during exercise is the intramuscular type and so little it doesn’t matter there is 9cal/gram of fat and a little fat supplies a ton of energy. The best way to lose fat is to create a caloric deficit at the end of the day from food and exercise because during sleep is when the body really kicks into fat stores but only f it needs it. About 500 calories a day is a good caloric deficit to be in to lose weight at a healthy rate which is about 2 pounds a week.", "Alas, you will probably not lose weight by exercising without changing your diet unless you exercise at a dangerously high level (if you intend to do this, seek advice from a doctor first). However, exercise is important and will help to tone and sculpt your body. Exercise can make you lose inches. However, to maintain the level of exercise we tend to eat more. Also the exercise does not really burn too many more calories above basal levels (you burn quite a bit just sitting around). Exercise will convert your mass to muscle though, and for that, it is well worth it.", "simply just start exercising more. i'd say exercise 3 to 4 days a week and around an hour each time. then, start throwing away the junk food and bring in some fruits, veggies, and grains. by combining these into a balanced diet then you'll lose your baby fat.", "Advise your doctor for another medication. With migraines, sometimes you have to test a few medication to see which one works best for you. Learn relaxation techniques. Breathing exercises, meditation... it might also help.", "Budget. Figure out how much money you need to spend. Make liberal estimates, and save everything else. Then, little bit little, find ways to lower your spending (find better prices for the things you need, avoid extras like eating out, movies, etc).", "strong, constant urge to urinate \\nsharp pain or burning in the urethra during urination \\ninability to fully empty bladder \\npossible blood in urine \\nsoreness in lower abdomen, back, or sides", "Are you sure it is a hernia?\\nI have had a hiatal hernia for 40 years that does not bother me. If it is in your lower abdomin you should probably have it fixed. It could be dangerous if your intestine is strangulated! Even deadly. The lower abdomen is the place where they are the most dangerous.", "well you have to do a little more than watching the calories... 'cause i know i sometimes sit on the couch and just watch them come in the form of doritos without thinking twice!\\n\\nbut anyways, your body's weight is limited by laws of science, so in fact, calories in vs calories out is the main factor as to your weight fluctuations (other than water retention).\\n\\nso, what does this mean? well... you have two sides of the equation you can manipulate to make your calories in be less than your calories out (which would in turn make you lose weight). First, you can decrease calories in. Second, you can increase calories out.\\n\\nbut before you start cutting back on a diet and thinking you'll lose weight, remember this: if you take in less calories than you exert, guess what kind of weight your body will likely lose first? the answer is: muscle weight! your body likes to go this order in choosing what to burn as extra energy: carbs, proteins, then fats. your body can go through the carbs rather quickly, and then hit the proteins. now it will hit a little bit of fat simultaneously as well, but you will proportionately lose quite a bit of muscle as opposed to fat. \\n\\nnow here's the dilemma... the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn during activities! so by losing muscle weight by reducing calories in, you then start reducing calories out as well... it's a sick cycle. so then, how the heck do you lose fat?\\n\\nwell, simple answer is... you have to exercise--weight training and other anaerobic exercise is crucial for this purpose--in order to maintain muscle mass! \\n\\nso hopefully the term \"diet and exercise\" will begin to make a bit more sense than just two dull words jammed together.", "Stair climbing will work in two ways.\\n\\nFirst, you burn calories, which obviously helps.\\n\\nSecond, you build muscle tissue in your lower body. Since the muscle groups in your lower body are the largest, they build up faster. This is beneficial because for every extra pound of muscle that you add, you will burn about fifty calories per day, even if you don't do squat.\\n\\nA pound of fat contains about 2000 calories, so if you were to add 5 pounds of muscle, you would burn about one extra pound of fat about every eight days, not considering what you burn from the exercise.\\n\\nA lot of women are turned off by this idea, thinking that the extra muscle will be too obvious, but since you are working your lower body, it won't be. Also, keep in mind that muscle is more dense than fat, so even if your weight doesn't change, you will look slimmer by toning up a bit.", "Quitting carbohydrates is not a great answer for anyone.\\n Diet and exercise are the only safe option for losing weight and most importantly keeping the weight OFF. There is a reason the atkins diet is not as popular as it once was, thats because after you start eating carbohydrates again you will gain the weight back!\\nTo safely lose weight try a few free sites which can give you a diet program you can live with the rest of your life and not deprive yourself of anything.\\nhttp://www.sparkpeople.com\\nhttp://www.caloriesperhour.com\\nI recommend these sites as I have lost 22 pounds in 2.5 months. I dont deprive myself of anything and I've built muscle enough that I've lost 11cm around my abdomen and 6.5 centimeters around my hips.\\nThere is also http://www.weightwatchers.com which has an easily followed points program. I dont find this to be ideal as you can avoid getting all the nutrients your body needs. The site is also not free\\nAnother site ediets.com can be helpful, although costly. It also charges more if you want an exercise program to go along with your dieting.\\nRegular cardio exercise 30 minutes - 60 minutes 5x per week and weight training (push-ups, weights, sit - ups etc) 2x-3x weekly will build muscle and burn fat.\\nAim for 2 pounds a week (1kg) to safely lose weight and keep weight off for good.\\nGood luck to you!", "Cycling or any other leg exercises will not slimer your leg. When we exercise, our body determines by itself, which part of its body, it wanted to lose fats. It doesn't mean jogging and i will have a slim leg. Thus to have a perfect body, it is best to do all-rounded exercises.", "Your appendix is in the right lower quadrant of your abdomen. It is found at the point where your small intestine and large intestine join. \\n\\nAppendicitis is an inflammation of the lining of the appendix spreading to its other portions. When an acute inflammation is involved, severe pain will be felt in the lower right part of the abdomen. By this time the appendix has usually become filled with pus. If not treated right away the infection can spread through the wall of the appendix and can turn into gangrene and rupture. Because of this, appendicitis is considered an emergency situation." ]

[ "10 minutes 18.8 seconds" ]

[ "that which burns", "that which purifies", "Urvashi Won by Valour", "23 trillion won", "that which is heard", "220 billion won", "Grand Canyon National Park", "What's Up?", "What a Friend", "235.2 billion won", "What's Happening!!", "times of war or national emergency", "What's in It for Me", "things are what they are", "What If Nothing", "Rio Grande National Forest", "What a Life!", "What If It's You", "What Are Words", "What Not to Wear", "What Car?", "what is visible", "What So Not", "What If We", "What a Waste", "What Is a Youth", "the program in which they are enrolled", "What You Want Is What You Get", "For What It's Worth", "What to Audit", "What You Cache Is What You Get", "Be What You Are" ]

[ "E' morto a Montecatini, affetto da un male incurabile, Amos Mariani, 76 anni, ex attaccante di Fiore..." ]

[ "Lutto in casa Juve. E' morto ieri sera il magazziniere Francesco Romeo, presso l'Istituto per la Ric...", "La leggenda del calcio croato, Frane Matosic, &egrave; morto all'et&agrave; di 89 anni. Matosic, ch...", "E' morto oggi a Montecatini, all'et&agrave; di 76 anni, Nello Bellei, uno dei più grandi driver di t...", "Un morto e due feriti. Due scoppi in rapida successione", "La Juve torna in campo ma nel cuore si porta dietro la tragedia avvenuta venerdì, la morte dei due g...", "Caduta da finestra dopo colluttazione con marito poi morto", "Iniziative in occasione dei funerali a Montecarlo", "La Juve ha chiesto alla Lega Calcio di posticipare al 18 ottobre la sfida di campionato con il Bresc...", "Seduta pomeridiana per la Juve. I bianconeri, divisi in due gruppi, si sono alternati tra partitella...", "Dopo 20 campionati in serie A-1, 9 scudetti e due campionati mondiali, Lorenzo Bernardi lascia la", "\"L'ultimo incontro con la dirigenza della Juve risale a due settimane fa, durante il quale mi &egrav...", "La mia famiglia ha ricevuto minacce di morte. Per questo ho disobbedito a Mourinho e ho giocato con ...", "La partita di calcio con l'Olanda, valida per la fase eliminatoria degli Europei di calcio, in progr...", "Marassi, a scoprire cadavere addetti manutenzione stadio", "Altre due bambine morte nel corso della notte", "Minacce di morte contro giornalista della Bbc rapito", "Tre accusati morte campione come conseguenza altro reato", "BRESCIA-JUVE Bell&#39;esordio per la Juve di Capello a Brescia. Al 34&#39; 1-0 di Nedved che gira in rete il calcio d&#39;angolo di Del Piero. Quattro minuti dopo bella azione confezionata da Del Piero e Nedved, che trova", "Claudio Ranieri tesse le lodi della Roma, capolista a punteggio pieno con la Juve dopo due giornate ...", "Inizia male la stagione per Fernando Orsi. Il suo Livorno rimedia due sconfitte con Juve e Palermo e...", "Con la testa in sacchetto plastica e' morto per soffocamento", "L'esplosione vicino ad un campetto da calcio: uccisi in 18, stavano giocandoA Bagdad morti tre soldati americani per lo scoppio di un ordigno artigianale Autobomba a Ramadi strage di bambini", "LA STORIA. Il segretario di Stato Bertone immagina un club come le grandi di A. \"E con i preti brasiliani...\" \"Vaticano calcio come Milan e Juve\" il cardinale e la squadra super del Papa di ORAZIO LA ROCCA", "'Grazie al dottor Riccio e' stata una morte serena'", "Morte altre tre persone in un incidente nel Bergamasco", "Attentato in un mercato della capitale ha provocato la morte di dieci iracheniUn colonnello iracheno chiarisce l'equivoco sullo scoppio al campo di calcio Bagdad, autobomba in un mercato \"Ieri nessuna strage di bambini\"", "Calcio, scontri Catania-Palermo. Morto poliziotto Pagina nera per il calcio siciliano. Un poliziotto è morto negli scontri durante Catania-Palermo. L'ispettore capo Filippo Raciti è stato colpito al viso da una bomba carta. Il derby, anticipato per la coincidenza con la festa di Sant'Agata, è durato più di due ore e venti, con una lunga sospensione per via dei lacrimogeni in campo a seguito degli incidenti fra polizia e tifosi del Palermo fuori e dentro lo stadio. Oltre 100 i feriti", "La Juve ha replicato con una nota alla notizia delle dimissioni di Deschamps: ''La Juve non ha ricev...", "Domani sera, in occasione della sfida con il Bologna, la Juve scender&agrave; in campo con una magli...", "Il capitano del Modena Nicola Campedelli, infortunatosi durante la partita con la Juve, &egrave; sta...", "Protagonisti di incidenti dopo il posticipo di serie A", "Rafael van der Vaart ha smentito di aver raggiunto gi&agrave; un accordo con la Juve. \"Intesa con la..." ]

[ "The Wii console usually uses vert+ when changing aspect ratio to 4:3 and Hor+ for other widescreen resolutions above 16:9, but uses Hor+ instead for full-screen if set on standard." ]

[ " This wikiHow teaches you how to rotate a video clip in Adobe Premiere Pro to the orientation and aspect ratio you'd like. ", "This wikiHow teaches you how to enlarge, shrink, or crop an image in Microsoft Paint. The first two maintain the native aspect ratio while the latter removes outer area from the image.", "Want to catch your friend screening in Halo 2? These tips will help you catch him in the act of screening (also known as screen hacking, screen looking, and screen peeking).", "If you only know the pixel count (i.e. the number of megapixels) that a digital camera has, it's simple to calculate the linear resolution from it (i.e. the width and height of the resulting images) if you know the camera's aspect ratio.", "In YouTube, you can have a more up-close view if the video is in full screen format. In this article you will learn how to view videos in full screen format on a computer and mobile device.", " This is how to hack windows with a Sam file. It will take some time, but it is the real hack. ", "Adobe Acrobat enables you to view a PDF document in full screen view. The full screen view is useful when you are reading an online document or making a presentation using a PDF document.", "Netbook screens are great for traveling, but can be hard on your eyes for extended use. Connecting a full-size monitor to your netbook allows you to choose screen resolutions and refresh rates that cause less eye strain.", "Windows 10 brings back the Start menu, and it's improved. It takes aspects from the Windows 7 Start menu and 8 Start screen. If you're using tablet mode , full screen Start is enabled by default.", "If you’re searching for a new monitor for an existing computer, you’ll want to compare LCD monitors before making your choice. Look for a size you can afford and fit in your current workspace, but also consider the technical aspects of an LCD monitor including the screen ratio, resolution, view angles and more.", "Got a picture that you want to view with a full screen, but it just doesn't seem to fit on the screen of your Android tablet? Luckily, you can set it up so that your view on your Android tablet switches to landscape mode and back to portrait mode whenever you want.", " This wikiHow teaches you how to rotate a video from portrait (tall) to landscape (wide) mode as you rotate your Android. ", "If you watch YouTube videos in Google Chrome, you may have noticed that part of your desktop or browser is still visible in full screen mode. This is a widespread issue which Chrome developers are working to resolve.", " Do Common Ratio Analysis of the Financials You will learn 16 common ratios which are used to analyze financial statements. ", "To swipe between full-screen apps on your Mac, place four fingers on your trackpad or two on your Magic Mouse. Swipe them left or right to move between full-screen apps.", "If you want to turn your Mac view into a split screen, it's doable with the El Capitan operating system (v 10.11). Start with step one to adjust your settings and enable split screen.", "Most racers know about gear ratio and gear ratio charts are listed in numerous places. Gear ratios are figured using rear gear divided by clutch gear.", "The Apple TV is a content streaming device that works with your HD or widescreen TV. It can be efficiently used to share content between an Apple computer, iPhone and iPad.", " This wikiHow teaches you how to use an online video editor to crop your video's physical size. ", "Hacked games are growing as time goes on and, as hackers and hack-fans continue to connect with each other all over the world, so will the need for different hack programs that allow us to play these hacks.", "This wikiHow teaches you how to minimize a full-screen window on your Windows or Mac computer so that you can view your desktop. Keep in mind that some programs (e.g., video games) will take longer to minimize than others.", "You know those amazing videos on YouTube that almost look like visual trickery? That could be you in no time! Well, maybe not no time, but with some practice and dedication, you'll be hitting those dimestops with the best of 'em.", "There are ways to keep your hands lovely and soft without spending a lot of money on soaps and lotions. Soft and smooth hands can be achieved using homemade hacks––just choose the methods that appeal most to you.", "Do you want to play with more than just 4 people in Co-Op or Terrorist Hunt? This simple hack only needs to be done for the person hosting. You will have to do this each time you host a match with more than 4 players but once you get the hang of it then it becomes really simple to do each time.", "Price-earnings ratio, also known as P/E ratio, is a tool that is used by investors to help decide whether they should buy a stock. Essentially, the P/E ratio tells potential investors how much they have to pay for every $1 of earnings.", " It happens to everyone. You have a great movie on your computer and you just have to see it full 1080p. If this is you, read on! ", "Hacking into Injustice: Gods Among Us allows you to benefit from unlimited energy, credits, and boosters, and unlocks all available characters and costumes.", "Adding an arrow or circle to your screenshot is a great way to draw your viewer's attention to a specific part of a screenshot. Skitch is a screenshot program that can help you add arrows and circles quickly with minimal hassle.", "Tired of looking at the TV or computer in the daytime and barely being able to see the screen because of how bright it is outside? There are a few ways to get around that.", "The cropping tools in Microsoft Word allow you to trim and hide portions of pictures you don’t want used or displayed in your final result. Using Word’s enhanced cropping tools, you can simply crop pictures, crop to a specific shape, crop to a common picture aspect ratio, or crop to fit or fill a shape.", " Turn your websites into desktop apps with Chrome (unlike regular .URL files, you can adjust how the site opens - such as making it open full-screen) ", "Ever worry about your brother or sister hacking your user account in windows? Why not change the welcome screen from simple to hard? You have to have an Administrator account." ]

[ "get a walkman or mp3 player. tuneum out and listen to your favorite jam." ]

[ "Why does streching feel so good? Well any time you work your muscles you are ripping or tearing them. When they grow back they get knots in them if you don't strech out properly before and after your work out or the beging and end of the day. Or if you are asleep your muscles bunch all together. So when you stretch you are doing just that to your muscles, you are getting out the knots, because that is what makes you sore in the first place.", "well the illegal immagrants arent paying any taxes and the government is saying that unless you want to be here legally, and pay taxes the you should leave. the boycott is showing the government that without the immagrants, we (the americans) would loose a bunch of money on that one day when they but nothing at all, skip school, skip work and any other \"american activity\"", "Most do like it, they just don't realize it until they try it out. It's like anything, it's easier to say \"nah I don't like it\" than put a little effort in and give it a go... especially when society classes it as 'disgusting and unnatural'. \\n\\nDon't forget Oral sex may makes your whole day but Anal makes your whole week ;)", "The 10 day notice of eviction is standard, but no, he cannot make you leave. He has to post a 30 day notice and go to court. When you get to court, sometimes the judge will give you a longer amount of time, but often will not. Your landlord cannot allow others to harass you in any way. Please see a housing attorney, you can probably speak to someone for free at least for the first time, then they have court appointed attorneys you may be able to work with. I used to manage apartments, that's how I know these things. Good Luck!", "When I started to play the guitar it was really hard at first because i was new at it. But about a year later I learned how to play chords and it got much easier. Its easier and more fun when you get to make your own songs because its easier to memorize. You also have to be dedicated to playing the guitar, and have a good guitar teacher to make things fun.", "You can start on birth control pills whenever you want. However, here's how the intial protection works. If you start the pill on the first day of your period, you will have protection from day one. However, if you start at any other time in your cycle, you should use another form of contraception for the first seven days. This simply has to do with the way the pill works, in conjunction with how your cycle works.", "Go and have a check up pronto!\\nA blood test should be made to determine any strange stats.\\nIn my case some 7 years ago, it was depression and low energy that drove me to the doctor where we found my hypothyroid hashimoto disease.\\nTell the doctor everything about your normal day-to-day life, like what you eat, how much water you drink, you long you work and how long you sleep and how much you exercise.\\nGood luck and do go to the doctor!", "a really sweet guy-- one that would do anything for you-- and do nothing to hurt you. Always concerned if your happy ... He always tells you how much he thinks about you when hes' at work and the first thing he does when he gets off is call you. He always make sure you have no worries. He tells you his mission everyday is to make you smile- and when hes' at the end of his day- he ask himself if he accomplished his mission for the day-and if his answer is YES-- he can sleep better at night :-)", "you need money to start a business\\nyou do not need money to start working......\\n\\nwork for someone and think about what business to start.\\n\\nstart the business part time then when you are making money go full time\\n\\nwhen you work for someone..they provide the insurance and benefits for you, but you are at their beck and call..when they want you to work you work doing what they want...\\n\\nwhen you work for your self you provide the insurance and other benefits and you work when you want to work...which is a lot...and you usually have to do what the customer wants any way..\\n\\ngood luck", "Hello,\\nI have taken both of these classes and by faaaaaaaaaar human physiology is harder. I enjoyed micro so much in 2nd year that I took a 4th year pathogenesis class and now I'm starting my Masters in it. Reasons why you ask..well, first of all, human physiology is all about memorizing pathways of molecules going here, going there, doing this, doing that. You learn about all the chemical type things going on in your ENTIRE body, from the ingestion of food, how it's transported down into your stomach, how the stomach works, how the intestines work, all the reactions going on in your body, excretion system, all your glands, your muscles, how the heart works...it's just sooooo much information. I hated it. Hundreds and hundreds of molecules I just about lost it. Micro (to me) is really interesting because you learn about how the smallest thing on earth can cause so many diseases. There are also many things that are related between different microbial species which makes it easier when first trying to understand these things. If you're into genetics and microbial diseases (there are so many you don't even know about), that type of thing..take micro. If you plan on being a doctor, take both. If neither, do not take human phys! \\nI hope that helps. Good luck!", "Go to HERBDOC.COM. This site will teach you how to cure any and all diseases using herbs. It is never too late and it will save you time and expense in the long run, without the aid of Doctors who will tell you a bunch of lies.", "It does happen hon. Not in any physical way, but the testosterone level in men does go slightly down when used frequently. Why do you think men who smoke pot dont get in fights as much as men who drink? Testosterone makes you aggressive, marijuana lowers the testosterone levels and so you become less violent and-or aggressive. And before a bunch of retards jump on that and think that marijuana will make them sterile, no it wont. If you notice my wording it says \"slightly\". You can still get someone pregnant even if you smoke an ounce a day everyday. So dont think you can do away with the condom because youre totally stoned.\\n\\nHashish is usually a block of resin from the marijuana plant. You heat it, break it up, and then smoke it. \\n\\npeace", "it would make it easier on you now that he moved out and away to say to him you really feel you need your space. just let him know you've never experienced life by yourself. you were 19 when you got into this and now that your 21 (my 21 b-day is in 7 days i so syked!), you're old/young enough to experience everything you've wanted. if you feel you want to go out and have fun as a single more power to you to follow your heart and do what'll make you happy! GL", "Valium is definitely stronger than Xanax, but I'm not sure it'll really work any better than drinking a bottle of champagne. Everyone is different on every drug. \\n\\nI recommend taking it one day when you don't have anywhere else to be and just seeing how it reacts with your system first. The stress of your fear will make it vary on the day of the actual plane trip, but at least you'll have an idea.\\n\\nP.S. Definitely do not take Valium and vodka as someone recommended. Alcohol and Valium make a very bad combination and could cause heart failure or extensive liver damage, neither of which is worth it. (Yes, people do it every day and live, but it's not worth the risk.)", "Before attempting any drastic change, the best thing to do would be to go to a doctor. They can tell you exactly how much weight you need to gain to be 'average' which will make you healthier.\\n\\nThe best way to put on weight is with a diet of things like potatos, pasta, rice, meat and dairy products, but make sure you still try and eat five portions of fruit or veg a day. Also, have three square meals a day.", "Nah, he'd make a bunch of promises about what he'd do if something went wrong with the car, but then have no plan on how to actually carry it out.", "Like all electronic components, computers are bound to be reliable or unreliable. Dell doesn't actually make any components, they just assemble a bunch of components. Pretty much the only things they design are the cabinets and those are always good. \\n\\nYou can just swap out your hard drive. go to newegg.com and get a new one. \\n\\nif you get a whole bunch of error messages, you might have a faulty mother board.\\n\\nI had a computer which stopped working because a mouse took a crap in it", "do you mean in a day? wheen you get around thirty you actually may not be able to have any fluid come out when you go for a second time. but when you are young you may have less swimmers but i would not count on it for any birth control measures", "Not as long as you just wrestle. Wrestling and tickling is one way that guys can put their hands on your body (and you on theirs) without getting into trouble. It can be fun as long as nobody grabs anything important while the wrestling is going on. However, if you like the guy and he likes you, than wrestling can quickly lead to other things! If you don't want that to happen, make sure there are other girls in the place with you while this is going on. Just a bunch of guys might lead to something ugly if you aren't careful, no matter how good a friends you all are, especially if you are doing any drinking.", "I had the frenulum of my tongune cut at age 10 or so because it was attached to the lower gum. The fear back then was that it would eventually cause loosening of my teeth. They were MORONS...and don't even do this any more. The surgery suct...i couldnt eat for a weak and lost a bunch of weight.\\nBut I can tuen my tongue over without any problems...and now i can stick the tip of my tongue out of my mouth :)\\n\\nIf you are talking about a cleft lip surgery i am talking of a dif frenulum.", "it will never go back the same that it was, but you could do a bunch of crunches (like 50 a day) or you could get surgery to fix it, although if you have another kid it's just going to go back to the way it is now. Even with crunches your skin will be loose for a while (like it was right after you had the baby) but it will go back eventually.", "A Kegel excercise is an excercise for the vigina! You don't have to do this excercise when you urinate. You can do this sitting down watching a movie or even eating. First, you grip your vigina walls together.....it's easier to do if you inhale then lift your vigina muscles. You hold this action for about 5 secs. then repeat this excercise about 10 times. You have to do this excercise about 3 or 4 times a day if you really want results he will be able to feel! You'll get use to it! It works if you do them throughout the day for about a week or two. : )", "No matter what men would like you to think there is no rule for how many dates there should be before sex. A lot seem to feel like it is three dates, personally I think it is when you are ready not when they are. If women had sex every time men wanted, no one would ever get any work done EVER.\\n\\nDont do what anyone else tells you, make sure it is right for you and only when it is right for you.", "Prefixes are bits that go on the beginning of a word to change the meaning of the word. Often there are several prefixes that can be used with the same word. \\n\\nThese links should make this type of work easier for you.", "Jerry Fallwell is absolutely batsh*t insane. He is one of the most intolerant, hateful, and hypocritical people in america today. Him and Pat Robertson. God I wish they would both just disappear. What a bunch of morons..." ]

[ "Tesla Inc’s (NASDAQ: TSLA ) Tesla Model X has earned a perfect crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).\nSource: Shutterstock\nThe crash tests from the NHTSA saw the Tesla Model X earning an overall rating of five starts. Here is a breakdown of all the individual crash test ratings that came together for the five-star rating.\nFront Driver Side — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Front Passenger Side — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Overall Front Star Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Side Crash Driver Side — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Side Crash Passenger Side — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Front Seat Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Combined Rear Seat Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Side Barrier Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Overall Side Pole Star Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Overall Side Star Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Rollover Star Rating — Five Stars\n— Five Stars Dynamic Tip Resul t — No Tip\nt — No Tip Rollover Resistance — 9.30%\nEarning five stars in ever category is a big win the for the Tesla Model X. During the frontal collision tests, the car slams into a wall at 35 mph. This simulates what it would be like if two cars travelling at this speed had head-on collision. The star rating is determined by how the the crash test dummy responds to the force, as well as other factors.\nThe side crash test that the Tesla Model X went through are made to replicate the damage of the car being hit in the side by another car, or a fixed object, such as a tree or pole. The rollover tests determine the danger of the vehicle tipping during a situation where the driver has lost control of it.\nYou can check out a video of the Tesla Model X crash tests below.\nTSLA stock was up 1% as of noon Wednesday and is up 78% year-to-date.\nAs of this writing, William White did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities." ]

[ "Tesla Motors Inc was sued on Friday by a Model X owner who said his electric SUV suddenly accelerated while being parked, causing it to crash through the garage into owner's living room, injuring the driver and a passenger.\nThe Model X owner, Ji Chang Son, said that one night in September, he slowly pulled into his driveway as his garage door opened when the car suddenly sped forward.\n\"The vehicle spontaneously began to accelerate at full power, jerking forward and crashing through the interior wall of the garage, destroying several wooden support beams in the wall and a steel sewer pipe, among other things, and coming to rest in Plaintiffs' living room,\" the lawsuit said.\n(Also see: Tesla Just Showed Us the Future of Car Crashes)\nThe lawsuit, filed in US District Court in the Central District of California, seeks class action status. It cites seven other complaints registered in a database compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dealing with sudden acceleration without warning.\nThe lawsuit alleges product liability, negligence and breaches of warranty, and seeks unspecified damages.\nTesla did not immediately return an email seeking comment.\nNHTSA did not return a phone call seeking verification.\nThe luxury Model X, launched in late 2015, was Tesla's first sport utility vehicle.\nIn its marketing, Tesla claims the Model X is the safest SUV in history.\n© Thomson Reuters 2016", "A Tesla Model S crashed into a parked police vehicle in Laguna Beach, California yesterday, becoming the latest in a string of accidents involving Tesla cars, whose drivers claim the car was in Autopilot mode when they happened. This driver is no exception: according to a Reuters report, he told the police the Autopilot was switched on when the car crashed into the back of the police vehicle.\nTesla has not confirmed or denied the deployment of the Autopilot semiautomatic driving system yet, but the company has said time and again that deploying the Autopilot does not make cars impervious to accidents, and that even when it is deployed, the driver must keep their hands on the wheel at all times.\nThis was not the case with another Tesla crash, in Utah, where the police investigation found the driver had enabled the Autopilot 1.22 minutes before the crash into a stationary fire truck in front of the Tesla, which was going at 60 mph. After enabling the system, she took her hands off the wheel and did not touch it again until after the accident.\nAnother two crashes involving Teslas have occurred since the start of the year, one with fatal consequences. In both cases the Autopilot was switched on, Reuters reports.\nMeanwhile, Tesla Model S has become the most expensive car to insure in the United States. The average annual insurance paid on the model is US$1,789.48 and the average annual collision coverage paid is US$1,310.40. Some insurers, Electrek recalls, last year upped their rates for Tesla owners on the grounds of higher than usual claim frequency. At the time, Tesla countered the argument by saying the high-performance Model S and Model X were compared with much less powerful cars.\nIn any case, that’s four accidents involving Teslas since the start of the year, and another four last year. While CEO Elon Musk likes to note that this is much less than the industry average, Tesla certainly attracts more media attention than other carmakers because of its Autopilot system and claims it is much safer than comparable vehicles.\nBy Irina Slav for Safehaven.com\nMore Top Reads From Oilprice.com:", "Autopilot is a semi-autonomous technology that the company says is a form of advanced cruise control.\n\"Tesla has always been clear that Autopilot doesn’t make the car impervious to all accidents,\" the company said in a statement after the accident and could not immediately confirm the driver's report that the vehicle was in Autopilot mode.\nSeveral crashes and fire incidents involving Tesla vehicles this year has been a near constant headache for Chief Executive Elon Musk, who boasts that his company's vehicles are among the safest in the industry.\nEarlier this month, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was sending a team to investigate the crash of a Tesla vehicle in South Jordan, Utah. The driver was traveling at 60 miles per hour when the Model S smashed into a fire truck stopped at a red light, according to police.\nPolice in Utah said data from Tesla showed that the driver enabled Autopilot about 1 minute and 22 seconds before the crash. The report said she took her hands off the steering wheel “within two seconds” of engaging the system and then did not touch the steering wheel for the next 80 seconds, until the crash happened.\nNHTSA is also investigating a fatal crash in March that involved a Tesla Model X using Autopilot that struck a highway divider. The agency is also probing the January crash of a Tesla vehicle apparently traveling in Autopilot that struck a parked fire truck. Both of those incidents were also in California.\nThe National Transportation Safety Board is also probing four Tesla crashes that have occurred since last year, including three under review by NHTSA.\nTesla's Model S owner's manual warns some Autopilot functions \"cannot detect all objects and may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles or objects especially when traveling over 50 mph (80 kph)\" and when a vehicle ahead of the driver \"moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicle or object is in front of you.\"", "April 20 (Reuters) -\n* Tesla voluntarily recalls around 53k 2016 model S and model X vehicles- TechCrunch\n* Tesla will be filing the recall with NHTSA, and expects to have all parts needed to make the swap by October of this year-TechCrunch\n* Tesla is recalling the vehicles for a potential manufacturing issue with the parking brake - TechCrunch\nSource text: tcrn.ch/2pjyIK4\nFurther company coverage:", "A Model X owner in Florida recently crashed his Tesla SUV through a wall of an Anytime Fitness gym after barreling through an empty storefront, according to a report from ABC Action News. The crash itself happened over the weekend and though there were members working out at the time, it appears that both the driver and gym patrons did not suffer any injuries.\nThat’s the good news. The bad news is that a Tesla crash is in the news yet again. Though perhaps not fair given that there are an estimated 15,000 car accidents every day, the reality is that nearly every accident involving a Tesla tends to make national news, if only because of public skepticism regarding Tesla’s somewhat controversial Autopilot feature.\nAs to the crash at hand, the driver of the Model X claims that she pressed on the gas, only to have the car abruptly accelerate. Tesla will undoubtedly check the logs to see what exactly was going on in the moments preceding the crash.\nIn the interim, gym footage of the Model X crashing through the wall has been made public and, suffice it to say, it’s quite harrowing. As evidenced below, the Model X nearly hit a gym-goer who was casually getting off of a treadmill.\nA photo of the aftermath can be seen below.\nGiven the circumstances of the crash, many people are of the mind that the driver simply stepped on the wrong pedal.\nFor what it’s worth, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a story regarding a Model X that allegedly accelerated for no reason. Just a few months ago, for example, a famous South Korean actor sued Tesla claiming that his Model X accelerated for no reason as he was parking his car in his garage, with the car ultimately crashing through the garage wall and into the man’s house.\nNotably, Tesla, upon looking at the car’s logs, determined that the driver “pressed the accelerator pedal all the way to 100 percent.”", "Humans are lousy drivers. The fix is coming later this year. A new car promises superhuman driving powers and it will change everything, says a well-regarded analyst.\nAdam Jonas, an auto analyst at Morgan Stanley, believes new driver-assisted safety features in the Tesla Model 3 could make the $40,000 electric car 10 times safer than any car on the road today.\nThat’s a really big deal. In a research note to clients, Jonas points out “safety is the No. 1 determinant of car purchases,” according to car companies. He expects that will lead to an “ah-hah!” moment in competitor boardrooms when shiny new Model 3s began rolling off the assembly lines later this year.\nThis is not the first time Tesla has pushed the envelope. In 2003, the idea that an electric vehicle could compete with conventional cars seemed ludicrous. That changed in 2004 when Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal, became chairman. He believed electric cars could be fun, fast, futuristic and safe.\nThe first Tesla was a head-turning, electric two-seater fastened to a Lotus chassis. That ticked the first three boxes and won the fledging carmaker a legion of loyal Silicon Valley 1-percenters. The next car, the Tesla Model S, focused on safety above all else.\nTesla outfitted the Model S with expansive crumple zones and a low center of gravity while removing heavy moving parts like a driveshaft and an internal-combustion engine. The Model S impressed the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration so much that the NHTSA awarded the car a 5-star safety rating, not just overall, but in every subcategory. In August 2013, a Tesla press release boasted that the results showed the Model S had achieved the “best safety rating of any car ever tested” .\nFollowing in the tracks of the Model S, the Tesla Model 3 may possibly be the safest car ever made.", "The driver of a Tesla Inc Model S crashed into an unoccupied, parked police vehicle in California on Tuesday and the driver told investigators the Tesla was in \"Autopilot\" mode at the time, police said\nA Tesla driver died in first fatal crash while using Autopilot mode in May 7, 2016 when his Model S failed to distinguish a white tractor-trailer crossing the highway against a bright sky. Pic/Twitter\nThe driver of a Tesla Inc Model S crashed into an unoccupied, parked police vehicle in California on Tuesday and the driver told investigators the Tesla was in \"Autopilot\" mode at the time, police said. The driver suffered minor injuries, Laguna Beach Sergeant Jim Cota said, who posted photos of the crash scene showing extensive damage to the front end of the Tesla and the rear side of the police vehicle.\nAutopilot is a semi-autonomous technology that the company says is a form of advanced cruise control. \"Tesla has always been clear that Autopilot doesn't make the car impervious to all accidents,\" the company said in a statement after the accident.\nEarlier this month, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was sending a team to investigate the crash of a Tesla vehicle in Utah. The driver was travelling at 97 kmph when the Model S smashed into a fire truck stopped at a red light.\nNHTSA is also investigating a fatal crash in March that involved a Tesla Model X using Autopilot that struck a divider. The agency is also probing the January crash of a Tesla vehicle apparently travelling in Autopilot that struck a parked fire truck.\nCatch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates\nThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever", "Tesla's Model X SUV was the overall top pick in the Automobile Association of America's 2017 Green Car Guide.\nAAA testers found the car to be the best choice among the 65 cars tested, including full-battery electrics, hybrids, alternative fuel-based cars and even fuel efficient internal combustion cars.\nIn fact, Tesla's Model S and Model X cars claimed three out of the seven top spots in the ranking — the same Model X, with the 75-kilowatt hour battery pack, also won the SUV category, and the Tesla Model S, with the 60 kWh pack, won best large car.\nAAA uses a collection of quantitative measures to evaluate cars, said Greg Brannon, director of Automotive Engineering for AAA, in an interview with CNBC. Criteria include ride quality, safety and performance, and cars are test-driven on AAA's test track in southern California.\nThe all-electric Chevy Bolt EV Premier was considered best compact, and the Ford F150 XLT Super Crew won best pickup.\nHere is the full list:", "Tesla drivers who engage the Autopilot feature should recognize that it requires the assistance of the driver, a cybersecurity expert told FOX Business.\nContinue Reading Below\n“They require in the manual that people constantly have their hands on the wheel,” cybersecurity expert Leeza Garber said during an interview on “The Evening Edit” on Wednesday.\nElon Musk’s electric car company is under scrutiny after another crash involving one of its vehicles in Autopilot mode. A Model S crashed into a parked police cruiser Tuesday in Laguna Beach, California.\nThe driver says the Tesla sedan was running in its Autopilot mode right before the impact.\nGarber said the vehicle is designed with certain technological built-in features to make highway driving safer.\nAdvertisement\n“In essence what they are doing is mapping out what kind of obstacles are on the road,” she said. “They are watching the speed limit, they are watching traffic.”\nThe Tesla Model S owner’s manual states that Autopilot “cannot detect all objects and may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles or objects especially traveling 50 mph.”\nLast week, Tesla settled a class-action lawsuit with buyers of the Model S and Model X who claimed the company’s assisted-driving Autopilot system was “completely inoperable,” according to the complaint.\n“Even though they set aside this caveat for its not autonomous driving, you have to hold on to the wheel, you have to pay attention and be attentive, but at the same time are they going to be held liable and this crash is not helping them,” Garber said.", "DETROIT Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) needs to complete fixing its Model S sedan emergency braking system to regain Consumer Reports' top safety rating, the magazine said on Friday, noting that a recent update by the luxury electric car maker was not enough.\nThe magazine, which provides an annual rating of vehicles sold in the United States, said on Wednesday the sedan had lost its top ranking in the ultra-luxury car category for failing to install the feature that it had promised to owners as standard equipment.\nThe Model S fell to third place in Consumer Reports' ratings behind the Lexus LS made by Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and the BMW 7 Series (BMWG.DE).\nConsumer Reports said both Tesla models previously came with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), a feature that helps reduce accidents. The software issue affects more recent vehicles built since late October 2016.\nThe magazine said Friday that the Model S sedan it owns had received an automatic emergency braking software update Thursday, but the new version only operates up to 28 miles per hour (45 km).\nThat is far less than the current 90 mile per hour limit for the prior Tesla AEB system included on vehicles built before late October.\nThe magazine cited a statement from Tesla that \"over the next several weeks\" the car maker would increase the speed limit \"until it is the most capable of any vehicle in the world.\"\nThe California automaker last week recalled 53,000 Model S and Model X vehicles to fix an unrelated parking brake issue.\nEarlier this month, Tesla briefly edged out General Motors Co (GM.N) to become the most valuable U.S. car maker.\n(Reporting by Nick Carey; Editing by Richard Chang)", "Markets Insider\nTesla's Model 3 has received Consumer Reports' recommendation after a software update fixed braking flaws found on the first test.\nShares rose more than 3% in trading Wednesday following the updated test.\nFollow Tesla's stock price in real-time here.\nTesla surged more than 3% Wednesday after a second test by Consumer Reports found the company fixed issues the magazine previously found with the Model 3.\nLast week, the Model 3 failed to receive the Consumer Reports' recommendation because of \"big flaws,\" including long-stopping distances in the emergency braking test and \"difficult to use controls.\" In the first test, the Model 3's distance from 60 miles-per-hour to a complete stop was 152 feet — seven more than a Ford F-150 truck. But after a software update from Tesla, that distance was cut by 19 feet to 133.\n\"I've been at CR for 19 years and tested more than 1,000 cars,\" Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, said. \"And I've never seen a car that could improve its track performance with an over-the-air update.\"\nConsumer Reports also said Tesla appeared to be making some changes to its control interface, something it's able to do thanks to the large touchscreen. The magazine previously said the controls could be difficult to use while driving and could lead to distraction and accidents.\nAdvertisement\nTesla is currently struggling to make enough Model 3 cars to keep up with demand and turn a profit, something CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly said will happen this year. Bloomberg estimates the company is churning out 1,489 Model 3's per week— less than half Tesla's goal of 5,000 per week. Over the weekend, Tesla flew in six planes full of robots and manufacturing equipment from Europe to speed up battery production.\nShares of Tesla have had a choppy start to 2018. The stock is down 11% this year as a downgrade by the credit-rating agency Moody's, plunging bond prices, and a string of AutoPilot crashes have made headlines.", "Autopilot crashes aren't the only problems EV maker Tesla has been forced to contend with lately.\nAs we reported last week, Consumer Reports (CR) refused to give Tesla's Model 3 all-electric sedan their recommendation due to \"big flaws\" in the vehicle's braking system.\nAt the time, the outlet claimed the Model 3's braking abilities were noticeably worse than a full-size pick-up truck.\nTesla was quick to refute this claim by saying CR's testing was affected by environmental temperatures, road surfaces, and \"past driving behavior.\"\nRegardless, company CEO Elon Musk later said the issue could be fixed via a firmware update. This statement prompted CR to agree to re-test the vehicle if Tesla successfully managed to pull off an \"industry first\" over-the-air brake update.\nIt seems that's precisely what has happened, as CR now says the Model 3 has officially earned their recommendation. According to the outlet, Tesla has managed to reduce the vehicle's braking distance from 152ft to 133ft.\nFurthermore, Tesla has already begun to take many of the outlet's other complaints (such as wind noise and uncomfortable rear seats) into account by implementing changes to their production line.\nCR plans to rent another Model 3 from Tesla at a later date to see these changes in action.", "Tesla's Model X has earned top safety marks from the government (Photo: James Lipman / jameslipman.com)\nTesla's Model X luxury electric crossover has hit the spot on safety by winning top marks in crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.\nSkip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE USA TODAY auto writer Chris Woodyard got a chance to get behind the wheel of Tesla’s new $132,000 Model X SUV before the launch event in Fremont, Calif. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY\nThe Model X SUV was awarded the highest rating, five stars, in each of the government's three crashworthiness categories. Those include frontal, side and rollover crashes.\nThe versions of the all-wheel-drive Model X earning the top safety honor include the 60D, 75D, 90D, P90D and P100D. The Model X has yet to be tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for consideration as a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus designee.\nBy comparison, the only other model currently being delivered by Tesla, the Model S sedan, earned five stars in rollover tests for the 60, 60D, 75, 75D, 90D, P90D and P100D models, but was not tested in frontal or side crash tests for an overall rating.\nIt fell short of a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, the testing arm of the insurance industry, but was rated acceptable in the stringent small overlap front test. It's headlights, however, like so many other models from other brands this year, were rated poor.\nTesla's closest competitor in terms of battery range, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle, has not yet been tested under either program.\nTesla wasted no time celebrating its safety milestone for the Model X.\n\"More than just resulting in a five-star rating, the data from NHTSA's testing shows that Model X has the lowest probability of injury of any SUV it has ever tested,\" Tesla stated on its website. \"In fact, of all the cars NHTSA has every tested, Model X's overall probability of injury was second only to [the] Model S.\"\nThe California-based automaker attributed the Model X's crashworthiness to its all-electric architecture and powertrain design, including its \"rigid, fortified\" battery pack mounted beneath the floor to create an uncommonly low center of gravity for an SUV, which helps prevent rollovers.\"\nTesla said in a serious crash, Model X occupants have a 93% probability of escaping serious injury.\nRead or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2tn8QuV", "Start the conversation - Add your comment\nAlthough the administrators and moderators of this website will attempt to keep all objectionable comments off these pages, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the poster, and neither Crash Media Group nor Crash.Net will be held responsible for the content of any message. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. If you find a message objectionable, please contact us and inform us of the problem or use the [report] function next to the offending post. Any message that does not conform with the policy of this service can be edited or removed with immediate effect.", "Sign up for one of our email newsletters.\nWASHINGTON — Federal regulators are investigating the air bags installed in 425,000 Kia and Hyundai vehicles after the devices reportedly failed to deploy in crashes in which four people died and six others were injured.\nThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began the investigation after air bags malfunctioned in six crashes involving four 2011 Hyundai Sonatas and two others in 2012 and 2013 Kia Fortes.\nThe NHTSA review began late last month after Hyundai notified the regulatory agency that “air bag control units showing that an electrical overstress condition of an ... electronic component occurred in three of the crashes” and also many have been a problem in the fourth Hyundai crash.\nThere was no information about where the crashes occurred.\nThe NHTSA review stops short of a formal recall of the vehicles, although it could lead to one. Hyundai opted to preempt any formal federal action by unilaterally recalling 154,753 Sonatas from model year 2011.\n“Hyundai is aware of three rare and unique accidents where air bag control circuitry was confirmed to be damaged and a fourth accident is under investigation,” the automaker said in a statement. “These accidents included a very high rate of speed and a severe offset head-on collision to the front driver side of the vehicle.'\nHyundai said it would seek to notify all owners of the recall before April 20.\nKia did not immediately respond to a Washington Post inquiry about its intentions. In a statement to the news agency Reuters, which distributed with an article on the NHTSA action Saturday, Kia said it “has not confirmed any air bag non-deployments arising from the potential chip issue.”\nThe issue is unrelated to the ongoing recall of nearly 34 million cars, the largest in U.S. history, because air bags supplied by the Japanese firm Takata exploded with a spray of shrapnel that killed at least 22 people worldwide and injured hundreds more.\nThe air bags at issue in the NHTSA investigation announced Friday are manufactured by a German auto parts supplier, ZF Friedrichshafen-TRW, which confirmed it made the air bags on all of the about 425,000 cars in question.\n“ZF is aware of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recently announced investigation,” the corporation said in a statement. “ZF continues to work with its customers and NHTSA to support the ongoing investigation.”", "Consumer Reports have given Tesla's Model 3 its coveted recommendation, this after Tesla performed an over the air update to the braking system", "An Orange County man has filed a lawsuit against Palo Alto-based luxury car maker Tesla Motors, claiming his SUV unexpectedly accelerated while he was parking it in his garage in Irvine, causing the vehicle to crash into his home.\nJi Chang Son bought his Tesla at the car maker’s Costa Mesa gallery in August last year. The following month, while pulling into his garage, the SUV unexpectedly accelerated crashing through a wall, launching the SUV into his living room, the lawsuit alleges. Both Son and his son were injured, the suit says.\nIn the suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, attorneys for Son claim 10 Tesla drivers have had their SUVs unintentionally accelerate while parking or driving their Model X slowly. Since only 16,000 Model Xs have been sold since the car debuted, the number of those that unintentionally accelerate is “staggeringly high” when compared with other cars on the road, the lawsuit claims.\nTesla emailed a statement to the news agency Reuters saying the company was not responsible for the crash.\n“The evidence, including data from the car, conclusively shows that the crash was the result of Mr. Son pressing the accelerator pedal all the way to 100 percent,” Tesla said in the statement.\nCar maker Toyota faced similar allegations in 2010 when SUV and pickup owners filed a class action lawsuit against the company, claiming their vehicles suddenly accelerated. In 2013, the Japanese automaker paid $1.6 billion to settle the lawsuit. In 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice levied a $1.2 billion criminal penalty against the company.\nTesla advertises its Model X as being equipped with self-driving hardware which is “substantially safer” than human drivers, but Son and his attorneys claim the Model X has programmatic flaws.\n“Tesla has been aware that (sudden unintended acceleration) events are occurring at a markedly high rate in the Model X, but has not, as of yet, explained the root cause,” the lawsuit reads. “This made it critically important for Tesla to design and implement an adequate fail-safe system to prevent or mitigate the consequences of SUA. Therefore, the Model X is defective. ...”\nThe lawsuit was filed days after a clip went viral of a Tesla autopilot system predicting a collision. The autopilot feature in the car anticipated a crash and applied the breaks just before an SUV ahead of the Tesla was rear ended and flipped several times.\nContact the writer: lawilliams@scng.com", "FILE PHOTO: A Tesla logo adorns a 'Model S' car in the dealership in Berlin, Germany, November 18, 2015. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo\nTesla Inc (TSLA.O) said on Thursday it would recall 53,000 of its Model S and Model X cars globally to fix a parking brake issue.\nShares of the U.S. luxury electric car maker were down nearly 1 percent at $302.77 in afternoon trading, following its biggest ever recall. (bit.ly/2ovjTzb)\nTesla's total production for 2016 was 83,922 vehicles and included both Model S and Model X.\n\"The electric parking brakes installed on Model S and Model X vehicles built between February and October 2016 may contain a small gear that could have been manufactured improperly by our third-party supplier,\" Tesla said in a statement on its website.\nThe car maker said there had been no accidents or injuries due to the issue.\nTesla said less than 5 percent of the vehicles being recalled may be affected and it would take less than 45 minutes to replace the brakes.\nThe company also said it would send an official recall notice to its customers.\nTesla, led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, had said last year it would recall 2,700 Model X sport utility vehicles in the United States due to a faulty locking hinge in third-row seats.\nThe company said on Thursday it was working with Italian supplier Freni Brembo SpA (BRBI.MI) to get the replacement parts.\nBrembo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\n(Reporting by Narottam Medhora and Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru and Alexandria Sage in San Francisco; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)", "What just happened? There’s been yet another crash involving a Tesla vehicle that was in Autopilot mode. This time, a Model S driver hit a parked police SUV in Laguna Beach, California. While the driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, the cruiser was unoccupied at the time of the accident.\nSgt Jim Cota, the public information officer for the Laguna Beach police department who tweeted about the incident, told The Guardian that the SUV was a “complete total loss,” and that the Tesla’s front end was “pretty beat up.”\nThis morning a Tesla sedan driving outbound Laguna Canyon Road in “autopilot” collides with a parked @LagunaBeachPD unit. Officer was not in the unit at the time of the crash and minor injuries were sustained to the Tesla driver. #lagunabeach #police #tesla pic.twitter.com/7sAs8VgVQ3 — Laguna Beach PD PIO (@LBPD_PIO_45) May 29, 2018\n“It [the SUV] was mangled up pretty good. It took out the whole back end and halfway through the center part of the vehicle. There’s axle damage. It wouldn’t be worth repairing,” he said.\nThis is the latest crash involving a Tesla where the Autopilot feature was engaged, and marks the third time this year that one of the vehicles has hit a stationary emergency vehicle while in Autopilot mode.\nWhile working a freeway accident this morning, Engine 42 was struck by a #Tesla traveling at 65 mph. The driver reports the vehicle was on autopilot. Amazingly there were no injuries! Please stay alert while driving! #abc7eyewitness #ktla #CulverCity #distracteddriving pic.twitter.com/RgEmd43tNe — Culver City Firefighters (@CC_Firefighters) January 22, 2018\nA driver in China is thought to have been the first person killed while using Autopilot, back in January 2016. In June that same year, Joshua Brown was the first person in the US to die while using the feature.\nA Model X hit a highway divider while in Autopilot mode in March, killing driving Walter Huang. Tesla said its own investigation showed Huang kept his hands off the wheel despite the vehicle’s warnings. NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate the case.\nLast week, Tesla settled a class-action lawsuit brought by six Model S and Model X owners who alleged that the Autopilot system was “essentially unusable and demonstrably dangerous.” Tesla's settlement didn’t mention the safety allegations but was instead paid out to compensate owners over the delayed Autopilot updates.\nTesla reiterated that the Autopilot feature requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and is designed for use on highways that have a center divider and clear lane markings.\nThe Autopilot system warns drivers who don't hold on to the wheel. Ignoring this will eventually see the feature disabled and can even cause the vehicle to pull up as a safety precaution. But some owners continue to leave the driver’s seat when it is activated, including a UK man who was caught on video sitting in the passenger seat while his Tesla did the driving.", "Laguna Beach PD(ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.) — A Tesla driver in California was driving in Autopilot mode when the car slammed into a parked police car, adding to a fast-growing list of recent autopilot-involved accidents.\nThe Laguna Beach Police Department in Orange County, California, tweeted images from the scene on Tuesday, showing one of its SUVs smashed and missing a rear wheel after a Tesla sedan rammed it off the roadway.\nPolice have not released many details on the crash, but did say the Tesla driver sustained minor injuries and that the patrol car was parked and unoccupied at the time.\nInvestigators said Autopilot was engaged at time but are still working to determine the exact cause of the accident.\nA Tesla spokesperson issued a statement afterward, reiterating previous warnings about the limitations of the company’s semi-autonomous features.\n“When using Autopilot, drivers are continuously reminded of their responsibility to keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of the vehicle at all times,” the spokesperson said Tuesday.\n“Tesla has always been clear that Autopilot doesn’t make the car impervious to all accidents,” the spokesperson added, “and before a driver can use Autopilot, they must accept a dialogue box which states that ‘Autopilot is designed for use on highways that have a center divider and clear lane markings.'”\nThe Laguna Beach crash is the latest in a string of similar accidents.\nA 28-year-old Utah woman was driving in Autopilot earlier this month when she slammed her Tesla Model S into the back of a stopped fire truck while cruising at about 60 mph, police said. The drivers escaped with minor injuries, but the Tesla was barely recognizable.\nThat crash came just two months after a Bay Area man died when his Tesla Model X slammed into a concrete barrier, according to ABC California station KABC. The victim, a father of two and an engineer at Apple, was driving in Autopilot at the time, authorities said.\nCopyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.", "A former highways agency chief who served under president Barack Obama says it is inevitable that driverless cars will kill people as they appear on the road.\nMark Rosekind, the former United States highway traffic safety administrator, warned \"there will be some lives lost\" as tech companies and car manufacturers experiment with autonomous vehicles, but he insisted they will eventually lead to much safer streets, according to the Daily Telegraph.\nDiscussing the future of transport on BBC Radio 4, he said: \"Unfortunately, there will be crashes. People are going to get hurt and there will be some lives lost.\"\nDespite this, he said, both businesses and regulators \"should really be focused on the potential for zero deaths on our roadways\".\nAdvertisement\nThe technology industry is locked in a debate surrounding the ethics of releasing autonomous systems \"into the wild\", after investments from Google, Uber, Tesla and carmakers significantly accelerated their development.\nRosekind's comments mark a rare admission from an official acknowledging the trade-off for loss of life now in order to achieve safer roads tomorrow.\nRosekind now serves as head of safety innovation at driverless car start-up Zoox.\nHis comments follow Tesla billionaire Elon Musk's criticism of journalists who have been reporting on a series of Tesla Autopilot crashes.\nTesla stock has slumped after a series of negative headlines surrounding fatal crashes involving Autopilot functions and delays to its new Model 3 electric car, prompting Musk to hit out at the \"holier-than-thou hypocrisy of big media companies who lay claim to the truth, but publish only enough to sugarcoat the lie\".\nMusk, stoked by the media's preoccupation with his cars, even promised a new business venture: a website that allows users to rank news organisations' credibility.\nConcerns over Tesla's Autopilot system, which takes some control over cars driving on motorways, were raised in March when a Model X was involved in a fatal crash in California.\nEarlier that month, Elaine Herzberg, 49, was killed crossing the road by one of Uber's driverless cars.\nThe ride-sharing app said it would pause the trials that it was undertaking in five US states.\nMusk has repeatedly claimed that the chances of a road accident are less with Autopilot, so long as the driver keeps their hands on the steering wheel.\n\"It's important to emphasise we'll never be perfect,\" he recently told US broadcaster CBS.\n\"Nothing in the real world is perfect. But I do think that long term, it can reduce accidents by a factor of 10. So there are 10 fewer fatalities and tragedies and serious injuries. And that's a really huge difference.\"\nHe hit out at The Wall Street Journal after it published a report on the amount of Tesla recalls, pointing out that \"there were dozens of recalls by other car companies last month, including with injuries and deaths, but you only wrote an article about Tesla\".\nThe billionaire's outbursts have also seen him accusing analysts on earnings calls of asking \"boring, bonehead questions\".", "AP Photo/Ng Han Guan\nTesla could achieve profitability by scaling back its product offerings, Oppenheimer says.\nIf the company does need to raise new capital — something CEO Elon Musk says won't be necessary — it could be a good thing.\nFollow Tesla's stock price in real-time here.\nTesla is at a financial crossroads as it struggles to reach profitability, like CEO ELon Musk promised earlier this month. In order to get there, the company needs to scale back its offerings to its core products, an analyst said Wednesday.\n\"Tesla is essentially a luxury product company dipping into the premium market, and that is OK by us,\" Colin Rusch, an Oppenheimer analyst, told clients Wednesday. \"With an addressable market of ~5M+ vehicles globally and target GM of ~25%, we believe TSLA has significant room for growth with its current offerings, but would benefit from a refresh on Model S/X and a narrower product focus to drive manufacturing costs lower.\"\nTesla is currently aiming to produce 5,000 Model 3s per week, but those deliveries have been plagued by \"production hell\" as the company struggles with automation and battery installation problems. Bloomberg's Model 3 tracker estimates that the company is currently at 1,489 per week. This week, the electric-car maker flew in six planes full of robots and manufacturing equipment from Europe to speed up battery production.\nIn order to reach its lofty goal, many investors suspect Tesla will need to raise more capital, something Musk has said won't happen. Oppenheimer also thinks a cash infusion is likely, but could be a net positive for the stock.\nAdvertisement\n\"We believe investors expect that TSLA will need more capital especially given managements acknowledgment of a China factory, another battery factory and the need for capacity to produce Model Y, the new Roadster as well as Semis,\" said Rusch. \"We would view an equity raise as a positive catalyst.\"\nIn it's first-quarter earnings report, Tesla said it lost an adjusted $3.35 per share and burned through $1.05 billion. The company forecast that it would achieve profitability and a positive free-cash flow during the third and fourth quarters, ending its cash burn era.\nShares of Tesla have had a choppy start to 2018. The stock is down 11% this year as a downgrade by the credit-rating agency Moody's, plunging bond prices, and a string of AutoPilot crashes have made headlines. Oppenheimer remains on the fence, with no price target for Tesla, but a \"perform\" rating on the stock, meaning it expects shares to perform inline with the benchmark S&P 500 index.\n\"While we believe TSLA has the potential to become a transformative technology company and deliver outsized returns for investors, the company's pace of growth, recent questionable decisions around capital allocation, and lack of disclosure keep us on the sidelines,\" the firm said.", "Photo: AP Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close\nImage 1 of 32 This photo provided by the Laguna Beach Police Department shows a Tesla sedan, left, in autopilot mode that crashed into a parked police cruiser Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in Laguna Beach, Calif. Police Sgt. Jim Cota says the officer was not in the cruiser at the time of the crash and that the Tesla driver suffered minor injuries. (Laguna Beach Police Department via AP) less This photo provided by the Laguna Beach Police Department shows a Tesla sedan, left, in autopilot mode that crashed into a parked police cruiser Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in Laguna Beach, Calif. Police Sgt. Jim ... more Photo: AP\nImage 2 of 32 This photo provided by Tesla shows a 2017 Tesla Model 3, a vehicle that has a semiautonomous driving system called Autopilot. Tesla can update the Autopilot software over the air, not necessitating a trip to a service center. Tesla offers Autopilot on its Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles. (Courtesy of Tesla via AP) less This photo provided by Tesla shows a 2017 Tesla Model 3, a vehicle that has a semiautonomous driving system called Autopilot. Tesla can update the Autopilot software over the air, not necessitating a trip to a ... more Photo: AP\nImage 3 of 32 FILE - In this Friday, May 11, 2018, file photo, released by the South Jordan Police Department shows a traffic collision involving a Tesla Model S sedan with a Fire Department mechanic truck stopped at a red light in South Jordan, Utah. The driver of a Tesla electric car that hit a Utah fire department vehicle over the weekend says the car's semi-autonomous Autopilot mode was engaged at the time of the crash. Police in the Salt Lake City suburb of South Jordan said Monday, May 14, 2018, the driver also said in an interview that she was looking at her phone before the accident. The 28-year-old woman broke her foot when her car hit a fire truck stopped at a red light while going 60 mph (97 kph). (South Jordan Police Department via AP, File) less FILE - In this Friday, May 11, 2018, file photo, released by the South Jordan Police Department shows a traffic collision involving a Tesla Model S sedan with a Fire Department mechanic truck stopped at a red ... more Photo: AP\nImage 4 of 32 FILE - In this Friday, May 11, 2018, file photo released by the South Jordan Police Department shows a traffic collision involving a Tesla Model S sedan with a Fire Department mechanic truck stopped at a red light in South Jordan, Utah. The driver of a Tesla electric car that hit a Utah fire department vehicle over the weekend says the car's semi-autonomous Autopilot mode was engaged at the time of the crash. Police in the Salt Lake City suburb of South Jordan said Monday, May 14, 2018, the driver also said in an interview that she was looking at her phone before the accident. The 28-year-old woman broke her foot when her car hit a fire truck stopped at a red light while going 60 mph (97 kph). (South Jordan Police Department via AP, File ) less FILE - In this Friday, May 11, 2018, file photo released by the South Jordan Police Department shows a traffic collision involving a Tesla Model S sedan with a Fire Department mechanic truck stopped at a red ... more Photo: AP\nImage 5 of 32\nImage 6 of 32 | Tesla Motors through the years\nImage 7 of 32 | Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning Tesla Motors was incorporated by Martin Eberhard (pictured) and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. Tesla Motors was incorporated by Martin Eberhard (pictured) and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. Photo: Paul Sakuma, ASSOCIATED PRESS\nImage 8 of 32 | Elon Musk Eberhard was initially the CEO of Tesla Motors before Elon Musk (pictured) was named the chairman of the board, and ultimately CEO of Tesla Motors. Eberhard was initially the CEO of Tesla Motors before Elon Musk (pictured) was named the chairman of the board, and ultimately CEO of Tesla Motors. Photo: ChinaFotoPress, ChinaFotoPress Via Getty Images\nImage 9 of 32 | Tesla Roadster Tesla's first production car, the Tesla Roadster, was one of the first commercially available highway-capable all-electric cars on the market. Debuting in 2007, the Roadster was based on the Lotus Elise. Tesla's first production car, the Tesla Roadster, was one of the first commercially available highway-capable all-electric cars on the market. Debuting in 2007, the Roadster was based on the Lotus Elise.\nImage 10 of 32\nImage 11 of 32 | Tesla Roadster Tesla said the two-seat Roadster could get up to 200 miles per charge. Tesla said the two-seat Roadster could get up to 200 miles per charge. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 12 of 32 | Tesla Model S The first Model 3 cars were delivered in 2012 after being announced in 2008. The Model S became the bestselling electric car in the United States in 2015. The first Model 3 cars were delivered in 2012 after being announced in 2008. The Model S became the bestselling electric car in the United States in 2015. Photo: James Lipman, Tesla Motors\nImage 13 of 32 | Model S fires In 2013 a handful of fires involving the Model S were reported and received widespread media coverage. By 2014 all new Models S cars were built, featuring a beefed-up underbody shield to prevent the road damage that could potentially cause the fires, and older cars were retrofitted. less In 2013 a handful of fires involving the Model S were reported and received widespread media coverage. By 2014 all new Models S cars were built, featuring a beefed-up underbody shield to prevent the road damage ... more\nImage 14 of 32 | Tesla Model S Model S Teslas start at $69,000. Model S Teslas start at $69,000. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 15 of 32\nImage 16 of 32 | Tesla's Fremont factory Tesla manufactures cars at their highly-automated factory in Fremont, Calif. The plant was previously used as a collaboration between General Motors and Toyota. Tesla manufactures cars at their highly-automated factory in Fremont, Calif. The plant was previously used as a collaboration between General Motors and Toyota. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 17 of 32 | Tesla's gigafactory A rendering shows the so-called Gigafactory currently under construction in Nevada, which will produce batteries for Tesla's cars. Nevada won out to other proposed sites in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. less A rendering shows the so-called Gigafactory currently under construction in Nevada, which will produce batteries for Tesla's cars. Nevada won out to other proposed sites in California, Arizona, Nevada, New ... more Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 18 of 32 | Tesla Model S The Model S is much more practical than the Roadster with four doors and cargo space under the rear hatch. The Model S is much more practical than the Roadster with four doors and cargo space under the rear hatch. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 19 of 32 The Tesla Model S also has a small front trunk for extra storage. The Tesla Model S also has a small front trunk for extra storage. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 20 of 32\nImage 21 of 32 | Tesla Model S P85D The Model S P85D, a high-power variant of the S, makes an equivalent of 691 horsepower, according to Car & Driver The Model S P85D, a high-power variant of the S, makes an equivalent of 691 horsepower, according to Car & Driver Photo: Telsa Motors\nImage 22 of 32 | Tesla Model S P85D The P85D gains power over the normal Model S with the inclusion of an additional motor at the front wheels. The P85D gains power over the normal Model S with the inclusion of an additional motor at the front wheels. Photo: Telsa Motors\nImage 23 of 32 | 'Ludicrous' mode The P85D, already quick, was quickly given a software upgrade called \"Ludicrous\" mode which allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. The P85D, already quick, was quickly given a software upgrade called \"Ludicrous\" mode which allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds.\nImage 24 of 32 The Tesla Model X was announced in 2013 with first deliveries beginning in 2015. The Tesla Model X was announced in 2013 with first deliveries beginning in 2015. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 25 of 32\nImage 26 of 32 The Model X is a full-size crossover that starts at $80,000 but can sell upwards of $140,000 for the Signature model. The Model X is a full-size crossover that starts at $80,000 but can sell upwards of $140,000 for the Signature model. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 27 of 32 The gullwing rear doors allow for easier loading in tight spaces, according to Tesla. The gullwing rear doors allow for easier loading in tight spaces, according to Tesla. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 28 of 32 In August 2015, in preparation for the first deliveries of the Model X (pictured), rolled out new software features including their so-called \"Autopilot.\" In August 2015, in preparation for the first deliveries of the Model X (pictured), rolled out new software features including their so-called \"Autopilot.\" Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 29 of 32 | Model 3 In March 2016, Tesla introduced the Model 3, and immediately accepted hundreds of thousands of pre-orders for the vehicle which is supposed to sell for around $35,000. Few, if any real specs have been released. In March 2016, Tesla introduced the Model 3, and immediately accepted hundreds of thousands of pre-orders for the vehicle which is supposed to sell for around $35,000. Few, if any real specs have been released. Photo: Tesla Motors\nImage 30 of 32\nImage 31 of 32 | Model S 60 On June 9, 2016, Tesla announced yet another model, the Tesla Model S 60, which will sell for slightly less than the Model S. On June 9, 2016, Tesla announced yet another model, the Tesla Model S 60, which will sell for slightly less than the Model S. Photo: Tesla", "Tesla Inc. fans have waited a long time for the chance to buy the electric-car company’s Model 3 sedan, but an analyst said Monday that many didn’t jump at their first chance to buy one.\nBernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi Jr. said among that the most recent group of reservation holders to receive purchasing privileges — existing owners of the company’s previous cars, the Model S and Model X — less than 30% opted to configure and purchase the car when given the chance. That was just the second group to receive access to purchase a Model 3, after Tesla employees.\n“If correct, this take rate would be substantially worse than predicted by our July 2017 survey, which had indicated that up to 69% of S/X owners with reservations were likely/very likely to take delivery of their Model 3,” Sacconaghi wrote.\nTesla TSLA, -2.42% has banked on the Model 3 becoming a mass-market automobile, after releasing the Model S and Model X with high price tags meant to help finance the wholesale manufacturing changes that Chief Executive Elon Musk has ushered in for the Model 3. Hundreds of thousands of reservations flowed in after Musk first showed off the car, with $1,000 deposits attached, and Musk said late last year that Tesla had about 455,000 Model 3 reservations.\nEarlier Monday: Tesla stock is still a sell at Goldman Sachs\nThose $1,000 deposits are refundable, though, and reservation holders are not forced to immediately configure and purchase the car when they are offered. Tesla began offering the cars to employee reservation-holders last year, and then moved on to Model S and Model X owners who reserved a Model 3, and has since moved on to first-time buyers, according to Sacconaghi.\nUsing Bloomberg’s Model 3 tracker, Tesla’s disclosures and his own research, Sacconaghi reported Monday that 55% of employee reservation-holders bought the car when offered, while slightly less than 30% of Model S and Model X owners with reservations configured and purchased a Model 3 when offered.\nDon’t miss: Elon Musk predicts profit at Tesla in 2018, and much more\nSacconaghi warned against “ringing the fire bell” at such news, pointing out possible reasons for his results:\n• Lack of configurations: Tesla is only offering one Model 3 configuration at the moment, for $49,000. In the future, Tesla is expected to offer a base model at Musk’s promised price of $35,000, as well as all-wheel-drive configurations that potential owners in cold climates may be waiting for.\n• Bad timing: Owners may be waiting for the lease on their Model S or Model X to expire, or waiting to sell their current Tesla.\n• Lease option: Some may be waiting for Tesla to open up leasing options for the Model 3\nSee also: Tesla could be falling short of key Model 3 goal, but who’s counting, analyst says\nOf course, Sacconaghi also suggests a fourth possible reason that would not be good for Tesla: Reservation holders who are not sure they actually want to buy a Model 3. “Those of whom are genuinely undecided on the Model 3, and/or may be waiting further data points on initial build quality, and perhaps competitive EV offerings from other manufacturers,” he said.\nSacconaghi wrote from experience, as he is a Tesla owner who was offered a Model 3 and did not opt to immediately configure and purchase the car. As an owner of a Model X and a Model 3 reservation-holder since early 2016, his family was offered the chance to configure and purchase a Model 3 on Jan. 4.\nHe deferred the purchase due to personal reasons, including whether the car would be optimal for a family of five, and said Tesla followed up three times within a month after he declined to take them up on the offer. The final plea, on March 5, was a personal email from “a Tesla support person” that sought information on if he was waiting for a different configuration before ordering the car.\n“Based off this experience, our hypothesis is that Tesla may be modestly concerned/surprised about the Model 3’s low take rates,” Sacconaghi wrote. “In particular, we suspect that our most recent email from Tesla (asking us to identify our desired Model 3 configuration) was part of an effort to determine which new configurations might be most effective in converting deferrals to deliveries.”\nSacconaghi retained a “market perform” rating on the stock with a $265 price target, and noted that Tesla has several “levers to pull” that could juice the rate at which customers are buying the cars, like releasing the all-wheel drive version or opening up leasing options.\nTesla stock closed with a 2.4% decline at $313.56 Monday, and is up 19.9% in the past year, as the S&P 500 index SPX, -1.42% has gained 14.1%. Analysts are split on the stock, with nine rating it the equivalent of a buy, 10 a hold or similar, and nine have a sell or underweight rating. The average price target is $319.74.\nTesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this article.", "More than half of the midsize SUVs tested by an insurance industry group were found to have unsafe headlights that did not light up the road far enough or caused glare for oncoming drivers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says it tested 37 midsize SUVs and only two received a \"good\" rating: the 2017 Volvo XC60 and 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at KFMB-TV San Diego.", "A man was just stepping off a treadmill when a Tesla crashed through a Florida gym.It happened Sunday morning at the Anytime Fitness just outside of Tampa.\"Just as I ended the treadmill, I was kind of catching my breath, all of the sudden I heard this boom,\" Ted Hoeller said.No one was injured.The driver told authorities she hit the brakes, but the car kept accelerating.All Tesla models come with an Auto-Pilot feature, but the manufacturer recommends that feature only be used when drivers are on the highway.The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating whether or not that feature was in use during this crash.------", "(Reuters) - Influential U.S. magazine Consumer Reports said on Wednesday that it now recommended Tesla Inc’s (TSLA.O) Model 3 after its testers found that a recent firmware update improved the car’s braking distance by nearly 20 feet.\nFILE PHOTO: A man cleans a Tesla Model 3 car during a media preview at the Auto China 2018 motor show in Beijing, China April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo\nAn initial review by the magazine a week back said that despite many positives, Model 3 had “big flaws,” including braking slower than a full-sized pickup truck.\n“I’ve been at CR for 19 years and tested more than 1,000 cars, and I have never seen a car that could improve its track performance with an over-the-air update,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing.\nImproved braking distances raised the Model 3’s overall score enough for a recommendation, said Consumer Reports, which had also flagged other concerns including the car’s wind noise, stiff ride and uncomfortable rear seat.\n“Really appreciate the high quality critical feedback from @ConsumerReports. Road noise & ride comfort already addressed too. UI improvements coming via remote software update later this month,” Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said in a tweet in response to the report.\nMusk had acknowledged the brake issue last week, saying that the magazine’s tests had used two early versions of the car before improvements had been made and that a firmware update could improve braking distance beyond initial specs.\nTesla shares, which were hit after the initial review last week, rose 2.7 percent to $291.73 on Wednesday after the report.", "The police department vehicle was empty at the time of the collision, while the driver of the Tesla Model S sustained minor injuries. Laguna Beach Police Department\nA Tesla Model S crashed into a police vehicle in California on Tuesday morning while Autopilot was engaged.\nThe police department vehicle was empty at the time of the collision, while the driver of the Model S sustained minor injuries, Jim Cota, a public information officer for the Laguna Beach Police Department, wrote on Twitter.\nTuesday's collision marks the latest in a string of crashes involving Autopilot.\nA Tesla Model S crashed into a police vehicle in California on Tuesday morning while Autopilot was engaged.\nSergeant Jim Cota, a public information officer for the Laguna Beach Police Department, posted photos of the incident's aftermath on Twitter. Cota wrote that the vehicle had Tesla's semi-autonomous Autopilot feature activated when it crashed into a parked police department vehicle. The police department vehicle was empty at the time of the collision, while the driver of the Model S sustained minor injuries, Cota wrote.\nCota told Business Insider that the Model S was traveling at around 40-45 mph when it veered off a highway and hit the police department vehicle, which sustained significant damage.\nTuesday's collision marks the latest in a string of crashes involving vehicles with Autopilot activated.\nAdvertisement\nOn May 11, a Model S crashed into a fire department vehicle in Utah. A report Tesla provided to the South Jordan Police Department said the driver took her hands off the wheel over 12 times during the drive, including for the 80 seconds before the collision.\nIn March, a Model X crashed into a highway barrier in California. The driver, Walter Huang, died after being taken to the hospital. Tesla said Huang had received several warnings to put his hands on the wheel during the drive.\nTwo months earlier, a Model S crashed into a fire department vehicle in California while Autopilot was engaged.\nTesla has repeatedly said drivers must be attentive, keep their hands on the wheel, and be able to take control of the vehicle when using Autopilot, which is not a fully autonomous system. The system can keep a car in its lane and adjust its speed based on surrounding traffic.\n\"When using Autopilot, drivers are continuously reminded of their responsibility to keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of the vehicle at all times,\" a Tesla representative told Business Insider.\nAdvertisement\nWhile some competitors, like General Motors, Nissan, and Daimler, have also introduced driver assistance features with similar capabilities, others are nervous about including semi-autonomous systems in their vehicles because they fear drivers will place too much trust in them and fail to pay attention to the road.\nTesla has received criticism for how it has promoted Autopilot. On Wednesday, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Auto Safety sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate the strategies the company has used to sell the feature.", "Tesla could achieve profitability by scaling back its product offerings, Oppenheimer says.\nIf the company does need to raise new capital – something CEO Elon Musk says won’t be necessary – it could be a good thing.\nFollow Tesla’s stock price in real-time here.\nTesla is at a financial crossroads as it struggles to reach profitability, like CEO ELon Musk promised earlier this month. In order to get there, the company needs to scale back its offerings to its core products, an analyst said Wednesday.\n“Tesla is essentially a luxury product company dipping into the premium market, and that is OK by us,” Colin Rusch, an Oppenheimer analyst, told clients Wednesday. “With an addressable market of ~5M+ vehicles globally and target GM of ~25%, we believe TSLA has significant room for growth with its current offerings, but would benefit from a refresh on Model S/X and a narrower product focus to drive manufacturing costs lower.”\nTesla is currently aiming to produce 5,000 Model 3s per week, but those deliveries have been plagued by “production hell” as the company struggles with automation and battery installation problems. Bloomberg’s Model 3 tracker estimates that the company is currently at 1,489 per week. This week, the electric-car maker flew in six planes full of robots and manufacturing equipment from Europe to speed up battery production.\nIn order to reach its lofty goal, many investors suspect Tesla will need to raise more capital, something Musk has said won’t happen. Oppenheimer also thinks a cash infusion is likely, but could be a net positive for the stock.\n“We believe investors expect that TSLA will need more capital especially given managements acknowledgment of a China factory, another battery factory and the need for capacity to produce Model Y, the new Roadster as well as Semis,” said Rusch. “We would view an equity raise as a positive catalyst.”\nIn it’s first-quarter earnings report, Tesla said it lost an adjusted $3.35 per share and burned through $1.05 billion. The company forecast that it would achieve profitability and a positive free-cash flow during the third and fourth quarters, ending its cash burn era.\nShares of Tesla have had a choppy start to 2018. The stock is down 11% this year as a downgrade by the credit-rating agency Moody’s, plunging bond prices, and a string of AutoPilot crashes have made headlines. Oppenheimer remains on the fence, with no price target for Tesla, but a “perform” rating on the stock, meaning it expects shares to perform inline with the benchmark S&P 500 index.\n“While we believe TSLA has the potential to become a transformative technology company and deliver outsized returns for investors, the company’s pace of growth, recent questionable decisions around capital allocation, and lack of disclosure keep us on the sidelines,” the firm said.", "Despite all of the controversy surrounding Tesla’s Autopilot feature, there’s no denying that Tesla’s fleet of vehicles have been engineered to be some of the safest vehicles on the road. For quite a few years now, Tesla vehicles have routinely garnered innumerable safety accolades. The Model S, as a prime example, received a 5-star safety rating in every tested category used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Traffic Administration, good enough to put it in the top 1% for safety across all tested cars.\nThe Model 3 may not have all of the bells and whistles of the Model S, but the car certainly boasts the same safety-oriented design and safety features. To this point, a family traveling in a Model 3 was recently involved in a high-speed accident on a Washington highway and managed to emerge unscathed. According to the report — which first appeared on the Tesla Motors Club forum — a car going in excess of 65 MPH slammed into the back of a Model 3, prompting the Tesla driver to lose control before ultimately crashing into a freeway divider.\nThe post reads:\nWas cruising along the i-90 tunnel in Seattle, WA on mercer island with my wife and 2 kids, when I hear some vehicles approach at high speed from behind. Then suddenly I hear a screeching sound from a car breaking hard, and then a car slams into my rear end – hard. I was going 65, so that vehicle must have been going significantly faster. From there I lose control of the car, and the car spins out of control, hitting the freeway divider wall all the way on the other side of the freeway 4 lanes across, and then bouncing back all the way back to the other side of the freeway and hitting that wall before coming to a stop. Thankfully the model 3 performed miraculously, crumple zones compressed, airbags deployed, no fire after the accident, and no one in my family seems to be seriously injured.\nSubsequent reports have indicated that the collision was the result of a street race gone awry. Regardless of the cause, and in light of all the negative press that tends to shroud Tesla due to high-profile accidents involving the company’s Autopilot feature, it’s important to remember that Tesla vehicles are, without question, engineered to be some of the safest cars on the road today.\nIndeed, we’ve seen a number of stories over the past few years involving Tesla passengers surviving what could just as easily have been fatal accidents. In one widely-publicized example, 5 passengers inside of a Model S survived an accident that saw the car fly 82 feet in the air before crashing into the ground at a high speed.\nThis is what the car looked like afterwards.", "The third major Tesla autopilot crash is already upon us, after a Tesla Model S in autopilot mode rear-ended a parked police car. At this point, Either one of two things is happening, either Tesla’s autopilot AI has developed suicidal tendencies or that people really, really trust Tesla’s autopilot mode. There is good reason for the surprise, in 2018, knowing fully well that Tesla in autopilot mode has a tendency of crashing, I’d have avoided that autopilot button. Luckily, the parked police car was empty ensuring that no one was hurt in the process, of course not including the Laguna Bay Police car. It was totalled in the impact. “Thankfully there was not an officer at the time in the police car,” said Laguna Police Sgt. Jim Cota to Forbes. “The police car is totalled.”\nThe previous incident involving a Tesla Model S in the state of Utah, although according to several reports on the internet, this particular Model S isn’t even the first major Tesla crash in Laguna bay. The same police officer who was quoted in the crash mention a Tesla had run into a semi-truck last year in about the same spot. Begging the question as to why this keeps happening.\nFollowing the incident, a Tesla spokesperson spoke to the LA Times via email saying that “Tesla has always been clear that Autopilot doesn’t make the car impervious to all accidents, and before a driver can use Autopilot, they must accept a dialogue box which states that ‘Autopilot is designed for use on highways that have a center divider and clear lane markings,’” a Tesla spokesperson said in the emailed statement.\nFurthermore, Tesla’s Model S owner’s manual warns drivers that some Autopilot functions will not be able to \"detect all objects and may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles or objects especially when traveling over 50 mph” as well as when a car ahead “moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicle or object is in front of you.”\nAlthough that does beg the question as to why despite all these incidents Tesla is still standing by their autopilot technology. Even if the accidents are primarily being caused by the human operators. The sample size for its failures are way too high, and the responsible thing to do for Tesla would be to block the autopilot feature until a better solution is found.\nImage Source: California Police", "A Tesla car on autopilot mode crashed into a police SUV on Tuesday, leaving the driver injured and wrecking the SUV. Buzz60" ]

[ "The pound hit a 12-year high against the US dollar as negative sentiment surrounded the embattled US currency." ]

[ "Tokyo stocks slipped early Wednesday following Wall Street's weakness. The dollar was lower against the Japanese yen, but trading higher against the euro.", "Tokyo stocks opened down on Friday despite news of another drop in Japan's jobless rate. The dollar slipped against the Japanese yen.", "Dollar fell to an all-time low of $1.3068 against euro on Wednesday. Against yen, it slipped to 103.66, the lowest level since April 1. Market analysts contemplate the possibility of dollar-euro exchange rate reaching $1.35 and 100 yen within months.", "Japanese stocks slipped early Wednesday, surrendering gains from two days of advancement led by renewed optimism about the nation's economic prospects. The dollar was higher against the yen.", "Bank details relating to investments worth millions of pounds are found near a motorway slip road in Berkshire.", "Tokyo stocks slipped Friday morning as investors cautiously awaited earnings reports from major Japanese firms later in the day. The dollar rose against the Japanese yen and the euro.", "Tokyo stocks slipped on Thursday as exporters such as Sony Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. succumbed to the weakness of the dollar against the yen and gave up some of their gains of the previous three sessions.", "In his prime, Roy Jones was the greatest pound for pound fighter in the world. He dazzled us with electrifying speed, unmatched lateral movement, boxing smarts, and mad slipping ability.", "Tokyo stocks slipped Thursday morning as investors took profits from recent gains. The US dollar was up against the Japanese yen. The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues was down 36.", "Japan's Nikkei share average slipped 0.55 percent in early trade on Monday after a weak U.S. jobs report pushed the dollar down against the yen, hurting the shares of Japanese exporters.", "Tokyo stocks slipped early Wednesday after the government announced that Japan's economy shrank 0.1 percent during the quarter that ended Dec. 31. The dollar was down against the Japanese yen and the euro.", "Tokyo stocks opened down Wednesday as Wall Street's overnight slide prompted concerns about the U.S. economy and the effect on Japan's fragile recovery. The U.S. dollar slipped against the Japanese yen." ]

[ "By . Daily Mail Reporter . Dr Nurpur Mittal, arriving for sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday, after being convicted of stealing money from a patient's handbag . A GP who stole money from a mother’s purse during an appointment for her sick baby was fined £5,000 yesterday and now faces being struck off. Dr Nurpur Mittal, 33, took £130 cash from Kelly Wissenden’s purse after the mother-of-two left the consultation room to obtain a specimen from her nine-month-old son Zaio Headley. Miss Wissenden, 29, said she thought it was ‘odd’ when she returned and saw Dr Mittal ‘fiddling around’ in her bag, which she had left on her child’s buggy in the doctor’s room. But she only realised the money was missing when she checked the purse as she left White Cliffs Medical Centre in Dover, Kent. It emerged in court that Dr Mittal had previously been given a ‘fiscal warning’ for shoplifting in Scotland. She now faces the possibility of being struck off the medical register as she will be ordered to appear before a General Medical Council disciplinary board. And she was warned yesterday by Judge James O’Mahony at Canterbury Crown Court that she will be sent to jail if she doesn’t pay the fine within six months. Dr Mittal, from Shepherdswell, near Dover, was convicted of theft by a jury last month. Judge O’Mahony told her: ‘This is a sad state of affairs. ‘A patient has the right to expect that the last person in the world who would steal from them was  a doctor.’ The court heard that Miss Wissenden was intending to use the money to pay for repairs to her car. Andrew Forsyth, prosecuting, said: 'Miss Wissenden later described seeing Dr Mittal fiddling around near the change bag and the buggy, looking very flustered. 'She thought it strange at the time but didn't say anything.' After checking her bag outside and finding the money had gone missing, she returned inside the surgery and told the receptionist Christine Button about her cash disappearing from her purse. Dr Mittal stole the cash from Kelly Wissenden, pictured, when she attended an appointment with her son Zaio Headley at the White Cliffs Medical Centre in Dover . She said they searched the doctor's room and the changing area where they had taken her son but did not find anything. However, after following Dr Mittal's advice, they returned a short while later and found the cash on the floor of the changing room. Miss Wissenden phoned the police later that day to report the doctor and what had happened. The court was told Dr Mittal phoned Miss Wissenden later that evening asking her to withdraw the theft allegation. Dr Mittal, from Shepherdswell, near Dover, was convicted of theft by a jury last month after she had denied the charge. Before sentencing Dr Mittal, he asked for a report about her mental state as he could not understand why someone who 'probably receives a healthy salary' would want to steal £130. The theft took place at White Cliff's Medical Centre in Dover, pictured, and Dr Mittal's name has been removed from the website as a list of doctors practicing at the centre . The court also heard yesterday that Dr Mittal was married but her husband is filing for divorce from her. Her name has been taken off the website list of doctors practising at the White Cliffs Medical Centre in Dover. Yesterday the practice manager at the medical centre said they did not want to comment. After the court hearing, Miss Wissenden, who works as a stewardess for P&O Ferries, said: 'It's really shocking, it's horrible. 'I put my faith in her, my son's life was in her hands and she stole from me. 'It's been such a stressful time. The reaction you get when you tell people is 'really, but she's a doctor?'. 'The barrister even told me to expect a not guilty verdict because the jury was more likely to believe a doctor over me.'" ]

[ "Tycoon blast: The new online game sets out to kill billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal . A video game in which players try to 'kill' British-based steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal has been released in France. In the online game, players hurl barrels and rocks at police outside the loss-making steel blast furnaces in Florange, eastern France, which the Indian tycoon closed down. The Indian billionaire himself appears in the futuristic game as a robot who must be bludgeoned to death. A text on the screen reads: ‘The year is 2030. Mittal has closed the majority of steel factories worldwide, tossing out thousands of steelworkers. ‘For these men tired of unfulfilled promises and repeated closures, when all mediation has failed, there is just one solution: Kill Mittal.’ Once the Mittal robot is defeated, however, the game finally reminds the player that although Mittal has been killed, he will quickly be replaced by someone similar. The game's creator Alexandre Grilletta has insisted it is simply a 'bit of fun' and not meant to incite violence, adding: ‘The Florange protests just had the right ingredients of heroes and baddies to make a good game.’ The Mittal row began in December when the boss of the Arcelor Mittal steel conglomerate announced he was axing 630 jobs at the Florange plant, blaming lack of demand from the vehicle industry. When President Hollande threatened to nationalise the factory, Mr Mittal called his bluff by threatening to close down all his operations in France, where his company employs 20,000 people. A deal was finally struck where Mr Mittal could close down two blast furnaces in Florange as long as he promised to find new jobs for the redundant workers. But it ended with France's industry minister Arnaud Montebourg annoucing on live TV: ‘I have to tell you that Lakshmi Mittal is using blackmail and lies. Quite simply, we don't want him in France anymore.’ Critics have condemned the new video . game , which can be found at www.killmittal.com, as glorifying the . militancy of French unions - which many blame for the decline of the . country's once mighty industrial sector. French . daily Le Figaro said: ‘It is hardly in the spirit of flexible unions . that work with management to keep their factories open.’ Retaliation: The game, which sees players attack police at the recently closed steel blast furnaces in Florange, eastern France, has been viewed as a result of Mr Mittall's decision to close the plant . Socialist President Francois Hollande pledged when he took office a year ago to revive France's ailing industrial base - but the latest figures show the country's economy had no growth in 2012 and shrank by 0.8 per cent in the first three months of 2013. Unemployment is already at a 30-year high of 10.5 per cent and forecast to rise to 11.6 per cent next year. And with Mr Hollande's popularity now at 25 per cent - the lowest of any Gallic leader in 50 years - the chief economist at France's AXA insurance group Eric Chaney has compared his predicament to that of Alice in Wonderland when she meets the Queen of Hearts down a rabbit hole. In the book, the Queen tells Alice: ‘My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that.’ Mr Chaney added: ‘The situation is much worse in France in the past year. Italy and Spain are implementing reforms. France is doing nothing. ‘So it is getting closer to the periphery of weaker European nations. What the queen said to Alice applies to France.’", "An American doctor battling the Ebola virus has said he is \"terrified\" and \"praying fervently to God\" that he will survive the fatal disease. Dr Kent Brantly, 33, who traveled to West Africa with the Christian aid group Samaritan's Purse, was the first American infected with the killer disease. After identifying the condition he isolated himself in a ward at the treatment center in Liberia. He is now being treated at a hospital in . Monrovia, Liberia's capital where earlier today it emerged he has made a . ‘slight improvement’ over the past 24 hours. Scroll down for video . Happier days: Dr Kent Brantly, pictured with his wife Amber their two children and friends contracted Ebola while working with patients in Liberia. He and his family chose to stay in the country even after Ebola began to spread . Hero: Last week Dr Brantly was identified as the first American to be diagnosed with Ebola, which kills up to 90 per cent of those it infects. But that did not stop the good doctor from treating his sick patients . A potion with purpose: Dr. Brantly makes chlorine solution for disinfection at the case management center on the campus of ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia in this photograph courtesy of Samaritan's Purse . In an email sent to his former work colleague in Texas, Dr Brantly asked people to also pray for Nancy Writebol, a missionary who was the second American infected with the disease. 'I'm praying fervently that God will help me survive this disease,\" Dr Brantly said in the email to Dr David McRay, the director of maternal-child health at John Peter Smith Hospital in Texas, where Dr Brantly worked for four years. Dr McRay said Dr Brantly was \"terrified\" of the disease progressing further and that he wanted people to remember that hundreds of people are suffering with the disease, and that he is no different than any of them. In the email seen by MailOnline Dr Brantly wrote: . “David, I think what I would like to say is thank you for all the prayers and messages of encouragement. I am praying fervently that God would help me survive this disease. Please continue to pray along with me, and pray for my friend Nancy, who is also very sick, and for the doctors who are taking care of us. Thank you all so much. Peace, Kent” This comes as Dr Brantly’s wife thanked . the public for prayers and said their family’s faith sustains them . during this tough time. Also infected: Father of two Dr. Kent Brantly is the other American in Liberia who's been infected and was treating Ebola patients in Monrovia when he recognized he had the symptoms . Helping hands: Generally patients who enter the second stage of the Ebola virus do not survive.They die an agonizing death . Incredible man: Close friend KellumTate posted several photos of the hero medic saving lives in Africa on her Facebook page. She wrote next to the photos that she had spent five weeks working with him in Tanzania in 2012 and paid tribute to an 'incredible man' In a statement posted to the Samaritan’s Purse website, Amber said Kent remains ‘physically weak’, but Kent ‘his spirit has been determined throughout this ordeal.’ ‘We have a strong family unit within a stronger faith community that has given us incredible support,’ she said. She added that her family ‘appreciate so much all the words of comfort and acts of kindness.’ 'As people with a deep faith in Jesus, we sincerely thank the thousands of people worldwide who have lifted up Kent and this dreadful situation in prayer,' she wrote. 'We continue to lean on that faith and take great consolation in our God in these times.' Amber is in the US with her children and asked for prayers and privacy. She said she and her family 'continue to believe that God will deliver Kent from this deadly virus.' A close friend of Dr Brantly's, nurse Kellum Tate, posted several photos of the hero medic saving lives in Africa on her Facebook page. She wrote next to the photos that she had spent five weeks working with him in Tanzania in 2012 and paid tribute to an 'incredible man', 'whose compassion, endurance, and love for mankind are humbling to an unfathomable degree.' The nurse wrote: 'I thought a few pictures of this wonderful man doing the things he loves most - being with his family and working tirelessly to treat patients - would be appropriate. 'If you're a praying person, pray for him. If you're not a praying person, pray for him anyways.' Dr Brantly and missionary Nancy Writebol are now entering a ‘critical’ phase of their treatment, the head of the charity which sent them to Liberia has revealed. Keeping the faith: In a statement posted to the Samaritan's Purse website, wife Amber said Kent remains 'physically weak', but 'his spirit has been determined throughout this ordeal' Bruce Johnson, President of SIM USA, told MailOnline that within the next few days we will know if Kent Brantly is likely to survive. He said that Ebola could turn for the worse within hours and that both the patients may soon begin to show signs of internal bleeding which could be fatal. Dr Johnson also warned that unless the international community does more to stop what has become the most serious outbreak of Ebola in history then it will spark a ‘tsunami of destruction’ in Africa - and maybe beyond. Last week Dr Brantly was identified as the first American to be diagnosed with Ebola, which kills up to 90 per cent of those it infects. Mrs Writebol, 60, an educator turned missionary from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the second. The condition update will be agonizing for both their families - not least Dr Brantly’s wife Amber who is in the US with their two young children. Dr Brantly and Mrs Writebol were in Liberia with SIM USA and Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian aid charity. Dr Brantly was treating the sick whilst Mrs Writebol was disinfecting medics as they left isolation wards. Words of gratitude: Dr. Brantly wrote in a new email: 'Please continue to pray along with me, and pray for my friend Nancy, who is also very sick, and for the doctors who are taking care of us. Thank you all so much. Peace, Kent' Mr Johnson told MailOnline that both were being treated in isolation private houses at the SIM compound near the Liberian capital Monrovia. Mrs Writebol was still in her home and her husband David has had to move out. Mr Johnson said he spoke to Dr Brantly on Monday and that he ‘wasn’t as good as he had been’.He said: ‘The situation is so fluid. One day it’s up, one day it’s down. He was up working on his computer, talking with people this is not a bed ridden situation. ‘He is moving, he is active. He is interactive and we are pleased with that’. Mrs Writebol is suffering from diarrhea but is talking and in touch with family via her computer on Skype and via email. Mr Johnson said: ‘Her husband David seems strong. He is handling this with faith but he is also realistic with Nancy and Kent. ‘This is not a light situation. This is a very serious situation but we are encouraged by how they are doing so far. ‘The next few days are critical in assessing the recovery of both of them’. SIM spokesman Palmer Holt said that the coming days are so important because symptoms would start to show that would indicate that the disease had entered its second, more serious phase. The first stage is characterised by fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, a rash and diarrhea. The second however is haemorrhagic fever in which patients endure difficulty breathing and swallowing and agonising bleeding inside their body. Prayers: Dr Brantly asked people to pray for Nancy Writebol, here with her husband David. She is a missionary who was the second American infected with the disease . Blood pours out of their ears and nose and turns their eyes from white to red. They die an agonising death. Generally patients who enter the second stage do not survive. Mr Johnson said that SIM USA had not yet identified how Dr Brantly and Mrs Writebol had become infected but said that they take ‘extreme safety measures’ and follow guidelines from the Centre For Disease Control. He said: ‘Our hearts just break for them’. So far more than 600 people have been killed in the outbreak across West Africa that has infected more than 1,200. Liberia has closed its borders to help stop the disease amid fears that it could spread after a patient suffering from Ebola took a flight to Lagos in Nigeria. Mr Johnson said: ‘What we have here really is the potential for this to become a tsunami of destruction for the country of Liberia and that why we are calling on the international community to now respond. ‘It’s grown to such proportions that it’s overwhelming Samaritan's Purse and SIM and it needs others like the US to help. ‘It’s like a wildfire in the Western US. It’s like what happens to a small fire that continues to grow and no-one is trying to put it out. ‘This is preventable but right now SIM is the only care center for Ebola patients in Liberia and that has to change’. Today the CDC issued an alert warning to travelers to avoid hospitals with Ebola patients and funerals for those patients in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea due to the outbreak. The United States is considering raising the alert to discourage \"nonessential\" travel to those three countries, a U.S. government spokesman said.", "By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 12:02 EST, 21 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:06 EST, 21 August 2013 . An astonishing £3billion portfolio of luxurious homes is set to be created by a huge sell-off of London embassies, it emerged today. Twenty diplomatic missions and residences have been readied for sale in the past half a year - and more are on the way as foreign governments try to cash in demand from wealthy buyers. The majority of the properties are expected to be converted into apartments in central areas of the capital such as Belgravia, Kensington and Holland Park, reported the London Evening Standard. Pricey: Some £40million was raised by the sale of the old Brazilian embassy (left) in Mayfair and the seven-storey Canadian High Commission (right) in the same area is expected to be sold soon for £175million . Venetia van Kuffeler, The Diplomat magazine editor, told the newspaper: ‘Dating back to the Victorian era, grand embassy buildings used to be an important visual representation of each country. ‘However with the internet and 24 hour news that isn’t so necessary as people now know a lot more about countries from around the world.’ Just this week the former European Council of Foreign Relations eight-storey building near St James’s Park was sold for £21.5million to Galliard Homes and will be converted into 35 apartments. These could be worth a combined £100million, with the developer saying that diplomatic buildings are full of impressive décor and spacious interiors thanks to them being ‘built to impress’. The former Montserrat embassy in Marylebone has already been converted into flats by Galliard. Some . £40million was raised by the sale of the old Brazilian embassy in . Mayfair - and the diplomatic homes of countries including Greece, . Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are also expected to be relocated. Changes: The American embassy is moving from Grosvenor Square (left) to a new £600 million site in Nine Elms (right) in four years, with its current building sold to the Qatari royal family’s property development arm . Expensive: Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal owns a building on 'billionaires row' Kensington Palace Gardens, which is a combination of the former Egyptian and Russian embassies . Peter Wetherell of Wetherell agents told the Standard that the Brazilian sale ‘has heightened awareness in the diplomatic community that the missions are sitting on a property gold mine’. 'Dating back to the Victorian era, grand embassy buildings used to be an important visual representation of each country' Venetia van Kuffeler, The Diplomat . Another property expected to be sold soon is the seven-storey Canadian High Commission in Mayfair, which first went on the market for £50million in 1999 - but could now go for an eye-watering £175million. The US embassy is moving from Grosvenor Square to a new £600million site in Nine Elms in four years, with its current building sold to the Qatari royal family’s property development arm. And it is thought up to five buildings are being considered for sale on ‘billionaires row’ Kensington Palace Gardens - which is full of diplomatic buildings - and could go for a combined £500million. Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, 63, owns a building on the road, which is a combination of the former Egyptian and Russian embassies.", "More than half of London's top property sales last year went to overseas buyers, with Russian nationals topping the league after UK house-hunters. Russian nationals are understood to have acquired £266million-plus homes in the capital, spending a staggering £429million. People from the UK purchased 2,183 of the 4,510 homes sold in this price bracket in 2010, according to the data. Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal's £70million property in Kensington Palace Gardens was bought in 2008 . One Hyde Park has 86 residential properties marketed with prices starting at around £20 million (left) and Roman Abramovich's house in Knightsbridge (right) In addition, research from Lloyds TSB earlier this month found that sales of homes worth at least £1million recently reached their highest level since the peak of the housing market in 2007. Strong demand from wealthy cash-rich . buyers, both in the UK and from overseas, as well as limited supply of . such properties is thought to have boosted sales. It is the latest evidence that Britain is increasingly seen as a save haven for assets during the worsening financial crisis. A number of the world's most wealthy people, including non-Britons Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and Roman Abramovich have properties in London. And many of the 86 residential properties at the Candy Brothers' One Hyde Park, marketed with prices starting at around £20 million, have been snapped up by foreigners. Here are the top 10 purchasers of £1 . million-plus properties London in 2010, the estimated number of . properties purchased and their worth, according to HBC: . 1. UK 2,183 £3,517,122,197 . 2. Russia 266 £428,740,103 . 3. UAE 198 £319,738,382 . 4. US 167 £268,870,912 . 5=. Singapore 135 £218,003,442 . 5=. France 135 £218,003,442 . 7. India 126 £203,469,879 . 8=. Hong Kong 104 £167,135,972 . 8=. Italy 104 £167,135,972 . 10. China 90 £145,335,628 . Other 1,002 £1,613,225,470 . Total 4,510 £7,266,781,399 . Aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC), which partly based its analysis on Land Registry data, believes that the large number of foreign buyers of prime property in London has contributed to an increase in business flights to some of the region's main business airports. Sean McGeough, HBC president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: 'As one of the most desirable cities in the world, it's no surprise that London's property market is attracting a large number of overseas buyers. 'Given that many of these individuals lead busy lives and often travel a huge amount, this helps explain the rise in flights to London's business airports.' HBC found that the number of business flights to Biggin Hill, London City and Farnborough increased by 46 per cent, 38 per cent and 34 per cent respectively between January and September.", "The two American doctors battling the Ebola virus are entering a ‘critical’ phase of their treatment, the head of the charity which sent them to Liberia has revealed. Bruce Johnson, President of SIM USA, told MailOnline that within the next few days we will know if Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol are likely to survive. He said that Ebola could turn for the worse within hours and that both the patients may soon begin to show signs of internal bleeding which could be fatal. Scroll down for video . Waiting for an answer: Nancy Writebol, pictured with her husband David, is entering a critical stage of her Ebola treatment and will either show signs of recovery or inevitable death . Mr Johnson also warned that unless the international community does more to stop what has become the most serious outbreak of Ebola in history then it will spark a ‘tsunami of destruction’ in Africa - and maybe beyond. Last week Dr Brantly, 33, from Forth Worth, Texas, was identified as the first American to be diagnosed with Ebola, which kills up to 90 per cent of those it infects. Mrs Writebol, 60, an educator turned missionary from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the second. The condition update will be agonising for both their families - not least Dr Brantly’s wife Amber who is in the US with their two young children. Dr Brantly and Mrs Writebol were in Liberia with SIM USA and Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian aid charity. Dr Brantly was treating the sick whilst Mrs Writebol was disinfecting medics as they left isolation wards. Hoping to survive: Dr. Kent Brantly is fighting Ebola to the best of his ability and will know whether or not he'll live sometime in the next few days . Mr Johnson told MailOnline that both were being treated in isolation private houses at the SIM compound near the Liberian capital Monrovia. Mrs Writebol was still in her home and her husband David has had to move out. Mr Johnson said he spoke to Dr Brantly on Monday and that he ‘wasn’t as good as he had been’. He said: ‘The situation is so fluid. One day it’s up, one day it’s down. He was up working on his computer, talking with people this is not a bed ridden situation. ‘He is moving, he is active. He is interactive and we are pleased with that’. Mrs Writebol is suffering from diarrhea but is talking and in touch with family via her computer on Skype and via email. Mr Johnson said: ‘Her husband David seems strong. He is handling this with faith but he is also realistic with Nancy and Kent. ‘This is not a light situation. This is a very serious situation but we are encouraged by how they are doing so far. ‘The next few days are critical in assessing the recovery of both of them’. Days may be numbered: If the doctors reach stage two of the disease blood pours out of their ears and nose and turns their eyes from white to red . SIM spokesman Palmer Holt said that the coming days are so important because symptoms would start to show that would indicate that the disease had entered its second, more serious phase. The first stage is characterised by fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, a rash and diarrhea. The second however is haemorrhagic fever in which patients endure difficulty breathing and swallowing and agonising bleeding inside their body. Blood pours out of their ears and nose and turns their eyes from white to red. They die an agonising death. Generally patients who enter the second stage do not survive. Mr Johnson said that SIM USA had not yet identified how Dr Brantly and Mrs Writebol had become infected but said that they take ‘extreme safety measures’ and follow guidelines from the Centre For Disease Control. He said: ‘Our hearts just break for them’. So far more than 600 people have been killed in the outbreak across West Africa that has infected more than 1,200. Liberia has closed its borders to help stop the disease amid fears that it could spread after a patient suffering from Ebola took a flight to Lagos in Nigeria. Mr Johnson said: ‘What we have here really is the potential for this to become a tsunami of destruction for the country of Liberia and that why we are calling on the international community to now respond. ‘It’s grown to such proportions that it’s overwhelming Samaritan's Purse and SIM and it needs others like the US to help. ‘It’s like a wildfire in the Western US. It’s like what happens to a small fire that continues to grow and no-one is trying to put it out. ‘This is preventable but right now SIM is the only care center for Ebola patients in Liberia and that has to change’.", "A second American aid worker in Liberia has tested positive for Ebola, according to the Christian humanitarian group she works for. Nancy Writebol is employed by Serving in Mission, or SIM, in Liberia and was helping the joint SIM/Samaritan's Purse team that is treating Ebola patients in Monrovia, according to a Samaritan's Purse statement. Writebol, who serves as SIM's personnel coordinator, has been living in Monrovia with her husband, David, according to SIM's website. The Charlotte, North Carolina, residents have been in Liberia since August 2013, according to the blog Writebols2Liberia. They have two adult children. On Saturday, Samaritan's Purse announced that American doctor Kent Brantly had become infected. The 33-year-old former Indianapolis resident had been treating Ebola patients in Monrovia and started feeling ill, spokeswoman Melissa Strickland said. Once he started noticing the symptoms last week, Brantly isolated himself. Brantly, the medical director for Samaritan Purse's Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center in Monrovia, has been in the country since October, Strickland said. \"When the Ebola outbreak hit, he took on responsibilities with our Ebola direct clinical treatment response, but he was serving in a missionary hospital in Liberia prior to his work with Ebola patients,\" she said. Deadliest Ebola outbreak . Health officials say the Ebola outbreak, centered in West Africa, is the deadliest ever. As of July 20, some 1,093 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are thought to have been infected by Ebola since its symptoms were first observed four months ago, according to the World Health Organization. Testing confirmed the Ebola virus in 786 of those cases; 442 of those people died. Of the 1,093 confirmed, probable and suspected cases, 660 people have died. There also are fears the virus could spread to Africa's most populous country, Nigeria. Last week, a Liberian man hospitalized with Ebola in Lagos died, Nigerian Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said. Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, has a population of more than 20 million. The man arrived at Lagos airport on July 20 and was isolated in a local hospital after showing symptoms associated with the virus. He told officials he had no direct contact with anyone with the virus nor had he attended the burial of anyone who died of Ebola. Another doctor infected . Confirmation of the death in Lagos came after news that a doctor who has played a key role in fighting the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone is infected with the disease, according to that country's Ministry of Health. Dr. Sheik Humarr Khan is being treated by the French aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres -- also known as Doctors Without Borders -- in Kailahun, Sierra Leone, agency spokesman Tim Shenk said. Before falling ill, Khan had been overseeing Ebola treatment and isolation units at Kenema Government Hospital, about 185 miles east of the capital, Freetown. Ebola typically kills 90% of those infected, but the death rate in this outbreak has dropped to roughly 60% because of early treatment. What is Ebola, and why does it kill? Spread by bodily fluids . Officials believe the Ebola outbreak has taken such a strong hold in West Africa because of the proximity of the jungle -- where the virus originated -- to Conakry, Guinea, which has a population of 2 million. Because symptoms don't immediately appear, the virus can easily spread as people travel around the region. Once infected with the virus, many people die in an average of 10 days as the blood fails to clot and hemorrhaging occurs. The disease isn't contagious until symptoms appear. Symptoms include fever, headache and fatigue. At that point, the Ebola virus is spread via bodily fluids. Get the fast facts on Ebola . Health workers are at especially high risk, because they are in close contact with infected people and their bodily fluids. Adding to the danger, doctors may mistake the initial stages of an Ebola infection for another, milder illness. Deadliest outbreak ever: What you need to know . Is it time to text experimental vaccines? Why the epidemic is spinning out of control . I survived Ebola .", "Joromie Lewis (pictured) died after taking a mouthful of pear drink shipped from the Caribbean which contained lethal levels of cocaine, an inquest heard . A Royal Navy veteran died after drinking a mouthful from a pear drink shipped from the Caribbean which contained cocaine in a concentration at least 20 times the lethal level, an inquest has heard. Joromie Lewis, 33, of Gosport, Hampshire, became ill after trying the drink which he spat out because of its bitter taste. Mr Lewis, who was working at a food import company, consumed the drink in Southampton on December 5 last year and died that night at Southampton General Hospital. The inquest jury heard how tests showed that the drink, called Pear D - imported by his employer Kelly's Shipping UK Ltd on behalf of a client - contained an 'overwhelmingly high' concentration of cocaine. Graham Short, coroner for Central Hampshire, said: 'Joromie worked for a company which imported food and drink from the Caribbean and distributed them in this country. He was a driver and general assistant working mainly on a part-time basis. 'On December 5 2013, Joromie drank from a bottle at his employer's garage where he was unpacking a delivery of drinks. The bottle was labelled Pear D, a form of pear cordial not normally available in this country. 'He took only one mouthful and he felt it tasted bitter and spat it out. 'After this he started to feel unwell and he was taken to hospital by his friends. He died later the same day at Southampton General Hospital. 'Tests of the contents of the bottle showed it had a very high concentration of the drug cocaine in solution.' Basil Purdue, a Home Office pathologist, said he had been informed that Mr Lewis consumed the drink at the home of his employer and fell ill immediately. He said the bottle was part of a consignment of 90 cases imported from the island of St Vincent but the bottle had tested for dissolved cocaine - a smuggling method for the drug. He said Mr Lewis was a healthy man whose only medical issue had been a problem with his back which had led to him receiving a medical discharge from the Navy in 2012. Dr Purdue said: 'Joromie had inadvertently taken a swig and no more than that from one of the bottles.' He said Mr Lewis was obviously ill as he began to shake and collapse and was rushed to hospital by his friends. Stating that the cause of death was cocaine intoxication, Dr Purdue said toxicology tests showed that Mr Lewis had a 'very high' cocaine level of 21.3mg per litre of blood, with a fatal level being as low as 1mg. The drink would have contained 1g of cocaine in 3ml of liquid. He compared the level to that of a drug smuggler who died after four cocaine packages burst in his stomach, leaving him with a level of 4mg/l. Joromie Lewis, 33, of Gosport, Hampshire, became ill after trying the drink which he spat out because of its bitter taste . Dr Purdue said that as a 'naive user' - someone who was not a cocaine user - the drug would have had a greater effect, and added: 'We are dealing with an overwhelming overdose of the drug.' He added that one of Mr Lewis's colleagues put some of the liquid on his tongue and it caused it to go numb for three hours. Juanette Allen, company secretary of Kelly's Shipping UK Ltd, said the firm imported drinks from the Caribbean at the request of customers. She said: 'In this case we didn't source the drink, we just facilitated the process of bringing it from St Vincent to the UK.' She explained that the van-load of drinks arrived at Portsmouth docks on November 24 and, once duties had been paid, Mr Lewis collected it two days later and took it to the garage at Ms Allen's home in Southampton where the company is based. She said the company had not ordered any Pear D drink and she had not come across the brand before. She told the hearing at Winchester Coroner's Court that the client paid £750 for the consignment. Ms Allen said: 'I was familiar with a drink called Pear Drops and I assumed it was linked to this drink.' She said Mr Lewis arrived at her home at about 6.30pm with a colleague, Carlos Deabreu, with a van of items collected for export. She said he picked up a bottle to drink, which he was allowed to do, and she saw him in the kitchen drinking a mouthful from it. She said: 'When he had a sip of it he said it didn't taste right. I am not sure if he swallowed because he went out to the sink, I do not know how much he swallowed. 'He was trying to get it all out, trying to make himself sick. I asked him when he said it didn't taste right, I asked him if he broke the seal on the bottle, he said yes.' She said he complained of the bitter taste from the drink which he pointed out was not carbonated as it should have been and asked for some sugar to get rid of the taste. She told the hearing Mr Lewis had said he wanted to get the contents of the bottle tested at a hospital and he left with her partner, Phillon Kelly, and Mr Deabreu before he began showing physical problems. Ms Allen said she heard Mr Lewis say to Mr Kelly: 'Do not let those people use you.' She said: 'He was probably thinking this bottle that he had a drink from probably had come from the customer and they knew exactly what was in the bottle and the company was using the company to get them.' She added: 'Probably we were a bit naive, it's not something we thought someone would try to do to us. 'Since this incident we have not imported any drinks, not for the customer, not for ourselves. We have taken the decision that any drink we have to source ourselves.' Ms Allen said she had known Mr Lewis, who was paid £10-an-hour for his work, since they had both lived in St Vincent and they had joined the Navy at the same time. Carole Willis of Hampshire Scientific Services said an examination showed the bottle contained 189g of cocaine. Detective Sergeant Glyn White, of Hampshire Police, said Mr Lewis was taken to Royal South Hants Hospital by Mr Deabreu but because it did not have an accident and emergency department he was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital. He said: 'Carlos steps around the vehicle to open the door for Joromie who by this stage already appears to be beginning to fit. He's not able to exit the vehicle and collapses.' Det Sgt White said that once the danger of the drink had been established, the Food Standards Agency issued an alert to local authorities to check for bottles which might have reached shops in the UK. The jury heard that the pear fruit drink containing deadly levels of cocaine had a street value of up to £50,000. He said the rest of the consignment was not recovered, including other bottles of Pear D imported at the same time, and he believed that someone slipped the contaminated bottle into the crates being exported. He said the customer, a Samantha McDadi, was investigated but not traced, with her telephone number and email address no longer in use, and he added that he did not believe this was a genuine identity. The inquest continues.", "Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler squirrelled away a massive fortune using cash he had 'earned' from his image rights and personal appearances as well as his refusal to pay £1.75 million in income tax. The Fuhrer even levied a royalty on German stamps featuring his image, with the cash hidden in his secret bank accounts. The mystery surrounds a secret will discovered by Herman Rothman, a German Jew who operated with British intelligence during the Second World War. Adolf Hitler, pictured charged fees for personal appearances and even received a royalty from his image being used on stamps . Mr Rothman, who is now in his 90s, has told on television for the first time how he discovered Hitler's secret will which left intriguing clues to his secret wealth. The former intelligence officer provided a fascinating insight to documentary makers behind Channel 5's The Hunt For Hitler's Missing Millions. After Hitler's suicide in his Berlin's bunker in 1945, Mr Rothman's Counter Intelligence Unit spotted a man dressed in civilian clothes they believed was an on-the-run Nazis. One of Mr Rothman's colleagues, who was a tailor in civilian life, spotted the unusual cut of the man's jacket - which contained a seven-page document containing Hitler's last will and testament. Free copies of his book, Mein Kampf, pictured, were given to newly-wed couples although Hitler received a royalty for each copy printed . According to Mr Rothman: 'We were absolutely shocked by what we found.' Mr Rothman was able to instantly translate the document, which was written shortly before Hitler shot himself on April 29, 1945. The first section was an rant against the Jews blaming them for starting the conflict. The second section was an attempt by the doomed dictator to hide the extent of his wealth. According to the documentary makers: 'What emerges is a picture of a smart property and art investor, a shrewd manager of cash with a love of money. 'Hitler’s actual tax records survive and suggest that he was a \"cash-in-hand\" businessman and a serial tax evader. He owed the German taxman a small fortune when he became supreme leader in 1933. 'Hitler had other ingenious ways of making money. The film reveals how he and his various businessadvisers and managers managed to copyright and sell his image rights and how he trained himself tomake public appearances and speeches, for which he took payment.' The documentary claims that Hitler was shrewd investor who was able to hide his fortune which could be worth more than £1 billion in today's money . One contributor to the documentary said that relatives of Hitler could even claim a portion of those missing billions or earn a continuing wage from the Nazi's image rights. Another contributor Dr Cris Whetton tells the programme: 'He felt paying taxes was beneath him.' Dr Whetton, who has written a book on Hitler's finances, believes he was worth in the region of 1.1 billion Reichsmarks - a staggering £3.6 billion in today's money. Dr Whetton said much of Hitler's wealth was due to the state giving a free copy of his book Mein Kampf to couples on their wedding day, with a royalty being paid into the Fuhrer's personal coffers. Dr Whetton added: 'He loved money. He just wasn't prepared to pay for it.' * The Hunt For Hitler's Missing Millions. Channel 5, Friday 8pm.", "By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 10:28 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:28 EST, 9 October 2012 . 'Despicable': Kizzy Fawcett, 35, stole money from the vulnerable people she was . supposed to be caring for . A home help stole thousands of pounds from elderly people with memory problems because they would not remember her taking them to the bank to withdraw cash. Kizzy Fawcett, 35, has been described as 'despicable' for stealing money from the vulnerable people she was supposed to be caring for. Her victims, who are all in their 70s, say she has just been given a slap on the wrist after she was spared jail. Detective Constable Rebecca Handley says steps have been taken to ensure Fawcett is no longer allowed access to the elderly through her work. DC Handley said: 'She targeted elderly victims who had placed their trust in her and she betrayed that trust. 'The victims feel she has just been given a slap on the wrists for what she did. 'For a carer, it was despicable conduct. 'We have contacted the Safeguarding Adults Board to prevent her from working as a carer again to protect the elderly.' Hull Crown Court heard mother- of-three Fawcett worked for Independent Home Living in Beverley and was sent to the homes of dementia sufferers as a home help. Despite leaving her job at the firm, she continued to care for her victims and was employed privately. Over two years, she stole expensive jewellery and more than £12,000 in cash. Thefts included Rolex watches, a Cameo brooch and an antique watch fob amounting to £6,000. Fawcett, from Hull, stole cash from one woman’s purse and took some of her victims to the bank to withdraw cash, knowing they would not remember. The money was spent on phone top-up cards and takeaways. Court: Fawcett, from Hull, stole cash from one . woman’s purse and took some of her victims to the bank to withdraw cash, . knowing they would not remember, Hull Crown Court (pictured) heard . Prosecutor Nigel Clive said: 'All the victims were elderly and some were suffering from dementia. She admitted targeting such people because of their poor memory.' Fawcett was caught when Lockings Solicitors was given power of attorney over one woman’s affairs. They discovered large sums had been withdrawn from her account. When they investigated further and contacted the bank, Fawcett was seen on CCTV taking the victim to the bank to withdraw funds amounting to more than £6,000 from her account. Mr Clive said: 'Fawcett told the police she went with the complainant because she knew the woman would never remember going to the bank. 'The money was used to pay for the defendant’s credit card, council tax, takeaways and mobile phone. 'She said she used the money to live on.' Fawcett stole £150 from the purse of another woman and £375 which had been given to her to purchase a trophy for a junior football team. When she was arrested, detectives also found cannabis and amphetamines at her home. She pleaded guilty to 11 thefts and asked the judge to take a further 18 offences of theft into consideration. Recorder Tony Hawks has sentenced her to a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered her to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work in the community. He said: 'As a carer, either employed by a company or on your own briefly, you abused the trust of vulnerable people and you stole money and other valuable items from them. 'These were despicable offences because these were people who were vulnerable and reaching the end of their lives. 'They were people who were obliged to trust people like you and rely upon them not to defraud or steal from them and you betrayed that trust.' Recorder Hawks said Fawcett had started abusing drugs. He said: 'What you were doing that for when you have three young children to care for, I don’t know. 'It is the debt you got into that made you behave in this way. 'You have brought disgrace on yourself and your family.' Recorder Hawks said many people would say Fawcett deserved to go to prison for her crimes. He said: 'What saves you from immediate prison is the fact you had the good sense to plead guilty and you didn’t seek to put the blame on others. 'If I send you to prison, your three children will be deprived of their mother and they haven’t done anything wrong and a prison sentence will visit a punishment on them which they do not deserve. 'If you commit any further offences in the next two years you will be brought back to court and the court will consider locking you up.' Fawcett, who has no previous convictions, was not ordered to pay any compensation to her victims.", "This is the shocking moment a callous teenage carer was caught on camera stealing from a vulnerable pensioner's purse. Sheryvone Brooks was filmed reaching into a kitchen drawer at 85-year-old Evelyn Nicholson's house in Stourbridge, Dudley. The 19-year-old's actions were caught on a camera installed by Mrs Nicholson's family who had noticed money going missing from the elderly woman's home. Sheryvone Brooks was filmed taking £30 out of Mrs Nicholson's purse after the elderly woman's family installed a camera when they noticed money going missing from her home . Mrs Nicholson was said to be 'devastated' by the theft and would have given the teenager money if she had asked her for it, her son said . Brooks, who worked for Gateway Health and Social Care Dudley, was found guilty of theft at Wolverhampton Crown Court. In the video, the teenager is seen sitting in a chair in Mrs Nicholson's kitchen talking to another carer. She is filmed opening the drawer then looking around the room to see if anyone is watching her. The teenager then stood up, covering the brown leather purse with her body while she took out £30. The teenager then stuffed the money into the pocket of her hooded sweatshirt before returning the purse to the drawer . She stuffed the cash in her pocket before returning the purse to the drawer. Mrs Nicholson's family said she had been left 'devastated' by the theft, and that she would have given money to the teenager had she asked for it. The teenager (seen leaving court) was fired from her job . Speaking after the case, the 85-year-old's son, Robert Smith told the Express and Star: 'She was devastated and it has affected her health. 'It's absolutely disgusting. It had happened a couple of times before at the end of last year, so I set up the camera on New Year's Day,' said Robert Smith, Mrs Nicholson's son. 'I knew that we would catch the person but the video is still shocking. 'You are supposed to put your trust in carers but then one does something like this, and it destroys that trust. 'I hope she gets a severe sentence for what she has done. In total I think she took something close to £200 over three occasions. 'The video was taken first thing in the morning while the other carer was getting my mum out of bed.' The court heard how Brooks said she needed the money to pay for Christmas presents when she committed the theft on January 6. She has since repaid the money, describing the incident as 'stupid and opportunistic'. Timothy Talbot-Webb, defending, said: 'She knew it was wrong.' While the sum of money stolen was 'minor', magistrates referred the case to crown court because of the breach of trust involved. Brooks, who has been fired from Gateway Heath and Social Care, will be sentenced next month.", "Hall hath no fury like a woman scorned, as Katie Price and former Big Brother contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace recently proved. Over the past few days Katie and Aisleyne have unleashed a torrent of anger on social media towards the other women involved in their relationship woes. Katie's husband Kieran Hayler cheated on the mother-of-five with two friends last year and Aisleyne's romance with David McIntosh ended in tears when he reconciled with his ex Kelly Brook. Scroll down for video . Both Katie Price, left, with husband Kieran Hayler, and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, right, with David McIntosh, have used their social media accounts to take aim at the other women involved in their relationship woes . Kati Price took to Twitter on New Year's Eve to wish her former friends Chrissy Thomas and Jane Pountney 's**t lives' and label them 'w****s' after they slept with Kieran but she ended 'Pricey is back' Katie let fly yesterday with a series of messages on Twitter in which she expressed her wish that her former friends would have a 'sh*t life forever'. Meanwhile, Aisleyne posted a picture on her Instagram account captioned, 'I don't take back, unlike \"some\" women', which is thought to be a thinly-veiled dig at model Kelly. But it seems Katie and Aisleyne are not alone in turning their anger on the other women, rather than directing their anger at the men who caused them so much pain. When David McIntosh's ex-girlfriend Sarah Harper gave an interview in which she said she and David had 'hooked up' while he was engaged to Kelly, Sarah alleged that Kelly sent her a series of unpleasant texts. Similarly when former TOWIE hunk Mark Wright cheated on Lauren Goodger with Sam Faiers during the first season of the Essex-based reality show in 2010, both women flung abuse at each other on camera. Meanwhile in the US, The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills star Brandi Glanville’s former husband Eddie Cibrian left her for LeAnn Rimes. Brandi could not contain her vitriol for the country singer even admitting that at one point she thought she was going to ‘kill’ LeAnn for stealing the father of her two children. Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace posted this image to her Twitter account with the caption: 'Like SERIOUSLY??? Don't waste ur time darling... I don't take back, unlike \"some\" women' thought to be aimed at Kelly Brook . Aisleyne has been showing off her figure in a series of pictures on Twitter since her split from David McIntosh . So why is it that when a partner cheats or ditches us for someone else so many females blame the ‘other woman'? Relationship expert Laura Yates says that it is a relatively common way of coping with a partner's betrayal. She said: ‘Sometimes, when women desperately want to make things work with their partner and take them back after an episode of cheating, the way of coping and dealing with it can be to blame the other woman or women involved. 'My baaaay baaaay!' LeAnn Rimes recently posted this happy snap alongside her husband Eddie Cibrian, left . ‘In their minds it helps them to try and justify the cheating when in reality, both people involved in the cheating are equally at fault - and particularly the one already in a committed relationship. ‘You can't forgive and take someone back yet still blame the other women. This isn't congruent with moving forwards. ‘I think when it comes to moving on from cheating, if you do take the person back, you have to fully commit to moving forwards and that means not bringing up the cheating every time an argument arises. ‘That can be tough and so you really need to take a period of time to consider whether you can take them back and genuinely learn to forget the cheating and trust them or if it's more out of desperation not to lose them. ‘The latter means you will likely live the relationship in constant anxiety, which isn't healthy.’ Brandi Granville has expressed her anger at LeAnn Rimes for ending her marriage to Eddie Cibrian . Psychologist Dr Arthur Cassidy explained that often women feel, or want to feel, that their man has been manipulated by another other woman. ‘When the man cheats it is interpreted as being inspired, encouraged and manipulated by the other woman.' He said the wronged partner can see the 'the other woman' as a 'threat to their self-worth, self-esteem and to their personal identity. ‘But they still want to blame them as it becomes part of a coping strategy. They can attribute their pain and low self-esteem to something that is outside of the relationship they're trying to fix.' Laura Yates said ending a relationship can sometimes be the only way to recover from a partner's betrayal. ‘The anger and bitterness you experience when you have being wronged by someone you love is natural and feeling that is all part of the healing process. ‘But use that anger to fuel you in a positive way as opposed to dwelling on it and allowing it to completely consume you. ‘You will soon realise that your life is far better without someone who cheats on you and that you are worth more. ‘The anger will start to fade. Be kind and good to yourself and take things slowly. Don't let the cheating experience define you.'", "By . Alexandra Klausner . A Florida resident who called 911 to report a violent home invasion on was directed to voice mail when a dispatcher tried to transfer the call from the fire department to law enforcement. Unable to get a hold of police on time, the homeowner at Gwain Road in Port Richey in Pasco County grabbed a gun and shot one of the intruders who were apparently after cash and prescription pills. WTSP reports that Joseph Rich, and brothers Michael Reverdes and Steven Reverdes are now in custody after police finally arrived on the scene. Steven Reverdes was shot in the back by the homeowner. SCROLL DOWN FOR RECORDING . Joseph Rich, 31, allegedly entered a home on Wednesday to steal cash and prescription pills . Michael Reverdes, 31, was another one of the alleged intruders in Pasco County on Wednesday . Steven Reverdes, 33, was shot in the back by a homeowner when he allegedly broke in to steal cash and pills . 'Hang up and call 911,' can be heard on this chilling recording of a homeowner calling the police for help when they are in danger. The family screams in the background telling the robbers to leave the premises. Apparently the phone was transferred to voice mail after the dispatcher tried moving the call from the fire department to law enforcement. 'somebody just came into my house, four people just came into my house, they beat the s**** out of me and my wife and my stepmother, then they robbed us, ' said the homeowner. Police say that the suspects broke in the home in the middle of the night and fired shots at the homeowners, just inches away from a sleeping baby. 'The male inside said, I have a gun and will use it - the gun battle begins. They pistol-whipped the female and took a weapon and pointed it to the child and said they would kill the child if they don't get what they want,' said Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco. Fox reports that the county released a timeline showing that officers where dispatched almost 4 minutes after the call but they said that this did nothing to slow their response time. They said that they will take measures in their own hands to make sure nothing like this ever happens again but they didn't elaborate on those plans. They said that this attack was a targeted one and that residents should not be concerned for their safety. Three of the four robbers have been captured, including the man who was shot. 'I'm at a loss for words, had to protect my family,' the homeowner said about the incident. The Mail Online contacted the Pasco County Police Department but no one was available for comment. Intruders allegedly broke into this home on Gwain Road in Port Richey in Pasco County on Wednesday .", "Norman Baker, the new Home Office Minister who believes MI5 covered up the murder of Dr David Kelly, will not be granted access to classified documents on counter-terrorism issues. The Home Office told spy chiefs the Liberal Democrat conspiracy theorist will not learn their secrets, security sources said. Whitehall officials say ministers are given security clearance on a ‘need-to-know basis’ and Mr Baker’s brief, dubbed ‘drugs and drunks’, will mean he is frozen out of security issues. Closed book: Lib Dem conspiracy theorist Norman Baker, left, will not learn MI5 secrets. His appointment is said to have angered Home Secretary Theresa May, right . Home Secretary Theresa May was said to be ‘spitting tacks’ over Mr Baker’s appointment in Monday’s reshuffle. Yesterday he made it clear he will try to force through a more ‘liberal’ drugs policy than pre-decessor Jeremy Browne – which could include pressing for the decriminalisation of cannabis. The maverick minister wrote a book in 2007 claiming weapons inspector Dr Kelly was murdered by an Iraqi hit squad, while the security services hushed it up. He has also claimed the death of former foreign secretary Robin Cook was suspicious. Insiders stressed that only the Home Secretary sees top secret files and authorises surveillance missions. In her absence, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers would step in. Mr Baker yesterday insisted that he has ‘closed the door’ on his obsession with Dr Kelly. He said: ‘The work was published in 2007. I then closed the door and moved on to other things.’ But he admitted submitting Freedom of Information requests about Dr Kelly as recently as 2010. Mr Baker added: ‘I entirely respect the work of MI5 and the security services.’ Morning after: Mrs May arrived at Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting yesterday, still reeling from the news of her new Lib Dem colleague . Fired: Jeremy Browne, a leading voice on the right of the Lib Dems, was sacked as Home Office minister to make way for Mr Baker . Jeremy . Browne, one of the leading figures on the Liberal Democrat right, was sacked to make way for former transport minister Mr Baker. Though he is widely seen to have been . a hardworking and successful rail minister, senior Government sources . expressed astonishment that Mr Baker had been promoted to a position in . which he will be expected to work closely with the security services, . having expressed such views. Mrs . May is understood not to have been given any forewarning of his . appointment. One official said it was ‘incredible’ that the Prime . Minister had given it the green light and suggested the Home Secretary . would freeze him out of key meetings. Though Mr Clegg is in charge of Lib Dem appointments to government, they all have to be signed off by Mr Cameron. Mr Baker insisted he had moved on from his murder claims and could now work with the security services in his new job. He . told BBC Radio 4's World at One yesterday: 'The book was written, I did the work . on it, I investigated as, dare I say, an investigative journalist would . do, the work was published in 2007, I then closed the door and moved on . to other things. 'I want to . concentrate on my job, which is cutting crime and the Government’s . great success on that when we got crime down by 10 per cent, dealing . with issues where people are particularly vulnerable, such as women . subject to domestic violence, children subject to sexual exploitation, . tackling forced marriages, that’s what I’m concentrating on now.' He . denied a split with his new boss: 'I had a very friendly chat with . Theresa last night. No, if she was [angry] I didn’t notice it. Theresa . and I come from different places but we work together, we work . together.'", "A newly-renovated mansion in London's most expensive street could be worth an incredible £200million, estate agents say. The 13-bedroom grade II*-listed house in Kensington Palace Gardens, west London, has been improved to a 'mind-boggling' standard by Britain’s second-richest man, Russian-born tycoon Leonard Blavatnik. The Warner Music Group owner has a 25-metre swimming pool, divided between indoor and outdoor sections, which property experts said is probably unique in central London. The basement has a hot tub, gym, massage . room, cinema and wine cellar. The property is protected by armoured glass and it has a 'multi-storey' underground car park . served by a car lift with room for five vehicles. Luxury: 15 Kensington Palace Gardens, the 200million plus refurbished home next to Kensington Palace . Before renovation: The property when it was bought by Leonard Blavatnik for £35million . Warner Music Group owner Len Blavatnik and wife Emily (left) and with singer Katherine Jenkins . Mr Blavatniks paid £41million for 15 (pictured here) and 15b Kensington Palace Gardens in 2004, reportedly outbidding Roman Abramovich and Lakshmi Mittal . According to property experts, the . modernisation means it could be worth as much as £7,000 per sq ft if it . were to come on the market. That would eclipse the Candy Brothers' stunning £6,000 per sq ft apartment block One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge. However, last week it was revealed an end of terrace home in London is . set to become the most expensive property ever sold in the UK after it . went on the market for £250million. The . six-storey Grade I listed Regency mansion is a stone's throw from . Buckingham Palace and boasts 50,000 sq ft of living space, making it one . of the capital’s largest private homes. Last autumn, a huge house at Rutland Gate overlooking Hyde Park was put on sale for £300million, although its price was slashed when it failed to find a buyer. Around the same time, 1 Cornwall Terrace, opposite Regent's Park, was advertised for £100million, which estate agents said was the highest price ever asked for a terraced house. An artist's impression from a property brochure of 15 Kensington Palace Gardens . Unique: The artists impression of the swimming pool at the property which is believed to be the only indoor/outdoor private pool in central London . Kensington Palace Gardens is one of Britain's most exclusive addresses, dubbed 'billionaire's row' Mr Blavatnik is close to completing his two-year project on the 27,000 sq ft Kensington Italianate villa just a stone's throw from the Embassy of the Russian Federation Residence. Giles . Hannah, managing director of Mayfair based VanHan, told the Evening . Standard: 'It is one of the best on the street, with a particularly . large garden and fantastic views overlooking the lawns of Kensington . Palace, where the Duchess of Cambridge will be pushing her pram. 'He’s doing it to a phenomenal standard. It has vast ceiling heights. All the windows have armoured glass.' Eclipsed: The Candy Brothers' £6,000-per-sq-ft apartment block One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge . On sale: This house in St James's has apparently gone on the market with an asking price of £250million . The . basement has a hot tub, gym, massage room, cinema and wine cellar. A . 'multi-storey' underground car park is served by a car lift with room . for five vehicles. Mr Blavatniks’ wealth has been estimated at  £11billion in the Sunday Times Rich List. He paid £41million for 15 and 15b Kensington Palace Gardens in 2004, reportedly outbidding Roman Abramovich and Lakshmi Mittal. Born Leonid Valentinovich Blavatnik in 1957 in the Soviet Union, he . arrived penniless in the U.S. with his parents at the age of 21 but . immediately took to American entrepreneurial capitalism. After studying . computer science at Columbia University in New York and attending . Harvard Business School, he made an early fortune buying and selling . apartments in Manhattan. In May 2011 he bought Warner Music Group, in a $3.3billion all-cash buyout of the world’s third-largest music company, whose artists include Green Day, Metallica and Bruno Mars. In February, he bought Parlophone Records, the once legendary record label, for £500 million. Parlophone has the likes of Coldplay, Tinie Tempah and Blur on its roster and Blavatnik’s purchase makes him an even stronger power in the music game. He has all of Parlophone and other EMI assets that were put up for sale by Universal after they’d taken over the company. The house, which cost £10,000 to . build in the mid 1850s, served as the Iraqi ambassador’s residence until . 1989, before becoming an annex of the Russian embassy that reputedly . housed intelligence officers. Mr Blavatnik, now a U.S. citizen, has rented 15a over the road while the work has been carried out by French-owned contractors Bouygues UK. It is restoring the main house and turning the garages of the former stable block known as Cope House into a two bedroom 'security post' as, according to planning documents, '24 hour surveillance is needed.' With completion still  several months away, the work has sent a buzz through the property sector. But  it is not yet clear whether Mr Blavatnik will try to find a buyer or simply keep the house as his London pad. One 'fixer' specialising in the top end of the market said: 'The word is that if someone wanted to make an offer at an attractive level, then it would probably be considered seriously. 'I haven’t heard a particular number, but if you price it out per square foot £200 million is about where other super-premium pro-perty prices would suggest it’d be.' Andrew Langton, chairman of Aylesford International who sold Mr Blavatnik the house, said the tycoon would be in no hurry to sell. He said: 'He's banked $8billion this year, he doesn't need to sell anything.'", "By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:41 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:05 EST, 13 December 2013 . His beloved X Factor format has suffered a ratings slide, despite bringing in new judges and tweaking the format. But things are looking up for Simon Cowell as finalists from the show are dominating the iTunes chart for the first time ever. Being the first year tracks from the talent show have been legible to chart, finalists Alex & Sierra have stormed to the top of the charts - alongside fellow finalist Jeff Gutt. Scroll down for video . Making Simon happy! X Factor contestants Alex & Sierra have reached number one on iTunes . The couple and singing duo have already seen their track Say Something beat Christina Aguilera. Now, their cover of Sara Bareilles' hit Gravity has reached number one on the pop charts. Thrilled to hear of the news, judge Simon took to Twitter to reveal his glee at the news - while singer Sara tweeted: 'Alex & Sierra SLAAAYEED Gravity on The X Factor. Wow. Wow. Beautiful.' 'Alex and Sierra are number 1 again on iTunes! Thanks to everyone who has bought it.' he tweeted. The . real-life couple, who brought judges Demi Lovato and Kelly Rowland to . tears with their performance, currently have FIVE tracks in the Top 50 . on iTunes and eight tracks in the Top 125. Last . week, their rendition of \"Say Something\" surpassed Christina Aguilera . and A Great Big World's current radio hit by creeping up to No. 1 - and . is now at No 2. Good news: Simon took to Twitter on Thursday to spread the word about Alex & Sierra . Something to smile about: Simon Cowell will be pleased that his acts can now chart in the US for the first time whilst still performing on The X Factor . Also popular: Country crossover Restless Road reached number 65 in the charts this week . While other acts from the doing well are Jeff Gutt with Hallelujah reaching number four on the charts - hot on the heels of Alex and Sierra - and his other track Demons reaching 45. Whilst Restless Road saw their track Wanted reach number 65. Making mention of the chart success on last night's Fox show, Cowell said afterwards: 'It's incredible. 'I've . always said this about these shows - it's not about winning a silly . trophy, it's about launching an artist. It's about a career outside of . it and that's what I'm most proud of. It does launch proper artists. 'We . have to trust our A&R abilities, that this show can find better . artists that anyone else. That's the future of the show.' And he mused: 'You always have a moment ... [with] certain contestants. I can remember having it with One Direction . and Leona Lewis. There's one song where you go, 'I can . see this working'.' Demi agrees that the couple could be the last ones standing, saying: 'I think Alex . & Sierra are going to take it. They are so talented, . it's insane. Even if they don't win, they are going to succeed.' Stars of the show: Alex & Sierra have already beaten the likes of Christina Aguilera in the charts . And while you may be hard pressed to remember the winners' names from the last two seasons, the talent show has provided a launch board for acts including season 2's Emblem 3 and Fifth Harmony, with the latter set to open for judge Demi on her next tour. Nothing compares, however, to the success of X Factor UK boyband One Direction - who have sold 32 million records worldwide and are the pop sensation of the decade. While Leona Lewis has sold 30 million records to date since winning the X Factor UK in 2006 and other acts including Little Mix and Cher Lloyd have been hits worldwide. With the future of the X Factor as yet unclear, Entertainment Weekly recently mused it may not be out of the realms of possibility for Fox to order a fourth season for 2014 - revealing the series would come back for a reduced number of episodes. The magazine said: 'We’re hearing Factor‘s fate is not yet sealed. In fact, sources say Fox and Factor producers have started renewal discussions on a potential fourth season,' adding:  'To network executives and advertisers, new shows are scary mystery boxes, while Factor is, for better or worse, a known quantity. Canceling X Factor means filling three additional hours next fall with scary mystery boxes.' Local versions of The X Factor are produced in more than 45 territories and the US version of The X Factor USA airs in over 205 countries. While artists discovered by The X Factor format have sold more than 150 million records worldwide, including 130 No 1’s, and 350 Top 10 records. Fox executives are set to make a decision on a pick-up for a fourth season by next month.", "These dramatic pictures show the aftermath of a brazen robbery in which the offenders used a stolen digger to smash their way into a Marks & Spencer store before stealing the cash machine. The thieves left a trail of destruction after removing the ATM from inside the store during the raid at Malvern Retail Park in Worcestershire. They ploughed the stolen JCB-style digger into the building - just yards from the front doors of the store – in the early hours of this morning. The offenders ploughed a stolen digger into the front of the Marks & Spencer store in Malvern, Worcestershire . The thieves used the mechanical arm of the digger to remove the ATM from the wall, leaving only rubble behind . They then made their escape in a second vehicle after ripping the cash machine from the wall using the mechanical arms of the digger to tear it free. West Mercia Police said officers had arrested one man on suspicion of theft following the raid but confirmed the force was still hunting other members of the gang. A force spokesman said: 'Officers were called at around 2am to reports of a break in at a Marks & Spencer store in Malvern. 'We believe they struck between 1.50am and 2.01am and they escaped with an ATM cash machine. 'The digger involved was reported stolen from Madresfield in Worcestershire between 4pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday. 'One man has been arrested on suspicion of theft but we believe others are involved. 'We are appealing for anybody who witnessed anything or saw any suspicious vehicles in the area to get in touch with us.' The dramatic pictures taken at the scene this morning show a gaping hole in the front wall and the red digger still parked in front of the shop but sealed off with police tape. A large hole could be seen at the front of the Marks & Spencer store this morning following the overnight raid . West Mercia Police confirmed officers had arrested one man on suspicion of theft following the incident . Rubble can also be seen on the pavement around the giant hole where the ATM once stood. Residents and workers from Malvern Retail Park expressed their shock at the raid in the market town. An Argos employee, who did not wish to be named, said: 'When we got here this morning police were everywhere. 'It takes some audacity to smash your way into a massive store like that and steal a cash machine. 'It's like something from a Hollywood movie.' Tina Katarro, 33, who lives nearby, said: 'I heard a noise in the middle of the night like a dull rumbling sound but I thought nothing of it until I heard sirens soon after. 'This is a nice quiet rural town and nothing like this happens here, we are all very shocked.' Marks & Spencer customer Ian Yates, 77, added: 'I come to the cafe each day for a nice muffin and I couldn't believe my eyes when I arrived and saw a huge hole in the wall.' Marks & Spencer was forced to close the retail park store today after the robbery left a gaping hole in the store . The thieves completely removed the ATM before abandoning the digger and fleeing the scene in a different car . Meanwhile, several people took to Twitter to share news of the unusual sight. @F13Kate wrote: 'Wow someone was determined to get some cash out last night from Malvern link weren't they!' And Will Hale added: 'Someone drove a digger to Marks and Spencer's in Malvern overnight. Pulled out the ATM. As you do. (sic)' The store was closed off to the public today while police investigated the theft. A Marks & Spencer spokesman said: 'Police were called following a cashpoint theft at the M&S Malvern store in the early hours of this morning. 'To ensure the safety of our customers and employees, the M&S Malvern store is currently closed whilst the police conduct their investigation and the damage is assessed.'", "LONDON, England (CNN) -- If Manchester United and Liverpool fans are expecting the arrival of superstar players ahead of the new season then they had better think again, as the cost of refinancing debt could significantly curb the club's spending power according to industry experts. Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks took over the club in February 2007 . Financial prudence will be the watchword for the majority of the English Premier League in the transfer market as clubs look to consolidate their financial position in a move that could see a shift of power in Europe to Spain's La Liga. United have received $130 million for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, but the Glazer family owners will not sanction anywhere near that amount for new players according to Professor Rogan Taylor at the University of Liverpool's Football Industry Group. The Americans' takeover of the Red Devils placed the club in $1,100m of debt, according to the holding companies' accounts of 2009; a situation that requires careful management. \"The refinancing at Manchester United is structured in a very complex way but ultimately the economic difficulties now mean that there will be a reduction in Alex Ferguson's transfer budget,\" he told CNN. \"Although some of the funds from the Ronaldo transfer will go back into the club's coffers there will be a tightening of the purse strings which will seriously impact on United's capacity to go after the top players. \"Certainly, Ferguson would have wanted a top-class replacement for Ronaldo but with the need to keep the debt in order and -- being unable to compete with Real Madrid and Manchester City -- the funds available and the pool of players from which they can sign is a lot smaller.\" Liverpool's situation is even more acute as American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, through their company Kop Holdings, struggle to secure the finances to fund the club's proposed new stadium. A deal to refinance their $570m Royal Bank of Scotland loan appears to have been secured, but the long-term sustainability of the idea used to purchase Liverpool is serious under question. Will Liverpool and Manchester United splash the cash in the transfer market despite the financial problems? Who would you like to see them sign? Let us know your comments in the 'Sound off' box below. Professor Taylor added: \"The whole model on which Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool is flawed and Rafael Benitez may have to sell Javier Mascherano or Xabi Alonso before he can go out and spend during the close season. \"Even then there is no certainty he will get the whole amount from the sale of either of those players back in the transfer kitty so it promises to be a difficult period for Liverpool as obviously expectation has been raised following last season's second-place finish. \"The need to refinance the debt remains key to the American owners remaining in control of the club so that will be their priority -- at the expense of matters on the pitch.\" Jon Keen deputy chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, and an expert in the field of club governance and ownership, admitted the situation at both clubs will stir up further resentment among fans towards their owners. \"The current refinancing situation in the top-flight is like a financial house cards which could come crashing down at any time,\" he told CNN. \"We have already seen a situation unravel with the banking system which has angered a lot of people and something similar could well happen with football in the near future. \"Ultimately fans want to see money raised from sales of players either put back into the transfer pot or levied against their own costs of attending matches, not simply servicing huge amounts of debt as is the case with Manchester United and Liverpool at the moment. \"There needs to be a reality check about the way these clubs are operating. Certainly, I think the current economic climate will drastically reduce the spending power of clubs in the Premier League with the exception perhaps of Manchester City.\" Of course, this contrasts with Spain's Real Madrid who have recently splashed almost $300m on Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema -- and are not finished yet if president Florentino Perez is to be believed. The construction magnate and his powerful board are able to wield influence with banks and allow Real to secure credit on favorable terms which, combined with a lucrative domestic television rights deal, puts them in a stronger financial position. Ultimately this appears to have precipitated a shift away from the English Premier League to La Liga for the world's best players as Spain becomes the preferred destination of choice. Whether Real can convert this into a challenge to the recent English domination of the UEFA Champions League on the pitch remains to be seen.", "Thug: Jai Falconer has been jailed for six years for beating up his mother Joyce, 69, over £20 . A thug addicted to drugs and alcohol broke his own mother's back because she refused to lend him £20. Jai Falconer has been jailed for six years for the brutal attack on his pensioner mother Joyce, 69, in his childhood home. A court heard the 40-year-old woke his mother up by banging on her door in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire at 7am on June 7. Falconer told his mother he was going to make himself breakfast before demanding to borrow £20. When she refused he punched her in the face before throwing her to the ground and took cash from her purse. Falconer then grabbed his mother by the throat and beat her with a plastic brush as she lay on the kitchen floor. The pensioner managed to struggle to the front door and alerted a neighbour who had already dialled 999 after hearing the disturbance. She was taken to hospital where it was confirmed she had a fractured vertebrae in her back. Yesterday Falconer admitted robbery and grievous bodily harm at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and Judge Paul Glenn jailed him for six years. He also made him subject to a restraining order, preventing him from contacting his mother and going within 100 yards of her home. Prosecutor Paul Farrow told the court Falconer, stole £60 and Mrs Falconer now wears a supportive brace and may need surgery on her back. He added: 'He looked around the fridge and said he was going to have toast, and wanted £10. Then straight away he said 'no, give me £20'. Shocking: Stoke Crown Court heard that Falconer beat his mother so viciously she broke her back before she crawled to the front door for help . 'She said she didn't have any money. He asked where her purse was in an aggressive tone. 'Using his right fist, he punched her on the right side of the head. This blow knocked her backwards and she said she'd had enough of this. 'He pushed past her and rushed upstairs. His mother followed him. He went to her bedroom, grabbed her handbag and took out her purse. 'He went back to the kitchen and emptied the contents on the table. 'Ms Falconer told him to give her purse back and finally said she had had enough and was phoning the police. 'The defendant reached towards his mother, telling her she wasn't. 'He grabbed her by the throat, causing her to fall backwards and onto the floor. 'She lay on the floor, curled up in a ball. The defendant then began to hit her with a plastic kitchen brush, at least five or six times, striking her all over her body.' Defending Falconer, Anis Ali said: 'It's clear that the catalyst of this offending appears to be his habitual use of illicit substances and alcohol. 'It was a sense of desperation that lead him to be in the situation he found himself. I don't condone what he did. It's a serious situation and unpleasant. 'He does express regret and understands what he did was wrong.'" ]

[ "Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation Thursday evening extending several key provisions of the Patriot Act shortly before they were set to expire at midnight. The provisions -- passed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack -- deal with roving wiretaps, the tracking of alleged \"lone wolf\" terrorists, and the ability of law enforcement officials to obtain records they deem relevant to an investigation after securing an order from a federal court. The bill passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate earlier in the day. Obama, currently on a trip to Europe, directed the use of an autopen -- a signature reproduction device -- to sign the measure, according to White House spokesman Nick Shapiro. The House was forced to briefly delay the start of its Memorial Day recess to vote on the measure. A protracted dispute over the legislation in the Senate, fueled by conservative newcomer Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, muddied voting schedules. Paul reached a deal with Senate leaders to allow votes on whether to table two of his amendments. Both amendments failed, and the subsequent Senate vote on the measure to extend the Patriot Act provisions for four years passed easily on a 72-23 vote. The 250-153 House vote was tighter, with lawmakers on the right and left opposing an extension for various reasons. For example, some members of Congress are concerned about the law's impact on civil liberties, while others support the law but think it should be made permanent. One of the three provisions, Section 206 of the Patriot Act, provides for roving wiretap surveillance of targets who try to thwart Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) surveillance. Without such roving wiretap authority, investigators would be forced to seek a new court order each time they need to change the location, phone or computer that needs to be monitored. Another provision, Section 215 of the Patriot Act, allows the FBI to apply to the FISA court to issue orders granting the government access to any tangible items in foreign intelligence, international terrorism and clandestine intelligence cases. The third provision, Section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, closes a loophole that could allow individual terrorists not affiliated with specific organizations to slip through the cracks of FISA surveillance. Law enforcement officials refer to it as the \"lone wolf\" provision. Legislators opposed to the extensions claim that the provisions -- particularly related to wiretapping -- are intrusive and unconstitutional. Supporters argue that they are a critical component of U.S. anti-terror operations. Paul, a favorite of the Tea Party movement, engaged in a bitter showdown Wednesday with Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nevada, who sought to limit the number of amendments that Paul could offer. Then on Thursday, Paul complained that it was Senate Republican leaders now holding up consideration of his amendments. In a rare public rebuke of his own party's leadership, Paul said he was \"disappointed\" by their actions and urged people to contact GOP leadership offices in protest. \"I've been working for two long days filibustering the Patriot Act in hopes that we can have a constitutional debate over certain provisions of it and we can try to reform it to take away some of the encroachments on our freedoms,\" Paul said. \"Unfortunately, what we're finding now is that the Democrats have agreed to allow me to have amendments, but my own party is refusing to allow me to debate or present my amendments.\" In particular, Paul sought to propose an amendment preventing warrantless access to some gun records. Republican leaders don't want a vote on his amendment because they are conflicted by it, Paul said. They don't want to vote to weaken the Patriot Act by making it more difficult for law enforcement to obtain any information -- including gun records -- related to a terrorism investigation, he said, but they also don't want to take a vote that could be viewed negatively by gun rights groups. One Senate Republican leader, Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, rejected Paul's analysis but refused to explain why or even if GOP leaders were blocking Paul's amendment. After reaching the deal to debate two of his amendments, Paul said on the Senate floor that his motivation was to protect personal liberties rather than to harm the Patriot Act or undermine security in any way. \"It's very important that we are always vigilant, that we are eternally vigilant about the powers of government,\" Paul said in arguing for tighter restrictions on the ability of federal investigators to access some gun ownership records. He went on to complain in general about what he characterized as a federal overreaction to the 9/11 attacks that reduced individual liberty in the name of security. For example, he said, airline travelers are all considered possible terrorists and screened for security reasons; he described such a strategy as a \"shotgun\" approach. \"Are we so afraid that we're giving up all of our liberty for security?\" Paul asked, calling for tighter restrictions on what the government can investigate without a search warrant. However, fellow conservative Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, said Paul's amendment to end warrantless access to gun records would hinder the government's ability to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States. \"I don't understand why we would take this tool away from national security investigators,\" Chambliss said, adding that there have been \"no reports that the government has ever used these provisions to violate anyone's Second Amendment rights.\" CNN's Deirdre Walsh, Ted Barrett and Dana Bash contributed to this story." ]

[ "House leaders have reached a bipartisan compromise on a bill that would end the National Security Agency's controversial collection of American phone records, but the measure faces an uncertain future in the Senate. The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday overwhelmingly passed the latest version of a bill known as the USA Freedom Act by a bipartisan vote of 25 to 2. The measure seeks to codify President Barack Obama's proposal to end the NSA's collection of domestic calling records. It would allow the agency to request certain records held by the telephone companies under a court order in terrorism investigations. The authority to collect those records and other related surveillance provisions of the Patriot Act will expire June 1 unless Congress passes a law reauthorizing it. The House bill would do that, with changes. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . UNHOLY TRIUMVIRATE? CIA Director John Brennan (center), National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers (right) and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (left) will soon be handed new rules of the road for mass-surveillance efforts . REMEMBER ME? NSA leaker Edward Snowden is still taking refuge outside the US, nearly two years after exposing the depth of the agency's eavesdropping program . Republican Representatives Bob Goodlatte and Jim . Sensenbrenner, and Democrats John Conyers and Jerry Nadler . introduced the 'USA Freedom Act.' It would result in phone companies, not the NSA, collecting so-called 'metadata' on trillions of phone calls. Government agencies could get access to it by applying to a judge empowered by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Similar legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by . Democrat Patrick Leahy and Republican Mike Lee. But Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch . McConnell is seemingly out of phase, sponsoring his own bill to extend the PATRIOT Act – unchanged – until the end of 2020. McConnell said he intended his bill to be a starting point for legislative debate, not a complete solution. A similar bill to the one that cleared the Judiciary Committee passed the full House last year by a bipartisan vote of 303 to 121 but narrowly failed a procedural vote in the Senate. The Judiciary Committee chairman, Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte, said the bill's provisions had been carefully negotiated with both the intelligence committee and intelligence agencies. During the hearing, lawmakers said a deal had been reached to bring the USA Freedom Act to the floor without going through the intelligence committee, where many Republicans support continuing the NSA bulk collection. The NSA's collection and storage of U.S. 'to and from' landline calling records – times, dates and numbers, but not content of the calls – was the most controversial program among many disclosed by former NSA systems administrator Edward Snowden. CONTRARIAN: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, is trying to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act without changes . Some NSA officials opposed the program, and independent evaluations have found it of limited value as a counterterrorism tool. Goodlatte said the House bill would create a 'narrower, targeted program,' that will still allow the NSA to hunt for connections between foreign terrorists and U.S. residents. 'We must act decisively to end bulk collection in the United States,' said Rep. John Conyers, the ranking Democrat, in an Associated Press interview. 'For years, the NSA has collected our phone records, yet it cannot point to a single attack that the collection has stopped,' added Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican who was one of the Patriot Act's original authors. Some lawmakers offered amendments they said would toughen the bill's civil liberties provisions, but those were voted down, with other lawmakers saying they would kill the deal and empower those who want to continue NSA phone records collection. A civil liberties group praised the bill. 'The USA Freedom Act of 2015 offers an effective path forward in reforming overbroad domestic surveillance and putting an end to the bulk collection of Americans' communications,' said Nuala O'Connor, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology, in a statement.", "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court has agreed to review a civil liberties dispute over the government's power to criminalize \"support\" of a terrorist organization. The Supreme Court will review a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act. The justices on Wednesday accepted review of a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act, and whether it threatens free speech rights of those who would assist non-violent activities of designated groups. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, federal prosecutors have pursued \"material support\" cases against at least 120 individuals or organizations, winning convictions in about half of those cases. Nearly every such domestic terrorism-related prosecution has included that charge as part of the indictment. At issue is whether the congressional law allows prosecution of those with knowledge of \"any service, training, expert advice or assistance\" to a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the U.S. government. A federal appeals court in San Francisco, California, struck down several parts of the legislation, finding them too vague to satisfy the Constitution. The government then asked the high court to intervene and uphold the law. Among those charged under the \"material support\" provision: John Walker Lindh, an American Muslim captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan; the \"Lackawanna Six,\" men from Buffalo, New York, who attended an al Qaeda training camp; several men in Portland, Oregon, who allegedly sought to travel to Afghanistan to fight on behalf of the Taliban; a group of young Virginia individuals who allegedly tried to assist a Kashmir terror group; and James Ujaama, an African-American activist in Seattle, Washington. The key plaintiff in the current appeal is the Humanitarian Law Project, a Los Angeles, California-based non-profit that says its mission is to advocate \"for the peaceful resolution of armed conflicts and for worldwide compliance with humanitarian law and human rights law.\" HLP sought to help the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a group active in Turkey. Known as PKK, the party was founded in the mid-1970s and has been labeled a terror organization by the United States and the European Union. Its leaders have previously called for militancy to create a separate Kurdish state in parts of Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran, where Kurds comprise a population majority. In its appeal to the high court, the government noted that \"since its inception, the organization has waged a violent insurgency that has claimed over 22,000 lives.\" HLP claimed it wanted to advocate on behalf of the PKK before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and conduct other advisory sessions and public awareness campaigns. Another plaintiff is an American physician who wanted to help ethnic Tamils in his native Sri Lanka. Much of the island nation is controlled by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has also fought for decades to carve an independent state. The government claims the Tamil Tigers have \"used suicide bombings and political assassinations in its campaign for independence, killing hundreds of civilians in the process.\" HLP and a group of Tamil doctors say they merely wanted \"to provide their expert medical advice on how to address the shortage of medical facilities and trained physicians\" in the region but \"they are afraid to do so because they fear prosecution for providing material support.\" The Patriot Act was passed six weeks after the 9/11 terrorism attacks. It included amending a previous anti-terror law to strengthen the \"expert advice and assistance\" provision, making it a crime punishable by a 10- to 15-year prison sentence. The Justice Department calls the material support provision \"a vital part of the nation's effort to fight international terrorism.\" Officials told the justices the law is constitutional since \"the statute in question regulates conduct, not speech, and does not violate the First Amendment in any of its applications.\" And the government argues lawmakers properly used their authority to address a pressing problem. \"Congress has banned a broad range of material support -- regardless of whether the terrorist group claims to engage in otherwise lawful activities, and regardless of whether the support is ostensibly given to assist those supposedly lawful activities,\" said the administration's brief. The case is Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (08-1498). Oral arguments will be held early next year, with a decision expected by the spring.", "The U.S. Senate on Friday . struggled to pass a $1.1trillion spending bill that would avert . a looming federal government shutdown, postponing a vote until . Monday when procedural hurdles begin to evaporate. Negotiations between Democrats and Republicans to speed the . process along collapsed during late-night talks in the nearly . abandoned U.S. Capitol. Barring any agreement to act in a more streamlined way, the . Senate is on track to hold a procedural vote at 1am eastern . time Sunday aimed at clearing the way for passage on . Monday. Scroll down for video . Night-time troubles: Hopes of passing a bill quickly evaporated - but senators will hope they can reach an agreement on Monday . The breakdown in talks capped a week in which passage of the . massive spending bill to fund most of the government through . Sept. 30, 2015, advanced in fits and starts. Some senators, angered over the bill's easing of a . 'Dodd-Frank' bank regulation law requirement, wanted a shot at . removing the provision. But demands from some conservative Republicans for a . separate vote on an amendment to immediately defund President . Barack Obama's implementation of a recently announced . immigration program further stymied the bill's progress on . Friday. In order to keep federal agencies operating beyond midnight . Saturday, when existing funds expire, the Senate is expected to . pass sometime Saturday a stop-gap bill to temporarily fund the . government through the middle of next week. The House of Representatives already passed such a measure . anticipating the Senate's inability to finish the broad spending . bill this week. The 1,603-page spending bill, negotiated by Republican and . Democratic appropriators and leaders, narrowly passed the House . on Thursday following a battle that exposed fraying unity in . Obama's Democratic Party. A revolt over financial provisions by House Democratic . leader Nancy Pelosi, long a staunch Obama ally, led to a day of . tension on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Democrats, aware of the need for unity when Republicans take . full control of Congress next year after their midterm election . gains, tried to tamp down speculation of a lasting split between . Obama and Pelosi. One leadership aide said Pelosi had fired a . warning shot to Republicans that House Democrats would fight . hard in the new year. Reid opened Friday's debate on the bill urging quick . passage. 'Since 2011 we have lurched from crisis to crisis with . the country constantly under the threat of shutdown or financial . catastrophe,' he said. McConnell was also anxious to avoid another unpopular . government shutdown as the Republicans head toward taking . control of the Senate after the November elections that also . gave them a larger House majority. In the 219-206 House vote, 67 Republicans rejected the . spending bill, largely because it failed to take action to stop . Obama's immigration order. But that was offset by 57 Democrats . who voted in favor. The spending bill would fund all government agencies through . September 2015, except for the Department of Homeland Security, . which would get an extension only through Feb. 27. That is the . department mainly in charge of implementing the order announced . by Obama last month.", "A backlash from Democrats over add-ons to a massive government spending bill is throwing passage of the measure into doubt and once again raising concerns about a government shutdown. The House is slated to vote on the legislation Thursday, just hours before agencies run out of money. But on the morning of the scheduled vote, Rep. Steve Israel, a member of Democratic leadership, said the riders in bill have become a \"poison pill\" against Democratic support that the GOP majority needs for the measure to pass. \"At this point I don't see many Democratic votes at all for a bill that is so antithetical to the middle class,\" Israel told CNN following a meeting with other Democratic leaders. The $1.1 trillion spending bill authorizes funding for virtually all agencies through September, but some Democrats on Capitol Hill are vowing to oppose the legislation, arguing that the addition of some key policy changes amount to a giveaway for big special interests. Congress must pass some type of legislation by Thursday at midnight to avert a shutdown. The top concerns from Democrats center on a proposal to ease banking regulations in the Dodd-Frank law and a measure that would allow wealthy donors to give considerably more money to the political parties. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the provisions were \"destructive to middle class families and to the practice to our democracy\" and demanded they be stripped out of the bill. Pelosi's position is critical because House Republicans need Democratic support for the measure to pass. Though Republicans hold a significant majority in the House, Speaker John Boehner is expected to lose anywhere from 40 to 60 conservatives in his party who oppose the bill because it doesn't block the President's immigration executive action. Democrats will need to provide votes to offset those losses, setting up the sort of political brinksmanship that has become typical in Washington. A shutdown remains unlikely because lawmakers could agree at the last minute to approve a bill that would keep the government running for a few months -- when Republicans will have full control of Congress. House GOP aides say they are surprised Pelosi and others are lobbying for changes, since Democrats signed off on the bill before its release. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, asked by CNN if he was concerned about the bill's prospects, said no, replying with a smile, \"do I look worried?\" Key Senate Democrats are also blasting the deal. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second ranking Democrats who is in charge of counting votes, said he didn't know if he would support the compromise or how many Democrats would. He called the Dodd-Frank provisions \"awful.\" \"It is just an invitation for another financial disaster and the Republicans are hell-bent on getting that included,\" Durbin told reporters in the Capitol. \"Their appetite is whetted by the Nov. 4th election to undo Dodd-Frank. That has been one of their passions, second only to repealing the Affordable Care Act, and it means that the Wall Street interests -- the big banks, you know -- they're back on top as far as the House Republicans are concerned,\" he said. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the liberal Democrat from Massachusetts who is heavily involved in banking regulations, lashed out at the changes to the banking rules. \"The House is about to vote on a budget deal -- a deal negotiated behind closed doors that slips in a provision that would let derivatives traders on Wall Street gamble with taxpayer money and get bailed out by the government when their risky bets threaten to blow up our financial system,\" she said in a passionate floor speech. \"These are the same banks that nearly broke the economy in 2008 and destroyed millions of jobs.\" She urged Democrats to oppose the spending bill until \"this risky giveaway is removed from the legislation.\" On the campaign finance matter, House Speaker John Boehner said larger individual donations to the parties are needed because Congress had recently eliminated taxpayer funds for political conventions. \"The Congress is very concerned about taxpayer funding of political activities,\" Boehner said. \"This provision was worked out in a bipartisan way to allow those who are organizing conventions the opportunity to raise the money from private sources as opposed to using taxpayer funds.\" Republican aides familiar with the negotiations say that both the chairs of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee supported the change on contributions limits to boost their own coffers. But DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz told CNN it was \"absolutely not\" true that she knew anything about the change to campaign finance laws being added to the spending bill. She said there was a joint effort with the RNC to appeal to the Federal Election Commission to raise the cap for donors for conventions, but she did not support putting this provision in the funding bill. Democratic aides say it's still early to gauge how many members will vote no on Thursday, but acknowledge that the deal was brokered by Democrats and Republicans over several weeks. Democrats who negotiated the deal defended the end result, saying Republicans had pressed for six different changes to Dodd-Frank but Democrats were able to whittle it down to one. Democrats also said they successfully removed more than two dozen environmental items and a handful of gun-related policy provisions sought by Republicans. Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a top Pelosi deputy, said he's voting no, and described the opposition as \"running deep and getting deeper\" as more Democrats review the details. The number three House Democrat, South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, told reporters he was undecided, but was hearing \"lots of concerns\" about the banking provision, and said \"a lot of civil rights groups have been burning up the airwaves with problems about this.\" A similar measure removing this same financial regulation was passed by the House last October, with 70 Democrats voting for it, a point McCarthy noted on Wednesday when pressed about the latest criticism from Democrats . \"Do they want to shut down the government?\" McCarthy said about those Democrats vowing to oppose the spending measure. Boehner's spokesman said the controversial provisions will remain in the bill. \"If Rep. Pelosi doesn't think her negotiators did a good job, she should discuss it with them - but sour grapes doesn't mean she gets to rewrite the deal after the fact,\" Michael Steel said in a statement to CNN. Still Republicans insist that there won't be a shutdown over this issue, and indicated they would consider a short-term funding bill through early next year -- when they will have full control of Congress -- if this bill fails.", "Support for a huge, $1.1 trillion spending bill funding every corner of government, faded Wednesday as liberal lawmakers erupted over a provision that weakens the regulation of risky financial instruments and another that allows more money to flood into political parties. At the same time, conservatives remain unhappy that the bill fails to bar President Barack Obama's immigration actions, and a key conservative grassroots organization lobbied its allies on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to vote against the legislation. The measure also took a blow when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi issued a statement demanding that the changes to 2010 Dodd-Frank regulation of complex financial instruments known as derivatives and a provision sharply hiking limits on donations to political parties be taken out of the bill. Her support, and the votes of her Democratic colleagues, is crucial to passing the measure, as are the votes of Tea Party Republicans who feel their being shafted by GOP leadership in the House. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday following a House GOP caucus meeting that Republicans and Democrats had agreed on a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and delay a politically-charged struggle over President Barack Obama's new immigration policy until the new year . A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said the provisions were part of bipartisan trade-offs and said they would remain in the bill. The 1,603-page measure was unveiled late Tuesday and its provisions will be scrutinized in advance of a House vote Thursday. The House plans to vote first on a three-day extension of the current continuing resolution the government is operating on to give the Senate and the president time to act on the broader legislation. The government will otherwise shut down tomorrow at the stroke of Midnight, less than 24 hours before Congress plans to recess until next year. The White House said on Wednesday morning that it hadn't read the entire omnibus bill, but it was generally 'pleased' with the provisions it had reviewed. Still, the spokesman for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue would not commit the president to approving the legislation if it arrives on his desk. 'I'm confident there are gonna be some things in here...that we're not gonna like, and we'll have to sort of consider the whole package before we make a decision about whether or not to sign it,' White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. It's unclear how shaky the bipartisan coalition backing the omnibus bill is, but the alternative is to keep the government running on autopilot until Republicans seize full control of Congress next year or allow it to undergo it second shutdown in 14 months. Nonetheless, top Democrats were lining up to vote against the measure on Wednesday. 'I'm not going to support it. I've already found lots of provisions that are against the public interest,' Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen said. 'I find it surprising that some people are threatening to shut down the government in order to extract big benefits for big banks at the expense of consumers and taxpayers,' he said. Conservatives were angry, too, and Heritage Action, the grassroots arm of leading conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, came out against the measure today. 'Why in the world would we want to lock in federal spending through next September that reflects the priorities of the Democratic Senate that voters just thoroughly repudiated last month?' California Rep. Tom McClintock said. 'Why in the world would we want to so greatly weaken our position to insist on the complete defunding of the president's unconstitutional act [on immigration] in the next session of Congress?' Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, pictured above at a press conference on Capitol Hill today, and conservatives defected on voting for the spending bill today, putting a government shutdown back in play if Congress doesn't at least pass an extension to the current continuing resolution the government is operating off of by the stroke of Midnight tomorrow . The compromise spending bill would permit virtually the entire government to operate normally through the Sept. 30, 2015, the end of the fiscal year, with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security. Funds for that one agency will run out again on Feb. 27, when Republicans are expected to try to use the expiration as leverage to force Obama to roll back a decision suspending the threat of deportation for an estimated 5 million immigrants living in the country illegally, while providing work permits and eventually making them eligible for benefit programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Boehner told fellow Republicans at a Wednesday morning party meeting that the immigration 'fight will be done at the end of February when the troops, when the cavalry comes,' a reference to the upcoming GOP takeover of the Senate. The White House said today that even then it doesn't believe that GOP leaders will follow through on their promise to conservatives to stick it to Obama by adding language to a DHS funding bill that would block Obama's actions. 'I would be surprised if Republicans take the position that they are going to withhold funding from border security, from people conducting criminal background checks, from other elements of our federal government that are critical to Homeland Security just in protest over the president taking an executive action,' Obama's spokesman told reporters today. A GOP staffer familiar with the conservative strategy told MailOnline last month, however, that border patrol and other critical enforcement agencies in DHS would be deemed essential if it underwent a partial shutdown and would therefore remain open. That understanding has fueled conservatives lawmakers' willingness to hold funds for the department hostage until Obama relents and signs legislation barring his own executive actions on immigration. They would prefer, however, if the entire federal government were funded for only the first two months of the new year so that Congress has more leverage over the president when it comes time to renegotiate an appropriations package. Their irritation with the current package was further exacerbated when they learned that it contained  $948 million for the Unaccompanied Alien Children program - an $80 million increase from the fiscal year before. That money will go toward making sure the Health and Human Services Department has enough money in the upcoming year to feed and house illegal immigrant children who travel to the U.S. from Central America, as they are required do by law, until they are turned over to the proper authorities. Conservatives are unhappy about the increased allocation for HHS because a bill the House passed over the summer hinged additional resources on the inclusion of language tying Obama's' hands on immigration. Now, they say, the Obama administration will get the money it requested and it will have no incentive to act in ways that decrease the stream of unaccompanied minors showing up at the U.S. border with Mexico seeking amnesty. The omnibus bill directs significantly less money to HHS overall than the earlier legislation, House leadership has pointed out, and substantially fewer dollars were allotted to the effort than the the president asked for. The compromise legislation adheres to tight budget caps negotiated previously between the White House and Republicans, freezing agency budgets, on average. It also includes several provisions to fulfill Republican policy objectives, including significantly weakening new regulations that require banks to set up separate affiliates to deal in the more exotic and riskier forms of complex financial instruments called swaps. But some top Democrats, including Appropriations Committee member Nita Lowey of New York, supported the provision, and party leaders didn't appear to try too hard to knock it out. The measure is laced with trade-offs. Democrats won budget increases for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Republicans won a big cut to the Internal Revenue Service budget and a smaller cut to the Environmental Protection Agency. Democrats blocked the most ambitious attempts by Republicans to thwart Obama administration regulations on greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, and on clean water; Republicans won a new concession exempting many agricultural projects from clean water rules and an old one boosting exports of coal mine equipment. GOP leaders distributed a lengthy roster claiming wins on spending cuts and policy and claimed significant support among the rank and file. 'I think we won on policy, the budget numbers are lower than I ever thought it would be,' Rep. Richard Hudson said. The overall spending measure touches every part of government, from a provision to ease standards on school meals that were supposed to go into effect in 2017 to funds to restore the iconic Capitol Dome. Proponents of campaign finance reforms decried a provision slipped in at the last minute that would sharply increase limits on the amount that an individual may contribute to various national political party accounts each year. Those limits would rise from $32,400 to $324,000 for donations to finance parties' national conventions, election recounts and headquarters buildings. That means individuals could give $648,000 in a two-year campaign cycle, with a married couple capped at almost $1.3 million for an election cycle. 'It is only millionaires and billionaires who can give these huge, corrupting contributions,' said campaign finance activist Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21. Another provision drawing fire would allow pensions to be cut for current retirees covered by some economically-distressed multiemployer plans, part of a package agreed to unexpectedly Tuesday after secretive talks.", "Top lawmakers agreed to $1.1 trillion government funding bill late Tuesday, just two days before federal agencies are due to run out of money. The negotiating breakthrough likely means the government will stay open as usual, avoiding a potential shutdown. The release of the bill was held up until late Tuesday night as negotiators haggled over a series of controversial policy provisions. \"This bill fulfills our constitutional duty to fund the government, preventing damage from shutdown politics that are bad for the economy, cost jobs and hurt middle class families,\" said Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat, and Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers, a Republican, in a joint statement. \"While not everyone got everything they wanted, such compromises must be made in a divided government,\" they said. RELATED: Lawmakers hustle to make last-minute spending agreement . The measure bars the District of Columbia from using any money to implement a law the city recently passed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Many Democrats on Capitol Hill maintain that Washington city leaders should be able to carry out a policy voters supported, but Congress has authority over the city's finances. One of the provisions will allow for increased political donations, specifically the amount donors can give to national parties to help fund conventions, building funds and legal proceedings, such as recounts. Rather just giving the current cap of $32,400, donors would be able to give up to $97,200 for each of those actions -- for a total of $324,000 annually, according to Adam Smith, communications director for Public Campaign, a nonpartisan group that supports campaign finance reform. The talks also yielded a compromise on a school lunch program championed by first lady Michelle Obama. The spending bill includes a measure that gives local school districts some flexibility on how they enforce nutrition standards for whole grain items on menus. Some Democrats are already expressing opposition to a provision that repeals what they view as a key financial regulation that was part of a package of reforms for Wall Street banks. The spending bill does away with a rule that prevented banks from using funds backed by taxpayers to trade derivatives, which they argue contributed to the financial collapse in 2008. Republicans fought to include a series of provisions to bar the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing some environmental regulations, but many of those were not included in the final bill. The resolution of many of these policy issues is critical to the bill's prospects for passing the House and Senate. With a sizeable bloc of House conservatives vowing to oppose the bill because they don't think it goes far enough to block the President's executive actions on immigration, GOP leaders are relying on Democrats to help pass the bill. The top Democrat on the House Appropriations panel, Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, said, \"I strongly oppose several policy riders included in this final agreement, but I am pleased Democrats were able to eliminate many of the most damaging provisions.\" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi was non-committal on whether she would back the bill, but released a statement saying she would discuss it with fellow Democrats, adding that she is \"hopeful.\" The House is expected to vote on Thursday. Separately, House GOP leaders are crafting a bill that extends current funding levels for a just couple of days. The House is expected to approve that measure as a backup plan to avoid a shutdown -- in case the Senate is unable to approve the broader spending bill before the deadline at midnight on Thursday. The deal also includes emergency funding to combat the spread of Ebola both in the United States and overseas and provides additional money the Obama administration requested to fight the terror group ISIS by supporting the training and equipping of Syrian rebel groups.", "A High Court judge has criticised Justice Secretary Chris Grayling after prison inmates were unable to attend the 'healthy sex' courses that were key to their release. Mr Justice Dingemans, sitting in London, allowed legal challenges brought by three prisoners serving indeterminate sentences who face long delays before they can get on the programme. The judge said the Justice Secretary had breached his duty to provide such resources for jailed sex offenders, whose progress towards release from prison was 'effectively impossible' without attending the courses. Criticism: High Court Judge Mr Justice Dingemans (left) has criticised Justice Secretary Chris Grayling (right) after prison inmates were unable to attend the 'healthy sex' courses that were key to their release . He said more than 140 other inmates were also immediately affected by the problem. The judge said the cases raised an important issue about the extent to which the Justice Secretary's public law duty could be modified by the level of resources he made available for offenders still serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs). He ruled: 'The secretary of state is not entitled to overlook the public law duty by pointing to inadequate resources.... 'If Parliament retains sentences of IPPs for these claimants, as it has done and is entitled to do so, the secretary of state has a duty to provide resources to discharge the public law duty.' The heavily criticised IPP system was abolished in 2012 but many inmates sentenced earlier are still caught up in the IPP regime. Under the IPP system courts imposed a minimum period which had to be served before offenders became eligible for consideration for release. 'Unlawful': In 2009 the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court declaration that the then Justice Secretary, Labour's Jack Straw, was acting unlawfully by failing to make provision in IPP cases . The judge said the Justice Secretary was under a duty to provide resources to allow IPP inmates to demonstrate to the Parole Board by the time their prison tariffs expired that it was no longer necessary to keep them locked up for public protection. He said the three applicants for judicial review, Philip Fletcher, Paul Young and Keith Bentley, had served their IPP tariffs. Fletcher was convicted in 2008 of threatening to kill a child and sentenced to an IPP with a minimum tariff of 20 months. Young was sentenced in 2009 to an IPP with a three-year tariff for a sexual offence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Bentley, who was nearly 73 years old, had a history of sex offences and was sentenced in August 2007 to an IPP with a tariff of two-and-a-half years. The judge said all three category C prisoners had waited at least two years for the healthy sex programme course which was critical to their chances of release. However, the earliest any of them was predicted to access the course was a further six to 18 months from the date of today's judgment. The latest was up to three-and-a-half years - at least five years after a recommendation that the inmate go on the course. The judge said the Justice Secretary accepted he was under a public law duty to make provision for the three applicants, but contended it had been discharged 'having regard to the available resources'. In 2009 the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court declaration that the then Justice Secretary, Labour's Jack Straw, was acting unlawfully by failing to make provision in IPP cases. Other problems arose of delay and failing to ensure prisoners progressed through the IPP system, leading to the abolition of IPPs. But prisoners like the claimants not yet released were still subject to the IPP regime, and the Justice Secretary was continuing to act in breach of his public law duty.", "Jerusalem (CNN) -- Is Twitter aiding and abetting terrorism? The director of an Israeli legal outfit says yes, and is threatening to sue the micro-blogging site if it doesn't change its policies. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of the Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, sent a letter to Twitter on Thursday asserting that the company is violating U.S. law by allowing groups such as Hezbollah and al Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab to use its popular online network. \"It has come to our attention that Twitter Inc. provides social media and associated services to such foreign terrorist organizations,\" Darshan-Leitner wrote. \"Please be advised that (doing so) is illegal and will expose Twitter Inc. and its officers to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to American citizens and others victimized\" by Hezbollah, al-Shabaab and other foreign terrorist entities. Twitter declined to comment when contacted by CNN. In her letter, Darshan-Leitner noted that Hezbollah and al-Shabaab are officially designated as terrorist organizations under U.S. law. She also cited a 2010 Supreme Court case -- Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project -- which upheld a key provision of the Patriot Act prohibiting material support to groups designated as terrorist outfits. \"Your provision of social media and associated services to Hezbollah and other foreign terrorist organizations would constitute the type of seemingly innocuous material support that would render your company and you personally criminally and civilly liable,\" she told Twitter CEO Richard Costolo. Hezbollah-controlled al-Manar television currently maintains a Twitter account with roughly 7,500 followers. Other groups considered terrorist organizations by the United States also maintain accounts. Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, posts regularly on at least one government-controlled account. Darshan-Leitner says she realizes there will be stiff opposition to a potential lawsuit from free speech advocates, but told CNN she nevertheless hopes Twitter will change its policies. \"Once you bring it to their attention, they cannot say that they don't know,\" she said. Aden Fine, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, told CNN that the Supreme Court \"has not directly addressed the issue of whether any speech allegedly supportive of a designated terrorist organization is unlawful.\" But \"the government can't force private companies to censor lawful speech just because the government doesn't like the speech or the people making the speech,\" he said. Fine noted that since the Internet depends on private companies such as Twitter to function, any clampdown or adverse ruling could be used to restrict everyone's online communications. Social networks Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have been lauded for the role they played in the Arab Spring, a series of anti-regime protests that erupted across the Middle East starting in late 2010. The online networks and instant messaging services were used extensively to spread the word about demonstrations, especially in the case of the Egyptian uprising that toppled longtime strongman President Hosni Mubarak. A number of governments, however, have started arguing for stricter controls. Authorities in the United Kingdom say rioters used social the networks to coordinate mass civil disobedience earlier this year in London. State prosecutors in Mexico have accused two people of terrorism and sabotage by claiming that their Twitter posts helped spread false rumors about a school attack, leading to real-life violence on the streets of Veracruz. The Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center describes itself as a civil rights organization dedicated to \"combating the terrorist organizations and the regimes that support them through lawsuits litigated in courtrooms around the world.\" It supported a similar campaign earlier this year directed at social media giant Facebook. Among other things, the center succeeded in getting Facebook to pull down a page created by Palestinian activists calling for a \"Third Intifada\" against Israel. CNN's Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.", "Washington (CNN) -- Republicans and Democrats in the Senate agreed Thursday that they would prefer a new education bill to the current use of waivers by the Obama administration that bypass the No Child Left Behind Act, which is more than five years overdue for an overhaul. \"The bottom line is that it expired in 2007 except for a provision that says if Congress didn't act, it would continue; and Congress didn't act, so it's continuing,\" said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. \"That's our fault. That's on us,\" Alexander added. Education Secretary Arne Duncan appeared before the committee to give an update on his use of waivers for states who are unable to meet the criteria set out in the No Child Act so the state can still receive federal education funding until Congress reauthorizes the program. \"Providing waivers was always, always our plan B. But I was not willing to stand idly by and do nothing while students and educators continue to suffer under No Child Left Behind,\" the secretary said. The waivers have been controversial among Republicans who object to the stipulations that the Obama administration puts onto many states before they are awarded. \"This simple waiver authority has turned into a conditional waiver with the secretary basically having more authority to make decisions that in my view should be made locally by state and local governments,\" Alexander said. If Congress comes up with a deal to reauthorize NCLB, which is the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Duncan said his understanding is that the waivers would become obsolete. According to the education secretary, 34 states and the District of Columbia have been granted the waivers while nine states, Puerto Rico and the Bureau of Indian Education have requests under consideration. The deadline to apply for the waivers is at the end of February. During the last Congress a bill out of the Senate committee to reauthorize ESEA, That bill died at the end of the session without ever making it to the Senate floor for debate. A series of smaller bills were passed out of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce that dealt with ESEA topics last year. One of those bills that dealt with Charter Schools made it to the House floor for debate and was passed, but died at the end of the last session with no action from the Senate. \"It's no secret that for many years Congress has been dysfunctional,\" Duncan said. \"My team and I put in hundreds and hundreds of hours in what proved to be a fruitless effort over the past two years. In all candor, I would like to have gone to waivers earlier.\"", "By . Louise Cheer . and Aap . The Victorian Government will be forced to hand over $451 million in compensation to gambling giant Tatts for lost poker machine revenue. Tatts Group Limited took court action against the government in 2012 - seeking at least $490 million - after it and Tabcorp were stripped of their duopoly of the operation of poker machines outside Melbourne's Crown Casino. Individual clubs and pubs now operate poker machines in the state. But Tabcorp's bid for an even heftier payout - $686 million - was rejected by the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday. Tatts Group Limited and Tabcorp took court action against the Victorian Government after they lost their duopoly of operating poker machines outside of Melbourne's Crown Casino (pictured) The ABC reported the lawyers for Tabcorp said some of the money it had paid for its gambling licence should have been refunded after the John Brumby-led government introduced the reforms in 2008. Tabcorp argued it had a right to compensation as a law introduced by the government - after the privatisation of the Victorian TAB and listed Tabcorp on the share market in 1994 - guaranteed it a payment when its 18-year licence expired. But lawyers for the government said awarding new licences in 2008 and 2009 did not trigger a terminal payment provision in the contract with Tabcorp. On the other hand, Tatts' claim was seeking compensation after the expiration of its gaming operator's licence under an agreement made in 1995. Legislation introduced by the Victorian Government in 2008 meant individual pubs and clubs now run poker machines . Tatts were the only ones to walk away triumphant and will get $451 million in compensation from the government . 'In the context of the clear purpose of the terminal payment provision, the court noted the unfairness of this result, but concluded that the statutory language was too strict to allow the alternative interpretation contended for by Tabcorp,' Justice Hargrave said. In a statement, Victorian Treasurer Michael O'Brien said the government would appear the Supreme Court ruling . Justice Hargrave said changes to the Gambling Regulation Act made in 2009 did not override Tatts' entitlement to a payout. He ordered the government to pay the gambling giant $451 million plus interest. Premier Napthine said today the government would appeal the Tatts decision. With the state election just five months away, Dr Napthine said the government would not cut spending or raise taxes to cover the cost of the payout. 'We have a budget surplus this year of over $1 billion, so we can absorb this loss and we will not be increasing taxes. 'We will not be cutting services as a result of this. Tatts and rival Tabcorp lost their duopoly over the operation of poker machines outside of Melbourne's Crown casino in August 2012, following a decision in 2009 by the previous Labor government, with poker machines in Victoria now operated by clubs and pubs. 'The Labor Party ought to apologise to the people of Victoria for their mismanagement of this process,\" he told Fairfax radio on Friday.", "The Republican-controlled House has passed a one-week funding extension for Homeland Security after the majority refused to pass the legislation just hours before the deadline. Lawmakers were thrown into a race against time on Friday night when 52 Republicans defected on the leadership-backed legislation. The vote was 224-203 against the measure. Two hours before the midnight deadline, the House voted 357 to 60 to fund the department for another week. A combination of conservative, tea party-backed Republicans on one side of the political aisle and Democrats on the other opposed the bill. The first group was upset because the legislation had been stripped of changes to President Barack Obama's immigration policy, and the second because it lacked full-year funding for the sprawling department. Scroll down for video . Race against time: The House has until midnight to approve funding for Homeland Security after it was blocked . With less than seven few hours remaining before the midnight deadline, it was unclear what Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders would next propose. Democrats led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California urged them in advance to allow a vote on a bill to keep the department in funds through the Sept. 30 end of the budget year - a step the GOP high command had previously refused to take. 'You have made a mess,' Pelosi said to Republicans as debate neared an end on the measure. That wasn't how tea party-backed rebels saw it. 'It does not make any difference whether the funding is for three weeks, three months or a full fiscal year. If it's illegal, it's illegal,' said Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala. Other conservatives disagreed with that sort of analysis in large numbers - and said so. 'It's the best solution that we have available to us right now,' said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark. 'Nobody wants to shut down the Department of Homeland Security.' Across the Capitol, the Senate waited to add its assent after playing out a series of acts in the Republicans' effort to use the measure to wring concessions on immigration from the White House. A largely symbolic attempt to advance legislation that would repeal Obama's immigration directive of last fall failed on a vote of 57-42, three short of the 60 required. That separate proposal was 'commonsense legislation that would protect our democracy from the egregious example of executive overreach we saw in November,' said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who successfully led his rank and file in recent days to a decision to pass Homeland Security legislation without immigration-related provisions. Much of the Department of Homeland Security was to remain open, even if funding expired at midnight. Airport security checkpoints would remain staffed, immigration agents would be on the job, air marshals would do their work and Coast Guard patrols would sail on. Defected: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called on speaker John Boehner to approve full-year funding . Of the department's 230,000 employees, an estimated 200,000 would remain at work, either because they are deemed essential, or because their pay comes from fees that are unaffected by congressional spending disputes. And ironically, a federal court order has blocked implementation of Obama's immigration policies that most Republicans seek, at least temporarily. Taken together, the day's events at the Capitol underscored the difficulty Republicans have had so far this year in translating last fall's election gains into legislative accomplishment - a step its own leaders say is necessary to establish the party's credentials as a responsible, governing party. Republicans gained control of the Senate in last November's balloting, and emerged with their largest House majority in more than 70 years. Further demonstrating GOP woes, House GOP leaders abruptly called off a vote on a major education bill that had attracted significant opposition from conservatives as well as Democrats and the White House. Aides attributed that decision to the need to work separately on rounding up enough votes to pass the measure that would prevent a partial shutdown at Homeland Security. The day's developments occurred against a midnight deadline for funding the department, an agency with significant responsibilities in the nation's fight against terrorism. An early, 240-183 test vote in the House indicated ample support for the spending bill, but a short while later the House was gaveled into recess while the search went on for support to pass the legislation itself. 'The House must pass this bill in short order to keep the lights on at the Department of Homeland Security in the near term,' said Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky. 'Hopefully, this will buy us this additional time that we clearly need.' Democrats argued against the measure, saying their preference was a longer-term bill to provide funding that carries the department trough the Dept. 30 end of the budget year without attempting to alter immigration policy. It cleared the Senate Friday on a vote of 68-31. 'Give us a vote, Mr. Speaker. Give us a vote. Instead, drip, drip, drip,' said Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader. Some House Republicans agreed, noting that Senate Democrats had demonstrated their ability to block any challenges to Obama's immigration policies, and that the president had vowed to veto them in any event. 'The only question is when - tomorrow or in three weeks,' said Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa. 'Some folks just have a harder time facing political reality than others.' Obama's first immigration directive, in 2012, lifted the threat of deportation from many immigrants brought to the country illegally as youngsters. Another order last fall applied to millions more who are in the United States unlawfully.", "It's a highly-anticipated deal that keeps his nation from teetering over the edge of the fiscal cliff - yet President Obama has not even shown up to sign the new bill into law. Instead, Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii, has signed the bill using an autopen, a mechanical device that copies his signature - allowing him to accept the deal after playing a round of golf. While he's the only president in history to turn to the gadget to sign a bill into law, it is not the first time President Obama has used it. In May 2011, he used the pen to sign the Patriot Act - extending anti-terrorism measures enacted in the wake of 9/11 - while he was 3,725 miles and six time zones away in France at a G8 meeting. Scroll down for video . Back in Hawaii: President Obama boarded Air Force One to return to the Aloha State yesterday - moments after he addressed the nation following the House's approval of the fiscal cliff deal . President Barack Obama signed the law before midnight, using an auto pen as he traveled to Africa for ceremonies honoring the late South African President Nelson Mandela . In that instance, Mr Obama was awoken at 5.45am in his hotel room in Deauville, France, so that he could review and approve the bill with only minutes to spare before the deadline passed in the U.S. He also used the device in November 2011 while he was holding talks with Asian/Pacific leaders in Bali in Indonesia; he signed an appropriations bill to fund government departments in his absence. The fiscal cliff bill was approved on a sunny day in Honolulu during which the president played a round of golf at a Marine Corps base in nearby Kaneohe. In between the round of golf, working out at the local gum and dining with his wife and friends, Obama reviewed a copy of the legislation and ordered that the original be signed by autopen in D.C. Smirk: Obama winks at photographers as he arrives in the briefing room to make remarks after the House passed legislation intended to avoid the fiscal cliff . After months of wrangling, the deal was . finally reached after Obama cut his family vacation short last week, . returning to Washington D.C. on December 26 for the negotiations. But after addressing the nation following the House's passage of the fiscal cliff deal, Obama jetted back to the Aloha State late on Tuesday night. He arrived in Honolulu . before 5am local time yesterday and immediately rejoined the First Family in their . rented beachside vacation home in Kailua, a picturesque suburb . on the east side of Oahu. After Obama used the autopen to sign the . Patriot Act in 2011, critics claimed using the mechanical device to . write his signature was unconstitutional. Article 1, Section 7 of the . constitution states that if a bill is passed by both the House and . Senate, it shall be presented to the president. 'If he approve(s) he . shall sign it,' states the Constitution. President Barack Obama's REAL signature..... .... and the autopen signature . Conservative critics have claimed that using the autopen for a president to write his signature is unconstitutional. Article 1, Section 7 of the . constitution states that if a bill is passed by both the House and . Senate, it shall be presented to the president. 'If he approve(s) he . shall sign it,' states the Constitution. There is nothing in the document that suggests a reasonable facsimile affixed by an appliance will do just as well. But in 2005, the Justice . Department's Office of Legal Counsel deemed the use of the autopen constitution, ruling that 'the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill to sign it'. The autopen is often used by politicians and celebrities to duplicate signatures for letters. Obama is the first president to use the device to sign a bill into law, but Harry Truman, Thomas Jefferson and Gerald Ford are also known to have used the autopen. There is nothing in the document that suggests a reasonable facsimile affixed by an appliance will do just as well. But the White House sidestepped the . constitutional requirement by citing a 2005 opinion from the Justice . Department's Office of Legal Counsel. It concluded that 'the President need . not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a . bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become . law'. In the White House's view, it does . not make a difference that one bill is really signed by the president . and the other bears a look-alike signature, and it rejected calls for . him to re-sign the Act. The autopen has been called into question in other cases; in 2004, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld met criticism for using an autopen to sign condolence letters to the families of fallen troops. And in 1992 then-Vice President Dan Quayle was lambasted for using the autopen on official correspondence during an appearance on 'This Week with David Brinkley'. Harry Truman, Thomas Jefferson and Gerald Ford are also known to have used the autopen, yet Obama is the first president to have used it to sign a bill into law. The fiscal cliff agreement boosts taxes on the wealthiest Americans, while preserving tax cuts for most American households. Questions: Obama, pictured signs a book at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC, March 17, 2011, has come under fire for using the autopen, which some say are unconstitutional . Working holiday: Obama is staying in Kailua, Hawaii (pictured) and played golf the day the bill was passed . The bill, which averts a looming . fiscal cliff that had threatened to plunge the nation back into . recession, also extends expiring jobless benefits, prevents cuts in . Medicare reimbursements to doctors and delays for two months billions of . dollars in across-the-board spending cuts in defense and domestic . programs. The . Republican-controlled House gave final legislative approval Tuesday . night to a package that avoids income tax increases for most Americans . and delays for two months billions in across-the-board spending cuts. Minutes later, Obama appeared in the White House briefing room to praise the deal in an eight-minute speech. 'And I hope that everybody now gets at . least a day off, I guess, or a few days off, so that people can refresh . themselves, because we're going to have a lot of work to do in 2013,' he . said. Family vacation: Obama and his wife Michelle visited military personnel eating Christmas Dinner at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on December 25 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii . The fiscal cliff deal delays by two months billions in scheduled in spending cuts. It also sets up battles between Democrats and Republicans over federal spending and debt. The first showdowns will come over the next three months, when the government's legal ability to borrow money expires and temporary financing for federal agency budgets will lapse. Republicans have already said, as they did in 2011, that they will demand spending cuts as a condition for extending the debt ceiling. Obama also faces decisions over Cabinet appointments, with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expected to leave.", "The head of U.S. intelligence has warned Congress that not renewing the NSA's controversial phone snooping program will 'raise the risk' of another terror incident. James Clapper claims failing to extend part of the Patriot Act, which allows the bulk collection of telephone records, will take away a vital tool in the kit of the intelligence agency. Should Congress not renew Section 215 - due to expire on June 1 - then it must be prepared to shoulder the blame should an 'untoward incident' take place, the Director of National Intelligence added during a question and answer session in New York on Monday. Warning: Clapper told a meeting in New York that failure to renew Section 215 of the Patriot Act - which allows mass collection of phone records - would effectively raise the risk of a terrorist incident . 'In the end, Congress giveth and Congress taketh away,' Clapper told the group gathered at the Council on Foreign Relations. 'If the congress in its wisdom decides the juice is not worth the squeeze that's fine: the intelligence community will do all it can within the law to do what it can to protect the country. 'But I have to say, every time we lose another tool in our tool kit, it raises the risk. 'If that tool is taken away from us, and some untoward incident happens which could have been thwarted if we had it, I just hope that everyone involved in that decision assumes responsibility.' 'Insurance': Section 215 - revealed by Edward Snowden - has not prevented a single incident since it was brought in . Section 215 of the Patriot Act - which also allows the NSA to obtain surveillance warrants without naming the person being wiretapped, as well as allowing the surveillance of foreigners suspected of terrorist activity but not affiliated with a terrorist organisation - was one of the most controversial powers brought to light by former security contractor Edward Snowden. It has since been claimed Section 215, set up in the wake of September 11, has failed to stop one terrorist incident, leading to calls for it being reformed, or dropped altogether. Senator Patrick Leahy brought forward a bill last year, supported by Clapper, which  would have meant phone companies were in charge of keeping the records rather than the FBI or NSA. But Republicans blocked the sweeping overhaul when it came before the Senate last November. However, Clapper remains a defender of the program. 'Section 215, to me, is like my fire insurance policy,' he said on Monday. 'My house has not burned down, but every year I buy fire insurance just in case.'", "(CNN) -- Defiant authorities in Ecuador say they won't bow to U.S. pressure as they weigh former NSA contractor Edward Snowden's request for asylum. Ecuador's president and other top officials said Thursday that they're turning down the trade benefits the United States gives them as part of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. \"In the face of threats, insolence and arrogance of certain U.S. sectors, which have pressured to remove the preferential tariffs because of the Snowden case, Ecuador tells the world we unilaterally and irrevocably renounce the preferential tariffs,\" President Rafael Correa said Thursday, reiterating comments other officials from his government made earlier in the day. In a fiery speech at an event in Quevedo, Ecuador, the president vowed not to back down. \"It is outrageous to try to delegitimize a state for receiving a petition of asylum,\" Correa said. Authorities in Ecuador said they're still evaluating Snowden's asylum petition, which has thrust the South American country into the international spotlight as a key player in the global manhunt for the fugitive who has admitted leaking classified documents about U.S. surveillance programs. Snowden, who faces espionage charges in the United States, is slammed as a traitor by critics and hailed as a hero by his supporters. Where can you buy a second citizenship? For Correa, a left-leaning economist who is known for decrying what he and other Latin American leaders have called U.S. imperialism, the leaker's case has provided a platform both to espouse his views and to slam his critics. He offered a swift response on social media when a Washington Post editorial this week criticized what the newspaper called a \"double standard\" in Ecuador, noting that the country is weighing asylum for Snowden just after it passed new regulations cracking down on press freedoms. \"What a joke! Do they realize the power of the international press? They have centered the attention on Snowden and the 'evil' countries that 'support' him, making everyone forget the terrible things that he denounced in front of the American people and the entire world,\" Correa said in a series of Twitter posts. But even as government officials ratchet up their rhetoric, some in Ecuador have expressed concerns about the effect souring relations with the United States could have on the country. Ecuador-U.S. relations in the spotlight . The head of Ecuador's chamber of commerce on Thursday criticized the government's decision to withdraw from the trade deal as a \"hostile act\" that was \"irresponsible.\" Former Vice President Blasco Penaherrera Padilla, a sharp critic of Correa's government, said it was a decision that would have a \"gravely negative\" impact on his country. \"It creates an unsuitable climate for a profitable, productive and positive relationship, which is what Ecuador and the United States should have,\" he said. Trade between the United States and Ecuador totaled more than $16 billion last year, according to figures from the U.S. Census. About half of Ecuador's foreign trade depends on the United States. Analysts say the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, which has allowed Ecuador to import and export goods with reduced tariffs, has fueled growth in trade and commerce between the two nations. On Thursday, a U.S. State Department spokesman warned that Ecuador's economic ties with the United States could be in jeopardy if the South American country offers asylum to Snowden. \"What would not be a good thing is them granting Mr. Snowden asylum,\" State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters. \"That would have grave difficulties for a bilateral relationship.\" He added that withdrawing from trade agreements isn't exactly an option for Ecuador. \"They're unilateral trade provisions that provide a benefit to certain Ecuadorian products,\" Ventrell said. \"Whether they're renewed or not is a prerogative of the U.S. Congress.\" Ecuador offers $23 million to the United States . The agreement is set to expire next month. Many believed it wouldn't be renewed, said Vicente Albornoz, dean of economics at the University of the Americas in Quito. That could make Correa's announcement Thursday a wise political move that will bolster his support at home, but cost the country relatively little, Albornoz said. \"He is giving up something that we did not have, because it was evident that the ATPDEA was not going to be renewed,\" Albornoz said. \"It's like if I withdraw from winning the lottery when I haven't bought a ticket, and I announce that I won't accept first prize.\" Jorge Leon, an Ecuadorian sociologist, warned that Ecuador's role in the Snowden case could have a chilling effect on investors. \"Ecuador is searching for investors, and this image of going more and more to a radical position on the left does not generate tranquility,\" he said. But the Snowden case and Ecuador's decision last year to grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange have helped Correa promote his image as a leftist leader in the region, Leon said. \"They help him gain credibility on the leftist scene,\" Leon said. On Thursday, Ecuadorian officials offered to give $23 million annually -- roughly the same amount officials said that Ecuador receives in benefits from the tariff deal -- to the United States. The money, Communications Secretary Fernando Alvarado told reporters Thursday morning, could be used for human rights training. By Thursday evening, Correa didn't show any sign of changing his government's tune, vowing to make the decision regarding Snowden's asylum request with absolute sovereignty and without regard to any trade deals or other international pressures. \"Our dignity,\" he said, \"doesn't have a price.\" CNN's Adriana Hauser, Matthew Chance and Michael Pearson and journalist Andres Lopez contributed to this report.", "(CNN) -- The House of Representatives gave final approal late Thursday night to the $858 billion tax deal negotiated by the White House and top Senate Republicans, sending it to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. After a day of legislative wrangling that delayed consideration of the measure for several hours, the final vote of 277-148 had almost equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans in support. The package includes a two-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts set to expire December 31. It also would extend unemployment benefits for 13 months, cut the payroll tax by 2 percentage points for a year, restore the estate tax at a lower level and continue a series of other tax breaks. The bill, which cleared the Senate 81-19 on Wednesday, passed despite strong objections from both the left and the right. Among other things, House liberals were strongly opposed to what they argued was an excessive giveaway to the rich in the form of a lower estate tax. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi depicted the measure as a necessary step to prevent taxes of working class Americans from increasing, even though it also extended lower tax rates for the wealthiest Americans who she said don't need the benefit. \"This is very difficult,\" Pelosi said. \"Nobody wants taxes to go up for the middle class. We just don't see why we have to give an extra tax cut to the wealthiest.\" A procedural snag earlier Thursday forced House Democratic leaders to pull the bill from consideration over concerns they lacked support on how the debate would proceed under rules they had set. The House then went into indefinite recess as liberal Democrats seeking changes to the bill huddled with party leaders to work out a solution. Eventually, debate resumed on a new set of rules that would allow the House to vote on a proposed change to the controversial estate tax provision, and then on the full bill itself. Obama strongly praised the Senate vote earlier and urged the House of Representatives to quickly approve the bill. The Senate vote is \"a win for American families, American businesses, and our economic recovery,\" Obama said in a written statement. \"As this bill moves to the House ... I hope that members from both parties can come together in a spirit of common purpose to protect American families and our economy as a whole by passing this essential economic package.\" House Democrats, however, repeatedly warned that they may try to change the measure, particularly the estate tax provision. Currently, the estate tax is scheduled to return with an exemption on inheritances up to $1 million and tax amounts above that at a rate of 55 percent. Under the tax package, the tax rate would be reduced to 35 percent on amounts above a $5 million individual exemption. Conservatives argue that an estate tax more stringent than set by the package would, among other things, make it nearly impossible for many family-owned small businesses to be passed down from one generation to the next. Liberals contend that a lower or nonexistent estate tax would merely benefit the wealthy while doing little to aid the economy. A number of House Democrats wanted to change the estate tax to levels previously approved in a separate House bill that would exempt inheritances up to $3.5 million and tax amounts above that at a 45 percent rate. Pelosi said the change would bring in an additional $23 billion, and would affect only 6,600 more families than the lower rate and higher exemption in the negotiated tax deal. However, more than two dozen moderate House Democrats submitted a letter to their House leadership calling for the tax package to be passed unchanged so it could go directly to Obama to be signed into law. The House Rules Committee decided Wednesday night to allow a vote on changing the estate tax provision to the levels in the previously passed House bill. If approved, the changed bill would then go back to the Senate. If rejected, the House would then hold a separate vote on the Senate version, and with approval send the bill to Obama. However, the House Democratic leadership pulled the bill Thursday when it was unclear whether enough of their caucus would agree to the rules. Republicans traditionally oppose any rules set by Democratic leaders, even on legislation that has GOP support, arguing they want more time to debate and possibly make changes. Pelosi was seen talking to liberal Democrats including Weiner and Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont. Later, the group grew to include House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, and others. Rep. Rob Andrews of New Jersey said some Democrats wanted the rules to guarantee an up-or-down vote on the version of the bill passed by the Senate. As originally structured, such a vote would occur only if the House first rejected the amended version that altered the estate tax provision. \"We have one overriding goal here -- that every member of the House have a fair chance to express his or her view on final passage,\" Andrews said. At the same time, liberal Democrats, including Weiner and Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, want a chance to vote on further possible changes, including replacing the payroll tax deduction with an extended \"make work pay\" tax credit set to expire at the end of the year, DeFazio said. The liberal Democrats also want a provision to redirect any additional revenue from their desired higher estate tax rate to pay for infrastructure investment projects, as well as a $250 payment to Social Security recipients denied a \"cost of living\" increase this year, according to DeFazio. \"This is the last opportunity we have,\" DeFazio said in explaining the last-minute push by the liberal wing. \"We're on record voting on a whole bunch of things that people aren't paying attention to. People are paying attention now and we think we need to make a strong statement.\" However, Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, who supports the Senate version, called the move by liberals to demand more changes a \"mistake.\" \"It's delaying the inevitable,\" Altmire told CNN. \"The Senate passed this thing with 81 votes.\" In the end, the new rules only added the guaranteed vote on the full bill, while denying the other amendments sought by the liberal Democrats. Republicans involved in the negotiations with the White House on the package have warned that any changes by the House could derail the entire proposal, causing tax rates to increase in 2011. \"If the House Democratic leadership decides to make partisan changes, they will ensure that every American taxpayer will see a job-killing tax hike on January 1st,\" Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said in a statement Monday. With the Bush tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, Obama and congressional Democrats faced a fast-approaching deadline to reach a deal. Republicans won control of the House and reduced the Democratic majority in the Senate in the new Congress convening in January, which would give Democrats less leverage to negotiate after the current lame-duck session. House liberals were not the only ones objecting to the agreement. A number of conservatives, including likely 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, were challenging the deal because it doesn't permanently extend the Bush tax cuts and would add to the deficit. CNN's Dana Bash, Tom Cohen and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.", "By . Simon Tomlinson . Congress has unveiled a $1.1 trillion spending bill that aims to prevent another government shutdown which boosts funding slightly for military and domestic programs - but not for 'Obamacare' health reforms. With a deadline looming at midnight tomorrow for new spending authority, lawmakers will still need a three-day stop-gap funding extension to ensure enough time for passage of the spending bill this week. The measure eases across-the-board spending cuts by providing an extra $45 billion for military and domestic discretionary programs for fiscal 2014, to a total of $1.012 trillion. It also provides an additional $85.2 billion for Afghanistan war funding that is typically handled off-budget. 'Can't please everyone': Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Mikulski (center) said a new $1.1trillion spending bill unveiled by Congress yesterday could not reflect the wants of just one party . The spending measure fills in the details of a budget agreement passed in December in the aftermath of a 16-day shutdown of many government agencies in October. The shutdown was prompted largely by disputes over funding for 'Obamacare' health insurance reforms. Although many programs will get a slight increase over 2013 levels and avoid steep cuts previously slated for this year, the proposed bill does not provide any increase for implementation of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform law. According to a House Republican summary, a public health fund will be reduced by $1 billion to prevent Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from 'raiding' these funds to spend on Obamacare insurance exchanges. Boost: The bill provides an extra $85.2 billion for Afghanistan war funding that is typically handled off-budget . The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Committees said in a joint statement that the deal will eliminate the economic instability caused by Congress' recent funding battles. 'As with any compromise, not everyone will like everything in this bill, but in this divided government a critical bill such as this simply cannot reflect the wants of only one party,' Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Republican Representative Harold Rogers of Kentucky said in a statement. White House Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell said the measure will help fund critical investments in education and infrastructure. 'This legislation adheres to the funding levels in the budget agreement enacted in December, unwinds some of the damaging cuts caused by sequestration,' she said in a statement. The military avoids about $22 billion in the across-the-board cuts, with total non-war spending of about $520.5 billion under the bill, while agencies focused on domestic programs will get $491.8 billion, representing an increase of about $22 billion over sequester levels. Blow: The proposed bill does not provide any increase in funding for implementation of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform law . But some controversial budget items took a hit. The . spending measure provides no funds for high-speed rail projects, and it . again denied a funding transfer needed to pay for critical reforms to . the International Monetary Fund. But both Republicans and Democrats touted a provision in the bill that reverses planned military pension cuts for disabled veterans, a controversial part of the December budget deal that helped pay for about $6 billion in new spending. Military retirees of working age were to see smaller cost-of-living increases in their pensions starting in 2015, but it was later discovered that the change was inadvertently applied to disabled veterans and survivors of deceased veterans as well. While the spending bill will reverse the cuts for disabled veterans and survivors, many Republicans in Congress still want to cancel the cuts for all retired military service members. Negotiations on the measure bogged down as lawmakers attempted to attach policy provisions on issues ranging from restricting abortions to curtailing regulation of carbon emissions. Many of these were successfully fought off, including new abortion provisions, Mikulski told reporters. Democratic aides said the bill includes no new provisions prohibiting regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, nor forestry and stream management. They also prevented new gun-rights language from inclusion. But Republicans did get a policy provision into the measure that prohibits funding of the Obama administration's 'light bulb standard,' which prohibits the manufacture of incandescent light bulbs in favor of newer technologies that reduce energy consumption. Passage of the measure would leave just one more significant fiscal policy hurdle during the current fiscal year which ends on September 30 - an increase in the federal debt limit. This will likely be needed by March or April to avoid a default on the Treasury's debt and the resulting market turmoil.", "The House pushed through a $1.1 trillion bill financing the government through September after President Barack Obama phoned Democratic lawmakers and urged them to back the measure on Thursday. The House approved the measure late Thursday by 219-206, hours before a midnight deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Although it must also pass the Senate and be signed into law, the White House has already agreed to support the bill. After the measure passed in a narrow vote, House Speaker John Boehner said with relief: 'Thank you and Merry Christmas.' Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama will sign the spending legislation offered up by House leadership if it passes Congress, the White House said today, in a blow to Democrats trying to bring the bill down . House Democrats had lined up on Thursday to blast the massive spending bill that keeps the government open through the end of the current fiscal year, with just hours left to prevent a shutdown. Liberals lambasted two provisions of the massive 1,600 page joint continuing resolution and omnibus bill - being referred to as the CRomnibus in Washington - that provided sweeteners for Wall Street and the wealthy and threatened to yank their support from final passage of the bill in a Thursday afternoon vote. Their last-minute push to block the legislation received a punch to the gut on Thursday afternoon when the White House came out in favor of the compromise package, but with just a few hours left to go, the president's team still hadn't wooed enough lawmakers, creating an opening for legislators unhappy with the final version of the bill. Throughout the first part of Thursday Democrats took to the House floor to voice their displeasure with a section that would weaken restrictions on financial derivatives and another that would increase the amount of money that individuals can donate to political parties ten-fold. Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes described the first as a 'Wall Street giveaway' and the second as way to allow Wall Street to flood the political system with more money. Referring to the way the bill was released late Tuesday evening just before Midnight, Sarbanes said, 'These two provisions bumped into each other somewhere in the middle of the night, in the corridors of Capitol Hill, up here. 'They bumped into each other, or maybe they were introduced and one of them said I'll be the quid, and the other one said I'll be the quo,' he said. 'I don't know which is which, but I know this is a quid pro qou, and it's the kind of quid pro qou that is corrupting the machinery of our government and is offensive to the American people.' Continuing, Sarbanes, said. 'We need to get rid of the quid, we need to eliminate the qou, from this bill, bring it back in a way that we can actually support it. That's what we need to do for the American people.' Earlier, Michigan Democrat Dan Kildee said he shared a Republican colleague's concern that voting the bill down would lead to a shutdown, as the continuing resolution the government is currently operating off of will sunset at Midnight. 'The question we need to ask ourselves in this body,' he said, 'is at what price do we keep government open?' Kildee said there's a lot of good in the legislation before the House. But 'the notion that a price has to be paid in order to keep government open and that price is to grant greater power to the wealthiest Americans to have more influence over our political process is just too much for me to take,' he said. A flabbergasted Kildee said he couldn't believe that of all the problems the House could use this opportunity to solve, such as increased funding for infrastructure or leveling the playing fielding for the less fortunate, it 'is deciding that the one thing we have to do is to make sure that the wealthiest Americans can now spend 10x more money on the political process than they did last year.' 'Seriously? This is a problem that we have to solve in order to keep government open? I just can't imagine,' he said. 'I just can't imagine that this is the price we have to pay.' Even as Democrats were threatening to shred the delicately crafted bipartisan bill, House Speaker John Boehner was telling reporters that he expected the bill to pass with votes from both Republicans and Democrats. 'It's a good bill, and I think it reflects the people's priorities,' he said at a Capitol Hill press conference on Thursday morning, later pointing out, 'Listen, if we don't get finished today, we're gonna be here until Christmas!' The House is scheduled to recess on Friday until early January, but a failure to pass a new continuing resolution would force Congress into staying through the weekend and potentially next week. Opposing sides: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi encouraged Democrats to vote down the bill - despite the president asking them to support it - while House Speaker John Boehner urged his colleagues to vote for it, lest they have to remain in Washington through the holiday season . Just minutes after Boehner's press conference a procedural vote allowing the bill to come to a full vote barely passed 214 - 212, as a group of conservative members held out their yes votes over fury that the bill did not include language prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security from implementing Obama's immigration orders. A vote on the final bill was to come later on Thursday, and was expected before close of business. Yet the House still hadn't voted as of early evening as the White House scrambled to whip votes. Just as liberals and conservatives thought they may have won a second chance at debating the appropriations legislation, the White House threw it's support behind the package as is on Thursday afternoon. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily briefing that Obama backs the compromise proposal and would sign it if it came to his desk. Earnest said Obama was particularly pleased that that the bill included $5.4 billion to fight the spread of Ebola and 'substantial funding at Obama’s request' for the fight against ISIS. He said Obama was also happy to learn that the continuing resolution and omnibus bill appropriated $750M for early childhood education and an 'appropriate level of funding' for climate change measures. In terms of what the bill does not do, he said it doesn't include major Wall Street reforms that Republicans have tried to slap onto spending legislation in the past as well as riders that would 'gut' the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank legislation, Obamacare and the president's immigration actions. Earnest said Democrats 'should vote their conscience' while making it clear that the president believes the compromise bill is the best option. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader continued to encourage her caucus not to vote for the bill, sending them all a letter making it crystal clear what she expected of them. 'It is clear from this recess on the floor that the Republicans don't have enough votes to pass the CRomnibus. This increases our leverage to get two offensive provisions of the bill removed: the bank bailout and big money for campaigns provision,' she said. 'However you decide to vote in the end, I thank those who continue to give us leverage to improve the bill.'", "Intense fighting has continued through the night in eastern Ukraine - shattering the fragile ceasefire agreement which was due to begin at midnight. Both pro-Russian rebels and government troops have accused each other of violating the deal signed by the country's leaders on Thursday. Heavy artillery was fired from an area manned by Russian citizens according to Ukrainian security service chief, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko. Meanwhile, rebels accused the Ukrainians of deploying artillery shortly after midnight. The Donetsk News Agency quoted a senior rebel official as saying the Ukrainian forces garrisoned in Debaltseve and fired mortars at rebel positions. 'In the interests of preventing the death of the civilian population, precise fire is being deployed toward the enemy's positions,' He was cited as saying. 26 people, including four civilians, have been killed during heavy fighting across eastern-Ukraine in the last 24 hours. Scroll down for video . Death: Pro-Russian separatists stand next to the body of a soldier who died just hours before a ceasefire with Ukrainian soldiers was enforced . Bereaved: A man cries next to a body of his grandfather who was killed during shelling in Donetsk, Ukraine . Tragedy: He is among 26 people - including one child who died when a nursery was shelled by rebel forces - who have been killed during heavy fighting across eastern-Ukraine in the last 24 hours . Last battle: Separatist fighters (pictured) are battling for control of land before the ceasefire is brought in later . Death toll: Ukrainian military reports 26 have died in the last 24 hours - including one child . Destruction: The main focus of the fighting seems to have been Debaltseve, a key transport hub. Pictured: Two burned trucks of Ukrainian forces on a road not far from the Luganske village, Donetsk region . Ceasefire: From midnight, troops on either side are supposed to be abiding by the agreement thrashed out in Minsk on Thursday . The separatists desperately tried to grasp as much territory as possible before the ceasefire negotiated by European leaders in Minsk was enforced at midnight. The Ukrainian military has reported 120 separate attacks in just 24 hours and one child reportedly died when a nursery was shelled by rebel forces. Fighting was particularly intense around the government-held railway city of Debaltseve on Saturday. The area was besieged by separatist forces who say they do not consider battles for the town as a violation of the ceasefire. The US ambassador to Kiev Geoffrey Pyatt has produced satellite images which he says show Moscow's role in the escalating violence. The images appear to show Russian anti-aircraft batteries and artillery near Debaltseve - 45 miles north of Donetsk the regional capital. He said: 'We are confident these are Russian military, not separatists.' The government-held town has been on the receiving end of dozens of artillery and rocket salvos in the 24-hour period after the peace deal was sealed Thursday by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. Intense shelling was witnessed on Friday along the highway north of Debaltseve, which remains the town's only land link with the rest of government-controlled territory . Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted Petro Mekhed, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, as saying separatist forces had been tasked with hoisting their flags over Debaltseve, as well as the key port city of Mariupol, before the ceasefire takes hold. Outside interference: The US ambassador to Kiev Geoffrey Pyatt has produced satellite images dated February 12 which he says shows Russian anti-aircraft weaponry stationed inside eastern-Ukraine . Russian involvement: The satellite images produced by Mr Pyatt appear to show Russian anti-aircraft artillery near Debaltseve - 45 miles north of Donetsk the regional capital . Satellite images: Pyatt - who claims Russian troops along the border are planning to deliver a large shipment of supplies to rebels in the country - said: 'We are confident these are Russian military, not separatists' War: Fighting has continued to rage in Ukraine, throwing doubts on a ceasefire deal due to take effect over the weekend . Fighting position: A man from the Ukrainian military digs as Ukrainian troops take position not far from Debaltseve, Donetsk . Last gasp: Russian-backed separatists wait for their transport, preparing to leave towards the frontline, in the village of Vergulivka, just outside Debaltseve . 'There has been no lull, moreover rebels continue attacks on Debaltseve,' military spokesman Anatoly Stelmakh said in a television interview. The Ukrainian military separately said the situation remained tense in parts of the contested Luhansk region. Former head of the British Army Lord Dannatt has said: 'I fear the ceasefire will not last and in that event the best next step would be to press for international intervention and for a United Nations monitoring force to deploy to Ukraine in a bid to prevent further fighting. 'While Britain should commit troops to this force if invited, in the interests of neutrality it would likely be better that these soldiers were drawn from Germany and France.' Earlier Lord Dannatt described the sale of Saxon armoured troop carriers to Ukraine as 'nothing short of immoral', as the vehicles were so decrepit as to be 'quite useless'. But it isn't just towns on the border which have come under attack: shells have landed as far as Artemivsk, a government-held town 25 miles behind the front line. Associated Press reporters saw the body of a child killed after rocket fire hit a nursery there, and regional officials said the child and one other civilian died in the attack . Collateral damage: Firefighters battle a blaze at a medical clinic which was hit by artillery fire . Horror: A woman walks past the body of a child covered with a cloth after shelling between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces in a residential area of the town of Artemivsk . Prepared: The Ukrainian military continues to train its newly mobilised recruits near Kiev . Buffer zone: An area roughly 30 to 85 miles wide should separate the forces by the end of the fortnight. Pictured: A new recruit training . It is hoped the ceasefire will bring an end to the fighting, which broke out almost a year ago and has left 5,000 dead. From a minute after midnight, a sizeable buffer zone between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels will start to be created. Each side is to pull heavy weaponry back from the front line, creating a zone roughly 30 to 85 miles wide, depending on the calibre of the weapons. The withdrawals are to begin Monday and be completed in two weeks. Other thorny political questions, including a degree of autonomy for the disputed eastern regions, are to be settled by the end of the year. The peace deal suggest an amnesty for people involved in the conflict, but the vague terms of that provision will likely be provoke further disagreements. Speaking to parliament, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said amnesty would not be granted to anyone suspected of committing crimes against humanity. 'This is an absolute position that was unambiguously underlined during negotiations,' Klimkin said.", "The U.S. Justice Department will seek a federal court order forcing Texas to resume \"preclearing\" any changes to its voting laws, the first enforcement action by the Obama administration since the Supreme Court tossed out a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act. Attorney General Holder made the announcement Thursday in a speech before the Urban League. \"My colleagues and I are determined to use every tool at our disposal to stand against discrimination wherever it is found,\" Holder said in Philadelphia. \"Even as Congress considers updates to the Voting Rights Act in light of the court's ruling, we plan, in the meantime, to fully utilize the law's remaining sections to ensure that the voting rights of all American citizens are protected.\" A divided 5-4 Supreme Court last month invalidated the formula used to determine which states or local jurisdictions -- mostly in the South -- could remain under special federal oversight, requiring them to get approval from Washington before making any changes in voting procedures. Conservatives fume when Holder talks race and law . That blunts much of the federal government's enforcement power in states and localities with a history of discrimination at the polls. The ruling does not change the fact it remains illegal to discriminate against a person when it comes to voting. But it does change how some governments have been singled out. Holder said the Obama administration will use a different section of the Voting Rights Act that allows federal authorities to ask a judge to order a state to be put under the preclearance regime. To do so the Justice Department must prove \"purposeful\" discrimination. Texas will be test case of the tactic. The state is the subject of two ongoing court fights over its voter identification law and the voting boundaries created by the legislature. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott had indicated after the high court ruling that both the state voter identification law and its redistricting maps would go into effect immediately. Republican Gov. Rick Perry criticized Holder's remarks and defended the Texas \"voter integrity\" laws. \"Once again, the Obama administration is demonstrating utter contempt for our country's system of checks and balances, not to mention the U.S. Constitution,\" Perry said in a prepared statement. \"This end-run around the Supreme Court undermines the will of the people of Texas, and casts unfair aspersions on our state's common-sense efforts to preserve the integrity of our elections process.\" Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was also defiant. \"Texans should not -- and will not -- stand for the continued bullying of our state by the Obama administration,\" he said in a news release Thursday. Lawmakers in Congress have begun considering proposals to update the Voting Rights Act to ensure continued federal oversight. Holder said that while his department could act unilaterally, updating current laws is the real key. \"It is the duty of today's Justice Department to continue monitoring jurisdictions around the country for changes that may hamper these voting rights -- to keep taking appropriately aggressive action against any jurisdiction that attempts to hinder free and fair access to the franchise,\" he said. \"And to keep refining and refocusing current enforcement efforts while we work with Congress to craft stronger tools for protecting voting rights.\" Holder called the high court ruling \"deeply disappointing and flawed.\" Under the section of the Voting Rights Act invalidated by the high court, any changes in voting laws and procedures in all or parts of 15 covered states -- including Texas -- were subject to federal oversight. That meant the Justice Department or a federal court had to sign off on all aspects, including something as simple as moving a polling place temporarily across the street. The provision was reauthorized by Congress in 2006 for another 25 years. Officials in Shelby County, Alabama, subsequently filed suit, saying the monitoring was overly burdensome and unwarranted. Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, for the Supreme Court, said the decades-old formula still being used had \"no logical relation to the present day.\" \"While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy the problem speaks to the current conditions,\" he said. President Obama had characterized the ruling as a \"setback,\" even as he vowed his \"administration will continue to do everything in its power to ensure a fair and equal voting process.\" Texas will not be the first state the Justice Department has sought to \"bail in\" under a different enforcement regime from the Voting Rights Act, which would still be allowed in the wake of the high court decision. Parts of New Mexico and Arkansas also were subject to that special federal oversight, but the provision requires the Justice Department to establish a new, comprehensive record of alleged \"intentional\" discrimination. That means the burden of proof would initially be on Washington to show a state like Texas deserves continued special scrutiny. If that oversight is granted, the burden of proof would then shift to the state, when justifying any future changes in its voting laws.", "(CNN) -- Union workers for San Francisco's transit system ended their four-day strike and returned to work Friday, even though contract negotiations aren't over. Bay Area Rapid Transit spokesman Rick Rice said things were running smoothly since service resumed at 3 p.m. (6 p.m. ET). \"We pretty much have a normal number of cars on the track at this point,\" he said. After negotiations between BART and the unions ended late Thursday, workers returned at 12:01 a.m. Friday and worked through the night and morning to have trains running by 3 p.m., he said. \"People are glad to be going back to work, and I know the riders are thrilled to be able to have the trains running,\" said Josie Mooney, a spokeswoman for Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union, one of the two largest union representing the striking workers. The two sides had three days of negotiations over new contracts, wrangling over the issues of pay and benefits, before deciding Thursday night to allow another 30 days to reach a deal and resume BART service in the meantime. The talks will pick up again next week. About 400,000 people use the service daily. With no trains running, BART ran limited charter bus service to accommodate commuters. BART riders said Friday they were relieved the service was back on line. \"I want to also make sure that the BART workers get their fair share too,\" rider Tracey Roth told CNN affiliate KGO. \"I want to recognize their struggle in it, but also know that it's been tough for everyone.\" Commuter Eric Westland told the station he got chills when he learned the trains would be running again. \"The newspaper this morning said it was still on strike, and when I saw the thing in the bus booth that said trains (would be) running at 3, I got goosebumps,\" he said. Unions asked for a 21% pay increase. BART initially offered to increase salaries by 4% over four years, but later proposed an 8% increase; that was on top of a 1% increase scheduled to go into effect at the start of the week. Mooney said part of the problem was that contract negotiations began much later than normal. That didn't allow the two sides a lot of time to reach a deal before the union contract expired June 30. The extension agreed to Thursday expires at midnight on August 4, she said. \"We hope that we will be able to use the next 30 days to come to a fair and equitable contract for the workers,\" Mooney said. \"Yesterday was spent primarily on extending the (union) contract in order that we have more time to deal with what are extremely complicated issues.\" BART is the nation's fifth-largest train system in the United States, with 44 stations in 26 cities that make up the Bay Area, according to the transit authority. It handles more than 40% of Bay Area commuters, according to CNN affiliate KPIX.", "(CNN) -- Andrew Breitbart, the conservative blogger whose posting of a sexually explicit photo of former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner led to the congressman's downfall, has died, his attorney confirmed Thursday. He was 43. Joel Pollak, editor-in-chief and in-house counsel for Breitbart's website, Breitbart.com, posted a statement confirming his death. \"Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles,\" the statement read. \"We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior.\" Ed Winter, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner, said Breitbart was pronounced dead 19 minutes after midnight at UCLA Medical Center. An autopsy is planned for Friday, Winter said, but the Los Angeles Police Department said it is not investigating the circumstances of his death. Compassion and politics: Strange bedfellows . Breitbart was the first to post Weiner's infamous Twitter photos last year, in which the married congressman appeared barechested and in his underpants in pictures sent to a woman online. Weiner eventually stepped down amid the scandal. Breitbart's regular appearances on FOX News, his websites and his speeches to conservative groups made him a star on the right and a villain to the left. Republican presidential candidates quickly responded to news of Breitbart's death. Former Sen. Rick Santorum called him a \"powerful force\" who was \"constantly out there driving and pushing.\" \"What a huge loss, in my opinion, to our country and certainly to the conservative movement,\" Santorum said. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted: \"Andrew Breitbart was the most innovative pioneer in conservative activist social media in America. He had great courage and creativity.\" And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney called Breitbart a \"brilliant entrepreneur, fearless conservative, loving husband and father.\" Breitbart was a driving force in the conservative tea party movement. In a posting on the Tea Party Nation website, blogger Judson Phillips wrote that Breitbart was an \"amazing patriot\" who \"relished fighting those who would destroy this great country.\" Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a former GOP presidential contender, said Breitbart \"fought for what he believed in, exposing government corruption and media bias. His spirited voice will be missed, but not forgotten.\" Breitbart came under heavy criticism in 2010 for posting an edited and incomplete video of a speech by Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod, who is black, appearing to say she discriminated against a white farmer looking for assistance. Sherrod was forced to resign over the video, which appeared on another of Breitbart's websites, BigJournalism.com. A full version of the speech showed that Sherrod had assisted the farmer. The department later offered her job back when it was clear she had been misrepresented. Sherrod issued a brief statement Thursday saying only she was surprised by the news and that her prayers go out to Breitbart's family. Opinion: How Andrew Breitbart changed news . \"The news of Mr. Breitbart's death came as a surprise to me when I was informed of it this morning. My prayers go out to Mr. Breitbart's family as they cope during this very difficult time.\" Breitbart also posted video of a sting operation against the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, which showed conservative activists posing as a pimp and a prostitute seeking advice on how to set up a brothel. The video prompted a groundswell of action against the organization, including a limited investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and a slashing of funds from the federal government and several states. ACORN went bankrupt and closed its doors. Breitbart got his start helping to run the original right-wing online media behemoth the Drudge Report and helped launch The Huffington Post before founding his own websites. Drudge Report founder Matt Drudge on Thursday said Breitbart was a \"constant source of energy, passion and commitment\" in the site's early days and that the two \"shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening.\" The statement on Breitbart.com Thursday included a portion of the new conclusion he wrote to his book, \"Righteous Indignation\": . \"I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and -- famously -- I enjoy making enemies. \"Three years ago, I was mostly a behind-the-scenes guy who linked to stuff on a very popular website. I always wondered what it would be like to enter the public realm to fight for what I believe in. I've lost friends, perhaps dozens. But I've gained hundreds, thousands -- who knows? -- of allies. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night.\" CNN's Stan Wilson, Mark Preston, Richard Allen Greene, and Rachel Clarke contributed to this report.", "Washington (CNN) -- Top White House and congressional negotiators failed to reach agreement Tuesday on a spending plan for the rest of the current fiscal year, bringing the federal government closer to a shutdown at the end of the week. Key Democrats rejected a Republican proposal to keep the government running for one more week at the cost of an additional $12 billion in cuts. Republicans, meanwhile, dismissed Democrats' insistence that there had been an agreement to cut $33 billion for the rest of the fiscal year. If there is no deal by midnight Friday, when the current spending authorization measure expires, parts of the government will close down. Later Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner met privately to discuss the matter. Statements issued by each of their offices described the talks as \"productive\" and said they agreed to continue working to find a solution. The budget brinksmanship showed the political stakes of the situation, with both parties trying to depict the other as unwilling to do what's right for the country. Republicans, under pressure from the conservative Tea Party movement for deep cuts that will reduce the size of government, blame Democrats for failing to pass a fiscal year 2011 budget last year when they controlled both congressional chambers and say that President Barack Obama and his party are ignoring the peril of the rising federal deficits and national debt. Democrats contend that spending cuts sought by House Republicans in response to the Tea Party movement pressure will harm economic recovery and slash education and innovation programs essential for continued growth. Obama and Reid, D-Nevada, both insisted Tuesday that Democrats are agreeing to more than 50% of the spending cuts sought by Republicans, which they said should be sufficient for a compromise on an issue that has little overall effect on the deficit and debt issues. Obama discussed the growing budget crisis behind closed doors at the White House with key House and Senate leaders. The president met with two Republicans, Boehner and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers of Kentucky, and two Democrats, Reid and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. The president then made an unannounced appearance in the White House briefing room to tell reporters that Boehner and Reid would meet on their own later in the day. Obama said that if the two men failed to make progress on their own, he expected them to return to the White House on Wednesday. And \"if that doesn't work, we'll invite them again the day after that,\" the president promised. \"There's no reason why we should not get this done.\" The administration will put in \"whatever resources are required in terms of time and energy\" to reach an agreement, Obama said. But what \"we can't do is have a 'my way or the highway' approach to this problem,\" he added. \"If we start applying that approach ... we're not going to get anything done.\" Obama also said he could support one more short-term funding extension to avert a partial shutdown, but only if a deal is reached on spending for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30. He and Reid rejected the GOP proposal for a seven-day extension that would include $12 billion in spending cuts while providing the military with funding for the rest of the fiscal year, but Reid added he would consider amending the measure if it reached the Senate in time for action before the current spending resolution expires. Reid also said House Republicans should start doing \"what the country needs, not what the Tea Party wants,\" noting the Democratic-controlled Senate rejected a House spending bill favored by conservatives that would cut $61 billion in discretionary spending this fiscal year. Democrats consider that bill draconian, complaining that, among other things, it would cut key programs for continued economic recovery while eliminating funding for others opposed by conservatives, such as Planned Parenthood and National Public Radio. Boehner, meanwhile, insisted House Republicans wouldn't let Senate Democrats and the White House put them \"in a box\" by forcing them to choose between a government shutdown or continued government funding with insufficient spending cuts. \"We want the largest spending cuts that are possible,\" said Boehner, R-Ohio. \"We're going to continue to fight for those.\" Boehner also said he would not drop the GOP's insistence on including provisions relating to hot-button social issues such as abortion, calling them important to his conservative caucus. Democrats oppose the so-called \"policy riders\" in the spending bill. The speaker cast aside assertions by Obama and Reid that they had already given the GOP over half of what it initially wanted in terms of cuts, saying the Democrats were using \"smoke and mirrors to get there.\" \"Our goal is to keep the government open,\" Boehner insisted. \"We have no interest in the government shutting down, but we are interested in cutting spending.\" As the potential for a shutdown grew, an aide to Boehner said the lawmaker also told House Administration Committee Chairman Dan Lungren, R-California, to issue guidance to all members on how the House would operate in the event of a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management posted information about how a shutdown would affect federal employees on its website Tuesday. The posting said that most federal workers paid with funds appropriated by Congress will go on temporary furlough in the event of a shutdown. It would be up to Congress to decide if furloughed workers get paid for the work time missed when the shutdown ends, the posting said. Health benefits continue if the shutdown lasts for less than a year, it said. A senior Democratic source with knowledge of the ongoing negotiations said the biggest obstacle to a deal involves whether reductions in mandatory spending programs, known in appropriations parlance as \"Changes in Mandatory Spending\" or CHIMPS, should be part of spending cuts. Examples of mandatory spending programs include Pell grants, the Children's Health Insurance Program and some types of highway funding. Such programs are funded for multiple years at a time, with the spending set for the time period covered, exempt from congressional authorization each year. According to the senior Democratic source, the chiefs of staff to Inouye and Rogers negotiated throughout the weekend, and the gap between them is about $8 billion to $10 billion. Democratic sources said they want about half the overall cuts in this spending bill to come from mandatory spending programs, and that they have proposed the necessary reductions in programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department and Pell Grants. Republicans, who want any spending cuts to reflect a reduction in the size of government, note that reducing the spending in a mandatory program for one year doesn't prevent the amount from returning to its original level the following year. CNN's Dana Bash, Deirdre Walsh, Ted Barrett contributed to this report .", "Washington (CNN) -- After a five-week summer recess, Congress returns to a long list of unfinished business, but with 57 left days before Election Day, it's likely it will tackle only the bare minimum in its short fall session. The one must-pass measure -- a short-term continuing resolution to fund federal agencies -- will avoid any pre-election talk of a government shutdown, with which neither party wants to be tagged. Republican and Democratic leaders struck a deal this summer on a six-month bill, but both chambers still need to pass the legislation before government funding expires at the end of this month. The House is expected vote on the bill Thursday, and two GOP leadership aides predict it will get a sizable bipartisan majority. A senior Senate Democratic aide tells CNN the Senate is expected to approve the measure next week. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the third-ranking GOP leader in the House, did not directly answer whether a majority of House Republicans would vote for the stopgap spending bill, but said, \"I expect that bill to be a bipartisan vote, and I expect the Senate to pass it as well and not add anything to it.\" What could move . -- It's possible that GOP and Democratic leaders could work out a deal on a farm bill to reform agriculture programs and provide some relief to drought-stricken states -- or at least agree to another short-term extension of the current law, according to multiple congressional aides. If they can't reconcile differences between the two varying approaches taken by the House and Senate, some money for drought assistance, plus some money for states affected by recent natural disasters, could be tacked onto the spending bill. McCarthy, who represents some agricultural interests in his California district, told reporters Monday he's still pressing to pass a bill before the election. He acknowledged to reporters on Capitol Hill that \"the time frame is tough,\" but \"it's our intent to get it done.\" Long, hot summer sends food prices soaring . -- The Senate will return and work on a veterans jobs bill this week. Senate Democrats are also considering action this month on a housing bill that President Barack Obama included on his congressional \"to do\" list earlier this summer, but House Republicans haven't expressed any desire to act on it. -- Some key provisions of the federal wiretapping bill known as FISA that was created after the 9/11 terror attacks under President George W. Bush are due to expire at the end of the year, and Congress is expected to pass an extension of the current law. House Republicans have slated a vote this week to renew the current law for another five years. Likely to be punted . The roughly eight-week sprint to Election Day means several major measures that lawmakers have failed to make any progress on over the summer will continue to languish on Capitol Hill. These include some issues that both parties say they want to address but will have little motivation to compromise on: The renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, a bill providing new cybersecurity protections and legislation to reform the postal service, which recently defaulted on payments to the Treasury Department for employee health plans. In each case, the proposal favored by the GOP-led House is at odds with the bills in the Democrat-controlled Senate. A divided Congress means these issues will be punted into the lame duck session after the election, or even postponed until next year. Less legislating and more campaign messaging . While there won't be much legislating, congressional aides say the messages from leaders and rank-and-file members on Capitol Hill will echo the campaign themes of Obama and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, particularly when it comes to the economy and jobs. On his first post-convention stop in New Hampshire on Friday, Obama prodded voters to urge Congress to pass his jobs legislation. \"If the Republicans are serious about being concerned about joblessness, we could create a million new jobs right now if Congress would pass the jobs plan that I sent to them a year ago -- jobs for teachers, jobs for construction workers, jobs for folks who have been looking for work for a long time. We can do that,\" Obama said. Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, emphasized that the House GOP has already approved legislation aimed at helping the economy. \"The House has done its job. We've passed more than 30 jobs bills.\" CNNMoney: August jobs report comes in weak . Noting that House Republicans have also passed a bill to undo the automatic spending cuts scheduled to go into effect in January and extend all the current tax rates, Smith added, \"We are ready to act on all of those measures if the president and Senate Democrats would show some courage to work with on those things with us.\" Romney continues to highlight the Obama administration's failed loan to the now-bankrupt energy company Solyndra. House Republicans will keep the issue out front with a vote this week on a bill to eliminate the federal loan guarantee program that funded several energy start-ups. Dubbed the \"No more Solyndras Act,\" the GOP bill is expected to pass mostly along party lines, but won't move in the Senate. One open question is whether GOP vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin will return to the Capitol for any part of the September session. Under Wisconsin law, Ryan is allowed to also run for his House seat, so he may feel pressure to take a break from barnstorming battleground states to vote on the bipartisan deal to keep the government funded. McCarthy told reporters Monday that Ryan would be back in Washington on Thursday to vote on the continuing resolution, and a Romney campaign official confirmed that. The six-month spending bill keeps the government funded at the level agreed to in last summer's debt deal -- $1.047 trillion. But after criticism from a bloc of conservative House Republicans that the deal didn't cut spending fast enough, Ryan introduced a budget that moved the overall spending level about $20 billion lower to $1.028 trillion. That budget passed the House, but was immediately rejected by Senate Democrats as violating the bipartisan debt deal. Asked how Ryan would vote this week on the funding bill, McCarthy initially told reporters he expected Ryan to support it, but when pressed about the spending level, he said he had indications his GOP colleague would vote for it, but he couldn't speak for other members. An aide to Ryan did not respond when asked by CNN whether the congressman planned to vote for the six-month spending bill. What won't get done -- a deal to avoid the 'fiscal cliff' Congress faces a \"fiscal cliff\" at the end of this year -- the combination of the deep automatic cuts to federal agencies scheduled to go into effect in January that were part of last summer's debt deal and the expiration of the \"Bush era\" tax cuts at the end of December. Economists and budget experts warn that a failure by the divided Congress to come to some agreement on significant deficit reduction and tax policy before the end of the year could trigger another recession. But neither side expects anything more than symbolic action on those issues until after the election. New Woodward book goes in depth on debt battle . On Friday, the White House missed a deadline to submit a report to Congress that details which government programs would face cuts as part of the sequestration in January, but White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters the report would go to the Hill this week. House Republicans passed a plan earlier this year without any Democratic support that shielded the Defense Department from any cuts and replaced the across-the-board reductions prescribed in the debt deal with other mandatory spending cuts to food stamp and other domestic programs. Although the majority of House Republicans voted for these spending cuts that were included in last summer's compromise to raise the debt ceiling, there has been a GOP push in recent months to blame the Obama administration and paint Democrats as responsible for any impact the cuts would have on the military. Over the weekend, Romney criticized Obama for proposing the cuts as a mechanism to broker the debt deal, saying \"it was a mistake for Republicans to go along with it.\" Romney explains why he thinks GOP made mistake . To reinforce that they now oppose the massive cuts to the military that sequestration would set in motion, the House GOP is scheduling another vote on the issue next week. The new bill would replace the mandatory cuts with their alternate set of reductions and again calls for the White House to explain how it will implement spending reductions. Perhaps what promises to be the only truly bipartisan moment in Congress this fall is this Tuesday's ceremony to mark the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. As has become custom each year on the date, House and Senate leaders from both parties will assemble on the Capitol steps to sing \"God Bless America.\" That 9/11 ceremony, along with two others awarding Congressional Gold Medals to golf great Arnold Palmer and Burmese human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi, will be rare breaks from the heated campaign rhetoric on Capitol Hill that's aimed at influencing voters' choices in November.", "The Obama administration on Wednesday declassified opinions from a secret court that oversees government surveillance showing the National Security Agency was broadly collecting domestic Internet communications of Americans and misrepresenting the scope of that effort to the court. The three opinions include one from October 2011 by U.S. District Judge John Bates, who scolded government lawyers that the NSA had, for the third time in less than three years, belatedly acknowledged it was collecting more data than it was legally allowed to. \"NSA acquires valuable information through its upstream collection, but not without substantial intrusions on Fourth Amendment protected interests,\" Bates wrote. The focus of the opinion was the government's admission that for three years, under its authority to monitor foreign communications, it had been collecting information beyond what it gets from Internet service providers, and included data that was entirely domestic. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court estimated the mistaken collection of domestic data, including e-mails and other Internet activity of Americans, totaled 58,000 communications a year. Report: NSA can see 75% of U.S. web messages . The NSA said the collection was a mistake that went beyond its authority under Section 702 of the Patriot Act. \"This was a situation where there was technological problem that could not be avoided, rather than any overreach\" by the NSA, according to a senior intelligence official who spoke with reporters about the matter. The other FISA Court opinions from November 2011 and September 2012 covered NSA steps to fix errors it made in over-collecting data and to purge data it shouldn't have collected. Those rulings indicated that the matter had been resolved. The overall issue, the intelligence official said, was immediately raised with the court. \"The FISA court probed deeply and thoroughly into the issue. The government took strong appropriate steps to remedy the problem, and the court determined it had remedied and that the collection could continue,\" according to the official who did not speak for attribution. \"This is not an egregious overreaching by a greedy agency seeking to spy on Americans,\" the official added. NSA admits 'mistakes' amid criticism after audit show is broke privacy rules . The administration also released documents provided to Congress to persuade lawmakers to reauthorize its surveillance authorities. The agency has come under pressure from lawmakers of both parties over the sweeping nature of its secret data collection, most recently surveillance that captures telephone metadata related to communications to and from the United States. That program and the one addressed in the document release on Wednesday were brought to public light through leaks to media outlets by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who fled the United States and is now in Russia under temporary asylum. He faces espionage charges. Their exposure also has generated concern from privacy groups and libertarians. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, who has proposed legislation aimed at reforming certain provisions of the Patriot Act related to the FISA Court, welcomed the newest development. \"Today's release of documents by the Director of National Intelligence begins to appropriately draw back the curtain on the secret law of government surveillance, and they also underscore the need for increased oversight and stronger protections for Americans' privacy,\" he said in a statement. Leahy is planning a hearing in coming weeks on the document release. In 2008, the NSA began collecting what it called \"upstream\" communications, essentially information that travels across the Internet, separate from the what it receives from Internet service providers that filter data to respond to agency requests. The NSA is supposed to be targeting foreign communications, such as e-mail addresses it believes relate to foreign intelligence, that have to do with potential terrorism investigations. The NSA said it made mistakes because of the way data was collected. It couldn't separate information that was entirely domestic. Government lawyers won approval from the court after making changes and later deleted years of data because some of it couldn't be separated from domestic communications. WikiLeaks source Manning gets 35 years .", "After a shaky start, an extended cease-fire in Gaza appeared to be holding Thursday. Rocket fire from Gaza late Wednesday, near the end of the initial truce, and early Thursday, as the extension began, raised doubts about whether it would last. Israeli airstrikes in response to the rockets added to fears that fighting was ratcheting up again. But the exchange of fire was limited and didn't last long. Quiet returned to the skies over Gaza, aside from the familiar buzz of Israeli drones. By noon Thursday in Gaza City, many people had left U.N. shelters to visit the neighborhoods they had fled during the fighting, and traffic had once again filled the bustling streets. Israeli and Palestinian officials said they had accepted the five-day extension of the truce. The initial three-day cease-fire had expired at midnight. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev accused Hamas, the militant Islamic group that holds power in Gaza, of violating the truce with the overnight rocket fire. But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri had earlier denied that the organization had anything to do with firing any rockets toward Israel, leaving it unclear which Palestinian group had launched them. 'Still sticking points' Israeli and Palestinian delegations had been negotiating in Cairo through Egyptian go-betweens in an attempt to find a more lasting end to hostilities. Under the cease-fire extension, they are expected to return to the indirect talks over the weekend. \"There remains a positive atmosphere towards reaching a comprehensive agreement,\" Azzam al-Ahmed, the lead Palestinian negotiator told reporters late Wednesday. \"But there are still sticking points.\" Khalil al-Hayya, a leader of Hamas, described the negotiations as both difficult and serious. He accused Israel of \"playing semantic games.\" \"Since we are determined (to work things out), we agreed to extend the humanitarian truce in order to hold more in-depth consultations -- and to allow more pressure on the Israelis, internally and externally, so they agree with our demands,\" the Hamas leader said. The two sides' demands aren't easy to reconcile. Israel says it wants Hamas to disarm and Gaza to be demilitarized. The Palestinian delegation in Egypt, which includes Hamas, has demanded an end to Israel's economic blockade on Gaza, an extension of fishing rights off the coast, the reopening of an airport and seaport and the release of prisoners held by Israelis. Al-Ahmed, head of the Palestinian team, said late Wednesday that there's still no agreement on the opening of crossings into Israel, \"the launching of a free fishing zone\" and various \"security issues.\" Israel: Hamas is 'wild card' The Gaza conflict has killed more than 1,900 people on the Palestinian side, most of them believed to be civilians, and 67 on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers. Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system has intercepted some of the roughly 3,500 rockets fired from Gaza since the conflict began. Regev told CNN on Thursday that the key to a longer-term solution was an end to rocket fire from Gaza. \"If there's no hostile fire from Gaza into Israel, of course we can have serious discussions about easing restrictions,\" he said. They're only there in the first place as a response to the violence.\" Hamas is the \"wild card,\" Regev said, expressing skepticism that the group would give up violence. But Hanan Ashrawi, an executive member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the Israelis \"keep blaming Hamas for everything.\" She suggested that the Israeli government \"stop trying to demonize, dehumanize and blame Hamas and the Palestinians,\" saying it should instead \"make the cease-fire hold and move to ending the occupation and dealing with all the root causes.\" Israel and its neighbors: Decades of war . Opinion: Why Israel is its own worst enemy . Opinion: Hypocrisy of 'condemn Israel' campaign . Is Mideast peace as far away as ever?", "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department will not renew the contract of security contractor Blackwater Worldwide when it expires in May, a senior State Department official said Friday. Heavily armed Blackwater guards scan downtown Baghdad, Iraq, from a helicopter in 2003. The decision was made after the Iraqi government refused last week to renew the firm's operating license because of a 2007 incident in which the Iraqi government says security guards -- then employed by Blackwater -- fired on and killed 17 Iraqis. Blackwater's latest \"task order\" expires in May, and the senior official said that \"one of the conditions is that you have to have a license\" to continue working in the country. \"No license, no renewal,\" the official said. \"If they don't have a license to operate, we would certainly not renew the task order.\" The official said the decision would not affect other contracts Blackwater has with the State Department to protect American diplomats around the world. As part of a contract to protect American diplomats and other employees worldwide, the State Department hired Blackwater for a multiyear assignment in Iraq, renewable each year. Blackwater, one of three security firms working for the United States in Iraq, has one of the biggest security contracts there. Officials said the State Department is talking with security firms DynCorp International and Triple Canopy, which share the Iraq contract with Blackwater, about picking up Blackwater's duties. The Iraqi government has been unclear about when Blackwater will have to cease operations. But the official said, \"We are working to make sure our people are protected.\" Losing the contract will be a huge blow to Blackwater. It has been estimated that the Iraq contract makes up one-third to one-half of the privately held company's business. Blackwater has about two dozen aircraft in Iraq and 1,000 personnel. Earlier this month, five former Blackwater security guards pleaded not guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and other serious crimes stemming from their involvement in the September 16, 2007, shootings in a Baghdad square. A sixth former security guard has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. Watch why Blackwater is notorious among Iraqis » . Blackwater says its employees were returning fire after they were attacked by armed insurgents. An Iraqi investigation concluded that the guards randomly fired at civilians without provocation. The company does not face charges. But the Baghdad incident exacerbated the feelings of many Iraqis that private American security contractors have operated since 2003 with little regard for Iraqi law or life. The indictment of the five men represents the first prosecution of non-Defense Department contractors under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act. The act was amended in 2004 to allow the Justice Department to prosecute such personnel providing services \"in support of the mission of the Department of Defense overseas.\" The recently approved U.S.-Iraqi security agreement specifies that U.S. civilian contractors will no longer be immune from Iraqi prosecution for crimes committed in that country. Iraq has required the licensing of private security companies since 2004, but the provision was not strictly enforced. Last year, the State Department renewed Blackwater's contract over strong objections from the Iraqi government. Starting January 1, the Iraqi government has mandated that all contractors obtain licenses to operate. As of Wednesday, Blackwater said it had not been officially notified of any Iraqi decision not to renew its license. CNN's Suzanne Simons contributed to this report.", "Washington (CNN) -- The Obamacare enrollment is 8 million strong and growing. Polls have shown that voters love popular provisions calling for mandatory coverage for maternity care and extending coverage for young people up to age 26 to stay on their parents' health insurance policies. And recent figures from the Congressional Budget Office show that Obamacare will cost about $5 billion less to implement in 2014 than originally estimated. Still, some Democrats have run from the President's signature health care reform law so fast, they've practically left skid marks. The question is: Will they run back? \"I don't think we should apologize for it. I don't think we should be defensive about it. I think there is a strong, good, right story to tell,\" President Barack Obama said in a rare appearance Thursday at the daily White House news briefing. Obama: Republicans 'were wrong' about Obamacare . A Democratic strategist and pollster thinks some Democrats will follow that advice. \"I think it's easier to talk about issues like equal pay or an increase in the minimum wage,\" said Margie Omero, president of Momentum Analysis LLC, a public opinion research firm in Washington, and a Huffington Post contributor. \"Obamacare has always been less popular. ... I think we're going to see some of these impressions change. But for some members, they look at one poll number and they think maybe I should speak about something else.\" 2014 Midterm Elections . Obamacare a tough sell for embattled Democrats . Singing Obamacare's praises is especially tough for politically vulnerable Democrats. So tough, in fact, that a Democratic super PAC, the House Majority PAC, ran ads for Reps. Joe Garcia of Florida and Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona highlighting the lawmakers' efforts in bucking the administration on some aspects of Obamacare. The ads credit the lawmakers for \"blowing the whistle\" on the botched rollout of the HealthCare.gov website. Republican groups and some wealthy donors are pouring millions of dollars into ad campaigns targeting Garcia, Kirkpatrick and other vulnerable Democrats and trying to tie Obamacare to them. Democratic super PAC praises Democrat for blasting Obamacare rollout . The ads then go on to credit Garcia and Kirkpatrick for supporting provisions to block insurance companies from denying coverage to patients with preexisting conditions or dropping patients when they become ill. The ads do not, however, make clear that these popular provisions are a key part of Obamacare. The House Majority PAC says their ads address Republican criticisms over Obamacare. \"Vilifying Obamacare may make good sound bites for the Republican base, but candidates will be forced to answer tough questions about what dismantling the ACA really means for voters,\" said Matt Thornton, the organization's communication director. \"Poll after poll shows that people approve of the constituent parts of the legislation -- popular provisions Republicans have vowed to repeal.\" Garcia was elected in 2012 and has voted numerous times against a full Obamacare repeal and for measures aimed at changing provisions in the law. Kirkpatrick voted for Obamacare in 2010, lost a re-election bid that year, and then won back her seat in 2012. Democrats like Garcia and Kirkpatrick are trying to find artful ways to run on Obamacare, said Omero, the Democratic strategist. Those techniques include pointing out, \" 'Here are some things I might change or disagree with but it's starting to work' and talk about going forward how it's going to work,\" she said. Treading lightly on Obamacare . To be sure, there are reasons why some Democrats feel skittish boasting about Obamacare. From its inception, the partisan bickering over the law was acrimonious and led, in part, to the tea party-backed uprising that saw a number of Democrats unseated and control of that chamber go to Republicans. Despite a victory in 2012, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled core provisions of the law constitutional, Democrats still found themselves on the ropes as Republicans hammered them on the law's failings and voted in the House for repeal \"more than 50 times,\" Obama pointed out Thursday. Last November, the Obama administration struggled to recover from the rocky rollout of the health care website and explain why the President broke a promise that people who prefer their insurance could keep it under the law. On the campaign trail, vulnerable Democrats are dogged by questions about Obamacare. Republicans hit a nerve when it comes to Obamacare . As he made his way this week through the chill and crowds at a southeastern Virginia political gathering, Sen. Mark Warner was asked several times about the health care reform law. One man wearing an NRA sticker asked: \"Senator, did you read the Affordable Care Act before you voted for it?\" Warner told the man: \"I've outlined a series of changes to it. Five separate bills.\" And in March, when Democrat Alex Sink lost by less than 2% of the vote to Republican David Jolly in Florida's special election for the 13th Congressional District, the GOP said Sink was defeated in part by Obamacare. \"His (Jolly's) victory shows that voters are looking for representatives who will fight to end the disaster of Obamacare,\" Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and co-chair Sharon Day said in an e-mail to reporters after the candidate's win. It is worth pointing out, though, that the seat has been held by Republicans since the early 1980s. 'This thing is working' The President is aware that he is partly to blame for the nervousness surrounding running on Obamacare. \"There is no doubt that our failure to roll out the ACA smoothly has put a burden on Democrats, whether they're running or not, because they stood up and supported this effort through thick and thin,\" Obama said at Thursday's news briefing. He added that he feels \"deeply responsible for making it harder for them rather than easier for them.\" But, Democratic strategists and political analysts say, it's time for that party's members to stop running from Obamacare and start proudly touting the law's successes. Failing to do so could cost the party in the long run, said Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University historian and CNN contributor. \"The party could make a collective mistake in continuing down this path,\" he said. \"Generally, for most Democrats, they need a message from the top saying they should not be responding to Republican attacks by saying 'we agree with you.' They need to point out the numbers and say we have some successes.\" The President agrees, and he said as much on Thursday: \"This thing is working.\" \"I find it strange that the Republican position on this law is still stuck in the same place that it has always been. They still can't bring themselves to admit that the Affordable Care Act is working,\" Obama said Thursday. \"They said nobody would sign up; they were wrong about that,\" he continued. \"They said it would be unaffordable for the country; they were wrong about that.\" CNN's Leigh Ann Caldwell and Peter Hamby contributed to this report.", "Not good: Director of National Intelligence James Clapper warned that the leak of top secret documents proving government oversight over personal records could cause serious national security issues . The top U.S. intelligence official denounced the disclosure of highly secret documents Thursday and sought to set the record straight about how the government collects intelligence about people's telephone and Internet use. He said he was declassifying some aspects of the monitoring to help Americans understand it better. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called the disclosure of an Internet surveillance program 'reprehensible' and said it risks Americans' security. He said a leak that revealed a program to collect phone records would affect how America's enemies behave and make it harder to understand their intentions. 'The unauthorized disclosure of a top secret U.S. court document threatens potentially long-lasting and irreversible harm to our ability to identify and respond to the many threats facing our nation,' Clapper said in an unusual late-night statement. At the same time, he moved to correct misunderstandings about both programs, taking the rare step of declassifying some details about the authority used in the phone records program and alleging that articles about the Internet program 'contain numerous inaccuracies.' He did not specify what those inaccuracies might be. At issue is a court order, first disclosed Wednesday by The Guardian newspaper in Britain, that requires the communications company Verizon to turn over on an 'ongoing, daily basis' the records of its customers' calls. Separately, The Washington Post and The Guardian reported Thursday the existence of another program used by the NSA and FBI that scours the nation's main Internet companies, extracting audio, video, emails and other information. Spying: The NSA has been getting millions of phone records from Verizon on a daily basis for months without any justification for the order, that was only revealed today . 'The unauthorized disclosure of a top secret U.S. court document threatens potentially long-lasting and irreversible harm to our ability to identify and respond to the many threats facing our nation,' Clapper said Thursday . Clapper said the Internet program, known as PRISM, can't be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the U.S. He said a special court, Congress and the executive branch all oversee the program and that extensive procedures make sure the acquisition, retention and dissemination of data accidentally collected about Americans is kept to a minimum. He added that Congress recently reauthorized the section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that authorizes such a program. 'Information collected under this program is among the most important and valuable foreign intelligence information we collect, and is used to protect our nation from a wide variety of threats,' Clapper said. Clapper acknowledged the risks inherent in publicly discussing details about the phone records program but said he wanted to correct the 'misleading impression' created by the article that disclosed its existence. Double bind: Part of the order mandated that Verizon not tell its' customer's about the record transfer nor could they admit that the order existed . 'I believe it is important for the . American people to understand the limits of this targeted . counterterrorism program and the principles that govern its use.' To that end, Clapper said he was . immediately declassifying and releasing to the public certain details . about the FISA provision that governs the program. A special panel known as the FISA . Court authorizes the phone records program and reviews it about every 90 . days, Clapper said, adding that the Justice Department oversees . information acquired under the court order and that members of Congress . have been fully and repeatedly briefed. He said only a small fraction of the . records collected ever get examined because most are unrelated to any . inquiries into terrorism activities. The NSA collects the phone data in . broad swaths, Clapper said, because collecting it a narrow fashion would . make it harder to identify terrorism-related communications. Wide-reaching: Millions of Verizon customers had their data turned over to the NSA, and it is not known whether similar orders were given to other phone companies as well . Lashing out: Former Vice President Al Gore called the surveillance 'outrageous', not supporting his fellow Democrats . Timing: The revelation comes the same day as President Obama announced his appointment of Susan Rice (right) to be the new head of the NSA, replacing Tom Donilon (center) He said the information collected lets . the government, over time, make connections about terrorist activities. He said the program doesn't let the U.S. listen to people's calls, but . only includes information like call length and telephone numbers dialed. The court also prohibits the . government from indiscriminately rummaging through the phone data, which . he said can only be queried when there are specific facts to back up a . reasonable suspicion of an association with a foreign terrorist group. He says officials allowed to access the records must be specially cleared and are trained in the court-approved procedures. Clapper also cited the USA Patriot Act . and noted both the Obama and Bush administrations had reauthorized the . provision used to grant authority to the program. That provision deals . with the ability to compel an entity to hand over business records. Warning: Senators Mark Udall (left) and Ron Wyden (right) wrote a letter warning the Attorney General that there would be public outcry should the government's actions become public . When the first revelation in the case came out Wednesday night about the order against Verizon, The American Civil Liberties Union . put out an immediate statement calling for an end to the program - which . is scheduled to run until July 19 - and a investigation into the order. 'From a civil liberties perspective, . the program could hardly be any more alarming,' ACLU deputy legal . director Jameel Jaffer said in a statement. 'It’s a program in which some untold . number of innocent people have been put under the constant surveillance . of government agents. 'It is beyond Orwellian, and it provides further evidence of the extent to which basic democratic rights are being surrendered in secret to the demands of unaccountable intelligence agencies.' The order is the first concrete evidence that U.S. intelligence officials are continuing a broad campaign of domestic surveillance that began under President George W. Bush and caused great controversy when it was first exposed. In 2005, the New York Times reported that the NSA was wiretapping Americans without warrants on international calls. Los Angeles Times and USA Today later reported that the agency also had unchecked access to records on domestic calls. In addition, a former AT&T technician, Mark Klein, said that a room accessible only with NSA clearance in the carrier's main San Francisco hub received perfect copies of all transmissions. Verizon is the second biggest U.S. telephone company behind AT&T in terms of revenue. The vast majority of Verizon's overseas operations come from its acquisition of MCI Communications, which is also covered by the order although foreign-to-foreign calls are exempted from it.", "An expanded Violence Against Women Act won bipartisan approval on Thursday from the U.S. House after Republicans failed to pass their own proposal due to a party split on an issue important to women and minority groups. The measure now goes to President Barack Obama, who said in a statement that it was \"an important step towards making sure no one in America is forced to live in fear.\" \"I look forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits my desk,\" Obama said. TIME photos: A portrait of domestic violence . Thursday's votes reflected an emerging political reality in the GOP-led House, with a minority of Republicans joining Democrats to pass legislation that has broad public support, including from increasingly influential demographics such as Hispanic Americans. By a vote of 166-257, the GOP version of the Violence Against Women Act failed to win a majority after almost 90 minutes of debate. The House then voted 286-138 to pass the Senate version, with 87 Republicans joining all 199 Democrats to provide majority support. Originally passed in 1994 and reauthorized since, the act provides support for organizations that serve domestic violence victims. Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law. Supporters credit the act with sharply reducing the number of lives lost to domestic violence over the past two decades. Last year, the House and Senate were unable to compromise on another extension of the act, with Republicans opposing Democratic attempts to specify inclusion of native Americans, undocumented immigrants and lesbian, transgender and bisexual women. Opinion: The plague of violence against women . However, exit polls showed Obama won strong support among women, Latino voters and gay and lesbian voters in the November election that also strengthened the Democratic majority in the Senate and weakened the Republican majority in the House. Republicans then changed their stance and agreed to bring up the measure in the new Congress as long as they could offer their own version. The Republican proposal deleted provisions from the Senate measure that gave tribal authorities jurisdiction to prosecute cases on Indian reservations, specifically targeted discrimination of LGBT victims, and allowed undocumented immigrant survivors of domestic violence to seek legal status. In debate before Thursday's votes, Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, said the Senate version includes legal precedents of expanded sovereignty that could be subject to court challenge. Opinion: Rubio missed the year of the woman . \"Please consider the damage we have done if a court overturns this act and its protection all because we wanted a good slogan instead of a good law,\" Cramer said. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and others repeatedly questioned why Republicans would seek to weaken a measure that received strong bipartisan support in a 78-22 Senate vote earlier this year. A majority of Senate Republicans backed the act, along with every woman senator regardless of party, Pelosi noted. \"It's really hard to explain why, what eyes the Republicans are looking through, that they do not see the folly of their ways in the legislation they are proposing,\" Pelosi said. Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, herself a rape victim, paraphrased the question of rights activist Sojourner Truth, a 19th century escaped slave and civil rights advocate. \"Ain't they women?\" Moore shouted in reference to native American, undocumented immigrant and LGBT women. In response, Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington challenged Democratic claims that the GOP version excluded any women, saying it was all-inclusive. A global push to end violence with song and dance . House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia said the goal was to \"make sure all women are safe,\" and he described the Republican version as an attempt to \"improve on\" what the Senate sent over. However, Pelosi noted that hundreds of advocacy groups supported the Senate version as the best way forward. \"This is a remarkable day because we have clarity between the two proposals,\" she said, noting one had support from both parties in the Senate and the president while the other was opposed by \"almost everybody who has anything to do with the issue of violence against women.\" The final vote on Thursday followed the same pattern as votes on other legislation at the end of the previous Congress, including the agreement to avoid some impacts of the fiscal cliff. A divide between conservative and more moderate Republicans prevented House GOP leaders from being able to pass their proposed fiscal cliff legislation at the end of the year. Under public pressure ratcheted up by Obama, the House ended up approving a Democratic proposal that raised taxes on the nation's top income earners, a key campaign theme in the November election opposed by the GOP. The measure passed with backing from most or all Democrats and dozens of Republicans. Such a dynamic signals the continuing inability of House Speaker John Boehner to marshal his GOP members on some of the most contentious issues coming up, such as deficit reduction and immigration reform. Boehner risks his standing as a party leader if he continues conceding on measures that become law without majority support from House Republicans, which also would fuel continuing unrest by conservatives who traditionally comprise the GOP base. Domestic violence bill vote critical test of more inclusive GOP . According to advocacy groups, the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act approved Tuesday strengthens protections of particular groups of women at particular risk. For example, one in three native women will be raped in their lifetime, according to the Indian Law Resource Center. Three in five will be physically assaulted, and native women also are killed at a rate 10 times the national average, the center said. The National Congress of American Indians addressed the issue in a December 20 letter to Cantor. Beyond vomiting, how to prevent rape . It described situations in which beatings and rapes by non-native men were declined for prosecution at a federal level and returned to a tribal court as a misdemeanor. Federal law currently prohibits tribal courts from imposing a jail sentence of more than a year, so they generally do not prosecute felonies. In many instances, such cases are dismissed altogether and a defendant can walk free until a grand jury indictment can be obtained. \"The federal criminal justice system is simply not equipped to handle local crimes, and this is the primary reason that tribes seek local control over these crimes that are plaguing our communities,\" the letter said. On undocumented immigrants, Human Rights Watch has found that immigrant farm workers are especially at risk for domestic abuse and argued provisions in the Senate bill \"would go some way toward fixing the problem.\" Those in the LGBT community are another high-risk group that will be affected by the Violence Against Women Act. They experience violence at the same rate as heterosexuals but are less likely to report it. When they do, many are denied services. About 45% of LGBT victims were turned away when they sought help from a domestic violence shelter and nearly 55% of those who sought protection orders were denied them, according to the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women. Opinion: GOP House's inaction on VAWA shows bigotry . Vice President Joe Biden, who helped spearhead the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994 when he was a U.S. senator, said Thursday that domestic violence dropped by 64% since then. \"I am pleased that this progress will continue, with new tools for cops and prosecutors to hold abusers and rapists accountable, and more support for all victims of these crimes,\" Biden said in a statement.", "Washington (CNN) -- Setting up a showdown with the White House and Senate Democrats, House Republican leaders Thursday proceeded with plans to vote next week on a proposal to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits while easing the path for approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Meanwhile, the Senate blocked competing Democratic and Republican proposals to extend the payroll tax cut from proceeding Thursday, with both failing to get the 60 votes necessary. Senate Republicans halted the Democratic proposal on a 50-48 vote. It included a surtax on income over $1 million to help pay for the lower payroll tax rate. Republicans seeking to shrink the size of government oppose such a tax increase. Opposition from both parties blocked the Republican measure, with only 22 votes in favor and 76 against it. The measure would have been paid for by freezing federal pay as well as reducing the federal work force by 10%, provisions rejected by President Barack Obama and Democrats. The outcome means party leaders and Obama must work out a compromise by the end of the year, when the payroll tax cut is set to expire, or face the wrath of Americans facing higher taxes in the election year of 2012. On the House side, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told a closed-door meeting of GOP members that he was ready for a \"fight\" with Obama over the pipeline issue, according to two senior Republican leadership aides in the meeting. Cheers went up in the room after Boehner's comment, the aides said. On Wednesday, Obama said he would reject any attempt by Republicans to tie the pipeline project to the payroll tax extension issue. The House proposal would shift authority from the State Department to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approving the proposed pipeline from Canada's oil sands production in northern Alberta to Texas. It also would shorten the time frame for a decision. The State Department recently said its decision would be delayed until 2013 to examine environmental issues raised by critics, a move Republicans labeled as political to put off the issue until after next year's presidential election. Boehner told reporters after Thursday's meeting that the pipeline project would generate \"tens of thousands of jobs immediately.\" He also noted that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper supports the plan. The State Department puts the jobs figure at 5,000-6,000, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, slammed the House GOP proposal on Thursday as a \"partisan joke that has no chance of passing the Senate.\" The impasse sets up another countdown clock on congressional action, this time before the end-of-year holiday recess scheduled to begin at the end of next week. Obama told reporters Thursday that he was willing to stay in Washington \"as long as it takes to make sure that the American people's taxes don't go up on January 1st and to make sure that folks who desperately need unemployment insurance get that help.\" \"There is absolutely no excuse for us not getting it done,\" Obama said, adding that his response to efforts by Republicans \"to see what can they extract from us in order to get this done\" was \"just do the right thing.\" Referring specifically to the Keystone project, Obama said that \"however many jobs might be generated by a Keystone pipeline, there are going to be a lot fewer than the jobs that are created by extending the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment insurance.\" The House proposal, which Boehner and other leaders outlined to GOP members at Thursday's meeting, was largely similar to one they discussed last week, according to several aides. It would extend the payroll tax cut for one year, continuing savings of $1,000 for families earning $50,000. It also includes unemployment assistance but gives states the ability to reform the program -- including removal of a federal ban from the 1960s that prohibited states from drug-testing those who apply for unemployment benefits. The GOP legislation would also shorten the time period for receiving jobless aid benefits from the current level of 99 weeks, phasing it down to 59 weeks by the middle of 2012. In addition, the bill would avoid a scheduled cut in payments for Medicare physicians for two years -- the so-called \"doc fix.\" Boehner noted that the bill is \"fully paid for,\" and aides said the bulk of the cost would be offset from a freeze on salaries of federal employees and members of Congress through 2015. The measure would use funds from health care programs to pay for the Medicare \"doc fix\" provision. Last week, GOP leaders encountered significant resistance from conservatives when they outlined their plan, with a bloc of members opposing any renewal of the payroll tax cut because the bill uses spending cuts over 10 years to pay for a one-year extension. Some of those critics later said that after they talked through their concerns with leaders, they don't want to see a tax increase during the tough economy, even though they don't support the structure of the payroll tax cut. Republican leaders also added a couple of new spending cuts to help attract conservative support. One would eliminate the child tax credit for those in the country illegally, and another would not renew a research-and-development tax credit focused on energy programs. Some Republicans noted that Obama's comments the day before opposing any effort to link extending the payroll tax cut to the Keystone pipeline helped rally support for the plan. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, leader of the fiscally conservative Republican Study Group, said he supports the bill, adding: \"Frankly, the fact that the president doesn't like it makes me like it even more.\" Asked about overcoming divisions among Republicans, Boehner said feedback on the proposal was good and that \"I feel confident about our ability to move ahead.\" The House is expected to vote on the bill early next week, according to several aides. Even though the Republican plan could muster a majority of votes in the House, it is likely to encounter major obstacles in the Democratic-led Senate. The payroll tax issue, a headache for Republicans already, threatens to become a major campaign theme for 2012. Obama touched on it Tuesday in a policy address in Kansas, saying Republicans protected wealthy taxpayers from a tax increase during deficit negotiations this year, but now threaten to block the payroll tax cut extension. Blocking it would cause most Americans to pay higher taxes next year. Republicans, who oppose tax increases in keeping with their push to shrink the size of government, argue that Obama and Democrats are forcing votes on proposals they know won't pass in order to score political points. So far, the public backs the Democratic position, with polls showing majority support for increasing the tax burden on wealthy Americans to help pay for the measure. Republicans are on the defensive due to their history of arguing that tax cuts end up paying for themselves because they stimulate economic activity by letting consumers keep more of their money instead of giving it to the government. Democrats are quick to point out that the mounting federal deficits dominating the Washington discussion were caused in part by reduced revenue due to tax cuts from the Bush administration. Now both parties agree that any measure to extend the payroll tax cut should include provisions to reduce spending or raise revenue to offset the cost. As part of a budget-cutting deal last December, Obama and Congress negotiated a reduction of 2 percentage points in the payroll tax rate -- from 6.2% to 4.2%. With the reduced rate expiring on January 1, Obama and Democrats seek to expand the provision by lowering the rate even further -- to 3.1% -- for another year. Republicans initially opposed the idea, saying the provision failed to create jobs last year. Republican leaders now say they support an extension, but they differ with Obama and Democrats on how to pay for it. The latest Senate Democratic plan calls for a 1.9% surtax on income over $1 million, as well as increased fees that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge mortgage lenders to guarantee repayment of new mortgage loans to cover the $180 billion cost. Republicans oppose the plan because they say it will increase the tax burden on small-business owners, a contention the White House says is false. In their compromise, Collins and McCaskill included a provision to exempt the income of small-business owners from the surtax. However, House Republicans questioned whether it was possible to legislate such a distinction. CNN's Tom Cohen contributed to this report.", "(CNN) -- China is continuing to speak out against a multibillion-dollar U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, with the Chinese foreign minister telling U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday that the Obama administration should reconsider the deal. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Clinton in New York, where the United Nations General Assembly is in session, according to a senior State Department official who spoke on background. Yang \"was making very serious representations to Secretary Clinton, asked the Obama administration to reconsider this decision and indicated that it would harm the trust and confidence that was established between the two sides,\" the official said. Chinese officials \"have indicated that they're going to suspend or to cancel or postpone a series of ... military-to-military engagements,\" the official said. Clinton \"responded very clearly\" that the United States has a strategic interest in stability in the region, and that the Taiwan Relations Act \"provides for a strong rationale for the provision of defensive capabilities and weapons to Taiwan as part of a larger context to preserve that peace and stability,\" the official said. Clinton also told Yang that the United States supports improved relations between mainland China and Taiwan. The $5.3 billion arms package includes upgrades to Taiwan's F-16 fighter fleet, a five-year extension of F-16 pilot training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and spare parts for the upkeep of three different planes currently in use by the Taiwanese, according to the State Department. The deal is part of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. China voiced strong opposition to the deal when it was announced last week, with the state-run Xinhua news agency quoting China's vice foreign minister, Zhang Zhijun, as saying, \"The wrongdoing by the U.S. side will inevitably undermine bilateral relations as well as exchanges and cooperation in military and security areas.\" China regards Taiwan as a renegade province. Taiwan began as the remnant of the government that ruled over mainland China, until a Communist uprising proved victorious in 1949. The Taiwan Strait separates the mainland from the island. In 1979, the United States carried out its \"one China\" policy by switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. But the Taiwan Relations Act obligates the United States to help defend the island if needed. The United States also is Taiwan's main arms supplier. Beijing broke off military contacts with Washington last year to protest another arms sale to Taiwan. The sale included more than $6 billion in Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment, which Taiwan said it needed for self-defense.", "(CNN) -- Thursday's Supreme Court ruling upholding President Barack Obama's signature health care legislation effectively cements the cornerstone of his political legacy, observers said. \"This would be in the first paragraph of Barack Obama's summation of his presidency,\" said University of Minnesota professor Lawrence Jacobs, co-author of a 2010 book on the politics of health care. Obama: Ruling on health care a victory for all Americans . \"I cannot think of a policy by a Democrat or Republican that's going to have the kind of long-lasting impact on the lives of Americans in at least half a century, maybe going back to the New Deal,\" Jacobs said after Thursday's ruling. In a long-anticipated ruling, the court upheld the individual insurance mandate at the heart of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often called \"Obamacare.\" The 5-4 ruling allows the government to move ahead with implementing the legislation, some key provisions of which won't take effect until 2014. And it advances a goal of universal health care that has eluded presidents dating back to Theodore Roosevelt, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin said. \"That this has finally gotten through the Supreme Court is the very historic accomplishment that all presidents wish for when they come into office,\" Goodwin said. Ruling plays into campaign narrative for both sides . That titanic clash over health care began shortly after Obama took office in 2009, pledging to expand health coverage to the roughly 45 million Americans without it. It dominated Congress for nearly a year before he signed the bill in March 2010. Conservatives complained that it would bust the federal budget and lead to worse health care, not better. Many liberals, meanwhile, wanted Obama to fight for a Canadian-style model or at least establish a public health insurance plan to compete with private companies. Opponents railed against the bill for a variety of sins real and imagined, including a later-dropped \"Cornhusker kickback\" aimed at securing support from Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson and the false claims of \"death panels\" by critics such as ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who argued that the bill would lead to patients being denied critical care. Lawmakers found themselves facing angry crowds at usually sleepy meetings with constituents during their summer recess. Breaking down the court's decision . In the end, it passed over near-universal Republican opposition -- the sole GOP vote for it in either chamber was Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana -- with nearly three dozen Democrats voting against it as well. The battle fueled the rise of the conservative tea party movement and contributed to a sweeping Republican win in the 2010 congressional elections. One of the politicians elected in that wave, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, called Thursday's decision \"a loss for America.\" The Supreme Court's finding that the individual mandate amounts to a tax will give taxpayers more headaches in April, Rubio predicted. \"This has now turned the IRS into an enforcement mechanism for Obamacare,\" he said. How the justices voted, what they wrote . Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, urged followers to rally and \"restore the Constitution to its rightful place.\" The group is a leading voice for religious conservatives and filed a friend-of-the-court brief attacking the law. \"Not only is the individual mandate a profound attack on our liberties, but it is only one section among hundreds of provisions in the law that will force taxpayers to fund abortions, violate their conscience rights and impose a massive tax and debt burden on American families,\" Perkins said. \"It's now time to replace those leaders who disregarded the constitutional limitations of their authority and the deeply held religious beliefs of their constituents, voting for the government takeover of health care.\" Jacobs said the individual mandate -- the single biggest complaint about the legislation -- will affect \"maybe two or three out of 100 Americans.\" It's the rest of the law, particularly its regulations on insurance companies, that will have \"a tremendous impact on the lives of everyday Americans.\" Timeline of the health care law . \"It completely rewires health care delivery and financing,\" he said. \"We will think of this moment as before and after.\" Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley put the health care reform victory in the context of some of Obama's other signature moments, saying it is clear he's made an impact in his first three and a half years in the White House. \"I think President Obama is now in very good stead to say, 'I passed the Affordable Care Act, I got Osama bin Laden, and I saved General Motors,\" said Brinkley, referring also to the raid that killed the al Qaeda leader and Obama's backing of the automobile industry bailout. \"He has three real historic accomplishments.\" Of those, the health care law is by far the most controversial even after Thursday's decision. Goodwin said that while the battle over the law's constitutionality is over, \"I think the battle for public sentiment lays ahead.\" Before Lyndon Johnson managed to get Medicare and Medicaid through Congress, future President Ronald Reagan railed that \"socialized medicine\" would leave Americans \"to spend their sunset years telling their children and their children's children what it was like in America when men were free,\" Goodwin noted. \"That's how deep that battle was at that period of time, and yet Medicare has been sustained and it's now approved,\" she said, adding, \"One thing we have not gotten and what I think the president has started doing is to make a clear understanding of what this bill is all about.\" What the health care ruling means to you ." ]

[ "A federal judge levied two punishments over the \"Bridgegate\" tale of political retaliation in New Jersey Wednesday, sentencing former Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni to two years in prison and Bridget Kelly, Christie's former deputy chief of staff, to 18 months. The sentencing comes months after Baroni and Kelly were found guilty of crimes that included conspiracy and fraud. The two Christie allies — one a top aide, the other an appointee — were accused of playing key roles in a traffic nightmare on the George Washington Bridge back in September 2013. The four days of lane closures on the bridge were widely seen as retaliation against the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., for not endorsing Christie during his re-election campaign. As federal Judge Susan Wigenton announced Baroni's sentence, she repeatedly noted his cover-up attempts and lack of remorse, according to reporter Matt Katz of member station WNYC. Wigenton termed the debacle \"an outrageous abuse of power,\" Katz says. Katz adds that Baroni showed remorse for the first time in court Wednesday, stating, \"I regret more than anything that I allowed myself to get caught up in this failed those who needed me.\" Kelly was sentenced shortly afterward. As the Two-Way reported when the pair were found guilty last November: \"U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman defended the decision not to prosecute Christie, saying that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to build a case against him when they made indictments in the case. \"During the trial, Kelly testified that Christie knew about the scheme. She said he was told in advance about the plan that would cause traffic nightmares in Fort Lee, N.J., and responded by asking about his relationship with the local mayor.\" On the day the sentences were announced, Christie was in Washington, named by President Trump to help with a White House commission on the abuse of opiate drugs." ]

[ "Newly uncensored text messages show that the former deputy chief of staff for Gov. Chris Christie joked with a Christie ally about causing traffic troubles in front of the home of a local rabbi. The New York Times reports: \"'We cannot cause traffic problems in front of his house, can we?' wrote Bridget Anne Kelly, then a deputy chief of staff for Mr. Christie. \"David Wildstein, a Christie ally at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, suggested that they should think bigger. \"'Flights to Tel Aviv all mysteriously delayed,' Mr. Wildstein wrote. (Again, he appeared to be kidding.)\" The documents, which also revealed that Kelly and Wildstein manufactured a traffic jam at the George Washington Bridge, were released earlier but with heavy redactions. The New Jersey Star Ledger reportsthat it is not clear why Kelly and Wildstein were trying to get back at Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, an Orthodox Jew and \"a close Christie ally.\" Rabbi Carlebach told the Times he was \"clueless\" as to the reason Kelly and Wildstein would have been angry with him. State Assemblyman John Wisniewski, a Democrat leading the committee investigating \"Bridgegate,\" as it's come to be known, told the paper the newly uncensored text messages break \"no new ground.\" \"But what it does show is kind of a juvenile, cavalier attitude toward their official responsibilities and joking about the power they had to create traffic or delay flights,\" Wisniewski tells the paper. Christie announced in January that he had fired Kelly for her role. Weinstein resigned from the Port Authority in December.", "The New Jersey state legislature on Monday is expected to issue subpoenas to former aides of Governor Chris Christie in the case surrounding the George Washington bridge road closures last fall. Will \"Bridgegate\" play a role in whether Christie runs for the Republican presidential nomination?", "\"Bridgegate\" defense documents filed in court Wednesday night include a deleted text message from a Chris Christie staffer saying he \"flat-out lied\" during a 2013 press conference when he told reporters his senior staff were not involved in the bridge lane closures.", "Governor Chris Christie's office has fired back at a former ally who is believed to have ordered unnecessary lane closures on the George Washington Bridge as political retribution. That ally alleged on Friday that \"evidence exists\" Christie knew about lane closures. For an update, Steve Inskeep talks to Cokie Roberts, who is heard on <em>Morning Edition</em> most Mondays, and Robert Costa, national political reporter for <em>The Washington Post</em>.", "A former Chris Christie confidante is pleading guilty in the &#8220;Bridgegate&#8221; scandal. Hillary Clinton now has a primary challenger. Carly Fiorina is getting ready to become the second woman in the race. Candidates had to square their past with the present unrest in Baltimore. And there were some humor-filled moments in the week, such as newly-declared candidate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders recalling his folk-singing career. In our weekly look at the race for 2016, Here & Now&#8217;s Meghna Chakrabarti is joined by Rick Klein of ABC News and Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post. \nSee more in our weekly series about the race for 2016\n [Youtube] Guests\n\nRick Klein, political director at ABC News. He tweets @rickklein.\nWesley Lowery, political reporter for The Washington Post. He tweets @WesleyLowery.", "If you've been missing the force of Chris Christie's personality since he returned to private life last year, you can now get your fix at full blast from his autobiography, Let Me Finish. But if you are looking for introspection or deep thoughts, look elsewhere. This is a big, loud book by a man with a full head of steam, stories to tell and scores to settle. The 400-page tome's subtitle lays out the agenda: Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics. You can expect an earful about all the above, but Christie's main beef is with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Trump. Christie blames the young Kushner for ousting him from Trump's inner circle. He specifically means his removal as chairman of the transition team managing the move from campaign mode to governing, which we are told explains pretty much everything that has gone awry since. Christie is still in the first seven pages of his introduction when he pounces on \"the kid\" (as he says the now-former chief strategist Steve Bannon calls Kushner). It's all about Christie having prosecuted Jared Kushner's father, Charles, for tax evasion and illegal campaign contributions a decade earlier when Christie was U.S. attorney for New Jersey. How much should we care about Christie losing that transition job? Well, right there in the introduction we are told that the myriad problems of the Trump administration — \"the amateurs, grifters, weaklings\" with their endless \"infighting and chaos\" — could all have been avoided if only Christie had been there and his orderly transition plans had been followed. \"But that plan was thrown in the trash,\" mourns Christie. \"Literally. All thirty binders were tossed in a Trump Tower dumpster, never to be seen again.\" But they are often to be mentioned again in Let Me Finish. References to the Lost Transition recur often and dominate toward the end as Christie pile-drives the point. How big a deal is being chairman of the transition? Christie calls it \"the second biggest job in American politics, right behind being the candidate.\" And it is clear he took it on with the attitude he might have brought to the office itself, as if this shiny new presidency were his. But by the end of the book, we are accustomed to hearing how much Christie mattered to Trump. How he helped pitch in to save the election night speech. How he saved the president by preparing him for debates with Hillary Clinton. How the president told him he \"couldn't have done this without you.\" And finally, how the president, when showing Christie and his wife around the Oval Office for the first time, said: \"This might have been you guys here if it hadn't been for Bridgegate.\" Ah, Bridgegate. But before we get to Christie's pious exegesis on the nagging scandal known by that name, a word to readers who feel the need to check their own memories about Christie's showing in the 2016 Republican primaries. Was Christie that close to winning the nomination? In a word, no. He dropped out in early February after netting 2 percent in the Iowa caucuses and 7.4 percent in the New Hampshire primary. But writing an autobiography lets a man explain a lot of things from his own perspective. So here we learn that Christie was the secret choice of Iowa's Republican governor (who unfortunately had promised not to endorse anyone publicly). And we are reminded that Christie got almost 20 percent in one poll in New Hampshire after his best debate performance. Sadly, though, that was just before he ran out of money for ads and the other candidates ganged up on him (including Trump, who made fun of him over Bridgegate). So, Bridgegate. Christie devotes many pages to explaining how utterly innocent he was in the closure of several lanes of the George Washington Bridge in 2013. These lanes usually connect Fort Lee, N.J., with Manhattan across the Hudson River. The resulting massive traffic disruptions were ordered in retribution against Fort Lee's mayor, who had refused to endorse Christie's re-election campaign for governor. But Christie had nothing to do with it, apparently. Two Christie associates did wind up being sentenced to prison for this, but months of probing found no evidence of his direct involvement. Nevertheless, the whole affair understandably remains a sore spot, and Christie tells us it was all meant \"to take out [Hillary Clinton's] purported Number One rival\" for the presidency after he had been on the cover of Time magazine. Christie lays groundwork for this \"Number One\" claim by telling us about all the famous people who begged him to run in 2012. He speaks of \"fifty billionaires\" and the influential Koch brothers and even former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger — all beseeching him to seek that year's GOP nomination. But he wasn't ready, he tells us. In 2016, he was ready. But in 2016, something else happens. Or someone else. At this point, we have to be a bit sympathetic. As in all autobiographies, the author himself is cente", "Journalist Matt Katz discusses Christie's rise to power in New Jersey, the \"Bridgegate\" scandal and his performance in the '16 Republican presidential primary. Katz is the author of <em>American Governor. </em>", "The chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has resigned, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said in a press conference on Friday. This is the latest development in an ongoing political scandal that involves the politically charged closure of the George Washington Bridge. The New York Times reports: \"Mr. Christie said he had discussed the matter with Mr. Samson and they agreed that new leadership was an essential part of reforming the multi-billion dollar agency. Mr. Samson's resignation is effective immediately. \"[David] Samson issued a statement on Friday, after Mr. Christie made the announcement at his first press conference in nearly three months. \" 'Over the past months, I have shared with the Governor my desire to conclude my service to the PANYNJ,' he said in a written statement. 'The timing is now right, and I am confident that the Governor will put new leadership in place to address the many challenges ahead.' \" This news comes a day after an investigation ordered and paid for by the governor's office cleared Christie of any wrongdoing. The investigators said Christie had no knowledge of the planned closures before they happened. The investigation also failed to find out why Christie aids ordered the lane closures. In the press conference, Christie said he had accepted the investigators' recommendation of implementing a full reform of the Port Authority. The New York Post adds some context: \"Samson was involved in the aftermath of the Bridgegate lane closures at the George Washington Bridge, criticizing in emails a decision by PA Executive Director Pat Foye to reopen the Fort Lee lanes after four days. \"Samson also refused to cooperate in a taxpayer-funded probe ordered by Christie that concluded the governor had no role in the scandal.\"", "There are some things missing from the federal investigation into \"Bridgegate\": The cellphone in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's pocket during the 2013 George Washington lane closures. Text messages the governor sent and received during the ensuing legislative investigation. And now, according to new court filings, a personal email account he used as the scandal — an investigation into lane closures at the George Washington Bridge that caused traffic gridlock — enveloped his administration. None of this evidence was provided to federal criminal investigators probing the Bridgegate scandal, according to court documents. For 2 1/2 years, Christie has insisted that both his personal and government email accounts were searched by investigators, and there was nothing to indicate he knew anything about the lane closures scheme. He also claimed he never did government work on his personal email account. But new court documents indicate that a personal email account he shared with his wife, Mary Pat, was never searched — and he used that account to send at least one Bridgegate-related government email to David Samson, the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the bridge. That email forwarded an article with the comment \"per our earlier conversation\" that discussed a phone conversation Christie had with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo concerning the lane closure investigation. Christie's own taxpayer-funded attorneys from the Gibson Dunn law firm, which has so far billed more than $10 million to the state, were in charge of responding to federal and legislative subpoenas seeking such emails. The lawyers simply ignored this account, even though Christie regularly used personal email accounts, including the one shared with his wife, for government business, sources say. He even used this account to email journalists concerning state business. Two former Christie appointees indicted in the scheme are alleging that Gibson Dunn destroyed and withheld evidence. Defending itself, Gibson Dunn for the first time this week acknowledged that it never searched an email account where the sender was \"Chris and Mary Pat Christie,\" until one of the defendants discovered the email to Samson earlier this month. According to the legal papers that email was sent from a joint marital account of the governor and his wife, \"which we understood was not used by the governor for official business and contained nothing responsive.\" Christie's lawyers say they've now searched that account and found no emails \"related to and contemporaneous with the lane realignment.\" The new admission runs contrary to what Christie said last year while campaigning in New Hampshire: \"I turned over my email, both professional and personal, to all of the investigators who asked for them. And said, 'Look at whatever you want to look at.'\" This is all remarkably similar to the scandal that is dogging Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign — including news this week that she sent dozens of emails from a private server about her work as secretary of state that she failed to turn over to government lawyers. As a presidential candidate, Christie repeatedly slammed Clinton for this, saying he would \"prosecute\" her and insisting that he never did government work on his private email account. \"I had a private email account, but I didn't do my business on a private email account. She did everything on that account and then when she knows people are concerned about it, she gets the server cleaned,\" Christie said last year. Now presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is raising money off the Clinton email issue, asking for donations to \"indict\" her. Christie is a top adviser to the Trump campaign and is thought to be interested in a position in Trump's administration. On Wednesday, Trump even sent a fundraising email from Christie's political site, ChrisChristie.com, that specifically criticized Clinton for her private email server. The new revelations add to a growing list of questions about a possible Bridgegate coverup. Among the missing evidence is Christie's cellphone, which the governor has said he turned over to investigators in 2014 after the scandal broke open with the \"time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee\" smoking gun email. He said he never saw the cellphone again, but federal investigators from the U.S. Attorney's Office say they don't have it — and now, Christie's own attorneys also refute his assertion. Gibson Dunn told the court this week that the cellphone was reviewed to see if there was any evidence that needed to be provided in response to the U.S. attorney's subpoena and then returned to the governor. Also missing? Text messages that Christie sent to Regina Egea, his incoming chief of staff, who was attending a New Jersey legislative hearing in December 2013. That hearing was investigating what was still a mysterious lane closing and traffic jam. That day, top officials at the Port Authority refuted ", "Two former allies of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have been found guilty of all counts against them in connection with the \"Bridgegate\" scandal. The case involved a scheme to intentionally cause traffic problems on the George Washington Bridge in September 2013, as political retaliation against a mayor who did not endorse Christie for re-election. A total of four former top Christie aides have now either pleaded guilty or been found guilty of federal crimes — three of them related to Bridgegate. The two former aides found guilty on Friday were Bridget Kelly, who was Christie's deputy chief of staff, and onetime Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni. The charges against them included conspiracy and fraud. Kelly wept silently as the verdict was announced, WNYC's Matt Katz reports, while Baroni smiled and hugged his family. Their sentencing is set for Feb. 21, and they will be on probation until then, Katz says. WNYC reports that the two could face sentences of up to 86 years in prison. \"The federal jury took five days to reach a verdict in the scandal that helped sink Christie's Republican campaign for president,\" The Associated Press reports. \"The verdict came before the judge ruled on a request by defense attorneys to declare a mistrial in the case.\" Kelly and Baroni both plan to appeal, according to statements made by their lawyers after the verdict was announced. The defense lawyers sharply criticized prosecutors for going after Christie's aides without charging Christie, who has not been indicted in connection with this case and did not testify in the trial. Kelly's lawyer described her as a \"scapegoat.\" \"[Federal prosecutors] should have had belief in their own case to charge powerful people,\" said Michael Baldassare, Baroni's attorney. \"And they did not.\" U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman defended the decision not to prosecute Christie, saying that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to build a case against him when they made indictments in the case. During the trial, Kelly testified that Christie knew about the scheme. She said he was told in advance about the plan that would cause traffic nightmares in Fort Lee, N.J., and responded by asking about his relationship with the local mayor. That contradicted public statements from the governor, who said after the scandal that he had \"no knowledge or involvement\" in the traffic snarl. He reiterated that position in a statement Friday afternoon, saying, \"I'm saddened about the choices made by Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly and [former aide] David Wildstein. ... But let me be clear once again, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them. No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue.\" If you could use a refresher on what went down in \"Bridgegate,\" Matt Katz told the story on Fresh Air earlier this year: \"There was a Democratic mayor in the town of Fort Lee — which is at the foot of the George Washington Bridge, the busiest bridge in the world — and the mayor didn't endorse Christie's re-election. The next thing he knew ... he woke up one Monday morning in September and there were lanes that go from his town to the George Washington Bridge that were closed. \"And the result was this massive, massive traffic jam in his town because all these cars from all over North Jersey use those lanes. Ambulance workers had to get out of their vehicles and run to the scene of an emergency. It was the first day of school, so new kindergartners were sitting on their buses for hours. And he couldn't figure out why the Port Authority that runs the bridge that's controlled by Christie would have closed these lanes. \"So he starts making calls, doesn't get a call back. This traffic jam went on for five days including ... the anniversary of Sept. 11, which caused further distress because the bridge is a terrorist target. It went on for five mornings in a row before somebody from the New York side of the Port Authority — because this is a bi-state agency — discovered what had been going on and decided to reopen the lanes. And the explanation initially from Christie officials was that they were just doing a traffic study.\" An email from Kelly to former Port Authority official Wildstein was a key piece of evidence suggesting that the closure was, in fact, political. It read: \"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.\" \"Got it,\" Wildstein said in reply. Wildstein pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy earlier this year. David Samson, a close friend of Christie's, is the fourth Christie aide who has pleaded guilty to a federal crime; he admitted promising special treatment from the Port Authority to bribe United Airlines.", "Subpoenas are hitting his closest aides and allies. His approval rating in New Jersey has taken a modest hit. And suddenly, politicians long afraid of him are speaking out about his revenge-style of governing. But headed into a three-day weekend, there's some good news for Christie. The conservative base of the Republican Party, long skeptical of the New Jersey governor because of his bro-hug with President Obama after Sandy, is beginning to rally to his side. Here's some evidence: 1) Christie's political advisers tell NPR that national donors who have long coveted a Christie presidential candidacy are calling to express support, not skepticism. According to Bill Palatucci, the governor's confidant and link to the national donor base, interest in Christie fundraisers spiked after the scandal broke. Christie is headlining events this weekend in Florida for Republican Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican Governors Association, and Palatucci said in recent days he has gotten about two dozen calls for people looking to buy tickets at the last minute. 2) Other potential presidential candidates have taken a wait-and-see approach to the scandal. He has not been publicly attacked by other Republican governors or potential Republican presidential rivals, indicating that Christie's stature within the party is not yet weakened. 3) The all-important conservative media are actually coming to Christie's defense. It's as if he earned some street cred by getting dragged through the media gantlet. Fox News' Sean Hannity used the opportunity to slam \"liberal media\" for not pushing harder on the Benghazi situation: \"You can rest assured that if Christie does go on to run for president, this issue will be mentioned by the liberal media in virtually every conversation or analysis. If Hillary Clinton runs for president, will Benghazi or the host of other scandals similarly coincide with their analysis? Highly doubtful.\" Hannity said that compared with the evasive Clinton, Christie handled his scandal with \"moral courage.\" And Rush Limbaugh, who once went so far as to call Christie a \"Democrat,\" also rushed to the governor's defense this week after liberal rocker Bruce Springsteen and late-night host Jimmy Fallon made fun of Christie in a \"Born To Run\" parody. 4) Polls don't indicate that Christie's standing as the Republican presidential front-runner has diminished. A New Hampshire poll from Public Policy Polling taken after the release of the \"Bridgegate\" documents indicate Christie has a larger lead among Republicans than he did in September. And 14 percent of GOP voters said it made them like him more. But about those subpoenas. As Christie takes off for warmer climes, the Assembly committee investigating the Bridgegate scandal has made public some of the subpoenas it has issued, including one to the custodian of records at the governor's office. Others being ordered to turn over correspondence related to the bridge include: -- Bill Baroni, former Port Authority Deputy executive director -- Maria Comella, Christie deputy chief of staff, communications -- Michael Drewniak, Christie press secretary -- Regina Egea, Christie chief of staff -- Christina Genovese, Christie director of departmental relations -- Charles McKenna, Christie chief counsel -- Evan Ridley, Christie aide -- Colin Reed, Christie deputy communications director -- Kevin O'Dowd, former Christie chief of staff/attorney general nominee - David Wildstein, former Port Authority director of interstate capital projects -- Bill Stepien, Christie campaign manager/former deputy chief of staff -- David Samson, Port Authority chairman Listen to the report here. Matt Katz covers Gov. Chris Christie for WNYC and New Jersey Public Radio.", "It's been a tough week for a couple of candidates looking to break through on the presidential stage, namely Chris Christie and Martin O'Malley. First, in New Jersey, David Wildstein, a former Christie ally and former Port Authority official, pleaded guity Friday to charges related to the \"Bridgegate\" scandal that closed several lanes of traffic to the George Washington Bridge over four days in 2013, ensnaring cars in massive backups. The New Jersey governor continues to deny any role in the incident. \"I know what the truth is, so I'm not the least bit concerned about it,\" Christie said Wednesday in typical defiant Christie fashion. In Maryland, O'Malley, the former governor, was in the news for all the wrong reasons relating to the outbreak of violence in Baltimore following the death of a man after his arrest. O'Malley was scheduled to be in Europe, looking to burnish foreign-policy credentials ahead of a likely 2016 presidential bid. But, as the former mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007, he canceled the trip and headed to the Charm City to try to be part of the solution. That got sidetracked when reporters picked up on an exchange between O'Malley and a couple of men who heckled him about his \"tough on crime\" policing policies as mayor. \"You made a lot of promises,\" one man shouted. \"And I did the best that I could,\" O'Malley responded. \"In what community? Not in the black community!\" A couple of men on motorcycles rode by using an expletive and saying, \"This is his fault,\" and they questioned why any residents or community leaders would shake his hand. After a CNN interview Thursday, this was the headline: \"Martin O'Malley: 'We're all responsible' for Gray's death.\" These aren't good headlines and storylines for candidates looking to break through. For Christie, his fall has been remarkable. As recently as January 2014, right in the middle of the bridge controversy, he led in hypothetical 2016 GOP primary polls. Today, he barely registers, polling below Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Scott Walker and Marco Rubio. In February, Christie dismissed the polls. \"Is the election next week?\" Christie asked rhetorically at the Conservative Political Action Conference. \"I'm not worried about what the polls say 21 months before we elect the president.\" But the months keep ticking away. O'Malley was positioning himself as a viable, more liberal alternative to Hillary Clinton. But the incident in Baltimore is shedding light on some of his policing policies as Baltimore mayor that cut against the message he wants to deliver to the very people who could give him a lane against Clinton. O'Malley says he will decide by the end of May whether he will officially get in, but the timing of Baltimore couldn't be worse for him.", "An investigation by the New Jersey Legislature has cleared Gov. Chris Christie in an apparently politically motivated scheme that closed some lanes of the George Washington Bridge last year, leading to major traffic jams and a political firestorm. The investigation could find no evidence that Christie was involved in the scheme. The Associated Press reports: \"Investigators found no conclusive evidence whether Christie was aware or not of the closures last year, but they say that two former Christie aides acted with 'perceived impunity' and with little regard for public safety when they ordered the lanes closed, according to a 136-page interim report by a joint legislative panel that was obtained by news organizations Thursday night. \"A report commissioned by Christie previously cleared him of any wrongdoing and a lawyer for the governor said in a statement Thursday that the report corroborates that investigation. \" 'The Committee has finally acknowledged what we reported nine months ago — namely, that there is not a shred of evidence Governor Christie knew anything about the GWB lane realignment beforehand or that any current member of his staff was involved in that decision,' Christie attorney Randy Mastro said in a statement.\" If you remember, the scandal threatened Christie's presidential ambitions and culminated with Christie apologizing during a long news conference in January.", "President Obama, who has issued few pardons during his time in office, announced on Friday that he had pardoned 17 people convicted of mostly minor offenses. The AP reports: \"No one well-known was on the list released by the White House. Some of the crimes drew light penalties in the first place — such as a North Carolina woman sentenced to two years' probation and 100 hours of community service for distributing satellite cable decryption devices. \"A dozen of the 17 had been placed on probation. The other five had been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 54 days to five years. For those placed on probation, the length ranged from one year to five years.\" CBS' Mark Knoller, a trove of useful statistics, reports on Twitter that today's pardons bring Obama's total to 39, the \"fewest of any president since James Garfield in 1881.\" From the White House, here's a list of all the 17 individuals: • Robert Leroy Bebee – Rockville, Maryland.Offense: Misprision of a felony, 18 U.S.C. § 4.Sentence: Two years probation. • James Anthony Bordinaro – Gloucester, Massachusetts.Offenses: Conspiracy to restrain, suppress, and eliminate competition in violation of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1; conspiracy to submit false statements, 18 U.S.C. § 371.Sentence: 12 months imprisonment, three years supervised release and a $55,000 fine. • Kelli Elisabeth Collins – Harrison, Arkansas.Offense: Aiding and abetting a wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 2.Sentence: Five years probation. • Edwin Hardy Futch, Jr. – Pembroke, Georgia.Offense: Theft from an interstate shipment, 18 U.S.C. §§ 659, 2.Sentence: Five years probation, $2,399.72 restitution. • Cindy Marie Griffith – Moyock, North Carolina.Offense: Distribution of satellite cable television decryption devices, 47 U.S.C.§ 605(e)(4), 18 U.S.C. § 2.Sentence: Two years probation with 100 hours of community service. • Roy Eugene Grimes, Sr. – Athens, Tennessee.Offenses: Falsely altering a United States postal money order, 18 U.S.C. § 500; passing,uttering, and publishing a forged and altered money order with intent to defraud,18 U.S.C. § 500.Sentence: 18 months probation. • Jon Christopher Kozeliski – Decatur, Illinois.Offense: Conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods, 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 2320.Sentence: One year of probation with six months of home confinement, $10,000 fine. • Jimmy Ray Mattison – Anderson, South Carolina.Offenses: Conspiracy to transport and cause the transportation of altered securities ininterstate commerce, 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 2314; transporting and causing the transportationof altered securities in interstate commerce, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314, 2.Sentence: Three years probation. • An Na Peng – Honolulu, Hawaii.Offense: Conspiracy to defraud the Immigration and Naturalization Service,18 U.S.C. § 371.Sentence: Two years probation, $2,000 fine. • Michael John Petri – Montrose, South Dakota.Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlledsubstance (cocaine), 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a), 846.Sentence: Five years imprisonment, three years supervised release. • Karen Alicia Ragee – Decatur, Illinois.Offense: Conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods, 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 2320.Sentence: One year of probation with six months of home confinement, $2,500 fine. • Jamari Salleh – Alexandria, Virginia.Offense: False claims upon and against the United States, 18 U.S.C. §§ 287, 2.Sentence: Four years probation, $5,000 fine, $5,900 restitution. • Alfor Sharkey – Omaha, Nebraska.Offense: Unauthorized acquisition of food stamps, 7 U.S.C. § 2024(b)(1).Sentence: Three years probation with 100 hours of community service, $2,750 restitution. • Donald Barrie Simon, Jr. – Chattanooga, Tennessee.Offense: Aiding and abetting in the theft of an interstate shipment, 18 U.S.C. §§ 659, 2.Sentence: Two years imprisonment, three years probation. • Lynn Marie Stanek – Tualatin, Oregon.Offense: Unlawful use of a communication facility to distribute cocaine,21 U.S.C. § 843(b).Sentence: Six months in jail, five years probation conditioned on residence in acommunity treatment center for a period not to exceed one year. • Larry Wayne Thornton – Forsyth, Georgia.Offense: Possession of an unregistered firearm, 26 U.S.C. §§ 5861(d), 5871; possession ofa firearm without a serial number, 26 U.S.C. §§ 5861(i), 5871.Sentence: Four years probation. • Donna Kaye Wright – Friendship, Tennessee.Offense: Embezzlement and misapplication of bank funds, 18 U.S.C. § 656.Sentence: 54 days imprisonment, three years probation conditioned on performance of six hours of community service per week.", "The former chairman of Sotheby's auction house, A. Alfred Taubman was sentenced today to a year in prison and a $7.5 million fine for his role in a scheme with rival Christie's to fix prices charged to sellers at auction. From New York, David D'Arcy reports.", "In a letter released by his attorney, the Port Authority official who personally oversaw the George Washington Bridge lane closures is alleging that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie knew about the action. David Wildstein asserts that evidence exists that will contradict Christie's claims to ignorance about the motives behind the lane closures.", "A deepening scandal over lane closures used to punish a New Jersey mayor who refused to endorse Gov. Chris Christie could damage the moderate Republican's chances for a 2016 presidential run, the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute tells NPR. Patrick Murray, in an interview on Weekend Edition Saturday, says that the latest allegations have upped the ante on the brewing \"Bridgegate\" scandal. As we reported on Friday, an attorney for David Wildstein, the former head of the New Jersey Port Authority who oversaw the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, said his client had evidence indicating that despite denials by Christie, he knew of the lane closures as they were happening. Without seeing the evidence, Wildstein's allegations \"this is just a charge, but a charge by somebody who would be in a position to know,\" Murray tells WESAT host Scott Simon. As we wrote earlier: \"[Wildstein's] assertion contradicts earlier statements by Christie, who has said that he was \"embarrassed and humiliated\" when he found out that the lane closures were politically motivated instead of, as he'd been led to believe, part of a traffic study.\" \"He said members of his staff acted without his permission or knowledge in September when they closed the lanes in what appeared to be an attempt to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J. The closures caused massive traffic jams.\" \"If nothing comes out of this, [Christie] can rebuild from this, but it's going to take some time [even] if there's no evidence,\" Murray says. When the scandal initially unfolded, \"we found that there was a benefit of the doubt among the New Jersey people on how this may play out,\" he says. \"[But] this may be too far. We've already seen indications that his allies in the legislature, ... the [Democratic] leadership that controls the legislature, who have been with him all along, have now deserted him.\" More importantly, Murray says, Christie had hoped to use the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association as a springboard for his 2016 run for the White House, Murray says, but bridgegate could derail that plan. \"He was going to go around the country campaigning for all these governors running in 2014. He was going to raise money for them and he was going to get chits,\" Murray says. \"[If] he is seen as ineffective in that role or he is forced to step down because he doesn't have time to get out from under this cloud, that could have a big impact on his presidential ambitions even if these allegations aren't true,\" he says.", "By most accounts, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie passed the leadership challenge posed by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. But the political storm created by the George Washington Bridge scandal is testing him in different ways, fueled by a combination of factors that make it difficult even for a politician as manifestly self-assured as Christie. Christie will have a promising opportunity Tuesday to move beyond the mess caused by the politically inspired closing of toll lanes on the nation's busiest bridge in his State of the State speech. Still, that's just a start. There are four remaining elements of the scandal that Christie will have to withstand to keep his presidential aspirations from eroding completely. Investigations — The New Jersey Assembly announced Monday that when it starts its new session, it will also have a new special investigatory committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the lane closings. With the new committee will come new subpoenas, including one to former Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly, whom the governor fired for lying to him and who wrote the infamous \"Time for some traffic problems in Ft. Lee\" email. The parade of former and current aides will, at the very least, be a distraction — and at worst could prove lethal to Christie's 2016 chances depending on what they say. Eventually, Christie could be subpoenaed as well. That probe is only one of several underway. The federal Housing and Urban Development Department has also launched an investigation into a post-Sandy tourism spot featuring Christie and his family. Democrats say the winning bidder charged the state $2.2 million more than a competing bidder proposed, and that the ad was aimed more at boosting Christie before the 2013 election than at boosting the state of New Jersey. Meanwhile, the U.S. attorney in New Jersey is also investigating the lane closures. With their ability to threaten federal prison stints to anyone who lies to them during an investigation, FBI agents and federal prosecutors are likely to concentrate the minds of present and former members of Team Christie. Red governor, blue state — Part of Christie's national political strength has been his crossover appeal as a Republican governor in a Democratic-majority state. Now, he gets to experience the downside. The Democratic-controlled Legislature has little political incentive to give Christie the benefit of the doubt. Also, keeping him on the political and legal defensive could help lawmakers shift more power from a strong governor to the legislative branch. Partisans are also more sensitive to abuses of power when it's the other party doing the abusing. It's unlikely, for instance, that a Republican lawmaker would have raised the prospect of impeachment, like the Democrat leading the state probe did Sunday. New Jersey as media-market barbell — It's unfair to reduce New Jersey to two large media markets on either end of the state, connected by a turnpike. But New York and Philadelphia are the No. 1 and No. 4 media markets in size, in that order — and Bridgegate will be fodder for every major news outlet in those two big markets, not to mention the national media. That means there will be plenty of journalists working to turn up additional instances of real or alleged political payback, and unremitting coverage. It's just Christie's luck that for two of the nation's most important newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and for the television networks, this story is unfolding in their backyard. We're all New Jerseyans now — As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie's duties include traveling the nation to help raise money for sitting GOP governors and candidates. He is scheduled to travel to Florida later in the week to help Gov. Rick Scott raise money for his re-election, for instance. As Christie pitches the conservative credentials and achievements of other Republican governors, however, Bridgegate will travel with him. Even if he doesn't answer journalists' questions about the scandal, it's likely to lead every local news story that reports on his visits on behalf of the RGA.", "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has suspended his campaign for president. \"And while running for president I tried to reinforce what I have always believed — that speaking your mind matters, that experience matters, that competence matters and that it will always matter in leading our nation,\" said Christie in a post on Facebook. The decision comes after a sixth-place finish in New Hampshire, where Christie had banked so much of his political capital. It was the second disappointing finish in a row for Christie. Unlike John Kasich and Jeb Bush — the governor and former governor who he was often grouped with — Christie had campaigned hard in Iowa. He spent more than 40 days in the state, according to member station WNYC, despite a moderate resume that history suggested wouldn't appeal to conservative caucusgoers. Christie ended up with less than 2 percent of the vote. But for Christie, New Hampshire had been the do-or-die state. And after winning less than 7 percent of the vote there, he's calling it quits. Of all the \"what ifs\" in the Republican presidential campaign, Christie's is perhaps the most alluring. What if he had run for president in 2012, instead of 2016? Many Republicans were dissatisfied with eventual nominee Mitt Romney that year, and Christie carried on a long flirtation with entering the race himself before deciding not to. Although Christie faced the biggest challenge of his gubernatorial tenure that fall, when Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey, he would never again hold the popular appeal that he did with his party before 2012. He angered many Republicans by publicly embracing President Obama during a disaster tour days before the election. And one year later, Christie was dragged into what became known as \"Bridgegate,\" when some of his top aides created several days of gridlock in the New York City suburb of Fort Lee, N.J., as an alleged act of political retribution. While Christie never broke from the pack, he still made a lasting mark on the New Hampshire primary, knocking the surging Marco Rubio off his game at Saturday's debate by berating Rubio for repeating the same talking point over and over. Rubio ended up finishing fifth, but as WNYC's Matt Katz put it, the move may have ultimately cost Christie votes, too. \"Christie didn't really attack like he knows how to attack until last Saturday night, when he knocked out Rubio at the debate,\" Katz wrote. \"That was apparently a murder-suicide, because while Rubio's reputation was gravely damaged, Christie didn't help himself.\" Christie's departure, along with the recently announced exit of Carly Fiorina, leaves seven major Republican candidates in the race.", "Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, who was found guilty last week of conspiracy to hack personal voicemails, was jailed Friday for 18 months. NPR's Ari Shapiro is reporting on the case for our Newscast unit. Here's what he said: \"During sentencing, the judge said phone hacking by journalists at Rupert Murdoch's News International picked up 'intensely personal' messages that caused people 'serious distress.' \"Four people who used to work for the paper News of the World received sentences for their role in the scandal. ... Coulson got the longest sentence of any of them. ... Five other defendants were cleared of charges.\" The scandal broke in 2010, forcing Coulson to resign as British Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director. Last week, Cameron apologized for hiring Coulson. On Friday, he said the 18-month sentence showed that \"no one is above the law.\" The trial lasted eight months, and saw Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief, cleared last week of all misconduct. Coulson, as Ari reports, still faces a retrial on charges he bought royal telephone directories from police officers. The Guardian reports that he faced two years in prison, but was given a reduced sentence \"for his previous good character.\" \"He could be out in less than nine months because, as a non-violent offender, he is required to serve just half his sentence,\" the newspaper reported.", "\"Bridgegate\" was the political scandal that marked the beginning of the end of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's presidential hopes. The scandal's legal consequences could prove more consequential if, as prosecutors fear, the criminal convictions in the case are thrown out by the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the justices will revisit the case that made headlines in 2013 on the first day of school when, unbeknownst to the public, officials close to Christie ordered the shutdown of two of three access lanes from Fort Lee onto the George Washington Bridge. The result was chaos, and it went on for four days. The George Washington Bridge, which connects New York and New Jersey, is the busiest bridge in the world, with 250,000 to 300,000 vehicles crossing each day. So when two of Fort Lee's three access lanes were closed, the gridlock was so serious that even paramedics answering 911 calls had to abandon their ambulances to walk with whatever equipment they could carry. In the end, it turned out that officials appointed by the Republican governor had ordered the closings to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for refusing to endorse Christie for reelection. Christie professed ignorance, and embarrassment, and a federal investigation ensued. The Republican governor was not prosecuted. But his poll ratings plummeted, never to recover. And three public officials close to him were convicted of fraud in the scandal. One, David Wildstein, a top staffer at the Port Authority, which runs bridges and tunnels in the New York area, pleaded guilty. Two others were tried, convicted of fraud, and sentenced to prison: William Baroni, the deputy director of the Port Authority, and Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's deputy chief of staff. She famously texted during the gridlock, \"Is it wrong that I'm smiling?\" She has consistently maintained that she was essentially a fall guy for Christie. \"I will not allow myself to be the scapegoat in this case,\" she said after her conviction. \"I look forward to the appeal.\" On Tuesday, she will be at the Supreme Court, where her lawyers will argue that her actions, and those of Baroni, were driven by a political motive, and while that may not be attractive, it is not fraud. If Kelly can go to jail for her actions in Bridgegate, they say, there is no limit to who could be prosecuted — a mayor who rewards a political supporter by ordering pothole repairs on her street instead of another, or a staffer who requests an environmental review to placate a lobbying group, or a state official who appoints a friend to a position, calling him the best qualified, when he is not. But the government sees the case very differently. It is not Kelly's political motives that are the issue, the government says. It is the use of public funds and property to carry out and cover-up the Bridgegate plot. The jury found that in order to hide the true purpose of the lane closing, Kelly and Baroni created a phony traffic study and assigned public employees to gather information for it. In addition to the money paid to those employees for their time, the government says thousands more in taxpayer funds were paid out to toll collectors on the bridge because of dislocations caused by the lane closing. All of this may sound like hairsplitting, but when it comes to white-collar crime and political corruption, the modern-day Supreme Court has made it increasingly difficult to prosecute wrongdoers. In recent years, for instance, the Supreme Court has thrown out multiple public corruption convictions — in some cases, the court has all but eviscerated broad statutes aimed at ensuring the honest services of public employees. As a result, federal prosecutors have increasingly relied on anti-fraud statutes instead. So a loss in the Kelly case could strip prosecutors of yet another tool.", "A former New Orleans police lieutenant has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in a cover-up of deadly police shootings after Hurricane Katrina. Michael Lohman faced a maximum of five years in prison after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to obstruct justice. Noting that Lohman cooperated in their case, prosecutors urged U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle to limit his prison time to two years. Lemelle rejected that recommendation, ordering Lohman to begin a four-year sentence on Jan. 2. Lohman is one of five former officers who pleaded guilty to participating in a plot to make it appear police were justified in shooting six people, killing two, on the Danziger Bridge less than a week after the 2005 storm struck New Orleans.", "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose political career has taken almost as many turns as a roulette wheel at an Atlantic City casino, is running for president. He made the announcement Tuesday at Livingston High School, which he attended and where he was class president. Declaring \"America is tired of hand-wringing and indecisiveness and weakness\" in the White House, Christie said he is ready \"to fight for the people of the United States of America.\" Christie, 52, first came to prominence as a corruption-fighting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001. Christie went after public officials from both parties, eventually winning convictions or guilty pleas from 130 of them, by his count. The biggest name, former Newark Mayor Sharpe James, was convicted in 2008 on fraud charges. In 2009, Christie ran for governor of the Garden State and defeated Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine. He scored political points with Republicans when he battled teachers unions and demanded cuts in public pensions. In town hall-style meetings across the state, he became known for the outspoken way he challenged people who disagreed with him. Christie flirted with a run for president in 2011 but ultimately decided that \"now is not my time.\" In August 2012, Christie gave the keynote address at the Republican National Convention, a speech many said was heavy on references to Christie and light on support for the GOP nominee, Mitt Romney. Christie then gained national attention as he praised President Obama's response to Superstorm Sandy in the weeks before the 2012 presidential election, which many Republicans said detracted from the message of the Romney campaign. After Obama's re-election, Christie coasted to a second term in 2013. And as the now twice-elected Republican governor of a heavily Democratic state, Christie was thought to be near the front of the pack of potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates. Then came \"Bridgegate.\" And everything changed. Bridgegate was what journalists dubbed the closing of two lanes of a busy highway leading to the George Washington Bridge and heading into New York City. It caused massive backups on local streets in Fort Lee, N.J. The closings were ostensibly for construction purposes, but there was no construction, and it soon seemed that something else might be at play: political payback. The Democratic mayor of Fort Lee did not support the governor in his re-election bid. Christie has vehemently denied any involvement in the closings, saying he learned of them only through press reports and after the fact. But a number of top aides were implicated and forced to resign. In New Jersey, Christie's popularity plunged and his national ambitions have never recovered. He is now seen to be at the back of the pack of the GOP presidential candidates. His moderate views on issues like same sex unions (he supported civil unions but not marriage), gun control and immigration might have been a tough sell in places like Iowa anyways. So, as the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, Christie has got his work cut out: \"Monmouth University's June 15 national poll, for instance, found Christie viewed favorably by 26 percent of likely Republican primary voters, and unfavorably by 43 percent — for a net of minus 17 percentage points. Fifty-five percent of Republicans in this month's Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll said they would never consider voting for Christie. 'There's a path for Christie, but it's a narrow one,' said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth poll. 'His high negatives and wide name recognition put a ceiling on his growth. He doesn't have much room for error.'\" Christie is expected to spend a lot of time in New Hampshire in the coming weeks, which he hopes may be more hospitable to a fiscally conservative Northeasterner with moderate tendencies, and where Democrats and independents can vote in the state's open primary. It may be a long shot, but Christie hopes with another spin of the wheel to come up lucky.", "MIAMI (AP) -- Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former business partner were sentenced Wednesday to five years and 10 months in prison for fraud related to their 2000 purchase of the SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet. The sentences were the minimum under their plea agreement in the case. Abramoff and Adam Kidan, who both pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud, won't start their sentences immediately so they can continue cooperating in a Washington corruption investigation and a Florida probe into the murder of former SunCruz owner Konstantinos \"Gus\" Boulis. In court, Abramoff said the case was \"incredibly painful\" for himself, his family and his friends. \"In the past few years I have begun the process of becoming a new man,\" he said. Abramoff had arrived at the courthouse several hours early, avoiding the media before his sentencing. Under the plea agreement, both faced a sentence of between five years, 10 months, and seven years, three months in federal prison. Both were also ordered to pay restitution of more than $21 million. The two admitted concocting a fake $23 million wire transfer to make it appear they had made a large cash contribution to the $147.5 million purchase of SunCruz Casinos. Based on that fake transfer, lenders provided the pair with $60 million in financing. The same week Abramoff pleaded guilty to the SunCruz fraud, he entered guilty pleas to three federal charges as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe that could involve up to 20 members of Congress and aides, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. No date has been set for his sentencing in that case. Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.", "This post has been updated to reflect Christie officially getting in the race for president. A lot has changed since New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie first thought about running for president in 2011. The Republican was seen as the biggest threat to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the party's eventual 2012 nominee. Despite entreaties from top GOP donors and activists, he declared, \"Now is not my time.\" He drew scorn from many Republicans for his public embrace of President Obama days before the 2012 election in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. But his handling of the crisis helped his standing back home, leading to a landslide re-election. The broad win in the left-leaning state was supposed to be a critical part of Christie's case for president this time around. But just months later, the governor would be badly damaged in the \"Bridgegate\" scandal — a lane closures scheme affecting commuters onto the highly trafficked George Washington Bridge. It was allegedly orchestrated by some of Christie's top allies to exact political revenge on the mayor of Fort Lee, who had refused to endorse the governor's re-election bid. Two top aides have been indicted, while another has pleaded guilty. Christie has maintained his innocence and has tried to rehabilitate his political image by returning to the town-hall settings where he shines with his straightforward, often brash, style. But he still trails badly in most polls, including in New Hampshire, where his brand of Republicanism should play well. Because of his standing, he may not even make it onto the early national debate stage. Christie tried to begin anew with his official presidential announcement on Tuesday at his high school alma mater. As he hopes to reset his national political ambitions, here are five things you need to know about Christie: 1. Christie has already been president — class president It's no accident Christie is heading back to his teenage stomping grounds to launch his presidential bid. The New Jersey native was class president three years there and was captain of his baseball team, where he played catcher. When another top catcher was transferring in from another school, his family considered legal action to stop him. Christie urged his parents not to sue, since it could have hurt the entire team, and he instead sat on the bench. Christie — who was the first in his family to graduate from college — would go on to be class president at the University of Delaware, too. His now-wife, Mary Pat, was his successor. 2. His wife gave up a top Wall Street job ahead of his 2016 bid Mary Pat Christie is accomplished in her own right as a financial adviser. But in April, in anticipation of her husband's presidential campaign, she left her $500,000-a-year job as a managing director at Angelo, Gordon & Co., a hedge fund and investment management company. Chris Christie, in comparison, makes $175,000 as governor. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's wife, Heidi, also took a leave from her job at Goldman Sachs earlier this year. Christie talked of a more harrowing moment in his wife's career earlier this month at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference — how Mary Pat was working just blocks from the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and for several hours he couldn't reach her. 3. Christie underwent lap-band weight loss surgery in 2013 The governor has long struggled with his weight. In 2013, he took a step in trying to control his health by undergoing lap-band weight loss surgery. Christie began shedding pounds, reportedly telling donors at a Koch donor event that he had dropped 85 pounds. \"It's the best thing that I've ever done for my health. And I look back on it now and wish I'd done it years ago,\" Christie told NBC's Matt Lauer in an interview after his surgery. 4. Christie was a George W. Bush \"Pioneer\" After graduating from Seton Hall law school, Christie started his law career in New Jersey. His first foray into elective office was successful — winning a seat on the Morris County Board of Freeholders in 1994. His next, however, was not. He lost a race for the state Legislature the next year, and his political career seemed stalled. It was his association with the then-Texas governor that may have changed the trajectory of his political career. He became a top bundler for the 2000 GOP presidential candidate, known as a \"Bush Pioneer,\" who would use his connections to wrangle over $100,000 for the president. Bush would go on to appoint him as a U.S. attorney, which was his launching pad for his gubernatorial run. Despite the appearance of being appointed because of his fundraising, Christie went on to make a name for himself cracking down on corrupt public officials, getting guilty pleas or convictions of 130 officials from both parties. 5. He's been to more than 130 Bruce Springsteen concerts. (He's also a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, despite being from New Jersey.) Two of Christie's greatest loves have caused him some political heartache. As a proud J", "Two former aides of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are accused of causing a traffic jam to punish an official for not endorsing Christie. The defendants say the plan was just a traffic study.", "NPR's Noel King talks to former federal prosecutor Shan Wu about the 40-month prison sentence handed down to Roger Stone, a longtime ally of President Trump, by Judge Amy Berman Jackson.", "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose popularity soared during his first term but then fell from grace, leaves office Tuesday. The Republican served a term-limited eight years in a majority blue state and spent much of that time in the national limelight as he built a reputation as a \"tell-it-like-it-is\" politician. But the Bridgegate scandal, a losing campaign for president and a day spent on a closed beach during a government shutdown left him with the lowest approval ratings for any governor in New Jersey history. In Christie's first year, a YouTube video of a press conference went viral when a columnist asked if the governor's confrontational tone might hamper his ability to get bills passed. \"You must be the thinnest skinned guy in America,\" Christie told Tom Moran of the Star-Ledger newspaper. \"Because if you think that's a confrontational tone, then you should see me when I'm really pissed!\" Also that year, Christie made the first of more than 40 trips to Iowa he would take during his two terms. These two things — his YouTube moments that went viral and his presidential ambitions — turned out to be the defining features of his eight years as governor. Christie doubled the budget of his communications staff, and deftly used video clips from town hall meetings to build his national profile. \"If what you want to do is put on a show and giggle every time I talk, well then I no interest in answering your question,\" he told a teacher during an early town hall that became his signature style. The videos made a star of Christie in the Republican Party. He was considered for the job of running mate to Mitt Romney, he chaired the Republican Governors Association and became a regular on cable news and late-night TV. But his biggest moment came when Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey in October 2012. The storm damaged 346,000 homes, left 2 million people without power and killed 37 in the state. On the first morning, a shaken Christie appeared before TV cameras, looking like he'd been up all night. \"I'll first say to all of you, especially those of you who are facing loss, devastation and the heart-breaking reality that your home may be gone, we are with you.\" Wearing a blue fleece, he was omnipresent in the weeks that followed, touring the destruction, hugging homeowners and giving daily press briefings. Romney lost the presidential election a week later — and with approval ratings soaring — Christie saw his own path to the presidency. He wanted a landslide re-election in 2013 that would prove he was a big-tent Republican who could win over Democrats. \"But in order to do that his campaign had to really use some very nasty tactics to twist arms to get Democrats to support him,\" said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. \"And that's where Bridgegate came from.\" Christie's political office in the Trenton statehouse and his campaign for re-election began courting Democrats in New Jersey. Those that endorsed got rewards, and some who didn't were punished. Three top staffers would ultimately be convicted of causing a weeklong traffic jam to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, N.J.. Even though he was never charged with a crime, his image as a man who was above politics was destroyed. Yet polls showed it was Christie's inattention to governing — he spent 261 days out of state in 2015 — that really bothered New Jerseyans. He campaigned for president nearly full time, but the one-time top runner for the nomination lagged behind a crowded field that was being quickly wiped out by Donald Trump. Christie dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary, and then his approval ratings took another hit when he endorsed Trump. An appearance with Trump, standing at his side, looking unhappy, took Twitter and late-night TV by storm. \"He looked like he wasn't entirely comfortable standing behind Trump,\" Conan O'Brien said during his monologue. \"He almost looked like he was in a hostage situation.\" In New Jersey, Christie's constituents started to feel that he was treating them, and his job as governor, with contempt. \"And people continue to say this is a guy who is still looking for an out. Still looking for a place in the Trump administration or some other way to get out of New Jersey,\" Murray said. The low point hit this past fourth of July weekend. During a low-stakes standoff that nevertheless led to the shutdown of state government, Christie was photographed spending a day at the beach with his family. A completely empty state beach that was closed to everyone else because of the shutdown. His approval rating sank to the mid-teens and never recovered. In his final speech as governor last week, he made his case for his legacy: \"This — all of this — is due to our efforts, not bowing to political correctness to not worrying about being loved today,\" Christie said.", "A former prison worker who helped two convicted murders escape from a maximum-security prison in upstate New York was sentenced Monday to up to seven years behind bars. Under the terms of a plea deal, Joyce Mitchell, 51, faces a minimum sentence of 2 years and 4 months in prison. She pleaded guilty to charges stemming from her role in providing convicted killers Richard Matt and David Sweat with tools such as hacksaws, drill bits and lighted eyeglasses ahead of their June 6 prison break. \"This is by far the worst mistake I have ever made in my life.\" Mitchell told the judge as she wept in the courtroom. \"I live with regret every day and will for the rest of my life.\" The judge also set a November court date to hear the state's claim for about $120,000 in restitution from Mitchell for repairing the walls through which Matt and Sweat escaped. According to The New York Times: \"Stephen Johnston, Ms. Mitchell's lawyer, said that his client had sat for more than 40 hours of interviews with the police and 10 hours with state investigators. \" 'She is very remorseful for what she did,' he said. 'She feels horrible for what she did.' \"Mr. Johnston said that while there was no disputing Ms. Mitchell's role in the breakout, he said that he believed the men must have had help from others and that fact should not be lost because of Ms. Mitchell's admission.\" Mitchell admitted having grown close to the pair while she worked in the prison's tailor shop. She agreed to be the duo's getaway driver before panicking and abandoning the plan. New York Magazine reports: \"Mitchell's attorney said he believes that other prison workers must have helped the inmates escape, and that Mitchell shouldn't have to suffer the consequences alone. She accepted a plea bargain that prevented her from facing charges involving the plot to kill her husband and any sexual-assault or rape charges involving her alleged sexual relationship with the inmates.\" More than 1,000 officers took part in the manhunt for Matt and Sweat through thick wooded areas of New York state near the U.S.-Canada border that lasted approximately three weeks. Matt was killed by a border agent on June 26, and Sweat was captured two days later. As the Two-Way reported in June, officials in New York's Clinton County said the search for the two convicts cost $1 million a day.", "Republican strategist Alice Stewart (@alicetweet) and Democratic strategist Symone Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) join Here & Now&#8216;s Jeremy Hobson and Lisa Mullins to discuss the latest in politics, including the second prison sentence in two weeks for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has found the George Washington Bridge in his way on the road to a potential 2016 presidential run. Right now, it's still an open question whether he'll get over it. Thursday's marathon news conference was certainly an important moment in that journey. The heretofore 2016 Republican frontrunner apologized and took responsibility for members of Team Christie exacting political revenge on the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., by closing lanes to the nation's busiest bridge in September, causing major traffic snarls. \"In terms of this particular incident, today was a huge step in overcoming it if everything he said holds up and there are no new revelations,\" said Dan Hill, once a senior adviser to former New Mexico governor and 2012 presidential candidate Gary Johnson. Hill heads a Washington, D.C., communications strategy shop. \"It took too long,\" Hill said of the months that have gone by since the allegations first surfaced. \"People were saying he should have done this yesterday. I said he should have dealt with this last year.\" So it was the least the governor had to do at this point if he hoped to maintain his political viability for a 2016 run. The smoking-gun emails that implicated a now former aide and some ex-Christie political appointees obviously demanded more than the brief written statement he issued Wednesday. But Hill's point about the importance of no new revelations popping up is key: With the state legislature in full investigation mode and the U.S. attorney's office conducting a preliminary probe, it might be astonishing if more disturbing facts about political retaliation by Team Christie don't emerge. That leaves Christie, who has been masterful at controlling his image until now, at the mercy of factors beyond his control. Meanwhile, the scandal has given his would-be political opponents in both the major parties plenty to work with. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is also thought to be considering a 2016 White House run and who is popular with the very Tea Party voters who mostly distrust Christie, had fun Thursday at the New Jersey governor's expense. \"I know how angry I am when I'm in traffic and I've always wondered, 'Who did this to me?' \" Paul said with a smile, when asked about the Christie scandal as he left a White House event. This is just a taste of what Christie has ahead of him in the weeks and months to come as Bridgegate plays itself out. He can still get past the bridge — so long as there are no more explosive revelations. But even if there aren't, Christie's political opponents won't make it an easy ride.", "President-elect Donald Trump's first week after pulling off an upset victory has had plenty of missteps. The rocky start to his transition planning that one source described to CNN as a \"knife fight\" has done little to assure his critics and skeptical Republicans that he'll have a smooth ascension to the Oval Office surrounded by qualified advisers. Trump denies that the transition is rocky. From the outset, his transition chief throughout the campaign, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, had to be replaced with Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Just days before the election, Christie's top aides were convicted of conspiracy and fraud in the \"Bridgegate\" scandal, and a pall of scandal hung over one of Trump's most loyal backers, who likely would have had a top job in the new administration. But with Pence at the helm, the Indiana governor has apparently done little to steady the ship or stop leaks to the media. Trump's closing refrain of his campaign was that he would \"drain the swamp\" in Washington, but his initial transition team was flush with lobbyists. In one of his first moves, Pence ordered the removal of all lobbyists, according to the Wall Street Journal. Several very experienced members of the transition team — whose presence gave wary lawmakers comfort — have departed too. Former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers, who was a chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, stepped down; several reports say he was let go. He had been seen as a possible candidate to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, but NBC News reported he was ousted in what two sources close to the former congressman described as a \"Stalinesque purge\" of Christie loyalists. \"I think there is some confusion going on about a chain of command coming out of New York. Hopefully they'll get that settled pretty soon. I think they're going to need to do it, because as this clock ticks, all of these decisions become more important,\" Rogers told CNN's Anderson Cooper. CNN also reported that the overhaul of Christie's picks was spearheaded by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. There's no love lost between Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, and Christie, who prosecuted Kushner's father for tax evasion and witness tampering in 2004 as a U.S. attorney. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trump spokesman Jason Miller denied that Kushner was responsible for pushing Christie and his allies off the team. Still, his reported instigation of removing experienced hands like Rogers was described to CNN by sources as a \"knife fight\" that was \"mainly divided along the lines of establishment Republican operatives against more nontraditional influences on national security issues.\" Former State Department official Eliot Cohen, who served under President George W. Bush, had been a Trump critic but said he was open to advising him after Trump won. But on Tuesday, Cohen had done a complete turnaround, painting the transition as chaotic and motivated by revenge. Cohen later told the New York Times in an interview that \"Trump transition officials had excoriated him after he offered some names of people who might serve in the new administration, but only if they felt departments were led by credible people.\" \"They think of these jobs as lollipops,\" Cohen told the Times. President-elect Trump's outreach to and from foreign leaders has been confusing and disorderly too, per the Times: \"Prominent American allies were in the meantime scrambling to figure out how and when to contact Mr. Trump. At times, they have been patched through to him in his luxury office tower with little warning, according to a Western diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail private conversations. \"President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt was the first to reach Mr. Trump for such a call last Wednesday, followed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel not long afterward. But that was about 24 hours before Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain got through — a striking break from diplomatic practice given the close alliance between the United States and Britain.\" On Monday Trump touted his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin — whom he repeatedly praised throughout the campaign even as U.S. intelligence found the Russian government had hacked into the Democratic National Committee to try to influence the American elections. That drew a sharp rebuke from Arizona Sen. John McCain, the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, who said that Putin's promises of improved U.S.-Russia relations should be taken with \"as much faith in such statements as any other made by a former KGB agent who has plunged his country into tyranny, murdered his political opponents, invaded his neighbors, threatened America's allies, and attempted to undermine America's elections.\" Trump's rumored choices for America's top diplomat have also been met with controversy. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump's most passionate surrogates during the campaign, is said to be atop the list. But Politic" ]

[ "I bought one at Walmart in the office supply area for around $30.00. It's a fireproof safe from sentry. I believe Office Depot, Staples or any of those type stores carry them also." ]

[ "You can use just about any flammable gas. I used to run our lawnmower from a small bottle of propane just for fun. With a car it's much tricker because the engine changes speed and you have to somehow change the flow of gas. You can buy refit kits for propane for many cars, am guessing that hydrogen is available too. The trick with H is not introducing into the engine, but trying to keep it in storage for use. It does not like to liquify, so very high pressures have to be used to keep any amount of it.", "As an Englishman living in England,let me tell you this,my friend, the only land that you can buy where you make a profit is that where they are pulling down council estates and that will cost you a small fortune ! Try looking a small farms with no amenities and planning permission.", "Clay or earthenware is inexpensive to form into containers. CDC has approved these for water storage. In addition to keeping the water safe, unglazed pots seep ever so little, but this seepage tends to cool the water inside the container.", "Ferritin is an iron storage protein found mainly in liver. It's released in blood, where it can be dosed, giving information on iron body storage. Higher than normal values can be seen in haemochromatosis.", "An external hard drive is for data storage, but is not contained in the computer case. It is connected to the computer by plugging into a port on the outside of the case. The advantage is that it is portable and can be unplugged and carried with you and plugged in another computer that can also store and retrive data from the drive.", "Darn right it is. Tons of capabilities. Tons of storage space. Video abilites. Photo storage. Excellent video quality. Small, good sound. It's amazing...", "It really depends on the child. If they love the color I say go for it but keep the room visually quiet. Many ADD ADHD kids are not necessarily stimulated by a color as much as they are by the number of things in a room we use a lot of storage containers for small items toys clothes and books. I was pleasantly surprised by how my son reacted to having his room decluttered we too then went to a brighter wall color (and bedding) without any problems\\nGood luck", "becoz of cola contains of a small amount of sugar and also it contains of large amount of acid..or CO2..and also cola with a small amount of sugar it will sink in the water and the cola light it contains a lot of sugar so the cola light will be float...and you can try that by your own..", "There are pros and cons both ways. I'll tell you my position below.\\nFor a small business (large businesses are too sophisticated to need internet storage) this can provide essential \"off-site\" backup storage for critical files. Too often the small businessman concientiously backs up his files to a CD and then puts the CD in his disk which is 3 feet away from the computer! What happens when there is a fire in the office!However, if he takes the backups home each night this kills the argument for off-site storage!\\nNext, what about the private or work-at-home user? When you are working and living in the same space (home) and have REALLY critical files you'll have to find another place to put them or use on-line storage places. Also, for this category, even if it's just a private person with his single PC at home, think about the consequences of fire, natural disaster, etc. to his ORIGINAL installation disks of such programs as the OS (XP, W2K, ME, 98, Windows Office Suite etc.). Think of the problems if they were destroyed. Personally, I keep mine (at home, unfortunately) BUT in a fire-resistant (3 hour UL listed file cabinet that I picked up at a garage sale for 10 bucks. (took four of us to move it to my basement).\\nOf course, the one big disadvantage to on-line storage is the cost for a truly reputable storage location. Typically you pay for the amount of storage space you rent. And, speaking of rent, your typical neighborhood bank rents safety deposit boxes in their vaults that you may consider.\\nThe whole notion of internet file storage is for either safety and security OR because you are out of storage space on your own computer (I would buy a larger hard drive or install a secondary hard drive.\\nBottom line for me (as a private user) is CONTROL. I'm nervous about giving anyone control over my most critical files and disks.", "Cache memory is a small storage area that a processor can access more quickly than from RAM. The CPU will store information already read in from RAM in cache, so that if the same information is needed again, it can be retrieved more quickly.", "There are systems where you don´t buy the machine, they just put it in your store, refill it and you get a small comission for every product sold. I think that´s a better business.", "A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy (generally in the form of carbohydrates) or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Underground storage organs and the plants that bear them are sometimes called geophytes.", "Usually a small USB hard drive for temporary storage or moving files from one computer to another.", "good stretching, some ibuprofen, hot pads and/or ice.....GNC also sells a pill called TRIFLEX, it contains glucosamine and chondroiton, which are said to help \"lubricate\" joints.....my knees are pretty bad also, I find that it helps out enough to where i keep buying it.", "Me and my Fiance are thinking about doing the same thing after we get married. I think it is a great idea!!!!! My Fiance is also looking into buying a storage facility. Good Luck!!!", "Spend your money buying sufficient policy limits for large claims you can not afford, rather than buying small deductibles for claims you can afford.", "I guess you would have to take a survey but most woman use a perfume that contains pheramones in it.Partygal is where I buy mine and it is a oil perfume. Woman can give off natural pheramones when in heat, this is a oil that enhances your own scent and will attract the men.It is not strong at all and it smells different on anyone who uses it.", "When I visited the Eden Project in Cornwall, I was interested to see carrier bags or plastic bags used as planters. Most people are too poor for \"real\" pots.\\n\\nYears ago I also saw a container garden in Combe Martin, Devon. The containers were toilets, urinals, bedpans and the like. Very effective and whimsical.\\n\\nGarden containers can be decorative and soften space. They also provide for small kitchen gardens.", "A hard drive (or hard disc) is the primary storage device on a modern computer. The word 'hard' refers to the fact that the disc is physically ridget, and also that it is hidden inside the computer and cannot be casually touhed or taken out (like a floppy disc can be) Hard discs are almost always the largest storage mediums available on a particular computer system and are the discs where the operating system and most other programs are installed.", "you and up to 5000 of your best friends sharing EVERYTHING..showers, bunks, storage, recreation space and eating space. Berthing compartments are usually comprised of hundreds of bunks three high with very small storage spaces underneath the bunks as well as a small locker alongside. \\n\\nOfficers have 3 or 4 man staterooms, but even then they don't really have any more space than the enlisted guys do.", "Fruits are basically storage \"boxes\" for various types of plants. Nature has a way of developing the most efficient items methods for any given task. The most efficient \"box that can be made to store something is a sphere (round).\\n\\nThis is because the ratio of volume to surface area is higher than any other shape. In other words, with the least waste of enrgy/material to build a container, the maximum product can be stored inside. Thus, the natural evolution toward efficient design leads many of nature's energy storage devices (fruits) to have a round or near-round shape.", "I don't know bout ur country so I cannot tell\\nu where to buy, but I can definitely tell u\\nwhat to buy.\\nBook Name :: Let us C\\nAuthor :: Yashwant Kanitkar (India)", "I know that Gasoline and the Carbon chained fuels separate into water and thicker part after so much time of storage if exposed to air. If you keep an inert gas in the container you will be okay. Doesn't go \"bad\" per se, but just won't burn after like 5 years of free O2.", "Thermocline energy is a layer within a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth and has the potential for causing a change.\\n\\nThermocline Energy Storage\\nThe ultimate reduction in storage tank volume is achieved when the storage tank volume equals the storage fluid volume. An attempt to achieve this is represented by a thermocline system in which both the hot and cold storage fluids occupy the same tank.\\n\\nAt the start of operation, the storage tank is full of cold fluid. As thermal energy, in the form of hot collector fluid, becomes available, cold storage fluid is withdrawn from the bottom of the storage tank and heated. The hot storage fluid is then put back into the top of the storage tank. If properly done, the less dense hot storage fluid will “float” on top of the cold storage fluid, creating what is termed a thermocline. This phenomenon actually occurs quite commonly in many fluid systems ranging from the ocean to residential hot-water heaters.", "storage system drivers are for storage devices like a flash drive or hard disk etc. most of them are built default in the system. or you can download from the company website for your particular storage device.", "I'm not in a class where this is small change but it wouldn't change my life if $5,000 appeared. With my aggressive stocks and mutual funds, I make or lose that much several days of the year.\\n\\nIf I could have it April 12 and the market is up, I'd buy the emerging markets exchange-traded fund with the symbol EEM (I think that's an ishares ETF). I might buy on margin in real life.\\n\\nIf I'm supposed to spend it I'd replace our front door and redo the entryway.\\n\\nIf I'm supposed to do something wild I'd buy a small windmill so I could generate electricity. Partly to reduce our electric bills but mainly because it's the right thing to do.", "Where I am at they have it at the Joann Superstores. Depending on where you are at you can check there.", "I'm pretty sure yahoo doesn't delete messages (though I could be mistaken). However, they allow for 1gb of storage. If that isn't enough for you, which it should be, you can try gmail. They currently allow for 2.7gb of storage.", "21k is the size of an average small word processing document. Any computer or data storage medium from the last 20 years would be able to accommodate that size of a file.", "Here is a link that contains a listing of 50 free online storage providers with details like File Size Limit, Download Limit and\\nFile Life.\\n\\nhttp://www.jdempsey.com/2005/12/08/free-online-file-storagesending/", "Depending on the size you require, you may be able to get this at an auto supply store. They are used for car detailing.\\n\\nAlso, at sports stores to clean rifles and such.\\n\\nOtherwise, go to Yahoo Shopping and type in artificial lampskin and see what you get.", "What you are referring to is probably one of the low, flat plastic trays used in the process of developing film and prints. They are inexpensive, and can be handy for performing experiments where you need a large surface, but low volume of water -- such as the experiment where you calculate Avogadro's Number by determining the area covered by a droplet of a dilute solution of oleic acid.\\n\\nThey can also be useful for containing/controlling small parts that might roll away on a hard lab bench surface.\\n\\nJust a few ideas." ]

[ "WELL I'M 40 AND KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT LOOK AROUND YOU WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH OUT AND WHAT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE ARE NO GOOD FOR YOU!AND YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!! WHEN WE ENTER A CIRCLE OF PROBLEMS IT IS HARD TO LEAVE THAT CIRCLE UNLESS YOU MAKE A SHARP TURN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!!! THINGS THAT YOU KNOW ARE BAD FOR YOU LEAVE THEM BEHIND YOU DON'T NEED THEM!!THINK POSITIVE AND SET GOALS BUT DON'T SET THEM SO HIGH THAT YOU CANT REACH THEM. INSTEAD OF GOING OUT AND PARTYING SET THAT MONEY ASIDE IN A BANK ACCOUNT AND DON'T GET THE ATM CARD IT MAKES IT EASY TO GET YOUR MONEY .IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE BANK EVERY TIME YOU NEED MONEY YOU'LL SAVE MORE .FOR A JOB THINK OF YOUR SKILLS AND JOBS THAT YOU HAVE HAD MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE YOU'D BE SURPRISED OF THE REFERENCE THAT YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF.YOU CAN WORK ON YOUR CREDIT ALSO JUST BY RENTING TO OWN SOMETHING LIKE A TV VCR OR FURNITURE START SMALL BUT PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME AND LEARN TO DO WITHOUT THINGS THAT YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO BUY!!!!!START SMALL AND IT WILL GET EASIER EVERY DAY . LOOK FROWARD AND NEVER GO BACK !!!!!!!!!!!" ]

[ "Life span: 25 to 30 years in the wild, up to 45 years in zoos", "Well if only my occupation would allow me to earn a helluva lot of money. In answer to your question I would work for about 45 years in a 8 hour day job (teaching for me) and then retire to a life of country living with my pets around me.", "I've had mixed feelings about it. I used to hate it with a passion because it really is a corporate holiday and at the same time I always hated it because I never had somebody in my life to celebrate it with, as corny as that sounds. This year for the first time ever I had someone. We didnt go all out with these extravagant presents or expensive dinner. We just spent time together and that was enough.", "It's 5:45 am here.....I get up at 5:30am generally to get ready for work. I'm just waking my mind with a few answers first. Have a good sleep! :)", "Google Earth gets messed up by a Firewall, checking that first would be my first guess.", "I believe that the industry average is about 45-55k the first year, and over 100k after about 3 years. But this can vary greatly, and most of that industry is relient on how good you are at it. There are also high failure rates, and of course you need to be able to fund your life during the first few months. Very few companies have salaries for such a position, and if so it is marginal at best.", "I feel you should move on and find some happiness with a man who expects no sex,just cuddling and affection,you have to form a friendship first and that is what makes a relationship...having your best friend for life,you have questioned your feelings for this man for a few years,close that door completly,say a few prayers for the right man to come along and when the time is right for you,it will happen,I was single 16 years and never dated much,now,at 45 I have finally had my prayer answered!Best Of Luck!!!!!!", "....Because I still think that you will change when you see that I am kind, patient, forgiving and trusting....because you put up with ME sometimes, too.....because you are the father-to-be of our unborn future child (maybe in a few years?)....and I need you in my life....and because you are great at so many things....you are my ideal partner", "I say listen to your heart. Be true to yourself. If that other guy really loves u then i wouldn't take my chances messing that up for this one that just wanna come around all the sudden.", "Asking that question myself. In my opinion it is as simple as because they can. Now that all of my male friends know that I am broke up with my boyfriend for good, they are really coming on to me. I am strong though and I know it would only make me feel worse. I am not over my boyfriend and I also don't want to bring any left over residue from that relationship into a new one. He cheated on me. I've decided to be strong and resist the temptation. I am giving myself a year to heal and grow. I need to to focus in on what it really is I want out of life and what kind of man I really want and need.", "Well Maybe you were born on the 16th but legally it says on the 14th on your birth certificate. This happen to me. I was born on the 17 of August but the hospital did not get the information until the 20th of August. So ethier the birth certificate department messed up or the hospital. And if I am wrong I can totally relate because I have two birthdays too. So legally on my Birth Cert it says the 20th but my mother says it was really the 17th..", "Here's a free 30 trial version of Macromedia Flash Studio 8. I tried it, but I didn't end up buying it because I just wanted to mess around. It's a really profesional piece of software, but it was confusing for me to try to figure out.", "I am very punctual myself and so are most of my good friends. People who are habitually late for thing tend to irritate me because it's disrespectful, irresponsible, and really makes the person look bad. I've handled these people in two ways a) by not inviting them places because I don't want to deal with their mess or b) if I otherwise like them, lie about the time and ask them to show up ten minutes early.", "It is almost impossible, but it is, but not many would do it, but probably has happen once at least. With all the upsets like #15 maybe winning like Winthrop almost did yesterday, be hard. 16 games were yesterday and I got only 1 wrong, which is still not bad at all. 2 years in a row that Syracuse messed up my bracket by losing in the first round.", "if you go to limewire.com you can download a program which is a p2p (person 2 person or pc 2 pc program) where u can download almost anything actually....\\nwhen downloading download the free one first and then as soon as you get it up and running go into the search programs and download limewire pro, this is the program on which people $19.95 pay for .. lol it works alot better then the regular one and you get access to alot more songs... hope this helps you \\n\\nKazza isn't to bad but i found it let alot of virus's and adware on my computer which really messed it up alot and made alot of programs mess up, but on the other hand that could of been just my computer, but i haven't had a problem with limewire pro yet !!", "i believe,just because i know Jesus loves me at the very first place,that is all it takes,and He gave up His life for us so that we can enjoy eternal life in heaven,life isn't about temporary pleasure on earth,it is about building your own character,not for your self,but the people around you,and life is more meaningful just because the love of God,i continue to live and dare to face tomorrow,just because my savior Jesus Christ is alive!", "I would like to get married. It would be my second marriage, but the first was such a strange one, I can barely remember it. (I didn't know that guy very well.) Here's my humble advice about marriage: Wait until it gets really \"hot\". And, along with that, don't marry someone because your parents think you should or because he has the right qualifications. Marry him because you can't live without him otherwise, because you simply \"can't\" imagine life without him. Good luck. I think it's a noble aspiration and a worthy goal in life.", "he should proabbyl be tested for allergies because they can exasperate his asthma. I have asthma al my life and just discovered my allergies this past year. they are the reason that when i was little i would be hospitalized every spring (the peak of my allergy season) Its not fun but if he has allergies and you can control them its worth it.. It really is", "I'd say #2. It stays the closest to the movie and the basilisk is cool. My second favorite is #4, because of all the special effects, but the director messed it up.", "The biggest problem is that it will take my family's, family's, family, to even get close to balancing the debt of this Administration since they wont contribute to America. Selfishness and greed are not the agendas of the Democrat party's politics. Clinton cleaned up their mess from Ronald Regan/George Bush seniors years, in 5 years with reserves. They are just mad and scared they will have to contribute. Well I say if they don't want to then they can leave America and live in Iraq. Americas Democrat soldiers are also tired of cleaning up the Neo_Con's messes.", "I was with my ex for 8 years as well and after about six years into the relationship, the sex became less and less. By the eighth year in our relationship, we realized our situation was getting old and both agreed to move on. My advice to you is to try new things with him (positions, places, etc) and try to spice things up...maybe rekindle the sex you had when you first started going out. I really wish I would have tried, instead of giving up.\\nGood luck!", "I am 80% confident that they will make it to the playoffs. But a serious injury to Baron or Richardson can really mess it up.", "I'm never really sure I do exist. I wake up and live my life and I do the same thing everyday and I wonder if it's all just a dream and I'm going to wake up and do it again. In my honest opinion, life is not truly worth living in the sense that we are all going to die anyways. Think about it. So we know the wonderful things about physics and we understand gravity, but does it really matter? Not really. It's because we all die in the end. I'm probably just using up the air. But I'll tell you, I'm having a good time of it. I don't know if there is something after this or if when I die I die. And not knowing is scary. I'd rather just live and enjoy because this may be all I get. Whoever I am. Below is something I wrote that more clearly explains my opinion. Or maybe it is just more confusing.", "Yes I pass blood clots all the time when I get my period. Not to mention the first day of my period I can't leave the house because I'm a heavy bleeder, I have to change every 30 minutes or look out I'm a big mess. The blood clots give me killer cramps and it happens on the first day and on my third day of period. It's horrible being a woman, I wish I could get my uterus taken out instead of going thru this every darn month.", "first off these other people dont know what they are talking about. 23 years old is just fine to be sf. 135lbs is just fine they will only not select you if you are over weight or over your body fat percentage. the near sighted might be a problem but now they will give you laser eye surgery so that wouldnt really be a problem. next you would most likely need to get a security clearance to go sf. so if you messed up you will be cault up on it. i have been in the army for over 4 years so i think i know a little more then the rest of these people.", "As many people have said, dolphins are believed to be the smartest beings after humans, with pigs, chimps( and mice, if one goes by the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, of course) close behind. It's subjective, really, depending on your definition of 'smart'.\\n\\nBut then, would you really call humans 'smart'? We've done more to mess up the planet than millions of years of life so far--how many pigs have you seen driving SUVs and throwing McDonald's bags out the window on the high-way? ;)", "Here's hoping that this year, Brazil messes up, and England wins! :)", "my mom let me start dating at 15, only because i grew up with the guy and she was close to his parents, but I would have to say, high school is the \"dating era\", so in my opinion I would say your first year of high school would be suitable....", "I have been working 3rd shift for 10 years. I like it because I don't have alot of supervisors floating around or have to fight for the elevator, and deal with large crowds of people. However I have 2 kids and a husband, and sometimes I really wish I could live a normal life with 8 hours of sleep, but my life just works out better for me working nights.", "I am a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but it is not with that association.\\n\\nI can say, however,that it is the thing I am most proud of doing in my life, up to this day. I'm 17, and i took me about 4 years to recieve my belt. I worked very hard, and what makes it so rewarding is that its worth it!", "my mom didnt like my bf but im with him anyway. she will either grow to like him or not. whatever you do, dont run away to be with him. that could totally mess up your life. just stick it out and see what happens.", "Be yourself, being true to yourself you really can't mess that up." ]

[ "A group of organisms used in a taxonomic study without designation of taxonomic rank.\\n\\nI hope this helps." ]

[ "Depends what you mean. From a utility point of view, yes it certainly is. Sponges have been made from sponge, from cork and from loofahs. Today most sponges are made form plastic. So by that standard it's a sponge.\\n\\n\\nIn biological terms no, it's not. A sponge is an animal that lives in the sea. A loofah is the dried remnants of a type of squash. It's a vegetable.", "pen and paper - mostly they write it down. \\n\\nif they don't I'd guess it's called short term memory or working memory (biologically it involves an increase in the efficiency with which nerve impulses pass across synapses. It does not require any protein synthesis or remodeling of the synapse. )", "Proteins' main fuctions are to serve as biological catalysts in living things. That means that they allow biological processes to occur faster and more efficeintly. Also proteins are used to regulate biological functions. They serve other functions also such as chemical messengers, building blocks, and transporters. Because DNA, the code of life, encode ultimately for proteins, the proteins are central to almost every biological process from respiration to reproduction. The easier question to ask is what proteins don't do.", "do you mean what does babygirl mean? if so babygirl is a term used by girls or boys describing a close freind. For example i call my best friend katie my babygirl, and my boyfreind calls me his babygirl. i hope that helps.beth x", "The term New Age has come to mean a lot of things. Just plug in the term in Google, sit back and pick out what you think fits.\\nTo me, New Age means enlightenment.", "First, race does not exist. It is a made-up term, originating as pseudo-science in the early 1900's as an excuse to keep the European/American upper class white people in control of most governments. Studied far closer after WWII, race has been found to be non-existent - the only biological differences between 'colors' are the levels of melanin present in the skin. Otherwise, there are no biological differences at all. Our ethnicities and religious beliefs are really what seperates us, the \"us\" and \"them\". Now, there are certain genes that frequent different geographical areas: for example, sickle-cell anemia gene is far more prevalent within Africans, but as a heterozygote (that is, one parent gives the gene FOR and one 'not FOR') these Africans are protected from malaria! Amazing what the human body will do, what it will adapt to!", "What is the aim of your paper? \\nA biological discussion of what chemotherapy does to the host cells? \\nThe social aspect of a undergoing chemotherapy?\\n\\nWe need some idea of where you are headed or what you hope to answer in order to develop a thesis - and there could be several thousand from what you've already said.", "A neural network is an interconnected group of biological neurons. In modern usage the term can also refer to artificial neural networks, which are constituted of artificial neurons. Thus the term 'Neural Network' specifies two distinct concepts:\\n\\n 1. A biological neural network is a plexus of connected or functionally related neurons in the peripheral nervous system or the central nervous system. In the field of neuroscience, it most often refers to a group of neurons from a nervous system that are suited for laboratory analysis.\\n 2. Artificial neural networks were designed to model some properties of biological neural networks, though most of the applications are of technical nature as opposed to cognitive models.", "State *exactly* what it means to be differentiable. The linear term in the definition of differentiability will be 0.", "I don't remember well this kind of things.\\n\\nAnyway the key is in the fact that between any two rationals there always exist a non-rational: so there are no intervals of rationals which form a continuum\\n\\nSorry I don't remember exactly what does the term \"open\" mean", "What do you mean by \"plastic jacket\"? That's no dental term I've ever heard of.", "Believe it or not CROATIA is the mother country of the modern necktie but archaeological evidence of the use of neckties goes back to the Chinese and the Romans almost two millenniums back.\\nfor more info check otu this site... :o)\\nhttp://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/father/necktie.htm", "What does that even mean??!!!!!", "Intuition. it is the stock that you carry on with you life after life. It is beyond the five senses. It is the foundation of spirituality. It is what makes one human being closer to the Lord within over another who does not know what the term the 'Lord within' means. It is beyond intellect. It cannot be quantified. it can only be experienced.It is seen in the relative world as reverence for life. There is much more. Read Dadashri.", "what does this mean?!", "devorce? trail? what does this mean?", "It depends on what the microchip does, if its used in treating any illness or assists with any disabilities, eg: a implantable microprocessor that would aid the deaf in hearing, I am all for it. If its for vanity or biological enhancment or human tracking, no way. We are not canned products to be barcoded and categorised.", "what does stritch mean? and what is a vergina?", "What is the world does \"indeouges\" mean?", "What does supine mean????", "Spicy! Seriously, what does this mean?", "If you mean the chemisty term like I think you so as in valence electrons, its the elcetrons on the outer most part of the atom which does all the bonding and reacting.", "What does 'frame a question' mean?", "The easiest way to remember Chemistry equations: is to write it down and make notes on it.\\n\\nThe easiest way to learn biological terms is also to write it down - instead of writing down its meaning, try writing a sentence using that word. If you add humor to the sentence - it will be more easier for you to remember.\\n\\nTo understand the theory behind both - give names to the terms involved and try imagining it in your mind.\\n\\nExample: Say an \"Electrolytic Solution\" is a lake, the \"Electrodes are Trees\" etc. etc... and try imagining something happening.. it is easier to remember it that way!", "sex appetite does not rely on gender differences. Personality and childhood enviroment in wich one grows play the most important role. Some biological features influence sex appetite too.", "It means that he is straight forward, what he says, he means and does , what you see is what you get kinda of person.", "lulu? what does your name mean? ok, i looked it up and it means pearl?", "what does it mean? skeet is semen.", "What does it mean to get your ear stapled?", "Don't worry about that> You will know in no uncertain terms when the time comes. Be patence, you will see what I mean.", "Yes. We should not allow amnesty to any illegals. I mean, does the term \"illegal\" mean anything anymore? I don't understand why some people are willing to ignore the laws of our land. We may as well open up our borders and not control any immigration. THat;s what the mexicans are saying! They do not want to assimilate but DO want to change our country to be like thier old one, but with jobs.", "What does the electric company say? I'm inclined to think he cannot prevent the wires. \"Easement\" is the legal term you should search on." ]

[ "A father-to-be who accidentally ran over and killed his pregnant fiancée outside their baby shower just three weeks before the child was due has been jailed. Both the unborn baby girl and Jessica Fenner, 22, died following the crash in Morden, Surrey, earlier this year. Croydon Crown Court heard Daniel Dutfield, 24, who had passed his driving test just a year before, was nearly three times over the legal driving limit when he hit his pregnant partner on July 5 in his turbocharged 1.8l Ford Focus, which had been lowered and a 'racing style' clutch fitted. Dutfield, 24, was nearly three times over the limit when he hit his pregnant partner on July 5 this year . Mark Paltenghi, prosecuting, told the court: 'To celebrate the coming of their baby a baby shower and barbecue was held at the defendant's mother's home. 'The defendant said he had drunk about six or seven pints of strong lager. He says he wasn't a drinker and felt drunk after two pints. 'It's clear that at some point during the afternoon things took a turn for the worse as far as the defendant is concerned.' The court heard a drunken Dutfield had become agitated when members of his family had not shown up to the party. Mr Paltenghi said: 'He said it was 'p***ing him off' how certain people he'd invited hadn't turned up. 'He then walked out of the house, down the driveway and crossed the street to where his Ford was parked and got in. He was worse for wear from the amount he had drunk.' He then 'bombed off' down the road, accelerating up to 60mph around the loop of the quiet estate. Mr Paltenghi said: 'At this point Jessica and her friend discovered the defendant had left. They came out of the house and stood on the street. 'Her friend said she heard the sound of a car engine revving and she saw the defendant's vehicle.' By the time they were taken to hospital their baby girl was dead and Ms Fenner died the following day . An eye witness said he saw the defendant spin the wheel round like someone trying to get the back end to go out, but it was so quick he lost control. Mr Paltenghi said: 'It careered from one side of the street to the other, mounted the pavement and collided with a street sign. The momentum of the car caused Jessica to be knocked down.' He added: 'The insurance company has said that had it known of the vehicle's modifications, particularly, the suspension, they would not have insured him.' Paramedics were called to the scene at 8.08pm and rushed Ms Fenner to hospital, where her child was pronounced dead on arrival. She died the following day. Police called to the scene gave Dutfield a breath test, which revealed he was 93mg over the 35mg legal limit to drive. Dutfield, an apprentice engineer, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Croydon Crown Court in September and has now been jailed for four and a half years. Dutfield wept as the court heard the pair, who had been in a relationship for six years, were 'joined at the hip'. Judge Warwick McKinnon, the Recorder of Croydon, said: 'This is a totally tragic case. Everyone is agreed that this was a freak accident with totally, dreadfully, tragic consequences. 'However you drove drunkenly, aggressively, and at speed, in a residential area. Children could have quite easily been present. 'It's a tragic case, you killed the one you love.' The court heard Dutfield is suffering from depression and had been deemed a suicide risk in custody . Referring to statement from Ms Fenner's mother, Julie Fenner, which was not read out in court, the judge said she spoke 'movingly' about the 'pain, grief, and all-encompassing anguish of losing a daughter, in such tragic, senseless circumstances.' He added: 'This was a wholly avoidable and premature death but no sentence I can pass today, whatever its length can restore the human life that has been so senselessly lost.' Avirup Chaudhuri, defending, said: 'The word tragedy is perhaps over-used these days, but nobody can deny the term is appropriate to this case.' The court heard Dutfield is suffering from depression and had been deemed a suicide risk in custody, though he had helped prevent the suicides of two other inmates while on remand. The court also heard he had no previous convictions and no points on his driving licence . Croydon Crown Court heard the pair, who had been in a relationship for six years, were 'joined at the hip' Dutfield has been jailed for four and a half years after hitting his pregnant fiancée in his car while over the limit . In the months prior to her tragic death Miss Fenner, a shop assistant at hardware store Wilkinson's, told family and friends how excited she was to have moved in with her boyfriend and to start a family. On May 31, the mother-to-be wrote on her Facebook page: 'Had a lovely evening with Dan Dutfield - not long till us 2 become 3 can't wait to meet our beautiful baby girl xx.' She also shared scans of their baby girl and asked for name suggestions. Mr Chaudhuri, said: 'He was hard working, dedicated to his girlfriend and wider family and looking forward to becoming a father. 'Any punishment that this court can give will never compare to the torment he puts himself through on a daily basis.' Dutfield, who appeared in the dock in dark suit and pink shirt, wept as he was sentenced. He was ordered to pay a £120 surcharge and banned from driving for seven years. The public gallery was packed with members of both Dutfield and his dead fiancée's family. Speaking outside Scotland Yard Detective Constable Iain Lister said on behalf of the family: 'The sentence will not bring Jessica back, but we hope it brings some comfort and justice, and that the Fenner family can begin to move on from this tragedy.'" ]

[ "(CNN) -- Brazil need just three more points to clinch qualification for the 2010 World Cup after beating former South American Group leaders Paraguay on Wednesday, but Argentina's hopes suffered a big blow. Brazil's match-winner Nilmar, left, celebrates his goal with Elano and Daniel Alves, right. With four matches remaining, Brazil retained top spot with a 2-1 victory in Recife to lead second-placed Chile by a point, with Paraguay two further adrift on 24 and Argentina in fourth on 22. The top four teams automatically qualify for next year's finals in South Africa, while the fifth-placed nation -- Ecuador at this stage -- face a play-off against the fourth-placed side from the CONCACAF region. Mexico hold that spot following Wednesday's matches, following a morale-boosting 2-1 win against bottom nation Trinidad and Tobago. Brazil and Paraguay had been level on points at the top of the table of Wednesday's clash, and the visitors took the lead in the 25th minute when Salvador Cabanas's free-kick took a deflection off midfielder Elano and looped over Julio Cesar. Elano's Manchester City team-mate Robinho made amends with a superb volleyed equalizer four minutes before half-time from Daniel Alves' right-wing cross. The home side then went ahead four minutes after the interval with a scrappy goal as striker Nilmar scrambled the ball into the net after a fortuitous rebound off Paraguay's Julio Cesar Caceres when he tried to chest the ball down to Kaka. \"It was a match in which we had to be patient and persistent,\" Brazil coach Dunga said on FIFA.com. \"We had to try playing on the wings, at speed, changing sides. Everyone plays tight away from home and that makes it difficult to win. We need three more points to be sure (of qualifying).\" For Paraguay, who were four points clear at the top at the halfway stage, it was a second setback in a week after Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Chile. Diego Maradona's Argentina were unable to follow up last weekend's 1-0 win over Colombia, crashing 2-0 away to Ecuador at high altitude in Quito. Carlos Tevez missed a first-half penalty before goals from Walter Ayovi and Pablo Palacios handed Maradona a second defeat in four qualifiers since taking charge. \"They didn't do anything in the first half,\" Maradona said on FIFA.com. \"In the second half, they got a couple of rebounds and they scored two goals. If we had scored a goal, it would have finished the game off.\" Ecuador coach Sixto Vizuete, whose side closed to within two points of the Argentines, said: \"These three points are worth their weight in gold and we're satisfied because we beat great opponents.\" Tevez was fouled by Ecuador goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga just inside the penalty area in the 28th minute, but then saw his weak spot-kick saved and Lionel Messi fired the rebound over the bar to add to an earlier easy miss by the the Barcelona forward. Left-back Ayovi equalized in the 72nd minute with a superb 25-meter strike, then substitute Palacios -- who had teed him up for that effort -- fired the winner with seven minutes left and Antonio Valencia struck the visitors' woodwork with a long-range shot. Chile moved up into second place with a 4-0 crushing of 10-man Bolivia, as Alexis Sanchez netted twice. Jean Bonsejour headed the opener just before halftime from Matias Fernandez's right-wing cross, Mark Gonzalez made it 2-0 with a free-kick in the 74th minute before Sanchez struck four minutes later. Sanchez scored again just before the end, and midfielder Ignacio Garcia was sent off after clattering into him while he celebrated. In other games, Uruguay dropped to sixth place after being held to a 2-2 draw away to Venezuela and Colombia beat bottom team Peru 1-0. Diego Forlan put Uruguay 2-1 up in the 73rd minute, but Venezuela kept their hopes of a first World Cup finals appearance alive when Jose Manuel Rey scored from a trademark free-kick two minutes later. Radamel Falcao Garcia netted the only goal in Medellin from close range in the 25th minute, scoring just his nation's seventh of the qualifiers as Peru crashed to an eighth successive defeat.", "By . Chris Brooke . PUBLISHED: . 05:22 EST, 12 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:56 EST, 13 May 2013 . Smug: Richard Oliver, 25, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, is pictured after walking free from Newcastle Crown Court on Friday . When police and paramedics responded to a 999 call about a badly damaged minibus they appeared to have a serious emergency to deal with. Six ambulances took 13 men to hospital with what they claimed were serious injuries after they had ‘crashed’ on their way to a stag party. But the ‘accident’ was a brazen scam designed to fool the authorities and get £134,000 from a false insurance claim for whiplash injuries. The men faked their injuries and made a ‘dramatic recovery’ after arriving in hospital. Some had been put in neck braces for the journey to A&E where they were given ‘unnecessary’ neck and spine X-rays, a court heard. Police were suspicious as the group had no overnight bags or clothes for the weekend away  in Edinburgh – more than two hours’ drive from the crash scene in North Tyneside. And when paramedics initially approached the minibus, driver Robert Paul, 45, and his passengers seemed to be ‘quite well’. James Adkin, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendants were laughing, smoking and chatting on mobile phones. What followed was a domino effect as they began to hold their necks and say they had suffered injury.’ Despite being responsible for tying up NHS resources in a busy casualty unit, the gang walked free from Newcastle Crown Court on Friday with suspended jail sentences. Judge David Wood told them: ‘If there had been a serious accident in this area on that night in which people were genuinely hurt or dying, the emergency services would have been unable to help them because they would be dealing with you.’ During a break in their sentencing hearing some of the gang went  outside the court. One of them, Richard Oliver, 25, pulled out a  wad of notes and showed them off, knowing that he was being photographed. The ‘accident’ happened in August 2009. The ‘crash for cash’ gang weren’t arrested until December 2011 after Aviva had compiled a dossier  of evidence. Cash: Oliver's gang would have taken £134,000 between them from Aviva if they had pulled off the scheme . Investigators working for the insurer . discovered the minibus had been damaged elsewhere – probably by being . driven into a post – and debris spread at the ‘crash’ scene on a slip . road of the A193 near the Tyne Tunnel. The minibus was supposed to have . collided with a Peugeot car, but the car had never been at the crash . scene. Ben LeBlond, the Peugeot’s owner, was a . friend of the stag-do ‘groom’, Stephen Paul, 28, and came forward . claiming to have been driving it. His ‘passenger’, girlfriend Marnie . Simpson, 21, also made a fake whiplash claim. Community order: Miss Simpson had been under the pressure of her boyfriend, the court heard . The court heard the gang had lied to . paramedics, doctors and insurers in an attempt to ‘line their own . pockets’, but Aviva did not pay out any money. Mr Adkin said insurance investigators . discovered LeBlond was no stranger to the minibus group as he claimed . but friends on Facebook with many of them. Stephen and Robert Paul were given 12 month suspended jail terms and a £360 fine, and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. Oliver, Anthony Clark, 24, Jonathan . Aurey, 24, Anthony Ward, 23, John Seymour, 23 and Daniel Laidler, 26, . were given six-month suspended jail sentences and 150 hours of unpaid . work. Oliver and Ward were also fined £360. Karl Comarford, 25, Daniel Daymond, 23 . and Daniel Ward, 28, received the same suspended jail term and fine, . while Christopher Martin, 33, was given the same suspended jail term and . a 12-month supervision order. Simpson was given a 12-month community . and supervision order and 150 hours of unpaid work. All 13 admitted . fraud. Each is from South Tyneside. LeBlond and two other men, who also pleaded guilty to fraud, are still awaiting sentence. Also involved: The driver Robert Paul (left), 45, the 'groom' Stephen Paul (right), 28, and the other 'stag do revellers' in the vehicle seemed to be 'quite well' when ambulance staff approached the minibus .", "Criminal gang members who arranged to test-drive more than 20 high-value cars before distracting the salesmen and driving off with the vehicles have been jailed. The gang targeted both dealers and private sellers around Yorkshire and Derbyshire, stealing a total of 23 new and second hand cars worth almost £300,000 including a £28,440 Land Rover, £15,750 Audi and a Mercedes C220 sports car. They would arrange for test drives in secluded areas before stealing the cars using a variety of methods to distract salesman or the owners. Ringleaders: Dean Harding, 33, (left) and Ernest Moate, 61, (right) were part of a criminal gang which arranged test-drive more than 20 high-value cars before distracting the salesmen and driving off . Most of the cars taken by the gang between January and April last year were quickly stripped down for parts and only three were recovered. Jailing three of the gang members, Recorder Richard Wright QC told Leeds Crown Court that he was satisfied Ernest Moate, 61, and Dean Harding, 33, played the leading roles in the operation, with Harding the main thief supported by Moate and another man, Richard MacInnes, 38. Gang members would approach car dealerships or private sellers advertising on Autotrader or Gumtree, with the caller giving a false name and background explaining why he wanted the car. Often the caller would pretend to be working as a contractor somewhere remote in Yorkshire or Derbyshire, asking the seller to to bring a vehicle to him for a test drive. The court was told that one of the thefts took place on Janurary 31 last year, when a salesman from the Farnell Land Rover dealership in Bradford dealership was tricked into taking a £28,440 Land Rover to a farm in the village Denby Dale after a potential buyer claimed he was doing some logging in the area. There he met Harding, who was using a false name, and together they drove five miles to nearby Bretton before pulling into a layby. After distracting the salesman, Harding made a dash for the vehicle and sped off. Gang members: A stolen Land Rover was traced to a garage belonging to Daniel Banks, 24, (left). He was jailed for 18 months for handling stolen vehicles, while Richard MacInnes, 38, (right) was jailed for two years, four months for conspiracy to steal vehicles and failing to attend court . Stolen:  A salesman from a Bradford dealership was tricked into taking this £28,440 Land Rover for a test drive, only for it to be stolen by Harding. By the time it was found in Banks's garage it had been fitted with false number plates and the doors and bonnet had been removed . Matthew Donkin, prosecuting, said the salesman alerted his manager and because the vehicle had been fitted with a tracker, activated after the theft was reported, police traced it to a garage belonging to another gang member Daniel Banks, 24, within half an hour. By then the car had been fitted with false number plates was already being stripped down, with the bonnet and doors missing. On February 8 last year another garage, Perry’s Motors in Huddersfield, was contacted by a man who asked for a vehicle to be taken to a quarry at Grange Moor. When the salesman arrived with a Vauxhall Astra a man matching Harding’s description got in for a test drive. He drove to a gated driveway and while the salesman was out to open the gates, Harding drove away. The vehicle was never recovered. The court heard that a private seller in Holmfirth was also contacted about a test drive of his £15,750 Audi, but when the seller went to lock his front door the man drove off in the car. Other cars stolen in the operation included a Mitsubishi LC200, a £14,990 Mercedes C220 sports car, a Ford Transit van worth £20,000, a Range Rover Sport worth £29,000 and a £22,000 Mitsubishi Barbarian. Ringleader Moate, described in court as a 'professional criminal' was jailed for five and a half years after he was convicted of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. MacInnes was jailed for two years, four months for conspiracy to steal vehicles and failing to attend court, and Banks was jailed for 18 months for handling stolen vehicles. All lived in Barnsley. Harding had been sentenced at a previous hearing when he was jailed for three years and four months for conspiracy to steal vehicles, handling and robbery. Four other gang members were also sentenced for their part in the thefts. Brett Williams, 24, was jailed for two years for handling stolen goods and Robert West, 28, was given a 15 months sentence suspended for two years with 300 hours unpaid work for handling stolen goods. Craig Williams, 25, and Gary Williams, 32, who were each given 10 months in prison suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work for handling stolen goods. 'We worked for several months to investigate these offences and as we dug further it became increasingly apparent there were clear links between what at first seemed like isolated offences committed across the Yorkshire region,' said Detective Constable James Bellhouse, who headed the investigation, named Operation Trimgill. 'The investigation was extremely complex and our enquiries included visiting scenes, recovering and viewing hours of CCTV, house to house, forensic opportunities, receiving and evaluating intelligence obtaining and executing warrants, mobile phone work, liaising with other forces, surveillance and also a bit of luck. 'It highlights once again that today’s criminals can operate in a sophisticated fashion, targeting those who are vulnerable. It also demonstrates how well police officers can collaborate across districts and indeed police force areas to catch them.'", "Andrew Chamberlain, 50, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and jailed for three years . A charity worker who broke his neighbour’s arm in three places with a four foot scaffolding pole during a row over a parking space has been jailed. Andrew Chamberlain, 50, became ‘abusive and threatening’ after 24-year-old Daniel Morgan parked outside his home on the terraced street in Blackwood, South Wales. The carer, who has 42 previous convictions including an offence of making a threat to kill in 2004, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and jailed for three years on Friday. A jury at Cardiff Crown Court was told an argument erupted and Chamberlain took a large metal pole from his garden, raised it above his head and struck Mr Morgan - who blocked the blow with arm. Mr Morgan said: ‘It made a hell of a thud – the pain was excruciating. ‘He then brought the bar back as if he was going to hit me again.’ But Chamberlain claimed in an earlier hearing that he had been threatened by Mr Morgan and was using the pole to defend himself. He also said he needed regular access to the house where he lives with his 82-year-old mother because she suffers from severe arthritis and he needed to assist her. Mr Morgan said there were no official parking restrictions in the street but he would not have parked there if he’s known about Chamberlain’s mother’s health problems. The court heard parking was a 'contentious issue' on the street and residents had agreed to only park outside their own homes in Greenfield Terrace. Chamberlain has a string of convictions including aiming an air pistol at a woman’s head and threatening to shoot her, for which he was jailed for three and a half years. James Evans, defending, said he had ‘turned his life around’ and was a volunteer worker for a charity. Recorder Peter Griffiths told Chamberlain: ‘It is no pleasure for me to do the duty I have to perform. ‘You have turned your life around in the past 10 years. I was immensely impressed by the testimonials submitted in your behalf.’ The judge said despite the fact he is a carer for his mother he had to follow sentencing guidelines and an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable. Neighbours on Greenfield Terrace (above) had agreed to park outside their own homes only to avoid arguments . Chamberlain took a metal scaffolding pole (similar to one above) from his garden and used it to hit Mr Morgan .", "This is the moment a pair of burglars who were seen loitering in a suspicious-looking car on a residential street were caught on camera by a nosy neighbour - who they then tried to run over. When the neighbourhood watch member saw what he thought might be trouble in his street in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, he grabbed his mobile phone and began filming. He then approached the black VW Golf, which was parked up on his street, with burglary suspects Carl Armitage and David Hindle inside. Caught: David Hindle, 35, (left) and Carl Armitage, 24, (right), both from Bradford, have been jailed for a series of burglaries in West Yorkshire, after a neighbour took this photo of them lurking in his street in their stolen car . But the driver spotted the man and suddenly reversed towards him, narrowly missing him and smashing into a telegraph pole. Despite the near-miss, the determined neighbour managed to take clear photos of the car - which have now been used to help jail the gang with which the two burglars were involved. After they were sentenced, officers paid tribute to the 'brave' man, who they said had helped prevent further burglaries. The group had been responsible for a series of raids across Huddersfield in which they had collectively stolen around £10,000 worth of gold jewellery. The pair who were caught on camera by the man have now been jailed at Leeds Crown Court for their parts in the burglaries. Armitage, 24, from Bradford, was sentenced to four years in prison while Hindle, 35, also from Bradford, was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Despite their attempts to run him over when he approached the black VW Golf, the neighbourhood watch man took this photo of the suspicious-looking car outside his home in Huddersfield and handed it into police . Hindle had already been convicted in July this year of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was jailed for 16 weeks. But the two men later admitted handling stolen goods after it emerged that the car in which they were filmed had been stolen during an earlier burglary in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Another defendant, Stephen Drake, 33, from Knottingley, West Yorkshire, admitted two counts of burglary and one attempted burglary. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Joseph Devanney, 25, from Bradford, was also jailed for two years and five months and banned from driving for 12 months after admitting attempted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and perverting the course of justice. Hindle, 35, (left) and Armitage, 24, (right), were jailed at Leeds Crown Court for their roles in several burglaries which targeted Asian families for jewellery . He had crashed a car and persuaded his partner to report it stolen, the court heard. And a fifth man, 29-year-old Scott Moore, also from Bradford, admitted burglary, handling a stolen car, common assault on a custody officer and possessing drugs. He was jailed for 30 months and disqualified from driving for 12 months. Detective Constable Iain Campbell, from West Yorkshire Police, said: 'The significant sentences given to Hindle and Armitage come as a result of a 15-month investigation which uncovered links between the pair and a series of burglaries committed across the Kirklees area. 'The determination of officers to put these two career burglars behind bars shows the priority we give to tackling incidents of burglary. After the five-man gang were jailed, a police officer paid tribute to the neighbour for his 'brave' actions in taking the photos, including this one . 'I would also like to pay tribute to the neighbourhood watch member who saw Hindle and Armitage acting suspiciously and filmed them on his mobile phone. 'When the men realised they were being filmed they reversed their vehicle towards the witness narrowly missing him and colliding with a telegraph pole. 'The brave actions of the witness clearly prevented another victim of burglary and I would like to publicly acknowledge our gratitude for their help.' The court heard the gang repeatedly targeted Asian families for jewellery. Raids happened in locations across West Yorkshire. Sentencing the gang, Judge Tom Bayliss QC said: 'It is perfectly clear to me that premises were targeted in this case for high value goods and that the individual burglaries were subjected to careful planning. 'Burglary can have a terrible effect on those who are the victims.'", "Bryan Ferry's son Merlin has been making a steady recovery since his car crash last month. The 24-year-old was involved in a horrific three-car collision on a country lane in Shropshire, the West Midlands just before Christmas, during which he suffered multiple fractures and a head injury. Merlin - who is former Roxy Music frontman Bryan's youngest son - thankfully appears to be on the mend, with his older brother Otis keeping the family's well-wishers updated about his progress. Otis has now shared a picture of Merlin taking his first steps since the accident on Twitter. First steps: Otis Ferry has posted a picture of his brother Merlin taking his first steps since his car crash in Shropshire, the West Midlands, last month . Merlin can be seen leaning on a crutch for support as he walks down the hospital hallway. He captioned the image: 'Merlins first steps after a month in QE hospital, Nothing like a delicious curry for motivation! Thank you to all x (sic)'. Earlier this month, Bryan thanked fans for their kind messages of support after his son's accident. Merlin was trapped in the wreckage of his silver Volvo saloon for almost an hour after the crash, which left his vehicle looking 'like a mangled box of tin'. Bryan Ferry, left, has thanked fans for their messages of support after his son Merlin, right, was in a car crash . A message posted on the former Roxy Music star's Facebook page said: 'On behalf of BF and the family, many thanks for all the kind messages of support for Merlin following his road accident before Christmas.' It went on: 'Merlin has undergone a series of operations and is now stable in hospital, with a long period of recovery ahead of him.' The message also thanked the fire and ambulance crews which helped as well as the medical staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Otis described the wreckage, following the crash on the A458, half a mile to the north west of Cressage, as looking 'like a mangled box of tin'. One of the other vehicles in the tangled wreck had erupted in flames while Merlin was still trapped in his car, but a passer-by was able to quickly put out the dangerous blaze. At the time the West Midlands Ambulance service said he suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis, left arm and had a head injury. The crash, which took place on the A458 near Cressage, Shropshire, left Merlin's silver Volvo saloon looking like 'a mangled box of tin'. The wreckage also involved a red Mercedes (seen on the right of the image) His eldest brother, Eton-educated Otis, informed his followers the day after the crash on December 22 and updated them on his sibling’s condition via his public Instagram page. After uploading a picture of the crash scene, he said at the time: ‘He had a head-on collision, has lots of broken bones and is having an operation on his heart as we speak. ‘He was conscious before he went into theatre and his biggest concern was that he had missed Christmas! He is in the best possible hospital for this type of procedure.’ Otis, who is master of the South Shropshire Hunt and has in the past been arrested for his pro-hunting activism, also thanked firefighters for freeing his brother from the wreck. He wrote on Twitter: ‘Thank you for extracting my brother alive from what looks like a mangled box of tin. We are all continuing to pray.’ Merlin had been travelling along the A458 about half a mile north-west of the village of Cressage, in Shropshire, at the time of the collision. Family affair: Merlin (circled) with brothers Isaac, Otis and Tara as their father Bryan received the CBE in 2011 . His car and a red Mercedes, which was travelling in the opposite direction, had collided head-on at around 6.40pm. The 49-year-old Mercedes driver from Kidderminster escaped with minor injuries. A third vehicle, a Scania lorry, which was travelling in the same direction as the Mercedes was also involved but little damage was caused to it. The driver was uninjured. Merlin, who narrowly escaped jail in 2013 after he was found carrying a knife for a second time, is one of four sons the 69-year-old has with his ex-wife, former model Lucy Helmore. Their 21-year marriage ended in divorce in 2003 while his second marriage to PR executive Amanda Sheppard, who is 38 years his junior, also ended in divorce earlier this year. The couple had separated in August last year after being married for two years. Merlin had accompanied his siblings Otis, Isaac and Tara to Buckingham Palace three years ago to see their father receive his CBE.", "This shocking picture reveals the mangled wreck of a tandem bike which belonged to the 'perfect couple' who were killed in a tragic crash with a banned driver. Drug addict Nicholas Lovell was speeding in his Citroen Picasso when he ploughed into Ross, 34, and Clare Simons, 30. The couple, who had been riding the bike on the way to visit friends in Hanham, Bristol, were pronounced dead at the scene. This shocking picture reveals the mangled wreck of a tandem bike which belonged to 'perfect couple' Ross, 34, and Clare Simons, 30, who were tragically killed by a banned driver . Mr and Mrs Simons were killed almost instantly when drug addict Nicholas Lovell's speeding Citroen Picasso ploughed into them . Lovell - who has 69 previous convictions - was later jailed for just ten-and-a-half years for causing their deaths. Now relatives of the Simons have released the dramatic picture of the aftermath of the crash as part of their campaign for tougher sentences for banned drivers. It shows how the car snapped the bike clean in half, with the front half getting lodged in the grille. Heroin addict Lovell, 38, had crashed into the couple as he tried to outrun police - with a 16 month old baby and 12-year-old in his vehicle. A court hearing in May 2013 heard that he then left them dying by the side of the road and while awaiting sentencing bragged to other inmates that he would get away 'with four years'. The couple's tandem bike, which they had been riding at the time of the crash, was snapped clean in half by the force of the crash . Jailing Lovell at Bristol Crown Court in May 2013, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said: 'This is the worst example one could imagine of this sort of offence. 'You have a serious drug problem but your deep selfishness and disregard for others is breathtaking.' His partner Louise Cox, 35, was jailed for twelve months for trying to cover up the fact he was illegally driving her Citroen Picasso. Lovell - who has 69 previous convictions - was later jailed for just ten-and-a-half years for causing their deaths . Lovell pleaded guilty to two counts of death by dangerous driving and was given the maximum possible sentence under current guidelines. But Ross and Clare's family reckon he will be released after five years - meaning he will serve just two-and-a-half years for each life he took. On Thursday, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling visited the site with local Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore and the family to discuss further changes and lay flowers. One potential change includes making sure sentences for multiple deaths are served one after the other, instead of at the same time. Mr Grayling said: 'I don't like the idea of people like this coming out half way through the sentence. 'It is shocking to walk here in a normal suburban street and see what can happen. I can only imagine the trauma and turmoil the family must have been through.' Kelly Woodruff, 33, Ross's sister, said the family would continue to fight for tougher laws in the hope of preventing future deaths. She thanked Mr Skidmore, who has supported the Justice for Ross and Clare campaign from the start. Mr Skidmore said: 'We have fought the campaign to get laws changed, which could already prevent future deaths but we want to go further. 'We want to keep this at the top of the agenda for whoever is in government to increase maximum sentences further.' The crash happened in Hanham, Bristol, near the couple's home in January 2013. In the run up to the collision a police officer in a patrol car recognised Lovell behind the wheel and knew he was banned. The scene in Bristol where tandem cyclists Ross and Clare Simons died after they were hit by Lovell - who has 69 previous convictions . Lovell failed to stop when the officer switched on his blue light, disappearing from view. Witnesses had described Lovell driving as 'exceptionally erratic, fast and dangerous'- with the speedo hitting 60mph- before they heard a 'loud, horrendous bang.' The court heard that Lovell was seen getting out of the steaming wreckage, followed by Cox who was cradling her baby. But the force of the impact instantly killed Ross and Clare, from Staple Hill, Bristol and left their new tandem bike in three pieces. Lovell fled the scene and left lying Cox to tell police a mystery man in a red sweater had been driving, leading detectives on a wild goose chase before Lovell handed himself in the next day when traces of drugs were found in his body. Despite finally pleading guilty, Lovell has never apologised for causing the couple's death. He also admitted driving while disqualified. Fifteen years ago Lovell warned he would either kill or be killed through his reckless driving. Piles of tributes were left to the popular couple and now their family have been campaigning for tougher sentences for banned drivers . Kelly Woodruff, 33, Ross's sister, said the family would continue to fight for tougher laws in the hope of preventing future deaths . He already had 13 convictions for driving whilst disqualified since 1991 and a further four for dangerous driving since 1995 before he killed Ross and Clare. In one incident he tried to escape police by driving through a subway. On another he sped along a pavement forcing people to leap out of his way. His warning about killing came in 1998 after a 70mph head-on crash with another car in Bristol when he was high on drugs. Lovell only stopped then when his clapped-out Rover lost a wheel. In addition, Lovell has been repeatedly jailed for violent crimes to fuel his lifelong heroin habit. In 2003 he was jailed for five years for an armed robbery at a shop, while in 2006 - within weeks of being released - he committed an aggravated burglary and got another 12 months in prison. In 2009 he was given yet another ban for dangerous driving - but each time he has simply ignored the courts and carried on as before. In sharp contrast, Ross and Clare were described as ‘a perfect couple' by relatives who held candlelit vigils at the scene of their. Family described Ross and Clare as ‘a perfect couple' by relatives who held candlelit vigils and left tributes to the pair . Ross' sister Kelly Woodruff said at the time of court case: 'They were two amazing people and so, so loved. To have them taken away from us is heart-wrenching. 'They were the perfect couple. They loved each other unconditionally, they were made for each other.' Ross' father Edwin Simons had added: 'He is going to serve three years for each of our children's lives. 'With his considerable history it needs looking into because this has gone on for years and years.' Kelly Woodruff, Ross' sister said in 2013: 'The people who took their lives will never understand what they have taken away from us and have never shown remorse. 'We and those close to Ross and Clare have been given life sentences. 'We are all truly devastated by the loss. If these individuals had thought before getting behind the wheel, Ross and Clare’s deaths would have been avoided and they would still be with us today.'", "Jodhi Meares has been a prisoner in her own home, suffered 'public humiliation' and considered going overseas to avoid scrutiny since flipping her Range Rover in June, her lawyer claimed in court today as the fashion designer was convicted of drink driving. Prominent Sydney solicitor Chris Murphy also said Ms Meares had been 'haunted' by her marriage to James Packer, although it only lasted for two and a half years, lived a modest life and was not a rich celebrity. Mr Murphy told the court the former model weighed about 48.5 kilograms and had drunk 'about four and three-quarter' glasses of red wine over the space of four and a half hours while eating a small piece of lamb before she crashed her car in Bellevue Hill on June 21. After police arrived at the scene of the accident, she was arrested and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.181. Scroll down for video . Jodhi Meares pictured leaving Waverley Local Court in Sydney after she was convicted of high-range drink driving . Meares' lawyer Chris Murphy told the court the fashion designer had become a prisoner in her own home since the crash and downplayed her finances . Today Ms Meares pleaded guilty to a charge of high-range drink driving and was fined $1,100 and had her licence suspended for 12 months - a third of the possible penalty for the offence - during an appearance at Waverley Local Court in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Mr Murphy said Ms Meares had not made any money from her label 'The Upside', had had to pay staff for taking maternity leave and had given any profits to a Cambodian orphans charity, the Cambodian Children's Trust. 'Every garment that is sold by that business,  a payment is made to the Cambodian trust,' he said.'In this particular situation she has a business which is in its early stages, but it doesn't make money - but the cheque goes to the Cambodian orphanage ... with the slum children. 'She has worked all her life. She has a staffof eight people. Six women - three have been pregnant this year. She worries about these people.  She's a good person.' Mr Murphy also downplayed the worth of Ms Meares' assets. He said her two-bedroom Pt Piper apartment 'did cost $1 million over ten years ago - but her lifestyle is not ostentation'. He said Ms Meares' crashed vehicle was not worth the $200,000 quoted in the media, but $41,000 and, following the crash, just $2,500. He said she had been prescribed Beta Blockers for anxiety since her home had been under siege after the accident. Jodhi Meares's Range Rover lies on its side after she crashed it in Rose Bay in June, allegedly while she was over the drink-drive limit . Ms Meares was 'haunted' by her marriage to James Packer from 1999-2002, her lawyer claimed . Mr Murphy also tendered character references to the court, including statements from Ms Meares' mother and her rock star partner Jon Stevens, and said of the stress the ordeal had on his client: 'She has been restricted to her house for all but one day'. Mr Murphy also submitted a traffic report, a document explaining the crash and her intoxication, as well as four photographs from the accident and a character reference from former NSW police assistant commissioner John Laycock. He tendered the photographs to the court, along with statements which showed how Ms Meares had experienced 'increased opprobrium, public humiliation ... and stress' from the charges because she was well known. 'She was married for just over two years [to James Packer] and that haunts everything that's said it about it [the marriage],' he said. 'She's not a celebrity, she's not a movie star. She was raised by a single mother. They moved apartments every four months. There were four children, she went to three different high schools. 'She had the good fortune to make money in modelling, and in the late 90s, she created the label Tiger Lily, and married Jamie Packer. 'They were married for two and half years,' she said. Jodhi Meares (pictured left on holiday in Hawaii and right getting coffee in Bondi in 2009) allegedly had four drinks on the night and weighs 48kg . There was no sign of Meares' partner, rocker Jon Stevens, at court . Mr Murphy told the court Ms Meares had virtually been a prisoner in her own home since the crash. 'She has been restricted to her house for all but one day,' he said. The lawyer also said Ms Meares had contemplated going to live overseas because of intense media attention since the crash. 'The issue has got got so bad with the harassment I am trying to talk her out of leaving Australia,' he said. Mr Murphy said he had gone to the restaurant and asked them to pour two standard drinks, which he then photographed. Ms Meares sat with Mr Murphy and two legal associates for her matter to be heard. She earlier at 10.50am wearing a slim - fitting black pantsuit, a plain white shirt and high heeled black stilettos. She wore her golden tinged dark hair back in a pony tail and looked very tanned. Police Prosecutor Daniel McMahon told Magistrate Huber he would not argue with the character references or the statements about Ms Meares being restricted to home since the crash, but he would take issue with the traffic report tendered by Mr Murphy and the material relating to Ms Meares' intoxication and her 'state of mind'. Mr Murphy told the court a 'substantial part of the plea' he was arguing on Jodhi Meares behalf was that 'the one drink per hour rule ... doesn't work for females'. Jodhi Meares leaves her house to make her court appearance on drink driving charges, stylishly dressed in all black . Jodhi Meares gets into a car to travel to Waverley Local Court, left, and is ushered through a crowd outside court (right) Mr Murphy tendered scales which purported to show how men and women of particular body weights responded to one drink per hour in terms of blood alcohol readings. There was no sign of Mr Stevens, the fiancé of Ms Meares. Ms Meares owns the fashion label, The Upside. An earlier charge of driving while her licence was suspended had been dropped. Mr Murphy, had applied to the court earlier in the month for an adjournment while he had an expert crash investigator examine Meares' wrecked black Range Rover Sport. At around 9.45pm on Saturday, June 21 Meares was turning her black Range Rover Sport from New South Head Road into O'Sullivan St, Rose Bay when her vehicle collided with a line of parked cars. Meares' vehicle then jack-knifed and flipped onto its side and she had to be pulled from the wreckage. A dazed Meares was attended by paramedics but not taken to hospital. Magistrate Julie Huber gave Meares one of third of the possible fine and disqualification for high range drink driving, which can incur a maximum fine of $3300, three years' disqualification - and a naxinum of 18 months' jail for a first time offender. Jodhi Meares was married to James Packer for three years between 1999 and 2002 . Mr Murphy, had applied to the court earlier in the month for an adjournment while he had an expert crash investigator examine Meares' wrecked black Range Rover Sport . Ms Huber said she took into account Ms Meares' good character, her good driving record and the fact she had been the subject of intense media attention. She also noted a slightly hidden traffic island the intersection where the crash took place was ' an aggravated feature' of the accident. 'Having said that,' Ms Huber told Meares,  who was standing in the court to receive her sentence,  'had you been driving under the prescribed limit of under .05 the [chance of crashing your car] wpuld have been remote. 'I accept that when you drank you were surprised as to your reading. 'I have to say though, having regard to the level of your reading, it would have been unusual for you not to have been feeling the effects.' Ms Huber said she also noted that Ms Meares 'being a person of interest to the media you have found yourself in a situation where where you have been unable to leave your home ... and you have had fewer visitors. Jodhi Meares waits outside the court room for her appearance on high-level drink driving charges . After the June accident, police arrested her and took her to Waverley Police Station where she allegedly registered a blood alcohol level of .181, almost four times over the legal limit . 'Having said that it's been over a  relatively short period of time.' She arrived in a black Toyota Kluger four-wheel drive, travelling in the back passenger seat behind Mr Murphy who sat in the front next to a woman driver. Mr Murphy arrived at Ms Meares' Pt Piper home just before 10.30am in the Kluger to collect her and take her to court. One woman client at the court took a photograph of Ms Meares inside the building and was immediately admonished by Chris Murphy to delete the image.", "A pair of thugs who pushed a blind and deaf man and his brother on to train tracks in a 'horrifying assault' at a busy station have both been jailed. Daniel Webster, 23, and Niall Martin, 24 pushed a 31-year-old, off the platform at Chelmsford station in Essex, then threw his brother Joseph down after him as he tried to intervene. Martin admitted ABH on the brother and was given a nine-month sentence - but he has been freed already after he spent five months in custody, making him eligible for parole. Daniel Webster, left, has been jailed for 22 months after attacking a blind and deaf man, along with his brother. Niall Martin, right, was jailed for 9 months for his part in the assault . Webster was jailed for 22 months after pleading guilty to GBH and ABH against both brothers. Chelmsford Crown Court heard that the victim was attacked by Webster and Martin late at night on February 20 this year after the pair came over to ask him about train times. A row broke out, and Webster launched his attack on the victim, who was described in court as 'profoundly deaf' and is registered blind. CCTV footage from the station shows a second man trying to come to the aid of his vulnerable brother, only for both of them to be thrown on to the tracks. CCTV from Chelmsford station, Essex, shows Daniel Webster throwing one of the victims on to the train tracks. National rail staff had to block incoming trains for fear the brothers would be killed . As the pair scramble back to the platform edge and attempt to climb back to safety, Martin and Webster punch them both in the head, leaving them stranded. Network rail staff were forced to put a block on all trains coming through the station over fears that the pair could have been killed. Webster punches one of the victims as he tries to get back on to the platform in the 'horrifying' attack . Jailing the pair yesterday Judge David Turner QC said it had been a 'disgraceful episode' and labelled their actions 'manifestly dangerous'. He said: 'This is exactly the sort of thing that terrifies members of the travelling public late at night.' Speaking afterwards, Detective Constable Alan Reed of British Transport Police said: 'This is one of the most appalling incidents I have investigated. 'Webster and Martin showed a savage disregard for their victims, and one of the brothers is still suffering from the injuries sustained to his foot. 'It is no exaggeration to say the brothers could have been killed after being thrown onto the tracks. 'I would like to pay tribute to the victims, who have shown great dignity following what was a terrifying ordeal for them . 'I hope the sentence will provide them with some sense of closure, although in truth, the impact this has had on both of them is likely to remain with them for the rest of their lives.' The court heard that the victim spent six weeks on crutches and was off work for six months. He now walks with a limp and has been told the foot injury may take two years to heal and may need further surgery.", "A food tycoon's son who left a baby paralysed and brain damaged in a horror car crash is facing jail for a second time over a bar brawl that left a man blinded. Antonio Boparan, 28, pleaded guilty to inflicting actual bodily harm and violent disorder after two men were punched, kicked and hit with broken bottles at Birmingham's Nuvo Bar. He has already served 21 months in jail for causing horrific injuries to one-year-old Cerys Edwards in a crash while speeding at 72mph on the wrong side of a 30mph road in November 2006. Antonio Boparan, 28, is facing jail for a second time over a bar brawl, pictured with his millionaire father Ranjit Singh Boparan (left) outside Birmingham Crown Court, pictured in 2008 . Now the charity founder from Sutton Coldfield and three other men are facing jail after the two men were attacked - leaving one with a fractured eye socket who has since lost the use of an eye. Nathan Pringle, 32, from Erdington and Edward Ansah, 24, from Sutton Coldfield both admitted violent disorder at Birmingham Crown Court following the attack in April last year. Theadore Mullings-Fairweather, 25, from Selly Oak, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm with intent and all four will now be sentenced in March. Boparan is the son of Ranjit Singh Boparan, who owns Harry Ramsden's and has an estimated fortune of £800million along with his wife Baljinder. He served 21 months in jail for causing horrific injuries to one-year-old Cerys Edwards in a crash which left her paralysed and brain damaged . He crashed his parents' Range Rover in 2006 while speeding at 72mph on the wrong side of a 30mph road . The family business - 2 Sisters Food Group – has a turnover of more than £3.4billion. Boparan was 19 when he crashed his parents' Range Rover in Sutton Coldfield, leaving Cerys paralysed, brain damaged and needing round-the-clock care. The impact of the crash was so severe that Cerys - now nine-years-old - was ripped from her baby seat and her spine was fractured. She was left unable to talk and walk and still requires a ventilator just to keep her alive . Her father Gareth, 50, said: 'He practically killed Cerys that night and now he has been caught up in an incident which left another person permanently disabled. 'Sadly, I can't say I'm surprised. Even when he was on bail for dangerous driving in Cerys's case, the court was told that he was caught speeding at 95mph on the Aston Expressway. The youngster, now nine-years-old, was left unable to talk and walk and still requires a ventilator just to keep her alive . The impact of the crash was so severe that Cerys was ripped from her baby seat and her spine was fractured . 'He does not care what damage he inflicts on other people. These latest victims could have been left brain damaged or paralysed, just like Cerys. 'He ruined our lives, but has done nothing to help Cerys. His father handed over £200,000 towards her house and the insurers paid out for her ongoing care after a five-year battle, but he has never even had the guts to meet her and she is now nine-years-old. Ranjit Singh Boparan owns 2 Sisters Food Group - a Birmingham-based food-manufacturing company. Established in 1993 as a frozen retail cutting operation, it has grown rapidly and expanded to cover 36 manufacturing sites in the UK, eight in the Netherlands, five in Ireland and one in Poland. The group employs 23,000 people, and has annual sales of £3.4billion. It is listed 14th on the 2014 Sunday Times Top Track 100. The company is now the third largest food company in the UK by turnover. Brands include Fox's Biscuits, Goodfella's, Donegal Catch and Green Isle. Harry Ramsden's was told to Boparan Ventures Ltd in 2010, the private investment branch of his business empire. If Cerys had been killed in the crash, Boparan would have faced up to 14 years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving. The outrage over his short sentence sparked a nationwide campaign which resulted a change in the law to ensure anyone convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving faces up to five years in prison instead of the previous maximum of two. Labour's former Justice Minister Jack Straw called the family himself to give them the news about what became known as 'Cerys's Law'. Ranjit Singh's family business was built from 'a small-scale frozen retail cutting operation' and now controls about 20 per cent of the UK poultry market. Mr Singh is the fifth richest person in the Midlands and fifth richest Asian in the UK as the director of some 50 companies and subsidiaries. The father-of-five is also the chairman of Northern Foods, the company behind Goodfellas pizzas and Fox's Biscuits, which 2 Sisters acquired in 2011 for nearly £350million. Cerys was awarded £5million compensation in 2012 along with a guaranteed annual payout of £450,000 for the rest of her life. The long battle to secure compensation from the insurers took more than five years. At the time Judge Martin McKenna, sitting at Birmingham County Court, described it as the 'saddest and most tragic case' he had come across. Two men were punched, kicked and hit with broken bottles at in the attack last April at Birmingham's Nuvo Bar . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "Two brothers dragged a female police officer 100ft down the road when she tried to stop them driving off in a stolen car. Daniel Icke, 21, and his 20-year-old brother Donovan had never driven before they stole a Ford Escort from outside a house in Wednesfield, West Midlands in December last year. They were stopped by PC Akwaal Baryana, who reached in to the car to take the keys when they pulled up at traffic lights and told them to get out. But Donovan, who was driving, ignored her warnings and put the car into reverse as PC Baryana clung on to the steering wheel. Theft: Donovan and Daniel Icke stole a car after breaking into a house and taking the vehicle's keys . The car careered backwards, crossed a busy dual carriage and crashed into a wall, causing the brave officer serious leg injuries. Donovan admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without a licence or insurance while his brother pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking. But they were spared jail and given suspended prison sentences when they appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday. Donovan, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £500 compensation to PC Baryana. Ordeal: The brothers dragged a police officer 100ft down a road in Wednesfield, pictured . Daniel received a four-month suspended sentence, 120 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month driving ban, and will have to pay £250 compensation. Recorder Richard Benson QC said he had decided 'with some trepidation' not to send them to prison, adding: 'This was inexcusable and potentially lethal behaviour. 'Some will say I am failing in my duty but they would not have had the benefit of reading the reports I have seen and hearing the mitigation.' The court heard the brothers took the keys to the car from a home they had broken into at 4am on December 2. PC Baryana and a colleague responded to the break-in, then spotted the stolen car at a junction 10 minutes later. Target: The two men stole a Ford Focus similar to this one shown in a file photo . Prosecutor Emma Wynne-Owen said: 'She held on to the steering wheel which prevented her being dragged under the car as it travelled for a further 35 metres. 'She pleaded with him to stop but the car continued in reverse, crossing the dual carriageway, mounting the pavement and crashing into a wall. 'The officer then told Donovan Icke, \"I told you to stop,\" and he replied, \"sorry\".' Amanda Jenkins, defending the brothers, said: 'Neither had driven before and they argued over who should drive before Donovan stupidly took the wheel. 'They could not believe their luck. It was raining and they had a fair way to go to get home, so very foolishly they took the car. 'When the officer opened the driver's door Donovan panicked and put the vehicle into reverse. 'It swerved because the officer was holding the steering wheel. He did not know what to do but realises it could have been far more serious.'", "'Lovely character': Schoolboy Daniel Spargo-Mabbs was just 16 when he died after taking ecstasy at a warehouse rave . The heartbroken father of a teenager who died at a rave after taking a lethal dose of ecstasy today told an inquest of his ‘unspeakable’ loss. Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, 16, fell unconscious after taking a lethal dose of the Class A party drug with his friends at a warehouse party in Hayes, west London. The teenager and his friends had clubbed together to buy £80 worth of the drug, and were supplied by Nicqueel Pitrora on January 17 last year. Known as ‘Shampz’ to the schoolboys, Pitrora, 19, was a regular dealer to children and used their payments to supplement his benefits . On their way to the rave, Daniel and four friends met a man on a bike who handed them three bags of white powder after the deal had been arranged with Pitrora. Four of the boys, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, dissolved the drug in 100ml bottles of water while using public transport to reach Silverdale Industrial Estate for the rave. But Daniel sprinkled around half a gramme of the crystalline powder into 500ml of water and drank it in one go once inside the warehouse. Shortly afterwards, the teenager took his shirt off, became animated about his girlfriend and started to dance. But by 4am, his temperature had soared and he collapsed to the ground. Daniel was rushed to nearby Hillingdon hospital by paramedics but nothing could be done to save him. His multi-organ failure became so severe that doctors considered lower limb amputation, but by the morning of January 20, doctors admitted their attempts at helping Daniel were becoming more and more futile. After consultation with Daniel’s family, a decision was made to turn off his life support machine and he was pronounced dead at 2.36pm at King’s College Hospital, where he had been transferred. His devastated father Tim today told West London Coroner’s Court that the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation had been set up in his memory to educate young people about the dangers of taking illegal drugs. Mr Spargo-Mabbs said: ‘We have seen the sort of hole a death like this leaves - we have lived it for a year. ‘And in response all we can find to do is offer ourselves in the service of the charitable foundation trying to prevent this happening to any other family.’ Mr Spargo-Mabbs said his son had led ‘such a good life’ and was a ‘lovely and outrageous character.’ He added: ‘He had a lot to teach me about how to live life well and take every opportunity, and to have a laugh in almost every situation. ‘There is no verbalising the loss we all feel and no end to the pain that his death leaves us with. ‘What there is, however, is the determination shared by his family, school, friends and church, to prevent this happening to anybody else, and that is the best we can pray for now.’ He added his ‘undying thanks’ to all those who had treated Daniel and supported the family. Popular: The teenager and four friends had taken the Class A drug on their way to the rave in Hayes, west London, but Daniel collapsed whilst dancing . Fun: Daniel's devastated father Tim said his son had taught him 'about how to live life well and take every opportunity, and to have a laugh in almost every situation' Popular Daniel was a member of Amnesty International and was known to run errands for pensioners on his paper round. Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe recorded his death as multi-organ failure and MDMA toxicity, which was ‘wholly in keeping’ with taking the drug. She said: ‘The tragic facts are that this is a young man, a teenager, who has attended a rave on the 17/18 January 2014. ‘He has taken MDMA - we know that this was a dose that was fatal. ‘He was found in a semi-collapsed state and taken by ambulance first to the Hillingdon Hospital. ‘The doctors, the nurses, the healthcare professionals tried in order to pull out every single stop to save him.’ Supplier: Nicqueel Pitrora was jailed for five years for supplying class A drugs last August . Pitrora, of London Road, Croydon, was jailed for five years in August last year for supplying Class A drugs. Ms Ormond-Walshe went on to praise both hospitals and the police for all their work. She said a desperate last attempt was made to transfer him to Kings College to save him, and doctors used the ‘most aggressive therapy’ available. She added: ‘He just could not be saved - he was too ill. The amount of MDMA in his blood was a fatal level, and that was the problem. ‘He was a fit and well 16-year-old who collapsed at a rave in a warehouse at the back of an industrial estate after having taken MDMA. ‘I have been very, very impressed with not only how courageous and positive the family have been but how much dignity the family have had after Daniel’s death, and how they have turned it into positive thinking in these devastating circumstances. ‘I have also been very impressed by what they are doing in relation to the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation. ‘It is such an insightful and positive and realistic notion that the family are taking forward. ‘I am minded to write an open letter to the foundation setting out some of the facts of Daniel’s case and how much I support the education of teenagers in relation to illegal drugs.'", "By . Wills Robinson . A professional gang of drug dealers who flooded the streets with heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed for a total of 177 years today. The well-organised drugs network, made up of 22 people, dealt on an industrial scale before their operation was uncovered by a tip off from a member of the public. Teesside Crown Court heard the ring made more than 100 trips between the north east and Manchester, delivering vast amounts of Class A drugs and money. Industrial scale: Ringer leader Robert Hickman, 29, was jailed for 16 years for his part in the industrial scale drug-dealing operation. Scott Pickering, 28, played a similar role to Hickman and was sentenced to 15 years . Ben Crombie, 31, a 'leading character' was jailed for 14 years . Jamie Knox, 25, was jailed for nine years and four months . Jason Turnbull, 32, was jailed for 10 years and five months . Officers seized almost 6.9kg of heroin, 2.26kg of cocaine, 437.5g of crack cocaine and more than 22kg chemicals used to 'cut' the drugs. The recovered narcotics were worth a total of £824,686 and were found alongside £127,966 cash. But prosecutor Nick Dry said these amounts were just the 'tip of the iceberg'. The plot between January 2012 and March 2013 was uncovered by Operation Cobweb, Cleveland Police's biggest ever drugs operation. Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said: 'It was carried out in a determined and ruthless fashion. It was conceived and put into effect by professional and experienced criminals who were aiming to achieve a high financial reward. 'And it was a conspiracy which succeeded in bringing over and distributing drugs on a large scale throughout this area.' Martin Dougan, 32, was jailed for nine years and two months . David Hobson, 30, was jailed for eigh years and eight months . Junaid Mahmood, 29, was jailed for eight years and eight months . He said the drugs in the conspiracy 'exceeded well into the tens of kilogrammes'. The longest prison sentence was given to 29-year-old Robert Hickman- the leader of the Teesside operation - who was jailed for 16 years. The judge told him: 'You were at the heart of the this conspiracy in the Teesside area. Very little happened in the Teesside area in respect of this conspiracy that you were not aware of.' He said Hickman had 'loyal lieutenants', directed couriers and was in contact with local drug distribution 'cells' using 20 mobile phones. Police found a heat-sealing device, a money-counting machine and large sums of cash when they searched his home. Hickman branded his sentence a 'joke' in a foul-mouthed outburst as he was led from the dock yesterday. Scott Hine, 31, was jailed for eight years . Stephen Sparrow, 28, was jailed for eight years and eight months . Ricky Beresford, 24, was jailed for six years and eight months . The judge said Scott Pickering aka Scott McGowan, 28, was a 'hardened criminal' playing a similar role, jailing him for 15 years. Ben Crombie, 31, who was jailed for 14 year, was described as a 'leading character' who directed the conspiracy and recruited others, distancing himself from the drugs. Crombie was able to buy expensive homes, cars and private education from the plot. He received a lighter sentence than Hickman and Pickering because, unlike them, he pleaded guilty. His 'right hand man' James Kelly, 29, from Oldham, who controlled and managed couriers, was jailed for 10 years and eight months. Former Army infantryman Jamie Knox, 25, from Oldham, a warehouseman who stored and bagged drugs, was jailed for nine years and four months. A series of dealers who operated in Teessside were also sentenced. Jason Turnbull, 32, who had met Crombie in prison, was jailed for 10 years and five months and Martin Dougan, 32, from Middlesbrough, was jailed for nine years and two months. Danny Wilks, 24, was arrested with half a kilo of heroin after a £20,000 cash drop, was jailed for seven years and four months . Former Royal Artilleryman Mark Watson, 27, was jailed for four years and four months . David Wrigley, 32, was jailed for seven years . David Hobson, 30, of Stockton - said to have been a talented footballer at Hartlepool United - and Junaid Mahmood, 29, from Stockton, both had a drug dealing 'cell'. Each were jailed for eight years and eight months. Scott Hine, 31,Middlesbrough, a 'persistent' dealer with his own team, was jailed for eight years. 'Determined and persistent drug dealer' Stephen Sparrow, 28, of Black was jailed for six years and eight months. Hickman's 'right hand man' Ricky Beresford, 24, was jailed for six years and four months. The judge said he was of low intelligence and easily influenced. Danny Wilks, 24, was arrested with half a kilo of heroin after a £20,000 cash drop and was jailed for seven years and four months. David Cuthbert, 38, was given a five-year sentence. Former Royal Artilleryman Mark Watson, 27, and engineer Paul Gill, 36, of Stockton, were each jailed for four years and four months. Paul Gill, 36, was jailed for four years and four months . Mark Powell, 36, was jailed for three years and three years and 12 weeks . Marl Dutton, 59, was jailed for six years and eight months . Mark Powell, 36, who collected drugs on one day, was jailed for three years and 12 weeks. Painter and decorator David Wrigley, 32, from Failsworth, Greater Manchester, made 13 trips to Teesside in 16 days to deliver drugs and collect cash. When he was arrested, police found £52,600 cash on him and he was jailed for seven years. Mark Dutton, 59, from Rochdale, and Stephen Mayall, 30, from Royton, Oldham, who both made more than 20 trips, were each jailed for six years and eight months. Personal trainer Ben Graham, 25, of Oldham, who made 12 trips, was jailed for six years. His partner Hannah Hesketh, of Ashton-under-Lyne, who drove him to Teesside, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for her 'lesser role'. Write caption here . All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs except Hickman,Pickering and Hesketh who denied taking part in the plot and were convicted in March. Several of the men - Sparrow, Beresford, Hobson and Dougan - had previous convictions for drug trafficking. Wilks, Graham, Knox, Dutton, Mahmood, Hesketh and Gill had no previous convictions. Defence barristers variously stressed factors like remorse, shame, references, personal difficulties, families, tragedies, trauma, illness,limited roles, vulnerability, work, drug addictions, debt, financial hardship and efforts to better themselves. Crombie wrote a letter to the judge saying he'd met victims of drug abuse in prison. He wrote: 'Without my actions some of these people would never have resorted to crime. 'For that I would like to apologise to each and every one of them. 'I'm embarrassed and ashamed to tell you that I had it all and I threw it all away by my stupid and foolish selfish actions.' Five other men were previously sentenced for connected drug offences. Judge Bourne-Arton commended the police for a skillful, professional and determined investigation." ]

[ "State Department" ]

[ "\"Star Wars\"", "Clone Wars", "the Peloponnesian War", "\"Not War\"", "Revolutionary War", "Love & War", "tug of war", "Winds of War", "Holy war", "Trojan War", "the dogs of war", "Hardware Wars", "The Boer War", "Crimean War", "The Wars of the Roses", "Indian wars", "war paint", "\"The Chocolate War\"", "the Mexican War", "the Peloponesian Wars", "the Balkan Wars", "War of 1812", "a nuclear war", "Star Wars", "Opium Wars", "the Civil War", "the Winter War", "The Art of War", "\"War is hell\"", "god of war", "a wax war", "Civil War" ]

[ "Exploring The 'Deepest Canyon In North America' - GearJunkie Nov 26, 2014 ... Straddling the Idaho/Oregon border, Hells Canyon is a rarely run rim-to-rim ... is narrower, steeper and deeper than even the Grand Canyon.", "Hell's Canyon is like no other. Deeper than the Grand Canyon ... See more about Grand Canyon, Idaho and The Snake. ... Hells Canyon, which is on the border of Idaho and Oregon is the deepest river gorge in North America.", "HellsCanyon is like no other. Deeper than the Grand Canyon | #Idaho Deeper than the Grand Canyon | #Idaho | Visitidaho.org | See more about Grand ... 35 Awesome Things To Do In Oregon There's a whole lot more than Portland ... on the border of Idaho and Oregon is the deepest river gorge in North America.", "Hells Canyon: Exploring the Deepest Gorge in North America Jul 10, 2016 ... Slicing the earth on the border of Oregon and Idaho, Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North Americadeeper than the Grand Canyon, in fact. ... There's no need to carry a lot of drinking water in early spring, when...", "Hells Canyon - US Forest Service With a name like \"Hells Canyon\" we get a lot of questions about the National ... Chart showing the elevational comparison between Hells Canyon and Grand Canyon ... Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge, encompasses a vast and ... feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains." ]

[ "Hells Canyon - Wikipedia Hells Canyon is a 10-mile (16 km) wide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho in the United States. It is part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and is North America's deepest river gorge at ... The earliest known settlers in Hells Canyon were the Nez Perc tribe.", "Media Gallery | Idaho, Garnet and India - Pinterest More precious than either star rubies or star sapphires. ... literally have to travel to the other side of the world to get, an Idaho star garnet is idea. ... Where to Rock Hunt Gems in Idaho | Idaho's nickname isn't \"The Gem State\" for nothing! ...... Gorge, Kelton Trail, Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Billing.", "Hells Canyon National Recreation Area - National Forest Foundation Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge, encompasses a vast and ... Although the HCNRA includes portions of the Nez Perce, Payette, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, ... Click on the state for more hikes in Oregon or Idaho.", "10 Amazing Grand Canyon Adventures | Xanterra Parks & Resorts ... Feb 2, 2016 ... This jagged 277-mile-long gorge carved by the Colorado River and reaching ... From Hiking and Mule Riding to Heli-Touring and Whitewater Rafting ... Descend on a Grand Canyon mule 10 miles from the South Rim to the canyon floor on the .... For more travel experiences available from Xanterra Parks...", "5 of the Largest Gorges & Canyons in the World - WebEcoist Jan 3, 2009 ... (source: rickz) While defining canyons as 'largest' or 'deepest' is ... The Grand Canyon is a gorge carved by the Colorado River and is ... Park in Arizona, one of the first national parks in the United States. ... was created by the Colorado River over a period of six million years. ... You forgot Hells Canyon.", "Lakes, Rivers & Reservoirs Several major river systems cross Idaho and two large rivers are contained ... it joins the Salmon, continuing north to Lewiston, where the Clearwater enters, ... Several rivers, tributaries, flow into the Snake and enter through their own canyons. ... interesting segment of the winding Snake River containing a grand Canyon.", "Hells Canyon - US Forest Service Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge, encompasses a vast and remote ... Carved by the great Snake River, Hells Canyon plunges more than a mile ... Canyon's terrain glued themselves to North America about 150 million years ago ... river corridor is adjacent to the 213,906 acre Hells Canyon Wilderness over...", "5 of the Largest Gorges & Canyons in the World - WebEcoist Jan 3, 2009 ... (source: rickz) While defining canyons as 'largest' or 'deepest' is always imprecise ... Cotahuasi Canyon is considered to be one of the deepest in the Americas. ... The Grand Canyon is a gorge carved by the Colorado River and is contained in the Grand ... canyon environment gorge land nature travel...", "Canyon - The shape of the land, Forces and changes, Spotlight on ... A canyon may be defined as a narrow, deep, rocky, and steep-walled valley carved ... Inner gorge of the Grand Canyon, located in northwestern Arizona. ... Others have been carved through multiple layers of igneous (pronounced IG-nee-us) rock, ... Lowering its floor little by little, the river will take millions of years to carve...", "Grand Canyon - Wikipedia The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of ... and retreat of the cliffs, simultaneously deepening and widening the canyon. ... However, the Grand Canyon is known for its visually overwhelming size and its .... Archaeologists still debate when this distinct culture emerged.", "Grand Canyon - Wikipedia The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of ... The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide .... of their new data to their limits without consideration of the whole range of other ... The Hualapai inhabit a 100-mile (160 km) stretch along the pine-clad...", "Geology of the Grand Canyon: Crossing the Mighty Colorado River ... Jan 30, 2011 ... In most of the Grand Canyon, shear walls make access to the river from ... used by the pioneers and their wagons, carved into the bedrock opposite from the boat landing. ... up through today's tourists and river-runners, man has made good use of ... The Black Bridge spans the gorge east of the Silver Bridge...", "The Geology of the Grand Canyon - BobsPixels.com The most powerful force to have an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, ... This causes the river to widen and cut down deeper into the lower rock layers. ... The plates are average out to be about 50 miles or 80 kilometers thick and float on ... and the rock of Zion National Park are composed, can be found in the region...", "Hells Canyon - US Forest Service Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge, encompasses a vast and remote ... to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington ... Uplifting from deep in the earth's core formed the Seven Devils and Eagle...", "Twin Falls Idaho Temple Feb 17, 2015 ... The Twin Falls Idaho Temple stands less than a half-mile from the ... the impressive 1500-foot Perrine Bridge spans Snake River Canyon, ... flock to Shoshone Falls, a waterfall exceeding the height of Niagara Falls by 45 feet.", "Kali Gandaki Gorge - Wikipedia The Kali Gandaki Gorge or Andha Galchi is the gorge of the Kali Gandaki (or Gandaki River) in the Himalayas in Nepal. By some measures the Kali Gandaki gorge is the deepest canyon in the world, ... The pass at the head of the Kali Gandaki Gorge: Its 19th-century name was Kore La. The modern name is not known with...", "Grand Canyon - Wikipedia The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of ... The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide ... A recent study places the origins of the canyon beginning about 17 million ... This uplift has steepened the stream gradient of the Colorado River and its...", "Grand Canyon - Wikipedia The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of ... The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and ... Canyon was Garca Lpez de Crdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540. .... described in his journal as \"...a wonderful canyon four thousand feet deep.", "Grand Canyon - Wikipedia The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of ... Temperatures on the North Rim are generally lower than those on the South ... The Grand Canyon is part of the Colorado River basin which has developed .... Joe Walker is the only white man in this country that has ever visited this...", "Ruptured Dam Gives Insight Into the Formation of the Grand Canyon ... Aug 23, 2008 ... A lot of rain, a lot of water, and a gorge transformed in a matter of minutes. What can a ruptured earthen dam tell us about the formation of the Grand Canyon ... the rain-swollen rivers and sudden flood did not cause any reported damage ... is a testament to the amazing power of a lot of water over a little time...", "Grand Canyon - Wikipedia The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of Arizona in the United States. It is contained within and managed by Grand Canyon National Park, the ... The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857...", "Things To Do in Grand Canyon: Top Attractions & Activities | Expedia Expedia makes it easy to book Grand Canyon tours and find the best attractions. ...... natural and man-made sights before you... tackle the Black Canyon by raft. ..... Colorado River and dramatic, carved-out gorges of the Nevada desert before ...... of the Worldand for good reasonthe Grand Canyon evokes both awe and...", "Canyon - Wikipedia The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon (or Tsangpo Canyon), along the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, is regarded by some as the deepest canyon in the world at 5,500 m (18,000 ft). It is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States.", "Idaho - Wikipedia Idaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the ... Idaho's nickname is the \"Gem State\", because nearly every known type of gemstone has been found there. .... The major rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clark Fork/Pend Oreille River, ... Lake Coeur d'Alene in North Idaho.", "Rafting Eastern Oregon | Rafting America Most famous is the Snake River that forms the border between Oregon and Idaho as it carves its way through Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America. ... It winds its way through pine-forested mountains and rich green scenery.", "Hells canyon on emaze According to Carrey, Conley, and Barton, in their book Snake River of Hells ... River winds its way through Hells Canyon, the deepest river-carved gorge in North...", "August 27, 2008 ... we hope you keep them in one of these aquarium These Chinese secret societies that met in ... gorge is this one on the Colorado River Grand Canyon In 1912, a reticulated one of these animals was measured at 32' 9 1/2\" long Python The...", "Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - vast wilderness of red rock canyons ... Great expanse of scenic wilderness, with arches, cliffs, many narrow canyons and ... also a useful short-cut between UT 12 (near Kodachrome Basin State Park) ... way to a deeper canyon through photogenic, angled, thin-layered rocks.", "Taming the 960-mile Idaho Centennial Trail in 30 Days | Visit Idaho Jul 28, 2016 ... This trek will take the duo across six major river canyons, dense cedar ... River of No Return Wilderness and the Bitterroot Mountains will not weigh ... Andrija You could get behind by a day or two so quickly by taking the wrong turn. ... in Idahoanybody who just doesn't know a whole lot about our state,...", "Grand Canyon Tours | Helicopter, Air and Ground Tours | Guided ... Choose Grand Canyon helicopter, air or ground tours to the South Rim and Grand ... offer visitors the fastest way to travel to the Grand Canyon South Rim or West Rim, .... walkway suspended more than 4,000 feet above the floor of the Grand Can. ... including a river rafting trip down the Colorado River, a ride on the Grand.", "5 of the Largest Gorges & Canyons in the World - WebEcoist Jan 3, 2009 ... The Gandaki river the flows through the gorge is older than the Himalayas and has (at its lowest point) an elevation of 1300 metres, creating a...", "LOOK... over the edge of North America's deepest canyon gorge in North America. Scenic ... Hells. Canyon National Recreation Area truly offers something for everyone, and much to remember. We know ... the Hells Canyon gorge along the Snake River. Discover ... Local and state tourism ... The Hat Point Road (Forest Road 4240) begins ... Nez Perce National Historic Trail. 17." ]

[ "As described. Sturdy, easy way to travel with your pet. You have the food as well as the food and water bowl at your fingertips!!" ]

[ "Sturdy, Easy to Clean an Safe for small dogs or nearly large cats, this is a fine travel carrier for pets. I got this for a lovely older cat who we were rescuing to bring home for the first time. I wanted a new carrier that the cat could not compete with other pet smells since I have a few other carriers.\nIt is large enough for Gracie to curl up and nap in if she wants. It comes with a half round dish hooking to the wire side for drinking on long trips. A real trip carrier since it meets the FAA and other regulations for size, safety and portability. There is plenty of ventilation all sides. Gracie loves it too.", "These dog Poop Bags are just what I needed for my pet when we travel. They would be great around home also. They are strong and sturdy, and came highly recommended to me by a friend, so I decided to try them, and they work great!\n\nPhyllis A.", "Wow, I love these bowls! So handy and convenient for traveling! Hook them together so easy to store, bright colors easy to find, collapsible! I can make the sides high or low depending on the contents and the pet. Great buy!", "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.", "This is a great way to protect your pet from the sun\n. Its a nice roomy playpen to keep your dog in for a time out or for replacement of the wired cage. Its easy to fold. Easy to travel for when you go to the park. Has a couple of pockets as well", "This pet carrier is fabulous! I use it for transporting my rabbits and also my cats. I love the options of several openings making it easier for me and less stressful for my pets!", "I am giving this an early 4 star rating. I just received it today for my Shih Tzu / Poodle Mix. It is incredibly light and easy to put together but not flimsy. He fits in just perfect for travel. It isn't a roomy fit. The carrier recommends the intermediate size for pets 15-20 lbs, 11\" high (back) x 19\" long. My dog is 16 lbs, 12\" x 19\" and it is a travel (not leisure) fit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it holds up during our trip. I'll update in a few months either way.", "I love these pet stairs. They were easy to put together and are very sturdy. The carpet pieces are removable for washing. Our cats took to the stairs almost immediately but our toy breed dogs are still warming up to them. I would highly recommend these pet stairs.", "My dog loves it. Rides great and secure. Makes trips a lot easier", "It came quickly, was easy to attach and worked well. Pet carrier is back together and ready for use!", "Quick delivery. Sets up easily. Works great for my two small dogs. They love it because we can take them almost everywhere we go! Only negative is it is a little heavy to lift in and out of the car.", "It is what it is, a basic, easy-to-use travel wallet. These are incredibly handy and great for traveling. Note that this is PU Leather, not just leather so it won't feel smooth in your hand. It also gives it a fairly plastic feeling that you wouldn't expect from leather. On the plus side, this travel wallet is easy to clean and handle. Overall it's an OK product, not top of the line but sturdy and relatively inexpensive.\n\nTraveling is crazy and hectic but this helps bring some semblance of order to the experience.", "Perfect for a 50lb pibble. She is a great travel buddy and this keeps her nice and safe and inst at all intrusive. Easy to use as well.", "I use it to walk with my dogs and it's perfect to carry everything I need, doggy bags, cellphone, keys, etc. Good quality !", "Great for traveling anywhere with your poochy! Very compact and handy", "This is my second one, left the last one on the airplane. Great to take to the beach for your pet or when traveling.", "A great little travel cup! No smell. Easy to open and close. Easy to clean. Sturdy when filled.", "Easy to put together and sturdy for what I want it for (my office). My dog comes to work with me.", "I love this, my dog can go with me everywhere (: she's pretty comfortable just has to get used to it", "easy to carry,easy to use. Hooked to leash light weight. Feel so much safer walking my little dogs.", "This worked great for taking my cat on the airplane. It fit well under the coach seat. It was easy to carry either using the handle or shoulder strap.", "Excellent resource for folks helping their pets fight cancer. Very helpful suggestions and proven treatments to extend the life of your pet, while maintaining quality of life. An excellent resource from an experienced, professional veterinarian. Easy to follow directions and realistic expectations for pet lovers.", "I am very happy with these poles. I can put them in my suitcase for traveling, yet they are sturdy and easy to assemble/take apart.", "This book is a nice combination of techniques and anecdotes. It's an easy read and will definitely help deepen your relationship with your pets.", "Boston shakers are the only way to go, and this one is extremely nice. Sturdy, easy to clean. Highly recommend this if you are updating your bar.", "This is an adorable book that will bring out the adventurer in your child, and will inspire all kinds of questions about pets, travel, geography, and crazy decisions. The paintings are beautiful. Best of all, it is fun to read aloud! I recommend it to anyone with young children. Have fun!", "Very nice product, perfect for traveling, it sets up/breaks down in seconds and is easy to carry. We also use it to create the dog when we sleep at night.\n\nI would only hesitate to recommend this product if you have a dog that is more aggressive about trying to escape from it's crate. the material is durable but I don't know how long it would hold off a bigger dog that is determined to escape. For that you should be looking at wire crates. Otherwise, excellent product.", "It is more of a toy than an instrument (it would be a cute gift for a kid instead of the actual toy guitars that people sell). It is cute, but hard to keep in tune. I wanted a durable cheap uke to travel with (I like my luna turtle one way too much and it is too fragile to travel with) so I bought this one because I thought it would be pretty sturdy. It is sturdy, but not super enjoyable to play. I ended up returning it and opting to spend a little more money for a lanikai. For the price it isn't bad though, it just depends what your needs are.", "So far so good. Sturdy material and zippers. Spacious enough for my Bichon. Easy enough to fold for travel or storage. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that the fabric must be unbuttoned from the front bar in order to fold for storage or travel. Designers: get to work and fix it so that no unbuttoning is necessary.", "This easy to use belt keeps my pooch safe in the car seat while allowing him the freedom to move around just a little. He loves going in the car now!!", "Good for everyday walks. They fit nice and wash up great. The material breathes in hot weather. Easy to put on your pet.", "I love this, my maltese loves it also! It is sturdy and lightweight. The only thing I would add is a handle on the back because I transfer it back and forth from house to cabin." ]

[ "The sulfate or sulphate (see spelling differences) ion is a polyatomic anion with the empirical formula SO 4 2− . Sulfate is the spelling recommended by IUPAC, but sulphate is used in British English. Salts, acid derivatives, and peroxides of sulfate are widely used in industry.Sulfates occur widely in everyday life. Sulfates are salts of sulfuric acid and many are prepared from that acid.he sulfur atom is in the +6 oxidation state while the four oxygen atoms are each in the −2 state. The sulfate ion carries a negative two charge and is the conjugate base of the bisulfate (or hydrogen sulfate) ion, HSO 4 − , which is the conjugate base of H 2SO 4, sulfuric acid." ]

[ "Epsom salt baths are important for people with ulcerative colitis. They deliver sulphate to the gut wall via the bloodstream. What is to be avoided is sulphate delivered via the contents of the gut. Some people have digestive symptoms if they take glucosamine sulphate for their aches and pains.", "The elements in copper sulphate are copper, sulphur and oxygen. Copper sulphate is a compound, made up of three elements. The symbol for this compound is CuS04.he elements in copper sulphate are copper, sulphur and oxygen. Copper sulphate is a compound, made up of three elements. The symbol for this compound is CuS04.", "On the other hand copper sulphate or CuSO4 is an anhydrous salt i.e. there are no water of crystallisation molecules. It is a white anhydrous powder and can be produced on heating hydrated copper sulphate.It is actually the anhydrous form of hydrated copper sulphate.4 people found this useful.UPRIC is used when copper has the oxidation state +2 For example CuSO4 is copper (II) sulphate or cupric sulphate. It is often simply called copper sulphate. So the answe … r is that there's no difference. Copper sulphate is another name for cupric sulphate.", "Sulphate ion or sulphate(VI) ion SO42 [sulfate, sulfate(VI)] chemical test. If the solution also contains the chloride ion, you test with barium ions 1st, filter off any barium sulphate precipitate and then test for chloride ion. This is because silver sulphate is also ~insoluble.", "CUPRIC is used when copper has the oxidation state +2 For example CuSO4 is copper (II) sulphate or cupric sulphate. It is often simply called copper sulphate. So the answe … r is that there's no difference. Copper sulphate is another name for cupric sulphate.UPRIC is used when copper has the oxidation state +2 For example CuSO4 is copper (II) sulphate or cupric sulphate. It is often simply called copper sulphate. So the answe … r is that there's no difference. Copper sulphate is another name for cupric sulphate.", "Hydrated copper sulphate or CuSO4.5H2O is a hydrated salt. It contains the water of crystallisation molecules(water molecules are attached to it). It is also known as blue vit … riol because of its blue colour.UPRIC is used when copper has the oxidation state +2 For example CuSO4 is copper (II) sulphate or cupric sulphate. It is often simply called copper sulphate. So the answe … r is that there's no difference. Copper sulphate is another name for cupric sulphate.", "copper sulphate pentahydrate is known by the following synonyms: 1 copper sulphate pentahydrate. 2 copper(II) sulphate 5-water. 3 Roman vitriol. 4 Salzburg vitriol. 5 blue vitriol.6 copper sulfate 5-water.7 copper sulfate pentahydrate.8 copper sulphate 5-water. 9 copper(II) sulfate 5-water.opper sulphate pentahydrate is known by the following synonyms: 1 copper sulphate pentahydrate. 2 copper(II) sulphate 5-water. 3 Roman vitriol. 4 Salzburg vitriol. 5 blue vitriol. 6 copper sulfate 5-water. 7 copper sulfate pentahydrate. 8 copper sulphate 5-water. 9 copper(II) sulfate 5-water.", "On the other hand copper sulphate or CuSO4 is an anhydrous salt i.e. there are no water of crystallisation molecules. It is a white anhydrous powder and can be produced on heating hydrated copper sulphate.It is actually the anhydrous form of hydrated copper sulphate.4 people found this useful. 1 How Glucosamine Sulphate Heals the Body Glucosamine sulphate is a chemical that occurs naturally in the human body.t is a white anhydrous powder and can be produced on heating hydrated copper sulphate. It is actually the anhydrous form of hydrated copper sulphate. 4 people found this useful. 1 How Glucosamine Sulphate Heals the Body Glucosamine sulphate is a chemical that occurs naturally in the human body.", "5. After 15 minutes take out the iron nail from the copper sulphate solution. Test tube Copper sulphate solution Iron nail (befor e experiment) Test tube stand Iron nail taken out from copper sulphate solution Reaction mixtur e (after experimnet) (b) (c) Fig. 1.1 : (a) Iron nail dipped in copper sulphate solution; and (b) Iron nails and copper sulphate solutions are compared 6. Compare the intensity of blue colour of copper sulphate solution before and after the experiment in tubes A and B, and also compare the colour of iron nail dipped in copper sulphate solution with the one", "Uses of Copper Sulphate. Copper sulphate, blue stone, blue vitriol are all common names for pentahydrated cupric sulphate, CuSO 4 5H 2 O, which is the best known and the most widely used of the copper salts.Indeed it is often the starting raw material for the production of many of the other copper salts.ses of Copper Sulphate. Copper sulphate, blue stone, blue vitriol are all common names for pentahydrated cupric sulphate, CuSO 4 5H 2 O, which is the best known and the most widely used of the copper salts.", "All production of sodium sulphate in Saskatchewan is in the natural form thanks to the abundance of alkaline lakes. There are presently 21 major sodium sulphate deposits, with more than 500,000 tonnes of sodium sulphate mineral deposits in each.", "Polyshield 400 is one of our remarkably cost effective RO antiscalant and Reverse Osmosis scale inhibitor which will inhibit a wide range of foulants including: calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, barium sulphate, strontium sulphate, calcium fluoride, silica and iron.olyshield 400 is one of our remarkably cost effective RO antiscalant and Reverse Osmosis scale inhibitor which will inhibit a wide range of foulants including: calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, barium sulphate, strontium sulphate, calcium fluoride, silica and iron.", "Colistin is used as a sulphate or as sulphomethylated form, colistimethate. Colistin sulphate tablets are used to treat intestinal infections, or to suppress colon flora.Colistin sulphate is also used as topical creams, powders, and otic solutions.Colistimethate is used for parenteral administration, and also as an aerosol to treat pulmonary infections.olistin sulphate tablets are used to treat intestinal infections, or to suppress colon flora. Colistin sulphate is also used as topical creams, powders, and otic solutions. Colistimethate is used for parenteral administration, and also as an aerosol to treat pulmonary infections.", "Gypsum is the more common name for a mineral compound called calcium sulphate dihydroxide, or sulphate of lime.It is generally found underground near deposits of limestone or other minerals formed by evaporation.One of the most common forms of raw gypsum is a pure white crystal called alabaster.ypsum is the more common name for a mineral compound called calcium sulphate dihydroxide, or sulphate of lime.", "Carefully pour the sodium sulphate solution into the second test tube containing copper(II) chloride and observe what happens. Results. A light blue precipitate forms when sodium carbonate reacts with copper(II) chloride. No precipitate forms when sodium sulphate reacts with copper(II) chloride. The solution is light blue.", "Does an Epsom salt bath do anything? What is Epsom salt exactly? And why do people always stick an S on the end? Epsom salts are magnesium sulphate heptahydrate, usually shortened just to magnesium sulphate (note also the American spelling “sulfate”). It was originally obtained by boiling down mineral waters at Epsom, England.", "An alum is a double salt comprising a sulphate salt of a monovalent element, with the sulphate salt of a trivalent element. The most well known example is potash alum (aluminium potassium sulphate) KAl(SO4)2.12H2O which is used to clear murky water.", "(d) barium sulphate (BaSO4), lead (II) sulphate (PbSO4), and calsium sulphate (CaSO4) 1 Insoluble salts are prepared through the precipitation method using the double decomposition reaction. 2 In precipitation method two aqueous and soluble solutions are mixed to form the precipitation of an insoluble salt.", "Urea, ammonium sulphate, potassium chloride and potassium sulphate. 2. Complex fertilizers: Complex fertilizers contain two or three primary plant nutrients of which two primary nutrients are in chemical combination.These fertilisers are usually produced in granular form.eg.rea, ammonium sulphate, potassium chloride and potassium sulphate. 2. Complex fertilizers: Complex fertilizers contain two or three primary plant nutrients of which two primary nutrients are in chemical combination. These fertilisers are usually produced in granular form. eg.", "1 How Glucosamine Sulphate Heals the Body Glucosamine sulphate is a chemical that occurs naturally in the human body. 2 It is the fluid that surrounds the joints.", "A fertiliser I recommend after you have pruned the plants in the ground is the following: two ice cream containers [or two litres] of Blood and Bone, two of superphosphate, one of sulphate of potash, half a can of magnesium sulphate [epsom salts], a quarter of can sulphate of iron.", "Metal Metal displacement and colour change of solution (Solution to which metal is added) Zinc sulphate solution. 5. copper (II) sulphate. and Z. C.Laboratory Manual Science four beakers (100 mL).1 : Zinc metal dipped in Zinc sulphate (A).", "If the solution also contains the sulphate ion, you test with barium ions 1st, filter off any barium sulphate precipitate and then test for chloride ion. This is because silver sulphate is also ~insoluble, so the two precipitates of silver sulfate and silver chloride could not be distinguished", "To study the chemical reaction of an iron nail with aqueous copper sulphate solution; and to study the burning of magnesium ribbon in air. (a) Chemical reaction of iron nail with copper sulphate solution in water. THEORY Iron displaces copper ions from an aqueous solution of copper sulphate. It is", "Report Abuse. CuSO4 is a Poly-atomic, Ionic, Anhydrous compound of Copper (II) Sulphate. (As the Hydrate, it's CuSO4٠5H2O... Copper sulphate pentahydrate also known as 'Blue vitriol' and 'Bluestone'.Norrie · 7 years ago.uSO4 is a Poly-atomic, Ionic, Anhydrous compound of Copper (II) Sulphate. (As the Hydrate, it's CuSO4٠5H2O... Copper sulphate pentahydrate also known as 'Blue vitriol' and 'Bluestone'. Norrie · 7 years ago.", "2 Before you take. Do not take Ferrous Sulphate tablets and tell your doctor if you: 1 are allergic (hypersensitive) to dried ferrous sulphate or any of the other ingredients in Ferrous Sulphate tablets (see section 6). 2 are receiving repeated blood transfusions. 3 are receiving iron intravenously.", "Rating Newest Oldest. Best Answer: Precipitate is a solid formed in a chemical reaction of 2 solutions. The barium in the Barium Chloride reacts with the Sulphur in the Sodium Sulphate to create a white powder called Barium Sulphate which sinks to the bottom of the liquid.Here's a picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...ating Newest Oldest. Best Answer: Precipitate is a solid formed in a chemical reaction of 2 solutions. The barium in the Barium Chloride reacts with the Sulphur in the Sodium Sulphate to create a white powder called Barium Sulphate which sinks to the bottom of the liquid.", "Evaporation. This is good for separating a soluble solid from a liquid (a soluble substance does dissolve, to form a solution). For example copper sulphate crystals can be separated from copper sulphate solution using evaporation.Remember that it is the water that evaporates away, not the solution.vaporation. This is good for separating a soluble solid from a liquid (a soluble substance does dissolve, to form a solution). For example copper sulphate crystals can be separated from copper sulphate solution using evaporation.", "Nope! usually sulphates are soluble. however, with calcium (Ca2+), strontium (Sr2+), barium (Ba2+), silver (Ag+), lead (Pb2+), radium (Ra2+) sulphates, they are all insoluble! noahukusa · 9 years ago.", "Industrial Chemicals. We have a wide range of industries chemicals some of which includes caustic soda flakes, caustic potash flakes, nitrate sodium nitrite, sodium sulphate, sodium bicarbonate, soda ash, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, zinc sulphate, zinc oxide, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid & toluene phenol. Solvent and Petrochemicals.", "1. copper sulfate-a copper salt made by the action of sulfuric acid on copper oxide. copper sulphate, cupric sulfate, cupric sulphate. blue copperas, blue stone, blue vitriol, chalcanthite-hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulfate.. copper sulfate-a copper salt made by the action of sulfuric acid on copper oxide. copper sulphate, cupric sulfate, cupric sulphate. blue copperas, blue stone, blue vitriol, chalcanthite-hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulfate.", "Precipitation using ammonium sulphate is one of the oldest method and widely applicable approach for partial purification of antibodies. In solution, a large number of water molecules are bound to the sulphate ion reducing the amount of water available to interact with the protein molecules.recipitation using ammonium sulphate is one of the oldest method and widely applicable approach for partial purification of antibodies. In solution, a large number of water molecules are bound to the sulphate ion reducing the amount of water available to interact with the protein molecules." ]

[ "Several reasons. 1. Because mothers often chew up food and then spit it into their infant's mouths. Sort of stone-age baby food. 2. They have the third highest concentration of touch receptors on the human body, exceeded only by the hands and feet. Ever wonder why babies try to put things too big to fit into their mouths? They are feeling it. (And haven't learned that some things taste awful. But broccoli is another topic.) 3. Tradition! *Everyone else is doing it, why shouldn't we?* More seriously it is an a \"cultural norm\", that is to say, if you are kissing someone both they and any observers know you are displaying affection." ]

[ "My cats \"pet\" each other all the time. They are always licking each other. It's not as if they have hands that are suited for petting. While they might only do it to keep each other clean, it sure seems as if they are showing affection sometimes. And when I'm petting them, they'll lick me back, even though I clearly don't have fur that needs cleaning.", "Absolutely nothing, they're the exact same animal. If you want to get super-pedantic, there are considered to be subspecies, including Eurasian, mid-Siberian, Alaska, and several others (including the extinct Caucasian sup-species), who show minor differences from each other.", "As for the first part, consider this: To skaters at rest, pressed tightly against each other are at rest, and their combined momentum is 0 If they push each other away, they are no longer at rest, but their combined momentum is still 0. As such, is is perfectly possible that the momentum of the entirety of the universe *is* zero.", "Your phone beeps when you press the buttons - the same beeps that tell the phone company which number you're dialling on a landline. The system on the other end listens for the beeps and knows which button you pressed. Each button actually makes two tones together - one for each column and one for each row.", "> Let's say that there's a Jupiter sized planet orbiting around a black hole. Would items inside the event horizon be affected by the planet outside it? yes gravity affects each other, but since it is a black hole, we're assuming it's gravity pull is so tremendous to a point where it'll seem like the planet's gravity on the object is nonexistent > Also, following that train of thought, would it not be possible for two event horizons to cancel each other (mostly, not absolutely) out if two black holes were to be in close proximity? they'll never really cancel out. Event horizons don't \"intersect\" as they merge. 2 black hole's event horizon nearing each other will be separate into a instance where they meet and it'll be considered ONE event horizon between then two holes", "Nothing happens, the two \"beams\" of light go through each other without affecting each other. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to see very many stars!", "I used to install ATMs. The machine tells you where to look and what to press for each function. I assume it's the same way for other things: there is a standard for each device which a blind person will interact with. You just look in the same spot each time.", "Soil is little grains. It's firm because when you press it the grains push against each other to resist you. Water can mix in with the grains, increasing the space between the grains. A little water lets the grains shift a little, until they can't get past each other, and they lock up to resist you. If too much water gets mixed in, the water gap can become larger than a grain. When this happens, the grains slip past each other, and the ground acts like a liquid, rather than a firm solid. The term for this is \"liquefaction\" or \"liquid like action\". Some soil, considered sandy soil, has big ole grains you can see. These babies are not able to absorb enough water to liquefy. That's why we use sand and crushed rocks to make the supports for roads, they are very resistant to liquefaction. Other soil, considered clay soil, is made of super-small grains. When you feel wet clay on your skin, you can feel it is slippery because very small grains mean small amounts of water is enough.", "It depends on what you mean by touch. The atoms get close to each other, interact with each other, there is a mechanical impact, the atoms will not pass each other, etc. So it is all the things we relate to touching. It is these interaction between the atoms that cause vibrations in the materials that creates sound. If you do not consider atoms to be touching each other when you clap your hands together then I wonder what you consider touching. It is unlikely that any particles have any size at all but are defined by their interactions with each other. You have to draw the line between touching and not touching somewhere.", "The universe, or specifically, space-time is expanding really fast. However, this is happening on large, large scales. On distances greater than our galaxies. The Milky Way and Andromeda are close to each other and are attracted to each other. This space-time expansion isn't affecting their attracting or distance much because they are 'relatively' close to each other.", "I think that dancing is the cause of most of it. Many artists today are more \"performers\" than singers and their shows are carefully scripted and choreographed. Much of that choreography requires dancing and a panting person is not going to sing well. It's better (I suppose) to have the performer lip-sync while performing their dance routines. For many people this is why pop music will always seem like worthless crap, but this is clearly not the case for the majority. A lot of people like seeing their idols dancing and lip-synching, and for them it's more about the spectacle of the show more than it is about musicianship. To each his own.", "Yes, if they are causally connected. This is true even without gravitons. Treating fields as an exchange of particles makes sense when you're considering objects scattering off each other, but it isn't really useful to consider static fields in this way. Charged objects aren't constantly shooting photons at each other.", "Yes, there are infinitely many field lines since the field lines are just a way to make a representative drawing of a continuous vector field. But, the iron shavings are not just affected by the field lines, they are also affected by each other. The filings acquire induced magnetic moments and attract each other. They therefore clump together, ending up clumped on one field line and not on another.", "As a lot of other people here have mentioned, it's all about how small changes early can have extreme consequences later on. Consider this: One person is born taller than his clone. Him being taller might affect 5 things in his life early on, the clone won't get affected. Those 5 things that were affected will now each affect another 5 things each, so now the difference is 25+5=30 things from his clone. You can see how small changes turn into big differences very fast.", "Why do some humans immediately hate each other when placed together and other humans immediately fall in love and take to each other?", "Forget about atoms for now. Fill a shoe box with quarters - let's play a game. You know coins have 50/50 chance of being heads and tails. You put these coins into the box, close the lid, and shake it up. You open the lid, and remove any coins showing heads. Each time you do that, you'd expect to remove on average half the coins - because there is 50% chance they'll be heads. But wait - if you started with 100 coins, you removed about 50 the first time, then 25, then 13, etc. But this doesn't result from any coins actually _interacting_ with each other to affect whether they're heads or tails. This is _purely probabilities_. How many coins you actually remove is based on the size of the starting sample - the only thing that's constant is that 50%. It is the exact same thing with radioactive decay. After one half-life, each and every atom has 50% chance of undergoing decay. They don't need to communicate with each other, or affect each other, to result in this type of behaviour - it arises due to _chance_.", "Mechanistically while yes they offset each other in terms of electrochemical gradient for depolarization vs repolarization, they are not regulated by the same mechanisms. Raising one does not change the other or vice versa medically. There are various ion channels and other transports by which these electrolytes pass in and out of cells. To clarify: They oppose each other in terms of electrochemical gradient BUT sodium or potassium intake do not affect/antagonize each other significantly on a clinical basis.", "This question is too broad to answer - considering that many of these small organisms prey or live symbiotically with each other, there is not one, but thousands of ways that they detect each other or communicate. If you consider 959 cells to be a small multicelled organism, than C. elegans can detect E. coli as it is their food source. This trend goes all the way down to bacteria sensing other bacteria through methods such as quorum sensing.", "Each musical note has an associated frequency. When played with other notes, the sound waves may either augment each other or disrupt each other. Harmonization typically works by playing multiple notes that augment each other, causing their sound waves to create a fuller sound. The underlying mechanics are in the mathematics of the sound waves. Integer multiples of one frequency may frequently match up with another. [Wiki has some nice diagrams](_URL_0_) showing this. Since it's tied to the note, it is the same for singing and for instruments.", "A photon is has no charge which is why you could consider a photon its own antiparticle. They can annihilate each other and create an electron-positron-pair, or even more massive particle pairs if energetic enough (remember that energy and momentum must be conserved). Usually photons just go past each other and do not collide as their electromagnetic fields simply overlap and sum up without any interaction.", "Short answer: Changes in temperature of the metal and glass of the jar affecting each differently alter it over time. Even the act of putting your hand on the lid affects one before the other.", "It's called a \"calming signal.\" Dogs communicate with each other primarily through body language, rather than speech. Yawning is just one of many ways a dog can say \"I'm nervous,\" or \"leave me alone.\" Other calming signals include looking away (avoiding eye contact), licking lips, and panting.", "You don't go to press with a accusations from a single source. You have multiple sources that corroborate each other, some secret, some not. Or your secret source provides you with leads or information that uncover other information that can be independently verified.", "Netflix has to pay for licenses for each show/movie, for each country it might be viewed in. Some shows might not be acceptable in a certain country, or the holder of the rights wants more for the license than Netflix will pay. I’m sure there are other reasons as well.", "It keeps them cooler because they're not pressed together. But lefty [likes to run hotter](_URL_0_). It also keeps them from knocking into each other directly, just like boobs.", "Why wouldn't they go back to fighting each other? Fundamentally, you have two groups with completely different visions for how China should be ruled, unwilling to share power with each other, and each committed to ruling all of China. Both sides foresaw that Japan would be defeated by the USA, and husbanded their strength for the coming civil war after Japan's defeat. Both sides considered each other to be a more important problem than the Japanese; Mao's policy was \"70 percent expansion, 20 percent dealing with the Kuomintang, and 10 percent fighting with the Japanese\", while Chiang Kai-Shek said \"The Japanese are a disease of the skin; the Communists are a disease of the heart.\" It was pretty inevitable that they would get back to settling who would rule China, once and for all.", "Yes. It's actually two tones overlaid on top of each other. One tone indicates which row contains the button you pressed, and the other indicates which column. A computer can easily pick out the two tones, and work out which button they represent.", "When dogs lick each other (or you) in the mouth, they're doing more than showing affection. They're trying to find out if you've got food or found anything while you were away. The leader of the pack of dogs (or wolves) has as much right to disperse food to the pack as a human does in handing it down from the table.", "There might be a physical difference. in some headphones they are mirror images of each other. In others they are interchangeable. but much sound is in stereo. This means that separate sounds are sent to each of the two earphones. If you are watching a show, this could make a real difference. A noise from left of screen will play on only the left headphone.", "The cameras are never facing each other because cutting between two such shots would be jarring to the audience, said to violate the 180 rule. Cameras are usually placed somewhat near each other, pointing in similar directions. This is actually rare in filmmaking, more common in TV shows.", "Simply put because the wetness softens the fibers. In a woven fabric, the fibers are basically going the entire width of the item in one strand. So when they become softer, they tend to stretch or slide past each other, and they still need the same amount of force applied to break each fiber, but it is harder to apply that force to each fiber. In paper, they aren't woven. They are just laid down in the sheet, pressed and dried. So when the fibers soften, and slide past each other easier, it is that much easier to pull one fiber completely free of its neighbors. Edit for clarity: In a fabric, they are purposefully woven so that the fibers don't pull free of each other easily, the hems and seams prevent fraying. In a paper product, they aren't. So in a fabric you have to break every fiber in the ripped area, in a paper you just have to pull the fibers away from each other.", "No one really knows for sure why SSRIs cause sexual dysfunction in some patients. SSRIs affect the release and uptake of not just serotonin but other neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline and dopamine as well. Each SSRI within the drug class affects the body's neurotransmitter systems slightly differently. The effects of modulating multiple neurotransmitter systems is most likely the cause. Here is an article if you wish to read more: _URL_0_" ]

[ "NEW YORK (AP) — Hackers continue to pester HBO, but didn’t release any material related to the network’s hit show “Game of Thrones” in their latest leak.\nThe hackers, who broke into HBO’s computer network and have been doling out stolen information for the past several weeks, released more unaired episodes, including several of the highly anticipated return of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which debuts in October.\nadvertisement\nThe latest dump includes Sunday night’s episode of “Insecure,” another popular show, and what appear to be episodes of other lower-profile shows, including “Ballers,” the unaired shows “Barry” and “The Deuce,” a comedy special and other programming.\nThe network acknowledged the hack in late July, and the thieves have been dribbling out stolen video and documents since then while demanding a multimillion-dollar ransom .\nThey have leaked “Game of Thrones” scripts, sensitive internal documents like job offer letters and a month’s worth of emails from a programming executive. But the intrusion has so far fallen well short of the chaos inflicted on Sony when the studio was hacked in 2014.\nStill, the criminals may be holding on to more damaging data – both intellectual property, like unaired programming, and sensitive personal information of HBO employees – that they can use as leverage to try to get money from HBO, said Gartner analyst Avivah Litan.\n“It’s kind of like kidnap and ransom and torture,” she said. “Eventually HBO may have to give in.”\nIn an emailed statement Sunday, HBO said it’s “not going to participate” in what it described as attempts to generate attention by dropping “bits and pieces of stolen information.” The company added that it was not in communication with the hackers. It has said previously that it doesn’t believe its email system as a whole was breached." ]

[ "Game of Thrones LEAK - Do season 7 hackers have episode 6 and 7?\nGame of Thrones is arguably the biggest show on TV right now, with fans eagerly anticipating episode 6 and 7 of season 7 currently being broadcast.\nThe hugely popular US show has topped the list of most illegally downloaded shows on annual torrent and online stream charts since 2012.\nOne of the biggest episodes of this season, Episode 4 ‘The Spoils of War’, was leaked ahead of its broadcast date by hackers who targeted HBO.\nThey also released a script for the most recent instalment, Episode 5 Eastwatch, ahead of its first airing in the US on Sunday.\nThere are only two more episodes left of Game of Thrones season 7, and HBO will be bracing themselves for more potential leaks.\nThe hackers, who have allegedly stolen 1.5 terabytes of data, have just released more episodes of unaired HBO episodes.\nAccording to CBS News, the hackers have released several episodes of the highly anticipated return of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which will air in October.\nThe most recent dump also included Sunday night’s episodes of ‘Insecure’ ahead of its airing.\nHBO have so far not budged on the hackers ransom demands, but experts have warned the cybercriminals may be holding onto more unaired programming.", "Four people in India have been arrested for leaking a recent Game of Thrones episode. Season Seven's fourth episode \"The Spoils of War\" was leaked online two days before its airdate, and the leak was traced back to Star India, one of HBO's international distributors.\nPer EW, via a report from Agency France-Presse, the case was filed by the Mumbai-based company responsible for storing and processing Game of Thrones episodes for release on an app. The four individuals are accused of \"criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses.\"\nAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below\nThis leak is not related to the cyber-attack on HBO by a group of hackers, who yesterday leaked upcoming episodes of several shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ballers, and Insecure.", "Share\nThe Spoils of War leak was separate to the big data breach by hackers calling themselves Mr. Smith.\nAuthorities in India have arrested four men in connection with the leak of a recent Game of Thrones episode online.\nThe Spoils of War, the fourth episode of the hit fantasy drama series' current seventh season, first surfaced on the Internet earlier this month (Aug17), just days before its premiere on 6 August (17).\nThe leak was ruled to be separate from the huge data breach suffered by the show's network bosses at HBO earlier in the week, and was found to have stemmed from the company's distribution partner Star India.\nAt the time, a Star India spokesperson vowed to take \"appropriate legal action\" for the \"grave issue\", and now it's been reported four people connected to third-party firm Prime Focus Technologies, whose bosses work on the series, have been taken into custody over the incident.\nA new statement released to The Hollywood Reporter reads: \"This is the first time in the history of Star India that an incident of this nature has occurred. We are deeply grateful to the police for their swift and prompt action. We believe that valuable intellectual property is a critical part of the development of the creative industry and strict enforcement of the law is essential to protecting it.\"\nPolice raided the Prime Focus office in Bangalore on 11 August (17). The four suspects are expected to remain in custody for a week as the criminal investigation continues.\nMeanwhile, HBO chiefs are still trying to halt the continued leak of its original material by hackers, who previously released a script from a future Game of Thrones episode and reportedly posted the contact details for stars like Emilia Clarke and Lena Headey online.\nFBI officials have been called in to track down those cyber criminals, going by the name Mr. Smith, but unaired episodes of other shows, including the forthcoming Curb Your Enthusiasm return, which isn't due for release until October (17), hit the Internet on Sunday (13Aug17). Other affected shows include Ballers, Room 104, and Insecure.\n© Cover Media", "Image copyright HBO\nIndian police have arrested four people suspected of leaking an episode of the hugely popular TV show Game of Thrones before it was aired.\nThree of the accused are current employees of Prime Focus Technology, while one is a former employee.\nPrime Focus, a Mumbai-based company that stores and processes the series for Indian streaming website Hotstar, had lodged a complaint with police.\nThe fantasy series is already the most pirated show in TV history.\nEpisode four of the seventh season was leaked on 4 August, days before it was due to air globally.\nThe show produced by HBO has seen several leaks over the years. Most recently a group of hackers said they had stolen 1.5TB of data, allegedly including episodes of Ballers, Room 104 and scripts from Game of Thrones episodes. On Monday they leaked some of the unaired material.\nImage copyright Press Association\nThe arrests on Monday were related to the leaked episode, not the most recent hack.\nAfter receiving a complaint \"we investigated the case and have arrested four individuals for unauthorised publication of the fourth episode from season seven,\" Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan told AFP news agency.\nThe four have been charged with criminal breach of trust and computer related offences and will be detained until 21 August, he said.", "Macall B. Polay/Courtesy of HBO\nIf you can't seem to keep all the characters and storylines straight on \"Game of Thrones,\" you can be forgiven for being confused about the leaks tied to the hit show too.\nFour people accused of leaking an episode of the popular HBO series have been arrested in India, according to a report Monday by the AFP news agency.\nPolice told AFP the four were arrested for the unauthorized release of episode 4 of the current season, and are \"accused of criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses.\" The episode leaked from Star India, a company that distributes HBO programming there.\nNeither HBO nor Star India immediately responded to requests for comment.\nWhen the leak was first reported earlier this month, Star India called it a \"grave issue.\"\n\"We take this breach very seriously and have immediately initiated forensic investigations at our and the technology partner's end to swiftly determine the cause,\" the company said.\nThe arrests are unrelated to the cyberbreach that hit HBO in July. Since then, hackers have released scripts of \"Game of Thrones\" in an effort to get the network to pay a ransom. Hackers on Sunday also reportedly leaked episodes of \"Insecure\" and \"Curb Your Enthusiasm,\" which is set to return to the network Oct. 1.", "Investors eyeing a comeback: Many stock markets in Asia and Europe pointing solidly higher. And here in the U.S. too, investors building on Friday's modest gains by buying the dip and putting money back to work in sectors that have rallied in 2017, namely: technology, consumer discretionary and health care.\nContinue Reading Below\nHackers that penetrated HBO's network have leaked even more episodes, including some from the highly anticipated October return of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” as well as Sunday night's episodes of “Insecure,” “Ballers” and others. HBO says it’s not in communication with the hackers.\nAnd the Disney (DIS) and Netflix (NFLX) war heats up. Netflix has now poached Disney star-producer Shonda Rhimes, creator of ABC's “Scandal” and “Grey's Anatomy.” Just last week, Disney said it will be pulling its movies from Netflix in 2019 as it starts its own streaming service.", "Hackers released more unaired episodes of popular HBO shows but the latest leak did not include anything on the hit series ‘Game of Thrones’, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.\nThe hackers, who broke into HBO’s computer network and have released stolen information for several weeks, provided more unaired episodes, including the popular show ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, which returns in October.\nThey also leaked episodes of ‘Insecure’, ‘Ballers’ and ‘The Deuce’, according to the Associated Press.\nTime Warner Inc’s (TWX.N) HBO said Sunday in an emailed statement that it was “not in communication with the hacker, and we’re not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released”.\n“It has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO,” it said. “The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That’s a game we’re not going to participate in.”\nHBO acknowledged the hack earlier this summer. It said the thieves had been leaking stolen materials and asking for a multi-million-dollar ransom.\nThe hack came at a sensitive time for HBO parent Time Warner as it awaits regulatory approval to sell itself to AT&T Inc (T.N) in an $85.4-billion-deal announced in October.\nHackers released more unaired episodes of popular HBO shows but the latest leak did not include anything on the hit series ‘Game of Thrones’, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.\nThe hackers, who broke into HBO’s computer network and have released stolen information for several weeks, provided more unaired episodes, including the popular show ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, which returns in October.\nThey also leaked episodes of ‘Insecure’, ‘Ballers’ and ‘The Deuce’, according to the Associated Press.\nTime Warner Inc’s (TWX.N) HBO said Sunday in an emailed statement that it was “not in communication with the hacker, and we’re not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released”.\n“It has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO,” it said. “The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That’s a game we’re not going to participate in.”\nHBO acknowledged the hack earlier this summer. It said the thieves had been leaking stolen materials and asking for a multi-million-dollar ransom.\nThe hack came at a sensitive time for HBO parent Time Warner as it awaits regulatory approval to sell itself to AT&T Inc (T.N) in an $85.4-billion-deal announced in October.", "Tyene and Ellaria Sand were captured and tortured by Cersei. Helen Sloan/HBO The INSIDER Summary\nPolice in India arrested four people in connection to an episode of \"Game of Thrones\" that was leaked last week.\nThey are all current or former employees of a firm that handles data for Star India, HBO's pay TV partner in India.\nThe suspects are being charged with criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses.\nThe \"Thrones\" epsiode leak was not connected to the hacker who's releasing episodes, scripts, and company emails from HBO.\nPolice in India have arrested four people in connection with the theft of a \"Game of Thrones\" season 7 episode earlier this month that was leaked to piracy sites ahead of its premiere on HBO.\nLaw-enforcement officials in Mumbai arrested the four individuals, who are current or former employees of Prime Focus Technologies, an outside data-management vendor for Star India, HBO's pay-TV distribution partner in the country whose logo appeared as a watermark in the pirated copy.\nAccording to a report by India's Economic Times, police established the involvement of current and former Prime Focus staffers who had access to \"Game of Thrones\" episodes, leading to the Aug. 14 arrests.\nCops in Mumbai have charged the four individuals, whose identities were not disclosed, with criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses. The suspects are being held until Aug. 21 as the investigation continues.\nThe leak of \"Game of Thrones\" episode four from the current season via 21st Century Fox-owned Sky India is unrelated to the massive hack of HBO's systems in late July, in which unidentified hackers stole upwards of 1.5 terabytes of data. The standoff between HBO and the hacker or hackers — who have demanded a multimillion-dollar ransom to cease releasing the stolen material — continued Sunday with the leak of three episodes of the return of Larry David's \"Curb Your Enthusiasm\" and other series.", "Police in India have arrested four people in connection with the theft of a “Game of Thrones” season 7 episode earlier this month that was leaked to piracy sites ahead of its premiere on HBO.\nLaw-enforcement officials in Mumbai arrested the four individuals, who are current or former employees of Prime Focus Technologies, an outside data-management vendor for Star India, HBO’s pay-TV distribution partner in the country whose logo appeared as a watermark in the pirated copy. According to a report by India’s Economic Times, police established the involvement of current and former Prime Focus staffers, leading to the Aug. 14 arrests.\nMumbai cops have charged the four individuals, whose identities were not disclosed, with criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses.\nThe leak of “Game of Thrones” episode four from the current season via 21st Century Fox-owned Sky India is unrelated to the massive hack of HBO’s systems in late July, in which unidentified hackers stole upwards of 1.5 terabytes of data. The standoff between HBO and the hacker or hackers — who have demanded a multimillion-dollar ransom to cease releasing the stolen material — continued Sunday with the leak of three episodes of the return of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and other series.\nIn the India case, links to the fourth episode of “Game of Thrones” season 7 appeared on a discussion board on Reddit on Aug. 4, two days before the episode’s premiere. While the Reddit post was removed shortly after it went up, the episode — ripped in a low-quality format — had already begun circulating on piracy networks.\nIn a statement, Star India said the “Game of Thrones” leak was first of its kind in the company’s history. “We are deeply grateful to the police for their swift and prompt action,” Star India said. “We believe that valuable intellectual property is a critical part of the development of the creative industry and strict enforcement of the law is essential to protecting it.”\nThe arrests in India were carried out after an initial investigation by a joint team from the office of Cyber & PAW, Government of Maharashtra and the office of DCP (Cyber), BKC, Mumbai. The officials said the investigation is ongoing.", "New York: Mr. Smith, the name being used by the hackers of HBO, who recently released a cache of the stolen files, have now demanded millions in ransom to prevent more such releases.\nThe data stolen by these hackers includes 5 episodes of the latest Game of Thrones season and a month’s worth of email from the account of Leslie Cohen, HBO’s vice president for film programming. Apart from that, there were internal documents, such as a report of legal claims against the network and employment offer letters to the top executives.\nHBO has been a part of the investigation and is working with police and cyber security experts. The network has stated that it still doesn’t believe that its email system as a whole has been compromised.\nA video sent by the hackers to the CEO of HBO, Richard Pleplar, said that if the network didn’t pay up, it could lead to further leaks of the upcoming episodes. –AP\nComments\ncomments", "Four People Have Been Arrested in India for Leaking a Game of Thrones Episode\nFour people in India have been arrested for leaking a Game of Thrones episode, according to a report by the international news agency Agence France-Presse.\nThe arrests are in response to the leaking of the hit show’s fourth episode, “The Spoils of War,” which leaked from Star India, one of HBO’s international distributors, a few days before it aired last week.\nThe four are accused of “criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses.” The case was filed by a Mumbai-based company responsible for storing and processing GoT episodes for an app, the AFP said.\nThe leak of the episode is a separate case than the cyber breach of HBO by a hacker, who continued leaking material Sunday night (including episodes of the upcoming return of Curb Your Enthusiasm ).\nPreviously, a Star India spokesperson pledged to take action about the leak: “This confirms the compromise of episode 4 of Game of Thrones Season 7, earlier this afternoon. We take this breach very seriously and have immediately initiated forensic investigations at our and the technology partner’s end to swiftly determine the cause. This is a grave issue and we are taking appropriate legal remedial action.”\nThe leak didn’t seemingly have an impact on the show’s performance in the U.S. — and, in fact, might have actually helped it by generating positive online buzz — as “The Spoils of War” set a ratings record for the network by racking up 10.2 million viewers overnight.\nHBO had no comment.\nGame of Thrones airs Sundays on HBO.\nThis article originally appeared on Ew.com", "First it was “Games of Thrones” and “Orange Is The New Black.”\nWell, the hackers are at it again!\n“Curb Your Enthusiasm” was supposed to debut in October on HBO, but is already up on the web!\nAlso…\nIt was a good weekend for Taylor Swift.\nShe’s been in court in a case that involves a Denver DJ allegedly touching her inappropriately.\nA judge ruled on a part of that case on Friday….and Stylz and Roman have all the details on what happened!", "ABOVE PHOTO: Insecure\nLOS ANGELES–With both series seeing record viewership this season, HBO has renewed the comedy series “Ballers” for a fourth season and “Insecure” for a third season, it was announced by Amy Gravitt, executive vice president, HBO Programming.\n“We’re thrilled that the summer lineup of “Ballers” and “Insecure” connected with our viewers out of the gate,” said Gravitt. “We’re so proud to work with Dwayne, Issa and all of the amazing talent in both shows.”\nLooking at the whirlwind lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players, “Ballers” stars Dwayne Johnson as ex-superstar Spencer Strasmore, who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for today’s players in sun-soaked Miami. Created by Stephen Levinson (HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”), the hit comedy series returned for its ten-episode third season Sunday, July 23 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.\nOther cast regulars for the current season include: Rob Corddry, John David Washington, Omar Benson Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, London Brown, Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill.\n“Ballers” was created by Stephen Levinson; executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Peter Berg, Evan Reilly, Rob Weiss, Julian Farino, Denis Biggs, Karyn McCarthy.\nCreated by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, “Insecure” follows the friendship of two black women as they deal with their own real-life flaws while attempting to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis and Lisa Joyce star in the show, which returned for its eight-episode second season Sunday, July 23 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT).", "Mumbai Police have arrested four people for leaking an episode from HBO's Game of Thrones television series before it was aired in the country.\nAmid HBO hack, Game Of Thrones season 7 episode 4 is the most watched so far\nThe fourth episode of the fantasy drama television series, The Spoils of War, was leaked from Star India, one of HBO's international distributors, a few days before its official debut on August 6.\nWhile three of the accused -- Abhishek Ghadiyal, Bhaskar Joshi and Alok Sharma -- are current employees of Prime Focus Technologies, the fourth, Mohammed Suhail, is a former staffer.\nStar India had confirmed the leak and initiated an investigation.\n\"We investigated the case and have arrested four individuals for unauthorised publication of the fourth episode from season seven,\" Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan told AFP.\nFollowing the leak, a Star India spokesperson said, \"We take this breach very seriously and have immediately initiated forensic investigations at our and the technology partner's end to swiftly determine the cause. This is a grave issue and we are taking appropriate legal remedial action.\"\nThe four culprits have been accused of \"criminal breach of trust and computer-related offences.\"\nThe AFP also said that the case was filed by a Mumbai-based company responsible for storing and processing GoT episodes for an app. These company employees possessed official credentials, which gave them access to the GoT episodes.\nEarlier, it was also reported that anonymous hackers had managed to get their hands on a few unaired episodes of GoT. The hackers, who claimed to have access to 1.5 terabytes of the HBO's series, had threatened to release more episodes in the weeks to come.\nHowever, the arrest of the four people in India is not related to the cyber breach of HBO.\nMeanwhile, it has been reported that contents of upcoming episodes of Got including the script of Episode five have also been leaked online.\nEven looked for episode 5 leak but I only read the leaked script. Spoiled myself but it felt like Christmas ? #GameOfThrones — melissundae (@sundehng) August 11, 2017\nIn fact, a section of the Twitterati has been enquiring about the leak of episode 5 as well.", "A Game of Thrones episode was leaked in India and police have nabbed four suspects in connection with the unauthorized release.\nAn AFP report said four were arrested Monday in Mumbai for leaking the popular HBO show's fourth episode, \"The Spoils of War,\" from the current season before it aired on Aug. 6. The arrests come amid a flurry of HBO hacks and leaks, including leaks of Game of Thrones information. But the episode 4 leak was not part of the larger HBO hack.\nThe four are accused of \"criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses\" and will be held until Aug. 21, according to local police.\nHBO had no further details about the leak and referred inquiries to their network partner, Star India. Formerly known as Star TV, the company has not responded yet.\nWe also reached out to the company that streams episodes, Prime Focus Technologies, where three of the four suspects worked currently. The fourth was a former employee, according to a Press Trust of India report.\nThey all would've had official credentials with access to the episode.", "The logo for HBO,Home Box Office, the American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner, is pictured during the HBO presentation at the Cable portion of the Television Critics Association Summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California August 1, 2012.\nREUTERS - Hackers have released more unaired episodes of popular HBO shows but the latest leak did not include anything on the hit series \"Game of Thrones,\" the Associated Press reported on Sunday.\nThe hackers, who broke into HBO's computer network and have released stolen information for several weeks, provided more unaired episodes, including the popular show \"Curb Your Enthusiasm, \" which returns in October.\nThey also leaked episodes of \"Insecure,\" \"Ballers\" and \"The Deuce,\" according to the Associated Press.\nTime Warner Inc's HBO said Sunday in an emailed statement that it was \"not in communication with the hacker, and we're not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released.\"\n\"It has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO,\" it said. \"The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That’s a game we’re not going to participate in.\"\nHBO acknowledged the hack earlier this summer. It said the thieves had been leaking stolen materials and asking for a multi-million-dollar ransom.\nThe hack came at a sensitive time for HBO parent Time Warner as it awaits regulatory approval to sell itself to AT&T Inc in a $85.4 billion deal announced in October.", "Four people have been arrested in relation to the “Game of Thrones” episode leak earlier this month, Agence France-Presse reported Monday.\nThe leak came days before Season 7′s fourth episode, titled “The Spoils of War,” was scheduled to air on Aug. 6. A watermark on the video file pointed to an HBO distribution partner servicing Southeast Asia called Star India.\n“We take this breach very seriously and have immediately initiated forensic investigations at our and the technology partner’s end to swiftly determine the cause,” a Star India spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “This is a grave issue and we are taking appropriate legal remedial action.”\nAccording to AFP, the four people arrested are accused of “criminal breach of trust and computer-related offences,” and will be detained until Aug. 21 pending an investigation. The agency reported that the group “possessed official credentials” at a “Mumbai-based company responsible for storing and processing the TV episodes for an app,” although it did not state the name of the company.\nDespite the leak, “The Spoils of War” became the series’ most-watched episode after its scheduled airing, drawing 10.17 million viewers.\nHBO confirmed to HuffPost that the “Spoils of War” leak was unrelated to the larger hack against the premium cable provider that was widely reported in late July. However, those hackers have also leaked “Game of Thrones” content, including a script for Season 7′s Episode 5, titled “Eastwatch.” The full extent of the data breach has not yet been confirmed.", "(Bloomberg) — Sony. Netflix. And now, HBO.\nWhile the 2014 hacking at Sony Pictures pushed entertainment giants to take computer security more seriously, recent incidents have exposed weaknesses throughout Hollywood’s food chain. Last week, as HBO investigated a cyberattack on its own systems, an unaired episode of its hit show “Game of Thrones” appeared online following an unrelated breach at a pay-TV partner in India. In April, when 10 episodes of Netflix Inc.’s “Orange Is the New Black” leaked, the incident was traced to a contractor.\nCybercrime is a growing problem for many industries, but Hollywood is especially vulnerable because of the long chain of people who work on a show or movie in post-production, experts say. Studios rely on an army of freelancers for everything from special effects to musical scores, creating a vast network of targets for hackers. Bringing those workers in-house is an option but would be expensive and could limit the talent studios can tap.\n“Hollywood will have to recognize this will continue to grow and be an issue,” said Mike Orosz , who studies cyber risk as research director at the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute.\nHBO requires employees to have two-factor authentication and strong passwords for their computers. They also undergo security awareness training. But the company works with many post-production freelancers that handle sensitive information on personal email accounts and personal devices, raising security concerns, according to a former employee who asked not to be identified discussing an internal matter.\n“Once the content is out of your hands, it’s truly out of your hands,” Orosz said. “The security of the third-party vendor is what you’re relying on.”\nHBO is still investigating how hackers broke into its computer system. They stole episodes of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Ballers,” a person familiar with the matter said at the time. They also stole an executive’s emails and a summary of an unaired episode of “Game of Thrones,” according to Variety.\nAfter receiving a ransom demand, an HBO executive emailed the hacker on July 27 offering $250,000 as payment for finding a security flaw, according to a copy of the message obtained by Bloomberg. HBO asked the hacker to extend the deadline for a week while the company arranged a payment in bitcoin. That was a stalling effort, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Variety reported on the email earlier.", "(Reuters) - Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N) HBO network last month offered $250,000 to cyber criminals who hacked into its computer system, asking them to extend a deadline for paying a much larger ransom, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.\n\"You have the advantage of having surprised us,\" a member of HBO's technology team said in the July 27 email. \"In the spirit of professional cooperation, we are asking you to extend your deadline for one week.\"\nThe attack came at a sensitive time for HBO: Parent Time Warner is seeking regulatory approval to sell itself to AT&T Inc (T.N) in an $85.4 billion deal announced in October.\nThe note said that HBO was willing to make the payment \"as a show of good faith,\" but needed time to fund an account for sending payments in bitcoin digital currency or obtain account information from the hackers so it could use a conventional bank wire to transmit the funds.\nFILE PHOTO - Co-executive producer George R.R. Martin arrives for the season premiere of HBO's \"Game of Thrones\" in San Francisco, California, U.S. on March 23, 2015. Robert Galbraith/File Photo\nThe hackers did not respond to a request for comment through the email address they used to communicate with HBO. The request prompted an automated response that provided a link to an image of the July 27 note from HBO.\nA person familiar with HBO's response to the attack told Reuters that the company sent the email \"as a stall tactic\" and had never intended to make the $250,000 payment or pay the full $6 million the hackers had demanded to hold off going public with data stolen from HBO.\nSlideshow (2 Images)\nNonetheless, the email failed to achieve that goal. A few days after HBO sent the note, the hackers went to the media with details of the breach.\nThey released an extortion note and some stolen data, including details about an upcoming episode of the network's popular drama \"Game of Thrones.\"\nVariety earlier reported details about the $250,000 offer.", "MUMBAI (AFP) - Four people have been arrested in India for leaking an episode from HBO's Game of Thrones television series before it was aired in the country, police said Monday (Aug 14).\nAlready the most pirated show in TV history, the popular fantasy drama - which tells the story of noble families vying for the Iron Throne - has been plagued by leaks in recent weeks following the premiere of the seventh season.\nAfter receiving a complaint for a company \"we investigated the case and have arrested four individuals for unauthorised publication of the fourth episode from season seven,\" said Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan.\nHe said the four - accused of criminal breach of trust and computer-related offences - would be detained until August 21 amid an investigation.\nThe case was filed by a Mumbai-based company responsible for storing and processing the TV episodes for an app, local media said.\nThe four arrested were company employees who possessed official credentials giving them access to the episodes, the reports added.\nRelated Story Unaired Game of Thrones episode leaked\nGame of Thrones has more Emmy Awards than any narrative show in history and airs in 170 countries, with viewership figures shattering records across the world.\nAs well as being a hit globally, it has a massive fan base in South Asia.\nShowrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss last year announced the shortened run of seven and six episodes for the final two seasons and confirmed the summer return for season seven, a departure from the usual April premieres.\nThe show has been teasing winter's arrival since its pilot episode in 2011, and in the latest episode preview Death Is The Enemy has finally moved closer to showcasing a battle between a horde of undead \"White Walkers\" from the frozen North and a troop of warriors led by hero Jon Snow (Kit Harington).", "HBO's Game of Thrones has suffered a couple of leaks lately, with episodes of the hit show released to the internet before their scheduled air date. According to a new report at AFP News, however, four individuals in India have been arrested, though not for the most recent hack, according to Entertainment Weekly. Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan told AFP that the arrest was for \"unauthorized publication of the fourth episode from season seven.\"", "Share this article with Google Plus\nFour people have been arrested over Game Of Thrones leak (Picture: Macall B. Polay/Helen Sloan/HBO)\nPolice in India have arrested four people suspected of leaking an episode of Game Of Thrones before its air date.\nEastEnders murder twist, Corrie wedding, Emmerdale return and 17 more soap spoilers\nThose accused consist of three current and one former employee of Prime Focus Technology, a Mumbai-based company which stores and processes the hit HBO series for Indian streaming site Hotstar.\nThe company filed a complaint after the fourth episode of season seven was found on websites ahead of the scheduled air date, with the leaked version having the channel’s watermark on it.\nThe leak saw the fourth episode released online (Picture: Macall B. Polay/Helen Sloan/HBO)\nDeputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan (via Hindustan Times), said: ‘We have arrested the four accused. Three of them are employees of the firm while one is a former employee.’\nThe four have been charged with criminal breach of trust and computer related offences, and will be detained until 21 August.\nThe episode was leaked on August 4, just days before it was due to air on HBO.\nThe leak followed a recent hack at HBO, which saw a group apparently steal 1.5TB of data, including HBO employee personal details and episode of Ballers, Room 104 and scripts from Game Of Thrones.\nThe arrests for the episode leak however are seemingly not related to this prior hack at HBO.\nGame Of Thrones season seven is currently five episodes into its run, with the latest offering causing the usual stack of questions we’re frantically mulling over.\nGame Of Thrones season seven continues on HBO Sunday, on Sky Atlantic on Mondays in the UK at 9pm. You can catch-up on Now TV.\nMORE: Game Of Thrones season 7 episode 5: 7 questions we have after Eastwatch\nMORE: Game of Thrones: We can reveal exactly what that mysterious letter Arya Stark found says – and it’s not good news for Sansa at all", "Three of the accused are employees of Prime Focus Technology, while the fourth one is its former employee, police said. (HBO)\nThe Mumbai police today arrested four persons for leaking online an episode of popular fantasy TV series “Game of Thrones”. Three of the accused are employees of Prime Focus Technology, while the fourth one is its former employee, police said. The company, which processes the series for online streaming service Hotstar, had lodged a complaint. A court in Mumbai remanded them in police custody till August 21, Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan told PTI. Maharashtra Cyber police and the city cops started investigation after Prime Focus Technology lodged a complaint last week that the fourth episode of season seven of the series was available online before its scheduled release on August 7, DCP Pathan said.\nThe accused men’s motive behind leaking the episode was yet to be ascertained, he said. Police have registered a case under IPC section 408 (criminal breach of trust by an employee) and also under the Information Technology Act.", "Bored hackers who aren’t getting paid tend to get restless. And so, on Sunday, the cyber thieves behind the recent HBO breach leaked several unreleased episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was scheduled to return in October after six years off the air. HBO, understandably, seems annoyed.\nWe’re now in week three of the standoff between HBO and the hackers, and the network sounds like it’s at the end of its rope. Following the Curb Your Enthusiasm leak, HBO effectively issued a “no comment” statement to the press:\nWe are not in communication with the hacker and we’re not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released.\nSounds annoyed, right? The statement gets even more annoyed-sounding:\nIt has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO. The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That’s a game we’re not going to participate in. Obviously, no company wants their proprietary information stolen and released on the internet. Transparency with our employees, partners, and the creative talent that works with us has been our focus throughout this incident and will remain our focus as we move forward. This incident has not deterred us from ensuring HBO continues to do what we do best.\nTo sum things up, HBO is really weary of this hacker business. The hackers aren’t getting shit from HBO in this cyber extortion scheme. And, in conclusion, HBO is generally sick of this shit.\nAnd who could blame them? Here’s this network, HBO, and all it wants to do is make premium content for paying customers. Then, along comes this hacker group that steals that premium content and starts leaking it on the internet, where any dumb bum with a torrent client can download and watch it for free. To date, the hackers have released episodes of Ballers, Room 104, Insecure, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Barry, and The Deuce. Those last two series aren’t even out yet.\nMeanwhile, the hackers have billed this big cyber heist as a Game of Thrones breach, even though they don’t appear to have any unreleased episodes of the popular murder not-a-mystery show. A couple of unreleased episode outlines have showed up on the internet, but unless they’re holding ou, that appears to be the extent of the Game of Thrones information the hackers have stolen. Episode four of season seven did leak before it was aired on HBO, but that was allegedly the work of two employees of an India-based distribution company who have since been charged, not the hackers.\nSo yeah, HBO is sick of this. The network apparently offered a $250,000 “bug bounty” (which may have been a ruse) for the hackers to delay the release of its stolen data, and the hackers refused, instead demanding $6 million or more. Now, HBO has to deal with what appears to be a semi-weekly leak of that stolen data and lord knows how many lawyers’ bills. All because the network creates premium content that’s fun to watch. [Variety]\nMore Hackers Posts:", "Four people in Mumbai have been arrested in connection with the theft of a Season 7 Game of Thrones episode, according to a report by Variety.\nEarlier this month, the episode was leaked to pirating streaming sites before it premiered on HBO. Now police in India have arrested and charged four individuals, all of whom work for or used to work for Prime Focus Technologies. Prime Focus is an outside data-management company used by Star India, HBO's pay-TV distribution partner in the country. Star India's watermark appeared throughout the pirated copy.\nThe four people who weren't identified have been charged with criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses. Variety reports that links to episode appeared on Reddit on August 4, two days before the episode’s premiere. The Reddit post was removed shortly after it went up, but the episode was ripped in low quality and began circulating on illegal streaming sites.\nStar India said, in a statement, that this is the first leak of this sort in the company's history. \"We believe that valuable intellectual property is a critical part of the development of the creative industry and strict enforcement of the law is essential to protecting it,\" the company added.\nThe leak followed reports HBO had been hacked and several TV episodes and written material connected to Game of Thrones had been stolen. That theft is not connected to these arrests. The four suspects are being held, under investigation, until August 21.", "A hacker targeting US TV network HBO, who has already leaked information regarding fantasy series Game of Thrones, has now leaked several new episodes of Larry David comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm a month and a half before the show was set to return.\nThe hacker, who claims to have obtained 1.5TB of confidential data and unreleased episodes, has been holding the network to ransom, demanding a payment amounting to half of the $12-15m they claim to make a year from blackmailing hacked companies.\nThe latest leak, which also includes other shows (via Variety) comes less than a month after HBO dated the return of Curb Your Enthusiasm for 1 October, 2017.\nThe comedy, a semi-fictionalised account of the life of the show's creator, writer and star Larry David, last aired new episodes in 2011. The upcoming season will be the show's ninth overall and consist of ten episodes.\nLast week (10 August) it emerged that HBO had offered $250,000 to \"white hat IT professionals\" who might be able to help them, in a message that also suggested the company could pay the hacker just as much.\nIn the message, an unnamed HBO executive pleads to the hacker to extend his deadline so the money can be secured. \"You have the advantage of having surprised us. In the spirit of professional cooperation, we are asking you to extend your deadline for one week.\"\nHowever, following this latest leak, HBO reiterated that it would not cave in to the hacker's pressure tactics.\n\"We are not in communication with the hacker and we're not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released,\" the Time Warner-owned network said in a statement.\n\"It has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO. The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That's a game we're not going to participate in.\n\"Obviously, no company wants their proprietary information stolen and released on the internet. Transparency with our employees, partners, and the creative talent that works with us has been our focus throughout this incident and will remain our focus as we move forward. This incident has not deterred us from ensuring HBO continues to do what we do best.\"\nAmong the other shows to have leaked were new comedy Insecure, which debuted last night (13 August), upcoming shows Barry and The Deuce, and Ballers, which is currently airing its third season.\nIn July, a script for a then-upcoming episode of Game of Thrones was leaked online, as well as the personal details of the show's stars, including their phone numbers. An episode of the show was also leaked shortly after, but not by the hacker in question.", "The weeks-long standoff between HBO and a hacker intent on extracting money from the Time Warner-owned cable network intensified Sunday with the leak of several episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” as well as other series.\nAmerican comedian Larry David attends an event in Manhattan, New York, on May 4, 2015. Andrew Kelly/Reuters\nLOS ANGELES — The weeks-long standoff between HBO and a hacker intent on extracting money from the Time Warner-owned cable network intensified Sunday with the leak of several episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” as well as other series.\nThe Larry David-fronted comedy series wasn’t scheduled to return to TV until October. But in a statement issued Sunday after the hacker’s dumping, the network did not indicate it would yield to pressure tactics.\nAmong other series leaked by the hacker included the latest episode of HBO comedy “Insecure,” which was to have premiered tonight. Episodes of a series already airing a new season, “Ballers,” as well as new series that have yet to air a single episode, including “Barry” and “The Deuce” were also distributed.\n“We are not in communication with the hacker and we’re not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released,” the network said in a statement. “It has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO. The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That’s a game we’re not going to participate in. Obviously, no company wants their proprietary information stolen and released on the internet. Transparency with our employees, partners, and the creative talent that works with us has been our focus throughout this incident and will remain our focus as we move forward. This incident has not deterred us from ensuring HBO continues to do what we do best.”\nThe hacker or hacking group, which has remained anonymous, has been relentlessly stepping up the intensity of its attack. Last Thursday, a message HBO had sent the perpetrator after its initial communication with the network was leaked, detailing a $250,000 “bounty payment” offer.\nTwo days prior, it became evident that a previous leak in which the hacker suggested the disclosure of a contact list belonging to HBO CEO Richard Plepler was apparently manipulated. While so far the depth of the hacked material does not appear to have reached the scale of the one that devastated Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014, there have been some disclosures suggesting the hacker is in possession of some internal HBO documents.", "Four people have been arrested in India for leaking the fourth episode from the current season of HBO's Game of Thrones before it aired last week, police in Mumbia announced on Monday.\nAlready the most pirated show in TV history, the hit fantasy drama has been plagued by leaks in recent weeks following the premiere of the penultimate seventh season.\nAfter receiving a complaint from the Mumbai-based company Prime Focus Technology, 'we investigated the case and have arrested four individuals for unauthorized publication of the fourth episode from season seven,' Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan told AFP.\nScroll down for video\nFour people have been arrested in India for leaking the fourth episode from the current season of HBO's Game of Thrones, which featured a battle sequence with a dragon (pictured)\nThe leaked episode, titled 'The Spoils of War,' aired in US and India on August 7, and it ended with a cliffhanger involving Jaime Lannister (pictured)\nHe said three of the suspects are current employees of Prime Focus, while the fourth is a former employee. All four are accused of criminal breach of trust and computer-related offences and would be detained until August 21 amid an investigation.\nPrime Focus Technology is responsible for storing and processing episodes of Game of Thrones for the video-streaming app Hotstar, which is a subsidiary of the local broadcaster Star India, local media said.\nThe four arrested possessed official credentials giving them access to the episodes of the popular series, the reports added.\nThe leaked episode, titled 'The Spoils of War,' aired in both the US and India on August 7. Its centerpiece was a heart-pounding battle sequence featuring a dragon, and it ended with a cliffhanger, which was resolved in Sunday night's episode, 'Eastwatch.'\n'The Spoils of War' set a new rating record for HBO by drawing 10.2 million viewers.\nThe India leak is believed to be unrelated to a group of hackers known as 'Mr Smith,' which on Sunday released new episodes of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, five scripts of Game of Thrones and five months worth of internal HBO emails.\nThe complaint about the leak came from the Mumbai-based company Prime Focus Technology, which is responsible for storing and processing episodes of Game of Thrones for the video-streaming app Hotstar\nUnder siege: The India leak is believed to be unrelated to a group of hackers known as 'Mr Smith,' which has been targeting HBO in a bid to extract ransom money\nA week prior, the hackers released episodes of two other HBO shows, the sports drama Ballers starring Dwayne Johnson and the comedy series Insecure.\nThe massive data dump was carried out after HBO reportedly refused to pay the hackers up to $7.5million in ransom money.\nGame of Thrones has won more Emmy Awards than any scripted show in history and airs in 170 countries, with viewership figures shattering records across the world.\nAs well as being a hit globally, it has a massive fan base in South Asia.\nShowrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss last year announced the shortened run of seven and six episodes for the final two seasons and confirmed the summer return for season seven, a departure from the usual April premieres.\nThe show has been teasing winter's arrival since its pilot episode in 2011, and in the latest episode preview 'Death Is The Enemy' has finally moved closer to showcasing a clash between a horde of undead 'White Walkers' from beyond the Wall and a motley crew of warriors led by the the former Night's Watch Lord Commander-turned-King in the North Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington.", "After being blackmailed for weeks, US-based television network HBO has now vowed to stop playing games with the cyber bullies, who late on Sunday leaked the yet-to-air episodes of five shows which do not include material related to marquee series Game of Thrones (GoT).\nAccording to a report in New York Post, hackers leaked online the episodes of \" Curb Your Enthusiasm \",\" \" Ballers \" and \" Insecure \" as well as some from the yet-to-debut shows \" Barry \" and \" The Deuce \".\nOn the latest dump, the TV network said that they were not in communication with the hackers and were \"not going to comment every time a new piece of information is released\".\n\"It has been widely reported that there was a cyber incident at HBO. The hacker may continue to drop bits and pieces of stolen information in an attempt to generate media attention. That's a game we're not going to participate in,\" the network was quoted as saying.\n\"Obviously, no company wants their proprietary information stolen and released on the internet,\" HBO added.\n\"Transparency with our employees, partners and the creative talent that works with us has been our focus throughout this incident and will remain our focus as we move forward. This incident has not deterred us from ensuring HBO continues to do what we do best,\" it said.\nOn Friday, in a bid to contain further leaks from a group of hackers, HBO reportedly offered to pay $250,000 to those who stole nearly 1.5TB data, including scripts of 'Game of Thrones' (GoT) and other employee information, from the TV network.\nA purported leaked e-mail sent to various media publications by the hackers appeared to come from an HBO executive, offering the 'bug bounty' of $250,000 for showing up weaknesses in the firm's system, Forbes reported late on Friday.\n\"You have the advantage of having surprised us. In the spirit of professional cooperation, we are asking you to extend your deadline for one week. As a show of good faith on our side, we are willing to commit to making a bug bounty payment of $250,000 to you as soon as we can establish the necessary account and acquire Bitcoin, or we can wire the funds as soon as you give us the account information,\" the e-mail read.\nThe e-mail, dated July 27, containing the 'bug bounty' offer was leaked by the hacker who goes by the name 'Little Finger' in a message promising a \"second wave\".\nAccording to the report, the HBO executive wrote that the company had not been able to acquire the amount of Bitcoin, which is nearly $6 million that the hackers had demanded.\nHowever, HBO was yet to confirm the veracity of the e-mail.\n\"This episode of the HBO hack is turning out to be a 'Game of Thorns' for HBO. As far back as July 27, HBO got into a negotiation with the hackers, it appears,\" said Ankush Johar, Director, BugsBounty.com, in a statement.\n\"There is a possibility that HBO's pre-emptive bug bounty programme may have yielded a better security posture for them, avoiding this situation altogether,\" he added.\nLast, hackers leaked the script of Episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 that was set to be aired on August 13, along with a note demanding ransom from the US-based television network.\nThe hacked material also contains \"countless\" HBO internal documents, including a month's worth of a top executive's e-mails, financial balance sheets, employment agreements and marketing-strategy PDFs.", "The leak of ‘The Spoils of War’—Episode 4 of Game of Thrones Season 7—originated from Star India that streams the HBO hit show on Hotstar. Photo: AP\nNew Delhi: A Maharashtra cyber crime team on Monday arrested four people in connection with the leak of an episode of HBO’s TV series Game of Thrones. The arrested include a current and a former employee of Prime Focus Technologies, technology partner of TV broadcaster Star India Pvt. Ltd.\nStar India currently owns the rights to air and stream various HBO titles, including Game of Thrones.\nAccording to a statement released by Star India and Special Inspector General of Police (cyber), Government of Maharashtra, a current Prime Focus employee had gained unauthorized access to the Game of Thrones episode and then leaked it (with a former employee and two other people) for public viewing on internet.\n“This is the first time in the history of Star India that an incident of this nature has occurred. We are deeply grateful to the police for their swift and prompt action,” said Star India and Novi Digital Entertainment Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Star India which owns Hotstar.\nThe episode titled The Spoils of War—Episode 4 of Game of Thrones Season 7—was originally scheduled to air in the US and India on 7 August at 7.30 am (local time). However, the episode was leaked on the internet a couple of days before the official airing.\nThe leaked episode had a watermarked logo of Star India, indicating that the leak happened at broadcaster’s end.\n“Officers of the Cyber & PAW, Government of Maharashtra, conducted preliminary enquire, and basis the electronic trail and other technical material, zeroed in on Prime Focus Technologies—the agency contracted by Star India to manage the data, as being responsible for the illegal leakage of the episode,” Special IGP (cyber), Government of Maharashtra, said in a statement.\n“The unfortunate incident of leakage, perhaps, a first instance of cyber crime of its kind in India, has been handled with deft professionalism,” the statement added.", "A partner technology vendor was behind the leak of season 7 episode 4 of Game of Thrones TV Show earlier this month, Star India said late Monday, citing an ongoing investigation by local authorities. Four individuals associated with the said vendor - Prime Focus Technologies - have been arrested, the company added.\nStar India, which is a distribution partner of HBO for Game of Thrones and several other TV shows of the network, stressed that it was the first time that an incident of this nature occurred at the company.\n\"We are extremely delighted with the speed and rigour with which the Office of the Special Inspector General of Police Mr. Brijesh Singh (Cyber), Government of Maharashtra and office of DCP Cyber Cell, Mumbai have moved on this investigation,\" the company said in a statement.\nSeason 7 episode 4 of Game of Thrones was leaked on August 4, two days ahead of its scheduled airing in the United States and in India. The show is also available in India via Hotstar, a Star India-owned streaming service.\n\"We are deeply grateful to the police for their swift and prompt action. We believe that valuable intellectual property is a critical part of the development of the creative industry and strict enforcement of the law is essential to protecting it,\" the company’s statement added.\nStar India had confirmed the veracity of the leak on August 4, and had noted that a forensic investigation was already underway to locate the source of the leak.\nOfficers of the Cyber & PAW, Government of Maharashtra, conducted preliminary enquiry and on the basis of the electronic trail and other technical material, identified the four individuals at Prime Focus Technologies as the culprit, the statement said.\nPrime Focus Technologies, which helps clients drive \"creative enablement, enhance ecosystem efficiencies and sustainability, reduce cost and realize new monetization opportunities,\" works with major media companies including Disney, Warner Bros, 21st Century Fox-owned Star TV, TERN International, GEE, Cricket Australia, Miramax, CBS Television Studios, 20th Century Fox Television Studios, FX Networks, Crown Media Holdings, Legendary Pictures, Starz Media, Lionsgate, A+E Networks, HBO, Mnet, CNBC Africa, SABC, IFC Films, HOOQ, Sony Music, Viacom 18, Showtime, BCCI, Indian Premier League, Novi Digital – Hotstar and The Associated Press, according to description on its LinkedIn page.", "It’s a time of new beginnings.\nWe are leaving 2016 behind and fully embracing the New Year.\nWhat better time to get into the fresh streaming options from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and HBO Now.\nShould old acquaintance be forgot, remember that you can always stay in and enjoy the best that streaming has to offer.\nHere’s a list of just some of the movies and shows available to stream in January 2017.\nNetflix\n“Boogie Nights”\n“Caddyshack”\n“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”\n“Ocean’s Twelve”\n“Real Detective: Season 1”\n“Superman: The Movie”\n“The Parent Trap”\n“The Shining”\n“V for Vendetta”\n“Vanilla Sky”\nAmazon Prime\n“American History X”\n“The A-Word”\n“Swiss Army Men”\n“Happy Feet”\n“Rent”\n“Maid in Manhattan”\n“She’s All That”\n“The Infiltrator”\n“The Choice”\n“Dirty Grandpa”\nHulu\n“Annie Hall”\n“Cruel Intentions”\n“Curse of the Starving Class”\n“Footloose”\n“King Kong”\n“Leaving Las Vegas”\n“Man in the Moon”\n“Trading Places”\n“The Untouchables”\n“War Games”\nHBO Now\n“Sesame Street: Season 47” (January 7)\n“The Young Pope” (January 15)\n“Cold Mountain”\n“Dallas Buyers Club”\n“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”\n“Friday”" ]

[ "One person viewers will see joining the ladies on the couch when the Real Housewives of Atlanta season 9 reunion show continues to air is Shamea Morton. On Sunday night, as part 1 of the reunion show aired, Shamea posted a photo of herself filming the special. The photo shows Shamea confronting Phaedra Parks as Porsha Williams and Sheree Whitfield, seated between them, look on uncomfortably. The photo makes it clear that Shamea and Phaedra argued heatedly with one another during filming, as it shows both Shamea, who showed up in a royal blue gown, and Phaedra with their arms up as they make their points.\nRHOA reunion is on now!!! I hope you're tuning in! ???????? A post shared by Shamea Morton (@shameamorton) on Apr 16, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT\nDuring season 9, Shamea claimed that Phaedra once tried to get with her ex-husband when they were still together. When Phaedra, during a lunch with Sheree and Porsha, heard what Shamea said about her, she lashed back by claiming that Shamea was promiscuous with everyone’s husbands in Atlanta. Phaedra even claimed that Shamea was intimate with Kandi Burruss.\n“Well Shamea’s been sleeping with everybody else but who talking about that? You know her and Kandi are like this [cross fingers motion]. Her and Kandi are like f**king [finger in hole motion].”\nA shocked Sheree asked for clarification on who Shamea was “f**king.”\n“Shamea!” Phaedra whispered\nWhen Sheree asked a smiling Porsha if she knew what Phaedra was claiming, Porsha responded, “They are reaaally close.”\nWhen Sheree again asked Porsha if she thought it was true, Porsha said that Shamea’s “close to both of them.” When Sheree asked if Porsha was talking about Kandi and her husband, Todd Tucker, Phaedra said that Shamea’s “doing both.”\nAs previously reported by the Inquisitr, after that lunch scene aired, Shamea Morton immediately issued a denial via her Instagram account. Shamea also expressed disappointment that Porsha Williams, someone she considered a best friend, didn’t come to her defense but rather co-signed Phaedra Parks’ lie.\nIn a later episode, during an engagement party that Kandi threw for her, Shamea, when she heard what Phaedra said about her, pretty much claimed that Phaedra was performing oral sex on various men. “The word was very heavy on the streets about Ms. Parks,” Shamea told Sheree, Kandi and Cynthia. When Sheree asked Shamea what she meant, Shamea mimicked performing a blow job.\nPorsha didn’t attend that engagement party because she was uncomfortable being there with Kandi, with whom she had drama with. In a later meeting with Porsha, Shamea expressed her disappointment over Porsha’s absence. Shamea also warned Porsha about getting close to Phaedra.\n“Phaedra used to talk so much s**t about you. Be careful with your new friend.”\nIn an interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish in March, Shamea said that she continues to warn Porsha about Phaedra. Perhaps Shamea has heard some unsavory things about Phaedra from Phaedra’s former friend now enemy, Kandi Burruss? Shamea also told The Daily Dish that it’ll take some time for her to trust Porsha again and to be friends with her.\n“I am hopeful that we can, but at this point it’s just going to take a lot on both sides. I’m actually kind of drained and I’m tired of trying. I continue to tell Porsha to be careful. I would have never done anything like that to Porsha, especially not to someone she already had some sort of past drama with. I don’t know if we can ever get back to that place. Would I like for us to? Absolutely. I love Porsha, and I want nothing but the best for her. I just don’t know if her loyalty lies with me anymore. I’m afraid that in the future she might meet someone, a new friend, and then her loyalty would change again. It’s going to take some time.”\nYet it seems that Porsha and Shamea are already friends. A week ago, Porsha posted a video of herself attending Shamea’s traditional Kenyan wedding ceremony. In the video, Porsha tells Shamea that she loves her, which Shamea happily responds to.\nCongratulations to the most beautiful Kenyan Bride to be @shameamorton !! Love you Poopah #Gsdowry #Family A post shared by Porsha Dyanne Williams (@porsha4real) on Apr 8, 2017 at 1:56pm PDT\nPerhaps on an upcoming episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 9 reunion show, viewers will see Porsha Williams, going against Phaedra Parks, finally stick up for Shamea Morton?\n[Featured Image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]" ]

[ "Last weekend saw Newton Stewart RFC host Orkney RFC at Blairmount Park for an evening game to accommodate Orkney’s travel arrangements.\nA good number of supporters braved the cold to watch the game played under floodlights on the artificial pitch which created a great atmosphere.\nThe visitors kicked off and the ball was received by acting captain Mark McCornick who immediately broke up the park. Fellow back row player Ewan Dewar made sure he was on hand to clear out the Orkney bodies at the breakdown, and there were further carries from William McCornick and centre Calum Gaw. An unfortunate knock-on then handed the possession to Orkney, who were visibly fired up and ran hard at the Reds defences. Some big hits went in from the boys, and although there was no path through for Orkney, they were awarded a penalty within kicking distance and took the early lead.\nFor the next 15 minutes possession was predominantly Newton Stewart’s, and there were some good carries from Mark McCornick and lock Alan Ferrie. Another knock-on resulted in a scrum for Orkney, and their pack sent the Reds backwards in this first exchange. Having secured the ball however, the visitors found it stripped from them shortly after as Newton Stewart went on the attack.\nSome strong running from the second row combination of Ferrie and William McCornick, as well as centre Fraser Morton, gave them good field position. A long spell camped on the Orkney line followed, stopped and started a few times for penalties against the visitors, whose defences did not yield easily. The forwards worked hard, grinding through the phases and drawing in their opponents until finally the ball was thrown wide and Calum Gaw crossed the line in the right corner. Morton couldn’t quite make the difficult kick and the score remained tight at 5-3.\nMark McCornick was tackled in the air from the restart and the resultant penalty gave the Reds a chance to attack once more. Newton Stewart were warmed up now and looked sharper than in the earlier exchanges. There was some fast off-loading play, with William McCornick, winger David Adams and fullback Tyrell Wilson all getting involved. The impressive move ended with a try for Mark McCornick, the conversion not quite there once again.\nAs play got underway once more it was Newton Stewart who took possession again. The forwards made some hard yards, Ferrie standing out once again along with hooker Thomas MacDonald and prop Martin Wallace. Another handling error handed the ball back to Orkney and the remainder of the first half was end to end stuff with both teams countering at every opportunity. Stand-off Jamie Muir controlled the territory battle well in this exchange with some accurate kicking.\nA scrum for Newton Stewart right on the visitors line was a great opportunity to widen their lead, however some an excellent defensive effort from Orkney left the Reds going into half-time ahead, but feeling that a few chances had been left wanting.\nThe early play after the interval was once again predominantly in Newton Stewart’s favour, but there were still a frustrating number of handling errors. An early penalty opportunity went wide again, missing the chance to stretch their lead. The substitutes bench proved their worth with prop Gavin Freeland coming on to make an impact in the scrums, whilst Connor McCaig proved a level head under pressure on the wing.\nA yellow card reduced Orkney to fourteen men and the Reds saw a chance to gain some momentum. When the visitors tried to utilise a driving maul, Freeland and back row Ewan Dewar used their strength to hold them up, and Newton Stewart were awarded a penalty as a result. The ball was thrown out to Morton who had to collect it well above his head before he ran 60 metres unopposed. Mark McCornick was once again present on his shoulder in support and received the pass before sending it on to veteran Russell Gaw who scored the try in his first appearance for the side this year.\nThere was a spate of Orkney attack now, but Newton Stewart survived it. William McCornick secured a penalty at the breakdown, allowing Morton to kick to touch and give the Reds another chance to attack.\nHaving secured the ball from the resultant lineout, Ferrie burst through the gainline once more. He made the offload to Morton, who then threw the ball wide to McCaig on the wing. The pass was a bit loose, but the young winger did well to pick it up from his feet and run in for the bonus point try. This conversion went awry once more to make the score 20-3 with a quarter of an hour to play.\nWith the restart came another attacking effort from the Reds. Orkney continued their impressively physical defensive effort, some huge hits coming in against the Newton Stewart players. McCaig resiliently got straight up after a massive tackle which made the spectators wince! Young David Gaw came on from the bench now to make his debut for the Reds, and it was cause for a greater celebration as he was playing alongside his dad Russell.\nWith a line out secured on the Orkney 5-metre line, Newton Stewart pushed forwards once more and Dewar added his name to the scoresheet with a try right by the posts. Morton made this final conversion kick to end his uncharacteristic spate of misses.\nThe final ten minutes was all Orkney. Demonstrating a good level of fitness and a dogged determination not to accept defeat, they battled on until the final whistle, scoring two tries on the way to give a final score of 27-13.\nWith a few key players missing this week, this was no easy victory. Full credit is due to Orkney who were deemed the most physical opposition they have faced so far this season.\nThis Newton Stewart side comprised many young players and they made a fine example of themselves in a difficult game. James McMiken was solid in the back row making some important tackles, McCaig held his own on the wing and Ferrie was once again dynamic in the loose. Man of the Match was reserved for Mark McCornick however who is made for physical games like these. As acting captain he led the defensive efforts, seemed to be omnipresent around the pitch and scored a try to boot. A fantastic performance.\nThere will be no competitive games now until 2nd December when Newton Stewart will host lead leaders Glasgow Accies in what promises to be a fantastic game.\nTeam: Tyrell Wilson, John Hamilton, Calum Gaw, Fraser Morton, David Adams, Jamie Muir, Robbie McCornick, Martin Wallace, Thomas MacDonald, Richard Fiskin, William McCornick, James McMiken, Mark McCornick, Ewan Dewar.\nSubs: Gavin Freeland, Russell Gaw, Connor McCaig, David Gaw.", "A last-gasp strike from Gary Oliver gave Morton a win manager Jim Duffy admitted they hardly deserved and saw them leapfrog Dunfermline to claim a place in the top four.\nAfter Michael Tidser had cancelled out Tom Beadling’s opener for the Fife visitors it looked as if the points would be shared until Oliver, pictured, pounced in stoppage time.\n“We nicked it today, there is no doubt about that, and I’m not going to shy away from that,” Duffy admitted.\n“To be honest, if it ended up a draw I wouldn’t have been too disappointed because I didn’t think we played that well.”\nMorton started well with a Gary Harkins free-kick forcing a smart early save from Robinson.\nHowever, the opener came at the other end of the park when Pars new-boy Beadling, on-loan from Sunderland, took advantage of poor defending to rifle home.\nThe Cappielow side replied before the break when Oliver nodded to Tidser who drilled a shot into the net from the edge of the area.\nDunfermline were denied almost immediately when Nicky Clark dispatched a tremendous overhead kick into the top corner but it was controversially ruled offside.\nMorton applied pressure on the restart and had two efforts cleared off the line in quick succession, Robinson clawing Luca Gasparotto’s header away before a wayward header from Pars skipper Callum Morris forced another last-ditch clearance.\nRobinson came to Dunfermline’s rescue again when he held an Oliver shot which lacked the necessary power or accuracy to trouble the in-form keeper.\nTon looked like they would grab a winner four minutes from time when new signing Frank Ross, on-loan from Aberdeen, jinked past his defender before curling an effort goalward only for Robinson to produce another excellent stop.\nBut Robinson was finally beaten again at the death when Bob McHugh outpaced Morris to a loose ball, rounded the stranded keeper and unselfishly slid the ball to strike-partner Oliver who finished easily.\nAllan Johnston, the Dunfermline manager, said: “I thought we were the only team that was going to win the game, but too many times this year – especially against Morton – we’ve been caught with a sucker punch.\n“You look at Nicky Clark’s goal in the first half, he’s three yards onside, I’ve seen it on the video and that changes everything. It’s a really poor decision.\n“I thought we were the better team so it’s a wee bit frustrating again but we’ve got to pick ourselves up.”", "Fans on social media want to know if NBC Universal is really investigating criminal accusations\nAs with many of the #metoo investigations, the Bravo/Haymaker/NBC investigation into the sexual assault and rape accusations against Thomas Ravenel, a cast member on the show Southern Charm is veiled in silence and gagged co-workers. Though fans love the show, many are growing tired of the lack of information into Ravenel’s future on the show, as it seems Bravo has fired people for far less. Many on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are wondering if it’s time to consider a boycott.\nFitsNews shared that on the surface, Bravo/NBC is keeping things very cool, but that under the surface, there is panic with what to do about the Ravenel problem. Bravo knew going into the first season of Southern Charm that Ravenel had a record and was on probation from federal cocaine charges, but at this time there is no suggestion that anything else was going on.\nOn the first week of May, Haymaker, the Southern Charm production company released a statement that they were taking the matter of the Charleston Police investigation seriously.\n“Haymaker, the production company for Southern Charm, and Bravo take allegations like these very seriously. Haymaker is conducting an investigation, and once all the information is gathered and carefully reviewed, appropriate action will be taken.”\nCocaine is a hell of a drug – Thomas Ravenel Takes on Proof in Late Night Rant https://t.co/TXl8ovyTgO via @EaterCHS — Multidimensional Luciferian Hot Dog Meat (@porknwhiskey) January 3, 2017\nSo fans waited for some update on the matter. Many were hopeful that when Kathryn Dennis and Craig Conover of Southern Charm were on WWHL with Andy Cohen, that callers might get somewhere by asking questions on the late night chat show, but as predicted, Cohen cut this off at the pass by having Kathryn and Craig both share jurist-crafted statements at the top of the show.\n“Well, I’m waiting until the investigation is complete before I comment on anything, and right now my kids are my focus.”\nAnd Conover added his bit, claiming that he knew very little anyway.\n“Yeah, all I know is what I see in the media so it really wouldn’t be right for me to say anything at this point. I’m aware – everyone else is.”\nFans think that the cast is holding out on them, but they are being kept in the dark too, and likely won’t know Ravenel’s status until he shows up or doesn’t in two weeks to shoot the show’s reunion.\nThe Charleston Police are continuing their investigation and one person who has spoken to the detectives recently say that police are concerned by how many non-disclosure agreements Ravenel has with people related to him and the show.\nSouthern Charm fans are suggesting on Twitter that Bravo wouldn’t have to look farther than social media to see evidence that Ravenel threatened women online saying he would “beat her grotesque face” for giving him a suggestion.\n“Rape accusations aside, this man is threatening women in plain sight. Does Bravo condone violence? @ Andy @ Bravotv @ WSUDLERSMITH # SouthernCharm # TheGoodOlBoysClubIsDying # BoycottSouthernCharm # ThomasRavenel # FireRavenel # TimesUp”\nOthers commented on the double standard after cast members on RHOA were dismissed for far less.\n“Let me get this straight. @ PhaedraParks gets fired for spreading rumors about drugs and rape, but @ Thomasravenel is accused of ACTUAL drugging and raping, and @ Bravotv does nothing? # doublestandards # RHOA # SouthernCharm”\nThomas Ravenel has had legal run-ins with women over the years which was documented recently, including conflicts over broken engagements to marry. Bravo and Haymaker have not indicated when they will make a decision on the future of Ravenel’s employment.", "A new type of stomach-filling balloon can help people drop pounds, and it doesn't require any surgery to place it, researchers reported Thursday.\nPatients can just swallow the deflated balloon, and doctors can use a narrow catheter to fill it with water. The balloon makes it harder to overeat.\nA study presented at the Obesity Week meeting in Los Angeles shows the \"balloon pill\" works at least as well as other stomach balloons to help people lose weight.\n\"It's a swallowable balloon, much like a large pill. People will swallow it (and) it will reside in the stomach,\" said Dr. John Morton, chief of bariatric surgery at Stanford University and president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.\n\"It then gets inflated with a very thin catheter. Roughly about half a liter of fluid goes into that balloon,\" Morton, who was not involved with the study, told NBC News.\n\"It's a swallowable balloon, much like a large pill.\"\nAfter four months, 34 patients trying out the balloon lost an average of 22 pounds, or 37 percent of their excess weight. Their cholesterol and blood sugar levels also improved - something that usually happens when people lose even a little weight.\nAs with other gastric balloons, the most common adverse events reported were nausea and vomiting.\n\"What makes the Elipse different is the fact that it is a procedure that doesn't require sedation or surgery,\" Morton said.\nThe Food and Drug Administration has approved two other gastric balloons this year: one called Orbera and one called ReShape. They are meant for people who are medically obese - meaning their body mass index (BMI) is 30 or more - who have been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise.\nBut both those devices must be inserted using an endoscope - a fairly uncomfortable procedure that usually requires sedation. And they must be removed the same way.\nThere's also a pacemaker-like device that controls appetite with pulses but which also requires surgery.\n\"The unique aspect about this Elipse balloon is that it also has the ability to dissolve and be passed out on its own without any further intervention,\" Morton said.\nIt will be several years before the new balloon has been through enough testing to get approval by the FDA. But obesity experts like Morton are happy that there are so many new options for obese Americans.\n\"It's also a new tool to help us deal with obesity, which is our biggest public health problem and we need all hands on deck -- all different types of devices and innovations that are available to us,\" he said.\n\"The cost will range anywhere from probably $6,000 to $12,000, depending on your part of the country.\"\nMore than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese and the problem is getting worse. Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other conditions.\nObesity drugs have not been greatly successful in helping people lose weight, although several are now on the market. Several more were removed from the shelves years ago after they were found to cause problems such as stroke.\nDiets have been shown to be equally bad at helping people keep off the pounds for long periods of time. But surgical procedures to shrink the stomach have been very successful. One study showed the surgery helped people to lose enough weight to reverse their type-2 diabetes.\nThe balloons were designed as a way to get the same effect - decreasing how much food the stomach can hold - without the invasive surgery.\nRight now, none of the balloons are covered by most insurance plans, Morton noted.\n\"The cost will range anywhere from probably $6,000 to $12,000, depending on your part of the country,\" he said. \"It's something that is generally out of pocket but there are other means of paying for it like health saving account. And obviously, getting some sort of treatment has got its own benefit, to be sure.\"\nBut the good news is that there are now many different possibilities for people struggling with their weight.\n\"And I would highly encourage anyone who's got a BMI over 30 to seek help and see what's available for you, because there are options and there is hope,\" Morton said.", "news\nA home on Billionaire's Beach in Malibu, California, sold for $110 million — the most expensive home sale in Los Angeles County history.\nThe cofounder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain sold the beachfront property to a natural gas billionaire.\nBillionaire's Beach is home to several notable residents, including Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison.\nPeter Morton, cofounder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain, just set a new, mind-boggling record for Los Angeles real estate.\nThe restaurateur sold his beachfront Malibu, California, home to natural gas billionaire Michael S. Smith and his wife, for $110 million, or about $15,860 per square foot. It's officially the most expensive home sale in Los Angeles County history according to the Los Angeles Times, which says the deal is expected to close Tuesday.\nThe 6,934-square foot mansion sits on the shores of Carbon Beach, a 1.5-mile stretch of sand between the iconic Pacific Coast Highway and the glistening Pacific Ocean nicknamed \"Billionaire's Beach\" as an homage to the ultra-wealthy residents who call it home.\nUp until mid-2015, the beach was largely closed off to the public. But after a decades-long, complicated legal battle between the state and homeowners, its 70-plus residences share their backyard with tourists and beachgoers from sun up to sun down.\nMalibu's previous record sale took place in 2017 when David Geffen, the billionaire founder of Asylum Records and Geffen Records and cofounder of DreamWorks, sold his Carbon Beach compound to Los Angeles Dodgers owner and Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter for $85 million.\nThe $110 million compound comes with a notable neighbor. Oracle founder Larry Ellison owns the homes on either side, just two of the 10 properties he reportedly owns on Carbon Beach.\nThe $110 million sale is only for the structure — none of the high-end furniture or Morton's expensive artwork collection is included. Set on an estimated two-thirds of an acre, the property contains two separate buildings: A main residence with four en suite bedrooms and a two-story guest house with another three en suite bedrooms. There's also a lap pool and courtyard on the property. Operable teak wood shutters surround the exterior, in addition to bronze and concrete finishes.\nNot much else is known about the home's interiors or amenities, as the deal was completed off-market between Branden and Rayni Williams of Williams & Williams Estates at Hilton & Hyland and Barry Peele of Sotheby’s International Realty.\nMorton has reportedly owned the land on Carbon Beach since the 1990s. The home was designed by architect Richard Meier and completed in 2006, the same year Morton sold the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for $770 million. A decade earlier he sold his shares in the Hard Rock Cafe for a profit of $300 million, according to the LA Times.\nThis isn't the first time Moron's real estate dealings have made headlines. In late 2012, he bought Elvis Presley's old Beverly Hills mansion for $9.8 million and renovated it before selling it off-market just one year later for $14.5 million.", "Prince William reveals the one universal thing he's allergic to during royal tour with pregnant Kate Middleton in surprising admission to fans PRINCE William made royal fans laugh when he revealed he is allergic to one universal thing.\nBritain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge [Getty]\nPrince William made royal fans laugh when he revealed he is allergic to one universal thing.\nKate Middleton's husband shared his secret allergy with his Scandinavian fans during his royal tour of Norway and Sweden.\nDuring a walk around a snow-covered park in Oslo with Norway's Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the 33 year old heir to the throne was asked to take a selfie picture.\nPrince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway [Getty]\n\"I'm allergic to selfies,\" he told royal follower Kristen.\nThe gentleman royal didn’t want to let his fan down, and suggested they pose for a traditional photo instead.\n\"I’m just so excited, this is amazing. I've been waiting here for hours and didn't think he would stop, I'm so glad he posed for a picture,\" Kirsten revealed.\nPrince William's transformation: Kate Middleton's husband through the years in ... Thursday, January 18, 2018 1 / 18\n/\nPlay slideshow Prince William's transformation: Kate Middleton's husband through the years in ... Thursday, January 18, 2018 1 / 18\n/\nPlay slideshow Prince steps out with a shaved head in 2018 for a visit to a Children's Hospital in London [Getty]\nPrince William's transformation over the years as we look back at Kate Middleton's husband through the years – click here to see the pictures\nCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge [Getty]\nKate greets fans [Getty]\nPrince Harry has also moaned about our selfie culture in the past, and said people need to \"get out\" of the habit.\nAsked if he enjoyed taking pictures with fans, he said: “I hate selfies.\n\"Seriously, you need to get out of it (the habit).\"\nPrince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge [Getty]\n\"I know you're young, selfies are bad. Just take a normal photograph!\"\nWhat’s more, the Queen has shared her opinion of the craze for photos, and told US Ambassador Matthew Barzun that the monarch finds it uncomfortable walking past a crowd of people with their phones sticking up in the air.\nHe told Tatler: \"She was essentially saying: 'I miss eye contact'.\"", "(Reuters) - Influential U.S. magazine Consumer Reports said on Wednesday that it now recommended Tesla Inc’s Model 3 sedan after its latest tests showed that a firmware update improved the car’s braking distance by nearly 20 feet.\nFILE PHOTO: A man cleans a Tesla Model 3 car during a media preview at the Auto China 2018 motor show in Beijing, China April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo\nThe magazine last week flagged “big flaws” in the car, including braking slower than a full-sized pickup truck, while also highlighting many positives.\nTesla shares rose 2.5 percent to $290.80 on Wednesday after the report.\nThe Model 3 sedan is seen as crucial to Tesla’s profitability at a time when it is battling to reverse production shortfalls, confronting reports of crashes involving its vehicles and facing increased skepticism over its finances.\nThe update improved the Model 3’s overall score enough for a recommendation, said Consumer Reports, which had also raised other concerns such as the car’s wind noise, stiff ride and uncomfortable rear seat.\n\"Really appreciate the high quality critical feedback from @ConsumerReports. Road noise & ride comfort already addressed too. UI improvements coming via remote software update later this month,\" Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said in a tweet here in response to the report.\nDuring the retest, Consumer Reports found that Model 3 stopped at 133 feet from 60 mph, matching Tesla’s earlier claims on the car’s braking distance.\nMusk had acknowledged the brake issue last week, saying that the magazine’s tests had used two early versions of the car and that a firmware update could improve braking distance beyond initial specs.\nJake Fisher, director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports, said he had never seen a car that could improve its track performance with an over-the-air update in his 19-year career at the magazine.\nConsumer Reports said it would test another Model 3, after Musk told the magazine that the electric car maker had already made changes to address the three other issues flagged in its initial report.", "HOUSTON (AP) — Charlie Morton and three relievers combined for a five-hitter, Jose Altuve drove in two runs and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Monday night for their fifth straight win.\nMorton (1-1) worked in and out of trouble over five innings, allowing five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He had runners on in every inning, including stranding the bases loaded in the second when he got Ben Revere to fly out. Morton has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts this season.\nChris Devenski followed Morton with two perfect innings, Luke Gregerson threw a perfect eighth and Ken Giles pitched the ninth for his third save. Astros pitchers retired the last 14 batters.\nJesse Chavez (1-2) allowed two runs and seven hits over a season-high seven innings. He struck out five and rebounded after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last outing.\nAltuve had a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 in the third and hit an RBI double in the eighth. Alex Bregman had an RBI single in the second.\nMike Trout and Martin Maldonado each had two hits for the Angels, who stranded nine runners and were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. The Angels, who have lost six straight, were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since July 28-29, 2012, against Tampa Bay.\nTRAINING ROOM\nAstros: SS Carlos Correa (right hand bruise) was not in the starting lineup after being hit by a pitch Saturday in Oakland. Manager A.J. Hinch called Correa day to day. “Initially we planned on playing him,” Hinch said. “We got back last night after the long flight and he felt OK. He woke up this morning, didn’t feel great, still some lingering soreness. It’s a fairly easy decision if he has as much soreness as he has to give him another day off.”\nUP NEXT\nAngels: RHP Ricky Nolasco (0-2) makes his fourth start of the season Tuesday in the second game of the four-game series. Nolasco lost his last start Thursday, allowing five runs on eight hits, but he is 4-0 with a 2.53 ERA in five games at Minute Maid Park.\nAstros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-0) takes the mound for his third start Tuesday. Musgrove will be looking for his second straight win after allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings his last start Apr. 11 at Seattle.", "Days of Our Lives spoilers tease it will be a tumultuous week for Salem.\nOn Monday, Rafe, Hope, and Hattie will all sit down to hear out Anna’s story. At the same time, Carrie and Roman will also be curious as to what Anna has to say to them.\nTuesday spoilers suggest Rafe and Eli will spot someone in the security footage. To their surprise, the person who is carrying Tony’s urn turns out to be Gabi. This will make them suspicious as to why she is in the footage and how she is involved in the investigation.\nMeanwhile, JJ will ask Kayla for a favor. He requests that she put in a good word for him with the EMT team at the hospital. Changing careers after all the chaos seems to be a good idea especially now that he thinks he will finally settle down while waiting for his child to be born.\nDays of Our Lives spoilers for Thursday spells doom. It seems like Steve will collapse. John’s poison is doing its job. Unless someone puts a stop to John’s actions or figure out why he became someone who poisons his best friend, Steve will kick the bucket.\nFortunately, Paul and Will are going to follow John and catch him receiving vials from an unknown man. The duo will split to get to the bottom of this issue with Will tailing John and Paul shadowing the man who provided the poison.\nFriday is a grim episode, at least for Gabi. Days of Our Lives spoilers tease she will be taken into custody.\nIn the latest #DAYS, Andre's funeral is interrupted by an unexpected guest.https://t.co/70zOJaOWU0 pic.twitter.com/BXjqISkgZV — Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) February 3, 2018\nHead writer Ron Carlivati previews the episode saying that things are not looking good for Gabi, and while being arrested she will continue insisting it was not her and she was being framed.\nWhile Gabi insists on her innocence, Days of Our Lives spoilers from She Knows show that there will be a confrontation between Will and John. The episode preview for next week reveals John and Will’s heated confrontation. John will lead Will to the DiMera mausoleum, and it seems like a gunshot will be fired during the altercation.\nDays of Our Lives spoilers tease another cliffhanger on Feb. 9. Gabi and Will’s fate will hang in the balance.", "They normally get on like a house on fire but Richard Arnold appeared to be feeling a little ratty with Kate Garraway when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday.\nTalking about Robbie Williams, who is set to appear on Let It Shine, he said: 'Not only will he be joining his old bandmates for a sing-song, he will be joining them as a guest judge.'\n'Robbie said, \"I am really looking forward to joining Gary, Mark and Howard on stage,\" adding that the final will be shown on 25th February.'\nScroll down for video\n'Are you listening to what I'm saying?' Richard Arnold snapped at Kate Garraway during a segment on the Take That reunion during a very awkward interview on GMB on Wednesday\nTalking about Robbie Williams, who is set to appear on Let It Shine, Richard told the girls: 'Not only will he be joining his old bandmates for a sing-song, he will be joining them as a guest judge'\nThe winners of the competition will appear in a West End show which will be loosely based on the lives of a boy band like Take That.\nKate asked: 'Was Robbie a guest judge on X Factor? I know he performed on the show.'\nRichard replied: 'You're tugging on a thread there. He's done the judge's houses....'\n'Robbie said: \"I am really looking forward to joining Gary, Mark and Howard on stage,\" adding that the final will be shown on 25th February'\nBig show: The winners of the competition will appear in a West End show which will be loosely based on the lives of a boy band like Take That\n'I think he would be good...' Kate interrupted.'\n'Are you listening to what I am saying?' he said.\n'Yes, he did judge's houses,' Kate responded.\nAs the interview continued, she pulled an awkward grimace as she clearly felt a little embarrassed.\nAwkward: When Kate pressed Richard on whether or not Robbie ever did judge's houses on X Factor, he said: 'Are you listening to what I am saying?'\nNot happy: Kate pulled a grimace afterwards after Richard tried to put her in her place\nReally not impressed: She gave him daggers after his harsh words\nThe Sun previously wrote about the Robbie reunion rumours earlier in the month.\nGary Barlow, 46, is said to have masterminding the get-together to boost ratings for his BBC One singing show - but reportedly hadn't bothered asking Jason Orange back.\n'Robbie seems very keen to get on board, so things are looking good. But in the end, Gary decided not to even ask Jason,' a source told the paper." ]

[ "University of Nebraska" ]

[ "DID", "Did Not Finish", "plays", "Did It for the Party", "play", "Where's the beef?", "Where Is the Love?", "Play On", "JP Did This 1", "Where's Waldo?", "Playing with Fire", "Play age", "where they terminate", "Simpsons Already Did It", "musical play", "Where Are the Children", "Play No Games", "No pass, no play", "Playing in the Shadows", "I Did It for Love", "The Play of Adam", "The Play of the Weather", "play song", "SoMa Play", "The Band Played On", "Price to Play", "squeeze play", "triple play", "Parallel play", "Play Dead", "medal play", "halt in the play" ]

[ "Asbel Kiprop, who had briefly threatened to make it a Kenyan clean sweep, found the pace too hot on the last lap, fading into ninth place in 3:37.24. (Source: Reuters) Asbel Kiprop, who had briefly threatened to make it a Kenyan clean sweep, found the pace too hot on the last lap, fading into ninth place in 3:37.24. (Source: Reuters)\nAsbel Kiprop failed in his bid for a fourth consecutive 1,500 metres gold medal at the World Championships on Sunday – but Kenya still celebrated a dazzling one-two with new champion Elijah Manangoi leading home his friend Timothy Cheruiyot.\nManangoi, the fastest man in the world this year, sped past his young training partner on the home straight of the last individual track event to take the title in 3 minutes 33.61 seconds, just ahead of Cheruiyot (3:33.99).\nKiprop, who had briefly threatened to make it a Kenyan clean sweep, found the pace too hot on the last lap, fading into ninth place in 3:37.24.\nIt was a fairly tame attempt to emulate the four straight metric mile world golds of Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj from the enigmatic 28-year-old Kiprop, who had one of his off-days.\nNorway’s European champion Filip Ingebrigtsen snatched the bronze, throwing himself across the line to just oust Spain’s Adel Mechaal for the medal by 0.18 seconds in 3:34.53.\nManangoi’s first major title had come with a little help from the master Kiprop, from whom he reckoned he had learned so much over the years.\nTwo years ago in Beijing, Manangoi had burst through from fifth to second over the last 20 metres to take the silver behind Kiprop.\nYet after a barren Olympic year in 2016 when he suffered from illness and injury, the 24-year-old looked rejuvenated this year, coming into the championships off the back of a fine win in the Monaco Diamond League meeting.\n“We have had very good champions in the event over the years so it is a proud moment for me to win this title for my country,” he said.\nYet though he may not have realised it, for all of Kenya’s rich background in the event, only Manangoi and Kiprop have won the world metric mile title for their country. The Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat won for the USA in 2007.\n“I knew I was in pretty good form and thought I could make the podium but to win this gold is wonderful,” added Manangoi.\nAll the hard work for his victory, though, had been carved out by the 21-year-old Kenyan champion Cheruiyot, who took up the running on the second lap and stretched out the field to breaking point with a couple of 56-second laps.\nWith the three Kenyans in a line on the final back straight, Ingebrigtsen muscled his way into contention and, as Kiprop began to struggle as he has done too often this summer, it became a two-man duel between his less heralded compatriots.\nWith 50 metres left, Manangoi finally battled his way past for gold while Ingebrigtsen toppled over the line as he felt the fast-finishing Mechaal coming up close behind.\n“It was just such a good race and I’m so pleased to be a world champion. I had a difficult race as Timothy (Cheruiyot) raced very well but I had that extra strength,” said Manangoi.\nCheruiyot added: “I am happy we [the Kenyan athletes] prepared well for this. Me and Elijah train together and he is my friend, so I am happy for him and for me.”\nFor all the latest Sports News, download Indian Express App" ]

[ "LONDON (Reuters) - Asbel Kiprop failed in his bid for a fourth consecutive 1,500 metres gold medal at the World Championships on Sunday - but Kenya still celebrated a dazzling one-two with new champion Elijah Manangoi leading home his friend Timothy Cheruiyot.\nManangoi, the fastest man in the world this year, sped past his young training partner on the home straight of the last individual track event to take the title in 3 minutes 33.61 seconds, just ahead of Cheruiyot (3:33.99).\nKiprop, who had briefly threatened to make it a Kenyan clean sweep, found the pace too hot on the last lap, fading into ninth place in 3:37.24.\nIt was a fairly tame attempt to emulate the four straight metric mile world golds of Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj from the enigmatic 28-year-old Kiprop, who had one of his off-days.\nNorway's European champion Filip Ingebrigtsen snatched the bronze, throwing himself across the line to just oust Spain's Adel Mechaal for the medal by 0.18 seconds in 3:34.53.\nManangoi's first major title had come with a little help from the master Kiprop, from whom he reckoned he had learned so much over the years.\nTwo years ago in Beijing, Manangoi had burst through from fifth to second over the last 20 metres to take the silver behind Kiprop.\nYet after a barren Olympic year in 2016 when he suffered from illness and injury, the 24-year-old looked rejuvenated this year, coming into the championships off the back of a fine win in the Monaco Diamond League meeting.\nAthletics - World Athletics Championships – Men's 1500 metres heats – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 10, 2017 – Alija Motoneu Manangoi and Asbel Kiprop of Kenya react Lucy Nicholson\n\"We have had very good champions in the event over the years so it is a proud moment for me to win this title for my country,\" he said.\nYet though he may not have realised it, for all of Kenya's rich background in the event, only Manangoi and Kiprop have won the world metric mile title for their country. The Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat won for the USA in 2007.\nAthletics - World Athletics Championships - men's 1500 metres semi-final – London Stadium, London, Britain - August 11, 2017 - Filip Ingebrigtsen of Norway, Asbel Kiprop and Elijah Motonei Manangoi of Kenya compete. John Sibley\n\"I knew I was in pretty good form and thought I could make the podium but to win this gold is wonderful,\" added Manangoi.\nAll the hard work for his victory, though, had been carved out by the 21-year-old Kenyan champion Cheruiyot, who took up the running on the second lap and stretched out the field to breaking point with a couple of 56-second laps.\nWith the three Kenyans in a line on the final back straight, Ingebrigtsen muscled his way into contention and, as Kiprop began to struggle as he has done too often this summer, it became a two-man duel between his less heralded compatriots.\nWith 50 metres left, Manangoi finally battled his way past for gold while Ingebrigtsen toppled over the line as he felt the fast-finishing Mechaal coming up close behind.\n\"It was just such a good race and I'm so pleased to be a world champion. I had a difficult race as Timothy (Cheruiyot) raced very well but I had that extra strength,\" said Manangoi.\nCheruiyot added: \"I am happy we [the Kenyan athletes] prepared well for this. Me and Elijah [Manangoi] train together and he is my friend, so I am happy for him and for me.\"", "Beating Caster Semenya is almost next to impossible. Since the second half of 2015 and after the Rio Olympics, Semenya hasn’t lost an 800 metres race.\nOnce the Bolt mania was over, one could look forward to a race where an upset was almost impossible. It could have happened, if someone had bull-dozed Caster Semenya or sent her to the wrong stadium. But for almost 40 seconds in the latter part of the second lap, you couldn't be faulted for thinking, Gosh! It might happen.\nSince the second half of 2015 and after the Rio Olympics, Semenya hasn't lost an 800 metres race. Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba did some excellent front running. But when you have Semenya somewhere at the back, 3-4 runners behind, you kind of feel more terrified. She can either come from the right or the left, you don't know and just when you think and feel and see that finish line like a prison boundary wall, Caster go past you like a Ferrari.\nSemenya doesn't like front running. She waits, waits till the last minute, till the ones in front kind of become comfortable and then she pushes the pace. But thanks to Niyonsaba's early pace, Semenya's time of 1:55.16 was the fastest this year. Niyonsaba's first 200 metres was a fiery 27.08 but by the time the lap was done, the pace had lessened. With the bell going, the front runners were Niyonsaba, Ajee Wilson and Kenya's Olympic bronze medallist Margaret Wambui. At the fourth spot was Britain's Lynsey Sharp. Caster sat at fifth, running comfortably.\nWith 250 metres left, the pace increased. Niyonsaba was pushing everybody out of their comfort zone, trying to gauge who would make their move. And the moment, the others felt that they had pulled the ace out of their packs, Caster made her move. Wambui didn't last while Caster moved clear of the others and in the last ten metres, she ran away with the gold. Wilson took the bronze and Niyonsaba the silver.\nSemenya later praised the fans: \"I just love you guys,\" she said over the stadium speakers. \"It feels like home in London. There are such fantastic people here. Beautiful. I'm lucky to have a great support team who work with me. Full credit to them. Another world title is a fantastic honour for me and I love to do it here in London. The crowd are so welcoming to me and it makes it feel even more special.\"\nNiyonsaba paid tribute to Semenya, \"I am very emotional now. I congratulate Caster Semenya. I would like to beat her. Everything is possible.\"\nAfter a very slow pace in the initial part of the women's 5,000 metres, Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana cut loose. The fourth lap was a fast 65.57, followed by 66.21 for the fifth lap. Yet, it didn't break down Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obiri who stuck to her heels while the rest got left behind and ran a different race. There were more 68-second laps but Obiri was holding her own. Ayana sensed her back constantly.\nOn the last lap, with around 300 metres to go, Obiri with a little more gas in the tank, streaked ahead and didn't stop. The Kenyan crossed the line in 14:34.87 to secure her first big title.\n\"I was telling myself to go. I could see Ayana was not going so I thought, 'why not?' So I said, 'go'. I am mentally strong so I knew I was capable,\" said Obiri. \"When I crossed the line I was extremely happy, and just wanted to celebrate. All my emotions came out. I wanted the 5,000 metres gold a lot.\"\nThe initial lead helped Ayana keep the fast-finishing Sifan Hassan away. \"Compared to Rio this is a bigger achievement,\" she said. \"I've had many injuries this year so I am very happy with two medals. I have been injured for the whole season and haven't been able to get over it. The pain came back after the 10,000m. I did my best today but Hellen was too good at finishing.\"\nIn the 1500 metres, it looked like a 1-2-3 for Kenya. They were strong initially and set quite a pace for the others. Timothy Cheruiyot was the early leader and along with Elijah Motonei Manangoi they sped through the first lap with Great Britain's Chris O'Hare and Czech Republic's Jakub Holusa on their heels. Asbel Kiprop, winner of the last three titles moved into third place with only two laps to go.\nMeanwhile, Norway's Filip Ingebrigtsen moved ahead and joined the Kenyan's. On the last lap, Spain's Adel Mechaal and Bahrain's Sadik Mikhou also made their bids. Suddenly the race was open. Cheruiyot and Manangoi held onto the first two places. Kiprop couldn't take the pace. Ingebrigtsen now in third place didn't have enough to push for the top two as the Kenyans crossed the line with Manangoi taking gold in 3:33.61 followed by Cheruiyot.\nRead More", "LONDON - Athletics greats Allyson Felix and Caster Semenya lit up the track to bring the curtain down on the world championships in great style on Sunday. However, not for the first time, but certainly the last as an athlete, Usain Bolt stole the show.\nRetiring superstar Bolt put on one last appearance, the 100m and 200m world record-holder accorded a lap of honour in front of the 60,000 spectators who stayed on after the finals were over.\n\"It's been a rough couple of days, and this is a very emotional moment for me,\" said the 30-year-old Jamaican referring to his dramatic collapsing to the track with cramp in the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay final 24 hours earlier. \"I always tried my best and gave 100 percent all the time and above all put on a good show.\"\nBolt then went on a lap of honour to the tune of \"Reggae Nights\" raising his arms and applauding the crowd, embracing his parents on the track and then finishing with a final flourish of his trademark 'lightning bolt' stance not once but twice. On the track, Felix ran a stunning leg in 48.7seconds in the women's 4x400 metres relay to set the United States up for an easy victory and take her record world medals tally to 16, two ahead of retired Jamaican duo Merlene Ottey and Bolt.\n\"It does mean so much to me every time,\" Felix said when asked whether medals motivated her. \"I love this sport. I'm grateful to run with these amazing girls. They work so hard and deserve all their success. It's an honour to run in the relay for Team USA and I will always treasure these moments.\"\nSouth African star Semenya, who seems to block out all the debate about whether she should be running or not, added a third 800m crown to her tally to put her alongside another African great Maria Mutola as the only women to have won the title three times.\nSemenya hinted that it would now be time to tackle the world record of 1:53.28 set by Jarmila Kratochvilova back in 1983. \"We need to clear 1:55 first and it will require a lot of hard training. I have Olympic, world and Commonwealth titles now so maybe it is time to target the world record,\" said Semenya, whose last defeat in the event dates back to 2015. \"It's the next thing on the list. I know it will be difficult but I will have to attempt soon, maybe.\"\nKenya enjoyed a successful final blast with Hellen Obiri comprehensively denying Alamaz Ayana a double gold as the 27-year-old Kenyan burnt the 10,000m champion for pace down the back straight of the final lap to ease to the 5,000m title. Her compatriot Elijah Manangoi led home a 1-2 in the 1500m to turn his silver from 2015 into gold this time round but Asbel Kiprop never looked at the races for a fourth successive title and finished down the field in ninth.\n\"It was just such a good race and I'm so pleased to be a world champion. I had a difficult race as Timothy (Cheruiyot who is also his training partner) raced very well but I had that extra strength,\" said 24-year-old Manangoi. \"We have had very good champions in the event over the years so it is a proud moment for me to win this title for my country.\"\nThe Americans may have dominated the 10-day competition but there was to be no final flourish as Trinidad and Tobago's men's 4x400m relay team ran superbly to take the gold and bring the curtain down on a championships that never failed to surprise.", "London, Aug 14 (IANS) Yang Jiayu won the women's 20km race walk to earn China their second gold medal at the IAAF World Championships while American Allyson Felix took her 11th world career gold medal.\nUsain Bolt, who suffered a shock injury in the men's 4x100m relay, stole the highlight again as he appeared on the track on Sunday night and was presented with a framed piece of the London 2012 Olympic track by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Sebastian Coe and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, reports Xinhua news agency.\nHe then walked a lap of honour to the roar of the sell-out crowd of 70,000 at the London Olympic Stadium. The emotional Jamaican super star waved to fans and finally struck a few trademark poses.\nYang's victory in her first world championships surprised all including her better-known teammate Lyu Xiuzhi, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist and Beijing worlds runner-up. Lyu, apparently eager to catch up, was disqualified metres from the finish line.\n\"I feel really excited,\" said Yang. \"I started race walking at the age of 14. Now I hope to be the future of race walking in China.\"\nEarlier, in the women's 50km walk, a pair of unknown Chinese athletes became the surprising medallists as Yin Hang won the silver in an Asian record time of 4:08:58 and Yang Shuqing set a personal best of 4:20:49 to bag the bronze.\nThe three walkers helped China climb to fifth on the final medal standings with two golds, three silvers and one bronze, behind the United States (10-11-9), Kenya (5-2-4), South Africa (3-1-2) and France (3-0-2).\nFelix, 31, clocked 48.7 seconds in the second lap to lead the US quartet to the title in the women's 4x400m relay. Of her 16 world medals, 11 have been gold, while nine in total were won as part of the US relay team and seven individually. She has also won nine Olympic medals including six golds.\nElsewhere, Kenya's Hellen Obiri upset defending champion Almaz Ayana to win 5,000m gold. Kenya also finished a one-two in the men's 1500m as Elijah Manangoi held off Timothy Cheruiyot.\nMutaz Barshim, Qatar's Olympic silver medallist, won the men's high jump gold with a jump of 2.35m. Russia's Danil Lysenko took silver ahead of Syria's Majd Eddin Ghazal in third.\nDouble Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia claimed the women's discus gold medal with a throw of 70.31m.\nSouth Africa's Caster Semenya, the Olympic champion, won easily the women's 800m in a personal best one minute 55.16 seconds, the fastest time in the world for nine years.\n--IANS\najb/dg", "LONDON >> Allyson Felix earned a second gold medal on Sunday and highlighted the overwhelming performance of the United States at the 10-day world championships.\nIn doing so, Felix made sure she became the most decorated athlete in the history of the event — and that includes Usain Bolt.\nFelix won gold in the 4x400-meter relay a day after winning the same color medal in the 4x100 relay. She also earned a bronze medal in the 400-meter race to give her 16 in her career. Bolt finished his career with 14.\n“It’s an honor to run in the relay for Team USA,” said Felix, who won her first medals at the 2005 worlds in Helsinki.\nIn a world championship of upsets right up to the last event, Trinidad and Tobago beat the United States in the men’s 4x400, producing only a little dent in an all-powerful performance.\nThe Americans finished with 30 medals, 10 of them gold. That was only one short of the overall record held by East Germany.\nBolt, however, will leave London without a gold medal. Running at his last major championship this week, the Jamaican got a royal farewell from the 60,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday as they cheered his famed “To The World” pose.\n“It was brilliant,” said Bolt, who pulled up in his last race as he was running anchor in the 4x100 relay. “Everything happens for a reason.”\nKenya was the only other team to break into double figures with 11 medals overall.\nThe African nation got two more gold on the final day with Hellen Obiri winning the 5,000 and Elijah Manangoi leading a 1-2 Kenyan finish in the men’s 1,500.\nBolt gave Jamaica gold medals and chutzpah for a decade, but his farewell only produced a bronze in the 100 meters. Jamaica slumped to four medals this year, compared to 12 only two years ago.\nThe world championships also got its only world record on Sunday, and it was in the only new event — the women’s 50-kilometer walk.\nInes Henriques of Portugal bettered her own mark by finishing in 4 hours, 5 minutes, 56 seconds on the two-kilometer loop in central London. Only seven women started the race and only four finished.\nOn the track, the most overwhelming performance came from the U.S. women. They won the 4x400 relay by about 50 meters. Britain took silver and Poland got bronze.\nBesides Felix, 400 champion Phyllis Francis also won a second gold medal.\nAdvertisement\nMutaz Essa Barshim won the world high jump title by clearing 2.35 meters without a miss. The Qatari will get a chance to defend his title at home in 2019 when the world championships are in Doha.\nTwo-time Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic won the discus with a throw of 70.31 meters, well ahead of silver medalist Dani Stevens of Australia. She set a continental record with a throw of 69.64 meters.\nCaster Semenya won her third world title in the 800 meters, using her finishing kick to sweep past the competition in the finishing straight and win with ease over Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi. She gave South Africa its third gold of the championships.\nIn the 5,000, Obiri ran away from favorite Almaz Ayana with 250 meters to go to deny the Ethiopian a long-distance double. She won in 14:34.86.", "London, Aug 14 (IANS) The United States topped the medals table at the IAAF World Championships with 10 golds, but the mega biennial event fittingly climaxed with yet another upset result in the men's 4x400m with Trinidad & Tobago claiming the title.\nThe Americans also took 11 silver and nine bronze for a total of 31 medals. Kenya were second with five gold, two silver and four bronze. They were followed by South Africa with three gold, one silver and two bronze.\nThe United States were looking to defend their crown in the men's 4x400m and close out the programme on Sunday night with their seventh successive title in this event.\nHowever, it became clear that they were missing the injured LaShawn Merritt -- who anchored their quartet to a narrow win over Trinidad and Tobago at the last World Championships in 2015.\nIn a reversal of the outcome in 2015, Lalonde Gordon overhauled world finalist Fred Kerley of the US on the anchor leg to gift Trinidad & Tobago the gold with a time of 2 minutes and 58.12 seconds. The Americans had to be content with silver at 2:58.61.\nThe women's 4x400m final played out exactly as expected with Phyllis Francis anchors the USA to gold 3:19.02 ahead of Britain (3:25.00) and Poland (3:25.41).\nThis was the United States' 10th gold medal of the championships and the 11th of their star runner Allyson Felix's career. After running the second leg of their gold medal-winning 4x100m team on Saturday evening, Felix had become the most bemedalled athlete in World Championships history with 16 medals. After claiming her second title of the championships in the 4x400m, Felix has matched Jamaican legend Usain Bolt's haul of 11 gold medals.\nBut while Bolt bowed out of competition at this championships, it is full steam ahead to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo for Felix.\nIn the men's 50km racewalk, 39-year-old Yohann Diniz of France became the oldest man to win a gold medal in World Championships history.\nThe world record-holder required an unscheduled early race pit stop but he quickly slotted himself back into the leading pack, although not for too long. By the 10-kilometre checkpoint, Diniz was already 40 seconds clear of the pursuers and his lead had doubled over the course of the next 10-kilometre segment.\nDiniz only resumed full training as recently as June after sustaining broken ribs in a car accident but he still crossed the finish line in a championship record of 3:33:12, a time second only to his world record of 3:32:33.\nThe first edition of the women's 50km race walk at the World Championships was capped with a world record from Ines Henriques of Portugal.\nHenriques, who clocked 4:08:26 earlier this season, ended up finishing two minutes inside that time, crossing the finish line in 4:05:56 ahead of China's Yin Hang who created a new Asian record of 4:08:58.\nInes Henriques in the 50km race walk at the IAAF World Championships London 2017 (Getty Images)\nIn contrast to the 50km, both 20km races went down to the wire. China looked on course for another brace of medals in the women's race with Yang Jiayu winning in 1:26:18 by one second ahead of Mexico's Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez but disaster struck for Liu Xiuzhi, disqualified on the purple carpet leading into the finish. Italy's Antonella Palmisano was the beneficiary, taking bronze in 1:26:36.\nThe men's 20km race walk was another see-saw affair which saw the medal positions change constantly in the last five kilometres. Eider Arevalo of Colombia won gold in a national record of 1:18:53 ahead of the teenaged Sergei Shirobokov of Russia (1:18:55) and Brazil's Caio Bonfim (1:19:04).\nKenya continued their domination of the men's 1,500 metres event with Elijah Motonei Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot taking the top two spots on the podium.\nManangoi won the gold medal with a time of 3 minutes and 33.61 seconds on Sunday night. Cheruiyot, who gave his compatriot a tough fight during the sprint on the final stretch, narrowly missed out on the top spot and had to be content with the silver.\nCheruiyot was just 0.38 second behind the winner, finishing with a time of 3:33.99. Filip Ingebrigtsen of Norway finished in 3:34.53 to take home the bronze medal.\nIt was the third time in the past four World Championships that Kenyan athletes had filled the top two spots in the men's 1500m.\nRead More", "LONDON — Usain Bolt took a last leisurely stroll around the track, placed his hands over his heart and then pointed toward the stands, where barely a soul had left.\nThe running had been over for nearly 30 minutes. As always, though, Bolt had a way of making everybody stay.\nThe world championships came to a melancholy close Sunday with an on-track tribute to the man who made the sport fun again. There were 11 gold medals at stake on a frenetic final day in London, and yet it was the sight of the hobbled champion walking slowly around the track — stopping to kneel at the starting lines for the 100- and 200-meter races he dominated for a decade — that made for the evening's best theatre.\n\"I think I almost cried,\" Bolt said. \"I was just saying goodbye. That was it. Saying goodbye to my events. Saying goodbye to everything.\"\nThe United States says goodbye to London in possession of 30 medals, the most it has ever taken from the worlds. Of those, 10 were gold, including the capper in the women's 4×400 relay final, where Allyson Felix won her 16th medal to finish as the most-decorated athlete of all-time at the worlds.\nFelix also won gold in the 4×100 relay, but the bronze she took in her only individual event, the 400, makes this a less-than-perfect trip for her.\nRecommended Stories For You\nIn that way, she's got something in common with Bolt. Between the bronze medal in the 100 and the hamstring pull and tumble to the track that ended his anchor leg of the 4×100 relay — and still made him wince when he had to negotiate big steps around the stadium — the championships went nothing like he planned.\n\"Someone tried to blame me, and said I started it,\" Bolt said of a 10-day run filled with upsets and surprises. \"It was just one of those things. It was one of those championships where everything does not go your way.\"\nWinners on the final day included:\n• Caster Semenya of South Africa, who added the 800-meter gold to her 1,500-meter bronze from earlier in the meet.\n• Elijah Manangoi, who led a 1-2 Kenyan finish in the 1,500 meters.\n• Hellen Obiri of Kenya, who pulled away from favorite Almaz Ayana with 250 meters to go to win the 5,000-meter race.\n• Sandra Perkovic of Croatia, who added this latest discus title to her two Olympic golds.\n• Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, who won the high jump by clearing 2.35 meters without a miss.\n• The men's 4×400 relay team of Trinidad and Tobago, whose anchor, Lalonde Gordon, beat American sprinter Fred Kerley to the line.\n• Yang Jiayu of China, Yohann Diniz of France, Eider Arevalo of Colombia and Ines Henriques of Portugal in race walking. Henriques set a world record in winning the first women's 50-kilometer walk at the worlds in 4 hours, 5 minutes, 56 seconds.\nThere's not a household name in the bunch, and though all the performances were remarkable in their own way, this sport's lack of star power with Bolt out of the mix is hard to gloss over.\n\"What we're going to miss about Usain Bolt isn't the three back-to-back Olympic Games or the clutch of world records and medals,\" said Sebastian Coe, the leader of track's governing body, the IAAF. \"It's because he has an opinion. He has a view. He fills a room. We have terrific talent that's identifying itself at these championships. But that's not the same as filling that void, and we have to work at that.\"\nBolt's standing-room-only news conference was scheduled for 15 minutes but went about 35. He discussed his past, the future and the sport he leaves behind.\nHe said over the long term, he could see himself coaching track and occasionally stepping into the TV booth for the sport's biggest events. His immediate plans? \"I need to go out and have a drink,\" he said.\nAsked one more time about doping, he said he thinks track is on an upward trajectory after two dispiriting years involving a doping scandal in Russia and problems across Africa and in his own country, Jamaica.\n\"I've proven to the world that you can do it, that you can be great without doping,\" he said. \"Hopefully young athletes can look at me.\"\nAs far as a comeback is concerned, he insists it simply won't happen.\n\"I've seen too many people retire and come back and make it worse and shame themselves,\" he said. \"I personally feel I won't be one of those people.\"\nBut he has no regrets about running in this meet, or concerns that the results will tarnish his legacy. In a way, he said, the jaw-dropping losses were similar to the breathtaking wins: They showed that when he's on the track, anything really is possible.\n\"For me, it was brilliant,\" he said of the week that was. \"I'm just really sad I have to walk away now.\"\n———\nMore AP track coverage: https://www.apnews.com/tag/London2017", "Shares\nNAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 18 – Long-serving national women’s volleyball team setter Janet Wanja has retired from international volleyball.\nThe announcement brings to an end over 17 years illustrious career decorated with several accolades with the national team as a setter.\n“I am done with the national team,” said Wanja who earned her first call up to the national team in 2000 during the Summer Olympics while still in high school.\nWithin these 17-years, the legendary Wanja cut herself a part as the poster lady of the squad, a run which ended today, April 17, 2017 with five Africa Nations Championships, three All African Games and World Grand Prix title in 2025- a first for an Africa team and five appearances at the World Championships with the African Queens.\n“For now I am still playing for my club, Kenya Pipeline but for the national team, I am done. I will not go even if I receive a call up,” added the former Mukumu Girls alumna and one of the few Kenyan Volleyball players to have passed through a structured academy-Kahawa Youth Volleyball Club.\n“We had been told earlier that our services will not be needed in the national team and I don’t want to rub shoulders with other people.”\nBut even as she depart the scene, Wanja, 33, has however, raised the red flag on the bleak future of Kenya volleyball and at the same time, challenged the young players to raise their standards if Kenya is to find somebody who fill in the huge galley she will be leaving behind.\n“Majority of these young players like easy life,” continued Wanja.\n“They don’t want to train hard to rightfully earn their positions in the squad and my fear is, when I retire and Wacu (Jane) follows, our team will struggle,” cautioned Wanja who formed a formidable partnership with her Kenya Prisons counterpart, Wacu, the most recognizable pairs in the national team.\nIf she hold to her word, Wanja will leave a big gap right at the heart of the team that will be missing this year’s World Grand Prix due to lack of funds.\n“As much as we want young players to come in, if they will not put in enough effort in training and have that self discipline, then we’ll not go far. To those saying that we are old just because we’ve played for so many years for the national team, they should also challenge these young players to work hard to earn their positions, not being favoured just because they are young. Age is just a number,” she advised.\n“Even though many people are criticising coaches that they are not doing enough to recruit young players, for me we have so many young players, the right height but in my opinion, are pampered and don’t know the meaning of hard work.”\nAt the same time, Wanja termed the withdrawal of Malkia Strikers from the Grand Prix as ‘sad’\n“It is sad for the young players because this was their chance to get that much needed exposure. If we start missing such chances, then it’s so sad.”\nWanja made the announcement a few minutes after landing from Tunisia where she guided Kenya Pipeline to a fourth place finish at the concluded women’s African Club Championship.\nCarthage won the 2017 edition after beating El Sham of Egypt with Kenya Prisons winning the bronze.\nKenya Volleyball Federation withdrew from the Grand Prix citing insufficient funds to purchase the air tickets for the three nation trip to Peru, Puerto Rico and Croatia.\nBesides, Kenya Volleyball Federation are yet to clear the Sh8 million arrears they owe to Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB).\nAbout Pipeline performance in Tunisia, Wanja said: “Our performance as a club and a nation wasn’t good because our receptions wasn’t so well but I am not worried because we have young players coming through.”\n-By Elvince Joshua-", "Shares\nNAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 14 – Kenya will field a total of 64 athletes when it hosts the final edition of the IAAF World Under-18 Championships from July 12 at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani as it seeks to go one better than the 2015 edition in Cali, Colombia in 2015 where they finished second overall.\nAthletics Kenya Youth Committee Chairman Barnaba Korir has assured they have picked the strongest team and is confident that Kenya will scoop a huge harvest during the games.\n“It has been a very rigorous process throughout the last two days of trials and we have picked a very strong team. We have three weeks to prepare and we will do our best to ensure everyone is in good shape and ready,” Korir told Capital Sport.\nThe selectors have kept their promise in ensuring Kenya throws in as many athletes as possible especially in the field events with an equal number of 12 boys and girls selected in various disciplines.\nEmmaculate Chepkirui, the World Junior 5000m silver medalist from Bydgoszcz, Poland in 2016 will hope to get her first major championship gold as she leads the Kenyan team in the 3000m, having out-sprinted her opponents to win the trials in a time of 9:05.7, almost 40 seconds clear of the official entry standard.\nThe 17-year old who finished ninth at the junior level in the IAAF Kampala World Cross Country championships in March is confident she is in the right shape to get Kenya a medal and has promised to run a perfect race at Kasarani.\n“I really wanted to get into this team and when I came in for the race, my target was to do my best and not look at anybody else. It was tough but I felt I was in very good shape and I am happy to have won,” the excited Kibori School student said after the race.\nShe added; “Now the hard work has just began and I will go back to work harder in training and ensure that when I race in Kasarani, I win a medal.”\nShe will be joined in the team by Beatrice Chebet who finished in a time of 9:07.00. All the nine athletes in the race clocked well within the qualification mark of 9:47.00 but only the top two earned the tickets to done the red and black Kenyan jersey.\nIn the corresponding boys’ race, Edward Zakayo, a form one student from Elgeyo Marakwet put up a spirited run in the final 200metres to pick the automatic ticket alongside Stanley Mburu.\nZakayo kept within the leading pack heading into the final lap of the race but burst into a battering final kick reminiscent of his idol David Rudisha, crossing the line ahead of Mburu who had pushed him to the edge.\nThe 17 year old who hails from the Loita Plains in Narok South District sunk to his knees after crossing the finish line, hands held high as he finally achieved a fete he had worked so hard for over the past two years.\n“I feel like I am in Jerusalem right now. I am so joyful. I have always wanted a chance to wear that Kenyan jersey in an international competition and now I have it. I feel great. What drives me is that I want to fund my own education and athletics is a way of doing so,” an excited Zakayo, still panting from the grueling race told Capital Sport.\nHe is confident of raking in a gold medal for Kenya though he concedes it will not be easy especially with lurking competition from neighbors Ethiopia.\n“Qualification is motivation enough. Now I want to go and work harder, work on my speed and ensure that come next month I will be in shape,” he added.\nAt the same time, George Manang’oi will have an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Elijah Manang’oi after squeezing into the 1500m team following his second spot finish.\nManang’oi finished in a time of 3:44.4, just four microseconds behind the winner Dominic Kipkemoi. It was a tight race with third placed Jacob Kipkorir finishing at 3:44.5.\nThe young Manang’oi, just 17 years old has been slowly picking the tracks of his senior and participated in the Police Championships last month, managing to finish third in the semi finals.\nElsewhere, Nyanza South’s Mary Moraa will carry on her shoulders the weight of a double as she bears Kenya’s hopes in both the 100m and 200m after winning both events.\nThe team will get into camp on Sunday June 18 and they will be training at the Nyayo Stadium.\nMeanwhile, Korir has told Capital Sport they employed stringent measures to ensure that only eligible athletes who fall within the required age bracket of 16, 17 years are selected into the team.\n“We have thoroughly done background checks for these athletes and even now, we will continue vetting these athletes and if we find anyone who might have sneaked in, we will remove them immediately,” Korir confidently stated.\nKenya World U18 team:\nGirls\nField events: Shot put- Peninah Akoth, Sharon Mukite, Triple jump-Janeth Chemutai, Mary Wangeci, Javelin-Cynthia Chebet, Dorothy Chepngetich, Long jump-Gloria Mulei, Janeth Chemutai, High Jump-Faith Kipsang, Discus –Vivian Jeptoo, Harriet Chiluyi\nTrack: 100m hurdles-Nusra Rukia, Philian Kerubo, 100m-Beatrice Anyango, Hyvin Chepkoech, 200m- Mary Moraa, Beatrice Anyango, 400m-Mary Moraa, Sharon Jebet, 400m hurdles-Irene Akinyi, Leah Jeruto, 800m-Jackline Wambui, Lydia Jeruto, 1,500m-Edina jebitok, Rachel Nzangi, 3,000m Emmaculate Chepkirui, Batrice Chebet, 2,000m steeplechase-Caren Chebet, Pamela Jeptoo, 5,000m walk race-Leah Nanyala, Regina Joshua\nBoys\nField Events: Discus-Joseph Nyaga, Nicholas Kiprotich, Shot put-Joseph Nyakundi, Reynold Kipkorir, Triple jump-Musyoka Mwema, Vincent Kilel, Javelin-Ita Nao, Nicholas Kiprotich, Long Jump-Vincent Kilel, High jump-Micah Kipkirui, Evans Kipchirchir, Hammer-Victor Kiplimo\nTrack: 100m-Elijah Matayo, Kelvin Nyagodo, 110m hurdles-Peter Wambua, James Mucheru, 400m hurdles-Moitalel Mboke, David Saruni, 200m-Philemon Konari, Elijah Matayo, 400m- Kelvin Sawe, David Sanayek, 800m-Noah Kiprono, Japheth Kibiwott, 1,500m-Dominic Kipkemboi, George Manangoi, 2,000m steeplechase-Edward Bett, Kelvin Kipyegon, 3,000-Edward Zakayo, Stanley Mburu, 10,000m walk race-Dominic Samson, Jimmy Oroni.", "Usain Bolt took an emotional final bow on the track at the end of the World Championships in London on Sunday before declaring that, definitely and definitively, there was no way he would ever return to sprinting.\nBolt toured the London Stadium very slowly, walking stiffly, to say goodbye to his fans. Journalists later asked if he might consider a return to the track but he ruled it out.\nHe said, “I think I’ve seen too many people retire and come back into sport just to really make it worse or to shame themselves. So, I personally feel now I won’t be one of those persons to come back.”\nTwenty four hours earlier, the 30-year-old Jamaican’s matchless sprint career had ended painfully on the last leg of the 4 x 100 metres relay final as he crumpled to the ground in the London Stadium with a hamstring injury.\nBolt, plainly injured and finding it difficult to move from standing to sitting, admitted that it had been a terrible end to a stressful championship after also losing his 100 metres crown.\nHe said he had felt consoled on Sunday when someone reminded him that Muhammad Ali had lost his last fight too and he had reporters laughing when he said Manchester United’s 4-0 win against West Ham United had made him smile on what had otherwise been a difficult 24 hours.\nBolt appeared in the stadium where he achieved the second of his three Olympic sprint doubles.\nHe was presented with a piece of the 2012 track as a memento before he embarked on his celebration lap, slowly soaking up all the cheers from the 56,000 full house.\nHe went over to the 200 metres and 100 metres start lines, knelt down and crossed himself, then made his signature “lightning bolt” pose and was gone.\nMeanwhile, Caster Semenya claimed another global title when she won the world 800 metres gold after surging clear. Earlier in the week she won bronze in the 1500m race.\nSemenya, 26, is the 2016 Olympic and 2009 world champion and is poised to gain two more golds after Russian doper Mariya Savinova-Farnosova was stripped of her 2012 Olympic and 2011 world titles.\nSemenya said attempting the double in London was tough but she might aim to do it again at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year.\nOlympic champions the United States also reclaimed their women’s 4x400m relay world title and added to Allyson Felix’s haul of gold medals.\nFelix won her 11th gold medal in the World Championships to equal Usain Bolt’s tally. She had 16 medals in all, making her the most decorated World Championships athlete.\nThe 31-year-old said she wants to keep competing until the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games if possible.\nKenya’s Hellen Obiri said she knew the women’s 5000m race would be fast and went with defending champion Almaz Ayana. She saw her chance with 200m remaining and “I say to myself I can go.”\nKenya also secured another gold when Elijah Manangoi won the men’s 1500-metre final.", "Kenyan race walkers Samuel 'Speedy' Gathimba and Simon Wachira hope to fully recover from a bout of strong fever that almost ruined their maiden show at the World Championships here.\nThey are looking to bounce back with a good showing in men's 20-kilometre final on Sunday.\nThe chilly and rainy London weather seemed to have taken its toll on the Kenyan duo, who fell sick upon arrival here on August 1.\nGathimba and Wachira said that a misdirection on the route might have cost them a good performance after they failed to finish their race at last year's Rio Olympics are confident they will not allow the fever to distract their focus in London.\n\"All is well now. We are determined and the experience from 2016 Rio Olympics will help spur us to good performances against the world's finest in London,\" said Gathimba, the Africa race walk champion.\n\"We may have not finished the event in Rio de Janeiro but we learnt a lot from the championships,\" said Gathimba, who won the Africa title last year in a championship and national record time of one hour and 19.24 minutes.\nIt's the same championship where Wachira finished fifth in 1:23:26.\n\"The doctors handled our case well and we are fine ready to do Kenya proud on the final day,\" said Gathimba, adding that they will stay with the pack unlike in Rio so as to strike when the right time comes.\nChinese Wang Zhen and Cai Zelin claimed a 1-2 finish at Rio Olympics, relegating Australian Dane Bird-Smith to third place.\nGathimba said they now know some of the top walkers especially from China and other places hence planning had been easy for them. \"I was happy to represent Kenya at the Olympics and the World Championships for the first time,\" said Gathimba, adding that they want to make their mentor, legendary former national and Africa champion David Kimutai of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) proud.\n\"Kimutai has been a great mentor, having given us a few tricks. I am sure he will be proud of us if we are to perform well,\" said Gathimba.\nGathimba made his international debut at the 2014 Africa Championships in Morocco where he got silver before claiming another silver at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville.\nWachira, who will be making his fourth appearance for Kenya after the 2015 African Games, 2016 Africa Championship and last year's Olympics, said they will not play pacesetters again.\n\"Rio taught us good lessons and we are prepared for London,\" said Wachira.\n\"We are putting God first the rest will roll out.\"", "South African Caster Semenya produced another peerless display of middle-distance running to set a meeting record and world lead of 1:55.92 in the women’s 800m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday, the highlight of the middle-distance action at the third meeting of the IAAF Diamond League.\nThe South African seized command of the race with 300 metres to run after covering her first lap in 57.9, well behind the pacemaker who went through in 57.25.\nFrom there, Semenya steadily shifted through the gears and down the home straight, Francine Niyonsaba simply had no answer to the world champion’s pace, with Ajee’ Wilson coming through strongly for second in 1:56.86. Niyonsaba took third in 1:56.88.\nSemenya’s time was the fastest 800m ever run by a woman on US soil, and the 27-year-old was suitably delighted with the run. “It was an amazing race,” she said. “I saw the split was 57 so I tried to maintain 57 again.\nCheruiyot takes the Bowerman Mile\nIn what was the final international meeting at Hayward Field before renovations begin, there was a fitting climax and farewell to the historic stadium in the Bowerman Mile.\nTimothy Cheruiyot cracked the 3:50 barrier to take victory, but for the second year straight it was Norwegian wunderkind Jakob Ingebrigtsen who stole the show, finishing fourth in 3:52.28 to set a world U18 and European U20 record.\nThe previous world U18 best was held by Kenya’s Isaac Songok at 3:54.56, and early in the race it looked like Ingebrigtsen may be struggling among the best milers in the world as he ran at the back of the pack.\nHowever, the 17-year-old crept through the field on the penultimate lap, charging up the home straight to challenge world champion Elijah Manangoi for third, the Kenyan just about holding him off with 3:52.18.\nIngebrigtsen’s mark carved four seconds off his previous best, and the teenager is now looking forward to competing on home soil at the Oslo Diamond League next month.\n“I wasn’t expecting the race to be that fast, of course the pace was a bit breaky the first couple of laps so I had a lot more to go the last lap,” he said. “It felt really good coming into the home stretch.”\nUp front, Cheruiyot was once again highly impressive, the world 1500m silver medallist showing Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera a clean pair of heels around the final turn, kicking off the front to take victory in 3:49.87 to Tefera’s 3:51.26.\n“I like Eugene, every time I come I improve my time,” said Cheruiyot. “My goal for the season is to run under 3:28 in Monaco.”\nKigen upsets the Steeplechase big guns\nThere was a shock result in the men’s 3000m steeplechase as unheralded Kenyan Benjamin Kigen overturned compatriot Conseslus Kipruto and Olympic silver medallist Evan Jager of USA.\nAfter a slow early pace – 1000m was reached in 2:43, 2000m in 5:30 – Kipruto appeared in cruise control at the front, the race apparently playing into the hands of the lightning-fast Olympic and world champion.\nHowever, as Kipruto began to wind up the pace in the final lap he had unwanted company in the shape of Kigen, who blasted by him entering the back straight and swiftly opened a gaping advantage.\nKipruto simply had no answer, and it was soon clear that he would taste defeat in his specialist event for the first time since 2016, leaving aside his drop-out in Rabat last summer.\nKigen was awkward off the last barrier but by then the damage was done, the 24-year-old hitting the finish all alone in 8:09.07. Kipruto edged a photo finish with Jager for second, both credited with 8:11.71.\nDibaba dominates in outdoor debut\nEthiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba was once again dominant in the women’s 5000m, the Olympic 1500m champion showing an impressive turn of speed in the final 400 metres to take victory in 14:26.89, well clear of fellow Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey, who clocked 14:30.29.\n“I’m in good shape and training is going well,” said Dibaba. “I can run faster, it just depends on the pacemakers and their speed.”\nAfter a disappointing outing in Doha earlier this month, Hellen Obiri showed signs she is returning to form by finishing third in 14:35.03.\nOn a day when nostalgia hung in the air about the past – as more than 12,000 fans bid an emotional farewell to the much-loved stadium – there was no shortage of excitement about the future, particularly the sense that when the 2021 IAAF World Championships come to town, the new-and-improved Hayward Field will make a memorable host.\n(Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF and the IAAF Diamond League)", "The 2017 World Under-18 Championships Local Organising Committee (LOC) has asked Ministry of Sports and Sports Kenya to speed up payment of money owed to suppliers and service providers for the youth event.\nLOC Chief Executive Officer Mwangi Muthee Monday said the Treasury had allocated the money budgeted for the championship, held from July 12 to 16 at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, to the Sports Ministry.\nMuthee said he has written to Sports CS Hassan Wario asking him to urgently resolve the matter because payments were made directly by Sports Ministry through Sports Kenya, which was responsible for most of the financial management.\n\"It is my hope that it (the money) was not diverted to other use,\" Muthee said yesterday in a statement, adding that what the LOC owed contractors, consultants and service providers is not a lot of money. \"It includes payment for work done on marketing billboards, accreditation, stadium lighting and a few other services. The LOC duly sanctioned the payment of these bills,\" said Muthee. \"I can't state the amount but we signed vouchers to Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts for payments.\"\nMuthee said that those still owed money from the championships have continually sought explanation from the LOC, and the matter has attracted the attention of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).\nEfforts to get Wario and Sports Kenya chairman Fred Muteti for comment proved futile as their calls went answered. Muithee said the delayed payments could tarnish Kenya's image globally at a time the countrywas seeking to host the 2020 World Under-20 Championships and the 2025 World Championships, among other key competitions.\n\"Only a few days ago, Kenya was discussed positively as a possible IAAF future partner during IAAF congress in Monaco. Therefore, such negative domestic matters as nagging pending bills should not tarnish the country's image,\" said Muthee.\nMuthee said Kenya delivered world-class youth championships because of the efforts and dedication of many people who must feel let down by claims of unpaid bills.\nOn the issue of LOC being taken to task by Ethics and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission regarding tendering procedures, including procurement of the artificial tracks at Kasarani and Kenyatta University, Muthee said the contracts were procedural.\n\"In fact, this matter had gone before the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) which ruled in LOC's favour before work commenced at Kasarani,\" said Muthee.", "Shares\nNAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 14 – IAAF CEO Olivier Gers is this week in the Kenyan capital for a site visit ahead of next month’s IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017.\nAccompanied by LOC Chair Jackson Tuwei and CEO Michael Mwangi Muthee, Gers visited the competition and training venues at the Moi International Sports Centre and was shown around Kenyatta University where the athletes will be accommodated.\nAfter a slight delay to the installation of the new synthetic track at the stadium while the material was stuck in customs, work is now well under way and the LOC is confident the tracks will be ready in time for the championships on 12-16 July.\nThe LOC is also working to implement the necessary security measures to deliver a safe and secure environment for the athletes.\n“A huge amount of work has gone into the preparation of these championships and I want to thank the organising committee and everyone in Nairobi and across Kenya for the work they have put in,” said Gers.\n“The athletes will love competing in this beautiful stadium and I hope the fans will give them the loudest of cheers.\n“We have the final push in the weeks ahead, finishing off, tidying up and making sure all the final elements are in place. It’s like a house; it almost takes longer to put the finishing touches on the house and to make everything right than to actually build it.”\nMwangi Mathee confirmed that the LOC is now approaching the final stages of the preparations.\n“It has been like a fairy tale; we have seen it all,” he said. “But the most wonderful thing is that we are now heading to the final phase and that we can see the fruits of our labour and I am very proud of the team.\n“I’d like the IAAF and the government of Kenya to make sure that the work and the legacy of the investment hasn’t been done in vain. We should look beyond 2017 and make Nairobi a sports centre.”\nThe IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 will be the first global track and field championships to be held in Kenya. It will also be the final edition of the World U18 Championships as the IAAF’s focus will shift towards driving regional and continental competitions.\n“What we want first to be remembered is the quality of competition,” said Gers.\n“We want to make sure we leave behind a lasting legacy for athletics, for the country of Kenya and for the whole region. To have a vibrant, modern equipped stadium that can be reused in future championships is quite critical.”", "TWO Shiplake College rowers helped the Great Britain junior men’s eight secure bronze at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania that began on Wednesday of last week and culminated in the finals on Sunday.\nHenry Blois-Brooke and Seb Newman became the first students from the college to secure a junior world championship medal in Sunday’s final.\nWith Blois-Brooke in seat three and Newman in seat six, GB had a good win in the heats recording one of the fastest times in the eights.\nIn the final GB made a relatively slow start in the first quarter of the race but managed to edge their way through the field and crossed the line just inches behind the USA in second, with Germany taking the gold medal.\nA delighted director of rowing at Shiplake College, David Currie said: ‘There was a really strong positive atmosphere amongst the whole junior team throughout the championships. It was Great Britain’s best ever performance at the event.\n“Henry and Seb’s achievement is one that the school can really be proud of and was a great way to sign off their junior rowing career. This is an achievement for our younger pupils to aspire to and is evidence of what can be achieved.”\nCurrie also had a taste of success as he coached the men’s four to a gold medal. GB also took gold in the women’s double sculls whilst the men’s quad secured silver.\nThe four medals saw GB finish second in the overall medal table, behind Romania, who took two golds, two silvers and two bronzes.\nShiplake College headmaster Gregg Davies added: “As head I am thrilled to have the boys win bronze and to have our director coaching his first ever gold winning crew. It is the icing on the cake to a fantastic year of rowing for the school.”\nHenley Rowing Club also had involvement in the championships with Mary Wright competing in the four and Lottie Orr in the quadrupe scull. The four of Wright, Flo Donald (Lea RC), Hope Cessford (Durham ARC) and Charlotte Fennell (Marlow RC) finished second in their heat behind Croatia and ahead of Greece which secured them a path straight to the semi-finals. To make the A finals the girls needed to finish third in their semi-final. China and the USA set the pace leaving New Zealand, Germany and Great Britain fighting for the third position. In the end New Zealand just pipped GB to take the place in the A final. In the B final Italy took an early lead but never got away from the GB crew and from just after half way the GB crew took the lead to win the B final and seventh place overall.\nOrr’s quad with Lucy Edmund (York City RC), Phoebe Campbell (Exeter University BC) and Danielle Semple (Headington SOBC) had a comfortable heat in which they finished second for a place in the semi-finals.\nA third place in the semi would see the quad through to the A final and a medal opportunity. Romania led from the start with GB, the USA and Russia remaining close through the second and third 500m but always with GB just ahead of the others. The last 500m saw them secure second place and a place in the A final.\nIn the final Romania and Germany took the lead with Great Britain in third and Switzerland very close behind. At half way GB and Switzerland were still battling it out for third place with GB 0.25 seconds ahead. Coming into the last 500m Switzerland managed to push through GB and held on to take the medal slot.\nBritish Rowing performance director, Sir David Tanner, said: “We’ve seen some excellent performances from our GB crews over the course of this regatta. We come home with medals from four very classy crews, including two exceptional golds from the men’s four and women’s double. Despite their young age, all of our rowers have put in mature and confident performances over the course of the week and they can all be very proud of their achievements.”", "Short-track speed skater Lucas Ng knows that, no matter how fast he skates, he cannot escape the attention of his regional rivals ahead of the SEA Games.\nThis year's edition will include winter sports for the first time, but while most Games debutants face arguably less pressure to perform than their more established compatriots, Ng will likely begin with a target on his back already.\nThe 28-year-old is Singapore's first Asian Winter Games representative in 2011, and was the top South-east Asian finisher in the men's 500m event at this year's edition in Japan.\nIn January, he also completed a clean sweep of individual titles - the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m events - at the MapleZ South-east Asian Short Track Trophy meet held in Singapore.\nDespite six years spent competing against some of the world's best at top events including the International Skating Union Short Track Speed Skating World Cup series and world championships, the pressure of competing at the SEA Games is considerable for Ng.\n\"This SEA Games feels more important and more prestigious,\" he told The Straits Times in a Skype interview from Goyang, South Korea.\n\"We're not competing with big names who have been in the sport for 20 years, but with skaters in the region who started in the sport at the same time.\nICE SKATING\nGOLD MEDALS ON OFFER: 8\nTEAM SINGAPORE FIGURE SKATERS - WOMEN • Chloe Ing (Individual) • Yu Shuran (Individual)\nSPEED SKATERS MEN • Miki Chong (500m, 1,000m, 3,000m relay) • Chua Qi En (3,000m relay) • Lim Chia Yeh (3,000m relay) • Lim Jun Hao (3,000m relay) • Lucas Ng (500m, 1,000m, 3,000m relay)\nWOMEN • Victoria Chin (3,000m relay) • Deanna See (3,000m relay) • Cheyenne Goh (500m, 1,000m, relay) • Danielle Han (500m, 1,000m, 3,000m relay) • Suvian Chua (3,000m relay)\n\"Usually it's at South-east Asia-level competitions where I feel the stakes are higher, because all the competitors are roughly at the same level and there's a better chance of winning a medal.\"\nDealing with the pressure of competition, however, is something the former schools sprinter has grown used to and embraced over the years, and he has done this by \"fighting fear with fear itself\".\n\"The more you do something, the more comfortable you get,\" Ng explained. \"If someone who is afraid of heights just keeps doing activities that involve high obstacles like mountain-climbing, eventually they become more confident.\n\"Likewise for skating - with regular training, you understand more about the techniques and slowly gain confidence to increase your speed... you just have to keep trying and never give up.\"\nWhich is why, just as he did ahead of his first competition at the 2011 Asian Winter Games in Kazakhstan, Ng continues to enter every race with his mind focused on his race plan and the techniques practised in training.\nRecalling that he had been surprised to find that he was not \"nervous or breaking out in cold sweat before my race\" in 2011, he added: \"I didn't go there with the mindset that I'm going to win, because at that point I had just started the sport - it was about going there to learn more and about competing, and watching what racing is like.\"\nMuch has changed since then and Ng knows it, saying: \"Back then I was like a baby in speed skating, but now I've grown up a bit more.\"\nApart from feeling more confident, he has also acquired more experience, skills and speed. But the most important part of his journey has remained the same - his relentless pursuit of improvement.\n\"My mindset towards racing has been the same since the beginning, and I think that's what has got me to where I am today,\" he said.\n\"I won't give up. I will keep going no matter how hard training is, because I know there's always room for improvement. Even if I'm at my peak or at my fastest, I can always improve my technique and speed.\"\nAlthough Ng acknowledged that he will probably be marked as \"one to look out for\" in Kuala Lumpur, he is still expecting to win a medal amid stiff competition at the Empire City ice rink in Damansara Perdana, where the SEA Games ice skating and ice hockey competitions will take place.\nNg, who is aiming to win a medal in each of his three events (500m, 1,000m and 3,000m relay), added: \"I'm quite sure our neighbouring countries are improving themselves as well, they have talented skaters who are also training hard and I believe there'll be a good fight at the SEA Games.\"", "The inaugural edition of the Intercontinental Cup organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) will be held at the Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai from June 1-10.\nWith the tournament just around the corner, Goal brings you all you need to know about the 2018 Intercontinental Cup.\nWhat is the Intercontinental Cup?\nThe 2018 Intercontinental Cup will be held as a four-nation tournament with four teams from three different confederations.\nAlthough the tournament is being held to fine-tune the Indian football team’s preparations for the 2019 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Asian Cup to be held in UAE, the AIFF intends to make the tournament an annual fixture in the Indian footballing calendar.\nThe Intercontinental Cup was supposed to be held last year as well but was converted to a three-nation tournament after pullouts.\nWhich teams are in the tournament this year?\nIndia India (hosts) Chinese Taipei Kenya New Zealand\nAfter South Africa decided to pull out from the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, the AIFF found Kenya as a replacement to represent a team from the Confederation of Afican Football (CAF) region, while New Zealand is from the Oceania Football Conderation (OFC) and Chinese Taipei from the AFC.\nChinese Taipei have had two appearances in the AFC Asian Cup, first in 1960, and have not qualified for the same since 1968. India has recorded three appearances (1964, 1984 and 2011) in the competition so far.\nUnlike New Zealand, who have made two World Cup appearances in the past (1982 and 2010), Kenya haven't qualified for the World Cup at all. .\n2018 Intercontinental Cup fixtures\nIndia will kick off their campaign against Chinese Taipei on June 1. All matches are set to kick-off at 8 p.m. IST.\nOn June 2, Kenya will take on New Zealand and the African nation's next game will be against Stephen Constantine's men on June 4. Chinese Taipei will take on New Zealand on June 5.\nAfter a two-day break the hosts will lock horns against the Black Caps who are currently 133rd in men's FIFA ranking. The last group stage match will see Chinese Taipei going up against Kenya on June 8.\nThe top two teams will battle for silverware on June 10.\nDate Match Time (IST) Jun 1 India vs. Chinese Taipei 20:00 Jun 2 Kenya vs. New Zealand 20:00 Jun 4 India vs. Kenya 20:00 Jun 5 Chinese Taipei vs. New Zealand 20:00 Jun 7 India vs. New Zealand 20:00 Jun 8 Chinese Taipei vs. Kenya 20:00 FINAL: Jun 10 TBD vs. TBD 20:00\nTV channels & streams\nThe Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the 2018 Intercontinental Cup. The games will be telecast with the option of English and/or Hindi commentary over their bouquet of television as well as digital platforms.\nIndia (English) TV channel Online streams Star Sports 2/HD Hotstar and Jio TV\nCommentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.\nHindi TV channel Tamil TV channel Star Sports Hindi 1/HD Star Sports Tamil 1\n2018 Intercontinental Cup venue\nAndheri Sports Complex (Mumbai Football Arena)\n35, Veer Desai Rd, Azad Nagar, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053\nTickets for all the matches are available online on BookMyShow.", "SAGINAW, MI -- When Becky Gokey was going into labor with her son Noah six years ago, he came into the world so quickly that a nurse ended up delivering the baby because the doctor couldn't make it in time.\nSpeed obviously runs in the family. On Sunday, Aug. 13, Gokey and her husband Drew, an Essexville public safety officer from Unionville, only made it to the hospital parking lot before they welcomed Elijah James into their family in the front seat of their Jeep Wrangler.\n\"We're thinking Wrangler could be a good nickname,\" Drew Gokey said.\nWhen Becky Gokey got that feeling that baby Elijah was on his way, the couple took off for the hospital. When they hit M-81 at I-75, the mom told her husband that he should probably drive a bit faster, because baby was coming soon. He called Saginaw Covenant hospital to make sure someone was waiting at the front door.\nAs they were turning off Washington Avenue for Genesee Avenue over the Saginaw River, Becky Gokey could feel the baby crowning. Her husband, who had received training as a public safety officer to deliver a baby, had her remove her pants.\n\"As I was driving, I had my hand on the baby's head to slow the birth down,\" he said.\nA few minutes later, they pulled into the Covenant parking lot. But before they made it to the emergency room door, baby Elijah had been born in the front seat of the Jeep. Drew Gokey flagged down a nurse to help bring the baby inside.\n\"Baby is healthy and doing great,\" he said.\nElijah James Gokey measured in at 21-inches and weighed 8 pounds and 13 ounces -- the perfect weight for a baby born on Aug. 13 (8/13).\nBut Elijah's birth is much more special than a matching birthdate and weight. Elijah is a rainbow baby -- a child born after the mother suffers a miscarriage or death of an infant.\nOn Feb. 12, 2015, Becky Gokey gave birth to a daughter named Abigail at 36 weeks. Abigail had Trisomy 18, a chromosomal abnormality that causes severe disabilities to internal organs, including the heart and kidney. It occurs in about 1 in 6,000 live births, according to the Trisomy 18 Foundation.\n\"He's a miracle,\" Drew Gokey said.\nThe Gokey family brought Elijah home on Monday, Aug. 14.", "Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) says he \"alarmed\" but not surprised by new details about the Trump administration's contact with Russian officials. He's calling for an independent commission to investigate the connections. Rep. Cummings joins Joy Reid.\nDuration: {{video.duration.momentjs}}", "Caster Semenya made history on Sunday night by becoming the first South African woman to earn two medals at the same edition of the IAAF World Championships, bagging 800m gold to go with her 1 500m bronze.\nShe sat down with media to discuss her performances in London, her future as an athlete and other goals she retains off the track.\nOn the tactics of her opponents in the 800m final, after Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Ajee Wilson of the United States went out hard but failed to burn off Semenya’s blistering finishing kick.\n“They made it easy for me because they took the lead. I have a lot of respect for them, and they ran a good race, but it worked in my favour because I needed about 56/57 (seconds on the first lap) to be able to run nice and easy, and comfortable, so it was quite an amazing race.”\nOn what lies ahead after breaking her own national 800m record with a dominant victory, crossing the line in 1:55.16.\n“Winning gold here was the main goal, but we still have a lot of plans. We still have a lot of races to run. Thanks to my team. They’ve done a lot of fantastic work throughout the year.”\nOn her ability to break the long-standing 800m world record of 1:53.28, with two races left on the international circuit this year.\n“The world record is not something you can aim for in two months, so I think next year we’ll probably start to think about trying to break world records. At the moment we’re just trying to enjoy what we do, and we are enjoying it.”\nOn what lies ahead for her in future, at the age of 26.\n“I want to be a successful business woman. I still want to break world records, I still have a foundation to run, so there are a lot of things on my mind. I still have to graduate (as a sports science student at North-West University) and that must come first, so I have to go back to school and study now.”\nOn the support she has received back home.\n“I know South Africans are proud and they are jumping up and down now. It’s all about giving back to them. They deserve this. Also for the young generation, it’s all about inspiring them and showing them anything is possible. If you work hard, and if you believe, anything is possible.”\nFor more sport your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.", "As the World Cup advances to the quarter-finals, the tournament has already brought us unforgettable moments. From Cristiano Ronaldo's impressive penalty against Spain to Germany's elimination in the group stages, this World Cup has reminded everyone why the world championship is unlike anything else.\nHere Euronews revisits ten reasons that make the World Cup so great.\n1. World Cup brings people together\nLike these Bolshoi ballerinas huddled together watching the Russia-Spain penalty shootout from an iPhone screen in full costume.\nThe dancer who posted the video, Bruna Gaglianone Cantanhede, said the penalty shootout took place during the Bolshoi's production of Raymonda, so the dancers were only able to catch a glimpse of the action before going on-stage.\n2. Players from opposite teams consoling each other after matches\nCompetition at the World Cup can be so stressful that some players lose it after the games. Luckily, the World Cup is also about being a good sport — and some players have proven this by taking the time to console players from opposite teams after a loss.\nAfter a heart-wrenching match, Belgium's Romelu Lukaku consoled Japan's Shinji Kagawa over their elimination.\nBelgium's Romelu Lukaku embraces Japan's Shinji Kagawa after the match REUTERS/Toru Hanai\nEven coaches from the opposite team are seen consoling players from the rival team after a tough game.\nAfter England's win over Colombia, the Red Lions' head coach Gareth Southgate joined Colombia's head coach Jose Pekerman in consoling Mateus Uribe.\nREUTERS\nBut players are not the only ones consoling each other after a match. Off the pitch, fans from opposite teams also comfort each other.\nA crowd of Colombians did exactly that after seeing a devastated young Polish fan cry when his team lost to the South American country.\n3. Players thanking their fans for their support\nIt is always endearing seeing players thanking their fans for their support after a tough match. Japan's team showed how strong the player-fan union can be when they gave an ovation to their supporters at the stadium after their unforgettable match against Belgium.\nREUTERS\nJapan's dignified response to their loss to Belgium stole hearts across the world.\n4. Players sharing a moment of reflection despite their differences\nPlayers sometimes share more than a love for football. Some of them are sometimes caught sharing a moment of reflection or prayer before or after a game.\nAfter battling for a place in the Round of 16, Panama's Fidel Escobar was joined by Belgium's Romelu Lukaku in a moment of reflection after the game.\nREUTERS\n5. Coming together to celebrate a victory despite different nationalities\nNothing says World Cup more than different nationalities celebrating a victory together.\nMexican fans celebrated South Korea's win against Germany as it saved Mexico from elimination despite their loss to Sweden that same day.\nVideos of Mexicans raising Koreans into the air circulated on social media that day.\nJournalist James Wagner filmed the Korean consul being carried by Mexican fans outside the South Korea embassy in Mexico.\n6. Making exceptions so everyone can watch the game\nThe World Cup may have brought a huge win to Iranian women who were allowed to watch the game alongside men in a stadium — for the first time since 1980. The official Twitter account of the Iranian team tweeted a picture of the mixed gender crowd cheering them on from back home.\n7. Unexpected friendships\nThe World Cup may be a football tournament but one of the best things about it are the unexpected friendships that flourish from it.\nFans from different nationalities have been caught on camera trading jerseys, embracing each other after a game and even singing together.\nFrench comedian John Sulo bonded with Japanese fans over the theme tune to anime classic One Piece after the Senegal-Japan game on June 24.\n8. Remembering loved ones with a passion for the beautiful game\nEach World Cup brings new memories but it also brings back old ones.\nPeople coming together to cheer for their countries in 2018 reminded one Scottish woman how much her late husband loved the football championship.\nHelen Bunker shared a photo on Twitter of her husband at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. “4 yrs ago my husband was dying of cancer so he flew to the World Cup in Brazil,” she tweeted. Bunker points out the joy that can be seen on her husband’s face in the photo. “Just look at the smile on his face, the joy & happiness & excitement. I love the World Cup,” she tweeted.\n9. People helping disabled fans enjoy the game\nA disability can impair some from watching the game. But as communities come together to watch the match, help is offered to those who may need it.\nIn Brazil, an interpreter helped deaf-blind football fans follow the country's matches thanks to a miniature pitch to act out the game.\n10. Making dreams come true\nThe World Cup can also make dreams come true in the most unlikely ways.\nThanks to a picture gone viral, a Brazilian boy from a favela will be able to meet his hero Philippe Coutinho at the end of the championship.\nThe boy who was pictured with a home-made jersey with Coutinho’s name and number 11, caught the player's attention who reached out to him and sent him an official football jersey among other things.", "The construction fencing outside the Lobero Theatre is temporarily hiding a major upgrade to enhance the audience experience inside the Santa Barbara landmark.\nThe $7 million, six-month project involves replacing worn-out seats, installing air conditioning and ventilation, restoring the ceiling and adding bigger restrooms. The new seats will look almost identical to the old ones, but they’re wider and offer more leg room.\n“The whole idea of the Encore Lobero campaign is ‘art is comfort,’” executive director David Asbell said of the fundraising effort.\n“We’ve spent a lot of money making the building safe and improving all the technical abilities. Now it’s time to put some money into the audience.”\nThe oldest, continuously operated theater in California, the Lobero originally was built in 1873 by an Italian immigrant named Jose Lobero. After he died in 1922, a group of civic leaders raised enough money to rebuild it in 1924 at 33 E. Canon Perdido.\nThe theater survived the 1925 earthquake that destroyed much of Santa Barbara, and it ended up serving as a shelter for people who had lost their homes.\nLobero development director Jim Dougherty has spent the past two years fundraising. He said $2 million was contributed by Lobero board members, $2.5 million came from local foundations and the rest of the funds are individual donations.\n“We have a remarkable community,” Dougherty said. “We have a good base of people who have supported the theater for many years.”\nDougherty said it probably would have cost less to tear down the theater and build something new and contemporary.\n“But you’d lose something,” he said. “The memories of the past give you a sense of the importance of history and what it means to people.”\nLooking back, Asbell noted that the theater has hosted thousands of great performers in music, theater and dance from all over the world.\n“It’s central to the cultural community of Santa Barbara and we want to preserve that as long as possible,” he said. “It’s a beautiful building (and) there’s this great feeling of tradition and energy about this place.”\nThe Lobero will reopen in December, and Dougherty said visitors can expect the same atmosphere and intimate feeling that the theater has always had. The main differences will be a few less seats — 610, down from 680 — along with larger restrooms and a pleasant temperature regardless of the season.\nClick here for more information on the Lobero Theatre, or call the Lobero Theatre Foundation at 805.966.4946. Click here to make an online donation.\n— Noozhawk intern Linda Sturesson can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.\n(David Bazemore video)", "TORONTO — Canada has a little more information on who it might face in a repechage tournament to decide the last Rugby World Cup qualifier.\nBelgium's 18-10 controversial upset win over No. 20 Spain on Sunday meant No. 17 Romania qualifies for the 2019 World Cup in Japan as Europe 1.\nGeorgia, ranked 12th in the world, topped the Rugby Europe Championship standings with a 5-0-0 record but had already qualified for the World Cup by virtue of its third-place pool finish in the 2015 tournament. That opened the door to Romania, which finished second in the standings.\nA win over No. 25 Belgium would have meant automatic qualification for the Spaniards rather than Romania. And there was an ugly ending to the game as angry Spanish players confronted Romanian referee Vlad Iordaschescu, who along with his two Romanian assistant referees had to be escorted from the field by security.\nWorld Rugby, which does not appoint match officials for Rugby Europe Championship qualifiers, is looking into the appointment of a Romanian referee given the ramifications of the result for Romania.\nAll of Belgium's points came from penalty kicks.\nSpain will now play No. 23 Portugal, with the winner advancing to face No. 16 Samoa home and away. The series winner will book its ticket to Japan as the so-called playoff winner in Pool A while the loser joins 21st-ranked Canada in the four-team repechage in November.\nThe Belgian win was likely good news for Canada, which lost 25-9 to Romania the last time they met in 2017. Canada beat Spain 37-27 that same year.\nThe Africa Cup runner-up, likely No. 24 Namibia, No. 30 Kenya or No. 44 Zimbabwe, will also qualify for the repechage. The final repechage team will be the series winner between Asia 2 (likely No. 22 Hong Kong) and No. 85 Tahiti.\nThe four repechage teams will play a round-robin to decide which country will draw into Pool B in Japan with New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Africa 1.\nCanada dropped into the repechage after losing qualifying series against the 15th-ranked Americans and No. 18 Uruguay.\nThe Canadian men have appeared at every Rugby World Cup since the tournament's inception in 1987. In past years, they have booked their tournament ticket at the first round of qualifying.\nIn other weekend action, the Ontario Arrows lost 36-19 to Rugby United New York in New Rochelle, N.Y. The Arrows, who hope to join the new Major League Rugby pro circuit, next play April 6 when they visit the MLR's Utah Warriors.", "By BRIAN YONGA\nLeon Magomere of Greensharks (left) and Oliver Echenje of Kenya Police tussle for the ball during their Kenya Hockey Union Premier League match at City Park Stadium on December 10, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP\nKenya Police and Telkom will inch closer to winning the men and women’s Premier League hockey titles with victories in their Jamhuri Day fixtures at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.\nPolice take on bottom placed Technical University of Kenya (TUK), while Telkom will be up against second-placed Amira Sailors in two of the six matches lined up on this holiday.\nParklands, smarting from their 3-0 loss away to Nakuru on Sunday tackle Chase Sailors, as champions Strathmore University Gladiators take on Kenya College of Accountancy in a relegation dog fight battle.\nThe last match of the day will see former champions Sikh Union up against Wazalendo. The match between Police and TUK marks contrasting fortunes for the two teams.\nWhile a win for Police will leave them needing six points to clinch the title, a loss for the students will see them relegated.\nPolice responded from their first loss of the season away to Western Jaguars 11 days to go, with a 2-1 win over Greensharks on Sunday.\nThe result lifted the leaders to 64 points, 13 ahead of Butali who are in second place. Police coach Kenneth Kaunda is hoping his charges can build on their impressive result against Sharks as they close in on the title.\n“It was important to get a response after the loss away to Jaguars and we are now almost certain of clinching the title, it is ours to lose,” Kaunda said.\nTUK face a tall order as they bid to avoid the big drop in their maiden season in the top flight.\n“We just have to go out there and play like it is a final, Police are beatable and we have no option but to do it,” TUK coach Peter Mwathe said. Police won the first leg encounter 2-1 on April 28.\nIn the women’s Premier League, Telkom will move 11 points clear of the table with a win against Amira with five matches left.\nTelkom, who chasing a record 20th title, are yet to lose a match this season and have scored an impressive 93 goals, conceding only twice.\n“We want to wrap up the league and turn our attention to next month’s club championship in Accra,” Telkom coach Jos Openda said. Amira dropped two crucial points in their 1-1 draw against Vikings as they look to secure second spot.\nFixtures (All matches at City Park Stadium)\nPremier Women: Strathmore university v UON – 9am, Telkom v Amira -10.30am\nPremier Men: Kenya Police v TUK- 12noon, Parklands v Chase Sailors- 1.30pm. Strathmore University v KCAU-3om, Sikh Union v Wazalendo – 5pm\nDaily Nation", "The Zambia Women National Team regrouped for preparations for the 2017 Cosafa Championship to be hosted by Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.\nCoach Albert Kachinga has summoned 37 players with 22 taking part in the morning training session at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.\nKachinga told Fazfootball.com that the girls would work to emulate their male counterparts in different age groups that had tasted regional success.\nHe said that the ladies will pick a leaf from the Under-20 and 17 that are reigning regional champions while the senior team reached the final at the 2017 edition.\n“A precedent has been set with the U-20 boys who got the Cosafa, they won the Africa Cup and they qualified to the World Cup. The U-17 brought in the Cosafa Cup and the senior men’s team went as far as the final. So we have to make sure that we work hard, we are not looking at anything less than the final,” said Kachinga.\n“It is easier said than done, we need to put in a lot of hard work. We need to make sure that the girls are aware of the target.”\nThe 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship will bring together 12 nations competing for regional honours at the finals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe from September 13-24.\nThe event will bring together 11 of the 14 countries from the region, as well as East African guest nation Kenya.\nThe COSAFA nations that have entered the championship are Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and hosts Zimbabwe.\nDraws for the pool stages will be made on August 25 or 26 with the final date to be determined later.\nFULL SQUAD\n(GOALKEEPERS)\nHazel Nali, Chiko Nkhoma (Red Arrows), Ngambo Musole, Catherine Musonda (Zesco United), Annie Namoonje (Mufulira Wanderers), Memory Chansa (Konkola Blades)\nDEFENDERS:\nMajory Mulenga (Moba Queens), Sharon Chileshe, Judith Zulu, Anita Mulenga, Annie Kibanji (Green Buffaloes), Margaret Belemu, Elizabeth Nachivula (Red Arrows), Elina Mbewe (National Assembly), Elizabeth Mutale (Green Eagles), Jane Chalwe (Zesco United), Grace Zulu, Jacqueline Nkole (Indeni)\nMIDFEILDERS\nHelen Chanda , Mary Wilombe, Misozi Zulu (Red Arrows), Rhoda Chileshe , Esther Mukwasa, Grace Nanyinza (Indeni), Carol Nsama (Mufulira Wanderers), Natasha Witika, Milika Limwanya (Zesco United), Astridah Pupe (Moba Queens), Ireen Lungu, Barbara Banda, Lweendo Chisamu (Green Buffaloes),\nSTRIKERS\nEsther Mushota (Moba Queens), Rachael Nachula (Green Buffaloes), Havel Chitundu, Grace Chanda (Zesco United), Noria Sosala, Theresa Chewe (Indeni)\nFAZ", "Circumcision is the oldest and most frequent surgical procedure in the world. In some cultures, it marks a clear break from childhood to adulthood. But, reports of young men dying during traditional initiation rites due to spontaneous bleeding are devastating. The Conversation Africa’s Health and Medicine Editor Joy Wanja Muraya asked Dr Peter Kibet Shikuku for his views on a safe circumcision programme in Kenya for boys with haemophilia – a bleeding disorder.\nHow prevalent is haemophilia in Kenya?\nMost patients with haemophilia are born with it, congenital, while others acquire it.\nPatients must see a specialist, a haematologist, before any surgery to control their bleeding. While circumcision is not a major operation, it can lead to death because the bleeding is slow, consistent, continuous and prolonged.\nThe prevalence of haemophilia is the same in all communities and remains at 1 per 10,000 in any population. As a country we have only reached awareness of the disease at 14% of those affected.\nSuperstitions are driven by lack of awareness in the communities forcing some parents to hide or lock away their children from the general public due to associations of the condition with bad omen.\nDuring circumcision by traditional healers, the injured young men and those slow to heal are abandoned in the forest to die. Circumcision, they say, is not for weaklings.\nHow different is circumcision for haemophiliacs?\nCircumcision carries different meanings in Africa and globally. In most communities in Kenya, it’s a rite of passage practiced by most communities on boys and/or girls.\nIt involves either the removal of certain teeth, tattooing parts of the body, piercing of earlobes, removal of the foreskin or a combination of practices.\nDuring these rites blood is lost, with a few complications occurring. But, some young men die due to lack of adequate testing for haemophilia - a genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to make blood clots.\nThis is complicated by lack of information within the circumcising communities on the bleeding disorder. The uninitiated are often stigmatised, ridiculed and bullied by their peers.\nBecause of this, some young men do not disclose that they’re haemophiliac and undergo circumcision without the precautionary measures, leading to complications, and even death.\nBlood clot elements that manage haemophilia during circumcision are not readily available and are expensive. The missing factor protein is injected into the affected person’s vein enabling the body to continue the clotting and hence stop the bleeding.\nFirst case study\nA 23 year old man in high school was under peer pressure to get circumcised. They threatened to forcibly circumcise him themselves. He knew he had haemophilia and needed the factor concentrate.\nHe travelled from one health facility to another to accumulate enough of the concentrate . But, it wasn’t enough and he was circumcised with these expired products in one of the health facilities.\nHe developed antibodies to factor eight on the fifth day after the operation and ended up with a by passing agent to overcome the antibodies till he healed. It’s not even possible to establish the reason behind antibody development in this patient.\nSecond case study\nA young man in his 20’s with haemophilia had suicidal tendencies. Being “uncut” was unacceptable and demeaning in his community.\nHe got clinicians to take him through the procedure even though they had very limited resources. A group of consultants decided to use blood components, a few factor concentrates and tranexamic acid. This combination worked despite the shortcomings associated with it. He recovered and is now one of Kenya’s paralympic sportsmen.\nWhat strategies and technologies are used to ensure safer circumcision amongst haemophiliacs?\nThere are 450 young men attending the haemophilia comprehensive care clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. They make up about 10% of all haemophiliacs countrywide.\nMost of them are not circumcised despite coming from circumcising communities, because of haemophilia. That is because of the lack of factor concentrates which are essential in preventing bleeding.\nAt Kenyatta National Hospital, circumcision was the least of procedures to be offered to haemophiliacs due to lack of factor concentrates. The clinical team opted to use tranexamic acid alternating it with cryoprecipitate to stop heavy bleeding, commonly used in peripheral facilities by uninformed surgeons.\nThis seemed to have worked though in case of any inhibitor development, there were almost no alternative treatment and fatalities were almost the norm.\nTowards the end of 2015, Kenya Hemophilia Association initiated a “safe” circumcision programme in the two health facilities, that has led to circumcision of about 30 haemophilia patients. All the young men were prepared before the surgery by getting clotting factors and later followed up in the wards until they got fully healed.\nWhat challenges do you face running this safer circumcision programme? What lessons have you learnt?\nThe lack of cost effective drugs to manage patients during circumcision is the most urgent concern.\nThe shortage of factor concentrates in public hospitals and clinics forces us to rely heavily on donations from the World Federation of Haemophilia. The availability of the concentrates in select health facilities locks out families with haemophiliac young men from safe circumcision.\nSince the safe circumcision programme started, parents are bringing their sons for registration. This has enabled the programme to schedule with the surgeons all procedures annually.\nWe are creating public awareness of the signs and symptoms associated with the disease so that people can seek help early, before the young men reach circumcision age.\nFor young men who wish to keep to their cultural initiation rites, we have trained nurses to deliver the clotting factors at the village during circumcision supported by the traditional surgeons, elders and other decision makers.\nOverall, fewer cases are now being brought to the hospital as emergencies following circumcision as compared to before. The programme intends to determine the best protocol which is cost effective and easily implemented at the lower health facilities in the counties.", "The newest 100-metre freestyle rivalry is alive and well after James Magnussen fired back at criticism from gold medallist-turned coach Ashley Callus following his Queensland Championships win on Monday night.\nThe two-time world champion won a relatively slow final in 49.23 – well off his personal best of 47.10 – to pip Jack Cartwright (49.33) and Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers (49.60).\nSHARE\nShare on Facebook SHARE\nShare on Twitter TWEET\nLink Comeback trail: Two-time world champion James Magnussen. Photo: Brendan Esposito\nCameron McEvoy (50.10) was sixth while James Roberts (49.85) was fifth, with the quintet's battle set to be a highlight leading into April's Commonwealth Games.\nMagnussen was satisfied to touch first, especially following mid-week comments from Roberts' coach Callus saying \"he hadn't done anything for years\".\n\"You've got your usual suspects, Chalmers and McEvoy, you've got young (Jack) Cartwright, who's coming through, James (Roberts) has made teams but Maggie's not even in the mix at the moment,\" said Callus, who won a sprint relay gold at Sydney's Olympics.\nMagnussen read those comments and said while they didn't motivate him, they had resonated.\nAdvertisement\n\"I think that shows a complete lack of class; I'm never going to stoop to that level,\" he said.\n\"Winners focus on winning and losers focus on winners ... it's water off a duck's back because I only take into consideration people's opinion that I respect and that are within my circle.\"\nMagnussen skipped this year's world championships after returning from shoulder surgery and says he is finally mentally and physically recovered before next year's Commonwealth Games.\nAnd he said the rivalry would spur all five men on.\n\"It should do; whenever I've been racing there's always rivalries ... first it was myself and Eamon (Sullivan), that moved on to myself and Cam and now you throw Kyle in the mix ... it's great for the sport,\" he said.\nEarlier Ariarne Titmus continued her strong meet, taking 0.48 seconds off the national 400m freestyle record.\nThe 17-year-old bettered Jessica Ashwood's national mark with a time of 4:02.86 and is hopeful of going below four minutes next year, such has been her progression.\nThe win followed Sunday's defeat of world and Olympic medallist Emma McKeon over 200m.\nCate Campbell (52.69) won from sister Bronte (53.75) in the women's 100m final, while 400m Olympic champion Mack Horton (3.49:73) pipped young gun Elijah Winnington (3:50: 20) in the men's 400m.\nMitch Larkin (54.03) and Emily Seebohm (59.22) defied their heavy training blocks to prevail in the 100m men's and women's backstroke finals.\nJessica Hansen (1:07.24) comfortably won the 100m breaststroke, while Daniel Cave (1:01.66) touched out Liam Hunter (1:01.70) in the men's equivalent.\nAAP", "Kenya Police and Telkom will inch closer to winning the men and women's Premier League hockey titles with victories in their Jamhuri Day fixtures at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.\nPolice take on bottom placed Technical University of Kenya (TUK), while Telkom will be up against second-placed Amira Sailors in two of the six matches lined up on this holiday.\nParklands, smarting from their 3-0 loss away to Nakuru on Sunday tackle Chase Sailors, as champions Strathmore University Gladiators take on Kenya College of Accountancy in a relegation dog fight battle.\nThe last match of the day will see former champions Sikh Union up against Wazalendo. The match between Police and TUK marks contrasting fortunes for the two teams.\nWhile a win for Police will leave them needing six points to clinch the title, a loss for the students will see them relegated.\nPolice responded from their first loss of the season away to Western Jaguars 11 days to go, with a 2-1 win over Greensharks on Sunday.\nThe result lifted the leaders to 64 points, 13 ahead of Butali who are in second place. Police coach Kenneth Kaunda is hoping his charges can build on their impressive result against Sharks as they close in on the title.\n\"It was important to get a response after the loss away to Jaguars and we are now almost certain of clinching the title, it is ours to lose,\" Kaunda said.\nTUK face a tall order as they bid to avoid the big drop in their maiden season in the top flight.\n\"We just have to go out there and play like it is a final, Police are beatable and we have no option but to do it,\" TUK coach Peter Mwathe said. Police won the first leg encounter 2-1 on April 28.\nIn the women's Premier League, Telkom will move 11 points clear of the table with a win against Amira with five matches left.\nTelkom, who chasing a record 20th title, are yet to lose a match this season and have scored an impressive 93 goals, conceding only twice.\n\"We want to wrap up the league and turn our attention to next month's club championship in Accra,\" Telkom coach Jos Openda said. Amira dropped two crucial points in their 1-1 draw against Vikings as they look to secure second spot.\nFixtures (All matches at City Park Stadium)\nPremier Women: Strathmore university v UON - 9am, Telkom v Amira -10.30am\nPremier Men: Kenya Police v TUK- 12noon, Parklands v Chase Sailors- 1.30pm. Strathmore University v KCAU-3om, Sikh Union v Wazalendo - 5pm", "LONDON (Reuters) - Kenyan Hellen Obiri produced an astonishing last lap to leave defending champion Almaz Ayana in her wake as she won the women's 5,000 metres at the World Athletics Championships and claimed her first major title on Sunday.\nEthiopia's Ayana, who led Obiri for more than half the race, was denied a double after winning the 10,000 metres with a devastating run earlier at the championships.\nThe pair broke clear of the pack after one third of the race and opened up a huge gap as they set a blistering pace.\nAyana led with Obiri on her shoulder into the final lap until the Kenyan, silver medallist in Rio de Janeiro last year, burst past with 300 metres left and stormed home to win in 14:34.86, more than five seconds clear of her rival.\nSifan Hassan of the Netherlands prevented an East African clean sweep by taking the bronze.\n\"I was telling myself to go. I could see Ayana was not going so I thought, why not?\" said Obiri. \"I am mentally strong so I knew I was capable.\"\nIt was always going to be an enthralling contest.\nAthletics - World Athletics Championships - Women's 5000 Metres Final - London Stadium, London, Britain – August 13, 2017. Hellen Onsando Obiri of Kenya celebrates winning the final. Fabrizio Bensch\nObiri, 27, has steadily moved closer to a major title over the course of he career and had won all of her races this summer over 5,000 metres, clocking the fastest time of the year when she ran 14:18.37 in Rome.\nAyana was bronze medallist over the distance in Rio where she also won the 10,000 metres and set a world record. She has been plagued by injury this season and the 10,000 race on Aug.5 was her first of the season.\nObiri did not run the 10,000 metres last week and her decision to concentrate on the shorter distance paid off.\nAthletics - World Athletics Championships - Women's 5000 Metres Final - London Stadium, London, Britain – August 13, 2017. Hellen Onsando Obiri of Kenya celebrates winning the final. Phil Noble\nThere was a cagey start with the first 400 metres taking a painfully slow 81 seconds before Ayana and Obiri took control.\nAyana seized the initiative with nine laps left, Obiri followed and after steadily increasing the gap, they were more than 50 metres clear with four to go.\nThe Ethiopian tried several times to pull away but Obiri responded each time before producing her deadly final push.\n\"It was a difficult race. I am better at leading it to get the win rather than challenging in a final sprint. It was difficult to push Hellen through to the finish line,\" said Ayana.\n\"Compared to Rio this is a bigger achievement. I've had many injuries this year so I am very happy with two medals.\"", "It's safe to assume everyone loves a sale, but there's something to be said about the loyal fandom of Old Navy's $1 flip-flops. People literally go batsh*t crazy whenever the solid-colored flip-flops go on sale each Summer. To curb some of that enthusiasm, the retailer recently announced shoppers will be able to purchase the $1 flip-flops online this year. That's right; you can breathe a sigh of relief. No more waiting in line and possibly fighting over that last pair of size-5 flip-flops anymore.\nIf you have an Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic card, you'll want to mark this date on your calendar: Saturday, June 24. Cardholders will get first dibs on the $1 flip-flops in all participating stores that day. The following week — Saturday, July 1 — the flip-flop mania will be available in every store and online for customers. If you just like the thrill of being among the chaos, you'll want to arrive at your local Old Navy early — 7.a.m. sharp! — to snag up to 10 pairs of $1 flip-flops for your feet this Summer. Let the Hunger Games flip-flop sale commence!", "Saskatoon’s Prairie Lily LGBTQ Curling League made history over the weekend.\nFor the first time ever, Saskatoon teams took both first and second place at the 2017 Canadian Gay Curling Championship in Montreal.\nLeague president Jason Evanochko, a member of the second place team, said the strong showing was important for the league becauseSaskatoon is still a relatively fresh player in the world of LGBTQ sport. The league is in its third year of operation this year.Sixteen teams from across Canada participated in the championship.\n“A lot of these other leagues have been around for quite a few years, like 10, 15 years … so being new representation for gay curling and gay sporting in Canada was pretty awesome,” he said. “It’s a really good opportunity for the LGBT community to able to be represented at a national level.”\nEvanochko’s team fell 6-4 during Sunday’s final, but the loss wasn’t hard to take — his partner, Darryl Finch, was on the team that brought the championship to Saskatoon and the league’s home base, Nutana Curling Club.\n“We knew the night before that they had a chance to make it to the final against us, and if they did, it would be the first time the national trophy came back to Saskatoon,” Finch said. When the final rock was thrown, he knew it was an important win, he said.\n“It felt like we were making history and bringing some pride back to our league that just started up three years ago.”\nSeveral team members live within a block of one another.\n“Regardless of who won or who lost, we were all just ecstatic that it was going to be coming home to Saskatoon. We’re all such close friends,” he said. “It was just hugs going onto the ice and hugs coming off of the ice. No tears, except for the joy of it.”\nGuy Mazerolle, co-chair of the Canadian Gay Curling Championship, noted while teams from Western Canada usually dominate due to the prevalence of the sport in the region, Saskatoon’s performance was unmatched.\n“Saskatoon is really impressive,” he said on the phone from Montreal, noting thatwhile teams from Vancouver and Toronto can pull from a larger pool of players, they were unable to topple the teams from the prairies.\nThe win means more than bragging rights, he said.\nEvery time you have a title like that, it brings interest to the sport and to the league as well.”\nPrairie Lily officials hope interest continues to grow ahead of the league’s first bonspiel in March.\nmmodjeski@postmedia.com\nTwitter.com/MorganM_SP", "Home players got off to winning starts as Karen Open Tennis Championship got underway Monday at the Karen Country Club.\nKenya's top seeded player Ismail Changawa led Sheil Kotecha, Kevin Cheruiyot, Ibrahim Kibet Yego and Petty Andanda in first round victories.\nThere were also victories for Kenyan girls as Shufaa Changawa and Sneha Kotecha cruised to the second round of the competition. Second seed Ismail barely broke sweat in his 6-1, 6-1 win over Burundi's Assani Murisho in their men's first round singles encounter.\nFresh from winning the Rwanda and Malawi Open title last month, the US-based Ismail dropped only two games on his way to a convincing win in the tie which lasted 58 minutes.\n\"It is always good to end the year with a tournament at home and I am hoping to continue with my fine form after winning two events last month,\" Ismail said. His win set the precedent for home players as third-seed Sheil Kotecha followed next on court, dropping just two games to another 6-1, 6-1 win over Ethiopia's Yabets Kebede on centre court.\nSiblings Ibrahim Kibet and Kevin Cheruiyot would extend Kenya's winning run as they also saw off Emmanuel Mallya (Tanzania) and Ernest Habiyambere (Rwanda) 7-6(3), 6-2 and 7-6(6), 7-5 respectively in thrilling encounters.\nAnother upcoming home player Petty Andanda downed Japanese player Hiroki Ishida 6-2, 6-2 to secure his spot in the second round of the competition which is back after almost a decade.\nIt was however the end of the road for Kenya's Albert Njogu, Zakaria Keru, Davis Sande and Peter Kihara, after they lost their first round encounters.\nIn the women's matches, top seed Shufaa Changawa saw off compatriot Katarina Karanja 6-2, 6-2 in their first round singles match. Shufaa dominated her friend hitting 13 aces and also saved 10 match points to ease into the second round.\n\"It was a nice start to the competition and I am hoping to build on the win in the coming rounds which should be more difficult,\" Shufaa said.\nThird seed Sneha Kotecha was leading 1-0 against her opponent Nancu Nduku before the latter retired due to injury. Burundi's Aisha Niyonkuru was handed a walkover after her opponent Marie Owino was a no-show.\nMen's top seed and Kenya Open champion Duncan Mugabe from Uganda also advanced to the second round." ]

[ "This is what I would start with. You'll likely have to tweak settings to fit your specific needs. The main setting to disable is Digital ICE. The silver in B&amp;W film interferes with its function.\n\n\nOriginal: Document Type and Film Type – These probably just set some reasonable defaults. What you've selected seems appropriate (Film, B&amp;W Negative). Scan resolution is probably set implicitly by these settings, since there isn't anywhere else to configure it.\n\nConsider switching the film type to Color. The scanner sensor is color regardless, but when set to color you will get three copies of the image, one in each color channel. You can average them later to reduce noise. \nDestination: Image Type, Resolution, Document Size, Target Size – These probably don't matter, since they are output image settings.\nAdjustments:\n\n\nTry to get the levels, curves, and color adjustments as close to perfect to maximize use of the available bit-depth in the final output. But do leave a bit of room in the histogram to make further adjustments later.\nUnsharp Mask – Disable. You can do this later in a standard photo editor.\nGrain Reduction - I would disable it. However, you might want to try it. If you like the results, you should go ahead and use it. It may use algorithms that are not normally available in standard photo editors.\nColor Restoration – Disable for black and white. For color, test to see if you like the results.\nBacklight Correction – Try it to see if you like the results.\nDust Removal – Try it to see if you like the results. Usually there is a trade-off in absolute image quality (sharpness) and effort you'll have to expend later removing dust.\nDigital ICE Technology – Disable for Black and White. Enable for color. This setting uses an Infrared channel to detect and remove scratches and dust. The silver in B&amp;W film interferes with this function.\n\nColor Correction – None is probably fine. Consider making some test scans with it enabled. Even though you're working in black and white, it may apply some correction curves that could reduce effort later.\nTo save the file, I'd use 16-bit PNG. If that's not available, I'd use 16-bit TIF. File sizes will be quite large, but there aren't currently any viable 16-bit lossy image formats." ]

[ "It's tough to prove a negative in this case, but in looking through LP scans on Discogs of all Kansas's early albums up to and including 1979's Monolith, I haven't found any mention whatsoever of \"White Rabbit\". Most of the 1970s LPs do have \"Special Thanks\" type sections though, so perhaps he was thanked under a different name? I'm assuming \"White Rabbit\" is a nickname of some sorts.\n\nAs a complete list, I checked the following Discogs album scans:\n\n\nKansas\nSong for America\nMasque\nLeftoverture\nPoint of Know Return\nTwo for the Show\nMonolith\n\n\nI should note as well that googling \"kansas\" \"white rabbit\" returned no results of note.", "You note that magic is in all living things:\n\n\n It is present in every living being (flowers, trees, people, animals) \n\n\nIf beings that are able to see magic would be able to see when the magic that is in the living being has gone. This would of course depend on what the nature of magic looks like to these creatures but they would see it leaching out of the individual as the life force also is seeping from the creature.\n\nPerhaps this is represented by dimming of color or an absence of light in the way that heat shows up on infrared scans as red turning to white bright spots and cold is reflected as blue turning to blackness.", "In the meantime, my problem got solved : I got an update of WhatsApp on both my phone (2.20-2005.169 and my Mac (Version 2.2047.10). With those 2 versions, I can connect WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Mac with my Samsung phone again.\nNB: for it to work, you MUST on the phone use ...&gt;WhatsApp Web and then scan the code even for the Mac App. Do NOT go ...&gt;Settings&gt;QR code (top right)&gt;Scan Code: you'll get a scanning error message saying &quot;Use the WhatsApp Web scanner to scan this QR code&quot;\nI hope that it help others facing same problem.\nDidier", "R (24 characters)\nlength(sequence(scan()))\n\nWhat this does:\n\nscan reads input from STDIN (or a file)\nsequence generates integer sequences starting from 1 and concatenates the sequences. For example, sequence(c(2, 3)) results in the vector 1 2 1 2 3\nlength calculates the number of elements in the concatenated vector\n\nExample 1:\n&gt; length(sequence(scan()))\n1: 123\n2: 468\n3:\nRead 2 items\n[1] 591\n\nExample 2:\n&gt; length(sequence(scan()))\n1: 702\n2: 720\n3:\nRead 2 items\n[1] 1422", "What you're looking for is known as a \"scan\" in functional programming. Surprisingly, ruby's Enumerable, which is where this method belongs (since what you're doing is not, ultimately, specific to strings), does not provide a scan method or its equivalent.\n\nBut we can write one easily enough:\n\nmodule Enumerable\n def scans\n reduce([]) {|m,x| m &lt;&lt; (m.last || []) + [x]}\n end \nend\n\n\nNow we have a general purpose method which we can use like so:\n\n[9] pry(main)&gt; (1..5).to_a.scans\n=&gt; [[1], [1, 2], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]]\n\n\nYour original problem now becomes a simple delegation to scans:\n\n[14] pry(main)&gt; 'abc'.split('').scans.map(&amp;:join)\n=&gt; [\"a\", \"ab\", \"abc\"]", "We can disentangle what is going on at the low level. First of all, shift is defined as\n\n\\tikzoption{shift}{\\tikz@addtransform{\\tikz@scan@one@point\\pgftransformshift#1\\relax}}%\n\n\nThe macro that does the heavy lifting scanning a point is \\tikz@scan@one@point. The result is a \\pgfpoint which is then passed to \\pgftransformshift. This transformation is then added to the stack of transformations which is managed by \\tikz@addtransform.\n\nThe procedure of \\tikz@scan@one@point is a bit more tricky. Here is a tree diagram of what happens inside approximately.\n\n \\tikz@scan@one@point\n |\n if next character is +\n /yes no\\\n scan relative point |\n | |\n if next character is + |\n /yes no\\ |\n relative to previous relative to first |\n \\ / |\n scan absolute point --------------\n |\n if character is (\n /yes no\\\n | expand tokens (at most 100 times)\n | |\n | valid coordinate found?\n | /yes no\\\n | | Give up.\n | | \"Cannot parse this coordinate\"\n | |\n -- if next character is [\n /yes no\\\nscan until ] and pass to \\tikzset |\n \\ /\n if next character is $\n /yes no\\\n &lt;--- calc library |\n if coordinate contains with cs:\n /yes no\\\n parse coordinate system |\n if coordinate contains intersection\n /yes no\\\n parse intersection if coordinate contains with |\n /yes no\\\n if coordinate contains -| |\n /yes no\\ |\n parse -| specifier parse |- specifier |\n |\n if coordinate contains :\n /yes no\\\n parse polar coordinate |\n if coordinate contains ,\n /yes no\\\n parse regular coordinate parse node name\n\n\nIn your case it will descend into the parse regular coordinate branch, where the point will just be split at the comma and each component will be evaluated with \\pgfmathparse.\n\nRegarding the second part of your question:\n\n\n And if I want to define a pgfkey with a coordinate-like parameter so that when I pass a string like (2, 3, 4), it is parsed and the values are saved to three macros respectively, is it feasible to imitate the way how tikz handles or are there some other convenient methods?\n\n\nIn this case I think you are better off parsing this by hand, i.e. something along those lines:\n\n\\tikzset{\n triple/x/.store in=\\triplex,\n triple/y/.store in=\\tripley,\n triple/z/.store in=\\triplez,\n triple/.style args={(#1,#2,#3)}{\n triple/x=#1,\n triple/y=#2,\n triple/z=#3,\n }\n}\n\n\\tikzset{triple={(1,2,3)}}", "From your description I do not think the networking is alive, else nmap would've found it.\n\nJust to make sure you can run nmap with the following options -A 192.168.1.0/24 (where 192.168.1.0/24 is your own network) The /24 will scan each host from 192.168.1.0 to 192.168.1.255.\n\nIf it doesn't show up on the nmap scan, then I sincerely doubt that it even has networking running. \n\nMay I ask how you set up your PI before you connected the ethernet cable?\n\nMy preferred method is to do an install with HDMI so that you see what is going on and only when you have networking fully enabled to go into an ssh method for management.", "Some claims of existence are mathematical: is a given set of properties consistent? is there a number/object which satisfies a given set of constraints? Whether you set out to prove the positive or the negative, the burden is on the claimant, there's no need to worry about whether it is positive or negative existence or non-existence. There may still be an issue of difficulty (or as your example shows, issues of constructibility and reverse mathematical -logical- axioms (like \"p or not p\") are allowed).\n\nOther claims are scientific: is there a an instance in the 'real' world? Here the properties are not inconsistent, but not necessary either. Is there a unicorn dancing on my head? (evidence shows not). Is there an atom of atomic number 120? (theoretically its possible, but we can't scan the entire universe, and our current technology only gets us so far). \n\nSo for your primes example, existence or non-existence, it doesn't matter (any quantification can be converted from existential to universal or back again with a couple extra negations).\n\nFor your 'murderer' vs 'not natural cause' example, you're still playing with the properties of the concepts, which is...mathematical." ]

[ "Florida reported 15,299 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, marking the largest single-day increase of any state since the start of the pandemic. Sunday's number exceeds New York's peak of more than 12,200 new cases in one day back in April, when it was the epicenter of the outbreak. This latest surge brings the total number of cases in the state to 269,811. Florida has recorded 4,242 total deaths, with 45 of those new as of Sunday. \"If Florida were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for the most new cases a day behind the United States, Brazil and India,\" Reuters noted. As of Saturday, 7,186 people were hospitalized in Florida, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Florida started reopening in early May and has continually shattered state records for single-day increases since cases began surging there in June. It surpassed 10,000 new cases in one day for the first time earlier this month. Despite the uptick in cases, many entities are continuing or resuming operations. On Saturday, as the state reported more than 10,000 new cases, two of Disney World's four area parks reopened to the public. The others are expected to open on Wednesday. And last week, the state's Department of Education ordered schools to reopen for in-person instruction in August. Gov. Ron DeSantis has largely resisted imposing statewide restrictions, though he did order bars to close to on-site alcohol consumption in late June. Even with cases shattering records, DeSantis said at a June 30 news conference that the state would not roll back its reopening. He emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable populations but stopped short of asking people to stay home. \"We're not going back, closing things,\" he told reporters. \"I don't think that that's really what's driving it — people going to a business is not what's driving it. I think when you see the younger folks, I think a lot of it is more just social interactions, so that's natural.\" While a growing number of governors have issued statewide mandates requiring face masks in public, DeSantis is not one of them. He has instead left the decision up to local governments, many of which have enacted mask mandates of their own. Jacksonville, which is set to host the Republican National Convention in August, implemented a face covering requirement late last month. Some local officials have also rolled back certain reopenings in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, especially in hard-hit South Florida. In Miami-Dade County, which is considered a hot spot, Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced a countywide daily curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. effective July 3. He also rolled back the opening of entertainment facilities such as movie theaters, arcades and concert houses. Another order, effective since July 9, closes banquet halls and ballrooms, makes masks mandatory at gyms and restricts restaurants to outdoor seating only. And an updated emergency order took effect in Broward County on July 10, setting limits on restaurant seating and vacation rentals, with violators subject to fines and closures. The World Health Organization also reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Sunday, with a rise of 230,370 in 24 hours." ]

[ "The number of new daily coronavirus infections in the U.S. continued to rise this past week, driven by upward trends in nearly half the states that have pushed total cases in the country past 7 million. At the same time, a recent study suggests the vast majority of Americans haven't been exposed, far below what's required to quell the virus's spread through \"herd immunity.\" Daily cases were largely on a downward trend through August and early September from highs in July, but are now going up again. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Tracker, the U.S. reported more than 55,000 new cases on Friday. In total, the U.S. has more than 7,074,000 infections with 204,000 dead as a result of COVID-19. Overall, about two-dozen states and territories reported an upward trend in new infections, with some states setting and breaking records in days. In Wisconsin, the state's Department of Health said it had identified 2,817 new infections on Saturday — its highest daily total since the pandemic begin. It broke the record of 2,533 new infections from Sept. 18. Earlier in the week, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared a new public health emergency. In issuing his executive order Tuesday, Evers noted that an increase in infections among young people, particular on campuses, was helping to drive the surge. Later in the week, Evers announced he was allocating $8.3 million for testing at colleges and universities. \"Wisconsin is now experiencing unprecedented, near-exponential growth of the number of COVID-19 cases in our state,\" Evers said in a video posted to social media this week. Elsewhere in the Midwest, South Dakota continued to see a surge in cases. The state's department of health reported 579 new cases on its website Saturday — its highest daily total since the pandemic began, according to data from Johns Hopkins. In August, a motorcycle rally drew a nearly half million participants to Sturgis, S.D. The rally was linked to hundreds of cases in South Dakota and other states. Other states reporting record surges this week include Utah, which reported 1,411 new cases Friday. Montana also broke its daily record on Saturday with 346 new cases. But other states continued to see declines. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he was lifting all of the state's coronavirus restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Cases in that state peaked in July, edging past 12,000 daily infections. Since that summer surge, however, Florida has seen a decline in daily cases. Far from \"herd immunity\" Even as cases rise in much of the U.S., recent data published in the medical journal the Lancet suggests the vast majority of the country's population hasn't been exposed to the coronavirus. Researchers tested blood samples gathered from tens of thousands of dialysis patients for antibodies. According to their results, just 9% of Americans may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Experts say that rate is far too low achieve \"herd immunity\" — where exposure to the virus and/or a vaccine drastically reduces the spread of a virus. Those figures echo the initial findings of an ongoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study mentioned by director Robert Redfield in congressional testimony earlier this week. Redfield told lawmakers on Wednesday that \"preliminary results in the first round\" showed that more than 90% of the Americans were still susceptible to COVID-19.", "Pick your verb: Hulk smashed, pulverized, shattered. That's what different news outlets are calling The Avengers' domination of the weekend box office. The super hero movie — directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson — hauled in $200 million, pulverizing, Hulk smashing, shattering the previous record held by the final Harry Potter film from last year, which made a measley $169.2 million. The AP says it is \"easily the biggest opening ever.\" The AP reports that foreign receipts make the movie bigger: \"The Avengers added $151.5 million overseas over the weekend to bring its total to $441.5 million since it began opening internationally a week earlier. \"That raised the film's worldwide haul to $641.8 million in barely a week and a half, more than its Marvel superhero forerunners Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America took in during their entire runs. ... \"'There aren't even words, to be honest. I'm running low on double takes. Every time we looked at a number, it just got bigger than what we could have hoped for in the best-case assumption,' said Dave Hollis, Disney's head of distribution. 'With this film, this weekend, anything is possible.'\" The Los Angeles Times tries to find reasons for the massive success. Among them: The Hollywood superhero era is not over; the film's critical acclaim helped, and geek could be cool", "Twenty years ago, following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, President Carter announced that the U-S would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The boycott affected some 200 U-S athletes, many of whom remain bitter about being denied their only chance to compete for their country in the Olympics. Nancy Greenleese of member station KPBS reports.", "The U.S. recorded 88,521 new coronavirus cases Thursday, more than any other day in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Nearly a thousand people died from the disease in the U.S. on Thursday, pushing the total to 228,696 lives lost. In the past week, the U.S. has blown past record levels of infection that were seen in the summer, when new cases topped 77,000 in July. Since last Thursday, the U.S. has posted more than 80,000 cases on several days. The coronavirus is rippling through populations in North and South Dakota, in Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho – the six states that are reporting at least 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new surge is different from the summer, when large states such as Florida and Texas propelled the rise and many outbreaks were linked to holiday outings. More than a third of U.S. states have reported 10,000 or more cases in the past seven days, according to the CDC, and that list comprises a broad section of the country. In another alarming trend, U.S. hospitals were treating more than 46,000 COVID-19 patients on Thursday, the COVID Tracking Project says. Seven days earlier, about 41,000 people were hospitalized in the U.S. The hospitalization rate has risen sharply since September, when it hovered around 30,000 new patients on many days. Despite the new rise in cases, U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are markedly lower than the tragic heights of the spring and summer. But it's also worth noting that when the U.S. set its summertime record for new cases, on July 16, it reported 947 deaths – slightly lower than Thursday's total. By the end of July, the U.S. daily death rate rose to nearly 1,500, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Despite advances in treatment that are credited with lowering the U.S. fatality rate, experts warn that the sheer number of new cases, and the strain on hospital systems, will lead to more deaths. Their worries are compounded by the looming winter flu season. \"One case per second in US yesterday,\" former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said Friday via Twitter. \"Today, every 40 seconds, someone in this country will get a Covid infection that will kill them,\" Frieden added, calling the U.S. response to the pandemic an unacceptable failure. The U.S. is now poised to report a total of 9 million coronavirus cases, the most in the world. This week, India joined the U.S. as the only two countries with more than 8 million confirmed cases.", "Liane talks with NPR's Rob Gifford, who is in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), where celebrations are being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Communist troops captured Saigon on April 30, 1975. Today, a military parade will be held around the palace where North Vietnamese tanks smashed through gates to claim the headquarters of the U-S backed South Vietnamese government.", "India has surpassed 8 million confirmed coronavirus cases, making it the second country to reach that milestone after the United States. Daily new cases in India are continuing to drop after a record high in September, and a government-appointed panel of scientists has said that the country is past its peak. But the Hindu festival season, local elections and seasonal air pollution are raising concerns that the virus could surge again. For weeks during the fall, India was the country where the virus was spreading the fastest. In mid-September, it was recording close to 100,000 new daily cases and was expected to surpass the United States in total caseload. But for more than a month now, India has been seeing a sustained decline in infections, even as it conducts about a million tests every day. On Thursday, India's health ministry reported 49,881 new cases. Earlier this week, India recorded its lowest daily caseload in more than three months. Coronavirus-related deaths are also down. India ranks third behind the U.S. and Brazil in coronavirus fatalities and has recorded 120,527 deaths since the pandemic began. But scientists and authorities are cautioning against complacency as public places reopen across the country. \"This is not the time to think that corona has gone away or that corona isn't dangerous anymore,\" Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Indians in a televised address last week as the Hindu festival season began. People typically crowd markets and gather shoulder-to-shoulder to offer prayers and participate in festivities. That could cause coronavirus cases to go up again. Even though new cases are declining nationally, India's capital New Delhi is seeing a jump in infections. It recorded 5,673 new cases over the past 24 hours — its largest number so far. The latest wave of infections in Delhi coincides with poor air quality during the colder months, when a thick smog descends over the capital. It's a combination of fumes from vehicles, factories and smoke from crops being burned in neighboring states. Studies show that air pollution may contribute to COVID-19 mortality. There are also fears that the virus could surge in the eastern state of Bihar, as polling takes place there into early November. Politicians in Bihar have been holding large public rallies drawing thousands of people with little social distancing. Modi himself has been addressing rallies there this week. Many of those campaigning in Bihar, including politicians from Modi's ruling party, have tested positive for the coronavirus. Bihar is the country's third most populous state, with a population of about 122 million. It also has one of the weakest health care systems in the country. With more than 70 million eligible voters, the election in Bihar is among the largest in the world since the pandemic began.", "Urban Meyer, who led the Florida Gators to two national football championships, will indeed be taking the head coaching job at Ohio State, according to reports from The Columbus Dispatch, ESPN and several other news outlets. There's a news conference at the school scheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET. There had been talk, as we reported, about Meyer possibly taking over the program at Penn State after head coach Joe Paterno lost his job there in the wake of allegations that a former PSU assistant coach had been sexually abusing young boys for more than a decade — sometimes on campus. But there had also been considerable speculation about Meyer and the Ohio State job. Meyer, 47, is an Ohio native and began his coaching career at Ohio State as a graduate assistant in 1986. And those ties (plus, reportedly, about $6 million a year) likely proved strong. He'll inherit a program in trouble. As The Associated Press says: \"Meyer takes over a program that has been hit by several suspensions and the forced resignation of coach Jim Tressel. ... Tressel was forced to resign on May 30. Missing several top players because of NCAA suspensions stemming from the tattoo mess, the Buckeyes were hit with more suspensions when three players accepted $200 in cash for attending a charity event and others were forced to sit out or had their existing suspensions extended for being overpaid for summer jobs.\" Meyer left Florida after the 2010 season, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and take care of his health. During the 2009 season, he had been hospitalized with chest pains.", "The Triple S Mart in Baton Rouge has become a shrine and a gathering place for activists. It's where Alton Sterling was shot and killed by police officers just over a week ago. Standing in front of a large mural of Sterling at the convenience store, his son, 15-year-old Cameron Sterling said he hoped his father's death would help bring people in the city together. \"My father was a good man,\" Cameron said. \"That was a sacrifice to show everybody what was going on.\" A police affidavit says Sterling was reaching for his gun when he was shot by officers. Sterling's supporters believe the videos of the shooting show otherwise. The investigation is now in the hands of the federal government — not local prosecutors — and many in Baton Rouge believe that's for the best. Two Baton Rouges Even before last week's fatal police shooting, there was a lack of trust in Baton Rouge between law enforcement and the city's African-American community. The police force is mostly white in a city that's mostly black. Following Sterling's death, law enforcement agencies responded forcefully to protesters, arresting some 200 people. Police say they were protecting the city from widespread violence. But that response widened the gap between the black community and the city's police force. The Triple S Mart is on the north side of the city, a mostly African-American neighborhood. It's a world apart from the upscale restaurants and lakeside homes south of an unofficial dividing line, Florida Avenue. Rev. Lee Wesley, the pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church, said there are in effect two Baton Rouges. \"Southeast of Florida Boulevard, you have the highest average income, the highest life, years of living, the highest education,\" he said. \"North of Florida Boulevard is just the opposite: low life expectancy, low education, more crime. So we are divided. \" Concerns about police behavior toward the black community go back to at least Katrina, when officers took a hard line against evacuees from New Orleans, allegedly to discourage them from settling here. Earlier this year, a white officer was videotaped repeatedly punching a black teenager in the head as other officers held him down. The officer was placed on administrative leave. Community Policing Wesley works with Together Baton Rouge, an interfaith group working to bridge the gap between the black community and the police force. \"There's a problem of fear on behalf of the police officers, fear for their lives, and in some cases justifiably so,\" he said. \"On the part of the black community, there's the problem of mistrust.\" Wesley and others say Baton Rouge needs to renew its commitment to community policing. Critics say a program begun under the previous chief stalled in recent years. State Rep. Denise Marcelle said an officer committed to community policing would have known who Alton Sterling was. \"He was the guy that everybody called the CD man,\" Marcelle said. \"He sat there and never really bothered anybody. And you would have approached him differently if you would have known him.\" Baton Rouge police Chief Carl Dabadie said the department still believes in community policing. \"We talk to officers all the time about getting out of the cars, and walking the neighborhoods and talking to people inside your neighborhoods,\" he said. \"The other issue with that is a lot of people don't want to be friends with the police either. You can't make somebody come talk to you.\" The Obstacle But there's a bigger problem the police department has to deal with: its poor history in recruiting and hiring minorities. Baton Rouge's police department has been under a federal consent decree for more than 30 years to improve its minority recruiting. Dabadie said he's making progress adding more minorities to the force, but it's a struggle. \"It is really hard, if you don't have trust in a community, for that community to come be a part of you,\" Dabadie said. \"And that's the obstacle we're fighting daily to get over.\" On police relations with the black community, even Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards conceded recently \"we can do better.\" He said his administration is working on recommendations on how to begin building trust between law enforcement and the community.", "The New Jersey pop-rock band Fountains of Wayne specializes in packing catchy hooks and clever lyrics into three-minute pop songs. Though the band has been making records since 1996, it was its 2003 hit \"Stacy's Mom\" — and that song's video, starring Rachel Hunter — which brought Fountains of Wayne fame and two Grammy nominations. Its latest, 2007's Traffic & Weather, features more Kinks-inspired pop. Co-founders Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood perform with guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young, who have remained in the lineup since the band's self-titled debut. In his spare time, Schlesinger co-wrote the songs behind Stephen Colbert's 2008 Christmas special with Daily Show executive producer David Javerbaum, and recently started an all-star pop band, Tinted Windows, with Taylor Hanson (Hanson), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins). Fountains of Wayne is embarking on a summer tour of acoustic dates, which should sound similar to this Mountain Stage set recorded this past March in Morgantown, W.V. This feature originally ran Jun. 8, 2009.", "COVID-19 vaccinations are on the rise in the U.S. — and so are coronavirus cases. After a plateau lasting several weeks, the number of cases is once again on the increase in parts of the country. New cases, test positivity rates and hospital admissions are creeping upward. An increase in daily COVID-19 deaths is likely to follow, health officials say. Calling it a race between vaccinations and variants, Ashish Jha, a public health policy researcher and dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, tweeted: \"Well, despite phenomenal vaccination rates, variants pulled ahead this week.\" According to a daily report from the White House COVID-19 team, more than 410,000 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. this past week — a 9% increase from the previous week. More than 33,000 people were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 this past week, representing a 2% increase. The number of new cases and hospitalizations per day is still far lower than an all-time peak in mid-January, when the U.S. recorded around 250,000 new daily cases. Still, the current trend in cases raises concerns among health officials that the U.S. could see a fourth surge in coronavirus infections as states discard masking mandates and some members of the pandemic-fatigued public flaunt mitigation measures. \"There is a case for optimism, but there is not a case for relaxation,\" said Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus coordinator, at a press conference March 26. \"This is not the time to let down our guard. We need to follow the public health guidance, wear a mask, socially distance, and get a vaccine when it's your turn.\" Cases are rising in a number of pockets around the country. In Michigan, the increase in coronavirus cases is landing people in their 30s and 40s in the hospital at rates similar to the winter surge — around 60 people each day — according to reporting from NPR affiliate Michigan Radio. Detroit, New York and Philadelphia were among several cities that saw accelerating case counts this past week. Health officials warn that the country is now facing a more difficult foe than in earlier stages of the pandemic — strains of the coronavirus have mutated to spread more easily and to possibly cause more severe disease. According to a tally maintained by the CDC, these so-called \"variants of concern\" have shown up in every state and are increasingly dominant in the places where they have emerged. \"We're watching it very closely,\" said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, at a press conference March 26, \"We're worried about the increase.\" The rise in cases and variants is happening at a time when the COVID-19 vaccination campaign is also reaching new heights. A third of the total U.S. population has received COVID-19 vaccines, and President Biden set a new goal at his press conference on Thursday of getting at least 200 million jabs into arms in his first hundred days. Health officials say that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — meaning at least two weeks have passed since they received the last shot — are largely protected against severe illness and less likely to spread the virus to others. Until a large proportion of the population has been fully vaccinated, however, health experts say the public should adhere to mitigation measures — such as masking, physical distancing and improving indoor ventilation — to protect their own lives and those of their companions. \"We're so close to vaccinating so many more people,\" Walensky said at a press briefing March 22, referring to an anticipated surge in vaccine availability. She sees the situation in Europe, where countries are locking down again and reintroducing restrictions in response to a rapid rise in cases, as a warning. \"We just don't want to be at this rapid uptick of cases again, and that is very possible that that could happen,\" she said.", "Like all commercial airports, the one at Sioux City, Iowa is known by a three-letter code. But in Sioux City's case, the letters are S-U-X. Some people pronounce it \"sucks.\" Years ago city officials tried for a more flattering code. But they found nothing they liked. So now the airport is embracing the name with T-shirts, caps, and a new slogan: \"Fly SUX.\" STEVE INSKEEP, host: Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep, Reminding you that if you say Sioux City sucks, it may be a compliment. Like all commercial airports, the one at Sioux City, Iowa is known by a three-letter code. But in Sioux City's case, the letters are S-U-X. Some people pronounce it, sucks. Years ago, city officials tried for a more flattering code but they found nothing that they like. So now the airport is embracing the name with t-shirts, caps, and a new slogan: Fly SUX. It's MORNING EDITION.", "It was all Phelps, all the time at the Summer Olympics, as American swimming superstar Michael Phelps added two more gold medals — in the men's 200-meter butterfly and the 800-meter freestyle relay — to his stash on Wednesday in Beijing. Phelps has also smashed five world records along the way and become the winningest gold medalist in modern Olympic history, with a total of 11 so far. He will try to win — with his Midas touch — in three more finals in the coming days. Phelps \"is not just winning, he's absolutely destroying everything,\" teammate Aaron Peirsol told The Associated Press. \"It's awesome to watch.\" The Swim of Things Federica Pellegrini of Italy set a new world record as she won the women's 200-meter freestyle. American Katie Hoff came in fourth. Stephanie Rice of Australia also outpaced previous planetary records and finished first in the 200-meter individual medley. In a competition emblematic of the entire Olympics, China and the United States vied for top prize in women's gymnastics. This time, China grabbed the gold; the mistake-riddled American team was runner-up. At the moment, the United States has won 29 total medals and China 27. In the gold rush, China is ahead of the U.S., 17-10. South Korea has 13 medals and Australia and Russia have 12 each. On Wednesday, China didn't fare so well in baseball, losing to Canada 10-0. But in women's preliminary-round basketball, China drubbed New Zealand 80-63. In other women's basketball games, Belarus beat Russia 71–65, Spain beat the Czech Republic 74-55 and Latvia squeezed past Brazil 79-78. The powerful and persistent United States men's beach volleyball team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser beat Argentina 21-12, 21-13. But the American soccer team lost to Nigeria 2-1 and now must go home. In women's handball, Russia, Romania, South Korea, China and Norway advanced. Australian crushed South Africa in men's field hockey, 10-0. And the U.S. women's softball team, in turn, beat Australia 3-0. Pitcher Cat Osterman threw a no-hitter. In men's tennis, Switzerland's Roger Federer and Spain's Rafael Nadal — the two best players in the world — advanced from the singles third round. Federer is slated to play American James Blake in the quarterfinals Thursday.", "Top al-Qaida suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has admitted to organizing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, according to the transcript of a hearing released Wednesday. The transcript of a military hearing held last Saturday at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was released Wednesday by the Pentagon. In it, Mohammad acknowledges planning the World Trade Center and Pentagon strikes, in addition to other major attacks. In a statement read at the hearing, Mohammed acknowledges swearing allegiance to Osama bin Laden, and to being \"the Operational Director… for the organizing, planning, follow-up, and execution of the 9/11 Operation under the Military Commander, Sheikh Abu Hafs Al-Masri Subhi Abu Sittah.\" Mohammed's statement then identifies him as the \"Military Operational Commander for all foreign operations\" undertaken by bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri. The statement goes on to say that after Sittah's death, Mohammed became \"directly in charge\" of \"the Cell for the Production of Biological Weapons, such as anthrax and others, and following up on Dirty Bomb Operations on American soil.\" In all, Mohammed claimed responsibility for more than 30 plots and activities dating back 15 years. Beginning with the botched 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the list includes the \"shoe-bomber\" plot, which put a U.S. airline flight at risk, and the deadly bombing of a Bali resort, which killed more than 200 people in 2002. The range of the schemes listed is very wide, from \"the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul the second while he was visiting the Philippines\" to \"the attempt to destroy an American oil company owned by the Jewish former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, on the Island of Sumatra, Indonesia.\" Early in the transcript, Mohammed's representative speaks for him, in exchanges that mainly serve to quibble with the case laid out against him. In one case, for instance, Mohammed's representative insists that he \"never stated to the Al Jazeera reporter that I was the head of the al Qaida military committee.\" Then he abruptly clarifies another point. \"Also, sub-paragraph 3-s is false. I did not receive any funds from Kuwait.\" Mohammed's representative then clarifies the spelling of his name: \"Lastly, my name is misspelled in the Summary of Evidence. It should be S-h-a-i-k-h or S-h-e-i-k-h, but not S-h-a-y-k-h, as it is in the subject line.\"", "For the first time since November, average new daily coronavirus infections in the U.S. fell under 100,000 — well below the average infection rate in December and January, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The seven- day average of new infections dropped below 100,000 on Friday, continuing at that level through Sunday, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Researchers reported 83,321 new infections and 3,361 new deaths Sunday. These figures are well below the average daily infection rate of 200,000 for December and nearly 250,000 in January. Nevertheless, health experts warned the country has a long way to go before celebrating a turning point in the pandemic. \"We are still at around 1,500 to 3,500 deaths per day. The cases are more than two-and-a-half-fold times what we saw over the summer,\" Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on NBC's Meet the Press. \"It's encouraging to see these trends coming down, but they're coming down from an extraordinarily high place.\" New, highly infectious coronavirus variants from the U.K. and South Africa pose a serious risk to any progress in the U.S. The U.S. has recorded more than 27.5 million virus cases and more than 484,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins data. Reopening risks Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins, told NPR's Rob Stein that U.S. communities are using the falling COVID-19 cases to justify the reopening of businesses and easing of restrictions. Nuzzo said, \"But this is a really worrisome time to be doing that because we're so deeply worried about the potential spread of these variants.\" New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that indoor dining in New York City can reopen at 25% capacity starting on Valentine's Day because of the downward trajectory of the city's coronavirus infections. Cuomo said in his announcement, \"As data on infection rates and hospitalizations continue to improve, we must begin taking steps to jumpstart our economic recovery as long as public health can be protected.\" He also announced plans to allow limited capacity wedding receptions to resume March 15 with no more than 150 people at an event. New York City recorded its weekly average of confirmed coronavirus cases to be 21,483 for the previous seven days. The city recorded an average of 1,889 hospitalizations and 455 deaths per day. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte lifted the statewide mask mandate Friday that had been in place since July. Montana recorded 142 new cases Sunday. Gianforte said providing incentives to residents and emphasizing personal responsibility would help keep people safe more than mandates would. Gianforte said that he would still wear a mask, however. Gianforte said, \"Since we're not out of the woods yet, I will continue wearing a mask and encourage all Montanans to do the same to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors.\"", "The Budapest Strings perform the Serenade In E-Flat by Josef Suk. Recorded in concert at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts while the group was on its U-S tour in November. (KBAQ Production Studios at Arizona State University)", "After more than 13 years of construction and a staggering cost of over 300 million Euros, Berliners are finally getting a brand new metro line, the \"U55.\" The so called \"Chancellor line\" connects Berlin's Central Station with the Brandenburger Gate. There's one very important stop in between: \"The Bundestag,\" also known as the Parliament station. Tens of thousands of Berliners got a free ride on opening day, as well as plenty of live music at each stop. The 1.8 kilometer ride takes about three minutes. Most visitors spent more time on the platforms exploring the new stations. One such visitor, Rolf Schumann, was very excited about the look of the Brandenburger Gate and the Hauptbahnhof stations. He says the Bundestag stop has more of a modest touch, and he hopes that one day the new metro line will extend to Alexanderplatz, otherwise, he jokes, \"The U 55 could end up in the Guinness Book of World Records for shortest metro line.\" The planned extension to Alexanderplatz is supposed to be finished by 2017. In honor of U55's opening, Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit spoke at the Brandenburger Gate station where an audio-visual exhibition focuses on the history of the Berlin Wall. Mayor Wowereit referred to the new metro line as the \"U Bahn of Unity.\"", "Sometimes there really are economies of scale. And the nation's health insurance exchanges may be a case in point. As rocky as the rollout of HealthCare.gov was, the federal exchange was relatively efficient in signing up enrollees. Each one cost an average of $647 in federal tax dollars, an analysis finds. It cost an average of $1,503 – well over twice as much – to sign up each person in the 15 exchanges run by individual states and Washington, D.C. The findings, released Wednesday, were drawn from federal enrollment and funding figures for the exchanges. The author is Jay Angoff, a former Missouri Insurance Commissioner and one-time director of the Health and Human Services office in charge of getting the health exchanges going. Even Covered California, the most efficient of the state-run exchanges at $758 per enrollee, still spent more than the average for the federal exchange. And California was the only state-run exchange with a per-person average under $1,000. Hawaii, with a combination of a poorly functioning website, a small population overall, and a small population of uninsured, brought up the rear in the study. It cost the Aloha State an average of $23,899 per enrollee covered. Washington, D.C., came in next to last at $12,467 per person. What was unexpected, Angoff said in an interview, is that the five states whose governors and/or legislatures were among the most adamant about resisting the Affordable Care Act — Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia and Michigan — ended up with the lowest per-person enrollee costs. Florida's cost per enrollee was just $76; Texas' was $102, and Michigan's $427. \"The states that fought the ACA the hardest ended up with exchanges that have been very efficient,\" he said. All of the states with very high costs for each enrollee have one thing in common — relatively small populations. Yet it took millions of dollars to set up each exchange, so the smaller states couldn't spread the costs. \"Below some size, it doesn't make sense for a state to run its own exchange,\" Angoff said. \"Hawaii got $200 million in grant funding,\" he said. \"For a state of a little less than 1.4 million,\" it enrolled 8,592 people. At the same time, New York, with 19.7 million people a bit more than twice as much funding — $429 million — and enrolled 370,000 people. Angoff said it does make sense to let states whose exchanges are functioning well to continue, but the federal government might want to reconsider letting other states establish their own exchanges, and encourage those whose exchanges aren't doing so well to become part of HealthCare.gov. Oregon, for example, whose website failed somewhat spectacularly, and whose exchange is now under investigation by the FBI, according to The Oregonian, has already decided to join the federal exchange. Maryland, on the other hand, which has also suffered from serious problems with its exchange, has decided to retool using technology developed by Connecticut. \"If a state exchange is working, great,\" Angoff said. But if not, \"does it make any sense to throw good money after bad?\"" ]

[ "March 19 (Reuters) - Orion Oyj:\n* ORION HAS RECEIVED POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS FOR THE SALMETEROL-FLUTICASONE EASYHALER® COMBINATION UNDER THE EU’S DECENTRALIZED PROCEDURES\n* ‍DECENTRALIZED PROCEDURES CONCERN 22 COUNTRIES, WITH SWEDEN ACTING AS REFERENCE MEMBER STATE.​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" ]

[ "The FDA approves the use of GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK +0.5% ) Trelegy Ellipta [fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI)] for the long-term, once-daily treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).\nThe triplet therapy was first approved in the U.S. in September 2017 for the long-term, once-daily treatment of COPD patients who are on a fixed-dose combination of FF and VI for airflow obstruction and reducing exacerbations in whom additional treatment for airflow obstruction is desired or for patients who are already receiving UMEC and a fixed-dose combination of FF and VI.\nThe boxed warning has also been removed, in line with recent safety data updates to the ICS/LABA class of medicines.\nPreviously: FDA OKs Glaxo's inhaled triplet therapy for COPD (Sept. 19, 2017)", "April 6 Cardiome Pharma Corp:\n* Cardiome's partner steadymed announces successful completion of trevyent clinical validation study\n* Cardiome Pharma-Steadymed says results \"indicate patchpump devices performed as intended in all categories of evaluation\", including dose accuracy, precision Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA.TA) (TEVA.N) on Thursday launched an asthma inhaler that will be the first direct competition to GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) best-selling Advair.\nTeva, which won U.S. approval in January to make an inhaler similar to Advair, also launched a generic version of its own inhaler, AirDuo RespiClick.\nAirDuo is not a true generic of Advair, but contains the same two active ingredients, fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. However, it delivers a lower dose of salmeterol and uses Teva's RespiClick inhaler rather than copying GSK's device.\n\"We imagine that there should be sufficient time window for AirDuo to be the sole competing product to Advair,\" Raymond James analyst Elliot Wilbur said in a client note.\nAdvair, which brought in 1.83 billion pounds ($2.35 billion) in 2016 sales, is also widely used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while AirDuo is only approved for asthma and is not directly substitutable.\n\"Neither branded AirDuo, nor its authorized generic are therapeutically equivalent or substitutable for Advair,\" GSK's spokeswoman Sarah Alspach told Reuters.\nStill, Teva's product is likely to grab some share of the asthma market. AirDuo could capture 25 percent of the market by 2018, Wilbur said.\nHowever, the bigger threat to GSK will likely come from fully substitutable generic copies of Advair that are still awaiting approval.\nHikma Pharmaceuticals Plc (HIK.L) and Vectura Group Plc (VEC.L) are expecting approval for their generic versions by May 10. Mylan NV's (MYL.O) generic was rejected in March.\nGSK has been preparing for the loss of Advair's exclusivity for the past two years. But the potential launch of generics will still be a blow since the medicine is highly profitable and has sold more than $1 billion annually since 2001.\nTeva's AirDuo will cost wholesalers or direct purchasers $285, while the generic version will cost $90, Michelle Larkin, a spokeswoman for the Israeli drugmaker, told Reuters.\nThe pricing of the branded drug was in line with that of its peers, Bernstein analyst Erica Kazlow said.\n\"Teva's willingness to use generic strategy for the product is encouraging as it relates to the company's willingness to look at a tough reality and take appropriate action,\" Kazlow said.\n($1 = 0.7798 pounds)\n(Reporting by Divya Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Savio D'Souza)", "March 30 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd:\n* Reports positive results from a phase 3 trial of GSP 301, mometasone/olopatadine fixed-dose combination nasal spray\n* Phase 3, U.S.-based trial was a four-arm, double-blind, randomized, parallel group, active and placebo-controlled study\n* Study enrolled 1,176 adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older for 14-days of twice daily treatment with GSP 301, mometasone, olopatadine or placebo.\n* Says all trial arms utilized same vehicle and nasal spray delivery system\n* Primary endpoint was change from baseline in average morning and evening patient-reported 12-hour reflective total nasal symptom score (RTNSS) Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "April 6 AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Inc:\n* AcelRx Pharmaceuticals presenting comprehensive DSUVIA clinical trial results at ASRA's annual regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine meeting\n* AcelRx Pharma -DSUVIA may have benefit as non-invasive analgesic modality in certain settings requiring short-term treatment of acute moderate-to-severe pain\n* AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Inc- no statistical separation was observed between active and placebo-controlled groups for dsuvia\n* AcelRx Pharmaceuticals - in emergency department study, DSUVIA resulted in a 3-point reduction in pain intensity within 60 minutes of administration Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "by businesswireindia.com\nA. Menarini Asia-Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd (“Menarini Asia-Pacific”), a member of the Italian largest biopharmaceutical company Menarini Group, and Orion Corporation have signed a multi-year licensing agreement for Menarini Asia-Pacific to distribute and commercialize several of Orion’s Easyhaler® products in 10 countries in Asia-Pacific region.\nThe countries involved in the partnership are China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea. Orion’s proprietary dry-powder inhaler Easyhaler® is used for administering medication for the treatment of asthma and COPD.\n“Menarini is excited about this partnership with Orion in Asia-Pacific Region. Menarini has engaged in respiratory therapeutic area for many years, particularly asthma and COPD. It is one of the key areas of development for Menarini. Orion’s products will contribute strongly to the expansion of our respiratory portfolio”, said Albert Lim, CEO at Menarini Asia-Pacific.\n“We are delighted with this partnership opportunity with Menarini. As we in Orion have been investing long term on developing valuable know-how to develop world class products with our Easyhaler technology, we are very glad to enlarge our co-operation with Menarini to the new territory. We have already learned to appreciate highly Menarini capabilities as well as professional collaboration in EU”, said Markku Huhta-Koivisto, Senior Vice President of Orion's Proprietary Products division.\nAbout Menarini Asia-Pacific\nMenarini Asia-Pacific is part of the world’s largest Italian biopharmaceutical company with a heritage since 1886 and over 17,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Here in Asia-Pacific, Menarini has an established presence in 13 key healthcare markets with over 3,000 sales, marketing and support professionals.\nSupported by the Group’s R&D, Manufacturing and infrastructure capabilities, Menarini Asia-Pacific operates across the entire commercial value chain, from clinical development, regulatory approval and product launch to lifecycle management with diverse portfolio of proprietary and partnered brands in key therapeutic fields including Consumer Health, Dermatology, Primary Care, Allergy/Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Specialty Care and Men’s Health.\nMenarini has a strong partnering tradition. As companies reprioritize portfolios and seek experienced partners to gain market access in this heterogeneous environment, Menarini is a trusted European partner who can be the gateway for companies that want to tap into the Asia-Pacific growth story.\nFor more information about Menarini Asia-Pacific, please visit www.menariniapac.com.\nAbout Orion Corporation\nOrion is a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company – a builder of well-being. Orion develops, manufactures and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company is continuously developing new drugs and treatment methods. The core therapy areas of Orion's pharmaceutical R&D are central nervous system (CNS) disorders, oncology and respiratory diseases for which Orion develops inhaled Easyhaler® pulmonary drugs. Orion's adjusted net sales in 2017 amounted to EUR 1,034 million and the company had about 3,200 employees. Orion's A and B shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.\nView source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180703005099/en/\nSource: Businesswire", "Dec 11 (Reuters) - Argenx Nv:\n* REPORTS POSITIVE TOPLINE RESULTS FROM PHASE 2 PROOF-OF-CONCEPT TRIAL OF ARGX-113\n* FAVORABLE TOLERABILITY PROFILE CONSISTENT WITH PHASE 1 DATA\n* ARGX-113 TREATMENT RESULTED IN A STRONG CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT OVER PLACEBO DURING ENTIRE DURATION OF STUDY\n* 75% OF ARGX-113 TREATED PATIENTS HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN 6 WEEKS VERSUS 25% OF PATIENTS ON PLACEBO\n* TOPLINE DATA FOR ITP TRIAL EXPECTED IN H2 2018\n* INTERIM DATA FROM PV TRIAL EXPECTED IN H2 2018\n* ARGX-113 (EFGARTIGIMOD) IS USED IN GENERALIZED MYASTHENIA GRAVIS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)", "Derek Paul Sunman, 43, of Orion Township, is charged with operating while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle. (WDIV)\nLAKE ORION, Mich. - A 43-year-old man accused of drunken driving was arraigned Monday in connection with a crash in Lake Orion.\nDerek Paul Sunman, Orion Township, is charged with operating while intoxicated with an occupant under the age of 16.\nThe crash happened at the corner of Atwater and S. Broadway streets.\nPolice said Sunman was heading southbound on S. Broadway Street and passed two vehicles using the center turn lane, sideswiping both vehicles and losing control.\nOfficers detected signs of intoxication and Sunman failed roadside sobriety tests, police said.\nSunman’s 13-year-old child was in the vehicle.\nNo injuries were reported in the crash.\nSunman was given a $15,000 bond.\nCopyright 2018 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.", "April 12 Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc\n* Protalix Biotherapeutics announces positive results from phase II clinical trial of Alidornase Alfa (air dnase) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis\n* Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc - sixteen patients were enrolled in study, all of whom completed study\n* Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc - Alidornase Alfa was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported\n* Protalix Biotherapeutics - adverse events that occurred during study were mild and transient in nature for phase ii clinical trial of Alidornase Alfa\n* Protalix Biotherapeutics - in vitro study of air dnase showed significant inhibition of pseudomonas aeruginosa Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "Dec 11 (Reuters) - Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc:\n* ANTHERA PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES POSITIVE OUTCOME OF INTERIM FUTILITY ANALYSIS IN THE PHASE 3 RESULT CLINICAL STUDY OF SOLLPURA\n* BASED ON INTERIM FUTILITY ANALYSIS, RESULT STUDY WILL PROCEED, AS PLANNED, WITH TOPLINE DATA EXPECTED IN Q1 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "Two Spanish Air Force planes and a trawler have been seen entering Gibraltar's territory in just 48 hours, it has emerged.\nA Navy P3 Orion surveillance plane was spotted flying at low altitude just a mile south of the Rock yesterday - two days after a military C212 propeller plane was seen flying along the length of Gibraltar's east side.\nThe two incursions came as it emerged that the Spanish fishing trawler Virgin Carmen Primer had sailed into Gibraltar's waters illegally on Monday morning.\nTwo Spanish Air Force planes, including a Navy P3 Orion surveillance plane (file picture), have been seen entering Gibraltar's airspace in just 48 hours, it has emerged\nA Navy P3 Orion surveillance plane was spotted flying at low altitude just a mile south of the Rock (pictured) yesterday - two days after a military C212 propeller plane was seen flying along the length of Gibraltar's east side\nThe incidents come amid rising tensions over Gibraltar in the run-up to Brexit. It follows years of disagreements between Britain and Spain over the peninsula, off the Spanish coast, which has been a British overseas territory since the 18th century.\nJust days ago, a Spanish warship was chased away for the second time this month.\nAccording to the Royal Navy HMS Scimitar intercepted the Infanta Cristina off the Gibraltar coast shortly after 9am British time last Friday.\nThe same ship sailed past the coast of the British territory earlier this month in what Gibraltar said was an illegal incursion. It was pursued by a British naval vessel patrolling the Rock until it left.\nDisputes between Gibraltar and Spain over the waters are frequent but the latest comes after the territory of some 33,000 people took centre stage in the wrangling over Britain's exit from the European Union, which was triggered on March 29.\nThe two incursions came as it emerged that the Spanish fishing trawler Virgin Carmen Primer had sailed into Gibraltar's waters illegally on Monday morning\nHMS Scimitar was forced to intercept the Spanish warship Infanta Cristina last week\nAn EU draft position published earlier this month after Prime Minister Theresa May filed formal divorce papers said the application of any EU-UK trade deal to Gibraltar had to be agreed between Britain and Spain, which has long claimed sovereignty over the enclave.\nIn response, May issued a statement saying London was 'steadfast' in its commitment to the territory. Her spokesman however played down comments by a former leader of her Conservative Party that she would be prepared to go to war to defend it.\nGibraltar was captured by Britain in 1704 and ceded to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht.\nIn a 2002 referendum, Gibraltarians rejected by 98 percent a proposal for joint British-Spanish sovereignty.", "German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she would be pleased if Poland's talks with the European Union yielded a solution to the standoff over the country's rule of law record.\nDuring a brief visit to Warsaw, Merkel said she was following the negotiations to avert unprecedented EU sanctions over changes to Poland's judiciary pushed by its conservative government.\n\"I would be pleased to hear the European Commission say that the talks were fruitful,\" Merkel said following talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.\nMorawiecki said there was \"light in the tunnel\" but that an agreement to resolve the dispute over Poland's judicial system \"requires understanding on both sides.\"\nThe EU triggered a censure procedure in December that could lead to potential sanctions over Poland's judicial overhaul. The European Commission said at the time it was putting Poland on notice that it was at risk of contravening EU law.\nHowever, the leaders of Poland and Germany said Monday that Europe needs unity to be strong. They stressed agreement on issues such as economic cooperation and providing more support to countries that have received the most migrants since a new wave of mass immigration got underway in 2014-2015.\n\"In the face of the global situation, we understand that our voice will be strong if we have a strong alliance, if we act jointly,\" Merkel said.\nMorawiecki and Merkel also discussed Europe's response to the poisoning in Britain this month of a Russian ex-spy and his adult daughter.\nMerkel said she expects European Union leaders to reach \"strong conclusions\" about the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, during a summit this week in Brussels.\nSignificant information points to Russia's responsibility for the nerve agent attack and it's now up to Moscow to prove it wasn't involved, the German chancellor said.\nMorawiecki said the entire EU needs to give a firm response so \"the Russian aggressor will know that it cannot permit itself to attack a NATO member state, an EU member state.\"\nRussia has rejected allegations that it was behind the poisonings.", "Mário Centeno, the new President of the Eurogroup, is going to Brussels to defend an alternative to austerity. But reshaping the European Union will require a lot more than electing a Southern European as President of the Eurogroup.\n“Above all, the thrall in which an ideology holds a people is best measured by their collective inability to imagine alternatives.”\n- Tony Judt, The Memory Chalet\nTwo years ago Mario Centeno was yet another finance minister of the Eurozone trying to convince his European counterparts that austerity was not working. Portugal was emerging from a severe economic crisis and an equally challenging bailout. Pensions were slashed, education suffered a 23 per cent cut and unemployment reached 17.5 per cent in 2013. The former centre-right government zealously followed the treatment recommended by the IMF and the European Union. But the results were far from satisfactory. Deep cuts were not after all the answer to improve our economy and the life of our citizens. However, things changed dramatically when Antonio Costa´s government assumed office in 2015. After finding an unorthodox formula to govern, the socialists showed Europe that there is an alternative: the solution lies, politically, in reaching broader consensus. Economically, in boosting demand, not suppressing it.\nMr. Centeno is now going to Brussels to defend the Portuguese model. He will preside over the Eurogroup, influencing the direction of the eurozone economic and monetary policies in a key moment for the future of the European project. He overcame the finance ministers of Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovakia, and become the first holder of the post coming from a Southern European country.\nThe solution lies, politically, in reaching broader consensus. Economically, in boosting demand, not suppressing it.\nMr. Centeno’s metamorphosis from outsider to European leader started when Portugal left the EU´s excessive deficit procedure in May. The decision gave Portugal margin to ease austerity and to push away the threat of future sanctions. The decisive moment for Mr. Centeno, however, came the day after. Mr. Schäuble, then Germany´s finance minister, called him the “Ronaldo of Ecofin” and praised him in public. Many understood Mr. Schäuble words as an endorsement. However, few believed Portugal´s finance minister could be on his away to replace Jeroen Dijsselbloem.\nStill, it was during this time that the perception about Portugal´s finance minister changed. People started to focus less on his failures, and to pay closer attention to his merits. As Portugal´s economic situation improved, so did Mr. Centeno popularity. But despite Mr. Schäuble words and Portugal´s economic recovery, Mr. Centeno wouldn’t have been elected if several other factors hadn’t come into play.\nEvery leadership position in Europe is chaired by the European People´s Party. The exception is the Eurogroup. And there was a gentlemen agreement between conservatives and socialists ensuring that the Eurogroup should be presided by the latter. There was also consensus around the idea that the President of the Eurogroup should come from a smaller country. Another decisive factor was the electoral calendar in Italy – elections will take place during the Spring – and the political instability in Spain. Nonetheless, Portugal´s role as Europe´s success case was a key factor. Whether we like it or not, economic results determine the perception of politicians and governments. And financial stability in a country used to the contrary is a sign of competence. And a synonym of political success, even if the results in other areas are not favourable at all.\nPresiding over the Eurogroup will be a good opportunity for Mr. Centeno to display his negotiation and consensus building skills that have become a trademark of his government.\nMr. Centeno´s government came to power under suspicion. Ending austerity was a promise made before in Greece, and everyone remembered how that had ended. But it´s a fact that, with or without the help of tourism and exports, Mr. Centeno economic plan recovered the country´s economy while respecting eurozone rules. Unemployment has fallen below the eurozone average, a 2.6 percent growth is expected this year and the deficit is forecasted at 1.4 percent: the lowest since 1974. Portugal´s case shows that it´s possible to align fiscal stability with growth.\nWhether we like it or not, economic results determine the perception of politicians and governments. And financial stability in a country used to the contrary is a sign of competence.\nExporting this success to the Eurogroup won’t be easy. And the challenges ahead are not insignificant. Greece approaches the end of its eighty-six billion bailout programs next summer, and it´ll be up to Mr. Centeno to oversee its conclusion. He´ll also have to guide the development of a common strategy capable of strengthening the economic and monetary union. This will be extremely difficult, as it´ll potentially entail reforming the EU´s bailout arm, creating a new budget for the single currency bloc and paving the way for a EU minister for economy and finance, a role combining the powers of the President of the Eurogroup and the Commission´s Vice-President for the economy.\nPresiding over the Eurogroup will be a good opportunity for Mr. Centeno to display his negotiation and consensus building skills that have become a trademark of his government. Portugal´s economic success shows that there are alternatives to austerity. However, exporting this model abroad will be difficult because “there are no prêt-à-porter reforms” – they must be tailored to the specific needs of each country – and in Europe neoliberalism is still the dominant game in town. It will require a lot more than electing a Southern European as President of the Eurogroup to change that. Still, imagining alternatives it´s the only way to challenge ideas that have made our citizens lives worse.\nIt´s possible after all to present a credible action program and remain true to your values. Mr. Centeno has a small chance to change Europe from within. Hopefully we will remember what he imagined for Portugal. And start imagining something better for Europe.", "BRIEF-SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS ANNOUNCES DISMISSAL OF LAWSUITS\n* SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS INC SAYS DISMISSAL OF ALL CLAIMS AGAINST SORRENTO AND ITS DIRECTORS CONTAINED IN LAWSUITS BROUGHT BY WILDCAT LIQUID ALPHA, LLC Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "April 24 (Reuters) - PEPTONIC MEDICAL AB:\n* PEPTONIC ENTERS COMMERCIAL SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH ORION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)", "Meet Norwegian Skier Marit Bjorgen. Since 2009, she has been authorized under the western sanctioned TUE program, in which the US controlled IOC and WADA allows NATO countries and allies, to take steroids for asthma, for example.But Clenbuterol and Albuterol are among common steroids prescribed for Asthma. A person with a more severe case of Asthma than Clenbuterol, for example, could help with, would be using such to barely 'get by'. So this raises some questions.What are TUE's? Last week, we reported on this ' one magic loophole ' that allows NATO allied athletes to dope, legally:There are few crimes in sports greater than doping without a license. Hopefully the IOC's moves will teach Russia an important lesson about allowing their athletes to dope without a license, the sorts only given to NATO and friends' athletes., vascularization, and a body fat percentage hovering around 10%, would seem to disqualify one not just from the Olympics, but any strenuous activity, especially in long bursts.Clenbuterol is known to cause muscle growth in other mammals with more pronounced Beta-3 receptors, which human beings generally lack. Clenbuterol acts upon Beta-2 receptors in humans to hold onto muscle mass, while engaged in fat reduction. It does so by telling the body to metabolize fat before muscle, when in a caloric deficit. It is popular for body builders in their cutting phase, even though it is universally not associated with mass building. But Clenbuterol is the closest thing for a steroid for asthma, which is known to have a side effect relating to muscle growth or retention in some way.Other steroids for asthma are Beclomethasone, Budesonide, Budesonide/Formoterol, Fluticasone, Salmeterol, Mometason, Mometasone, and formoterol. None of these are associated with muscle growth, let alone massive muscle growth and trans-gender therapy approaching levels of virilization.These are not associated with muscle growth for several reasons, but among them is that they are inhaled to the lungs instead of injected into the body. What happens when they, or a designer derivative, is injected into the body, is not known to this author.The science of hiding doping is such that derivatives of these steroids may test as being in fact those TUE approved steroids, when rather there is a slight molecular change to these, which gives a different effect such as robust muscle growth. It boils down to plausible deniability, and politics.What also could be the case is that something is being used on the athletes that is a slightly altered from a family of known muscle building steroids, such as Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate), and is 'designed' to be overshadowed or cloaked by the presence of one of the above 'sanctioned' steroids (which non-NATO athletes are nevertheless barred from using).She has spoken prolifically and eloquently that the dignity of the Olympics must be preserved from Russian athletes attempting to 'cheat the system' by doping ... without a license.Clearly the world needs more role models willing to stand up to the hypocrisy of the modern world, and against Russian tyranny, as Marit Bjorgen does.What motivates Bjorgen's crusade, as she shows children around the world with asthma, that they too don't have to let go of their dreams, despite their crippling ailment?After this humiliating defeat to a clearly juiced, doped, and roid-ridden machine like Tchepalova (sarcasm alert), see photo below, Bjørgen swore to close the gap and train full natty + some unrelated asthma medication - so that Ivan Drago inspired human roid monsters who are clearly connected to Russia, would never win again.Russian athletes should know that if a connection with Russia can be established, they will be barred from the games.", "March 19 (Reuters) - Heron Therapeutics Inc:\n* HERON ANNOUNCES POSITIVE TOPLINE RESULTS FROM PIVOTAL PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIALS OF HTX-011 IN BUNIONECTOMY AND HERNIA REPAIR\n* HERON THERAPEUTICS INC - HTX-011 ACHIEVED ALL PRIMARY AND KEY SECONDARY ENDPOINTS\n* HERON THERAPEUTICS INC - SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PATIENTS RECEIVING HTX-011 WERE OPIOID-FREE THROUGH 72 HOURS AFTER SURGERY\n* HERON THERAPEUTICS INC - SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER HTX-011 PATIENTS EXPERIENCED SEVERE PAIN AT ANY TIME\n* HERON THERAPEUTICS INC - NDA FILING FOR HTX-011 TARGETED FOR H2 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "By Susan Carroll\nReview Writer\nThe renovation of 45 W. Flint St. is in full swing. Crews working at the future home of Anita’s Kitchen have revealed history on the brick walls after pulling off the siding.\nProperty owner and builder, Jack Kabliska, said that although not in the original plans, he wants to preserve the historical painting found under the siding. Painted on the brick is “Clean Laundry” and “Entrance.”\nOriginally a residence, the building was built back in the 1870’s (estimated) and has been upgraded many times. Known businesses previously located at 45 W. Flint St. were Foxy Lady Resale Shop and most recently, Celtic Cove Catholic Bookstore.\nThe Orion Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of Orion’s legacy and if anyone has any additional knowledge of the buildings history, please contact them at the Orion Township Public Library, 248-693-3000..", "NOTICE\nCHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION\nPROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTION\nAMENDMENT TO ORD. NO. 68\nWATER & SEWER REGULATIONS\nPOOLED CASH OF\nWATER/SEWER FUND\nThe Charter Township of Orion Board of Trustees, at the regular meeting of Monday, July 2, 2018, to be held at 7:00 p.m., at the Orion Township Hall, 2525 Joslyn Rd., Lake Orion, Michigan 48360, proposes to adopt an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 68, Water and Sewer, as previously amended, for the Charter Township of Orion, Michigan; amending Section 28, Separate Accounting.\nTHE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION ORDAINS: SECTION 1 of Ordinance * * * Section 28 – Separate Accounting\nThe revenues of the System shall be set aside, as collected, accounted for separately and deposited in a separate depository account in a bank duly qualified to do business in Michigan to be selected by the Board, said account to be designated revenues to be accounted for under the Township’s designation as the “Water Supply and Sewage Disposal System Receiving Fund”; and said revenues so deposited shall be accounted for and transferred from the Receiving Fund periodically in the manner and at the time hereinafter specified.\nSECTION 2 of Ordinance\nAll other ordinances or parts of ordinances which are inconsistent or in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency or conflict.\nSECTION 3 of Ordinance\nThe various parts, sections and clauses of this Ordinance are declared to be severable. If any part, sentence, paragraph, section or clause is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the Ordinance shall not be affected.\nSECTION 4 of Ordinance\nThis Ordinance shall be published in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the Charter Township of Orion, qualified under State law to publish legal notices, and shall become effective upon publication, as provided by law.\nSECTION 5 of Ordinance\nThis Ordinance is hereby declared to have been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Charter Township of Orion at a meeting thereof duly called and held on the ________ day of ________, 2018, and ordered to be given publication in the manner prescribed by the Charter of the Township of Orion.\nCopies of the proposed Ordinance are on file in the office of the Township Clerk, 2525 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, Michigan, 48360, and may be examined during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Written comments may be submitted before the meeting to Penny S. Shults, Clerk, at the address listed above.\nPenny S. Shults, Clerk Charter Township of Orion\nPublish: 07.05.18", "May 3 4SC AG:\n* Progress update on pivotal RESMAIN study of resminostat in CTCL at 13th congress of the EADO\n* Top line results expected in early 2019 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)", "Dec 11 (Reuters) - TARGOVAX ASA:\n* REG-TARGOVAX ANNOUNCES THAT FIRST COMBINATION TRIALS WITH ONCOS-102 HAVE PASSED THEIR INITIAL, PLANNED, INDEPENDENT SAFETY REVIEWS\n* ONCOS-102 HAS BEEN WELL-TOLERATED IN COMBINATION WITH EITHER CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR OR CHEMOTHERAPY ​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)", "Feb 13 Aviragen Therapeutics Inc\n* Aviragen Therapeutics announces top-line results from phase 2b SPIRITUS trial of Vapendavir\n* Aviragen Therapeutics Inc - SPIRITUS trial did not meet its primary endpoint\n* Aviragen - Vapendavir did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in asthma control questionnaire-6 (ACQ-6) at day 14, primary endpoint\n* Aviragen - secondary endpoints did not show significant differences between treatment groups and placebo\n* Aviragen - Vapendavir was shown to be generally well tolerated and safety profile was consistent with previous clinical studies\n* Aviragen - Vapendavir did not show a significant reduction in asthma control questionnaire-6 for either 264 mg or 528 mg cohorts compared to placebo Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "March 30 Starpharma Holdings Ltd\n* Vivagel BV phase 3 trials for prevention of BV completed\n* Starpharma expects topline results of trials to be available in Q2 of 2017\n* Has been granted a special protocol agreement by FDA which provides company with binding FDA agreement on trial design including primary endpoint Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "(DAN FENNER - For The Oakland Press) Clarkston senior Paige Blevins stands in the batters box against Lake Orion on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.\nLAKE ORION >> In one of the true tests on its regular season schedule, Clarkston validated its No. 1 ranking in the state Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep of Lake Orion, 12-2 and 13-3.\nThe Wolves (8-0) remained unbeaten on the young season by earning a pair of five-inning victories over the Dragons in a key Oakland Activities Association Red Division matchup.\n“I was pleased with the really solid defense, good pitching and our two-strike hitting,” Clarkston coach Don Peters said. “They work really hard to be good hitters and it shows.”\nPHOTO GALLERY FROM CLARKSTON VS. LAKE ORION\nAdvertisement\nLocked in offensively, Clarkston scored multiple runs in eight of the 10 innings it played Friday and showed no weak spots in its vaunted lineup.\nIn the pitchers’ circle, Wolves junior Olivia Warrington threw two complete games and held Lake Orion down to prevent any big innings.\n“She mixed it up pretty good. She’d pitch up and down with some changeups in there,” Peters said of Warrington. “She’s very confident in herself.”\nIn Game 1, Clarkston jumped out to a 10-0 lead – including a five-run second inning – before Lake Orion got on the board. The Dragons’ Tessa Nuss rounded the bases for an inside the park home run that scored two in the bottom of the third.\nThe Wolves received RBI hits from Anna Skvarce and Hannah Cady to reestablish a 10-run spread in the fourth.\nGame 2 saw more of the same with Clarkston racing out to a sizable early lead. Continuing her big day, Cady launched a two-run home run to centerfield in the second inning to make it 6-0.\n“She’s so much fun to watch,” Peters said of Cady. “She’s only a sophomore and we have two freshmen catchers behind her. I tell them what a great role model they have. They’re good athletes themselves, but I say if you can watch how (Cady) handles herself behind the plate, how she handles the pitcher, frames the pitch, and her focus at the plate, to put that in your memory bank.”\nLake Orion’s Paytin Shadaia and Hailey Melchert recorded RBI hits in the top of the fifth for the Dragons (8-2), but the Wolves finished off the game when Hannah Chadwell knocked home the clinching run in the bottom of the frame.\n“(Lake Orion) was a good test. Every one of their kids came up to hit. We just keep battling and trying to get better and enjoying the game,” Peters said.\nA year ago, with nearly all of the same players, the Wolves reached the Division 1 semifinals before losing a heart-breaker to Grandville, 2-1. Last season’s team featured five freshmen starters and two sophomores in the lineup, which has led to elevated expectations in 2018 and beyond.\n“I think they’re having better at-bats and showing better understanding of the defensive strategy and positioning,” Peters said of his young players’ progression a year later. “Obviously their confidence is growing.”", "April 3 Sorrento Therapeutics Inc\n* Sorrento therapeutics anti-cea car-t demonstrates promising clinical activity and safety in phase IB clinical trial\n* In addition, from a safety standpoint, HITM-SIR protocol was well tolerated\n* There were no grade 4 or grade 5 events related to anti-cea car-t, sirt, or combination\n* All colitis episodes resolved with il-2 dose reductions\n* Sorrento - \"anti-cea car-t hai may represent a safe & well tolerated component of novel multi-modality regimens capable of meaningful disease control.\" Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "April 24 (Reuters) - TESARO Inc:\n* TESARO ANNOUNCES POSITIVE TOP-LINE RESULTS FROM QUADRA TRIAL OF ZEJULA\n* TESARO - TRIAL RESULTS SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED PRE-SPECIFIED PRIMARY ENDPOINT, DEMONSTRATED ZEJULA MONOTHERAPY ACTIVITY IN BIOMARKER SELECTED PATIENT POPULATION\n* TESARO INC - TRIAL’S DATA INTENDED TO SUPPORT LABEL EXPANSION WITH BIOMARKER IN TREATMENT SETTING Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "The Chief Minister will convene a meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Exiting the European Union in order to brief GSD and independent Opposition MPs and keep them abreast of recent developments.\nIn a statement the Government indicated that this will happen upon the return of the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, to Gibraltar from the Joint Ministerial Council on Gibraltar’s Exit from the European Union.\nThe Deputy Chief Minister will provide the briefings alongside Mr Picardo, No. 6 Convent Place explained.\nThis comes after both the Leader of the GSD, Keith Azopardi, and Independent MP Lawrence Llamas wrote to Mr Picardo urging him to brief the Opposition on the current state of Brexit discussions following the conclusion of the first round of negotiations.\nAdvertisement\nThis follows the announcement of a political agreement between the EU and UK allowing the parties to now enter into a second phase of discussions as part of the process leading to Britain’s departure of the EU.\nMr Azopardi further offered the Gibraltar Government the GSD’s continued cross-party support and participation in discussions with the UK and EU going forward.\nIn a statement Mr Llamas explained that in view of the reports last week relating to the advance made in relation to the Brexit negotiations and its possible implications for Gibraltar, he has written to the Chief Minister urging a meeting of the Brexit select committee to provide Opposition MPs with a better understanding of the Government’s work and position.\nAccording to No. 6 briefings with members of the Opposition will be confidential and will allow Mr Picardo and Dr Garcia to share some of the more sensitive information available to the Government with Members of Parliament about the progress of discussions and the expected effect of recent events and agreements for Gibraltar.\nThere have already been two informal briefings of Opposition MPs, including Independents, to date.\nThe Government envisages continuing with this process until Gibraltar’s departure from the European Union has been finalised.\nMr Picardo said: “It is important that, at this sensitive time for Gibraltar, we are as united as we are able to be on issues which arise from the Brexit negotiations.”\n“That is the best way to protect the interests of Gibraltar and of future generations.”\n“Much of what we read in the international press is relevant to Gibraltar, but not necessarily in the way that matters are interpreted by commentators who are considering things from the perspective of other jurisdictions.”\n“We have to be clear about where Gibraltar’s interests lie and the Deputy Chief Minister and I will, therefore, continue to brief GSD and independent MPs on the information and analysis available to the Government and on what is informing our thinking as we take these discussions and negotiations forward.”\nIn a statement of its own the GSD said it is firmly of the view that any beneficial transitional arrangements that are entered into must extend to Gibraltar.\nIt added that the arrangements that in principle could be entered into for Northern Ireland show that it is possible to have appropriate arrangements in respect of special circumstances.\n“These can only be entered into in respect of Gibraltar with the consent of the people of Gibraltar and be unconditional in nature.”\nThey cannot be conditional on Gibraltar giving concessions to Spain, the GSD said.\nAs the EU and UK now enter into this second phase of discussions it is important that the Gibraltar Government is not just consulted but fully participates in those discussions where it is relevant to Gibraltar.\nMr Azopardi said: “Navigating the consequences of Brexit is the most important current challenge for Gibraltar.”\n“The Government needs to be alive to the dangers in these talks and ensure it is kept fully abreast of developments.”\n“It is also important it is guaranteed a seat at the table at technical and political talks involving Gibraltar.”\n“We need to be careful that any arrangements that are discussed work for Gibraltar and guarantee freedom of movement and our fundamental rights.”\n“We are after all UK citizens for the purposes of the EU Treaties.”\n“Additionally and because of the special nature of the challenge this is an issue on which Government and Opposition should work together in the interests of Gibraltar.”\n“That is why I have today written to the Chief Minister to ask him to brief the GSD (on a confidential basis if necessary) on the current state of discussions and to offer our continued cross-party support and participation in discussions with the UK and EU as we go forward.” said Mr Azopardi.\nAdvertisement", "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING\nThe Charter Township of Orion Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the lower level of the Orion Township Hall, 2525 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, Michigan 48360, on the following matter:\nAB-2018- 25, Richard L. Jewett, 1146 S. Long Lake, 09-01-265-046\nThe petitioner is requesting two (2) variances from Zoning Ordinance No. 78:\nArticle 27, Section 27.05.H.: 1. A 10’ rear yard setback variance from the required 10’ rear yard setback to build a 6’ tall privacy fence on the rear property line. Article 6, Section 6.07, District R-3: 2. A 10’ side yard setback variance from the required 10’ side yard setback to build a 6’ tall privacy fence on both side yards.\nYou may send correspondence regarding this case to the Orion Township Hall, addressed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, or you may attend the public hearing to express your views and/or concerns.\nA complete copy of the proposed ZBA application is on file in the Planning & Zoning Department and may be examined during normal business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, until the date of the public hearing.\nOrion Township will provide necessary and reasonable auxiliary aids, and services for individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon advance notice by writing or calling Penny S. Shults, Township Clerk, 2525 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, Michigan 48360; (248) 391-0304, ext. 4001. Please contact the Clerk’s office at least 72 hours in advance of the public hearing.\nLoren Yaros, Chairman\nZoning Board of Appeals\nCharter Township of Orion", "WARSAW, Poland (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she would be pleased if Poland's talks with the European Union yielded a solution to the standoff over the country's rule of law record.\nDuring a brief visit to Warsaw, Merkel said she was following the negotiations to avert unprecedented EU sanctions over changes to Poland's judiciary pushed by its conservative government.\n\"I would be pleased to hear the European Commission say that the talks were fruitful,\" Merkel said following talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.\nMorawiecki said there was \"light in the tunnel\" but that an agreement to resolve the dispute over Poland's judicial system \"requires understanding on both sides.\"\nThe EU triggered a censure procedure in December that could lead to potential sanctions over Poland's judicial overhaul. The European Commission said at the time it was putting Poland on notice that it was at risk of contravening EU law.\nHowever, the leaders of Poland and Germany said Monday that Europe needs unity to be strong. They stressed agreement on issues such as economic cooperation and providing more support to countries that have received the most migrants since a new wave of mass immigration got underway in 2014-2015.\n\"In the face of the global situation, we understand that our voice will be strong if we have a strong alliance, if we act jointly,\" Merkel said.\nMorawiecki and Merkel also discussed Europe's response to the poisoning in Britain this month of a Russian ex-spy and his adult daughter.\nMerkel said she expects European Union leaders to reach \"strong conclusions\" about the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, during a summit this week in Brussels.\nSignificant information points to Russia's responsibility for the nerve agent attack and it's now up to Moscow to prove it wasn't involved, the German chancellor said.\nMorawiecki said the entire EU needs to give a firm response so \"the Russian aggressor will know that it cannot permit itself to attack a NATO member state, an EU member state.\"\nRussia has rejected allegations that it was behind the poisonings.\nCopyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.\nSign up for BREAKING NEWS Emails privacy policy Thanks for subscribing!", "Aug 14 (Reuters) - Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc\n* Anthera Pharmaceuticals announces result phase 3 clinical study of Sollpura will be included in the European cystic fibrosis clinical trial network\n* Says ‍topline data are expected at end of 2017 to early 2018, depending on speed of patient enrollment​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "On today's TSX Breakouts report, there are 17 stocks on the positive breakouts list (stocks with positive price momentum), and 48 stocks are on the negative breakouts list (stocks with negative price momentum).\nDiscussed today is a company that may appear on the positive breakouts list in the future. Last month, the company completed a transformational acquisition, which may further expand the stock's valuation. The stock is up an impressive 23 per cent year-to-date with an additional 22 per cent upside forecast. The security I am referring to is Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. (OR-T).\nA brief outline is provided below that may serve as a springboard for further fundamental research.\nThe company\nMontreal-based Osisko is an intermediate precious metal royalty company that holds a portfolio of 131 royalties, streams, and precious metal offtakes with a North American focus.\nAfter the market closed on August 3, the company reported second quarter financial results that were in-line with expectations. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 7 cents, matching the consensus estimate.\nOn July 31, the company completed the recently announced acquisition of the precious metals portfolio of assets from Orion Mine Finance Group. This large, transformational acquisition will result in annual cash flow growth of 10 per cent from 2017 to 2023. Consequently, management raised its guidance for 2017 and is now calling for between 55,300 gold equivalent ounces (GEO's) and 65,700 GEO's, above its previous guidance of between 43,300 GEO's and 46,100 GEO's. For 2018, the company is forecasting production of over 100,000 GEO's, rising to over 140,000 GEO's by the year 2023.\nThe company is dual-listed, trading on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the same ticker, OR.\nDividend policy\nEarlier this month, the company announced a 25 per cent dividend increase, lifting the quarterly dividend to 5 cents per share from 4 cents per share. This marks the second dividend increase since the company was created in 2014. This equates to 20 cents per share yearly, or an annualized dividend yield of 1.2 per cent.\nOn the second quarter conference call, Bryan Coates, the president of the company, reaffirmed management's commitment to having a \"very stable dividend that is sustainable\". He stated, \"We want to return as much as we can while keeping some money to make further investments. So you can see that our dividend profile should increase over the next few years.\"\nAnalysts' recommendations\nWith a market capitalization of $2.5-billion, this stock is well covered by the Street. According to Bloomberg, there are 14 analysts covering this company of which 11 analysts have buy recommendations, two analysts have hold recommendations, and one analyst (from EVA Dimensions) has an 'underweight' recommendation.\nThe 14 firms providing research coverage are as follows in alphabetical order: BMO Capital Markets, Canaccord Genuity, CIBC World Markets, Cormark Securities, EVA Dimensions, GMP, Haywood Securities, Macquarie, National Bank Financial, Paradigm Capital, Raymond James, RBC Capital Markets, Scotia Capital, and TD Securities.\nFinancial forecasts\nThe Street is forecasting solid growth for the company with cash flow per share expected to come in at 55 cents in 2017 and increase to 70 cents per share in 2018. The consensus earnings per share estimates are 30 cents in 2017 and 38 cents in the following year.\nOver recent months, earnings estimates have increased for 2018 given the recently completed acquisition of assets from Orion, which added 74 royalties, streams, and precious metal offtakes. For instance, three months ago, the Street was forecasting cash flow per share of 54 cents in 2017 and 55 cents in 2018. The consensus earnings per share estimates were 30 cents for 2017 and 32 cents for 2018.\nValuation\nAnalysts commonly value the stock on a price-to-net asset value basis, as well as on a price-to-cash flow (P/CF) basis. The stock is currently trading at a P/CF multiple of 23 times the 2018 consensus estimate.\nAccording to Bloomberg, the one-year consensus target price is $19.70, suggesting there is 22 per cent upside in the share price over the next 12 months. Target prices provided by 13 firms range from a low of $17 to a high of $22. Individual target prices are as follows in numerical order: $17, $18.50, four at $19, $19.50, two at $20, $20.25, $21, $21.50, $22.\nRevised recommendations\nThis month, two analysts tweaked their target prices. Richard Gray from Cormark Securities reduced his target price by $1 to $21.50, and Andrew Kaip from BMO Capital Market raised his target price to $17 (the low on the Street) from $15.\nMeanwhile, Timothy Stanish from EVA Dimensions cut his recommendation to an \"underweight\" from an \"overweight.\"\nInsider transaction activities\nOn July 31, the Caisse de dépột et placement du Québec acquired over 13.7-million shares under a private placement priced at $14.56 per share for an account in which it has indirect ownership (CDP Investissements Inc.-an affiliate of La Caisse). This portfolio now holds over 19-million shares. La Caisse has an ownership position above 10 per cent.\nChart watch\nYear-to-date, the share price is up an impressive 23 per cent, making it one of the top performing gold stocks in the S&P/TSX composite index.\nFor now, tensions between the U.S. and North Korea appear to have paused, causing the price of gold to drift down, which is likely to put some downward pressure on Osisko's stock price.\nIn terms of key support and resistance levels, there is initial downside support around $16, near its 50-day moving average (at $15.99). Failing that, there is support around $15, close to its 200-day moving average (at $14.63). The stock has a major ceiling of resistance just above $17, and after that, between $18.25 and $18.50.\n===\nThe Breakouts file is a technical analysis screen intended to identify companies that are technically breaking out. In addition, this report highlights a company's dividend policy, analysts' recommendations, financial forecasts, and provides a brief technical analysis for a security to provide readers with more information.\nIf a stock appears on the positive breakouts list, this indicates positive price momentum, and that a company may be worthwhile for investors to look at the fundamentals in order to determine if the recent price strength is warranted and will continue. If a security appears on the negative breakouts list, this indicates negative price momentum, and may be indicative of either deteriorating fundamentals or perhaps indicates a buying opportunity.\nSecurities screened are from the S&P/TSX composite index, the S&P/TSX Small Cap index, as well as Canadian small cap stocks outside of these indices that have a minimum market capitalization of $200-million.\nA technical analysis screen does not replace fundamental analysis, but can help identify companies worth having a closer look at.\nIf you want to receive an automatic link to all reports that I write, follow me on Twitter at @jennifer_dowty", "Aug 15 (Reuters) - Shire Plc\n* SHIRE ANNOUNCES SUBMISSION OF LIFITEGRAST MARKETING AUTHORIZATION APPLICATION FOR TREATMENT OF DRY EYE DISEASE IN EUROPE\n* MAA FOR LIFITEGRAST, SUBMITTED HAS BEEN VALIDATED BY UK AS REFERENCE MEMBER STATE INVOLVED IN DECENTRALIZED PROCEDURE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:" ]

[ "A good askreddit question" ]

[ "No. That's not really a change from what we know already and what we know already is mostly irrelevant to my life.", "we don't know much about what we did. all we do is just following a tutorial video on YouTube", "We know what you're doing.", "You probebly know what me and many other boys would do if we were females", "What ever we do, we can't let the Americans know!", "Stop projecting, we all know your father already taught you what it tastes like.", "Good try at getting my PIN number... but we all know what the year 6969 will be like", "What other accent would we use?!!", "As if he would even know what do do with it...", "“John what the fuck is this?”\n\n“Jeff Hardy!” \n\n“What!?”\n\n“I don’t know!”\n\n“It’s Jeff Hardy!” \n\n“Why!?” \n\nI don’t even know what the fuck it was all about.", "How do we know what unicorns look like?", "We all know he would eat Foofoocuddlypoops in a heartbeat.", "We don't even know what's gonna happen in December....", "You must be relatively new to the internet if you had to click on the link to know what that is. Rule 34: if it exists, there is porn of it.", "All of the things in the library in Alexandria. Who even knows what was lost???", "Poor as fuck. What fun would all that money be all alone?", "Can we all agree that we support what peta theoretically stands for?", "But we know Jesus was real. His accolades are what people question.", "What if we have all sex together right now?", "Gamergate, what a shit show the internet was back in 2014.", "I want to know exactly what happens when we die.", "What people do for fake internet points, its ridiculous.", "totally not what this post is even about. what’s this obesession with wanting everyone on the internet to be the worse? weird fetish", "We started having completely different ideas on what that future would be.", "Why the hell would anyone judge their worth based on how many other people they give a fuck about? We all do what we want.", "What my friend and I would do if we operated a lighthouse together", "What is it like to not know what schizophrenia is?", "Fun fact: almost all blind people have some remaining vision, and would probably know what colors look like.", "That person is an internet troll who will change their tune when they are in that situation. Yes I know exactly what prompted you to post this.", "It's not about us knowing what the boss thinking, it's about the boss knowing what we're thinking. We give the boss an expectant \"Can we shoot this guy?\" look, and he gives us the nod.", "What would we personally do or what is going to happen?\n\nMy city started preparing for riots over the weekend.", "Wait, what pandemic?\n\n*This post brought to you by Internet Explorer*" ]

[ "Mocha" ]

[ "reference", "clean a coffee pot", "Once", "refer", "NOW", "chief", "No Name", "Kissinger now", "Once a year", "Hyannis Port", "\"Now, Voyager\"", "a USB port", "lemon-flavored vodka", "\"It's Now Or Never\"", "the chief thief", "commander-in-chief", "Physician's Desk Reference", "\"Hail to the Chief\"", "its face", "S-A", "Apocalypse Now", "Its Spots", "its volume", "by its cover", "its legs", "its head", "Chief Justices", "its flag", "its jawbone", "the chief usher", "S", "its skin" ]

[ "BAGHDAD, 14 September 2004 - At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded when warplanes struck what the US military called a hide-out of Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Fallujah yesterday." ]

[ "Description: Car bombs kill more than 30 Iraqis in Samarra, and more attacks wound more tha 20 American Marines in Ramadi. US and Iraqi forces stepped up attacks on Fallujah, preparing for a major offensive against insurgents there.", "The suicide bomber believed to have carried out this week&#39;s devastating attack on a US military dining tent, killing more than 20 people, was probably wearing an Iraqi military uniform, a US general said Thursday.", "20 September 2004 -- Afghan Transitional Administration Deputy Chairman Ne&#39;matullah Shahrani survived a roadside bomb attack in the north today and two US soldiers were killed in a gun battle in the southeast.", "Security forces backed by helicopters attacked a stronghold of a militant cleric in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, trading fire with his supporters near the scene of a suicide attack that killed 20 people, police said", "Two suicide car bombings Saturday killed at least 20 Iraqi police officers and National guardsmen. And, a mortar attack in central Baghdad killed at least two civilians.", "A car bomb hit a police station in Algeria on Wednesday in an attack that state radio said killed four policemen and injured 20 people.", "Five US soldiers are killed in an attack on their patrol in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the US military has said.", "The suicide bomb attack on an army barracks near Algiers on Wednesday killed eight people and wounded 20, according to security sources.", "BAGHDAD -- Violence erupted across northern Iraq yesterday, as a car bomb killed at least 20 people in front of a police academy, and as insurgents shot down a US helicopter during an attack on a hide-out suspected to have been occupied by militants.", "A general strike to protest a recent grenade attack that killed 20 people at an opposition political rally brought Bangladesh to a near standstill Monday.", "An American soldier is killed in an attack in eastern Afghanistan, the US military says.", "Adnan Al-Gul, the inventor of the Qassam rockets used by Palestinians to attack Israel, was killed yesterday in an air attack on Gaza.", "Security forces fired on a stronghold of a militant cleric in Pakistan, sparking a gunbattle near the scene of a suicide attack on a military truck that killed 20 people.", "The US president declares four Florida counties disaster areas, after storms killed at least 20 people.", "The US defence secretary is under attack over machine-signed letters to the families of US soldiers killed in action.", "A car bomb exploded Sunday outside a Baghdad cafe used by Iraqi police killing seven people and wounding 20, the US military said.", "A number of people are killed as a gunman attacks an Amish school in the US state of Pennsylvania.", "At least seven US soldiers are killed in roadside explosions and attacks in Iraq, officials say.", "Insurgent bomb attacks in Baghdad and Mosul killed six Iraqi civilians Monday, the US military said. In the Baghdad attacks, a trio of nearly simultaneous explosions killed three Iraqi", "Five US soldiers are killed in a roadside bomb attack in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the US military says.", "The captain and owner of a boat that capsized in the US killing 20 tourists are charged after a 15-month inquiry.", "A US diplomat is wounded and his Sudanese driver killed in an attack in the capital Khartoum, reports say.", "Rescue efforts are under way in southern US states after a series of tornadoes killed at least 20 people.", "Bangladesh must find those responsible for bombings, including last month&#39;s attack on a political rally that killed 20 people, the British Broadcasting Corp.", "Two workers for a British security firm are killed in an attack in central Iraq, the US military says.", "A teenage suicide attacker blew himself up at a packed Shiite mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday, killing eight people and wounding 20, officials said.", "BAGHDAD, July 20 -- Insurgents killed three British troops and two American soldiers in separate attacks in southern and central Iraq, coalition officials said Friday.", "The US welcomes the killing of top Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh, implicated in numerous bomb attacks.", "Bangladesh has called in Interpol to assist investigations into the August 21 grenade attack on an opposition rally which killed 20 people, a senior police officer said.", "The US military says an American soldier was killed in attack in eastern Afghanistan, the third US soldier to die in the country this week.", "A gunman who attacked a US Amish school said he molested two young members of his family 20 years ago.", "A suicide car bomber attacked Wednesday an Iraqi military camp northwest of Baghdad, killing 10 Iraqis and injuring more than 20, Iraqi officials said." ]

[ "I dont even think its the best Quentin Tarantino film.\\n\\nDont get me wrong, I enjoyed the Kill Bill movies, thought they were cool.\\n\\nReservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are my favorite Tarantino films." ]

[ "Both are good flicks. Other good ones:\\n\\nHeat\\nDie Hard Trilogy\\nTerminator Trilogy\\nClint Eastwood Classics Action Flicks\\nJames Bond Flicks\\n\\n'Just too many to mention............................", "Check this out:\\n\\nIn your room\\nWhere time stands still\\nOr moves at your will\\nWill you let the morning come soon\\nOr will you leave me lying here\\nIn your favourite darkness\\nYour favourite half-light\\nYour favourite consciousness\\nYour favourite slave\\n\\nIn your room\\nWhere souls disappear\\nOnly you exist here\\nWill you lead me to your armchair\\nOr leave me lying here\\nYour favourite innocence\\nYour favourite prize\\nYour favourite smile\\nYour favourite slave\\n\\nI’m hanging on your words\\nLiving on your breath\\nFeeling with your skin\\nWill I always be here\\n\\nIn your room\\nYour burning eyes\\nCause flames to arise\\nWill you let the fire die down soon\\nOr will I always be here\\nYour favourite passion\\nYour favourite game\\nYour favourite mirror\\nYour favourite slave\\n\\nI’m hanging on your words\\nLiving on your breath\\nFeeling with your skin\\nWill I always be here", "I'm a doctor & I like to kill; I like to kill, so here's your bill?\\n-DEVO", "It's great! I've lived and worked all over (Australia, US, Germany & Ireland), and London is by far my favourite place. It's not cheap, though; The rent may well kill you.", "It depends on your taste in movies. For chick flicks, Rumor has it is pretty good. For comedy, Fun with D*ck and Jane is good. For romance, Tistan and Isolde. For gory, Hostel.", "Hmmm that's hard - there are so many hot players! And I'm not sure who is single. My favourites are Sonny Bill Williams, Billy Slater and Joel Clinton. Craig Wing is hot but he has a girlfriend!", "I just do the classic 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 procedure:\\n\\n1 - dig\\n2 - flick\\n3 - flick again with the other hand\\n4 - flick once again with the first hand\\n5 - flick again with the second hand\\n6 - flick again with the first hand\\n7 - just stick it in a wall or under the desk.\\n\\nWhy are they so sticky? It seems they never fly off with the first flick!!", "As Americans we must back the Dutch on this situation. We live in a society of free speech and all that. We must support any country that shares those same rights. Those cartoonists are of no fault for making those cartoons. If anyone's to blame is those punks that would kill over something such as religion. I know people identify themselves with their religion, but taking your religion seriously doesn't permit you to kill anyone for any reason.\\nLast Temptation of Christ is a great movie. It's in my list of favourite movies. Think everyone should see it.\\nLater.", "Marry Bill Gates Daughter and kill his son", "disc upside-down. the grip as well as the hand & forearm motion is the same as a forehand 'flick', except your palm is facing down and you're flicking the disc from your opposite shoulder (if right-hand throw, from left shoulder.) step forward w/ right foot. disc is 45deg angle or less on release, depending on distance. \\n*Your arm only extends a little. the key is the FLICK action -- like whipping a towel.", "Basically a chick flick and it sucked.", "Tracy Flick- hands down the best.", "Say \"OCCULUS REPARO\" and give your wand a light flick as you say it....", "Audition.\\n\\nIt's a Japanese flick. A bit hard to find, but worth it.\\n\\nI've seen most major American horror flicks...but Audition makes my skin crawl. There were actually scenes that I had trouble watching! (Yes, I watched the hobbling scene in Misery without a problem.)\\n\\nThis movie is worth watching. The begining is a bit slow....but stick with it. It's really worth it! Genius flick!", "There are no horror films anymore - they're all slasher flicks.", "Great flick, two thumbs up!", "Sounds cool. Never heard it. Unless of course that song from Killing Bill was Japanese Thrash. That's what I imagine it would sound like based on it's title.", "tell them about your favourite positions and show them your porn wardrobe.", "Study the subject matter. Pretend you are watching a horror flick in class.", "depends on how serious your crush is. If it's just a fun flick, then it'll be short. If it's a serious crush, it'll be long. My longest crush was 2 years and a half.", "Do not stay in one place. You must work the entire vagina area. Do not focus just on her clitoris. Try spelling her name with your tongue in the central region. Also, flick your tongue very quickly against the clitoris. Also you may try sticking one or two fingers inside her while you are flicking your tongue. The double penetration will get her to where you want her to be. \\n\\nGood luck", "date the horror flick guy, sleep with the vindictive one...", "FAILURE TO LAUCH IS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS AND NOT A CHICK FLICK. WE LAUGHED FROM BEGINNING TO END.", "Vaidyisa,\\n I believe that you will have to make folders for your favourites, then move them into the folders. If you are using IE, you can select favourites, then organize, then create new folders, delete folders, move folders. Etc.\\n I hope this helped.\\nCheers!", "You see by using muscles in your eyes, so if you didn't use those muscles for a few months your muscles would experince atrophy and won't work right for a while. I don't think you would go completely blind though. It's like in the movie kill bill when Uma's in a coma and can't walk for a while.", "Great flick! Will Smith was funny and heroic. I bought the DVD", "No, He did make some porn flicks though. Adam West (Batman) is gay", "William Munney out of missouri shot Little bill sherrif of Big Whiskey coz he killed his partner Ned and decorated the bar placing Ned in a coffin!", "Clean Flicks purchases movies on tape, and then edits out all the sex, violence, and \"bad\" language before renting them out to customers. The rental chain is seeking a court declaration that its practices are perfectly legal - and not a violation of federal copyright law, as the directors reportedly believe.\\n\\nThe chain has emphasized its First Amendment rights. But the government is not a party to the case, as is generally required under the First Amendment; it is the directors, not the state, who the chain anticipates will try to stop its editing practices. Accordingly, the chain's best defense probably does not come directly from the First Amendment. Rather, it derives from the First-Amendment-inspired \"fair use\" exception to the copyright law, and similar exceptions to related laws under which the directors can sue.\\n\\nUnsurprisingly, The Directors' Guild of America believes that what Clean Flicks is doing is far from \"fair use.\" Indeed, it has decried the suit as an effort \"to legitimize the unauthorized editing and alteration of movies.\"\\n\\nWhich side is correct? Does Clean Flicks have the right to edit properly purchased movies as it sees fit, before renting them out? Or does a director have the right to ensure that a movie remains edited in the ways he or she has approved?\\n\\nPut another way, what Clean Flicks is doing may be anathema from an artistic point of view (I certainly believe that to be the case), but is it also illegal? I will argue that the legal question is much more difficult than it may seem at first, because Clean Flicks's practices resemble many long-accepted examples of \"fair use\" in important ways.\\n\\nThe Directors, Studios, and Actors Have Strong Legal Claims\\n\\nSince the DGA has not yet filed a countersuit, it is not clear exactly which claims it will bring against Clean Flicks. But it has already raised a number of possible bases for a suit, several of which appear to be strong.\\n\\nFirst, the DGA can argue that Clean Flicks' business amounts to an ongoing violation of copyright laws. By editing out content from certain movies before renting them out, Clean Flicks arguably exceeds its license to use the copyrighted movies it had purchased.\\n\\nSecond, the DGA can argue that Clean Flicks, in marketing its edited films, violates trademarks. Phrases such as the studio's name, or a certain tag line used to promote the movie on the video box, are trademarked, and Clean Flicks is arguably using them deceptively if it connects them with a movie edited to be substantially different from the one the studio made.", "soft and gently at first to stir his emotions then deeper and nibble his lower lip, while flicking your tongue in & out of his mouth, body interaction is also a plus, this at least always gets me going", "I agree with you completely, and my friends and I are picketing the flick.", "Favourite: To the soothing sound of wind whistling and hooting among the eaves, rain drumming and breaking in arrhythmic waves on the window.\\n\\nLeast favourite: Late." ]

[ "The Environmental Protection Agency is stepping into the burgeoning field of nanotechnology. Some household cleaning products now employ nanotechnology such as microscopic pieces of silver that could end up in the water supply. The EPA now says such products must first have approval. Nanotechnology is a booming field, and some say federal regulation is long overdue. MICHELE NORRIS, host: The Environmental Protection Agency has decided to regulate consumer items that make use of microscopic nanoparticles of silver. It's the first federal rule applied to the new but booming field of nanotechnology and by some accounts it's overdue. NPR's John Nielsen joins us now here in the studio to talk about the EPA's decision. John, let's start out with a little background. What is nanotechnology and why is it booming? JOHN NIELSEN: Well, in basic terms, nanotechnology is a field of study that is built around attempts to manufacture and manipulate and make an absolute ton of money off of things called nanoparticles, and those are not, as some would have you believe, little robots waiting to take over the world, but very, very, very small pieces of matter that it's almost hard for me to explain how small they are. I'll try, however. The smallest nanoparticles are a billionth of a meter wide, and by comparison, the average human hair is about a hundred thousand times that size. NORRIS: So they are beyond teeny. NIELSEN: Yeah, itty-bitty, bitty, bitty. The reason this field is booming is because it's not a research field anymore. There are lots of products coming on to the market. The Woodrow Wilson Institute says $32 billion of products, I mean nanoparticles were sold in 2005 alone. NORRIS: So lots of products, but how are they used? NIELSEN: Well, it's a huge range of uses, and it's supposed to be getting bigger every day. I was just looking around, trying to gather some of them, and nanoparticles are now being used to build synthetic bones, waterproof slacks, faster-burning rocket fuels and shoe liners that can suck the stench out of the most awful gym shoes. And they're also turning up in a very wide range of household cleaning products, and that's of course where the EPA comes in. NORRIS: And so why did the EPA get involved in all this? NIELSEN: Well, the EPA got involved because household cleaning products tend to go down drains and out into waterways. And most of the products we're talking about here, most of the new products, use nanoparticles of silver, and the fact is nobody knows what all those nanoparticles are going to do to the things that live in the waterways or even to the people who drink from the waterways. And organizations like Friends of the Earth and the Natural Resources Defense Council have been complaining very bitterly about that lack of knowledge, and now the EPA has decided to do something about it. Specifically, they've decided to require manufacturers of products with nanoparticles in them to prove that they are safe before they can be put on the market. NORRIS: So when will these new regulations take effect? NIELSEN: Well, I don't know the answer to that, and that's because nobody knows the answer to that. The EPA doesn't know the answer to that because there's a number of steps that haven't been taken yet. First, they have to publish in the federal register. They haven't done that. After that, there could be a whole bunch of public hearings, there could be lawsuits. And if the example of the rule imposed on pesticide companies is illustrative here - the EPA, a long, long time ago asked them to do the same sort of thing with their products - it could take decades because there are a lot of pesticides on the market today that the studies still haven't been done for. NORRIS: John, as I understand, this is the first time that the EPA has regulated a nanoproduct. Is that correct? NIELSEN: Yes. NORRIS: Do you think that we'll see more of these regulations in the future? NIELSEN: Well, I'm just guessing here, but yes. I can't see how they won't. According to the National Science Foundation, this is going to be a trillion-dollar market in about 10 years, and there are going to be thousands of different nanoparticles on the market. Right now, there are about 200. And the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration are already under a lot of pressure for not paying enough attention to these issues, and so as the market grows, the pressure to pay attention is bound to grow with it. NORRIS: John Nielsen, talking to us about the new frontier of nanotechnology. Thanks so much, John. NIELSEN: Thank you." ]

[ "Former EPA administrator Terry Davies says he is worried that the agency is not prepared to protect the environment — and public — from the hazards that nanotechnology might produce. At a public meeting on Thursday he urged the EPA to ensure that nanotechnology is being commercialized safely. Terry Davies, senior advisor, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars IRA FLATOW, host: You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION: SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. Nanotechnology is arguably one of the hottest, if not the hottest fields of technology research today. And it's yielding a bonanza of products that you can buy - hundreds of products, from clothing to cosmetics to car wax. And in many of these products, they use tiny, microscopic particles, nanoparticles, tiny enough up to get into your skin or into your bloodstream. Just how safe are these particles? How much do we know about how they react once you inhale them or breathe them in or put - get into your skin or put them on a cream? And that really is a topic up for debate these days. And yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Virginia, where anyone could comment on the agency's new Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program. That's a program that the agency is proposing to make sure nanotech won't harm us, or the environment, getting out there into the wildlife. Right now, the agency is classifying nanotech under the Toxic Substances Control Act. That law passed before nanotech products appeared and it covers pollutants that are bigger than nanoparticles. And the EPA is also proposing that companies voluntarily tell the EPA what their nanotech products involve, what safety steps they're taking to protect workers, customers and the environment. Will these approaches work? Our guests today both testified at yesterday's hearings and they have slightly opposing views on the issue. Charles Auer is technical director of the EPA's Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program. He joins us by phone from his office at EPA headquarters in Washington. Welcome to the program. Dr. CHARLES AUER (Technical director, Environmental Protection Agency Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program): Thank you, Ira, for having me on your show today. FLATOW: You're welcome. Dr. Terry Davies was assistant administrator for policy planning and the environment at the EPA under the first Bush administration. He's now senior advisor to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, where he published a report last May called, \"EPA and Nanotechnology: Oversight in the 21st Century.\" He joins us from our NPR studios in Washington. Welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY, Dr. Davies. Dr. TERRY DAVIES (Senior Advisor, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars): Thank you, Ira. FLATOW: Now, I promised the EPA that Dr. Auer could go on first, so I'm going to keep my promise. You're on, Dr. Auer. Dr. AUER: Indeed. Thank you, Ira. At EPA, our foremost and primary concern is to protect people and the environment, including protecting them from any potential risks from emerging technologies like nanotechnology. We recognize that nanotechnology has tremendous potential to produce innovative and less polluting products. But these and other benefits from this new technology can only be realized if there's proper scientific and regulatory oversight to protect the people and the environment. Our oversight on nanoscale materials is well under way under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which is the law that regulates industrial chemicals in the U.S. We're consulting with leading experts on this topic and getting their advice on how best to do this, and we're also proceeding in an open and transparent manner. We've had a long history at EPA of successfully addressing emerging science issues. And to provide appropriate oversight on nanoscale materials, we're doing four things. We've developed and are implementing a white paper that outlines our research strategy to develop the science needed to assess these materials. All new chemical nanoscale materials are subject to a regulatory requirement that they be notified to EPA and be reviewed by EPA before their introduction into commerce. We can then take necessary regulatory actions to control those new chemical nanoscale materials. Then, to complement the new chemicals program, we are bringing forward for comment the Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program, the subject of the public meeting, from yesterday. We hope to, through this effort, to develop a sound strategy to provide a firm scientific foundation for oversight on existing chemical nanoscale materials. The program will develop key scientific information and allow EPA to engage with companies to assess and take any appropriate risk-management actions on these existing chemical nanoscale materials. We think this approach ", "What are the potential environmental and health risks of nanotechnology? And what can be done to make sure that small tech doesn't lead to big problems? Guest: Kristen M. Kulinowski, executive director for education and public policy at the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology; director of the International Council on Nanotechnology at Rice University IRA FLATOW, host: You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. Last month, German regulators pulled a bathroom cleaner called Magic Nano from the market after several people complained of developing edema, that is a fluid on the lungs after using the spray cleaner. While regulators are still trying to figure out whether the Magic Nano product actually contained any nanomaterials, the recall brought a bit of attention to an aspect of nanotechnology that is not talked about very much--the safety of nanomaterials; Materials that can be measured on a billionth of a meter size scales. What exactly do we know about the safety risks of things that are definitely nano? Such materials are cropping up in an increasing amount of places and products. We can expect to see hundreds of new products coming out over the years. Already we've got cosmetics on your face that contain nanomaterials. The wax--some of the waxes being sold now to buff your car contain nanoparticles. They are finding their way into the environment as nano waste products getting dumped. Researchers are still trying to figure out just what effect things can have on health or the environment when they are shrunk down to ultra small levels. The nanotechnology industry certainly doesn't want a repeat of the asbestos story, when a material that was thought to be safe, and the solution to a whole rafter problems, well, eventually turned out to be tied to serious health problems; and we're still talking about it and paying for it today. This week, the Rand Corporation released a report exploring health risks associated with the use of nanomaterials in the work place. The report said that the U.S. Government is providing insufficient funding to understand and manage risks that nanomaterials pose to the health of workers in the rapidly growing nanotechnology industry. Joining me now to talk about the risks of nanotechnology is Kristen Kulinowksi. She's the executive director for education and public policy at the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, and director of the International Council on Nanotechnology that's based at Rice University in Houston. She joins us from the studios of KPFT in that town. Welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY. Dr. KRISTEN KULINOWSKI (Executive Director for Education and Public Policy, The Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology; Director of the International Council on Nanotechnology, Rice University): Thanks Ira. FLATOW: I hope I got all of that right. (Soundbite of laughter) Dr. KULINOWSKI: Yes, you did. FLATOW: Tell why why--why do they pose such a risk? What are the uniquely inherent in nanoparticles that make them risky? Dr. KULINOWSKI: Well I think you're phrasing the question wrong. I don't know that we can say that nanoparticles are inherently risky. What I would say is that the size and surface chemistry of nanoparticles raises concerns that they might have unique toxicological profiles that we don't see in particles that are larger of the same chemical composition. FLATOW: Where do they go--or where they--might they go in our bodies where other chemicals might not go that might make them risky? Dr. KULINOWSKI: Well, that's a very good question. And I don't think we know the answer to that, fully. There are a number of studies going on right now to understand the distribution of nanoparticles in the body. But one thing I would also like to point out is that nanoparticles are being explored as medical devices. So, in a sense, we may be intentionally using them in the body to confirm medical benefit. And we also need to be cognizant as we do that, what the potential unintentional consequences of exposure to nanoparticles might be. FLATOW: I guess we have workers that are using them every day for manufacturing. Dr. KULINOWSKI: And I think worker safety is one of the most urgent issues in the area of nanoparticle health and safety assessment right now, today, because unlike consumers, who are probably being exposed nanoparticles in much lower levels, the people in the workplace, who are dealing with these materials in larger volumes, and on a more chronic basis, may be the first people to become affected if any health effects are, in fact, determined. FLATOW: The Rand report said that the government has directed more than a billion dollars annually towards the development of nanotechnology, but just one percent of that, $10 million toward studying research understanding and managing the risks involved. Basically saying there's not enough money to know what's going on here. Dr. KULINOWSKI: Y", "Scientists say that super-small particles and fibers produced through nanotechnology will soon be in everything from cosmetics to computer chips to tennis rackets. But some people worry that nanomaterials may pose new threats to human health and the environment. A report released today argues that existing laws and regulations probably aren't enough to avert potential problems. The report was written by Terry Davies, an expert on environmental policy who used to work for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Davies has spent more than 30 years helping the government draft environmental regulations, and he notes that they usually only come after some sort of crisis. “If you look back at the history of most of the environmental regulations, they're reactions to adverse events, to disasters, or oil spills.” Davies hopes it will be different for nanotechnology, a field of research that is rapidly moving out of the lab. Government and industry have invested billions of research dollars in efforts to make extremely small structures, like spheres or tubes, from ordinary materials, like carbon and metal. These microscopically minuscule materials, smaller than a red blood cell and much thinner than a human hair, could have all kinds of commercial applications in everything from crash resistant cars to stain proof clothing. The National Science Foundation predicts that in the next 10 years, the global market for products made with nanotechnology will reach $1 trillion. One market analysis found that, a decade from now, nearly 10 million manufacturing jobs could involve making products with nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are interesting because they can often have very different chemical and biological properties than their normal-sized counterparts. But studies suggest that these unusual properties might also mean that nanomaterials could pose unexpected dangers. Nanoparticles are so small that they can sometimes be absorbed through the skin or get inhaled into the lungs. Some studies suggest that the materials can create toxicity or immune reactions, or travel throughout the body and into the brain. Davies says officials should develop regulations now to identify any potential problems. “The existing system is not well tailored to deal with nanotechnology,” he says. His analysis of existing laws was done for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan research institute for advanced study that was established by Congress. There's been relatively little money spent on studying the safety of nanomaterials, Davies says, or on research into environmental effects. “We know so little about the hazards, to the extent that there are any, from nanotechnology,” Davies says. “What that means is that you need to have a regulatory system that provides incentives to generate the information.” So far, no federal agency has put in place any nano-specific regulations. Susan Hazen, of the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, told NPR in a written statement that the agency believes \"its current regulatory authority for chemicals provides a strong framework for ensuring that industrial nanoscale materials are safely manufactured and used.\" But the EPA is designing a two-year voluntary program aimed at collecting more safety information from industry. That's according to William Gulledge, chair of the nanotechnology panel at the American Chemistry Council. “My sense is that they will go through this process in the voluntary program before making any decisions regarding the need or possibility of more regulations,” Gulledge says. Gulledge notes that over the last year, other agencies have started to gather information on things like possible health effects for workers who manufacture small materials. But he says the research is still in early days: “I think it's way too early to say that a new regulatory framework needs to be created for nanomaterials.” The Wilson Center report, however, argues that this is exactly the right time. Terry Davies would like to see a new law specifically designed to make sure that nanomaterials don't pose an unacceptable risk. He notes that there's always a reluctance to put new legislation in place -- until something bad happens, and the public demands it. STEVE INSKEEP, host: Here's a warning of sorts about nanotechnology. Those are those super-small particles and fibers produced that could soon be in everything from cosmetics to computer chips to tennis rackets. Some people worry that nano materials may pose new threats to human health and the environment. And a report released today argues that existing laws and regulations probably are not enough to avoid the problems. NPR's Nell Boyce reports. NELL BOYCE reporting: Terry Davies used to work for the Environmental Protection Agency. He's spent over 30 years helping the government draft environmental regulations, usually after som", "In another proposed reversal of an Obama-era standard, the Environmental Protection Agency Friday said limiting mercury and other toxic emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants is not cost-effective and should not be considered \"appropriate and necessary.\" The EPA says it is keeping the 2012 restrictions in place for now, in large part because utilities have already spent billions to comply with them. But environmental groups worry the move is a step toward repealing the limits and could make it harder to impose other regulations in the future. In a statement, the EPA said it is \"providing regulatory certainty by transparently and accurately taking account of both costs and benefits.\" The National Mining Association welcomed the move, calling the mercury limits \"punitive\" and \"massively unbalanced.\" When coal is burned it releases mercury into the air, where it can cause health risks to people including neurological disorders, heart and lung problems and compromised immune systems. Babies developing in the womb and young children are especially at risk. The main source of exposure is through eating contaminated fish and seafood. In 2015, a court ordered the EPA to take into account not just the benefits of the mercury rule but also its cost to industry. In its new proposal, the EPA estimates that cost at $7.4 billion to $9.6 billion annually and the benefits at just $4 million to $6 million a year. By contrast, the Obama administration had calculated an additional $80 billion in health benefits because particulate matter and other toxic pollutants are also reduced when utilities limit mercury. It said those \"co-benefits\" included preventing up to 11,000 premature deaths each year. \"What has changed now is the administration's attitude towards public health,\" said Clean Air Task Force Legal Director Ann Weeks in a statement. Weeks called the EPA's estimates outdated and said more recent research finds billions of dollars in public health benefits from reducing mercury emissions alone. Others are concerned about the future impact. \"We should not limit ourselves in the ongoing fight against this dangerous pollutant,\" said mercury expert Celia Chen of the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program. In a statement, she said the warming climate, for example, might affect mercury's impact on the environment but the EPA's proposal could make it harder to address that. \"Regulators need the tools to strengthen mercury controls in the future if needed,\" she said. Critics worry that revising the way the costs and health benefits of regulations are calculated could undermine the justification for a range of other environmental rules as well, possibly making them more vulnerable to legal challenge. Jeff Holmstead doesn't think that's necessarily so. He's a former EPA air administrator now with Bracewell LLP, which represents energy industry clients. In a statement, he said the EPA is not restricting courts from considering the co-benefits of a certain regulation but merely saying it should not justify a regulation like \"this case, where virtually all the benefits are co-benefits.\" Even though the EPA's mercury standards have faced court challenges, utilities spent more than $18 billion to comply with the requirements. In a letter to the EPA last summer, utilities and regulatory and labor groups said mercury emissions had been reduced by nearly 90 percent over the past decade. In that letter they also asked the Trump administration's EPA to leave the existing standards in place. Since many regulators have included the equipment costs in utility rates, some worry that no longer requiring the limits could leave customers paying for the pollution controls without getting cleaner air. That's because it also costs money to continue operating that equipment. \"It's not unreasonable to expect that if the standards go away there will be some number of utilities that will choose to no longer operate pollution controls that they've installed,\" says Janet McCabe, former acting assistant administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation at EPA during the Obama administration. In 1990 Congress amended the Clean Air Act and advised the EPA to limit mercury emissions from a variety of industries. It took 21 years before the EPA finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants. The standards help meet the country's commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The proposal to weaken the mercury limits is the latest in a series of efforts the Trump administration has taken to help the struggling coal business. The federal Energy Information Administration says U.S. coal consumption in 2018 is expected to be at its lowest level in nearly four decades. Even as coal use rises in China and India, the domestic industry has struggled to compete with cheaper electricity produced from natural gas and renewable energy. In December the administration proposed a revision that would allow", "The Trump administration has moved to formally replace the Clean Power Plan, an environmental regulation that former President Barack Obama once lauded as the single-most important step America has ever taken to fight climate change. The long-anticipated proposal, called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, would give individual states more authority to make their own plans for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. That is a marked difference from Obama's plan, which aimed to curb climate change by moving the power sector away from coal and toward renewable energy sources, thus cutting carbon emissions from the nation's power plants by about one-third by 2030. \"We're ending the intrusive EPA regulations that kill jobs,\" Trump said in a White House statement. He said that Obama's regulation would have raised the price of energy. Energy production is a major source of climate-altering greenhouse gases, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, topped only by the transportation sector. Earlier this month, the Trump administration moved to roll back Obama-era fuel economy standards for the nation's automakers that aimed to address those emissions as well. Trump and many in his administration have routinely dismissed the threat of climate change and questioned its cause, contradicting the federal government's own research. The Affordable Clean Energy Rule \"would restore the rule of law and empower state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide modern, reliable and affordable energy for all Americans,\" said Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler in a statement. Critics argue that it's Trump's latest attempt to play to his base and prop up an ailing coal industry. The proposal would \"give the states the option to do just a little or absolutely nothing to reduce carbon pollution,\" says Gina McCarthy, who headed under EPA under Obama. \"This is all about coal at all costs,\" she added. The Clean Power Plan that McCarthy advocated for never went into effect. Energy companies, industry groups and more than two dozen states challenged the regulation soon after it was announced, claiming it was an unlawful overreach by Obama's EPA. The Supreme Court put a stay on the Clean Power Plan in 2016, and the Trump administration later asked federal courts to stand down as it worked to rewrite the rule. Even without the regulation, the U.S. has seen a decline in carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, as growth in renewable energy and cheap natural gas have moved more energy providers away from coal and as states have stepped in with their own plans. A recent study suggests that the U.S. may still even meet the short-term emissions reductions required under the Paris climate agreement, which the U.S. plans to exit, because of those larger market trends. Still, environmentalists say the new proposal would be bad for public health. If it takes effect, \"polluters can avoid making the large, life-saving reductions in smog and soot pollution that the Plan would have achieved,\" said Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen in a statement. The Clean Power Plan had long been a top target of the Trump administration, which has moved to undo a host of Obama-era environmental rules. As a candidate, Donald Trump promised to end the so-called \"war on coal\" and repeal the regulation. Soon after taking office, he has signed an executive order to undo the rule and the Environmental Protection Agency moved to formally repeal it last October. While some of the most vocal critics of the Clean Power Plan wanted to see the rule repealed outright, others are pleased to see the EPA offering a narrower replacement. A replacement, they argue, will be easier to defend in court than an outright repeal, thanks — in part — to the so-called \"endangerment finding,\" a landmark determination by the EPA in 2009 that found that greenhouse gases are a threat to human health and welfare and are subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. Scott Segal, a partner at the law firm Bracewell LLP who has spent much of his career representing and lobbying for energy companies, says that it's also beneficial for industry to have federal regulation on greenhouse gases. Without it, he says, companies would be more vulnerable to a growing number of climate change-related lawsuits. As it stands, Segal says, courts have indicated that litigants seeking damages from climate change have no standing because the federal government is regulating greenhouse gases. \"If the federal government doesn't occupy the field of carbon regulation, then there's more reason for courts to allow these tort cases to stand up,\" Segal says.", "With Meghna Chakrabarti The EPA wants to roll back regulations of mercury emissions from coal plants. But there are serious health risks if that happens. Guests Umair Irfan, reporter who covers climate change, energy, and the environment for Vox. Contributor to the public radio program &#8220;Science Friday.&#8221; (@umairfan) Janet McCabe, led the Office of Air and Radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama administration and played a lead role in framing, shaping and implementing Clean Air Act standards, including the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Senior law fellow at the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Professor at the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. (@janetgmccabe) Celia Chen, director of Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program (@toxtranslation). Professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth College. From The Reading List NPR: &#8220;Trump EPA Says Mercury Limits On Coal Plants Too Costly, Not &#8216;Necessary&#8217;&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;In another proposed reversal of an Obama-era standard, the Environmental Protection Agency Friday said limiting mercury and other toxic emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants is not cost-effective and should not be considered &#8216;appropriate and necessary.&#8217; &#8220;The EPA says it is keeping the 2012 restrictions in place for now, in large part because utilities have already spent billions to comply with them. But environmental groups worry the move is a step toward repealing the limits and could make it harder to impose other regulations in the future. &#8220;In a statement, the EPA said it is &#8216;providing regulatory certainty by transparently and accurately taking account of both costs and benefits.&#8217; &#8220;The National Mining Association welcomed the move, calling the mercury limits &#8216;punitive&#8217; and &#8216;massively unbalanced.&#8217; &#8221; Los Angeles Times: &#8220;EPA announces plan to roll back mercury rules in power plants&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;The Trump administration quietly proposed rolling back emissions standards for coal and oil generated power plants in a move that could alter how and whether the government monitors and controls air and water pollution. &#8220;The proposed ruling strikes at the economic analysis the agency uses to establish regulations, giving less weight to potential health benefits of air pollution restrictions and more to costs incurred by industry. &#8220;The announcement, issued Friday amid the government shutdown, singles out a 2011 Obama administration ruling designed to curtail mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. It suggests the costs to industry of cutting mercury emissions from power plants &#8216;dwarfs&#8217; any monetary benefits gained by the public. &#8220;That regulation, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, has reduced mercury emissions by roughly 80% since it was established, according to research, including the EPA’s own analyses.&#8221; Vox: &#8220;The EPA wants to make it harder to ratchet down toxic chemicals from power plants&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;The Environmental Protection Agency proposed yet another weakening of an Obama-era regulation on Friday, this time targeting toxic chemicals from oil and coal-fired power plants. &#8220;The regulation in question, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), was established in 2011. It was the first set of federal rules to limit hazardous pollution from coal-burning and oil-burning plants, targeting chemicals like mercury, a neurotoxin that can lead to tremors, respiratory failure, and death. Coal power plants are the biggest emitters of mercury. &#8220;According to the EPA’s own projections, these rules save upward of 17,000 lives per year in the United States. The Center for American Progress found that MATS reduced mercury emissions from power plants by 81 percent since going into effect. &#8220;However, the energy industry and some states filed lawsuits to block MATS. One suit, Michigan v. EPA, fought its way to the Supreme Court. In 2015, the court ruled 5-4 in favor of Michigan, deciding that the EPA has to weigh the costs to industry of an environmental regulation against the benefits to society. &#8220;While the EPA’s latest proposal doesn’t repeal MATS outright, it starts to undermine its legal foundations. The EPA’s reasoning is that the current regulation as it stands is too costly and does not meet the &#8216;appropriate and necessary&#8217; standard.&#8221; Brian Hardzinski produced this hour for broadcast.", "The Trump administration has begun the process of rolling back tough fuel standards for America's car and light truck fleet. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department have opened the public comment period on the rewriting of standards for greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light trucks for model years 2022-2025. \"We are moving forward with an open and robust review of emissions standards, consistent with the timeframe provided in our regulations,\" EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said Friday. The 45-day period allows for the public to comment about regulations before proposed changes. Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules were first put into place after the OPEC oil crisis in the 1970s. During the Obama administration, the CAFE rules were toughened in the wake of the financial crisis and the car company bankruptcies. The new standards called for an increased reliance on electric vehicles. Low gas prices and sluggish sales of alternative fuel vehicles have made meeting those standards tough, especially for those companies more reliant on larger vehicles. Earlier this year, the EPA announced it would reconsider a decision late in the Obama administration to make the rules permanent. The auto industry has hailed the decision to reopen the fuel standards. With the announcement, Mitch Bainwol, president and CEO of the Auto Alliance, a group of auto manufacturers, says, \"the Administration is fulfilling its commitment to reinstate the midterm evaluation of future vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards.\" Environmental and consumer advocacy groups decried the move. \"By reopening the midterm evaluation, EPA is bringing back questions that have already been asked and answered,\" said Consumers Union, the policy arm of Consumer Reports. Shannon Baker-Branstetter with Consumer's Union says her organization's studies show people want to save money on gas. According to a recent survey, 90 percent of Americans want automakers to raise fuel efficiency. Baker-Branstetter says adds \"In fact, consumers are especially concerned about the fuel efficiency of the crossovers and SUVs they've been gravitating toward in recent years.\" \"What kind of changes may or may not be introduced is far from clear\", says Stephanie Brinley, senior automotive analyst, IHS Markit. The agencies are expected to expand the data used to make the determination, specifically taking into consideration consumer behavior, she says. The public comment period allows the car companies and others to lobby to keep or make changes. \"Pressures from other government requirements and consumer interest in reducing fuel emissions are expected to continue to be aggressive,\" Brinley says. Even if the U.S. scales back, she says, the movement toward higher standards will likely continue in other countries. Already this year, several countries said they would ban the sale of gasoline vehicles altogether within decades. Many analysts believe that rolling back fuel standards could jeopardize the near term future for electric vehicles.", "President Bush said Monday that he has directed the federal government to start writing new regulations that would cut gasoline use and greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. The president said his goal is to reduce America's gasoline consumption by 20 percent within 10 years. The move comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the government could regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars — something the Bush administration had questioned. But President Bush didn't have many details to offer about his plan. He said that drafting the new rules won't be easy — and that they won't be ready until the end of next year. The issue has some environmentalists worried that the Bush administration might use the regulatory process as an excuse to derail efforts by California and about a dozen other states to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars. Those states need the EPA's approval before they can go ahead with their own programs. ANDREA SEABROOK, host: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Andrea Seabrook. MICHELE NORRIS, host: And I'm Michele Norris. Today, President Bush ordered his administration to tackle the problem of greenhouse gas emissions from cars. The administration had argued that it didn't have the power to restrict those emissions, but the Supreme Court disagreed, saying it would be very hard for the government to avoid writing new regulations. As NPR's Elizabeth Shogren reports, today's announcement is the administration's first step in response to the court's decision. ELIZABETH SHOGREN: President Bush called reporters to the Rose Garden this afternoon to talk about what he called the country's addiction to oil and what he's going to do about it. President GEORGE W. BUSH: Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA must take action under the Clean Air Act regarding greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.So today, I'm directing the EPA and the Department of Transportation, Energy and Agriculture to take the first steps toward regulations that would cut gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for motor vehicles. SHOGREN: The president says in crafting the rules, the agency should start with his pledge from the State of the Union Address. He vowed to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years by improving fuel economy and increasing the use of alternative fuels. But today, the president didn't have many details to offer. He did say drafting the new rules won't be easy, and they won't be ready until the end of next year. In the meantime, he urged Congress to move ahead with legislation to cut fuel use. Pres. BUSH: When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect common sense, and they expect action. SHOGREN: In particular, he asked Congress to pass his proposal to increase the amount of ethanol and bio-diesel in vehicle fuels. Under the president's proposal, 10 years from now, 15 percent of the fuels for cars and trucks would come from renewable sources. Congress already has started working on its own version of the president's proposal, and Democratic congressional leaders have pledged to pass broader legislation that would cut greenhouse gas emissions from all sources including cars. Some environmentalists said the president's goal is very ambitious. Mr. DAVID FRIEDMAN (Clean Vehicles Research Director, Union of Concerned Scientists): If the president delivers on this and guarantees this will progress, we will stand up and cheer, because this is what Americans need. SHOGREN: That's David Friedman from the Union of Concerned Scientists. He says he's going to hold his applause until he sees the regulation the EPA produces. Mr. FRIEDMAN: Remember, the president put out his goal back in January, and it took the Supreme Court decision to push him to take it a step further. SHOGREN: Other environmentalists worry that the Bush administration will use this regulatory process as an excuse to derail efforts by California and about a dozen other states to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars. Those states need the EPA's approval before they can go ahead with their own programs. Elizabeth Shogren, NPR News, Washington.", "Molly Redden is a reporter-researcher at The New Republic. When President Obama took office, most environmental activists assumed that their cause would still meet resistance in Washington DC — they just assumed it would be located in Congress. But according to activists, a chief opponent of environmental causes has turned out to be within the White House itself: The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). A division of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA has always had the power to review the economic impact of virtually any new federal regulation. Under the Obama administration, however, it has repeatedly used its mandate to stall major regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the Center for Progressive Reform (CPR), a non-profit OMB watch group, the EPA's Chemicals of Concern list has been under review for 18 months; an EPA guidance to protect citizens exposed to the poisonous byproduct dioxin has been under OIRA's review since August 2010; and a new rule to tighten restrictions on storing toxic coal ash, prompted by the spill of one billion gallons of coal ash sludge in Kingston, Tennessee in 2008, will not go into effect until late in 2012, it was delayed for so long at OMB. These slow reviews are a flagrant violation of the rules governing OMB's review, says former head of the EPA Office of Policy and Planning Lisa Heinzerling. When OIRA opts to review a regulation (often, with the EPA regulations, to assess economic impact), the office is required to complete the process within 90 days — 120 days in rare circumstances — and to disclose several aspects of its review. After 90 days, the regulation is either rejected with a public letter of explanation, sent back to the agency, or approved. OIRA, says Heinzerling, has flaunted these rules, becoming a black hole for environmental regulation. \"Under the Bush administration,\" says Hienzerling, \"the OMB sent back dozens of return letters. ... People didn't like it, but it was better than having nothing.\" Obama has been using the OMB \"basically like a pocket veto,\" she says. The EPA's proposed smog standard, a major EPA regulation that the White House publicly withdrew this fall, is the only environmental regulation issued under Obama to have received a public return letter from OMB. Heinzerling traces this unfriendly attitude toward environmental regulation to Cass Sunstein, the Chicago law professor turned head of OIRA. An ideological battle between the EPA was expected when Sunstein was first appointed; the Obama appointee made his name as one of the few ardent supporters of both strong government regulation and cost-benefit analysis, and has argued for more indirect, behavioral economics-inspired measures as an alternative to government regulation. Recently, the cost-benefit and behavioral economics side seems dominant in his thinking. Heinzerling has sparred publicly with Sunstein over cost-benefit analysis, but she is not alone in her negative assessment of his office. Sid Shapiro, a leading scholar in regulatory law and process at Wake Forest University, says that OIRA almost never fully complies with the procedures that are supposed to make its processes transparent. As he notes, there is no public record of a meeting between Sunstein and Congressman Nick Rahall, a coal-state representative who successfully lobbied OIRA to review the EPA's new guidelines for Clean Water Act permits. (Rahall has publicly referenced the meeting.) To be fair, Sunstein's actions at OIRA have not been entirely unpopular with environmental activists. He's been praised for putting the brakes on some of the EPA's more costly regulations (such as ozone regulation) in economic hard times. In keeping with his views on behavioral economics, he has tried to create disincentives for polluters, such as programs that call negative attention to companies that harm the environment. His office has also devoted a good deal of bandwidth to calculating how much the government should spend to prevent climate change. And Sunstein is not solely responsible for the ostensible obstructionism. Some of the issues that offend environmentalists, says Rick Melberth, the Director of the Regulatory Policy program at the non-profit OMB Watch, are endemic to OIRA. (See this 2009 Government Accountability Office report to Congress, initiated when Bush was in office.) A 90-page CPR white paper found that OIRA has a long-standing habit of over-scrutinizing the EPA and missing deadlines, and accepts a disproportionate amount of input from industry lobbyists. In disregarding the law, Shapiro says, Obama's OMB is \"not any worse than others. It's just not any better, either.\" But \"not worse than the past\" is not what Obama promised. As a candidate and then as a new president, says Rena Steinzor, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law, Obama promised to rectify the agency's issues. Obama also proclaimed his intent to regulate pol", "As allegations mount of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt violating ethics policies and misusing taxpayer money, President Trump has repeatedly defended him. \"Scott is doing a great job!\" he said in one tweet. Pruitt is one of the administration's most high profile members, and is often lauded as one of its most effective. \"Administrator Pruitt has fearlessly executed President Trump's regulatory reform agenda, there's no doubt about that,\" says Thomas Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance. Topping that agenda are Trump's repeated claims that he will bring back coal jobs and boost fossil fuel production. And Pruitt has moved aggressively to roll back a number of regulations the industry opposed, including President Obama's signature measures to address climate change. The most consequential are the Clean Power Plan, which would have curbed emissions from power plants, and automobile fuel economy standards that aimed to nearly double fuel efficiency by 2025. Pruitt's EPA has also formally suspended an Obama-era clean water regulation known as the Waters of the United States, and moved to reverse a range of other regulations on fossil fuel extraction. Slow regulatory process and legal setbacks But many of these rollbacks are in the midst of a long, slow-moving regulatory process. \"The big things that he set off to do are years away from being done,\" says David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council. And then \"they end up going into court battles.\" Some attempted rollbacks have already run into legal trouble. In March, a court found the administration broke the law by delaying implementation of an ozone pollution rule. Last year, a court blocked an effort to halt restrictions on methane emissions, and 14 states are now suing EPA over the standards. William Buzbee of Georgetown University Law Center thinks the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan may also fall short in court. Writing last fall in The Hill, he says Pruitt does not offer evidence — as required — for why the original regulation's scientific conclusions were wrong. The plan also offers no replacement, even though EPA is legally bound to regulate carbon emissions in some manner. Buzbee suggests the oversight may be due to \"Pruitt's political focus on pleasing favored constituencies regardless of what the law actually allows.\" There is frustration even among some administration supporters that Pruitt has not done more to create new policies as he tries to tear down old ones. One challenge may be how long it's taken to fill top ranks at the EPA. The former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, who's up for the agency's number two spot, still awaits confirmation. The increasing calls for the president to fire Pruitt are stoking concerns that time may run out for his deregulatory push. \"The longer these things are delayed,\" says Pyle of the American Energy Alliance, the less likely they are \"to wind their way through the process before the next election.\" If the next administration is Democratic, it could then revert back to enforcing the old regulations, or move to reverse them all over again. Pyle also worries that, if Pruitt were pushed out, rollback efforts could stall while a new nominee faced a months long challenge to be confirmed. For one thing, after a series of staff shake-ups there's a long line of nominees waiting. What's more, the Republican majority in the Senate is more narrow than it was a year ago. That heartens opponents of Pruitt's policies, like Doniger of the NRDC. If the Senate is called on to confirm someone else to lead EPA, he expects more pointed questions about the administration's deregulation agenda. \"It was just speculation a year ago,\" he says. \"Now you can see what the agenda really is. And the American public doesn't like it.\"", "The Environmental Protection Agency adopted a new rule restricting the types of scientific studies its own regulators can use to rein in pollution, in the Trump administration's latest effort to undercut the use of science in establishing public health standards. The rule goes into effect on Wednesday and applies to all future EPA regulations. It puts a premium on scientific studies that are based on underlying data that is available to other scientists or to the public. Studies that do not meet that standard, which could include major epidemiological studies, will be given less weight by regulators unless the head of the EPA personally intervenes. The rule also requires that the agency disclose which studies it uses to set future pollution limits. \"The American public deserves to know which studies we are using to craft our regulations, which of those studies are key or pivotal to our decisions and, to the extent possible, that data should be available for the public to see,\" EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in an announcement about the rule. The event was hosted by the conservative think tank the Competitive Enterprise Institute. The EPA contends that the rule will improve public trust in environmental regulations by letting people know more about the data that regulators use to make their decisions about air and water pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions. These cause climate change and particle pollution that can exacerbate chronic diseases that make people more susceptible to severe COVID-19. But many scientists and public health groups warn that the new approach will instead put the health of Americans at risk by excluding rigorous studies. \"This rule will enable the exclusion of highly relevant scientific evidence from the policymaking process,\" Sudip Parikh, chief executive of the national science advocacy group American Association for the Advancement of Science, wrote in an email. Parikh argues that the rule \"directly impedes [the EPA's] ability to use the best data and evidence in its mission to protect human health and the environment.\" Epidemiological studies that examine the relationship between pollution and health sometimes rely on massive amounts of medical data that is anonymized or kept confidential in order to protect the privacy of study participants. However, rigorous scientific studies are reviewed by multiple experts in the field before publication and that peer-review process includes an examination of how the underlying data was analyzed. Given the rigor of the modern scientific review process, the EPA's own internal board of scientific advisers raised questions about the new rule. When the board reviewed an earlier draft of the new rule last year, they noted that there is already a trend among scientists toward making data publicly available when it's possible to do so without compromising confidentiality. The EPA advisers said that the new rule could \"decrease efficiency and reduce scientific integrity.\" This is the latest in a string of controversial decisions the EPA has made in the final stretch of President Trump's administration. In December, the agency decided not to strengthen air quality standards for ozone and soot, and it enacted a new rule that requires future clean air regulations to weigh economic costs of curbing pollution while ignoring benefits, such as the deaths that could be avoided. American Lung Association chief executive Harold Wimmer calls the new science rule \"a dangerous step in the wrong direction — one that threatens the integrity and use of the best science, and consequently threatens our health and lives.\" Last year, the association co-signed a letter opposing the new rule, along with more than 50 medical, environmental and scientific groups including the American Medical Association, the American Heart Association and the American Public Health Association. \"It has no merits from the standpoint of science or transparency, and it will make it vastly harder for the agency to do its job of protecting public health and the environment,\" Andrew Rosenberg of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national science advocacy group, wrote in an email after the final rule was announced. \"The damage will fall hardest on Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities who already bear disproportionate harms from environmental hazards in the air, water and soil.\" The Biden administration could remove or rewrite the rule, but it would take months, if not years. Because the rule gives the EPA administrator the power to override the limits on which scientific studies EPA regulators can use, the incoming administration could essentially sidestep the rule while it works to undo it.", "U.S. automakers may not have to reach fuel efficiency standards that were set during President Obama's administration, as the Environmental Protection Agency says it's reopening a review of the rules. President Trump is expected to make that announcement Wednesday in meetings with auto industry executives and workers in Michigan. In Washington, a senior White House official said the president wants to \"set standards that are technologically feasible, economically feasible and allow the auto industry to grow and create jobs.\" The Obama-era rules stemmed from an agreement the government reached with major vehicles in the summer of 2011, setting carbon dioxide emissions targets for passenger cars and light trucks that were equivalent to the industry's fleet of achieving an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by the 2025 model year. The reopening of the rules review comes after a request from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry group that represents both domestic and foreign automakers. The group's request came last month, after the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator. Changing the standards isn't expected to be a simple process. Noting that an agreement usually includes the EPA, the Department of Transportation and the state of California, NPR's Sonari Glinton reports about the regulations on today's Morning Edition: \"There is a question in here about whether these regulations were 'final-final.' But the White House wants to review them in 2018, and so do the automakers. And essentially there's going to be a battle every inch of the way. Many environmental groups are just waiting to file suit. But to be clear, this is just whether to review a regulation — we're not necessarily at the point of changing the fuel standards quite yet.\" The EPA is expected to attempt to roll back rules that the Obama administration formally unveiled in 2012, when it mandated nearly doubling gas efficiency by 2025. As NPR reported, those requirements were seen as \"a rare example of industry agreeing to tough environmental regulations.\" Under the deal, the EPA had been scheduled to conduct a midterm review of the efficiency standards. After Democrats lost the presidency in last November's election, the agency moved ahead with that review, issuing a proposed determination on Nov. 30 that triggered a 30-day public comment period. On Jan. 12, then-EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy signed off on her final determination that maintained the 2025 targets. In its letter to the EPA, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said the EPA had rushed to complete the review process. The senior White House official characterized Trump's move as an attempt \"to get this mid-term review back on track.\" He also said the administration is not seeking to withdraw a waiver allowing California to set its own higher emission standards. But he indicated that this issue could come up in 2018. The Obama-era agreement followed the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler; it also came at a time of high U.S. gas prices, when the average price per gallon topped $4 in some states. But as gas prices fell, both consumers and automakers put less focus on maximizing fuel efficiency. New guidelines could give automakers more reasons to focus on gas-powered, rather than electric or hybrid, vehicles. \"Electric cars are still heavily dependent on external regulations,\" electric car advocate and automaker adviser Chelsea Sexton told Sonari last week. \"And therefore most car companies are still offering very few numbers, limited capacity and range, and all those things, and not even nationwide.\" Without federal regulations leading the way, Sexton says, there's no guarantee that work on electric cars will continue. But other experts caution that whatever changes come, they won't have an immediate effect. The EPA will need to hold a public review process, for instance. And then there's the promise of legal battles — with environmental groups, and perhaps with California and other states that have set their own standards for emissions. \"What it's going to do is, it's going to throw the auto industry into chaos,\" Roland Hwang, the Natural Resources Defense Council's director of energy and transportation, tells Sonari, \"because to unwind these standards will be a years-long battle in the courts.\"", "As Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt has moved to roll back a sweeping array of Obama-era regulations he's relentlessly cited his goal of providing \"regulatory certainty.\" In his first address to career employees last year he told the gathered room at the EPA, \"Regulators exist to give certainty to those that they regulate. Those that we regulate ought to know what we expect of them, so that they can plan and allocate resources to comply.\" He's cited this in his efforts to delay, repeal or roll back the Clean Power Plan, the Waters of the U.S. Rule, and a string of other measures. But some argue that many of his actions as EPA administrator are having the opposite effect, and that they could be setting a troublesome precedent going forward. With so many regulations now in limbo, farmers, agriculturalists and others who are regulated by the EPA are \"in a state of sort of perpetual uncertainty,\" says Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union. Auto industry facing uncertainty The most glaring example of an industry where the regulatory environment has become muddier is the auto industry. Pruitt recently announced an effort to review and revise car emissions standards for the nation's automobiles. Those federal standards were set under the Obama Administration with the goal of cutting tailpipe emissions, a major contributor to climate change. They were an agreement, of sorts, between federal regulators, auto manufacturers and the state of California, which has the legal authority to set its own air standards. And California doesn't want the national standards to change. The state has vowed to keep its own stricter standards in place, joining with 16 other states to sue the EPA over the proposed change. The conflict is worrisome to automakers because it raises the possibility of a split in the U.S. auto market. \"Having one national standard is immensely important to the auto industry,\" says Kristin Dziczek, vice president for industry, labor and economics at the Center for Automotive Research. Car makers don't want to have to develop and design one type of automobile for California and another for Texas - especially when they're already competing in a global market. The Trump Administration has been meeting with automakers and wants to negotiate with California to find a middle-ground, but it could take years to resolve. \"The difficult part of all of this is the timelines for engineering and designing and producing new engine programs, new transmission programs, new vehicles - that takes years, sometimes a decade,\" Dziczek says. In other words, automakers need to know what the rules are now, so they can plan accordingly. \"I don't think it's a well thought out [plan] that deals with the realities of the industry,\" says Sandra Rothenberg, a professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. \"This is, I think, something to just get a lot of publicity and make it seem like they're cracking down on what Obama did.\" Throwing 'everything up in the air' Pruitt has moved to delay, block or reform roughly two dozen environmental regulations at the EPA, according to records kept by Harvard Law School's Environmental Regulation Rollback Tracker. Many of those efforts have been praised by industry groups. But even some who wanted change are disappointed in what they've seen so far. Johnson, of the National Farmers Union, says he and many others in the agriculture industry wanted to see the Trump Administration repeal and revise Obama's Waters of the U.S. Rule. That rule, which aimed to clearly define which waters the EPA can regulate, took the Obama Administration years to create. The goal was to provide needed clarity under the Clean Water Act, Johnson says, but it came up short. Pruitt has delayed the rule's implementation for two years and begun the process of rewriting, but it could take years to complete. In the meantime, Johnson says, \"The spot we're in right now is right back to where we were before that rule was even proposed.\" Supporters argue that there's inherent uncertainty - at least in the short-term - during any regulatory change, especially when there are lawsuits involved. \"It's going to take some time,\" says Ellen Steen, general counsel for the American Farm Bureau Federation. \"But I think it's achievable to have a final rule out in this administration.\" Others aren't as sure. EPA employees point out that making lasting regulatory change can be an arduous, years-long process. Still, Pruitt has seen early legal setbacks on several actions. \"I think a lot of people have been struck by the real thinness of the proposals coming out of the agency,\" says Lisa Heinzerling, who served at the EPA under Obama. She says Pruitt's proposal to change fuel economy standards was just 38 pages long, while the Obama administration's justification for them was more than a thousand pages. The tenuousness of Pruitt's position doesn't help either. There are at least a doz", "The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency made a mistake when it told electric power plants to reduce mercury emissions. The high court says the EPA should first have considered how much it would cost power plants to do that. The decision comes too late for most power companies, but it could affect future EPA regulations. Mercury in the air is a health risk. When you burn coal or oil, you create airborne mercury that can end up in fish we eat and cause serious health problems. In 1990 Congress advised the EPA to use the Clean Air Act to limit mercury. The agency set rules for many industries, like cement makers and waste incinerators. Eventually, the EPA also added power plants to the list, and most of these plants began to reduce their mercury emissions. But many also sued — along with the coal industry and more than 20 states. They argued that the EPA should not decide to adopt expensive new regulations without first considering what implementing those rules would cost them. In essence, via Monday's decision in Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court told the coal industry (in a 5 to 4 vote), \"You're right.\" Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion. Jeff Holmstead is a former senior EPA official and an attorney with the law firm Bracewell and Giuliani, which represents utilities. He says the ruling is narrow, but the court clearly rebuked the EPA. \"Before it decides to regulate something,\" he says, paraphrasing the high court, \"sometimes it needs to take into account the cost of those regulations. It can't just turn a blind eye.\" Now, this ruling only applies to the Clean Air Act and its mercury standards. But Holmstead says it could affect future EPA regulations. Here's why: Usually companies still have to comply with regulations even while they're fighting them within the court system. In the case of mercury, industry spent billions to comply even while it was suing to stop the new rules. And, even though the nation's top court didn't throw the regulations out, it said EPA has to reconsider its decision on costs. So, Holmstead says, businesses may now cite this ruling to insist that the EPA wait for the courts before enforcing new rules. \"While you're going through that process [of litigation],\" he says, \"you need to put the regulation on hold. And what happened today certainly makes it much more likely.\" The ruling apparently comes too late for those power plants that have already made plans to install equipment to cut mercury. And Ann Weeks, legal director of the Clean Air Task Force, an environmental advocacy group, says that's not likely to be reversed. \"The horse is out of the barn,\" she says. \"The protections already are rolling forward and utilities are making decisions accordingly.\" Weeks points out that the EPA eventually did do a cost-benefit analysis, years after it decided to regulate mercury. The Supreme Court says that was too late. But Weeks says the EPA did set the dollar value of the public health benefits at nine times the cost to industry of complying. She says that calculation clearly justifies regulating the industry, and she expects that the EPA will continue do so. \"Obviously,\" Weeks says, \"we are all going to work to make sure that some kind of protection remains in place while EPA does its consideration that it has to do now.\" The high court says that consideration must take place in the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit. Weeks says it's possible the EPA will have to do another cost analysis. In the meantime, the battle over rules governing mercury emissions at power plants enters its 26th year. ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the EPA made a mistake when it told electric power plants to reduce mercury emissions. The high court said the agency should have first considered how much it would cost power plants to do that. As NPR's Christopher Joyce reports, the decision comes too late for most power companies, but it could affect future regulations. CHRISTOPHER JOYCE, BYLINE: When you burn coal or oil, you create airborne mercury. It's toxic and can end up in fish we eat. In 1990, Congress advised EPA to use the Clean Air Act to limit mercury. The agency set rules for many industries like cement makers and waste incinerators. Then EPA eventually added power plants, and most reduced their mercury emissions. But many also sued, along with the coal industry, in over 20 states. They said the EPA should not decide to adopt expensive new regulations without first considering what it will cost us. In its decision in Michigan versus EPA, the Supreme Court said to industry, you're right. Jeff Holmstead is an attorney with Bracewell and Guliani which represents utilities. He says the ruling is narrow, but the court clearly rebuked EPA. JEFF HOLMSTEAD: Before it decides to regulate something, it needs to take into account the cost of those regulations. It can't just turn a ", "President-elect Joe Biden will name Michael Regan, North Carolina's environment secretary and a former EPA official, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a source familiar with the decision who spoke about private conversations on the basis of anonymity. If confirmed by the Senate, Regan would be the first African American man to run the EPA. He stands to inherit an agency that has been ground zero as the Trump administration rolled back climate and pollution regulations. Biden has promised to make climate change a top priority, which would make the head of the EPA a major player in the new administration. The agency regulates pollution released by cars and trucks, industrial facilities, oil and gas wells, and power plants, and keeps track of U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Regan has been the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality since 2017. Before then, he worked on clean energy initiatives for the Environmental Defense Fund, a national environmental advocacy group. If he is confirmed to lead the EPA, Regan would return to an agency where he spent much of his early career, working on air quality for nearly a decade under the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. \"Michael operates with the belief that really every North Carolinian deserves clean air and clean water,\" says Hawley Truax, director of the Southeast office of the Environmental Defense Fund, where Regan worked for about eight years. Truax says Regan has also helped North Carolina address climate change. \"Secretary Regan recognizes the very real threat that climate change poses to lives and livelihoods,\" he says. \"During Michael's tenure as head of the Department of Environmental Quality in North Carolina, the state has launched the most ambitious carbon reduction into clean energy plans in its history.\" Global greenhouse gas emissions are still rising, and U.S. emissions are falling too slowly to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. People across the country are already suffering the effects of a hotter Earth. The cost of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, heat waves and droughts has skyrocketed in recent years, exceeding $530 billion in the last five years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. North Carolina has been affected by multiple hurricanes in recent years, including Hurricane Florence in 2018. Florence was a textbook example of the type of slow-moving, flood-inducing storm that is more likely as the Earth heats up. It killed at least 40 people in North Carolina. \"We're looking forward to a Biden administration and an EPA that uses its resources to push aggressively on key issues like climate change,\" Regan told NPR in an interview before his appointment was announced. Regan also said that protecting drinking water and working for environmental justice should be priorities for the EPA under the Biden administration. Poor people and people of color are disproportionately affected by both climate-driven disasters and air and water pollution. Dominique Browning, the head of the national clean air advocacy group Moms Clean Air Force, reacted positively to the news that Regan might lead the EPA. \"This nomination signals a high level of ambition for addressing issues of racial inequity in who breathes polluted air, and what can be done to get us to climate safety,\" she wrote in an email. During Regan's tenure, North Carolina has been at the heart of a national fight over a long-lasting and potentially dangerous class of chemicals that have contaminated drinking water. The chemicals, perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, include thousands of different formulations and are used in a wide variety of products. When humans ingest PFAS, they can linger in tissue for the rest of a person's life, earning them the nickname \"forever chemicals.\" Regulators in more than a dozen states and inside the federal government have grappled with how to regulate the use, release and cleanup of PFAS chemicals in drinking water. Regan has led one of the most aggressive responses in the country. Shortly after he took over environmental regulation in North Carolina, a PFAS variant known as GenX showed up in the water of the Cape Fear River. The state reacted by cracking down on the company that released the chemical. \"The agency took a position that agencies across the country, and the EPA, should be taking,\" says Geoff Gisler, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center in North Carolina. \"The key to dealing with these kinds of chemicals is stopping them where they start.\" Gisler and his nonprofit environmental law group have represented local residents who rely on the contaminated river for drinking water and pushed Regan's agency to move more quickly to prevent the chemical from being released into the water. Gisler says that while the process could have moved faster, he is nonetheless impressed with h", "The Supreme Court stood up for the environment in two major court rulings Monday. One gives the Environmental Protection Agency the go-ahead to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The second ruling sends a rebuke to the owners of dirty coal-fired power plants. It was kind of like when Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz learned she always had the power to go home. The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency does, in fact, have the authority to regulate the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Bush administration officials had argued that the agency didn't have that power — and so the EPA couldn't require cars to reduce emissions. Several states and environmental groups sued the EPA, arguing that the agency did have that power and should use it. Law professor Lisa Heinzerling from Georgetown University represented the states. She says the ruling has implications not just for car emissions but for power plants, factories and other sources of greenhouse gases. \"It's a huge deal, it's hard to overstate the importance of this,\" Heinzerling said. The ruling does not require the EPA to regulate. But Heinzerling says for the EPA to avoid regulating, it would have to show that these emissions don't endanger public health or welfare. \"I think it will be extremely difficult, and I would venture to say impossible for them to conclude based on the scientific evidence we have that you cannot anticipate that greenhouse gases will endanger public health or welfare,\" Heinzerling said. EPA officials declined an interview with NPR. An EPA press release says the agency is reviewing the court ruling. The ruling could put the EPA in a difficult position because so far, President Bush has rejected mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. In the meantime, environmentalists and state officials say the ruling opens the door for states to move ahead with regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars. A dozen states, led by California, have adopted or are in the process of adopting such rules. They need the EPA's OK to go ahead. And Heinzerling says the Supreme Court ruling will make it hard for EPA officials to say no. \"I can't imagine that they wouldn't,\" she said. \"I don't see any legal basis for refusing to allow California and other states to enact standards after this ruling.\" The main auto industry trade group wouldn't comment on the ruling. But Dan Riedinger from Edison Electric Institute says his industry doesn't want the EPA to set standards. \"If greenhouse gases are going to be regulated, and obviously a lot of people think that's inevitable, we would far rather that come from the U.S. Congress,\" Riedinger said. The other big Supreme Court decision could also have a big impact on power plants and their pollution. Attorney Blan Holman from the Southern Environmental Law Center worked on the case for environmental groups. \"The case is all about old coal-fired power plants and what happens when you rebuild them,\" Holman said. \"Do you have to put air pollution controls on them or do you not?\" Holman's talking about the equipment that filters out fine particles and smog from smoke stacks. They cause thousands of early deaths and many emergency room visits every year. The EPA, environmental groups and states are suing several power companies for failing to install pollution controls. In this case, the Supreme Court decided against Duke Energy. \"It's a major set back to the case and it's something that is regrettable to us, but it is not shutting down the case by any means,\" said Tom Williams, who represents Duke. The Supreme Court was deciding whether annual emissions or hourly emissions are the deciding factor when measuring if emissions have increased and thus pollution controls should be installed. The Supreme Court says annual emissions are what matters. But the power companies have other ways to defend their actions. \"It's our contention in this case that we did nothing wrong in the first place, and that is why we're going to continue to press this in the lower courts,\" Williams said. But environmentalists say the ruling will provide a strong incentive to clean up many of the dirtiest coal-fired power plants in the country. And they say that both rulings together suggest that the Supreme Court is far greener than anyone realized. MELISSA BLOCK, host: Also today, the Supreme Court made two major rulings on the environment. One gives the Environmental Protection Agency the go-ahead to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The other sends a rebuke to the owners of dirty coal-fired power plants. NPR's Elizabeth Shogren has the details. ELIZABETH SHOGREN: It was kind of like when Dorothy in \"The Wizard of Oz\" learned she always had the power to go home. The Supreme Court told the Environmental Protection Agency it does have the authority to regulate the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Bush administration officials had argued that they didn't have that power, and so they", "The U.S. Supreme Court gave the Environmental Protection Agency the green light to regulate greenhouse gases that are emitted from new and modified utility plants and factories on Monday. Greenhouse gases are blamed for global warming, and the court's 7-2 decision gave the EPA most of what it wanted. But in a separate 5-4 vote, the justices rejected the agency's broad assertion of regulatory power under one section of the Clean Air Act. You might call the outcome in this case the 83-percent solution. Or, as Justice Antonin Scalia put it for the majority, the EPA got \"almost everything it wanted.\" It sought authority to regulate the large polluters responsible for 86 percent of all greenhouse gases emitted from stationary sources like utility plants and factories. Instead, it won the power to regulate 83 percent of those emissions. But before reaching that bottom line, Scalia's opinion lambasted the EPA for trying to revise the statute to make it more \"sensible.\" We \"shudder\" to think what the effect on democratic governance would be if such a rewriting were permissible, he said. \"This was kind of reminiscent of Macbeth's final soliloquy — a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing,\" said Harvard Law professor Richard Lazarus, who specializes in environmental law. \"The EPA's authority and ability to use the Clean Air Act to address climate change is essentially unchanged after today.\" Monday's ruling stems from the court's 2007 decision declaring that the EPA could regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars, trucks and other mobile sources under the Clean Air Act. After that decision, the EPA began attempting to regulate stationary sources of greenhouse gas pollution, things like utility plants, steel plants and factories. But this particular provision of the law was quite specific about what places could be regulated — those that emit more than 100 tons of pollutants each year, or in some cases, 250 tons. Those thresholds would mean requiring permits for just about every apartment house, mall, school and church; enforcement would cost tens of billions of dollars, and construction would grind to a halt nationwide. So, the EPA \"tailored\" the reach of the statute, and required permits only for those plants that emitted 100,000 tons of pollution a year, instead of 100 tons. Industry challenged the regulations, hoping to exclude limits on stationary greenhouse gas emission altogether. But on Monday, the business community appeared to have won the battle and lost the war. A five-justice conservative majority agreed that the EPA could not rewrite that particular section of the Clean Air Act to suit its \"bureaucratic policy goals.\" But — and this is a big \"but\" — a seven-justice majority said that under a different provision of the Clean Air Act, if a plant has to get a permit for air pollutants anyway, that will include greenhouse gases. As the court majority noted, the difference in the reach of these two provisions is only 3 percent. \"It is really not a significant constraint on the regulation of greenhouse gases going forward,\" said law professor Jonathan Adler, director of the Center for Business Law and Regulation at Case Western Reserve University. He calls the ruling little more than \"a bump in the road\" for the EPA. Adler and appellate lawyer Erik Jaffe both filed briefs in the case siding with industry. And both were pleased that at least the court did not accept the EPA's argument that it could tailor a statute to make it work. \"At the end of the day, this gets the EPA what it wanted in a more sensible way,\" said Jaffe. The court \"really did in some sense help the agency out while denying them this crazy authority that they claimed because they couldn't figure out the right way to do it.\" The regulations at issue in Monday's case involved permits for pollution at new and modified plants. The bigger polluters, on a case-by-case basis, are those plants that were built a decade or more ago and have not been updated to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. The EPA just weeks ago issued proposed regulations to limit emissions in those plants too. But those proposed regulations are under a different section of the Clean Air Act that gives the agency more flexibility. The Monday ruling came with shifting majorities. The court's five conservatives lined up against the liberals in striking down the EPA's tailored regulations. But the majority got scrambled when it came to allowing regulation of greenhouse gases under the section of the law that allows regulation of pollutants generally. On that second question, the vote was 7-2, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas arguing that the court never should have allowed regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act to begin with. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: From NPR News this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: And I'm Melissa Block. The Environmental Protection Agency got a lot of what it wanted in a Supreme Court ruling toda", "President Trump's nominee for deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Wheeler, has spent much of his career working for less oversight from the agency. A longtime aide to Sen. James Inhofe, known for his climate-denying antics on the floor of the Senate, Wheeler worked on environmental legislation for more than 15 years in various roles on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He helped to defeat a 2008 climate bill before leaving to be a private consultant and lobbyist. That experience will serve Wheeler well as deputy administrator, his supporters argue, as the EPA continues to roll back Obama-era rules and regulations, and the agency works more closely with industry. \"I know where the laws are drafted,\" Wheeler said when he appeared before that same committee for his confirmation hearing last year. He joked with Senators and seemed at-ease answering questions from his old colleagues, even as Democrats raised concerns about his past work as a lobbyist. Since 2009, Wheeler has represented the interests of some of the largest fossil fuel companies in the U.S. as a consultant and lobbyist, and national environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club oppose his nomination. According to an analysis of public documents by ProPublica, Wheeler has worked as a registered lobbyist for, among others, a major uranium mining company, one of the largest coal companies in the country and a refrigerant manufacturer. Each of the companies has worked to shape EPA regulations in their favor in recent years. The uranium mining company, Energy Fuels Resources Inc., is based in Colorado. Last year, the company lobbied to shrink Bears Ears National Monument, which is adjacent to one of the company's uranium processing mills. The refrigerant manufacturer, ICOR International, hired Wheeler to lobby Congress and the EPA for less stringent ozone regulations. Following his nomination last fall, the Sierra Club's legislative director Melinda Pierce said Wheeler is \"unfit for the job as Deputy EPA Administrator, given his obvious conflicts of interest working for the coal industry.\" Wheeler also lobbied on behalf of utility giant Xcel Energy and has lobbied or consulted for multiple companies with interests in expanding the market for ethanol, including Growth Energy, the trade group for ethanol producers. The EPA is responsible for setting fuel requirements that affect the market for ethanol. Xcel also has a complex relationship with the EPA. The company has invested heavily in renewable energy since the agency passed a sweeping electricity regulation which led states and utilities to make long-term plans for transitioning to clean energy. The EPA is now moving to repeal the so-called Clean Power Plan, but many states have still require utilities, including Xcel, to follow through on transitioning from dirtier fuels like coal to cleaner ones like wind, as the public radio collaboration InsideEnergy has reported. Asked to comment on how Wheeler's past lobbying and consulting work might affect his approach to helping run the EPA, EPA spokesperson Liz Bowman said \"Mr. Wheeler – like all political nominees – is committed to following the ethics advice of career officials at EPA and will recuse himself as needed, based on the advice of those experts.\" The Senate panel's top-ranking Democrat, Sen. Tom Carper, said earlier this year that he had asked Wheeler specifically about his work with the coal company Murray Energy. The company's CEO Bob Murray has long fought environmental and climate regulations. Last year, Murray sent a memo to Pruitt laying out an \"action plan\" that included repealing limits on mercury emissions and reversing the agency's so-called endangerment finding that greenhouse gas emissions are dangerous to public health. Murray also pushed for the administration to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, which President Trump announced he would do last year. Speaking at a hearing, Carper said he had spoken to Wheeler about his relationship with Murray, and found Wheeler's explanations encouraging: \"I have met personally with Mr. Wheeler twice, and I have asked him directly whether he was involved in writing Mr. Murray's proposal. He assured me he was not. He told me that one of Murray Energy's priority issues he worked on was securing health and other benefits for retired miners.&nbsp;Moreover, he also assured me that he views EPA's legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, which is based on the 'endangerment finding,' as settled law.&nbsp;I have no reason to doubt Mr. Wheeler's assurances that at least on the question of the endangerment finding, he holds a view that&nbsp;is&nbsp;distinct from Bob Murray's.\" Asked if Wheeler shared Murray's support for items in the action plan, Bowman said \"Mr. Wheeler supports the president's decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement.\" Wheeler has worked at the EPA before, as", "The Supreme Court rules that the EPA can regulate auto emissions of greenhouse gases. And a new report from the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change predicts increased hunger, water shortages and massive floods as the world's temperature rises. Michael Robinson-Dorn, assistant professor of law; director, Berman Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Washington School of Law Vicki Arroyo, director of policy analysis at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change Linda Mearns, senior scientist, director of the Institute for the Study of Society and Environment; National Center for Atmospheric Research IRA FLATOW, host: Up next, a look at this week's landmark greenhouse gas Supreme Court ruling. Just to recap it for you a bit, back in December, the Supreme Court heard arguments in its first case, the first case ever related to global warming. Here we had a group of states and environmental organizations taking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, taking them to court. The states were arguing that the EPA can and should regulate tailpipe emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Earlier this week, the judge ruled five to four in favor of the states and environmental groups. Joining me now to talk about the ruling and what it means is my guest, Michael Robinson-Dorn, assistant professor of law at the University of Washington, also director of the Berman Environmental Law Clinic there. He joins us today from the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories in the San Juan Islands. Welcome back to SCIENCE FRIDAY, Professor Robinson-Dorn. Professor MICHAEL ROBINSON-DORN (Law, University of Washington): Terrific to be with you, Ira. FLATOW: So what was at stake here? The EPA had argued it had no standing, it had no power to actually regulate CO2? Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: That's right. The standing argument was a little bit different, but you're absolutely right. EPA said that they did not have any authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases. In addition, they said even if they did have the authority, they had several reasons why they would not invoke that authority, including the potential to interfere with international treaties that might be negotiated, the idea that it might be a piecemeal approach to things. And in each respect, the Court rejected the EPA's response. FLATOW: 1-800-989-8255 is our number, if you'd like to talk about the environment and the greenhouse gas rulings. Why did the states bring this suit in the first place? Did they want the power to be able to determine for themselves how much CO2 came out of tailpipes in the cars in their states? Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: Not specifically. There's been a lot of questions certainly, even after the case, as to why the suit was brought. But I think fundamentally it was to force EPA to have to confront the issue and require EPA to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases coming out of the tailpipes of cars. Now that doesn't mean that the states don't have a role to play - and, in fact, the decision suggests states may even have a larger role to play - but that was not their initial reason for bringing the case. FLATOW: So let's talk exactly about what the court decided. Did they say that the EPA can regulate emissions or that it has to regulate emissions? Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: What the court said was that greenhouse gases are air pollutants. And under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required - and this is specific to cars and auto emissions - required to regulate if, in the judgment of the administrator, he determines that that air pollution might be endangering or reasonably anticipated to be endangering the public health or welfare. And welfare specifically includes climate and weather. FLATOW: So by saying it is a pollutant, then the EPA has to judge whether it's dangerous or not. Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: That's right. That's the next step. EPA's got to roll up its sleeves now and get to the hard work of first making that determination and then, second, determining how and when it would regulate. FLATOW: Did the courts say what criteria it must use to make this decision? Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: It did in a sort of a negative way, which is to say the criteria that EPA did use, things like policy considerations, whether or not it would interfere with CAFE standards, those were improper and the standards that the EPA had to use had to be those that were in the Clean Air Act itself. So this is going to be scientific judgment. EPA's going to have to explain either that it does - greenhouse gases do lead to this endangerment or why it does not or why there's so much uncertainty that they can't figure it out. FLATOW: Is there a deadline on this? Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: No. FLATOW: So it could sit on its hands and say: Let the next administration do this. Prof. ROBINSON-DORN: Well, you know, when we say there's no specified deadline, the court didn't impose a deadline. Agencies generally take a fair", "Twelve states and a coalition of environmental groups sued the Bush administration in 2003 for refusing to issue regulations limiting carbon emissions from cars and power plants. On Wednesday, the case reaches the Supreme Court, where justices will hear the arguments on both sides. Soon after President Bush took office, his EPA administrator, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, traveled to Europe to meet with the top eight European industrial powers and came to an agreement to cap carbon emissions. But when she returned to the U.S., she says, the president -- under pressure from Republican senators from energy-producing states -- reversed a campaign pledge to cap carbon emissions. Whitman says the decision was driven by political considerations. The basic question before the court: What are the requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act? The law mandates that the EPA shall regulate any pollutant from motor vehicles or power plants that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. That includes pollutants that affect weather and climate. In 1999, a group of environmental scientists pointed to this legal standard when they petitioned the EPA to issue regulations that would confront the issue of global warming. Four years later, a dozen states went to court, claiming they were being harmed by the EPA's refusal to act. The first question facing the justices is whether carbon dioxide is a pollutant at all. The administration claims it isn't, and is backed by the auto and energy industries in that claim. \"We're talking about carbon dioxide,\" says former Solicitor General Ted Olson, who is representing the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. \"It's necessary for life. A pollutant is something that fouls the air, a contaminant. No EPA administrator in history has ever considered carbon dioxide a pollutant.\" But Russell Train, who served as EPA administrator in the Nixon and Ford administrations, counters that carbon dioxide is no different than other natural substances in the air that have been deemed pollutants and regulated in the past. Train, who was the EPA administrator when the Clean Air Act went into effect, overrode objections from industry in order to regulate lead emissions from automobiles in the 1970s. The controversy back then, he says, was very similar to today's. \"There was substantial evidence of adverse health effects from these air pollutants,\" he says, \"but it was very hard to show a direct correlation, and industry argued that there were other sources of lead in the atmosphere.\" In a friend-of-the-court brief, Train and other past Republican and Democratic EPA administrators note that once the EPA ordered a phase-out of lead additives in gasoline, change resulted: Lead levels in peoples' blood -- and the attendant harms -- dropped precipitously. As a result, Congress amended the Clean Air Act to adopt Train's approach to evaluating pollutants. In this case, however, the Bush administration contends that the science is not clear on global warming or on the effects of regulating carbon emissions. Olson agrees with that position. \"In this instance, the EPA is saying carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, and even if it was, we don't know enough yet to deal with it,\" Olson says. But Train and other environmentalists counter that the science of predicting environmental harm before it's too late is seldom absolute. They say the case for limiting carbon emissions is every bit as strong as it was for lead, or for ozone-depleting chemicals, or other substances that have been regulated by the EPA over the last three decades. David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council says the connection is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. The government replies that the Clean Air Act requires deference to the EPA administrator's judgment on these matters, and that the current administrator has concluded it would be inadvisable to enact rules and regulations at this time. \"What our opponents are urging here is a practice of 'ready, fire, aim,'\" says Olson. \"It would be foolhardy to enact a regulation imposing requirements on motor vehicles when it is not clear whether that would sufficiently address the problem. You may do some damage to the economy, you may cause ripple effects in other industries that could conceivably cause a greater increase of emissions of carbon dioxide from other sources. You really need to know what you're doing before you start writing laws.\" The NRDC's Doniger is insistent: \"The Clean Air Act says put on the pollution controls that are technically feasible and economically achievable, and do that with the lead time the auto industry needs.\" Former EPA administrator Russell Train adds that industry needs regulations in place to plan for the next generation of cars and plants. Indeed, some energy companies have sided with environmental groups in this case for precisely that reason. Entergy, one of the nation's largest producers ", "An appeals court in Washington, D.C., has blocked an attempt by the Environmental Protection Agency to delay Obama-era methane regulations, rejecting claims by the EPA that the oil and gas industry wasn't allowed to comment on the rules. The agency could choose to rewrite the rules, but it overstepped in trying to delay them for years, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decided. The regulations in question are designed to prevent leaks at oil and gas facilities. Methane, which is released in natural gas leaks, is a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming; other leaked substances are harmful for human health. During the Obama administration, the EPA crafted new rules, and the first deadlines for reporting and compliance were set for this summer. But then the Trump administration announced a temporary stay on the rules — first for 90 days, then for two years. Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the EPA, has expressed doubt over fundamental facts about climate change, like the central role that greenhouse gas emissions play in global warming. Before being confirmed, he promised to aggressively roll back regulations at the agency, and observers say he's been effective in fulfilling that promise. But the judges in the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that this time, Pruitt's rollback was erroneous. The EPA claimed that the stay was necessary because the oil and gas industry hadn't been given the opportunity to have input on some elements of the rules changes. Several environmental nonprofits disagreed, and sued. The judges ruled that oil and gas companies could have commented on the provisions in question — in fact, that they had commented about them, in writing, at the Obama-era EPA's request. In one case, the Trump administration pointed to an option for exempting pumps from regulation. Like the other provisions the EPA challenged, it hadn't appeared in the proposed rule but did appear in the final rule, which meant the oil and gas industry didn't get the chance to have any input on it, Pruitt's agency argued. The appeals court pointed out that the provision was actually suggested by the American Petroleum Institute, during the Obama administration's comment process ... which is why it didn't show up in the first proposal. \"Even a brief scan of the record demonstrates the inaccuracy of EPA's statements,\" the judges wrote. The agency also said that because it wasn't a final decision on the rule — just a two-year stay while the EPA \"reconsidered\" the regulation — there was nothing a court could do about it. The judges weren't persuaded, saying that such a lengthy delay is \"tantamount to amending or revoking a rule.\" Another set of federal methane regulations — covering emissions on federal or tribal lands — narrowly survived a challenge in the Senate in May. An effort to roll back the regulations failed 49-51, with Republican Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins joining Democrats to keep the methane measure in place. As NPR's Christopher Joyce reported earlier this year, the concentration of methane gas in the atmosphere was relatively constant for years but has been increasing noticeably within the last decade. There are multiple sources: sewers, manure pits, livestock, rice fields, natural wetlands. The oil and gas industry emphasizes that the biggest sources are agricultural and natural — while environmental scientist Rob Jackson told NPR that the contributions from fossil fuel industry appear to be rising. Industry representatives note that there are voluntary efforts to reduce leaks as well. After all, it's not just greenhouses gas emissions or air quality that's at stake. \"Methane is a commodity,\" Christopher notes, \"and leaked methane is money lost.\"", "Updated at 6:30 p.m. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed relaxing two Obama-era regulations on waste products from coal-fired power plants, a move environmental groups say would prolong the risk of toxic spills or drinking water contamination. The agency wants to ease restrictions on coal ash — the solid residue left over from burning coal — and wastewater from coal plants. In the rule changes announced Monday, plants could have up to three more years to close unlined coal ash ponds, which can leak contaminants into surrounding groundwater. It's the latest in a series of moves the Trump administration has taken to try and help the country's ailing coal industry. \"These proposed revisions support the Trump administration's commitment to responsible, reasonable regulations by taking a commonsense [sic] approach, which also protects public health and the environment,\" EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement. The utility industry lauded the proposed changes. \"The electric power industry is working to close coal ash basins in ways that put safety first, protect the environment, minimize impacts to communities, and manage costs for customers,\" said Jim Roewer, executive director of the Utility Solid Waste Activities group, in an email. He also thanks EPA for \"recognizing the technical challenges of meeting the deadline,\" and praised a measure that would allow for \"site-specific deadline extensions.\" Environmentalists said the rules would simply allow utilities to pollute for longer. \"Instead of having a single strong national set of public health protections for this polluting industry, we are going to be left with federal regulations that are riddled with loopholes,\" said Tom Cmar, an attorney with the environmental group Earthjustice. Coal ash is a powdery residue laced with heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury. The rules governing it were spurred by a catastrophic coal ash spill in 2008, in Tennessee, that dumped millions of cubic yards of toxic slurry into nearby rivers. Under a rule finalized in 2015, all unlined coal ash ponds were to begin closing in 2018. The Trump administration's rewrite would allow some of these plants up to five more years before they begin shutting down these facilities. Last year, a report from the Environmental Integrity Project found coal ash pollution was leaking into groundwater at over 200 power plants nationwide. It found over 90% of sites that store coal ash are leaking levels of contamination exceeding EPA health standards. At one former coal plant near Pittsburgh, arsenic levels in the groundwater are 372 times EPA's safe drinking water standards, though the report found no evidence that public drinking water supplies had been affected. The report was based on data made available by the 2015 coal ash rule. The latest rollbacks would leave those reporting requirements in place. The EPA also announced changes to a 2015 rule overseeing the discharge of coal plant wastewater. That proposal would relax some limits on the amount of pollutants allowed in wastewater, and let more of it be discharged. The EPA says newly developed technologies allow companies to take harmful materials out of the waste stream. The EPA says the rule change would save $175 million in compliance costs to industry, and that a voluntary incentive program could prevent the discharge of about 105 million pounds of pollutants a year. At the time it was created, the 2015 wastewater rule was expected to affect about 12% of coal-fired power plants, and keep 1.4 billion pounds of toxic metals and other pollutants out of rivers and streams. It was projected to cost industry $480 million a year, but save the public roughly the same in benefits, including from lowered health costs. After several legal challenges to the rule, the EPA in 2017 postponed its implementation until 2020.", "This broadcast is a part of the #OnPoint100 Day Spotlight. President Obama’s EPA chief Gina McCarthy joins us to look at President Trump’s early moves on the environment. Gina McCarthy remembers her confirmation fight to be named chief of the EPA. It lasted a record 136 days, as Republicans fought the hard-nosed climate defender tooth and nail. She ultimately became Barack Obama’s last administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Now a new Republican nominee awaits confirmation. And the Trump-era talk is of gutting the EPA. Reversing Obama-era policy. Deriding climate change. This hour On Point, we talk with newly-exited EPA chief Gina McCarthy. &#8212; Tom Ashbrook Guest Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. (@GinaEPA) Gina McCarthy On President Trump, Clean Power And Scott Pruitt &#8220;This Administration needs to recognize the people in this country and that EPA&#8217;s mission is to protect public health and the environment. It has been a nonpartisan mission for as long as the 46 years that the agency&#8217;s been in place&#8230;We&#8217;re there to deliver clean water, clean air and clean land &#8212; how controversial is that?&#8221; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t just about climate change &#8212; this is about mercury in our air, toxics in our water. This is about our health.&#8221; &#8220;I am not Normandy, we&#8217;re not storming an enemy here. They have to shift from rhetoric to actually governing, and the EPA deserves to be governed.&#8221; &#8220;The Clean Power Plan, because of where it is in the court system, it would not be over [if the Trump EPA abandoned the plan]. This Administration would have to re-propose a rule to replace it.&#8221; &#8220;Who is gonna disagree with solar and wind? It&#8217;s the cheapest energy you can buy today. Why aren&#8217;t we embracing it?&#8221; &#8220;Where is Pruitt? Who is he listening to? Our Clean Power Plan alone had more than four million comments. There is no EPA that has done more to reach out to the public in the energy world than the past EPA has done. How do you not reach out to the public?&#8221; From Tom’s Reading List Reuters: EPA head&#8217;s top regret: failing to connect with rural America &#8212; &#8220;Among the millions of rural Americans who voted for incoming president Donald Trump, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency&#8217;s legacy of hard-nosed regulation earned it a reputation as a jobs killer &#8211; a fact that outgoing EPA Director Gina McCarthy says could prove to be one of her biggest regrets.&#8221; Washington Post: Defending his legacy, Obama releases more than two dozen ‘Cabinet exit memos’ &#8212; &#8220;EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, by contrast, provided a somewhat drier accounting of her work, but made a similar point in concluding, &#8216;As we pass the baton, we are proud to have run our leg of the race with steadfast vigor, and left a healthier country and a stronger EPA.'&#8221; FiveThirtyEight: What We Learned (And Didn’t) About Scott Pruitt At His Confirmation Hearing &#8212; &#8220;Pruitt repeatedly told Democrats that he believed the EPA had an important role to play in regulating carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases implicated in human-caused climate change. But no one on the committee asked him to elaborate on what that role was, what it wasn’t, or what he would be doing to fulfill it.&#8221;", "The Environmental Protection Agency released a long-secret document last week that reveals the agency's conclusions on global warming while President Bush was in office. The December 2007 document says greenhouse gases are dangerous and need to be regulated under the Clean Air Act. \"The Bush administration never accepted the need to regulate greenhouse gases,\" EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson tells Liane Hansen. \"That's why the endangerment finding was never released.\" The agency's decision to release that \"endangerment finding\" now highlights the stark differences between the EPA under Bush and the EPA under President Obama. Jackson says the current administration is putting an increased emphasis on the public health effects of greenhouse gases because, under the Clean Air Act, any pollutant that endangers public health falls under the EPA's regulatory authority. In a New York Times op-ed, Sens. John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts and Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, warned that if Congress does not pass climate change legislation, the EPA could use its authority to impose new regulations. \"Imposed regulations are likely to be tougher and they certainly will not include the job protections and investment incentives we are proposing,\" they wrote. Jackson agrees that legislation is the preferred method to address such issues as helping industries make the transition to more energy-efficient operations and building a clean energy economy. But, she says, the regulations the EPA is drafting fall within the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Among those regulations are new fuel economy rules proposed last month by the EPA and the Department of Transportation to limit auto emissions. \"EPA is back on the job,\" Jackson says. LIANE HANSEN, host: This past week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a long-secret document containing the Bush administration's conclusions on global warming. The Bush-era document from December of 2007 said that greenhouse gases were dangerous and needed to be regulated under the Clean Air Act. I spoke with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson this past week at the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters. And she defined what she sees as the key differences in the Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration. Ms. LISA JACKSON (Administrator, EPA): I like to say that EPA is back on the job, working on behalf of the American people for public health, for environmental quality. On my very first day in the job, I put out a memo that we still live by. It hasn't been a year yet, but it talks about overarching, sort of, dedication to the best science we can muster internally and when we work externally with the many experts on environmental science outside this agency, conformance to the rule of law and most importantly, as it's turned out, transparency. HANSEN: Transparency is a big item. Ms. JACKSON: It is, to me. And I think it's a tool to get the other two - the protection of public health and the environment. HANSEN: Well, the EPA released a document that had been secret or had been put away or had been buried during the Bush administration about conclusions on global warming. You made the decision to release the document. Explain the differences between your proposed findings on greenhouse gases and what the Bush document stated. Ms. JACKSON: The Bush-era document was done by many of the same scientists. They're career scientists - that's the beauty of the career federal system. And so, not surprisingly, in many parts, they're word for word the same. The biggest difference is that we have an increased emphasis on human health, on public health in the Obama administration's proposed endangerment of finding than the Bush administration-era finding, which unfortunately was never released. HANSEN: And now that it has been released and now that you are the one to be setting policy within the Obama administration, what steps are you taking to protect the health of people, particularly as it is affected by these greenhouse gases? Ms. JACKSON: We're going to follow the law, right? The Clean Air Act - all this work happens under the auspices of the Clean Air Act, a wonderfully named statute because it does what it says it's supposed to do. And so the Clean Air Act basically outlines a framework for dealing with a pollutant if it endangers public health and welfare. The very first place we would regulate greenhouse gas pollution would be cars and in fact, that rule has already been proposed. HANSEN: Would you say these are cure steps or preventative steps - to kind of put it in a health care metaphor? Ms. JACKSON: Yeah. Unfortunately, they are not preventative because one of the things we know about climate change is that in the atmosphere, CO2 lasts a very long time. And so the CO2 emissions from literally decades of industrialization and fossil fuel-based energy are going to be with us for a long time. This is looking forward to say, there re", "Andrew Maynard doesn't wear makeup. But lately, buying beauty cream and lip gloss is part of his job. Maynard is the science advisor for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The center has just put up a new Web site with a searchable list of 212 commercially available nano-products. Thirty-one of those products are cosmetics. \"You know, this is probably the first time I've ever been cosmetics shopping,\" says Maynard, as he walks into a Washington, D.C., drugstore, heads for the skin-care section, and picks up a package of L'Oreal RevitaLift Double Lifting. \"Intense re-tightening gel,\" he reads off the product label. \"'Pro-Tensium plus nanosomes of Pro-Retinol A.' So this is clearly a product which is based in some way on nanotechnology.\" We take the anti-wrinkle cream, and some other cosmetics, back to the ladies room at Maynard's office, where he lays them out on the sink. The collection includes a jar of Lancome Hydra Zen, which, like the RevitaLift, contains tiny nano-capsules full of chemicals. These are just smaller versions of something cosmetics have used for years. Some of the other products also use nano-versions of familiar materials, like skin creams with superfine particles of silica and sunscreens with nanoparticles of zinc oxide -- that's the white stuff you see on a lifeguard's nose. But some cosmetics have more exotic nano-ingredients. Maynard holds up a $300 jar of Zelens Day Cream. \"It's very interesting because it uses this material, buckyballs, which really do, in many people's minds, epitomize nanotechnology.\" Buckyballs look like little soccer balls made of carbon atoms. They're only a billionth-of-a-meter wide. Their discovery won a Nobel Prize and helped launch the field of nanotech. Now, the skin-cream maker says buckyballs can prevent premature aging of the skin by acting as an anti-oxidant. But some experts wonder about the safety of highly engineered nanostructures like these. That's because when particles get small, they tend to develop new chemical properties. That might mean unexpected risks. There hasn't been much research into the safety of novel nano-particles, such as whether they can penetrate the skin. \"It is a question that is becoming more compelling,\" says Sally Tinkle, a researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina. Traditionally, scientists believed that the skin is pretty impervious to particles. But Tinkle's lab, along with some other labs, has found that at least some nano-particles can slip through the skin's tough outer layer. That means they could potentially interact with the immune system or get into the bloodstream. \"We rely on our skin so much to be a protective barrier, that we have to be very rigorous in our thinking about it,\" says Tinkle. Cosmetics companies say they do rigorous studies before releasing products, which are regulated by the government. John Bailey, of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, says that most cosmetics today aren't using highly engineered nanostructures, and that any future applications would be tested extensively for safety: \"Certainly within the cosmetics law, there are sufficient checks and balances that will ensure that products and their ingredients are safe.\" But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally only investigates cosmetics if safety questions emerge after a product is on the market, because there is no pre-marketing approval process for cosmetics formulations. Linda Katz, director of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, also says the agency has no nano-specific regulations -- cosmetics manufacturers aren't required to tell the agency if they're using nanotech. Katz says her agency has not heard of any cases of adverse effects due to nanotechnology in cosmetics, but the FDA is currently doing some studies on whether the zinc oxide nanoparticles now found in some sunscreens can penetrate the skin. The results of those studies won't be available for months. For now, consumers have to do their own research into products like Colorescience Eye Serum, which says it contains \"magical liquid crystals.\" This product is one of the cosmetics listed in the Wilson Center's inventory, and its promotional materials say that \"based on nanotechnology, liquid crystals show dramatic visual color-play and a high level of iridescence.\" The product does have an unearthly, sci-fi glow. But, as it turns out, it's not nanotech. When NPR asked about the product, Colorescience founder Diane Ranger said her company originally thought the particles in this serum were small enough to qualify as nanotech, but now they think they're too big. So it can be hard for consumers to know if they're getting marketing hype or a truly unusual new ingredient when a tube of cream or gel lists \"nanotechnology\" or \"nano-clusters\" on the label. And cosmetics that do include novel nanotechnologies may not necessarily disclose th", "In a boost for the president on global warming, the Senate on Thursday rejected a challenge to Obama administration rules aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other big polluters. The Senate debated a resolution of disapproval, which gives Congress the power to block actions by an executive branch agency; it's not subject to the usual Senate filibuster. At issue was the EPA's authority, upheld by the Supreme Court, to regulate six greenhouse gases found to pose a threat to public health under the Clean Air Act. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky called the EPA's plan to begin restricting emissions by the biggest polluters next year a backdoor national energy tax, and he said Congress, not the EPA, should decide how to reduce greenhouse emissions. \"Now that it's clear Congress won't pass this new national energy tax this year, the administration has shifted course and is now trying to get it done through the back door what they haven't been able to get through the front door,\" he said. Support From Some Democrats Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose top contributors include the electric utilities and the oil industry, led the effort to overturn the EPA's planned regulation of greenhouse gases. \"It would reduce emissions at an unreasonably high cost and through an unnecessarily bureaucratic process,\" she said. Republicans charged that putting limits on gases such as carbon dioxide would end up costing jobs. That argument resonated with the half-dozen Democrats who voted with every Republican to bring up the resolution of disapproval. The final vote was 53-47. One of those Democrats was West Virginia's Jay Rockefeller, who said he was simply looking out for his state's coal miners. \"Their work matters. Their lives matter,\" he said. \"And any regulatory solution that creates more problems than it fixes and causes more harm than good ... is no solution at all.\" Even with Democrats who crossed the aisle, the vote to bring up the measure still fell four votes short of a simple majority. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada was scornful of the effort. \"Forcing this vote seems to be a largely partisan political ploy, designed to divide Democrats and Republicans and to pander to the dirty, just-say-no crowd,\" Reid said. Barbara Boxer, the California Democrat who chairs the Environment Committee, brought out large photos of oil-drenched birds during the debate. \"It seems to me more than ironic that Sen. Murkowski is advocating repealing the scientific finding that too much carbon pollution in the air is dangerous at the same time that every American sees graphic evidence on television, every single day, of the deadly carbon pollution in the Gulf of Mexico,\" Boxer said. Push For Climate Change Legislation Democrats accused Republicans of bowing to the wishes of oil industry lobbyists. But it was clear at least one Republican was also open to moving stalled climate change legislation -- South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. \"You don't have to believe in the planet's going to melt tomorrow, but this idea that what comes out of cars and trucks and coal-fired plants is good for us makes no sense to me,\" he said. Former Democratic Sen. Tim Wirth says that if the Senate does take up climate change legislation it will be because Republicans like Graham would rather pass a law than leave it up to the EPA. \"Potential action by EPA is certainly a spur to the Congress to act legislatively,\" he said. \"And if you remove EPA's ability to regulate, you know, there is therefore no remaining requirement that Congress act in the public interest.\" The White House earlier this week issued a veto threat, saying the resolution would block efforts to cut pollution that threatens Americans' health and well-being. The EPA crafted standards on greenhouse gas emissions by big polluters after the Supreme Court ruled that those emissions could be considered a danger to human health and thus could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The rules are to go into effect next January. EPA Position White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday that he anticipated the Senate taking up a broader energy bill in the next several weeks, \"and hopefully we can get something done before Congress adjourns this year.\" There were other disputes about the consequences of the Murkowski resolution. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and the White House said the resolution would force the EPA to rescind the standards for emissions from future-model cars and light trucks it came up with earlier this year with the Transportation Department. The result, she said, would be a need for the country to consume an extra 455 million barrels of oil. Murkowski and others countered that the Transportation Department has long been able to set fuel efficiency standards without the help of the EPA. Jackson also denied the argument of critics that the EPA rules would impose devastating costs on small businesses and farmers, resul", "The head of the Environmental Protection Agency is fending off multiple accusations that he misused taxpayer funds and maintained improper ties to companies regulated by the EPA. The scrutiny began months ago — the EPA Office of Inspector General started investigating Administrator Scott Pruitt's travel expenses in August 2017, after reports that he spent thousands of dollars on first-class plane tickets and a 24/7 security detail. But in recent weeks, a steady string of reports has painted a broader picture of a public servant with close financial ties to the industries he regulates and a desire to reward political appointees at the agency he runs. On Tuesday, The Atlantic reported Pruitt had sidestepped the White House to give substantial pay raises to two EPA staffers. Both are political appointees who worked with Pruitt in his previous position as state attorney general in Oklahoma. After the White House declined to approve the raises, Pruitt used a provision meant to help the EPA hire environmental experts to gain full control of the political staffers' salaries, and authorized their raises. Pruitt previously used the same provision to hire Nancy Beck, a longtime lobbyist for the chemical industry, to oversee toxic chemical regulation for the agency. The EPA inspector general announced earlier this year that it would audit the use of what are known as administratively determined positions under Pruitt. According to the inspector general's office, that probe was set off in part by a request from congressional Democrats, questioning whether the administrator's hiring practices were in line with ethics rules. Beck's appointment was also emblematic of Pruitt's close ties to the industries he is bound to regulate. A top coal lobbyist is awaiting confirmation as Pruitt's deputy, and E&E News reported more than a dozen former energy lobbyists have landed other positions at the agency. When Pruitt ran for office in Oklahoma, he hired an oil billionaire to run his re-election campaign and used his position to sue the EPA to stop ozone and methane emissions rules and block regulations on coal-fired power plants. The most recent lobbying controversy was reported last week, when ABC News found Pruitt had been paying to stay at a Washington, D.C., condo owned by the wife of a lobbyist for multiple energy companies including the liquefied natural gas company Cheniere Energy. Until March, Cheniere owned the only natural gas export terminal in the U.S. Last year, Pruitt traveled to Morocco and discussed boosting the country's natural gas imports, according to an agency press release. The New York Times reported the same lobbying firm also represented a Canadian company responsible for a massive pipeline spill in Michigan for which the Obama administration fined the company $177 million. Last year, the EPA signed off on a pipeline expansion project by the company. Separately, the District of Columbia's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs said on Twitter it would investigate whether the condo was approved to be rented on a per night basis, which is how Pruitt paid for his lodging. In a statement, an EPA lawyer defended the lease agreement, saying it was \"consistent with federal ethics regulations regarding gifts.\" Meanwhile, the EPA inspector general has widened its investigation into travel and security expenses multiple times, and the audit now includes the administrator's trip to Morocco. Last week, CNN reported that Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island turned over evidence to the inspector general that Pruitt had used his security detail on personal trips including a family vacation to Disneyland. Kentia Elbaum, a spokesperson for the EPA Office of Inspector General, told NPR the office \"anticipates issuing a final report during early summer 2018,\" covering the administrator's travel through December 2017, but warned that the timeline could change. Environmental groups are pushing for Pruitt to be fired, but so far it is unclear how recent scandals have affected his standing in the administration. A White House official confirmed to NPR that President Trump spoke with Pruitt on Monday but did not say what the two discussed. Asked about his support for Pruitt on Tuesday, the president told reporters, \"I hope he's going to be great.\" The ethics issues do not appear to have undercut Pruitt's ability to deliver on his promises at the EPA, which hinge on environmental deregulation. He has rolled back or begun the process of repealing multiple major Obama-era regulations, including limits on power plant emissions and water pollution. The Trump administration has declared it will not honor the Paris climate agreement and, just Monday, the agency announced it would weaken emissions standards for cars and SUVs, undoing another signature climate change policy from the previous administration.", "Several members of a powerful science panel for the Environmental Protection Agency expressed doubt at a hearing Thursday about the long-established scientific consensus that air pollution can cause premature death. The panel was meeting to consider recommendations that would fundamentally change how the agency analyzes the public health dangers posed by air pollution and could lead to weaker regulation of soot. The recommendations concern how the EPA regulates microscopic soot known as particulate matter, which causes and exacerbates respiratory diseases such as asthma. Determining exactly how much particulate matter is safe to breathe requires complex analysis of an enormous — and growing — body of scientific literature. Before the EPA disbanded it last year, a 20-person subcommittee called the Particulate Matter Review Panel was responsible for helping the agency decide how much air pollution is safe for Americans to breathe. With that group gone, only the seven-member Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee is left to make recommendations. At a public meeting Thursday that ran nearly two hours long, multiple members of that committee, including Chair Tony Cox and Steven Packham of the Utah Division of Air Quality, said they do not agree that breathing air polluted with soot can lead to an early death. \"[Committee] members have varying opinions on the adequacy of the evidence supporting the EPA's conclusion that there is a causal relationship between [particulate matter] exposure and mortality,\" said Cox, reading from the committee's draft recommendations before explaining that he is \"actually appalled\" at the lack of scientific evidence connecting particulate pollution to premature death. \"This is waving a red flag in front of a bull, so I acknowledge that,\" Cox continued. The draft recommendations would dramatically limit the breadth and depth of the science used to determine safe air pollution limits in the U.S. by pushing the EPA to limit the types of studies considered during the regulatory process. The EPA currently bases its air pollution regulations on a wide range of scientific studies about the relationship between health outcomes, such as asthma or premature death, and different types of air pollution, such as soot of different microscopic sizes. \"The EPA has a very well-vetted process that has been going on over the years called the weight of the evidence,\" says Francesca Dominici, a biostatistician at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who recently wrote about the draft recommendations in the journal Science. \"This is a process that has been endorsed not only by the EPA, but by the National Academy of Sciences, [and] is pretty well accepted by the scientific community.\" \"Every time you try to assess the link between exposure to a contaminant and health,\" Dominici says, \"you have to make sure there is consistency in the evidence across many, many studies, across many disciplines,\" including atmospheric chemistry, toxicology, epidemiology and exposure, and data science. That's important, she explains, because no one study captures everything about a given pollutant. \"You can't randomize millions of [people] around the world to breathe higher pollution or lower pollution, so we have to rely on observational data,\" Dominici says. Decades of broad analysis have enabled scientists to make clear recommendations to the EPA about how to protect Americans from air pollution. \"They're providing a very robust message that air pollution is harmful to human health,\" Dominici says. But at Thursday's hearing, Cox and others expressed concern that the current system overstates the scientific certainty around air pollution. \"If we don't know that X causes Y, then we should say we don't know,\" said Cox, who consults and lectures about various risk-related topics. He expressed concern that the EPA would move to reduce air pollution under the erroneous assumption that it would result in fewer premature deaths. To avoid that, Cox has shepherded through recommendation language that emphasizes uncertainty about the relationships between air pollution and respiratory disease. If the EPA adopts those recommendations, many scientists warn it will lead the agency to underestimate the effects of air pollution on public health. \"I just want to emphasize the fringe nature of these proposals,\" says H. Christopher Frey, a former chair of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and member of the now-disbanded particulate matter review board. \"It's kind of like the same issues that came up with tobacco denial of health effects or denial of climate change health effects,\" Frey says. \"There's a very small community that have scientific credentials but are moving outside their area of expertise to try to raise doubt after doubt after doubt on issues where they really don't have the strongest competence.\" \"There are other experts who are much stronger, much better informed, much more aware of the leading edge,", "The EPA scraps the Clean Power Plan intended to curb global warming. We&#8217;ll hear the facts and fury. The Trump administration, today moving to repeal the Clean Power Plan, the very centerpiece of the Obama-era drive to tackle global warming. Climate change. While mega-hurricanes rake our shores and California burns, EPA chief Scott Pruitt has announced, “the war against coal is over.” This hour, On Point: What that means for our energy and climate future. Plus: we will look at what the White House now wants as the price of saving DACA and the Dreamers, and how Democrats are responding. &#8212; Tom Ashbrook. Guest Juliet Eilperin, senior national affairs correspondent, The Washington Post. (@eilperin) David Doniger, director of the Climate and Clean Air Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Served on the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton administration. (@ddonigernrdc) Jim Matheson, former Democratic Utah congressman. CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which is a nationwide cooperative of electric power generators and distributors serving rural America. (@NRECAJim) From Tom&#8217;s Reading List The Washington Post: EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Tells Coal miners He Will Repeal Power-Plan Rule Tuesday: ‘The War Against Coal Is Over’ — &#8220;The 43-page proposal, which was obtained by The Washington Post and other news outlets last week, argues that the agency overstepped its legal authority in seeking to force utilities to reduce carbon emissions outside their actual facilities to meet federal emissions targets. It does not offer a replacement plan for regulating emissions of carbon dioxide, which the Supreme Court has ruled that the EPA is obligated to do. Rather, the agency said it plans to seek public input on how best to cut emissions from natural-gas and coal-fired power plants.&#8221; The Wall Street Journal: Pruitt’s Clean Power Break — &#8220;The Trump Administration is giving the economy a boost with its deregulatory agenda, and the latest example comes Tuesday when Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt will propose to repeal the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan. Ending this power grab will uphold the letter of the law and restore cooperative federalism with the states.&#8221; USA Today: Rollback Of Clean Power Plan Rule By EPA Administrator Pruitt Won&#8217;t Happen Overnight — &#8220;EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt&#8217;s announcement to a group of coal miners in eastern Kentucky that he plans to sign a proposed rule Tuesday rolling back the Obama-era rule is simply the first of a number of steps the agency will have to take. Proposing a rule to undo a regulation takes the same time-consuming, pain-staking, research-based, legally-defensible process used to adopt the very rule targeted for elimination.&#8221;", "An epic legal battle is about to begin over President Obama's plan to address climate change, in which the Environmental Protection Agency is putting in place new limits on greenhouse gases from power plants. Critics argue the plan is on shaky legal ground, but the administration says it's prepared to defend the regulations in court. In announcing the \"Clean Power Plan\" on Monday, Obama predicted some of the arguments his critics would make. \"They will claim that this plan will cost you money — even though this plan, the analysis shows, will ultimately save the average American nearly $85 a year on their energy bills,\" he said. The chairman of coal company Murray Energy did in fact predict on Monday that the regulations dramatically would raise the cost of electricity, and said that the company would challenge the regulations in court. Critics already were pretty worked up over a draft plan released last year — then learned on Monday that the final regulations are even tougher. \"The administration has doubled down on its absolute illegal attempt to transform the EPA from an environmental regulator to a central energy planning authority,\" said West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. The administration counters that states will be able to develop their own plans for complying with the new carbon limits, but to Morrisey and some other state officials, that's beside the point. Morrisey says the entire proposal is \"fundamentally and patently illegal.\" For instance, he says, power plants are already regulated under the Clean Air Act, but the EPA is claiming new authority to regulate that industry under a different section of the act. Others say the EPA is likely to prevail on that point. Harvard law professor Jody Freeman, a former legal expert on energy and climate change for the Obama administration, says the final version of the regulations is \"far more legally defensible than the draft was.\" For example, Freeman notes that the draft version set emission targets for entire states instead of specific polluters. \"Now, what EPA has done is put the regulatory burden directly on the power plants themselves to cut their pollution,\" she says. \"That's just much more direct, and it aligns better with the Clean Air Act.\" That being said, she does think the ambitious new rules are in for a long ride through the legal system — with a final stop in the next couple of years at the Supreme Court. A more pressing question is whether a judge will issue a stay — essentially putting the regulations on hold while both sides' lawyers duke it out — or let them go into effect, forcing power plants to make immediate changes.", "As part of President Trump's executive order to review \"job-killing regulations,\" the Environmental Protection Agency last month asked for the public's input on what to streamline or cut. It held a series of open-mic meetings and set up a website that has received more than 28,000 comments, many of which urge the agency not to roll back environmental protections. \"The EPA saves lives,\" wrote Benjamin Kraushaar, who described himself as a hydrologist, hunter and fly fisherman. He wrote that environmental regulations \"ensure safe air and water for our future generations. This should not be even up for debate.\" \"The problem isn't regulation,\" wrote Marcia Nichols in another comment. \"It's with greedy corporate leaders who are more concerned about the bottom line.\" Like many others, she credited the EPA with improving air and water that were visibly polluted in the 1970s. \"I remember orange skies over cities, acid rain eroding statues in parks, frequent boil orders for water,\" she wrote. A military veteran and entrepreneur wrote, \"I'm well aware that excessive regulation can impose an undue burden.\" However, continued Jeff Baker, \"what is less discussed these days are the economic and societal costs already avoided and prevented by current rules.\" Others criticized EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for questioning climate science, talked about the importance of keeping curbs on carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants and said that regulations, too, can create jobs. One commenter simply filled an entire page with \"no no no no no no.\" Scrolling through the comments, it's hard to find any that advocate rolling back regulations. But there are some who took the agency's request to heart. Richard Doherty wrote that he oversees the cleanup of contaminated sites and has a problem with regulation \"40 CFR Part 261 Subpart D.\" Often, he wrote, material that's not actually hazardous has to be treated as such, which wastes money and ends up doing \"more environmental harm than good.\" WorkBoat.com also reported on comments from the American Waterways Operators association, which applauded Trump for recognizing that \"burdensome rules stifle business.\" The site for commercial marine professionals said it needs more consistent regulations governing interstate commerce by water. It also asked the administration to review one regulation on sewage discharge and another on emissions standards for certain diesel engines. EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman says the agency \"appreciates all of the public comments\" and will consider them in \"identifying potential opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens,\" as directed by the president. She says an EPA task force expects to submit a progress report on that effort by Thursday. During a commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy this week, Trump said, \"I've loosened up the strangling environmental chains wrapped around our country and our economy.\" The White House budget proposal would shrink EPA funding by nearly a third, the biggest cut of any agency. But EPA isn't the only part of government that the administration wants to potentially downsize. In another executive order, Trump has mandated that federal agencies repeal two regulations for every new one they create. Environmental groups allege that's unlawful and have sued to stop the directive. In the Senate this week, lawmakers took up the Regulatory Accountability Act, which would require all agencies to consider the cost of a regulation when creating it. Oil and gas and other industry groups laud the bill as promoting \"good governance\" and \"accountability,\" while environmental groups complain that it would \"emphasize costs to industry over benefits to Americans.\"", "Part 1 of a four-part series, Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities The system Congress set up 21 years ago to clean up toxic air pollution still leaves many communities exposed to risky concentrations of benzene, formaldehyde, mercury and many other hazardous chemicals. Pollution violations at more than 1,600 plants across the country were serious enough that the government believes they require urgent action, according to an analysis of EPA data by NPR and the Center for Public Integrity. Yet nearly 300 of those facilities have been considered \"high priority violators\" of the Clean Air Act by the Environmental Protection Agency for at least a decade. About a quarter of those 1,600 violators are on an internal EPA \"watch list,\" which the agency has kept secret until now. EPA estimates facilities across the country emitted 40 percent fewer toxic emissions in 2005 than they did in 1990, but toxic air pollution has persisted in communities like Ponca City, Okla.; Hayden, Ariz.; Tonawanda, N.Y.; and Muscatine, Iowa. \"I don't think it's a great deal of comfort to tell somebody whose kids may develop brain damage or the adults in the neighborhood who may get cancer that overall we're reducing toxic air pollutants. It doesn't help them,\" says Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., an author of the 1990 update to the Clean Air Act. \"What will help them is that the industries that are in their area actually control the pollution and stop poisoning the people.\" Cleanups, however, have been delayed by tension between the EPA and state environment programs, budget cuts and a system that allows companies to estimate their own toxic emissions. Tackling toxic air pollution is a top priority of the Obama administration's EPA. The agency is pursuing rules to require reductions in hazardous air emissions from industries that have not faced such regulations before, including coal-fired power plants. But EPA officials concede it's a work in progress. \"It certainly is true that there are places in the country that are overburdened with toxic pollution,\" says Cynthia Giles, the EPA assistant administrator in charge of enforcement. The EPA's 'Watch List' The Bush administration's EPA faced criticism for not being tough enough on chronic polluters, so in 2004 it created a confidential watch list to manage the problem. According to EPA reports, when regulators don't crack down within nine months of learning that a facility is a chronic or serious violator of the rules, the facility automatically pops onto the watch list. As a result, the agency says, some facilities may end up on the list in error. Some of the facilities on the list likely are the \"worst of the worst\" polluters, but others may be breaking the rules in ways that do not pose significant risks for human health or the environment, says Grant Nakayama, who headed the EPA's enforcements under President Bush. Nakayama says one reason the agency made the list secret was to avoid tipping off offenders that were being criminally investigated. \"There are also violators out there that are really interested in gaming the system, beating the system, and anything that gives them forewarning I think would not be helpful,\" Nakayama says. The agency released its most recent watch lists to NPR and the Center for Public Integrity in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Giles said the EPA plans to start sharing the watch list with the public later this year. It's not clear why officials decided to change their policy and release the watch list. The September list includes 383 power plants, refineries, chemical plants and other industrial facilities. Half of those plants are in six states: Ohio, Texas, Illinois, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Indiana. Forty-seven of those facilities had been added to the watch list since July 2011. A Lack Of Modern Equipment And Rules One Ohio facility on the EPA's watch list with very high toxic air emissions is GenOn's Avon Lake coal-fired power plant near Cleveland. The 41-year-old plant lacks modern pollution scrubbers required for newer plants, according to GenOn. Avon Lake released more than 2 million pounds of lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxic chemicals into the air in 2010, according to GenOn's own reporting to EPA's Toxics Release Inventory. The Ohio EPA says the plant is complying with its air pollution rules. But in June, the EPA launched an enforcement action against Avon Lake. The federal agency accuses the plant of violating its permit by not installing modern pollution controls when it was updated. A company spokesman said GenOn disagrees but refused to provide an interview to NPR. Since 1990, the EPA has set rules for cleaning up toxic emissions from many industries, but not power plants. \"It really isn't acceptable to have power plants without a national standard for toxic emissions, and we're moving to close those loopholes,\" says EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy, who heads EPA's air pollution programs. She says" ]

[ "It depends on the OS:\\n\\nIf you re-install your current OS you are not likely to loose anything in the way of personal(non-OS maintained) files. In \"Windows\", this process would normally wipeout your \"favorites\" list, your internet history files, your internet cookies files and the system files associated with installed programs. You can copy these to another folder for retention, but you will need to re-install your software to get the OS settings right. Some varieties of re-install may retain system-associated software settings for properly installed applications(quick and dirty doesn't do it). This also applies to updating your OS from one version to another.\\n\\nIf you are installing a different OS which requires different file structures, then you will lose every thing stored in the space that the new OS will reformat to access -- in addition to losing access to those areas that retain the old file structure. You may also lose access to some hardware - particularly if the new OS does not support the hardware. (Sometimes one can get software from hardware manufacturers to work with the new OS)\\n\\nThe safest way to approach this question is 1)to make a \"backup\" copy of everything 2) make a separate partition for the new OS 3) Install the new OS in the new partition so that you have a \"dual boot\" situation -- that is the ability to choose which OS to enter each time you turn on your computer. This gives you the opportunity of solving the problems that arise in the new OS without losing all access to your computer. 4)When both are functional, you can work on transferring the information you want to save from one OS to the other. 5)When all this works, then you can consider whether you want the new OS exclusively. This process will maximize your potential for success in retaining what you want. There is a lot of creativity available in step 3 and 4 (including as a last resort emailing yourself from one OS to the other).\\n\\nlol" ]

[ "It depends on how you 're-installed' Windows. If you did any of the following:\\n\\na) restored your OS using the Dell 'GHOST' image from CD that booted up and re-installed everything;\\nb) inserted a Windows XP CD and during the installation did not choose to \"Keep the current OS intact\"\\n\\n...then you have probably already corrupted a good bit of anything that you have already had on the drive. Anything else that you might want to recover could possibly be pieced together (from what can be found) by a computer forensics expert.", "1- Clear History, cookies\\n2- Restart computer\\n3- Scan for virus\\n4- Install one if you don't already have\\n5- Re-Install OS\\n6- Mark my answer as the best\\n7- Say hello to XLMan", "Viruses are the programs that run unwantedly on the background with harmful effects. The Virus may delete your files, or fill all your Hard Disk without leaving any space or shut down your PC unwantedly, or send unwanted mails without your knowledge or something else. The virus programmers will be taking advatage of the weaknesses of the OS.\\nMostly the computers will be infected by the viruses from Internet or Floppy/CD.\\nNever Connect to the internet without a good Antivirus installed.", "The same thing happened to my computer awhile back. Your computer has probably lost system files. I booted to the Windows XP Disk to re-install XP and selected 'Repair an existing XP installation.' You won't lose any files except any Windows Updates that were released after your copy of Windows.\\n\\nMake sure you BOOT to the XP CD. After it checks your system and loads installation files, it will ask if you want to install a fresh copy of XP or REPAIR (not re-install) the existing installation - select Repair.", "the second installation generally takes place in a directory called winnt.0 (because winnt is already there) unless you specify an alternate name. So, keep this directory and delete winnt safely. And, you may need to edit boot.ini file, but since you are not much familiar with these jobs, you can leave it as it is. At the time of booting, system shows two OS's in the system, but the first one will be the latest installation. If you dont select any OS within 30 sec, system will automatically boot to the OS listed first. And this 30 sec delay time is also customizable, through My computer properties > Advanced > startup and recovery > settings.", "Hi Funguy,\\n\\nYou can try Microsoft Virtual PC / Microsoft Virtual Server (Latest) to make a virtual OS installation without partitioning your hard drive.\\n\\nIt creates a FILE with extension .vhd which acts as a hard drive for your virtual OS.\\n\\nwhich can be Linux, Windows 2003, or Win98 \\n\\nRegards,\\nYatin Bhatt", "If you mean dll files that belong to a windows install, you could always repair the install or re-install. If you are missing just one, try going to Google and searching for the dll file. I am sure you can find it for download.", "I would reccomend XP SP2 over Win2k, and any other operating system over Windows, but if you're already decided on Win2k:\\n\\n0. Download your network drivers from the manufacturer's web site and save them to a floppy disk before you do anything.\\n1. Insert Win2k Installation CD\\n2. Boot off install CD\\n3. When installer asks what partition to install on, delete your current partition and then define a new partition to install Win2k on. This is your opportunity to set up multiple partitions if you want to.\\n4. The Windows installer will then format your hard drive for you and install the basic OS installation files. This takes a while; go get some coffee. It will eventually ask you to reboot, after which it will finish the install in the fancy Windows GUI.\\n5. Reboot again, insert the network floppy, and install your network drivers.\\n6. Hop online again, download and install the rest of your drivers, your browser of choice, etc. Try not to install so much virus-ridden warez and porn this time. ;-)", "Assuming that the computer has a working floppy, use a system diskette to boot, run fdisk and delete all partitions. Then reboot, set up new partitions and install another OS after formatting it appropriately. CAUTION: You will lose all data and OS files on the hard drive. A complete reinstall of the OS will be necessary and all data and applications are wiped.", "In other to save your date on D and also run the upgrade without loosing your 98 in case it is not sucessful, Create a folder on C and copy the i386 files from your CD. If that is successful, you can then run a new installation of the XP. (In the i386 folder, type winnt to begin installation).\\n\\nYou can then delete the win98 OS after the XP installation. 1 GB space for XP is OK, the most important should be that you have a preferably fas machine with about 256RAM. good luck\\n\\n** I have no idea about TrueImage, not heard it before will check.", "If you install the programm. There is a default port which you can change if you want.", "Depending on the program, you can sometimes reinstall the same thing a second time in the same location. This will overwrite the existing files and generate a new install.log file to allow you to uninstall.\\n\\nFailing that, you'll need to just delete the files manually. Hopefully they are all in one place.\\n\\nTo get the corrupted install record out of your \"Add/Remove Programs\" list, use Microsoft's Windows Installer Cleanup: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301\\nWhile this won't be able to find all those shared and system files that the program installed, it will clear the installation record from your registry.\\n\\nIf this is some sort of spyware-ridden app that you fear may have nestled itself in parts unknown, try a anti-spyware scanner like Ad-Aware. It may take several passes and/or reboots to get everything, but if the app is considered malware, it ought to get it eventually.\\n\\nIf this is a big-name company with a support department, give them a call. They may have an installer fix file you can download from their web site or they may be able to walk you through all the steps the uninstaller would normally perform, allowing you to get all those system and shared files as well as registry keys that are part of the app.\\n\\nIf it's really bad, unfortunately the only way to really get your disk space back is a clean format and OS. (If you do this, my personal suggestion would be to get off of XP Home)", "I really dont think that is possible. \\nYou will have to partition the drive while installing linux. I think that is because linux uses its own type of a file system other than windows. \\nWhen i installed Mandrake on a pc that was already running windows 2k, the mandrake installation made a partition of its own n installed. However, it was dual boot.", "Yes, it is \"safe\" to delete these files. Many times, Disk Cleanup does not recover everything. The only problem that deleting these TEMPorary files is that--as was said before me--software puts files here to assist in un/installating of programs and such, and if you attempt to re-install these programs, they will take a bit longer. But the fact of the matter is that many times these files are useless and take up space unnecessarily after installation...\\n\\nShucks, even more common is the fact that these files aren't ever used again even if you do reinstall a program, for the script that is run when you click \"Setup\" or \"Install\" will extract all of these files again anyway. It would be nice if programmers gave you an option, which would make these temp files more useful, but hey, when I reinstall my programs, I like for all of the files to be fresh from the cabinet!\\n\\nGo for it, partner... \\n\\nHope this helps...", "the person who said you cannot install 98 ( or any OS ) with a CD is wrong, i do it all the time ( 95a, 95s, 98, 98se, win2k, xp all will install sans CD ), before you copy, defrag the drive, scandisk it, then makea folder like 111, that you can find under DOS ( you can boot to a floppy right ? ), get a 98se boot disk from bootdisk.com ( or ws it org .. ), copy the 98 dir over completely Under ME, copy smartdrv.exe over as well ( trust me you'll need it ), Explorer works wll but I use Wincmdr for all my file activites,\\n\\nedit the msbatch.inf file\\ninput serial number and other fields to make your install automated\\n\\nnow reboot to dos\\ngo t the 111 directory\\ngo to the 98 dir\\ntype in setup /is\\nthe /is switch will ignore the scan on the drive", "You don't have administrative rights to your computer to install softwares and programs. \\nContact your administrator.\\n\\nIf you are the admin, then there is some malware on your computer that has taken over these rights. In that case, you'll have to re-install your OS.", "To clean without losing files, you can go to the AVG website or download.com and download their free antivirus softwares, install and update the virus definition files. When your virus files are updated reboot your pc, and boot up in safe mode, this will prevent programs from in the background, then run your antivirus program, this should work.", "Oh man, great question! I just learned about and installed the crack file for Pacific Fighters last week because I forgot my CD at home and I was faced with three weeks away from home without flying. Anyway, all you need to do is get ahold of the crack file and just install it in the appropriate folder (directory). It was that simple, really. Now I can launch the game without the CD. It's great.\\nYour challenge may be locating the crack file. I posted a request for help in my squad's forum and a squad member emailed the file to me. If it's a game you're talking about try going to the game's web page and post a request in the forum.", "First of all if you can get hold of it you would be better installing Suse 10 which is the latest version, (downloadable and can be got free on disc). whichever version you install what you want to install is ndiswrapper which you will find by going to kmenu (the green icon on the taskbar) then choose system, then Yast2. when you click on yast2 you will be asked for your root password, when you have done that click on software management and a screen will come up select search and type in ndiswrapper which will come up with a box in the right hand of the window, check this and click accept at the bottom. this will bring up a window asking you to insert one of your suse CDs just follow the instructions. Sorry I don't use wireless so I don't know how to configure it, I suspect Suse will do a lot of the work for you,\\n\\nAs for installing softwar on Linux it is a little more difficult but that is why Linux is more stable and secure.\\nIf you go to a download site try and get a RPM file which is specific to your distribution or one that ends with noarch, when you have downloaded it just click on \"install with yast\" and follow the instructions. Or you can go to software management as above and where at the top left of the window it says filter, click the arrow on the button next to it and select \"package groups\" then search through for any programmes you may want to install, again check the box and accept, (you can select as many as you like before accepting)there is about 1500 programmes with Suse 10.\\n\\nYou won't be able to install Microsoft windows programmes directly i.e. programmes with an exe. extension without using a programme like wine or crossover.\\n\\nIf you download a programme as a .tar.bz2 or .tar.gz it's a little more complicated, roughly what you do here is put this file in a separate directory and right click then choose extract then extract here. then you open a shell which is the tv screen icon on the taskbar then you type\\n\\ncd /home/fred/program.0.92.0.tar.bz2 \\n(that is if you extracted the programme to the directory /home/fred/ and the programme is called program.0.92.0.tar.bz2) then press enter the next thing is type \"./configure\" then enter then type \"make\" then enter then you should type \\n\"su\" then enter then type your root password when prompted (no letters will show for your password) then type \"make install\" (dont type the \" marks) if there are no dependency issues the programme will install itself, between each of these steps a load of text will run itself on the screen wait until you get your user name followed by # before the next step. For a lot of info on linux and a good place to get your questions answered register with \\nhttp://www.justlinux.com/forum/register.php?action=signup\\nor\\nhttp://www.suseforums.net/index.php?&&CODE=autologin&fromreg=1\\n\\nMail me if you could do with some more help.", "The applets you describe simply download files to a directory and autoexecute a standard installer. The installer does the rest.\\n\\nFor the ones you've seen that don't have much or any user feedback, either the applet has used a Web form to retrieve the information needed in advance, or the installer just proceeds without user input.", "MSI files are installation files created using microsoft Installers. You need to have Microsoft Installer installed in your computers so that you can run these files. you can download Microsoft installer from here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=889482fc-5f56-4a38-b838-de776fd4138c&DisplayLang=en", "What OS are you using?\\n\\n---x---\\n\\nFOR WINDOWS XP AND PROFESSIONAL DEFAULT SYSTEM (WITHOUT WINZIP OR WINRAR INSTALLED)\\nSelect the files you want to zip.\\nRight click on it, and click on \"Send To\"\\nThen click on \"Compressed ZIP folder\".\\nfollow the instructions on screen on as to \"Where to save the file\"\\nyou are all set.", "There is a product called Undelete that can do this. However, if you don't already have it installed, the space where the deleted files were stored has most likely already been overwritten. The files are almost certainly lost forever.", "He doesn't mean the Novell OS, he means the microsoft novell client already built into windows. You can install it from the properties of your lan connection under \"my network places\" or the network icon in control panel. You are better off using the Novell client though, it can be downloaded from Novell's web site.", "Yahoo messenger which installS online normally have problems or bugs because, when it downloads files from yahoo, either due to connectivity problems or something else, the messenger does not get properly installed.\\n\\nIt is better to have a full-version install, then an online install\\n(i too used online install on my win XP, but i had the same problem, so it is better to have a full-version setup file saved on the comp).", "You can install Mac OS X on IBM-PC compatible machines. Apple has come with a new operation system Mac OS X Tiger which canbe installed on PC with Intel/AMD processor. Visit this link to buy the operating system ... http://www.apple.com/macosx/", "There are basically a few things that can be considered CRUCIAL: the cost, the application requirement, and the performance. I think it boils down to what is the highest priority to you. For my case, the highest is the cost, then the business requirement, then the performance.\\n\\nOnce you get yuor priority sort out, the rest is simple. Do you know what is the best combination (DBMS + Web_server + front_end_tools) in terms of cost/performance? In my humble opinion I would say MySQL + Apache + PHP. Why? See, I can have SQL+Apache+PHP installed in my WinXppro workstation as single-user environment for development. Then I can deploy the app in either Linux or Windows which has the 3 installed. It can be deployed in a client-server, intranet, or internet environment regardless of OSes. The best is, they are free.\\n\\nAnd all the client computers need are a web-browser.\\n\\nFYI, you can obtain ODBC for MySQL if you are to use Access instead of PHP+web_browser as the frontend.\\n\\nHow about OS? I think it's entirely on you. All you need to think about is who's going to install/configure/maintain the system and how much does it cost you short & long terms. As for me, I go for Linux because: \\n1) it's free, and it comes with MySQL, Apache and PHP;\\n2) it's not as hard to install as you would think, and there are tutorials all over the web;\\n3) without spending too much (on Windows+CALs) usually makes my top manager happier;\\n\\nHope this help.", "You may have to put in the Office installation disk to add the converter if it is not already installed. Otherwise, you could save the report as a text file and then reformat everything back on your Word.", "On what OS?\\nWindows: get Daemon Tools (www.daemon-tools.cc) (it's an image file)\\nLinux: (it's a binary installation package), just open a console and write sh /.bin [par] (after sh is the path to the file and [par] rep the parameters that can be added afterwards, depending on the software! (read the instructions)", "You can theoritically boot from 256 operating systems on a single hard drive.\\nI peosonally had 4 OSes running from a single HDD.\\n98,2k,XP,Red Hat Linux.\\n\\nGo ahead and install but remember to always install the older OS first.", "When installing XP, did you change the directory in which it was installed to? If you didn't and it was installed to its default location, then don't worry about it. Multiple installations of XP in the same directory is not a threat. It simply copies the program files over and over but does no harm and takes up no more space on your harddrive than a normal installation. \\n\\nIf you did change the directory that XP installs to, then you should just start fresh over and reformat and do it again --- once!", "hey i got this problem with my LG cd rewriter .my os doesnt show up any CDrom Drives then i checked the windows manager it has a yellow exclamation mark and was written that it is not working properly.I got it fixed by restarting 2 or 3 time but it happened again so i installed the os back.Then i came to know abt the problem was in the registry .So just download any registry fixer and hope tht youll get your problem fixed.Coz when i checked my newly installed os then i saw tthere were 62 registry errors and i corrected them.\\ntill then i have no cdrom probs.BYE" ]

[ "Sarbat Khalsa" ]

[ "the Who", "Who?", "an appointment with a healthcare professional", "The Who by Numbers", "Betty Who", "The Who's Tommy", "who is singing", "Who Dat", "terminate an appointment or employment", "Dr. Who", "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", "one who suffers", "The Guess Who", "Who's Sorry Now", "Who You Are", "one who is accomplished", "Who Is Fancy", "The Man Who Was Thursday", "Who's That Girl", "a person who was not a slave", "she who scrivens", "The Girl Who Died", "The Man Who", "He who pours", "Who You Selling For", "who is and who is not a New Zealand citizen", "Who We Are", "Who I Am", "Who's on First?", "The Man Who Was Peter Pan", "a player who is not a starter", "The Girl Who Could Fly" ]

[ "A key" ]

[ "What's Up?", "What a Friend", "What's Happening!!", "What If Nothing", "What a Life!", "What A Night", "What If It's You", "What Car?", "What If We", "What a Waste", "For What It's Worth" ]

[ "A simple set of rules. 1. Don't knock into each other. 2. Follow the bird in front of you. 3. Keep equidistant of the birds to either side of you. They are simple but can create a spectacle on a large scale due to chaos theory. Each bird can't carry out the rules exactly so the next bird along has to compensate and the mistake grows leading to the flocking we see. Same for on the ground. Each bird is watching the bird around them. If one takes off they all do (not exactly. Sometimes no but in general yes)" ]

[ "There are muscles all the way from your esophagus, stomach and intestines until your anal canal. They make coordinated movements to propel the food bolus, this process is called peristalsis. The sounds origin from the fluids and air that are being moved.", "There are some fixed gps coordinates placed around the world that is used for this. Usually it's a base station for scientists or similar. They then collect data for many years and with that determine the trend of how tectonic plates move. The movement is fairly linear (correct me if this is wrong but that's how my data of Europe looked like during my first year of Uni ) and you can perform linear regression to find the average movement per year.", "Borders tend to be defined either by geographical features such as rivers. Or by exact coordinates. Rivers tend to shift all the time, which can depending on how the borders are legally defined lead to borders shifting or having to be shifted by new treaties to make sense again. Straight line border, which tend to be based on coordinates tend to be newer borders in places that were colonized. In either case the actual borders on land tend to be based on surveys and markers planted. So if a tectonic shift moves the marker a few centimetre it still remains the official border even if its coordinates have changed slightly. This actually happens in Australia which moves based on its GPS coordinates at a fair clip (by geological standards) and which has internal borders mostly following straight lines. The border are unaffected by any movement though.", "It was programmed to do that. If it kept moving it wouldn't be very useful. The mouse's location is saved in memory as a 2D coordinate with (0, 0) in the top left and whatever your screen's resolution is in the bottom right. When you move the mouse it will add the detected movement to that saved coordinate. If it's negative after moving, it will keep it at 0, if it's more than your resolution, it will cap it at your resolution, thus keeping it on screen at all times.", "Canines are pack animals, so the ancestors of domesticated dogs came \"pre-programmed\" with many social traits. As a result, they understand a social hierarchy, interpret the body language of other pack members, have a desire to please the alpha, etc., all of which contribute to being able to learn the expectations of members of its human pack. Cats on the other hand are naturally solitary animals and don't have the same \"pre-programmed\" social traits. They can be taught commands, but they don't have the background instincts that dogs do.", "Particular objects in a character animation, such as the gun in a character's hands, hardly if ever have collision applied to them. The devs likely got that animation with motion capture. If the actor was not wearing a similarly-bulky vest when doing the movements, it won't translate perfectly in the character. All the game recognizes is the animation skeleton of invisible \"bones\" that move; everything else follows that. So yeah. It's possible to do better, but not really worth it to eliminate all clipping. You spend most of the time looking at the back of your character anyway.", "There is SO MUCH STUFF TO SMELL! Dogs experience the world through their nose, and a car ride means (probably) going somewhere new. That's exciting. Also... how often do you leave your dog behind? Dogs are pack animals, and they don't like it when they aren't included in the pack. So when they get to go they feel like they are being included. Since they are with their pack its a good day for them.", "The captcha isn't checking that you clicked the box. But how you clicked the box. What was the path of the mouse cursor movement. What was the delay in movement. What was the speed of the movement. What were the initial and ending coordinates Applying heuristics, it can give a confidence level if it matches any known bot clickers. And your data is compared to all other human and bot clickers to see if you are a bot clicker", "Suppose you have two twins, Eric and Frank. Eric stays on Earth while Frank goes for a ride to alpha centauri and back. There are three obvious coordinate system choices that you can make in order to compare the ages of the twins. *Eric's coordinate system *Frank's coordinate system as he's moving away from the Earth *Frank's coordinate system as he's moving towards the Earth Note that just \"Frank's coordinate system\" is not inertial, ie. the velocity vector defining this coordinate system depends on time. Your standard \"relativistic intuition\" holds only for inertial frames, so let's stick to the three named above. It's not very difficult to do the calculation explicitly in all three possible inertial frames, and you find that in each one of them, Eric ages more than Frank.", "Dogs are pack animals. They need a strong family unit, and therefore like to stay with their pack as much as possible. Any abscence might be forever, so a return, even from the store, is exciting. Cats aren't pack animals. They like having a family, sure, but they don't *need* them in the way dogs do.", "A lot of movement animation is captured live with peoples' actual body movements ([Example](_URL_0_)) and then these are applied to the character's animation when moving in-game. The problem comes because many states/actions can make the player run faster/slower (such as sprinting vs. walking, as well as changing directions in many different angles) and the studio can only capture so many animations to account for that. After that it comes down to using mathematics to calculate where body parts should be, or trying to find the \"most appropriate\" animation for whatever action a player is doing and a lot of the time this isn't perfect, and thus things like running animations are not perfect with the speed that the feet move in, etc.", "No. Dogs, in particular, are pack animals. They are used to living in groups, and having a group hierarchy. When they are kept as pets, their relationships with humans is exactly the same as it is when they live in packs. This is described in detail [here](_URL_0_), where they describe how to ensure that your dog knows that you are the \"pack leader\". They will then obey you, in the same way that they obey the pack leader in the wild.", "You don't wrap your moat with fabric.. The \"bag\" part is important. The grains can easily be moved, but if they're held together, it is a densely packed material that slows water movement quite a bit.", "Cats and Dogs are pack animals. They feel vulnerable and weak when they are getting old and are about to die. They hide in order to make sure they do not attract predators, who will sense their weakness, to the pack ensuring the safety of their family.", "It is most likely mating. Being able to dance shows off how athletic you are, shows how coordinated you are, and lets people see your body and assess your beauty. All of these are factors in choosing a mate, so a good dancer is likely a better mate. Many animals have mating dances.", "A survival skill is the ability to recognize and react to movements of animals (such as people) differently than movements of objects (such as trees blowing in the wind) - you run when it's the former but the latter is just background noise to be ignored. But cars are something relatively new, something that looks like an object and not an animal. It's further complicated because that object can move in ways that no other object they've encountered can move. It goes much MUCH faster, for one, and does it without using legs. Deer do things like run in front of cars because it doesn't look or behave like their instincts tell them a carnivore does, and because they don't really understand and can't rationalize how fast it's moving. They start crossing the weird wide open black smooth field when that shiny rock is still hundreds of feet away and suddenly it's right at their location. \"What the fu-\"BAM.", "Often it's down to many factors - depends on mating rituals/types, how common one sex is compared to another, and how the animals behave - herds, packs, etc", "There is a portion of the brain called the cerebellum. The cerebellum takes motor inputs, sensory inputs, and equilibrium inputs from your body while doing movements. If the movement you did doesn’t exactly match the movement you were going for, the cerebellum adjusts pathways which in turn improve your future movements. Over many cycles of this (what we call practice) with minor improvements and adjustments you go from uncoordinated to highly coordinated.", "No one knows for sure. The most plausible explanation that I've heard is that yawning is the body's way of stretching muscles that otherwise can't be stretched - ears, throat and the muscles surrounding the lymph glands. Contagious yawning may be a survival instinct, in that pack animals yawn to keep alert. So when 1 animal in the pack starts to get tired and yawns to stay alert, all the other animals in the pack do the same. Other possible explanations include : - It cools the brain - It increases oxygen supply when there is too much CO2 in the blood - It is a natural indicator that you need rest, giving you time to find shelter and safety - Nervousness. Paratroopers have been known to yawn in the moments before they exit the plane.", "Part of the function of your tongue is to roll up the food that you are chewing into a ball (called a bolus) that can be easily swallowed in one gulp. So while you chew it is constantly moving and churning the food. This process is not always perfectly coordinated with your jaw movement.", "The answers so far are all mostly correct, but are missing the main underlying reason why this is required. Unlike other animals, most birds cannot move their eyeballs in their skull. Instead their eyes are pointing in a fixed direction. Since they cannot move their eyeballs to stabilize their vision they must stabilize their entire head. Birds also have longer necks than other animals. Longer necks allow for them to compensate for much more of their body's movement since their neck has such a massive range of motion. Most animals (including humans and giraffes) have 7 vertebrae in their necks. Birds have 14. People always talk about how amazing it is that owls can turn their head around backwards, but pretty much all birds can do this. And it is way less impressive once you look at [an owl without any feathers. ](_URL_0_) Their necks are just as long as any others birds, the feathers just trick us into thinking they don't have long necks...", "Temperature has to do with how quickly the particles are moving. So the slowest is zero movement, right? But that gives us no indication of what the top speed is.", "Super subjective question and I’m no dog behavioralist, so this is speculative. Dogs are pack animals, the same as us. Love is a very strong emotion, and one of its primary functions is to bond members of a group together. Although we may experience more nuanced and complex versions of emotions, I believe that they are present in most animals, at least mammals, as drivers of basic instinct. Taking this, and the fact that we are part of a dog’s pack, I’m pretty sure they really do love us (and this ignores the more obvious signs like how excited they are to see us come home, etc.).", "Historically, animation has been drawn one frame at a time. The primary artists might draw out key frames then hand them off to a group of animators who draw the frames in between. These days, you can have a computer interpolate the from and to and generate the frames in between. With 3D animation, you can do it in the same manner with the animator positioning the meshes of moving things for each frame. But it's sometimes more practical to use cameras to follow a real actor making the movements which are then mapped on to the 3D mesh to make it move.", "Energy conservation. Spiders only move when necessary and movement takes up energy which means they need to eat more. Food for spiders is not hugely abundant, they rely mainly on making webs and waiting for food to be caught to eat, so they don't know when they will next eat like other animals do. So they decide to not use their energy until they can move uninterrupted and safely. They are also safer if they don't move as a lot of their predators rely on seeing movement to catch them. Human eyes are very good at seeing contrast in colours, so spiders are really obviously there, but for birds and rodents their vision is worse for contrast but better at seeing movement. Spiders move in the dark, i.e. night time, or when they feel safe", "Your bones aren't actually cracking. It's the sound of pockets of air in your body getting crushed by joint movement. It's sort of like how it makes a sound when you pop those packing bubble sheets.", "Cells in the premotor cortex begin firing, which plans and coordinates the action that you want to do. Signals are sent to the primary motor cortex to the specific area that controls the finger and activates these neurons. These neurons send axons down the brainstem and spinal cord (in the lateral corticospinal tract if you're interested), and these axons synapse with cells in the ventral horn of the spinal cord gray matter. These neurons in the gray matter send axons out of the spinal cord through nerves which synapse on the muscles and cause the movement. If you want to add another layer of complexity, at this point sensory input from your vision, muscle spindles, and golgi tendon organs detect exactly how your finger moved. They relay this information back into the spinal cord and back to the cortex and cerebellum. Here, the brain compares how your finger actually moved with how you wanted it to move, and it makes small adjustments if correction is needed.", "First they draw the 'story board' which has all the dialogue and major movement. Next, they create the models in a program like adobe flash (Disney uses toonboom, and Pixar uses their own modified version of Maya). Finally the animators draw all the movement that happens between the frames. This is why western animation is more expensive and smoother than anime or family's guy. Try pausing spongebob in the middle of a swift movement, he'll have like 6 eyes and 5 arms.", "Most basically put, it all depends on what is called strain rate. All materials have defects within the structure, as you move a material the defect moves as well. When the defect can no longer move, the material breaks. Slow movement of the material allows the defect to move within the structure, quick movement restricts the movement of the defect and causes failure.", "Dogs are social animals that form packs that hunt and fight together, and view you as a pack leader. Cats are solitary hunters that socialize out of convenience, and view you as another solitary animal.", "Aviary expert here. Birds can tell the sensation of creatures moving beneath their feet. Earth is one of the best conduits of movement, so the vibrations of animals such as worms can be felt through their claws and talons, travelling through their legs and into their bones, eventually vibrating into their skulls. This sensation allows them to pinpoint the movement of any animal, so they can then aim their beaks to strike at the exact moment any creature comes closest to the surface. TLDR: Yes birds know what they're doing, it's not down to chance.", "[Chickens, and many other birds, stabilize their heads so that they can keep looking at the same thing.](_URL_0_) Practically all animals have some method of doing this; typically eye movements, head movements, or both, are involved. In humans, gaze fixation (keeping your eye on the ball, so to speak) is often accomplished more through eye movements - hence why you can read text while bobbing your head up and down or side to side. Many birds have limited freedom to move their eyes, so they keep their heads in the same spot to the maximum extent possible. When they're walking around, this looks like head bobbing, because they keep their head fixed in space for as long as they can before rapidly moving it to a new place." ]

[ "CAPE CANAVERAL, Dec. 11 -- After a two-day journey, the space shuttle Discovery reached the international space station Monday for a week-long stay to continue construction on the orbiting lab and rotate out a crew member." ]

[ "Sound sensors let surveillance cameras detect aggressive tones, so police can try to nip brawls in the bud.", "The U.S. Army has leased a blimp from the nation's only airship manufacturer and outfitted it with sensors and cameras to determine how effective the electro-optical and infrared cameras are at detecting potentially threatening movements on the ground.", "Plenty of way to overcome 'minor inconvenience' Blacklists have their place for detecting and identifying malicious content and activity, with the whole signature-based malware detection industry effectively being built around the concept that blacklists are reliable mechanisms.…", "SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Singapore hoteliers Monday reported damages to their resorts in Phuket in Thailand and the Maldives, though the impact appeared relatively minor.", "DHS wants to build a portable lab to set up at events and transit hubs to test ways to detect terrorists using remote sensors and pyschological techniques. Will your thoughts be clean enough to board the train? In 27B Stroke 6.", "Sensors will be used to relay data to medical files.", "Nearly three years after the scandal of clergy sexual abuse of minors exploded nationwide, the lingering impact may lead to an upset in leadership of the Catholic Church in an election today.", "This week marks the 30th anniversary of one of America's great television miniseries, Roots. With minorities running as serious contenders for president and with two African-American coaches in the Super Bowl, the impact of this TV series is probably not fully appreciated today.", "Blog: Nikon was later than Canon to the full-frame sensor party. But it has a good excuse: the large sensors aren't easy to make.", "VANCOUVER - In recent days minor but continuous earthquakes have been detected near Mount St. Helens, which is located near Vancouver, Washington and in about 55 miles from Portland in Oregon.", "Russia, which has just acquired a 5.0-percent stake in the European aerospace consortium EADS, hinted that it might seek a &quot;blocking minority&quot; interest to have an impact on company policy.", "New sensor technology is not limited to tracking mileage.", "Eastman Kodak Company and IBM have banded together to sharpen the vision of image sensors designed for use in digital still cameras and camera phones. The collaboration marries Sony's complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processing with Kodak's existing image sensor technologies in an attempt to sow a new breed of CMOS image sensor (CIS) devices that are capable of matching the image quality of charge-coupled devices (CCDs). Kodak and IBM will work together to develop as well as manufacture the sensors.", "WASHINGTON - The White House's $17.3 billion request for NASA in 2008 demonstrates U.S. President George W. Bush's commitment to replacing the space shuttle by 2014, but might not be enough to offset the impact of a lower-than-expected budget for this year, agency officials said.", "The software, developed by IBM&#39;s new Sensors and Actuators business unit, is designed to help businesses collect and act on data from RFID and other sensor-based technology.", "Enhancing its position as the world's leading supplier of CMOS image sensors, Micron Technology, Inc. (NYSE:MU), today announced the acquisition of Avago Technologies' image sensor business.", "A smart bandage studded with sensors could help people with diabetes maintain good health.", "The Sensor and Actuator Solutions group will create services and software related to RFID systems. By Laurie Sullivan. IBM has created the Sensor and Actuator Solutions group to support devices such as those used in radio-frequency identification setups.", "A TEAM of Swedish detectives has flown to southern Thailand after doctors reported that a boy of 12 from Stockholm had been kidnapped from a public hospital as he recovered from minor injuries caused by the ...", "Science & environment: An armada of robot submarines and marine sensors are to be deployed across the Atlantic", "The new dual-sensor approach helps improve live preview performance.", "Scientists are developing clothing embedded with sensors which they say will be able to monitor your health.", "NEW YORK - Improvements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have led to increased detection of minor brain abnormalities that may worry the patient, but often will never cause any problems, according to study findings reported in The New England Journal of Medicine.", "Better detection and treatment are helping to reduce death from breast cancer in America, but poor, rural and minority women - especially Native Americans - face barriers that keep them from taking advantage of cancer screenings that could potentially", "Toshiba will run the production site used for their joint ventures, while Sony focuses on digicam sensor chips.", "The new color-filter technology gives the image sensor at least double its current sensitivity to light.", "A person's life could one day be recorded by a network of intelligent sensors, according to a scientist.", "Eastman Kodak's new high-sensitivity image sensor translates to less noisy pictures.", "The SEC begins an informal inquiry into the image sensor maker's restatement.", "Kodak files a patent for enhanced image sensor technology that purports to boost camera power.", "FORT MYERS, Fla. -- There are a fleet of television trucks beached at the dead end of Edison Road. First time ever. There's also an electronic sign explaining that there's no place to park near the Red Sox minor league complex. Fans are instructed to drive 2.5 miles back to City of Palms Park and return on shuttle buses.", "Upgraded sensor technologies will mean sharper pictures, even in low-light environments." ]

[ "I like Milton Erickson's practice of physically restricting the movement of his son when he engages in the prohibited behaviour until the child undergoes a change of heart. He describes this somewhere." ]

[ "Of course, it's upsetting. \n\nEspecially when these young girls are all innocent right?\nWrong.\n\nThis is the point.\n\nLet's discuss the range - 3 years to 12 years. Children can be indoctrinated very easily. They are used today in the most horrific ways - slave labor, fighting in wars. It is estimated according to Reuters that 350 million children worldwide are used as soldiers. This is today, yes, 2018. Horrific!\n\nMy point is to illustrate that your assumptions about innocent girls is simply based on your own moral compass. I agree that all things being equal killing small children for fun, is morally reprehensible. Period. I totally agree. Can small children be redeemed - can they repent from their ways. I would venture to say that the answer might be an emphatic no.\n\nIn terms of today, child soldiers could possibly be, sadly, irredeemable.\nA child's experiences, especially in the formative years, affects brain chemistry, and reforming them, might be an altogether impossible task. It is not a simple matter of simply 'converting people'. We're talking dedicated indoctrination of principles that antithetical to moral culture. We see this today in the cycle of hatred of various groups calling for the destruction of Israel and do not recognize the Jewish state. This is inculcated very early on, and children assume this to be the truth, and do not question it.\n\nThis is going on today.\n\nBack to the Torah. The Torah is talking about a spiritual issue that cannot be corrected, and must be eradicated. We don't make these judgments, G-d does. We see very clearly, that the Jewish people were not happy to do this, and had to do be told a second time to carry out the act. We were told to do it by G-d.\n\nIn sefer Hayashar it is brought that the Egyptians buried children in the walls. Moshe Rabbeinu has a complaint directed at Hashem for doing this, and as a result, Hashem allows two to be saved to show Moshe what becomes of these children. They become the leaders of the Eiruv Rav and become extremely wicked people (see Rokeiach Beshalach 14-11). We see from a spiritual perspective G-d saw that these children are not going to be redeemed nor are redeemable. They must be removed from this world. Again, G-d makes these decisions. We don't.\n\nWe see death and being killed by the sword as being negative and destructive. However, we also know that one of the punishments of Beis Din is Saif (death by sword). Punishments meted out by Beis Din are not punishments in the sense of correction. If G-d wanted to, He could have done things differently. The point about the punishments so that we end up in the World to Come. They are there to help us fix the mess we made in this world. Death is a neutralizer of our many failings and sins. \n\nWhile we see that death and destruction, especially of small children is completely at odds with our western sensibilities; nonetheless, if we change our perspective of what is going on here, we understand that things aren't always as they seem, and that we're open to different views and we question our assumptions, we will find that the Torah's understanding is the correct moral approach.", "If there is confusion, it is most likely the confusion of the ideas of \"murder\" and \"killing a person.\" To say that murder = killing a person is oversimplification. While the definition would surely vary between societies, \"murder\" generally is defined as:\n\n\n the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought\n\n\n(source: Merriam-Webster. Note the use of the words \"crime\" and \"unlawfully\", which would have their own definitions that would vary by society.)\n\nIn other words, \"murder\" generally is not entirely synonymous with \"killing a person\" since it involves specific details, such as being unlawful. If capital punishment is lawful, then it would not make sense for it to also be murder, which is unlawful.\n\nThe following argument contains the fallacy of \"affirming the consequent\":\n\nIf there is murder, then a person killed another person.\nA person killed another person.\nTherefore, there was murder.\n\n\nUsing the above definition, it is entirely possible that there is \"killing a person\" without there being \"murder.\" We could teach our children that murder is wrong without teaching them that killing another person is always wrong.\n\nIn fact, practically speaking, societies generally don't teach their children that killing another person is always wrong. Most societies have some form of military, some type of law protecting killing in self-defense, and sometimes a legal distinction between \"killing\" and \"premeditated killing\". So, if we are already teaching our children that some killing is not wrong, such as serving in the military, then what would prevent us from teaching them that capital punishment is another instance in which killing another person is not wrong?\n\nThere could be confusion, but it is a kind of confusion that needs to be explained using the proper definition of \"murder.\" However, to say that capital punishment for murder is a paradox is a false statement (using the generally accepted definitions).\n\nA paradox (of sorts) would be if an opponent of capital punishment said, \"Capital punishment is wrong, and the people who perform it should be executed for their crime.\"", "Mostly just a suggestion and less of an answer, but I would try putting your son into groups of other children to play while you are around. This shouldn't be the daycare because the intention is for you not to be there long term, but somewhere else that is roughly equivalent to that. In this case, you would be able more closely monitor his behavior than what the daycare workers would be able to, and to correct the behavior as it happens.\n\nTwo year olds have a hard time if you are punishing or talking to them about their behavior at a later time as opposed to when it happens.", "Its difficult to understand exactly which type of parenting style and discipline you experienced so please allow me to describe what I was able to find on parenting. \n\nThere are many different styles of parenting. Authoritarian which are strict and rule based. Authoritative which has rules which are followed more responsive to the child's needs and feelings. Permissive which are the \"lets be friends\" type. Uninvolved which providing basic physical care without communicating or in some cases becoming neglectful. \n\nEach of these parenting styles tend to follow specific punishment outlines. \n\nAuthoritarian parents tend to spank and say things like \"Because I'm your parent. Because it is my house.\" rather than caring for the emotional needs of the child. Modern psychology never endorses spanking as healthy. Spanking teaches children to be aggressive. Possibly even associating such traits with love if a parent showed affection in association with spanking as is frequently practiced.\n\nAuthoritative parents provide guidelines for children to live by which are punished by a logical system of positive and negative punishment. A logical system of punishment is one where it follows from your behaviour that such actions could be eliminated and or added. The punishment fits the crime. For instance sass off toward the authority figure with a cell phone can lead to the loss of the cell phone. This would be a negative punishment where privileges are removed. A positive consequence for not doing laundry might be a fee for the laundry done that day. It adds the burden of a payment to the child. Sometimes bad behaviour can cause you frustration and its never appropriate to discipline a child while angry. Time outs are also an important healthy way to punish children. This is punishment by boredom so its important that the pre-established place be safe and uninteresting. In my experience a chair in the corner is more effective than the bed in the bedroom. Token economy a clear and consistent reward for behavior also works well. I never have experienced a situation where allowing a child to learn from their mistake by allowing \"natural consequences\" has worked well. Its labor intensive. Most parents simply use \"natural consequences\" as an excuse to by proxy harm/abuse, disengage or nag rather than prop up. \n\nPsychology also doesn't endorse the passive parent who never disciplines their child either or the extreme of the passive the uninvolved which abandons their child. \n\nThe follow up to discipline is just as important as the discipline itself.\n\nLike I said earlier with the information you gave its not possible to tell how healthy your punishments were. Its really not my place to judge your “Karmic Punishment”. From the descriptions I gave I think you can make up your mind.", "First, don't punish him! I highly doubt he is intentionally deciding not to use the restrooms because he just feels like being naughty, these are accidents that he is unable to avoid. I'm sure the embarrassment of them is more then enough punishment to make him want to stop them, further punishment will not help. Worse, punishing him for accidents he can't control sends a bad message, causing him to feel guilty or bad about things outside of his control. It may also cause punishments for other behaviors to be less effective, if he starts thinking of punishments being because of things outside of his control and thus not something he can avoid.\n\nIf the accidents are actually only happening at daycare then I would try to determine what is different about his daycare. Have you talked to him about this? Does he have trouble going to the bathroom, is he afraid to go etc? Does he know he needs to go to the bathroom, or not realize until after his accident occurs?\n\nThe most common cause I've seen for accidents like this during the day time has been distraction. The child is so busy that he does not realize his own needs until the accident occurs, a problem I have seen at much older ages. However, the reason I see that so often is because I worked a bit with special needs children and kids with ADHD, and ADD/ADHD children are far more prone to hyperfocus which can cause them to miss their other needs. I'm not sure how this is to be a problem with non ADD children.\n\nThough, again, if it's really only at his daycare it may be an issue with the daycare. Shyness and being afraid to ask to use the restroom has already been mentioned, likewise a shyness or fear to use the restroom at the daycare could theoretically be an issue as well. The important thing is to talk with your son and figure out what he is feeling and what he is thinking when he feels the need to use the restroom.\n\nFinally, the easiest short term solution is to set up a schedule, as already mentioned. Pick a few times during the day and have him always use the restroom then, before nap time, after snacks etc. Work with his teacher to have her remind him of these restroom times, and encourage him to try even if he doesn't need to. Eventually he will learn to simply use the restroom at these times during the day without further prompting from the teacher. The key thing is to pick times that are easy for him to remember and learn, so he can eventually learn when he should go without prompting from the day care, as it sounds as if they are either frustrated with prompting him or occasionally forgetting leading to accidents.", "There is a very interesting study concentrating on the experiences of the children of incarcerated parents (as opposed to adults providing the information.) The interviews were done with children ranging in age from 8-17. Parental offenses included (in descending order) drug charges, theft, homicide, probation violation, and a mixture of other (DWI, etc.). While 73% of caretakers stated that the children were aware of the offense committed, 43% stated they didn't know, and another 38% answered vaguely: &quot;[they] did bad things&quot; or &quot;they hurt someone&quot;.\nThough the article is long and covers many aspects of the feelings and beliefs of kids with an incarcerated parent, one line sticks out:\n\nIn the absence of information, children will often turn to their imaginations.\n\nThe problem with this is that kids can imagine some pretty awful (and untrue) things.\nDo kids understand the nature of breaking the law?\n\nThroughout most of the interviews, the issue of fairness around the parent being in prison surfaced. Many, though not all, of the children indicated that their [parent] committed some type of a crime and as a consequence had to go to prison while simultaneously sharing that they missed and loved their parent and did not want them in prison.\n&quot;Yeah, because he broke the law... I love him, but it's fair.&quot;\n\nSome kids thought it was unfair, but based this on the fact that the punishment deprived them of their parent.\n\nIt was evident that many of the children... were starting to recognize that there should be consequences for illegal behavior, yet those consequences negatively affected them by denying them access to the parents they loved.\n\nThe 8 year olds had quite a lot to say indicating an understanding of crime and punishment, but not much understanding of jail conditions.\nWhile I will not address each and every point of your question, I hope this provides you with a better understanding of the depth of understanding kids have. So I'll just leave you with a final question: is it better for the child to know what the crime was, or to leave it to their imagination?\nChildren of incarcerated parents: Challenges and resiliency, in their own words May be behind a paywall.", "Diana Baumrind, a psychologist known for her work on parenting research, identified different categories of parenting styles.\nThe restrictive approach you describe sounds very much like her &quot;authoritarian&quot; style of parenting. From the wikipedia article (note that I find the article to be rather biased in tone, and it cites a number of claims based upon speculative correlation, so I am only including specific edited clips):\n\nAuthoritarian parenting, also called strict parenting, is characterized by high expectations of conformity and compliance to parental rules and directions, while allowing little open dialogue between parent and child. Authoritarian parenting is a restrictive, punitive parenting style in which parents make their children to follow their directions and to respect their work and effort. ...\n...Children resulting from this type of parenting may have less social competence because the parent generally tells the child what to do instead of allowing the child to choose by him or herself.\n\nThe other extreme, which you describe as granting freedom to the child, sounds like Baumrind's &quot;Indulgent parenting&quot; style:\n\nIndulgent parenting, also called permissive, nondirective or lenient, is characterized as having few behavioral expectations for the child. &quot;Indulgent parenting is a style of parenting in which parents are very involved with their children but place few demands or controls on them.&quot; Parents are nurturing and accepting, and are very responsive to the child's needs and wishes.\n...in the better cases they are emotionally secure, independent and are willing to learn and accept defeat. They mature quickly and are able to live life without the help of someone else.\n\nThere is, however, a middle ground between the two extremes. Baumrind referred to this as &quot;Authoritative parenting&quot; (emphasis mine):\n\nAuthoritative parenting, also called 'assertive democratic' or 'balanced' parenting, is characterized by a child-centered approach that holds high expectations of maturity. Authoritative parents can understand how their children are feeling and teach them how to regulate feelings. They often help their children to find appropriate outlets to solve problems. Authoritative parents encourage children to be independent but still places controls and limits on their actions. Extensive verbal give-and-take is not refused, and parents try to be warm and nurturant toward the child. Authoritative parents are not usually as controlling as authoritarian parents, allowing the child to explore more freely, thus having them make their own decisions based upon their own reasoning. Often, authoritative parents produce children who are more independent and self-reliant. An authoritative parenting style mainly results when there is high parental responsiveness and high parental demands.\nAuthoritative parents will set clear standards for their children, monitor the limits that they set, and also allow children to develop autonomy. They also expect mature, independent, and age-appropriate behavior of children. Punishments for misbehavior are measured and consistent, not arbitrary or violent. Authoritative parents set limits and demand maturity, but when punishing a child, the parent will explain his or her motive for their punishment. They are attentive to their children’s needs and concerns, and will typically forgive and teach instead of punishing if a child falls short. This is supposed to result in children having a higher self esteem and independence because of the give-take nature of the authoritative parenting style.", "No, and it is arguably prohibited by the Constitution. First, it specifies quite clearly what the punishment for impeachment can include.\n\nJudgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to\nremoval from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office\nof honor, Trust or Profit under the United States; but the Party\nconvicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment,\nTrial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.\n\nThis all clearly applies only to the person convicted.\nAs noted in the comments, Congress does not generally have the power to impose punishments, except when the Constitution says otherwise:\n\nNo Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed.\n\nA law punishing anyone other than the impeached official could be considered as an unconstitutional Bill of Attainder.\nSecond, although not directly applicable to impeachment, there is another clause that would likely be taken into account in any dispute:\n\nThe Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason,\nbut no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or\nforfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.\n\nCorruption of blood is the punishment of the heirs of someone for their actions, preventing them from inheriting titles or estates. While this does not have direct bearing on impeachment, if Congress tried to impose a penalty on the children or relatives of an impeached official in defiance of the previous clause, the judiciary would probably consider this clause to offer some insight into the constitutional position of such an action.\nAs a side note, you have mentioned some of the advantages of corruption of blood, but consider also the disadvantages: a person is barred completely from certain occupations because of the crimes that another person committed, which could include young children who never knew their family or adults who have no contact with them.", "First, those are some really harsh punishments. Punishment rarely works, and now that you've seen for yourself that it doesn't with your kids, please stop.\nI don't know if there's a good English term, but you've reached what pedagogues in Sweden call the method ceiling, we're your current methods are no longer working. At this point we usually escalate our methods, like you've now escalated punishments in desperation to rather extreme levels. For those who employ corporal punishment, this is where they feel compelled to escalate the violence because they don't achieve obedience. When you have one tool and it's no longer working, it's easy to default to just applying it with greater force. This is silly. You never want to do more of what's not working. Do less of what isn't working. You need to find yourself a new set of tools.\nSecond, children don't generally learn from their mistakes. Learning from mistakes is how we fine tune our skills, but children are more often in the process of acquiring skills. We learn from the instances where our expectations are not met; where we are surprised by an outcome. As adults, succeeding is the norm for us in many tasks, so mistakes are notable and informative. We can compare them to what normally works to see what went wrong. To a child, not succeeding is often the norm, and another failure doesn't carry meaning to them. If the infant trying to take their first steps would learn from their mistakes they'd learn that they couldn't walk, and stop trying. But they're in skill acquisition mode. They don't expect to succeed. They keep on practicing. Children learn from their successes. If we want to help them learn, we must first help them succeed.\nThe switch to when they start learning from their mistakes varies from child to child and from task to task. But learning to plan ahead and avoid distractions and perform unmotivational tasks to a fixed schedule is hard. And the punishments are so harsh they'll overshadow anything they might have learned. If you want them to learn from their mistakes (which, again, they may not be ready to) you want the failure to be the bad outcome. &quot;We procrastinated so now we missed the deadline&quot;. I don't think they'll even notice the missed deadline, because they'll only be able to think of the punishment. If anything, they'll learn that they are growing up in an environment where there are draconian punishments associated with failure, which is out of their control, and develop coping strategies for that. I really think you're setting them up for failure.\nThird, rewards are something you typically might employ when trying to get over a threshold. Something that, once acquired, the child won't regress on. Exceptional things. If rewards are a part of daily life, it is more like any salaried job. With that comes inevitably that, a) the child will make an economical judgment on whether or not the goal is worth achieving, rather than being motivated to the goal in itself; b) there will be an inflation (just like you might expect an occasional salary increase for continuing to do the same job); and c) that you'll have to keep this up: we often have an idea that once the desired behaviour is reached, we can phase out the reward, but again, imagine if your boss tried that on you.\nAnd for all the effort I could put down arguing, my point is something you've already noticed: your tools aren't working for you. You, the adult, can learn from your mistakes, and stop relying on rewards and punishments if it isn't working.\nInstead, you want to foster cooperation. Assume they're doing their best. If they can't focus on a boring task, or abstain from a distraction, then work on helping them, rather than punishing them for their shortcomings.\nIf they fail, assume you've set the bar too high. Claim ownership of the problem. If you think they are the problem, then you've rendered yourself powerless. You can only hope they'll change. If instead you choose to see that you have a role in setting them up for success, then you can work towards that as much as you want.", "Actually, the father (and mother) do carry the Mitzvos; they get rewarded for their children's good deeds. Not only before but after their children's bar/Bat Mitzva as well.\n\nAnd that is the reason for orphans saying Kaddish; every Mitzva they do is credited to their parents. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch recommends that a person's will should include the request for his kids to \"shine\" in a specific Mitzva, so that he can be credited for years of that Mitzva being done.\n\nFor that matter, if you're responsible for any person doing a Mitzva then you get some reward for that Mitzva.\n\nOn the flip side, if you're responsible for any person doing a sin then you get some punishment for that sin. If so, why the \"Baruch Shepatrani Meonshin shel zeh\"? Because until Bar Mitzva, a father gets punished for not educating his children; after bar Mitzva it becomes the child's responsibility to educate himself, and he can no longer blame his sins on the deficient education his parents gave him.", "You started way too early and he wasn't ready yet (maybe). So, what can be done to improve this? Here's what I would suggest:\n\n\nTry to continue with a 30 min schedule, gradually increasing the time\nup to an hour.\nDon't go back to diapers.\nUse underwear. Yep, they will get messy, be prepared and don't\npunish.\n\n\nThis isn't the definitive answer by any means and I'm not a doctor. So please, keep your appointment and talk to the doctor about the frequent urination. Maybe there is a medical problem. And maybe you will need to go back to using diapers in the interim.\n\nBut if you want to push the potty training....\n\nGoing back to using diapers will cause confusion for the child.\n\nThe scheduling has to be frequent due to the nature of children going whenever they need to go, nobody can pee at a certain time, right? As you increase the time between sitting on the potty, the child will learn to hold it longer.\n\nAnd don't punish. It might be frustrating and exhausting, but don't take it out on the child.", "As said earlier in the comments you are confusing things neither would an unmarried Muslim woman get half of the punishment of a married one. As there's no half death punishment, actually this is the argument some quranists put in to &quot;prove&quot; that the punishment by stoning to death doesn't exist and has no backup in the qur'an. As the only quoted punishment is that of 100 lashes.\nSecondly slavery is something which clearly plays a role in shar'ia, is quoted in the qur'an and fills chapters of books of fiqh about specific rulings for slaves. Therefore one could have a Muslim slave (explanation see later), but this doesn't mean that one could make a Muslim a slave as this is haram.\nVerse 4:25 first speaks about marriage for a (Muslim) man who cannot afford marrying a free woman and is no more able to wait until he has the means for such a marriage. It explains to him that marrying a believing (female) slave (of another man) is allowed. It actually uses the wording:\n\nbelieving women\n\nIbn Kathir here says:\n\n(They may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands possess,) meaning, they are allowed to wed believing slave girls owned by the believers.\n\nThis actually means that it is allowed for him to marry a salve of another man. But this slave must be counted among the believing ummahs: a Muslim, and maybe a Christian or Jew in first place, all these have revelation about tawheed and are known as people of the book.\nSome scholars therefore even say that a concubine of a man can only be from among those.\nHowever a large majority of scholars say that the words &quot;believing women&quot; excludes Jews and Christians according to imam al-Qurtobti and al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiya even excludes the permission for marrying them.\nThis is because a man should chose a good wife (and mother for his children) and a believing woman is better than one from among the people of the book and a free and faithful one is certainly better than a slave girl that another man owns (as if both would have offspring the children would be slaves of the slave girl owner which is rather disliked).\nThe verse also makes clear that for marrying a slave girl the agreement of the slave owner is necessary and that they will receive the mahr (not their owners):\n\nSo marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation according to what is acceptable.\n\nSuch a marriage is permissible, but certainly disliked therefore the conditions for it are clearly mentioned. Because it would be much better to marry a free woman than a slave or freeing a slave and marrying her. Scholars say if a man doesn't have the means for marrying a free Muslim lady and could afford marrying either a faithful slave girl of another man or a woman from among people of the Book the later would be the better choice.\nNote that making a Muslim a slave is haram, but a slave could convert to Islam in Muslim a household or a Muslim could be enslaved by non-Muslims however this case I would exclude for further discussions here. As I doubt that this actually would go along with the meaning of this verse.\nBut the verse further also shows the punishment for this married slave girl (or woman) in case she commits zina then only half the punishment of a free non-married Muslim girl (woman) would apply saying:\n\n... if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women.\n\nWhile the agreed upon punishment for a free non-married Muslim woman is explained in surat an-Nur:\n\nThe [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allah , if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment. (24:2)\n\nSo therefore she would receive fifty lashes instead of hundred.\nThe sunnah even ordered punishment for non married slave girls:\n\nO people, impose the prescribed punishment upon your slaves, those who are married and those not married, for a slave-woman belonging to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had committed adultery, and he committed me to flog her. But she had recently given birth to a child and I was afraid that if I flogged her I might kill her. So I mentioned that to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and he said: You have done well. (Sahih Muslim).\n\nIn Fiqh slavery is treated somehow like a financial contract. Therefore if two slaves have offspring this could be benifcal for the slave owner. While if he is the father of the children his concubine would have certain advantages compared to other slaves, as once he'd die she would be free and the child would be his child. But the case discussed in the verse would create a conflict between the parties which is the reason why these kinds of marriages are disliked. Slaves basically don't have the right to deny or reject their owners orders or wishes, but they could have contracts with him or others.\nI've pointed at this in my answer on sex slaves. From this perspective the punishment and its severity makes also sense, as a slave has certain limitations in his/her practice and freedom he/she shouldn't get the same punishment as a free person and of course the interest of the owner must be taken into account a dead slave is rather a unuseful one as hard as it might sound for us today.", "It seems to me that you and your partner's attitude towards each others' kids is actually fostering discord here. If you really want to become one family, treat everyone like they are part of one family, not two families who happen to live together.\n\nWhat I mean by this is that when you refuse to punish your partner's kids (and vise-versa), is that you are actively driving the kids to not like each other. Anyone who has ever had kids has heard the cries of \"it's not FAIR!!\". By punishing your own kids and not your partner's, you are passively saying to your child \"you can't do that, but so-and-so can get away with it.\" And that breeds resentment among the children.\n\nIt also makes it harder for the other children to learn to like and respect you. Children crave direction and love (even if they won't admit it). When you are totally permissive, you don't show that you care what they do or what happens to them. You show that you don't care. And that doesn't help to bring a family together.\n\nFirst, you and your partner need to get on the same page. You need to come up with house rules for everyone. Make sure you are both willing to back each other up in enforcing these rules no matter who breaks them. You don't want to get into a situation where the kids pull the \"you're not my mom, you can't tell me what to do\" card. What you say should have just as much force as if your partner said it, because he should be backing you up. This is especially important in blended families because kids already try to play one parent against another in traditional families. They will exploit that even more if you give them the ammo to do it. Don't let them.\n\nOnce you two are united and ready, bring in the children to talk about what is going on. Hear their concerns and try to accommodate where possible. This might involve some discussion all together and some one on one time. Make sure they each know that both of you love them.", "I don't know any specific idioms related to \"правило доброго ременя\".\n\nI suppose it's really a piece of lyrics intended to create some vague associations in the mind.\n\nРемінь (belt) was formerly used as a tool for corporal (physical) punishment or, at least, as a method of intimidation of children. Although (I hope) it's no more used for physical punishment in reality (I suppose, even families practicing physical punishment nowadays use lighter tools), it's still perceived as an allegory of punishment and kept in phrases like \"дати ремня\".\n\nSo, I suppose, author here is creating some contrast to \"правило доброго тону\" (maybe something similar to the carrot-and-stick method or something related to \"you can get much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone\", or maybe they had some other thoughts).", "This is a great question.\n\nShort answer: No, the evidence does not suggest that positive reinforcement is universally more effective than negative reinforcement or punishment. However, there are still good reasons to focus on rewards over punishment in real-life training/learning situations.\n\nLong answer:\n\nThe trouble for folk psychology began with Skinner's somewhat unfortunate choice of terminology... While Skinner advocated positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement or punishment, it seems to have remained an industry secret that what he meant by those terms is not what the general public thinks he meant.\n\nThe modern view of positive and negative reinforcement is that they are essentially synonyms. They are different ways of looking at the same thing, like describing a glass of water based on how full or how empty it is. Computationally, as you say, learning algorithms that assign positive values to targets or negative values to non-targets are mathematically equivalent.\n\nAlthough they are often confused with positive and negative reinforcement, rewards and aversives are different terms with different meanings. Testing whether one is more effective than the other is tricky, as in practice they are usually qualitatively different. For example, is ice cream or spanking more effective for getting your kid to do their homework? The answer is: It depends - how much ice cream, how much spanking...? Surely we can find a ratio of ice cream to spanking at which they are equally effective. The type of research that examines this question is interested in determining where that boundary is (here is an example). Thought experiment: How can qualitatively different feedback mechanisms be applied in machine learning?\n\nResearch more likely to answer your question compares positive and negative feedback that is arguably qualitatively equivalent. For example, compare gaining money to avoiding loss of money, reducing risk to avoiding increase in risk, and it's even possible to compare the effects on animals that are trained in a token economy. In recent years, the folk psychology idea that positive feedback is universally superior to negative feedback has been called into question by such research. A few examples:\n\n\nMichael Perone reviews research demonstrating undesirable effects of positive reinforcement.\nComparing \"well done!\" to \"got it wrong this time\", Eveline Crone et al found that before the age of twelve, children perform better with positive feedback, but older children and adults do better with negative feedback.\nA study comparing \"keep the word Good on the screen\" to \"keep the word Bad off the screen\" found that negative reinforcement may be more effective for some types of learning.\nAyelet Fishbach and Stacey Finkelstein review research that suggests that negative feedback is more effective for experts, and motivates goal pursuit when it signals insufficient progress.\nLots of research into Loss Aversion suggests that avoiding the loss of money is a more powerful motivator than gaining an equivalent amount of money. However, this phenomenon may not translate to an effect on learning.\nDespite all this, note that the evidence in favour of positive reinforcement is much greater - these are just some notable exceptions.\n\n\nNeurological reasons for the difference in effectiveness between positive and negative feedback have been proposed - for example by Eveline Crone in the study cited above.\n\nTraining using rewards is preferred for animal trainers, parents, and teachers in most practical situations:\n\n\nThere is usually a much wider range of undesirable behaviour to punish than desirable behaviour to reward. Animals and young children have difficulty determining what the desirable behaviour is with only clues about what behaviours are undesirable. Adults are easier to work with because you can explain the desirable behaviour in words.\nPunishment must be applied to all undesirable behaviour to be effective, while reward need only be applied to desirable behaviour, and even then only intermittently, to be effective.\nDue to classical conditioning, subjects may attribute punishment to factors unrelated to their behaviour, such as the trainer or the classroom. They may learn to avoid the trainer, or avoid getting caught, rather than the desirable behaviour.\nNotice how none of these points apply to machine learning, where the process is structured, constrained, and automated.\n\n\nJohn Maag summarizes reasons to promote positive reinforcement in schools: Namely that teachers often find it convenient and effective (in the short-term) to administer punishment and are overly reliant on it in many situations where positive reinforcement would be more effective and desirable.\n\nNice video on the topic.", "As someone with mild Asperger's, I think I can shed some insight onto this situation. Let's look at what happened, as well as giving some ways to prevent this type of behavior in the future.\n\nThe Event\n\nAs a 7-year-old, your child should already have a basic sense of right and wrong - don't hit others, be nice to their parents and teacher, etc. Where the line blurs for some young children is the concept of ownership. While this is a naturally learned boundary for the vast majority of children, Asperger's causes most of those \"natural\" boundaries to be formed differently.\n\nSo what does this mean? As we often assume normal development in most children, it's likely that the \"normal\" boundaries were never especially reinforced for your child. Concepts like ownership boundaries are complex, but Asperger's artificially tries to \"simplify\" it. That is, your child created their own boundary that \"makes sense\" to them. Phrases like: I need/want this object, therefore a classmate wouldn't mind if I took it or Sally wouldn't mind if I took her pen because I don't mind if someone took my pen are all possible configurations.\n\nMind-Blindness\n\nThis was a concept I was introduced to in order to better explain the how and why of Asperger's. Basically, mind-blindness is the core of Asperger's. Take a look at this situation, for example:\n\nSally has a choice to hide a ball under one of three objects: a box, a chair, and a table. She chooses the box and leaves. Not long after, Adam enters the room. Where does he look for the ball first?\n\nWhen tested on questions like this one, children with Asperger's would almost always answer \"the box\". Why? Because Sally put the ball under the box, of course! Mind-blindness is the inability to think of \"the other side\" of things, such as in terms like Billy should know where the ball is because I know where the ball is.\n\nIn your case, your child made an incorrect conclusion - assuming that taking something that wasn't theirs was okay - with other people's feelings that, to them, made perfect sense. \n\nLearning From Mistakes\n\nSeven years old is still very young. Your child is learning a lot at this age, possibly in more ways than one. This incident can shed some insight into how your child thinks. They can also re-learn certain concepts from teachers and their parents, such as boundaries of ownership. If you haven't already, I highly recommend getting Tony Attwood's The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. or his guide for parents. Both of these books summarize classic symptoms and gives parents insight on how to solve problems with their child.\n\nThis incident is a prime opportunity to better understand what your child is thinking, and how you can plan ahead for the future. Keep in mind that this works both ways - you and your child both benefit from understanding one another.\n\nPunishments\n\nAs with any child, it is very important to reinforce concepts of right and wrong. @anongoodnurse explains it best - the child should be told that what he did was wrong, and reinforce that if it happens again.\n\nTo add to this, though, it is vital that you properly explain why you're punishing them. Sitting down and having a discussion is important for children with Asperger's, as it gives them an opportunity to talk and explain themselves. From there, you can demonstrate the \"correct\" behavior for the future.", "You are correct in noting that in Calvinism one's ultimate eschatological end is the result of either God electing one to glory or one to destruction.\nHowever, because Calvinist care about what Scripture teaches, they also hold to the belief that their are varying degrees of punishment (and supposedly varying degrees of glory) rendered individually to each man.\nHere are a few obvious passages which strongly suggest gradations of punishment in hell.\n\n[God] will render to every man according to his works. (Romans 2:6)\n[This is the conclusion of one of Jesus' parables.] The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:47-48)\n\nOne popular Calvinist outlet, Ligonier Ministries, defends this belief with no qualms.\n\nThere will be degrees of punishment during the day of wrath. One “trivial” sin makes us guilty of the whole law and liable to eternal torment (James 2:10). Yet some acts are worse than others and deserve harsher punishment (Num. 35:9–29). As bad as Sodom was, her sentence will be lighter on Judgment Day than Bethsaida’s because Sodom never saw Jesus (Matt. 11:20–24). The sinner who never hears of Christ will go to hell, yet his pain will be less intense than those who hear the Gospel each Sunday and refuse to repent.\n\nSo then, does the Bible say that, because God is just, both of them will have the same punishment tormented in the lake of fire eternally? The answer is no from a cursory reading of the Bible, and the answer is also no from a normal Calvinistic reading of the Bible.\nThough your question seemed to imply that you're wondering what justice means to a Calvinist. I would suggest clarifying exactly what it is that you are asking. For self study on this subject, look into forensic justification and double imputation. Those who fail to have Christ' righteousness imputed to them are left with Adam's sin and their own personal sins left imputed to their own accounts. You ultimately get what's imputed to you, and the more grievous the sin that's imputed to you, the more judgement you receive.\nSource: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/degrees-punishment/", "I am a parent of four. My oldest has moved to college where she continues to thrive. My second is the most strong willed person you will ever meet, and yet has turned into a delightful 18 year old that is loved by his teachers and being recruited by every one of the top 25 universities in the US. My other two are 14 and 12 year old girls who are also respectful, also doing well with peers and also doing great at school.\nI do believe in punishment. The bottom line is that the world, when they go out into it, will give negative consequences for undesirable behavior (as defined by the culture). My job as a parent is to train them, from early on, to know that negative behaviors bring negative consequences. Yes, the negative consequences and discipline that you bring will not be there when they grow up, but by then the patterns of behavior will be set. Perhaps an example...\nWhen my son was in seventh grade, I got a progress report from school that he had missed five assignments in one class. Five big fat zeros. I disciplined him, gently but firmly. He has very rarely missed any assignments since then. He no longer thinks about why, he just has it ingrained in him that if a teacher gives him homework, he has to do it. This has become part of a pattern of diligence in his life that has and will continue to serve him well, long after he forgets what drove him to do all his assignments the rest of that seventh grade.\nPerhaps the right word is not punishment, but discipline. Punishment seems to carry the meaning that the intention is just the negative consequence - pain, loss of privileges, etc. And if that is the end of it, then it is pointless and counterproductive. The real key is to connect the punishment as a negative consequence of an undesirable action, and to show what the desirable outcome should be.\nAlso, children should be far more motivated to want to obey rather than just being motivated to fear disobedience. My kids know that I love them and think the world of them. Not a day goes by that I do not tell them that I love them and look for ways to communicate that love to them. Also not a day goes by that I do not try to communicate to them how freaking awesome I think they are. I have a very strong sense that they are so addicted to my constant affection and approval, that my slightest look of disapproval at something they have done just grates on them, and is all that is necessary 99% of the time.\nI do not mean to promote manipulation of children. I do not tell them I love them or that they are the best thing since sliced bread because I want them to behave. I tell them so because it is the truth. But I see that it also has an effect on discipline, and I realize that discipline without encouragement and affection and love will only lead to rebellion.\nThat is the real thing that will cause them to forget your discipline the minute they are out from under it. If they only fear your punishment - if they obey only because they are afraid to disobey - the minute they are out from under your authority, or the minute they think they are old enough and strong enough to get away with it, they will rebel. Think about it - who wants to live in fear and who would not rebel against it if they can? This, in my view, is the real cause of teen-age rebellion. But if they constantly taste your approval and affection and encouragement, they will want to please you and make you even more proud of them. And that will last through their teen-age years and into adulthood.\nI have seen little tiny glimmers of teen age rebellion in one of my kids. She is 14 years old and the passive-aggressive type. But all I have to do is point it out: \"Jill [changed name], was that a disrespectful tone in how you answered me just now?\" And I can see this sense of regret come over her as she says \"no, daddy, I'm sorry!\" And I see the immediate and total change of tone. My 18 year old son, the most strong willed person I know, about three months back told me that I was his best friend, and yet when I ask him to do something, he almost always replies \"yes sir.\"\nThis forum is too small to describe the totality of it, but discipline will include correction and instruction and punishment, and affection and love and encouragement. It is a total package, skimp on any part and the results will be less than best.", "Having worked in a nursery for several years, I can say that it is very common for parents to have their child or children come \"full-time\"- that is 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes from as young as 3 months. Mostly, this was not the parents' ideal plan, but bills need to be paid, so sometimes circumstances must dictate. \n\nIn my experience, what tends to happen is that the child will soon adjust to the new routine, and learn to enjoy it. They may even start nagging in the morning to be taken to nursery, because they know it is part of their routine. It's easy to forget, but nurseries are places designed to entertain, educate and stimulate children. Plus, they learn social interaction skills with other children, that are difficult to replicate at home. \n\nSo, in my opinion, there certainly is no risk of \"damaging\" the child psychologically. Speaking now, as a parent, I would say that the bigger psychological effect is on the parent, who feels they are not spending as much time with their child as they would like. What you (we) must remember is that we are not abandonning our child- we are putting them in a safe and caring environment, so we can go out and earn to money to give them a good life.\n\nI should add that I have observed the phenomenon of children \"playing up\" for their parents after a long day at nursery. This is probably a mixture of tiredness, and (some suggest) \"punishing\" their parents for leaving them at nursery all day. Not all children do this, and I don't think it is fair to read too much into it.\n\nLastly, I want to say that the children who found nursery most traumatic were the ones who only came \"occasionally\". I distinctly remember one little boy (aged 3) who came on average only one afternoon a month. For almost a year, that afternoon was spent in tears. Whereas the children who came regularly settled very quickly and enjoyed it.", "To continue along Ray's lines (see his answer)...\n\nDoes Hashem punish us to correct evil behavior,\nor did He build the world so that sin causes punishment as a natural consequence?\n\nOne answer\n is quite clearly stated in parashas Nitzavim. “Hatzur tamim\npa’alo… The Archetype, His work is perfect, for all of His ways are just; a reliable G-d\nwith no flaw, He is trustworthy and without iniquity. Is corruption His? No – His\nchildren’s is the blemish, a crooked and perverse generation.” (Devarim 32:5) This quote is similar. Any tribulations in our lives are not His corruption, but ours.\n\nSimilarly, Yirmiyahu Hanavi writes, “From the ‘Mouth’ of the One Above, come\nneither the evil nor the good.” (Eikhah 3:38)\n Yirmiyahu is not implying that what happens to us is by\nchance. “Chai gever al chata’av – a man lives on his sins.” (Ibid v. 39)\n The suffering of the sinner is\nnot attributed to Hashem, because it is a natural consequence of the sin. Rashi6\n explains \nthe prophet by invoking R. Yochanan’s comments on a pasuq we read the prior week, in\nKi Savo, “I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; choose life\nso that you shall live!” (Devarim 30:19) In the same way, Bildad says to Iyov, “Since your children sinned to\nHim, He relegated them to the control of their iniquity.” (Iyov 8:4)\n And Rashi there explains that\n“sin inquity was made a messenger to destroy them.” (However, it is possible to say that\nBildad, a character in a dialog with whom we are not all that sympathetic, is necessarily\ncorrect.) Choosing between good and evil is not choosing between whether Hashem will\nreciprocate with life or death. By choosing between good and evil, you are choosing to\nbring upon yourself one or the other.\n\nAlong these lines, the Ikkarim describes gehennom a natural consequence of one’s\nactions. He writes that the “fires” of gehennom” are those of shame. (Seifer haIqarim 4:33)\n Rabbeinu Yonah (Shaarei Teshuvah 4:1)\ncompares a sinful soul to a sick person. Just as a sick person suffers from his illness, the\nsinner suffers from his sins.\n From his perspective, mitzvah is a commandment more in\nthe sense of “Doctor’s orders” than of “military orders”.\n\nR. Chaim Vilozhiner (Derekh haChaim 1:21) derives a similar idea of gehenom as consequence of sin\nfrom a gemara in Eiruvin. “The wicked deepen gehennom for themselves.” (Eiruvin 19a)\n What you\nget in the World to Come is the consequence of the mitzvos you do. R. Chaim takes this\none step further to also make the full sequence sin to changes in the soul to reward and\npunishment in general. Each sin, he writes, causes a flaw in your soul. In true Divine\nMercy, the punishment is both the natural consequence of this flaw and a key tool for\nhealing it.\n\nThe Ramchal too (Derekh Hashem 1:4:5) writes, “Sin detracts from one’s perfection.”\n Rav Eliyahu E.\nDessler (Michtav meiEliyahu, vol I, pp 114-114) explains the expression “aveirah goreres aveirah – one sin is followed by\n[another] sin” by saying that after repeatedly doing a given sin, it becomes part of one’s\nnature; so that no conscious decision is required next time the situation arises.\n\nIt is equally valid to argue that Hashem rewards or punishes in response to the person's action. Rather than setting up a causal system. It's just a matter of perspective. Since Hashem is outside of the flow of time, the difference between saying He set something up during creation or performs acts during the course of the timeline is a matter of which angle of looking at things is more useful for a given question. The reality, as with most theological question, is beyond human comprehension. We just have approximating models. At times, those models will contradict.\n\n(All of the above is taken from my High Holiday Reader for people who would otherwise be bored in synagogue.)", "Jesus' remarks were that those who would receive his teachings would be like little children. Also see the Beatitudes, which provides more detail about the simple childlike faith (my words) of those that would receive him (meek, pure in heart, peacemakers, etc.).\n\nThe Kingdom of God belongs to those who can accept Christ in the same way a little child simply believes an elder. \n\nOn the topic of original sin, Protestant teachings (although there are obviously exceptions) from approximately Martin Luther onward are along the lines that Christ's blood atones for children until the age at which they are capable of making a conscious decision to accept or reject His Grace. This is commonly referred to as the Age of Accountability. The doctrine of Age of Accountability is that there comes a point in your life when you must make a choice for which you will be judged (see Romans 14:12); the actual point in a child's life at which one becomes capable of decision making is not specified in scripture, and in my opinion would differ for each individual. Prior to this age, Christ's blood atones for \"original sin\" having paid the price \"once for all\" (Hebrews 10:10).\n\nRomans 14:12 -\nSo then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.\n\n\n\nRoman Catholic teachings, on the other hand, states that those who die without first being baptized remain under original sin, and therefore descend to hell (or Limbo, in some interpretations).\n\nCouncil of Lyons II: “…The souls of those who die in mortal sin or with original sin only, however, immediately descend to hell, to be punished with different punishments…-- (Denzinger 464) \n\nCouncil of Florence: “…Moreover, the souls of those who depart in actual mortal sin or in original sin only, descend immediately into hell but to undergo punishments of different kinds.— (Denzinger 693)\n\nPope John XXII: “It (The Roman Church) teaches… that the souls… of those who die in mortal sin, or with only original sin descend immediately into hell; however, to be punished with different penalties and in different places.” (Denzinger 493(a).\n\n\"It has been decided likewise that if anyone says that for this reason the Lord said: \"In my father's house there are many mansions\"(JN14:2): that it might be understood that in the kingdom of heaven there will be some middle place or some place anywhere where the blessed infants live who departed from this life without baptism, without which they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, which is eternal life, let him be anathema. For when the lord says :\"Unless a man be born of water and the Holy Ghost, he shall not enter into the kingdom of God\"(Jn3:5), what Catholic will doubt that he will be partner of the devil who has not deserved to be a co-heir of Christ? For he who lacks the right part will without doubt run into the left\" (Denzinger 102 fn.2; 30th edition)\n\nNote that current Roman Catholic church doctrine makes allowance for the possibility of cleansing from original sin for unbaptized children. Source.\n\nIn the documents of the magisterium in the Middle Ages, the mention of “different punishments” for those who die in actual mortal sin or with original sin only (“As for the souls of those who die in mortal sin or with original sin only, they go down immediately to hell, to be punished, however, with different punishments\")[66] must be interpreted according to the common teaching of the time. Historically, these affirmations have certainly been applied to unbaptised infants, with the conclusion that these infants suffer punishment for original sin. It must be observed however that, in a general way, the focus of these Church pronouncements was not on the lack of salvation for unbaptised infants, but on the immediacy of the particular judgment after death and the assignment of souls to heaven or hell. These magisterial statements do not oblige us to think that these infants necessarily die with original sin, so that there would be no way of salvation for them.", "Yes, chanting holy names generates good karma. This can be seen from the fact that people in past and even today use to name their children with some God names (e.g., Krishna, Shankar, Shiv, Vishnu, Mahesh, etc), such that when they call them by their names, they remember God as well. People in some parts of India while meeting other people often say 'Ram-Ram' and the other person also says the same in return. Some people chants prayers while taking bath, before or after meals. These all are small examples where people try to remember God while doing various worldly activities.\n\nNow, if we want proof of chanting holy names turning good then one such example is there in Bhagwata Purana, Canto 6. There is a story of a brahmin called Ajāmila. Ajāmila was born in a Brahmin family and a learned Brahmin but later after being in the company of a prostitute does all bad throughout his life. He took this prostitute into his home as a maidservant. Inevitably, he became so entangled that he abandoned his family, wife and children and went off with the prostitute. Due to his illicit connection with the prostitute, he lost all his good qualities. He became a thief, a liar, a drunkard, even a murderer. He completely forgot about his original training as a Brahmin, and his whole life was ruined. While on his death bed fearing of death, he called his favourite son's name 'Nārāyaṇa' which is also a name for Lord Vishnu. When Yamdutas come and were trying to take him away to punish him to hell, immediately Vishnudūtas also came and saved him from Yamadūtas saying that since Ajāmila has chanted the name 'Nārāyaṇa' while on death bed, therefore Yamadūtas cannot take him away. Ajāmila was hence saved and spend his rest of the life in penance of Lord Vishnu. This is explained in following extract from Wikipedia article :\n\n\n It is explained that while he was dying, which is a very fearful time, he began to call out to his pet child, whose name was Narayana. Narayana is another name of God or Krishna. At that time, the Yamadutas, the messengers of death, were coming. They were tying up the subtle body of Ajāmila and preparing to take him to be punished by Yamaraja, the lord of death. At the same time, because he happened to be speaking the holy name of the Lord Narayana, the beautiful Visnudutas, the messengers of Krishna, also arrived there. They checked the activities of the Yamadutas, refusing to allow them to take Ajamila for punishment. The Yamadutas were bewildered. \"Why are these effulgent and beautiful personalities checking our action? It's our duty to take sinful men to Yamaraja for punishment; then they are awarded another material body for the next life so that they can get the result of their sinful activity.\" There was a discussion between the Yamadutas and the Visnudutas. The conclusion was that although Ajamila was sinful throughout his life and gave up his religious life, his wife and children and begot children through a prostitute, he nevertheless was purified from all these sins because at the last moment he chanted the holy name of Krishna, Narayana. If this single act of the utterance of a four-syllable word Narayana can make such a difference to life after death, what larger worlds of fullness and majesty he may not conquer by really leading a noble life of Dharma in the memory of the Lord? -- so thought Ajamila. And that very moment he renounced everything to which he was attached, went to Benaras and engaged himself in austerities and meditation and in due time reached the abode of the Lord.\n\n\nSo, the conclusion is that if chanting the holy names unintentionally can generate good karmas then chanting intentionally and with devotion can certainly do much better.", "There was a study carried out by Professor Joan Durrant, University of Ontario, looking at the Swedish smacking ban called A Generation Without Smacking [PDF], first published in 1999.\n\nThe key findings:\n\n\nDecline in public support for corporal punishment\nDecline in smacking/slapping children as a form of punishment\nNo deaths of children as a result of physical abuse during the 80's and only 4 in the 90's.\nReports of assaults against children have increased (that is, people are more willing to report assaults)\nProportion of suspects prosecuted who are in their 20's (during the period studied) declined since 1984\nMajority of reports of assaults are primarily petty or common offences, hence children at risk are being identified before serious injury can occur.\nProportion of assaults that are legally pursued without trial has remained steady, while actual prosecutions have steadily declined, so parents have not been drawn into the criminal system for minor assaults.\nThere has been no increase in children being taken from their parents through intervention by social services. In fact, the trend has been the opposite. There has also been a decrease in compulsory measures of social work intervention.\nOverall rates of youth crime have remained steady.\nProportion of individuals convicted for theft has decreased for young offenders.\nProportion of suspects in the same age group involved in narcotics crimes has decreased, as has drug and alcohol intake, and suicide rates.\nAlleged perpetrators of assaults against children aged 15 to 19 show a declining trend.\n\n\nThe study does have its critics, who claim that the ban has had a negative impact on children and society.\n\nFor example, \"Sweden’s Smacking Ban: More Harm Than Good\" by Robert E. Larzelere, Associate Professor of Psychology at University of Nebraska Medical Centre claimed that the sources cited by Durrant came to the opposite conclusions drawn by her.\n\nSome select quotes from the document:\n\n\n\"Attitudes and practices about corporal punishment have changed very little since 1979\"\n\"The best indicators of physical child abuse showed a 489% increase in physical child abuse cases classified as criminal assaults in Sweden from 1981-1994.\"\n\"The best evidence suggests that perpetration of criminal assaults against 7-14 year-olds is increasing most rapidly in age groups raised after the law against smacking was passed.\"\n\"Most of the evidence suggests that the large increase in assaults by minors and in physical child abuse is not entirely explained by changes in reporting mechanisms.\"\n\n\nDurrant has responded to these accusations, attempting to refute each claim. See: http://www.childrenareunbeatable.org.uk/the-case-for-reform/experience-of-countries.html\n\nIn 2005 Durrant produced a 40-page booklet specifically refuting every one of Larzelere’s claims. She points out that reporting of child abuse rose but not abuse itself, in that there was no increase in reports of aggravated (i.e. more serious) assaults and that a study by the Swedish National Crime Prevention Council concluded the increase seen in reporting did not reflect a true increase in violence against children; that his claim about the numbers of children removed from home is based on a serious misreading of 1982 care figures, which in any event declined by 20% over the next decade and that reports of child on child assaults can be shown to have risen at the point when zero tolerance for school bullying was introduced, rising and falling in correlation with school terms and holidays. She also challenged his objectivity on this issue in general. Larzelere then posted a response to her refutation, but Durrant said she was tired of repeating herself and would not engage with him again.\n\nA PDF of a rebuttal from Durrant (it's unclear if it's the same as the one cited above) is available. To quote from the executive summary:\n\nLarzelere suggests that his analysis of the Swedish situation is objective. However: \n\nhis position on corporal punishment is influenced by interpretations of Biblical scripture, a \nposition that could compromise his objectivity, \nhis critique reveals a lack of knowledge of Sweden and law reform in that country, \nhis conclusions are based on extremely limited sources of data, misuse of the data he does have, and non-validated assumptions about the Swedish system. \n\n\n\nThere is also an official Swedish government study looking at the ban called Never Violence: Thirty Years On From Sweden's Abolition of Corporal Punishment [PDF], which has a section entitled \"What has been the result?\" which covers quite a lot of similar ground as Durrant's work.", "From what you say, particularly about her knowing that it's \"bad\" behaviour, it sounds as though it's an attention-seeking behaviour. As noted on that page, the key to correcting attention-seeking behaviour is very similar to correcting attention-seeking behaviour in children, and involves essentially three steps:\n\n\nIgnore the behaviour you don’t want\nProvide other outlets for the cat’s energy and attention\nGive attention to the cat when she’s quiet or acting appropriately", "It's hard to say without knowing the data.\n\nOften times the classes are imbalanced. This could cause your problems.\nSo let's say that the \"features are right\" for 5% of your data and they belong to class $A$. You would expect the 5% to be classified correctly as $A$ almost all the time. But what about the remaining 95% in class $B$? The classifier learns that it would be often correct if the sample is classified as $B$. This leads to a low classification rate for class $A$.\n\nYou can tackle this by setting different miss-classification costs for the classes. Often you multiply the error rate by these costs to scale them accordingly. Some classifiers let you set this during training.\n\nThe standard case would be as follows:\n\n$$C = \\left( \\begin{matrix}\n0 &amp; 1 \\\\\n1 &amp; 0 \\\\\n\\end{matrix} \\right)$$\n\nMeaning that correct classification (diagonal) is not punished and miss-classifying $A$ as $B$ and vice versa is punished in the same way. However, this assumes uniformly distributed classes. To account for the case explained above, you may set it the following way:\n\n$$C = \\left( \\begin{matrix}\n0 &amp; 0.05 \\\\\n0.95 &amp; 0 \\\\\n\\end{matrix} \\right)$$\n\nHere i set it as the inverse of the class distribution. However, you may try different settings.", "Your sentence\n\n\n Kinder haben Vorteile beim Zweitspracherwerb von Erwachsenen. \n\n\nis correct, but I'm not sure if the meaning that it transports is what you wanted to say. This sentence means:\n\n\n Children are learning a second language from adults (»von jemandem« = »from somebody«), and they are having advantages during this learning.\n\n\nLet's look at the other possibility you mentioned:\n\n\n Kinder haben Vorteile beim Zweitspracherwerb auf Erwachsenen. \n\n\nThis again is a correct sentence, but it's meaning is a little bit wired. It says:\n\n\n Children are standing, laying or sitting on adults (»auf jemandem« = »to be located on top of somebody«), and those kids have advantages when learning a second language.\n\n\nI think, what you want to say is this:\n\n\n Children who are learning a second language can do this more easy than adults, so in this discipline kids have an advantage over adults.\n\n\nThis is what this sentence says:\n\n\n Kinder haben Vorteile beim Zweitspracherwerb gegenüber Erwachsenen.\n\n\nIn this constellation »gegenüber jemandem« means »opposed to somebody« or »in contrast to somebody«.\n\nNow the sentence is very good and fully acceptable. But if you want, you can modify word order:\n\n\n Kinder haben beim Zweitspracherwerb Vorteile gegenüber Erwachsenen.\n or\n Kinder haben gegenüber Erwachsenen Vorteile beim Zweitspracherwerb. \n\n\nTo me both versions sound a little bit better that the first one. There are lots of other possibilities to arrange the words, and each of them can be the best choice depending on the context. But without knowing the context, I would say your choice is within the top 3 out of more than 10 possibilities.", "A קָו is a measuring tool used by builders when planning to build or destroy a building (the meaning of the word as \"line\" is correct in later Hebrew, but not in the Bible). What Rashi is saying is that the measuring stick is used in this verse as a metaphor for judgment that leads to punishment. The same metaphor is used in 2 Kings 21:13. A more familiar metaphor with the same connotation is the symbolism of scales as judgment (e.g. Daniel 5:27).\n\nThe imagery of the verse is a builder (God) who uses a measuring stick (judgment) and decides to destroy the walls of the city (the destruction of Jerusalem).", "1.Killing members of the group;\n1-1.5 million Armenians were killed. This isn't denied; the Turks just say that it was due to their acts in the war, not a concentrated effort.\n\n2.Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;\nThis was present throughout the forced relocations in which much of the killing took place.\n\n3.Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;\nThe stated goal of the relocation was to push the Armenians out of the Ottoman Empire, via forced deportation, killing, and rape, which was systematic in nature.\n\n4.Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;\nIn addition to the previous criterion's answer, the men were separated from the women and children early in the relocations. Men also accounted for the majority of the dead.\n\n5.Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. \nAdditionally, women and children were sold into slavery and forced marriages.\n\nThese were all done deliberately, as attested via eyewitness accounts in \"The Armenian Genocide: an interpretation\" \n\nI believe that leaves only the post factum argument.\n\n\n Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights\n provides that no person be held guilty of any criminal law that did\n not exist at the time of offence nor suffer any penalty heavier than\n what existed at the time of offence. It does however permit\n application of either domestic or international law.\n \n Very similar provisions are found in Article 15, paragraph 1 of the\n International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, replacing the\n term \"penal offence\" with \"criminal offence\". It also adds that if a\n lighter penalty is provided for after the offence occurs, that lighter\n penalty shall apply retroactively. Paragraph 2 adds a provision that\n paragraph 1 does not prevent trying and punishing for an act that was\n criminal according to the general principles of law recognized by the\n community of nations. Specifically addressing the use of the death\n penalty, article 6, paragraph 2 provides in relevant part that a death\n sentence may only be imposed \"...for the most serious crimes in\n accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the\n crime....\"\n\n\nSo, by international law, it is what is currently known as a genocide but cannot be punished as such, because there was no law for the crime itself at the time and as a European nation, Turkey is subject to the above because:\n\n\n Effectively all European states (except Belarus), including all\n European Union and European Economic Area states, are bound by the\n European Convention on Human Rights. Article 7 of the convention\n mirrors the language of both paragraphs of Article 15 of the\n International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, with the\n exception that it does not include that a subsequent lighter penalty\n must apply.\n\n\nSo... yes and no.", "A few additional thoughts to @monsto's answer:\n\nRoughly till the age of 7 (+-3), children live in a magical world, which is very different from how we adults experience (or seem to experience) things. Their world is shaped by their own thoughts, desires, images much more than by some solid \"objective\", \"external\" reality. Very often, they are confabulating this world and its events, rather than describing as we would expect. Just recently, during the holiday season, my younger daughter told us that she saw an elf peering through the window, and they both hailed each other. Was she making up a story? Yes. Was she lying? Absolutely not.\n\nOK, you might say, this is a cute little story. Let's see another one. Jim notices that someone took money from his coat pocket, and they find out it was his elder son Joe (8). They actually find the missing money in Joe's bag. When asked \"did you take Dad's money?\", Joe says no. Is he lying? By adult categories, yes. However, by child categories, it is a very different story. Joe recently got a little sister, Sarah. Naturally, a lot of attention and energy in the family is now shifted from him to Sarah, which is very frustrating to him. Stealing is a (misguided) attempt to get more attention and care from his dad. When confronted with the question, he wishes he had never done it, and expresses this wish by saying \"no\".\n\nBottom line is, it is often too easy and tempting to apply adult terms and categories to what children do and say, and act out of these classifications. However, children aren't little adults. Without actually understanding (or rather, feeling into) their situation and motives, it is dangerous to judge (much less to punish) them. Moreover, since the pace of personal development is extremely varied between individual children, 3 children of the same biological age can be on very different cognitive / emotional / social levels.", "Walakum assalam,\nYou are correct that it is prohibited to hit the face as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, as narrated by Abu Hurayrah:\n\n“When any one of you fights, let him avoid (striking) the face.”\n(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 5/215)\n\nNow as far as your question, well this would be considered a sin, with no specific punishment mentioned. And usually when we say punishment, this just means a way too expiate the sin in this world rather than in the next. And this can only be done in an Islamic country after a trial.\nAllah knows best.", "To keep this very simple:\nCorporal punishment, by definition (in the US), is not abuse. Corporal punishment is the intentional infliction of physical punishment that may cause pain or discomfort, but not injury or impairment, upon an individual.\nPhysical or mental child abuse, on the other hand, inflicts injury, impairment, or lasting harm upon a child.\nI think most US states will use these definitions, or something similar, in their laws. I wouldn't be surprised if the same is true in other countries.\nSo, then, really, corporal punishment is never child abuse. The two are mutually exclusive. As soon as corporal punishment becomes violent and harmful it is no longer corporal punishment at all. However, child abuse may happen under the guise of corporal punishment. Welts and bruises themselves aren't necessarily child abuse, depending on the local laws. In Iowa, for instance, the Department of Human Services court ruled in Hildreth v. Dept. of Human Services:\n\nThe definition of physical injury contained in Iowa Administrative Code rule 441-175.1 is expressed in terms of a necessary healing process of bodily tissue so as to be restored to a sound and healthy condition. Implicit in the definition of &quot;physical injury&quot; is a requirement that an external force has initially placed the bodily tissue in an unsound or unhealthy condition. Consequently, we cannot accept the conclusion in the agency handbook that any reddening of the skin lasting for twenty-four hours is a physical injury per se. We believe, rather, that welts, bruises, or similar markings are not physical injuries per se but may be and frequently are evidence from which the existence of a physical injury can be found.\n\nThis ruling was not to say that such injuries aren't abuse, but that sometimes such injuries can happen accidentally when using corporal punishment. For instance, underestimating the amount of force applied when delivering the punishment. The court essentially ruled that such markings must be intentional, or reasonably be expected based on the punishment:\n\nThe definition of &quot;nonaccidental physical injury&quot; is, by agency rule, as follows:\nAn injury which was a natural and probable result of a caretaker's actions which the caretaker could have reasonably foreseen, or which a reasonable person could have foreseen in similar circumstances, or which resulted from an act administered for the specific purpose of causing an injury.\n\nSo, we see that parental intent is a measure of abuse. If bruises were caused once from a spanking, then that parent is now reasonably aware that another spanking or paddling of the same force will cause bruises again. This, in Iowa, would likely be construed as abuse if investigated.\nAnother interesting qualifier of abuse comes up in Iowa law:\n 2. \"Child abuse\" or \"abuse\" means:\n a. Any nonaccidental physical injury, or injury which is at\n variance with the history given of it, suffered by a child as the\n result of the acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care\n of the child. \nWhat I would point out here is &quot;injury which is at with the history given of it&quot;. This seems to indicate that hiding the nature of the injury is relevant to the qualification as abuse. Thus, refusing to reveal the injuries, or covering them up, may be used as evidence against a guardian in claim of child abuse.\n\nThe studies to which I have access to also seem to indicate that corporal punishment is one of the biggest precursors to physical child abuse. Many of these studies and articles have been publish in Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal.\nWhen corporal punishment is used by the parent, it may escalate to child abuse by definition, but not necessarily in the eyes of the parents.\nOne of the articles in the the aforementioned journal also saw a correlation between a parent's belief in the value of corporal punishment and a rise in the potential for child abuse (Crouch &amp; Behl, 2001).\n\nResults: Level of parenting stress was positively associated with physical child abuse potential. As expected, the interaction of parenting stress and belief in the value of corporal punishment was significant. Level of parenting stress was positively associated with physical child abuse potential among parents who reported high levels of belief in the value of corporal punishment. In contrast, level of parenting stress was not associated with physical child abuse potential among parents who reported low belief in the value of corporal punishment.\n\nHowever, this was a very small study (31 qualified participants).\nRegardless, the line between corporal punishment and abuse will likely need to be evaluated by professionals, and most laws likely reflect as much. Simple observations of borderline punishments are not sufficient to determine abuse. Evaluations of the children, the parents, and the home are often necessary. Physical examinations, psychological evaluations, and forensic interviews are some the tools used to make this determination. Experts on these matters are able to make connections that untrained observers can not, or dismiss perceived connections that don't objectively exist.\n\nCrouch, Julie L., and Leah E. Behl. &quot;Relationships among Parental Beliefs in Corporal Punishment, Reported Stress, and Physical Child Abuse Potential.&quot; Child Abuse &amp; Neglect: The International Journal 25.3 (2001): 413-19. Relationships among Parental Beliefs in Corporal Punishment, Reported Stress, and Physical Child Abuse Potential. Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, 1 Mar. 2001. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.", "I wish you ponder the same about eternal paradise.\n\nWhy are we on planet earth?\n\nCan't Allah just send you directly to Paradise or hellfire? Does he need to test your deeds first?\n\nYour existence in this life is a testimony for YOU, and an established proof against YOU, not Allah.\nAcceptance or rejection of Allah, is to be of full consciousness, so you live to see. \n\n\n This, Our record, speaks about you in truth. Indeed, We were having\n transcribed whatever you used to do. 45-29\n\n\nAnd this would suggest that you are even given a chance to discuss and dispute for what you have done! \n\n\n On the Day when every soul will come disputing for itself, and every\n soul will be fully compensated for what it did, and they will not be\n wronged. 16-111\n\n\nWhat about suffering and sorrow we witness?\n\nAllah is the source of every goodness\n\n\n And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allah . Then when\n adversity touches you, to Him you cry for help. 16-53\n\n\nAmazingly Allah tells you about the source of pain you may find in this life as well..\n\n\n What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of\n evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad],\n to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness. 4-79\n\n\nSo, suffering we witness is related to disobedience of Allah!\nNow, I will ask you something: If a man killed 3 people, how many times, at most can you kill him ? apparently even if you punish him with death, still there are the rights of the families and children of his victims.. and many more things that are a result of his action.. so if Allah is just , and He is, He has definitely to punish that person.\n\nTrusting the Allah, the Al Just, is what you need to do. even despite the fact He can just punish, He is allowing people to dispute, even though their deeds are recorded, do you think He might be oppressing them? \n\nAgain:\n\n\n On the Day when every soul will come disputing for itself, and every\n soul will be fully compensated for what it did, and they will not be\n wronged. 16-111\n\n\nAll would be paid in full, and none will be wronged.\n\n\n And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no\n soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the\n weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are\n We as accountant. 21-47\n\n\nAllah's Mercy is everywhere, but corruption and disbelief is what causes this sadness. Trust Allah, as He is the Al merciful, the Al Just." ]

[ "New temporary visa class to have tougher requirements, prime minister says\nThe government will abolish the 457 temporary visa class, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced today.\n457 visas have been widely used by the technology sector, with some groups such as the IT Professionals Association (ITPA) claiming that they have been abused by employers.\n“We’re abolishing 457 visas – the visas the bring temporary foreign workers into our country,” Turnbull said in a video posted on Facebook.\n“We will no longer allow 457 visas to be passports to jobs that could and should go to Australians.”\nThe 457 visa will replaced by a new temporary visa class, Turnbull said.\n“The new visa will better target genuine skills shortages, including in regional Australia,” the PM said. “It will include new requirements, including previous work experience, better English language proficiency and labour market testing.”\nThe government will also establish a new training fund, Turnbull added.\nAddressing a press conference this afternoon Turnbull and immigration minister Peter Dutton said that the existing four-year 457 visa class will be replaced with two new temporary visas.\nA new medium-term visa will have a four-year term and cover a relatively narrow list of occupations. The four-year visa will require a “higher standard of English” and “in almost all cases” mandatory market testing, Turnbull said.\nThere will be capacity for visa renewal onshore and a permanent residence pathway after three years under the medium-term stream, the government said.\nAnother visa stream will have a two-year duration and cover a broader list of occupations, though the PM said that the occupations covered by the visa will be substantially reduced compared to the list of 200+ currently eligible for 457 visas.\nAt the end of the two years, there will be the possibility of lodging an onshore application for a two-year extension; after four years, however, the visa holder would have to leave and their employer reapply.\nThe immigration department said the the occupation list for skilled migration visas, including 457 visas, will be significantly reduced from 19 April.\nBoth visa categories will require at least two years’ relevant work experience. There will be a minimum market salary rate (currently $53,900).\nThere are some 95,000 457 visa holders in Australia, according to the government. There will be a grandfathering arrangement for existing 457 visas.\nFigures from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection reveal that as of 30 September, during the 2016-17 financial year Australia’s information media and telecommunications sector has lodged 2000 457 visa applications, up 4.8 per cent on the same point in 2015-16.\nThe information media and telecommunications sector accounted for 14.4 per cent of all primary 457 visa applications in the period covering applications through to 30 September.\n‘Developer programmer” was the second most popular occupation for 457 visa applications in the period covered by the immigration department’s report. ICT business analyst was fifth most popular; software engineer came in at number seven and analyst programmer at number 13." ]

[ "Former PM tells Alan Jones that he will continue to make public contributions as he sees fit and says he didn’t enter public life to be a ‘Trappist monk’\nTony Abbott has defied calls to quit parliament, declaring he has “an absolute right, and sometimes, a duty” to speak out on national and local issues.\nThe former prime minister used an interview with his friend and media booster, Alan Jones, on Sky News, on Tuesday night, to say he would continue to make public contributions as he saw fit, and Abbott slapped down Malcolm Turnbull for suggesting he was intent, with his incursions, on driving down the Coalition’s performance in the Newspoll.\nAbbott said the idea there was “some sinister Machiavellian plot” to influence Newspoll results was completely wrong.\nWarren Entsch pleads with Tony Abbott to shut up Read more\nThe former Liberal prime minister told Jones he was not interested in stoking another bout of “political cannibalism” by taking on Turnbull for the party leadership, a trend he argued had been corrosive in Australian politics, but he said he would continue to “say my piece.”\nAbbott said he had not entered public life to be “a Trappist monk.”\nThe former prime minister said the Coalition needed to guard against a drift of votes to the right, and he said the government did not want to lose votes “to parties on the right who are more about grievance than solutions.”\nHe said the government had to acknowledge that the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, could win the next election, and the Coalition needed to give “people something to hope for and our base something to fight for.”\nAbbott said one galvanising issue would be removing all subsidies for wind turbines.\nTony Abbott launches new attack on Turnbull – but says PM shouldn't be replaced Read more\nThe latest incursion follows a public plea by the veteran Liberal MP Warren Entsch for Abbott to shut up or quit parliament – and it follows a significant effort by Turnbull on Tuesday to appeal to disaffected conservative voters by turning public attention to the themes of economic nationalism and foreign workers.\nTurnbull announced on Tuesday the government will replace skilled 457 visas with two new visa streams, which would work to give priority to “Australian jobs.”\nThe populist move was welcomed by the One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, and the Liberal defector Cory Bernardi.\nPauline Hanson (@PaulineHansonOz) The Government will deny their tough talk on immigration & plan to ban 457 visas is because of One Nation but we all know the truth! #auspol\nCory Bernardi (@corybernardi) Pleased to see changes to work visa system but wouldn't be happening without @AuConservatives reminding gov what it should be doing. #Auspol\nTurnbull in late February publicly blamed Abbott for the Coalition’s poor showing in Newspoll, saying the former prime minister knew exactly what he was doing with his “outburst” last week, while the poll was in the field.\nThe prime minister was referring to a highly provocative speech Abbott delivered at a book launch earlier in the month, where he unveiled a sweeping conservative manifesto for the next federal election, declaring the Coalition needed to cut immigration, slash the renewable energy target, abolish the Human Rights Commission and gut the capacity of the Senate to be a roadblock to the government’s agenda.\nThe Abbott speech contained a number of pointed potshots at Turnbull, and the former prime minister warned the government would not win the next election unless it won back the conservative base.\nTurnbull told reporters in late February an opinion poll was a snapshot of public opinion at a particular point in time, and “what we saw was an outburst [from Abbott] on Thursday, and it had its desired impact on the Newspoll – it was exactly as predicted and calculated”.\nAsked whether Abbott was responsible for the poor poll, which suggested Labor had opened a ten point lead over the government, Turnbull said “[Abbott] knew exactly what he was doing and he did it”.\nThe former prime minister told Jones on Tuesday night he had accepted the invitation to speak at the book launch the previous November, so the outing had no relationship to the fact the opinion survey was in the field.\nHe stood by his conservative manifesto during the interview with Jones, and he didn’t demur when the voluble broadcaster described conservative critics of Abbott’s, such as the finance minister Mathias Cormann, as “bedwetters.”", "India's second biggest outsourcer Infosys in a filing with US Securities And Exchange Commission highlighted key to profitability from possible changes in visa laws in its major markets. \"Changes in immigration laws in our key markets that would restrict offshore outsourcing or restrict the availability of certain visas thereby limiting our ability to staff the projects in a timely manner and generate revenues. Further, any increase in visa costs or increase in salaries payable to visa dependent employees onsite would increase our cost of doing business onsite significantly impacting our profitability,\" Infosys said in the filing. In the US, the Trump administration has ordered a review of its H-1B visa system.Besides changes in immigration laws in key markets, Infosys said \"profitability could be affected by pricing pressures on our services, volatility of the exchange rates between the Indian rupee, the US dollar, and other currencies in which we generate revenues or incur expenses, increased wage pressures in India and at other locations where we maintain operations, increases in taxes or the expiration of tax benefits, the size and timing of facilities expansion and the resulting depreciation and amortization costs...\"Infosys recently announced plans to open technology hubs in the US and increase local hiring within the country. This could \"increase our cost of doing business onsite and thereby have an adverse impact on our profit margins\", it said.The outsourcer also said that it has recently increased and expects to increase hiring in other jurisdictions, including the UK, Continental Europe and Australia. \"This increase has been driven, in part, by recent indications that the visa regulations in these countries could undergo significant changes. Such hiring could result in overall increased wage costs thereby impacting profitability,\" the outsourcer said.Infosys also highlighted risks to profitability from increase in minimum wages for certain work permit holders. \"In certain jurisdictions in which we operate, legislations have been proposed that requires our non-resident employees working in such jurisdictions to earn the same wages as residents or citizens of such jurisdiction which we have complied with. In case such legislative proposals are adopted by other jurisdictions our operating costs will go up,\" the Indian outsourcer said.Citing an example, Infosys said \"the minimum wages for certain work permit holders in the United Kingdom have increased recently, and there could potentially be similar measures introduced in the United States, thereby increasing the cost of conducting business in that jurisdiction\".Infosys also referred to the increased political spotlight on outsourcing, by saying: \"The issue of domestic companies outsourcing services to organizations operating in other countries is a topic of political discussion in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia and other regions in which we have clients. Some countries and special interest groups have expressed concerns about a perceived association between offshore outsourcing and the loss of jobs in the domestic economy.\"\"This has resulted in increased political and media attention, especially in the United States, where the subject of outsourcing and immigration reform has become a notable topic and where the administration has already issued or is contemplating issuing executive orders related to key immigration regulations. It is possible that there could be significant changes in the existing laws that would restrict offshore outsourcing or impose new standards that have the effect of restricting the use of certain visas in the foreign outsourcing context,\"\"For instance, there could be taxes on companies that offshore work outside United States, restrictions on the number of H-1B visas issued, an increase in the minimum wages of visa dependent employees as was implemented in the UK, or an increase in visa fees. Such measures would adversely impact our ability to do business in the jurisdictions in which we operate, and impact our onsite costs and profitability,\" Infosys added.Infosys also referred to the Australian government's proposal to replace the 457 visa program, the most commonly used temporary work visa process in that country, with a more restrictive visa program. \"The 457 visa program will be completely phased out by March 2018. The Permanent Employer Sponsored Skilled Migration Program will also be restricted as part of this initiative,\" it said.In the filing, the outsourcer also referred to moves in some European countries which could hit outsourcing: \"The European Union (EU) member states have adopted the Acquired Rights Directive, while some European countries outside of the EU have enacted similar legislation. The Acquired Rights Directive and certain local laws in European countries that implement the Acquired Rights Directive, such as the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employees) Regulations, or TUPE, in the United Kingdom, allow employees who are dismissed as a result of 'service provision changes', which may include outsourcing to non-EU companies, to seek compensation either from the company from which they were dismissed or from the company to which the work was transferred.\"\"This could deter EU companies from outsourcing work to us and could also result in us being held liable for redundancy payments to such workers. Any such event could adversely affect our revenues and operating profitability.\"Singapore also found a mention in the report. \"Many countries have introduced new immigration related laws, wherein companies sponsoring foreign workers would be required to demonstrate that there are no qualified and experienced local workers to fill a position to be taken by a proposed visa holder. In Singapore, under the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) regulations, entities with low local hire ratio have been placed on a watch list designed to improve local hiring efforts and to increase training obligations for Singapore citizens and permanent residents,\" Infosys said. \"The Ministry of Manpower has not issued fresh Employment Passes (EPs) for the past one year and is undertaking half yearly reviews on the progress with regard to local hiring and training efforts.\"", "While addressing media at the end of the legislative session, Li said China will open up to the rest of the world. (Reuters)\nChina will gradually relax and even scrap foreign-owned equity limits in some sectors, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said today, promising a level playing field for domestic and foreign investors in the world’s second largest economy. The Chinese economy is so integrated into the global economy that closing the doors would only block China’s own way, he said, after the conclusion of the annual legislative session. Li, 62, was re-elected last Sunday for a second five-year tenure by China’s rubber-stamp parliament. While addressing media at the end of the legislative session, Li said China will open up to the rest of the world.\n“We aim to make the vast Chinese market a fair place for both domestic and overseas firms with all kinds of ownerships to compete to offer more options for about 1.3 billion Chinese consumers, expediting upgrading of Chinese products and services,” Li said. China’s opening-up is a gradual process and should be perceived in a long-term and holistic view, as some seemingly minor reform steps might produce impressive dividends later, citing China’s booming overseas tourism market thanks to streamlined private visa application procedures. “Like rowing a boat, opening up is a two-way movement entailing mutual efforts,” Li added.\nLi said China still has much room for further opening up its market and will lower overall tariffs on imports. Tariffs on popular consumer goods, including drugs, will be slashed, while the much-needed anti-cancer drugs might phase in zero tariffs. Despite a deficit in service trade, China will increase efforts in relaxing control over the market access to the service sector, including old-age care, medical care, education and financial services, according to him. China will gradually relax and even scrap foreign-owned equity limits in some sectors and shorten the negative list for foreign investment, Li added.\nNo compulsory technology transfers will be imposed on foreign investment in the general manufacturing sector and intellectual property rights will be protected, he said. He also promised to further improve business environment. China will continue to streamline administrations and delegate power to improve business environment and further stimulate market vitality, Li said. “We will cut the time it takes for opening a business in China by another half and we will reduce the time required for reviewing a project application by another half,” he promised. Measures will also be taken to have an e-platform in a national level for accessing government services online and ensure any requirement for certification that has no basis in laws and regulations will be abolished, he said. “We must further cut the red tape and simplify administrative procedures,” he said.", "China will gradually relax and even scrap foreign-owned equity limits in some sectors, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said today, promising a level playing field for domestic and foreign investors in the world's second largest economy\nChina's Premier Li Keqiang waves to reporters as he leaves a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 20, 2018. Pic/ AFP\nChina will gradually relax and even scrap foreign-owned equity limits in some sectors, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said today, promising a level playing field for domestic and foreign investors in the world's second largest economy. The Chinese economy is so integrated into the global economy that closing the doors would only block China's own way, he said, after the conclusion of the annual legislative session. Li, 62, was re-elected last Sunday for a second five-year tenure by China's rubber-stamp parliament.\nWhile addressing media at the end of the legislative session, Li said China will open up to the rest of the world. \"We aim to make the vast Chinese market a fair place for both domestic and overseas firms with all kinds of ownerships to compete to offer more options for about 1.3 billion Chinese consumers, expediting upgrading of Chinese products and services,\" Li said. China's opening-up is a gradual process and should be perceived in a long-term and holistic view, as some seemingly minor reform steps might produce impressive dividends later, citing China's booming overseas tourism market thanks to streamlined private visa application procedures.\n\"Like rowing a boat, opening up is a two-way movement entailing mutual efforts,\" Li added. Li said China still has much room for further opening up its market and will lower overall tariffs on imports. Tariffs on popular consumer goods, including drugs, will be slashed, while the much-needed anti-cancer drugs might phase in zero tariffs. Despite a deficit in service trade, China will increase efforts in relaxing control over the market access to the service sector, including old-age care, medical care, education and financial services, according to him.\nChina will gradually relax and even scrap foreign-owned equity limits in some sectors and shorten the negative list for foreign investment, Li added. No compulsory technology transfers will be imposed on foreign investment in the general manufacturing sector and intellectual property rights will be protected, he said. He also promised to further improve business environment. China will continue to streamline administrations and delegate power to improve business environment and further stimulate market vitality, Li said.\n\"We will cut the time it takes for opening a business in China by another half and we will reduce the time required for reviewing a project application by another half,\" he promised. Measures will also be taken to have an e-platform in a national level for accessing government services online and ensure any requirement for certification that has no basis in laws and regulations will be abolished, he said. \"We must further cut the red tape and simplify administrative procedures,\" he said.\nCatch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates\nThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever", "South Carolina Education Lottery officials said a Powerball ticket worth $100,000 was sold in Spartanburg for Saturday night’s drawing.\nOfficials said the ticket was purchased at the Fast Fuel on Cannons Campground Rd.\nSaturday night’s winning numbers are: 22 - 57 - 59 - 60 - 66 and Powerball 7\nThe buyer paid an extra dollar for the PowerPlay option, so the winning ticket worth $50,000 was doubled when a “2” multiplier was selected.\nOfficials said more than 27,000 players in South Carolina hold tickets for prizes from $4 up to $100,000. Players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes.\nA player in Pennsylvania won the $457 million jackpot.\nMORE: Winning $457 million Powerball ticket sold in Pennsylvania\nCopyright 2018 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved." ]

[ "REUTERS: Diego Costa has accused Chelsea of treating him like a \"criminal\" in a forthright newspaper interview which will deepen the breach with the Premier League club.\nThe striker is seeking a move back to Spain in the transfer window and has not played for Chelsea since the FA Cup final in May, following which he claims manager Antonio Conte sent him a text, telling him he was not in his plans for the new season.\nCosta was interviewed at home in Brazil on the same day Chelsea lost their opening Premier League game to Burnley, and said he was refusing the club's demand to return to play with the reserves.\n\"They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,\" he told the Daily Mail.\n\"I'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.\"\nThe Brazilian-born Spain international, who joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2014, said if the club did not allow him to move before the transfer window he was prepared to see out his contract unpaid in Brazil.\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement\n\"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me. I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.\n\"I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup.\"\nThe situation is complicated by the fact that Atletico are currently banned from signing players in this window although a loan deal would be possible.\nCosta's relationship with Conte appears to have broken down although the Brazilian accepts the Italian \"is a good coach\".\nLast week Conte said there was \"no news\" on the Costa situation but earlier this summer said the \"situation is closed.\"\n(Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)" ]

[ "GETTY Diego Costa hasn't played for Chelsea since May\nDiego Costa was informed by Conte in June via text message telling him he wasn't a part of his long-term plans. The 28-year-old striker last played for the Blues in the FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal in May at Wembley. Costa, who hit 20 goals in 35 Premier League games for the Blues last term, has been continually linked with a return to Atletico Madrid. This is despite the La Liga outfit currently serving a transfer ban which will be lifted in January. And Costa feels like he has been treated like a 'criminal' by the club.\nChelsea outcast Diego Costa trains on his own in Brazil Wed, July 26, 2017 Chelsea outcast Diego Costa has been training on his own in Brazil Play slideshow 1 of 5\nI'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that Diego Costa\n\"They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,\" Costa told the Daily Mail. \"I'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that. \"They gave me a week extra off but since then it's fines all the way. \"They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. \"I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here. So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me. \"I take the hit every week but I'm not driven by money. The important thing is to be happy with how I live.\nGETTY Diego Costa has kept the text Antonio Conte (pictured) sent him", "Diego Costa is back in Brazil and was recently seen training alone on a beach. (Source: Reuters) Diego Costa is back in Brazil and was recently seen training alone on a beach. (Source: Reuters)\nDiego Costa, who has not been in Chelsea’s plans for the season, accused the Blues of treating him like a criminal and not letting him train or even contact the first-team. He said that it was not fair to be treated like that ‘after all I have done’.\nSeeking a move back to his former club Atletico Madrid, Costa has not played for the reigning Premier League champions since the FA Cup final where they lost to Arsenal. He alleged that the club wants him to train with the reserves.\nThe Spanish International was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying, “They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn’t be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys.”\n“I’m not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.”\nCosta is back in Brazil and was recently seen training alone on a beach. He had joined Chelsea back in 2014 from the Spanish club Atletico Madrid.\nHe said that he was open to seeing out an unpaid contract if the Stanford Bridge side does not let him does not pay him for a year. “I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don’t pay me. I’ll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I’d go back now and do as they say.”\n“I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup,” he added.\nFor all the latest Sports News, download Indian Express App\n© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd", "Costa claims Chelsea manager Antonio Conte texted the striker earlier this summer to say he would be sold.\nCosta is back in his native Brazil and is refusing to train with the Chelsea squad, claiming he is being treated “like a criminal”.\nHe also revealed he was close to signing a new contract back in January before interest in his services from the Chinese Super League emerged.\nBut Wright isn’t sure the true events of Costa’s transfer saga have fully come out.\n“Something has happened. When you look at the character of the player we are dealing with he could have irked a couple of people,” Wright said on 5Live.", "Spain international Diego Costa has refused to return to Chelsea this month with his future still hanging in the balance. The 28-year-old is currently in Brazil enjoying an extended holiday with his family, although he had to report to Blues' training nearly two weeks ago.\nCosta has looked to have gained weight during his time out of the game, but he has no intention of training with the Blues' reserves after the way he was treated by manager Antonio Conte.\nThe Brazilian-born striker is currently facing a fine worth £300,000 at Stamford Bridge, but he insists that he is not money minded as he would rather stay with people who respect him.\n\"They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys. I'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that,\" he told the Daily Mail.\n\"I take the hit every week but I'm not driven by money. The important thing is to be happy with how I live. I'm here with my parents and people who respect me.\n\"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me. I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.\"\nCosta's preferred choice is to return to Atletico Madrid this summer, but their transfer embargo restricts them from registering any players until the turn of the year.\nThe Spanish club have already made initial contact with the Premier League holders, but the Blues' reluctance to offload Costa on the cheap seems to have put negotiations to a stall.\nChelsea suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat at the hands of Burnley in the Premier League opener, and they could expect a stiffer challenge next weekend with an in-form Tottenham Hotspur side hosting them at the Wembley - their homeground for the 2017/18 season.", "Diego Costa has admitted to being in contact with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho as he pushes for a move away from Chelsea.\nBlues 6/1 to retain the title\nThe Spain international has been informed that he no longer figures in the Blues’ plans, with Antonio Conte claiming that he took the decision to move the striker out in January.\nDespite both sides being prepared to part ways, no deal has been done during the summer transfer window.\nCosta claims he has been treated like “a criminal”, as he holds out for a return to Atletico Madrid, and says former manager Mourinho has expressed his sympathy at a difficult situation.\n\"Jose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am OK and to see how I am. He wished me good luck,\" the 28-year-old told the Daily Mail.\nChelsea must spend, spend, spend!\n“I never had any problems with Jose, we have a strong relationship.\n\"Everyone was very sad when things didn’t work out in the end for him at Chelsea.\"\nAntonio Conte Diego Costa More\nCosta also says that he still has the support of many colleagues at Stamford Bridge, with Conte the one to have taken the decision to freeze him out.\nHe added: \"You know that the manager doesn’t want me. I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn’t want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go.\n\"If you were to ask all my team-mates, they’d say the same. They send messages saying “I miss you” and that they love me.\nCosta 'will be missed' at Chelsea\n\"I am always talking with the boys - particularly Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz and Willian. We have banter over WhatsApp.\n\"They ask how I am. They really love me for the person I am. If they didn't, they wouldn't be saying they miss me and love me.\"\nCosta netted 20 times for Chelsea in the Premier League last season as they swept to the Premier League title.\nHe was forced to watch on from afar on Saturday as the Blues opened the defence of that crown with a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Burnley.", "The striker is seeking a move back to Spain in the transfer window and has not played for Chelsea since the FA Cup final in May, following which he claims manager Antonio Conte sent him a text, telling him he was not in his plans for the new season.\nCosta was interviewed at home in Brazil on the same day Chelsea lost their opening Premier League game to Burnley, and said he was refusing the club's demand to return to play with the reserves.\n\"They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,\" he told the Daily Mail.\n\"I'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.\"\nThe Brazilian-born Spain international, who joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2014, said if the club did not allow him to move before the transfer window he was prepared to see out his contract unpaid in Brazil.\n\"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me. I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.\n\"I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup.\"\nThe situation is complicated by the fact that Atletico are currently banned from signing players in this window although a loan deal would be possible.\nCosta's relationship with Conte appears to have broken down although the Brazilian accepts the Italian \"is a good coach\".\nLast week Conte said there was \"no news\" on the Costa situation but earlier this summer said the \"situation is closed.\"\n(Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)", "Chelsea have fined striker Diego Costa two weeks’ wages for failing to return to training.\nCosta, has been away to his home town of Lagarto in Brazil.\nHe had told the Daily Mail UK on Sunday that Chelsea are treating him “like a criminal” and that he has lost all personal respect for head coach Antonio Conte.\nCosta had also disclosed back in June that Conte, via text message had told him he would not be in Chelsea’s plans for the new season.\nThe Spain international was granted an extra few days off when the rest of the Chelsea squad gathered at Cobham for preseason training in early July.\nCosta has refused to come back to training since after the expiration of his holiday and claimed on Sunday that the club has asked him to return and train away from his teammates.\nAccording to ESPN, no such condition was laid out to Costa.\nThe club simply expect the 28-year-old to fulfill the terms of his contract by coming back to training, regaining match fitness and making himself available for selection.\nChelsea have fined the striker around £300,000 which is his two weeks’ wages for his refusal to return to England.", "Chelsea want Diego Costa to end his exile, return to London and prove his fitness.\nCosta has criticised Chelsea's treatment of him this summer, saying he is \"not a criminal\", and said he is prepared to remain in exile for a year as he agitates for a return to Atletico Madrid.\nBut it is understood that Chelsea want Costa, as a player with two years remaining on his contract, to return to the club.\nThe Blues also expect the Brazil-born Spain striker to prove his fitness and make himself available for selection, even though he is no longer in head coach Antonio Conte's plans.\nAfter being granted an additional week of leave and missing the pre-season tour to Asia, Costa is still to return to London around two weeks after his anticipated arrival.\nCosta, speaking at his family home in Lagarto, Brazil, said he has not reported for training as he does not want to train with the Blues' reserves, and is happy staying in Brazil and paying club fines until his future is resolved.\nHe told The Daily Mail: \"They gave me a week extra off but since then it's fines all the way. They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that.\n\"I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here. So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me.\"\nChelsea do not have a reserve team, only age-group sides, and Costa has been given no indication that he would be expected to train with them.\nCosta joined Chelsea from Atletico in July 2014. He has twice won the Premier League title during his three years at Stamford Bridge and scored 59 goals in 120 appearances.\nThe 28-year-old claims he was told he was not wanted by head coach Antonio Conte by text message in the summer and the frontman wishes to return to Atletico.\nThe Blues declined to respond to Costa's comments.\nChelsea and Conte have previously insisted the decision for Costa to leave this summer was made in January, with both the player and his agent, Jorge Mendes, aware.\nCosta only wants to move to Atletico, who are under a transfer embargo and cannot register new players until January.\nIn Costa's absence, the Blues lost 3-2 to Burnley on Saturday's opening day of the Premier League season.", "Diego Costa has criticised Chelsea's treatment of him this summer and said he is \"not a criminal\" as he holds out for a return to Atletico Madrid.\nThe 28-year-old has not reported for training as he does not want to train with the Blues' reserves, and is happy staying in Brazil and paying club fines until his future is resolved.\n\"I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn't want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go,\" he told the Daily Mail.", "Costa was told via text message by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte that he was not wanted at the club this season and the 28-year-old has responded by staying in his native Brazil. Costa wants a return to Atletico Madrid but the situation is hampered by the Spanish club's transfer ban which means any player signed is ineligible to play until January. In an explosive newspaper interview, Costa blasted Conte, said he'd lost respect for the Italian coach and insisted he is “not a criminal”.\nChelsea outcast Diego Costa trains on his own in Brazil Wed, July 26, 2017 Chelsea outcast Diego Costa has been training on his own in Brazil Play slideshow 1 of 5\nI respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no Diego Costa\n\"In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it,” the player told the Daily Mail. \"I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen. I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change. I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. \"I was with the Spain national team, alone in my room, when it (the text message) came through. It was a shock to get it like that. I was showing it to my team-mates and they could not believe how he had done it. I was angry at the time. Now I am more calm.\nReuters Diego Costa is angry with Chelsea", "Out-of-favour Chelsea striker Diego Costa has launched an angry broadside against both the club and manager Antonio Conte, accusing them of treating him like a \"criminal\".\n>London: Out-of-favour Chelsea striker Diego Costa has launched an angry broadside against both the club and manager Antonio Conte, accusing them of treating him like a \"criminal\".\nCosta, 28, has been informed by Conte that he has no future at the club and having been frozen out of the first-team squad, the Brazil-born Spain international has gone home to Brazil.\nHe says Chelsea \"want to sell me to China\", but has reiterated his desire to return to former club Atletico Madrid, who are under a transfer ban until January.\n\"I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn't want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go,\" Costa said in an interview published in Monday's Daily Mail.\n\"In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.\n\"They gave me a week extra off, but since then it's fines all the way. They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here.\n\"So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me.\"\nCosta was particularly scathing in his criticism of Conte, who led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge.\n\"I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that. But as a person €\" no,\" said Costa, who was speaking in his hometown of Lagarto in northeastern Brazil.\n\"He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn't possess charisma.\"\nFaced with Atletico's inability to recruit players, Costa said he would rather spend a year not playing than join another club.\n\"My desire is to go to Atletico,\" he said. \"I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to, not the club that's paying the most.\n\"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me. I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.\"\nChelsea opened their title defence in disastrous fashion on Saturday, losing 3-2 at home to Burnley, with Costa's replacement Alvaro Morata coming off the bench to score. View More", "The Spaniard has been told he has no future at Stamford Bridge by boss Antonio Conte and has not returned to training. Costa is pushing for a return to Atletico Madrid but the Blues want to sell to the club who is willing to offer up the biggest fee leaving the 28-year-old's career in limbo. Having helped fire Chelsea to the Premier League title last season the striker now finds himself back in Brazil with his family after refusing to return to Cobham to train with the reserves. FOLLOW LIVE CHELSEA TRANSFER NEWS UPDATES HERE\nGETTY Jose Mourinho cares about his former players\nJose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am OK and to see how I am Diego Costa\nCosta has received plenty of sympathy for the way Conte has exiled him, particularly in the manner in which the Italian boss went about letting him know via text that he had no future with the club. But one manager who did check to see how he was getting on was his former manager Mourinho. \"Jose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am OK and to see how I am,\" Costa told the Daily Mail.\nChelsea outcast Diego Costa trains on his own in Brazil Wed, July 26, 2017 Chelsea outcast Diego Costa has been training on his own in Brazil Play slideshow 1 of 5\nGETTY Antonio Conte has banished Diego Costa from his Chelsea plans", "Costa has hit out at Chelsea in a newspaper article, claiming he does not want to play for the club again.\nHe is currently in Brazil but Chelsea want him back in training.\nAntonio Conte texted the striker earlier this summer telling him he was not part of the manager’s plans for this season.\nAnd former Arsenal striker Wright says Costa should do what Schweinsteiger did at United last season when told by Jose Mourinho he had no future at the club.\n“I think it’s disgraceful, the way he’s behaving,” Wright said on 5Live.", "Diego Costa says he was forced to adapt his hot-headed temperament and physical style of play because the referees in England were ‘never going to change’.\nThe Spain international collected ten bookings and one red card for the Blues last season, as Chelsea failed miserably to defend their Premier League title.\nUnder Antonio Conte, both Chelsea’s and Costa’s performances have improved ten-fold.\nWith 17 goals in 23 appearances so far, one more than last season’s total, Costa has played a pivotal role in the Blues’ run of 13 league wins on the bounce.\nBut with five yellow cards (and subsequent one-match ban) to his name at the half-way stage in the season, it’s difficult to argue that Costa’s discipline has improved by the same extent.\nBut Costa insists that he has been working on that side of the game, conceding that the ‘no mercy’ approach of officiating in England forced his hand.\nChelsea’s shortlist for the January transfer window\n6 show all Chelsea’s shortlist for the January transfer window\n1/6 Chelsea’s shortlist for the January transfer window Man Utd via Getty Images\n2/6 Virgil van Dijk | Southampton Getty Images\n3/6 Antonio Rudiger | AS Roma Paolo Bruno/Getty Images\n4/6 Marco Verratti | PSG AFP/Getty Images\n5/6 Geoffrey Kondogbia | Inter Milan Marco Luzzani/Getty Images\n6/6 James Rodriguez | Real Madrid Pau Barrena/AFP/Getty Images\n“Things are going well for me this season,” said Costa, according to The Times. “The team has changed not just me. Last season, we felt a frustration. We weren’t the team we should be. I wasn’t the player I should be.\n“I know when I do bad, so I thought about it and knew I had to improve that aspect because, here in the Premier League, the reality is there’s no mercy, a lot of the time it seemed like [the referees were against me]. There was no other way, because if they’re not going to change, I had to change.”\nYou can follow Chelsea’s next match, away to Tottenham, live on Standard Sport this Wednesday. Click here to find out how.", "Costa has been told by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte that he is not wanted at Stamford Bridge and is currently in Brazil with no intention of returning. Despite being unwanted, Chelsea expected him to resume training last month and his non-appearance has seen the club fine him two weeks' wages, worth around £300,000. Costa is desperate to return to Atletico Madrid and in a stunning interview with the Daily Mail, the 28-year-old blasted Conte and Chelsea for their treatment of him.\nChelsea outcast Diego Costa trains on his own in Brazil Wed, July 26, 2017 Chelsea outcast Diego Costa has been training on his own in Brazil Play slideshow 1 of 5\nIf I’m Liverpool or Everton I’m doing everything I can to sign Diego Costa Joey Barton\nAnd Barton believes Liverpool and Everton should take advantage of the situation and bring the controversial striker to their clubs. Barton said on talkSPORT: “If I’m Liverpool or Everton I’m doing everything I can to sign Diego Costa. \"I’m coming in now to Chelsea saying ‘look, you’re clearly prepared to do it having sold [Nemanja] Matic to a title rival in Man United’.\nReuters Could Diego Costa join Liverpool or Everton?", "Shares\nLONDON, United Kingdom, Aug 14-Out-of-favour Chelsea striker Diego Costa has launched an angry broadside against both the club and manager Antonio Conte, accusing them of treating him like a “criminal”.\nCosta, 28, has been informed by Conte that he has no future at the club and having been frozen out of the first-team squad, the Brazil-born Spain international has gone home to Brazil.\nHe says Chelsea “want to sell me to China”, but has reiterated his desire to return to former club Atletico Madrid, who are under a transfer ban until January.\n“I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn’t want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go,” Costa said in an interview published in Monday’s Daily Mail.\n“In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.\n“They gave me a week extra off, but since then it’s fines all the way. They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here.\n“So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me.”\nCosta was particularly scathing in his criticism of Conte, who led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge.\n“I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that. But as a person — no,” said Costa, who was speaking in his hometown of Lagarto in northeastern Brazil.\n“He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn’t possess charisma.”\nFaced with Atletico’s inability to recruit players, Costa said he would rather spend a year not playing than join another club.\n“My desire is to go to Atletico,” he said. “I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. If I’m off, I’m going to the club I want to go to, not the club that’s paying the most.\n“I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don’t pay me. I’ll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I’d go back now and do as they say.”\nChelsea opened their title defence in disastrous fashion on Saturday, losing 3-2 at home to Burnley, with Costa’s replacement Alvaro Morata coming off the bench to score.", "David Ramos/Getty Images\nChelsea have fined striker Diego Costa for his refusal to show up for pre-season training.\nSky Sports News reported the news on Monday:\nThe Spain international fell out with his club at the end of last season when news emerged manager Antonio Conte had told him he wasn't part of the club's future plans via text message.\nCosta did nothing to hide those messages, setting off the standoff between both parties, per the Mirror's John Cross.\nThe 28-year-old was heavily linked with former club Atletico Madrid and did nothing to hide his interest in moving to the Rojiblancos. As shared by this fan account, he even went to a party dressed in the Atletico shirt:\nBut the La Liga side is dealing with a transfer ban, making it impossible for Costa to join this summer.\nCosta spoke to Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail during the weekend, explaining he hasn't shown up for training because he feels mistreated by the club. He also said he is willing to stay in Brazil, his country of birth, as long as needed:\n\"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me. I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.\n\"At the start of summer, they gave me an extra week of holiday. Then a week later they called to see where I was but by then the team was in Asia on tour, so I could go back and not have any contact with the boys.\"\nAs things stand, it appears this saga will only end one way―with Costa getting the transfer he desires. When that will happen is anyone's guess, however.", "Costa and Conte have not seen eye to eye all season: Getty\nDiego Costa has heavily criticised the man-management abilities of Antonio Conte and accused him of having no “charisma” after the way he tried to force the striker out of Chelsea.\nIn an interview with the Daily Mail, the Brazilian-born Spaniard revealed he is being fined every week for not returning to train with Chelsea after Conte sent him a text message at the end of the season telling him he was no longer in his plans and to find a new club.\nThe 28-year-old said he was happy at Stamford Bridge until Conte made it clear he had no future in the Italian's team, and now wants to rejoin the club he left to join Chelsea in 2014.\nThe striker said he has not reported for training as he does not want to train with the Blues' reserves, and is happy staying in Brazil and paying club fines until his future is resolved.\nAnd he says the whole episode has left him without respect for Conte as a person, given the way he has conducted himself in regards to Costa’s future.\n“His ideas are very fixed and clear,” Costa told the Daily Mail. “I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change.\n“I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn't possess charisma.\n“There are ways of going about it. You don't do it by text message. You should be honest and direct to someone's face.\n“Conte has his mentality. He thinks it's the best way of working.\n“He arrived from an Italian league where everyone is very serious and arrived in a dressing room where there are maybe more jokes.”", "Costa is currently in Brazil and has not reported back to training after the summer break (Getty)\nDiego Costa has revealed the three players who have offered him the most support over his Chelsea exile as the club tell him to return to training immediately.\nJurgen Klopp & Jordan Henderson provide update on Philippe Coutinho transfer saga\nThe Spain international is still in Brazil having refused to return to England after being told he no longer has a future at Chelsea by manager Antonio Conte.\nCosta had been told he would need to train with the youth team, something he was unwilling to do.\nAnd now Sky Sports say Chelsea have put their foot down and ordered him to report back and get himself in shape if he wants to secure a move away.\nConte told Costa he was no longer in his plans in a text message over the summer (Picture: Getty)\nThe 28-year-old was fined two weeks wages for staying in Brazil in an effort to force though a move to preferred destination Atletico Madrid, but he insists several high-profile teammates are behind him.\n‘You know that the manager doesn’t want me,’ he said in an explosive interview with the Daily Mail.\n‘I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn’t want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go.\n‘If you were to ask all my teammates, they’d say the same. They send messages saying “I miss you” and that they love me.\n‘I am always talking with the boys — particularly Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz and Willian. We have banter over WhatsApp.\n‘They ask how I am. They really love me for the person I am. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be saying they miss me and love me.’\nMORE: Chelsea and Tottenham target Ross Barkley picks up fresh injury to put £50m transfer in doubt", "London : English football champions Chelsea are still to make any final decision on the future of their star striker Diego Costa. According to a Sky Sports report, Costa still has two years of the contract left with Chelsea but is unsure if the London club will consider him. Costa has revealed that he received a message from head coach Antonio Conte who is not considering the Spaniard as part of his future plan.\n“I have a contract with Chelsea, they have to know what to do with me and I have to wait and know the decision that my club takes,” Costa said. Costa also said he might consider a loan move to Spain or Brazil and affirmed on ruling out China for a move. “They can loan me out to some team in Spain, Brazil or wherever, but I have to play,” he said.\n“Everyone knows that I have a lot of affection for them. Of course, I rule out China, I have to think about the World Cup. Atletico is a club that I have a lot of affection for, independently of whether I go there or not, I will continue to love them.”\nCosta also revealed about his worn out relationship with Conte. “In life there are good and bad people. I’ll stay with the good of everything. You have to ask him, not me. It’s an opinion of the coach, if he has the option of putting another in,” he stressed. “But there are things and ways of doing things and saying them. But well, thanks to God I do not lack teams,” he added.", "Chelsea outcast Diego Costa is set to receive a hefty fine for failing to turn up to training with the club last month.\nSeemingly unwanted by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, Costa has been enjoying an extended holiday this summer, even posting an Instagram live video in an Atlético Madrid shirt on his social media account.\nThe club has received a fair amount of backlash for their treatment of Costa in recent weeks, with disappointing pre-season performances from new man Álvaro Morata leaving Blues fans missing their 28-year-old striker. As a result, Chelsea are believed to have fined Costa £300,000 (two weeks wages) for failing to turn up to training last month.\nBREAKING: Diego Costa fined by @ChelseaFC for not returning for pre-season training last month #SSN pic.twitter.com/JBaVwgcyKU — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 14, 2017\nCosta has been involved in a long-term disagreement with manager Conte, with the Italian even texting his star striker to tell him that he wasn't needed back at Chelsea this season. Having seemingly taken his managers advice, Costa has been staying well clear of west London this summer.\nDiego Costa has been fined by Chelsea for not returning for preseason training last month. Likely to be two weeks wages - so £300,000 — Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) August 14, 2017\nCosta was desperate to return to Atlético Madrid during this transfer window, with a move to big spending AC Milan also not being ruled out. However, due to Atlético's transfer ban, they have been unable to make a move for their former star and must wait until January before they can make any new signings.\nFollowing an impressive performance on his Premier League debut, the Chelsea faithful have seemingly warmed to the prostect of new man Morata leading the line for them this season.\nConte also has social media menace Michy Batshuayi at his disposal, the Belgian striker playing an important role in Chelsea's title winning campaign last season.", "Diego Costa has again been ordered to return to Chelsea with the club adamant that Atletico Madrid will not land the AWOL striker for a knockdown fee.\nCosta revealed that he has been fined by Chelsea for failing to return to training after being given an extra week off at the start of pre-season, following Antonio Conte’s text message confirming he had no future at Stamford Bridge.\nIn an unsanctioned interview, Costa claimed he was prepared to spend an entire year in Brazil without being paid by Chelsea unless the club let him return to Atletico.\nBut Chelsea have reiterated to the 28-year-old that they expect him to return to England and fulfil the terms of his contract by training and doing everything he can to make himself fit and available for selection.\nNegotiations have taken place between Chelsea and Atletico over Costa’s desired return to Spain, but the Premier League champions insist his contract must be adhered to until any such time as a transfer is agreed.", "London - Chelsea striker Diego Costa has revealed he came close to leaving the club during the close-season transfer window.\nThe Brazil-born Spain international had a poor 2015-16 campaign as Chelsea's title defence unravelled and said he decided to leave the club for personal reasons at the end of the season.\nBut he changed his mind and has helped to send Chelsea six points clear at the top of the Premier League table with 14 goals in 18 league appearances.\n\"Did I want to go? Yes, yes, I was about to leave. But not because of Chelsea,\" Costa said in comments published by the BBC on Monday.\n\"There was one thing I wanted to change for family reasons, but it wasn't to be, and I continue to be happy here.\"\nAs well as his goals, Costa's on-pitch conduct has improved this season and he said he had made a deliberate effort to curb his aggression.\n\"I knew I had to improve that aspect because here in the Premier League there is no mercy,\" he said.\n\"A lot of the time it seemed (referees) were against me. If they're not going to change, I had to change.\"", "Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images\nChelsea outcast Diego Costa has hit out at \"distant\" manager Antonio Conte for the way he's been treated since winning last season's Premier League title and said his \"desire is to go to Atletico [Madrid].\" The forward won't train with the club's reserves and added he'll see out the remainder of his contract unpaid if needs be.\nAdam Crafton of the Daily Mail sat down with the Blues exile—who was left out of Chelsea's pre-season squad and doesn't appear to feature in Conte's plans this term—in his childhood home in Brazil, where Costa said the club has treated him \"like a criminal\":\n\"In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.\n\"His ideas are very fixed and clear. I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change.\n\"I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn't possess charisma.\"\nCosta confirmed he's already been fined several weeks' wages, but it doesn't look likely to end there as Crafton detailed he's \"ready to see out his Chelsea contract unpaid and train alone near his home in Brazil.\" Costa's contract will expire in June 2019.\nAfter Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian came close to moving for Costa in January, per BBC Sport, Conte waited until the end of the season to inform the 28-year-old via text that he was not in his future plans.\nSome players would accept the club holds much of the power when it comes to transfer negotiations and dictating where their players go, but Costa is no ordinary player and won't have his destination decided for him:\nCosta scored 64 goals in 134 appearances for Atleti, per Transfermarkt, a similarly prolific record to the 58 goals he's netted in 120 matches for Chelsea, proof he's one of the deadliest strikers in world football.\nBut a return to the Spanish capital won't be simple, as Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol recently pointed out:\nWhen quizzed on whether he expects Conte to ask him to return, Costa replied with a simple \"no.\" However, that doesn't mean he's severed all ties with his employers and the rest of the squad:\n\"You know that the manager doesn't want me.\n\"I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn't want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go.\n\"If you were to ask all my team-mates, they'd say the same. They send messages saying 'I miss you' and that they love me.\"\nIt appears Costa feels a greater affinity for his former Atletico boss, Diego Simeone, but Goal's Nizaar Kinsella highlighted further reason why a reunion will be difficult, especially given the Spanish giants are suspended from registering players until January 2018:\nWhile Manchester United fans need not get excited about the prospect of Costa becoming a Red Devil anytime soon, the Spain international revealed their manager and former Chelsea chief, Jose Mourinho, has been in touch:\n\"Jose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am OK and to see how I am.\n\"He wished me good luck. I never had any problems with Jose, we have a strong relationship. Everyone was very sad when things didn't work out in the end for him at Chelsea.\"\nCosta's future remains unresolved for the time being, but it seems clear it won't be back under Conte at Stamford Bridge.", "Chelsea FC striker Diego Costa says he had wanted to leave the English Premier League club last summer.\nCosta had joined the Blues for £32 million (about N16 billion) in 2014, and was understood to be close to a return to former club Atletico Madrid after a difficult 2015-16 campaign.\nThe Spain international has since scored 14 Premier League goals, as Chelsea have now taken an eight-point lead courtesy of 13 successive victories.\n“Did I want to go? Yes, yes, I was about to leave. But not because of Chelsea,” said the 28-year-old.\n“There was one thing I wanted to change for family reasons but it wasn’t to be, and I continue to be happy here.”\nCosta scored 20 goals in his first season in England, as Chelsea won the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho.\nBut he had netted only four more by the time Mourinho was sacked in December 2015, finishing the season with 12 before being heavily linked with a move.\nBrazil-born Costa says he has also made a conscious effort to curb his aggressive nature on the pitch.\n“I knew I had to improve that aspect, because here in the Premier League there is no mercy,” he said.\n“A lot of the time it seemed [referees] were against me. If they’re not going to change, I had to change.”\nChelsea will return to action against London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday.", "Chelsea striker Diego Costa has revealed Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was among those to reach out to him after being exiled by Blues boss Antonio Conte.\nCosta, 27, found out by text message at the end of last season that he was no longer in Conte's plans, despite scoring 20 goals during the club's Premier League-winning campaign.\nThe Spain international did not feature at all during the club's pre-season campaign and watched their season-opening defeat to Burnley on Saturday from his home in Brazil. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Costa explained Chelsea have demanded he return to the club but will not allow him access to the first-team dressing room and would force him to train with their Under-23 side.\nThe striker has remained defiant, choosing to remain in his homeland despite fines racking up every week. While he has been given the cold shoulder by Conte, Costa says his teammates remain in touch with him, having also received messages of support from the man who brought him to English football in Mourinho.\n\"I am always talking with the boys – particularly Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz and Willian. We have banter over WhatsApp. They ask how I am,\" he told The Mail. \"They really love me for the person I am. If they didn't, they wouldn't be saying they miss me and love me.\"\nHe added: \"Jose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am okay and to see how I am. He wished me good luck. I never had any problems with Jose, we have a strong relationship. Everyone was sad when things didn't work out in the end for him at Chelsea.\"\nCosta is still determined to rejoin Atletico Madrid, the club he left Chelsea for in 2014. A transfer ban prevents Diego Simeone's side from registering any new players until January 2018, but that hasn't prevented the club from putting deals with place with Spain international Vitolo to join the club in the New Year, having been sent to Las Palmas on loan for the first-half of the 2017-18 season.", "Diego Costa has revealed that he has been in direct contact with former manager Jose Mourinho while in exile in Brazil since his relationship with Chelsea soured at the end of last season.\nThe Brazilian-born Spaniard was informed by managed Antonio Conte at the end of last season via text that he was no longer needed by the club, despite his goals firing the Blues to the Premier League title in the Italian’s first season in charge.\nThat has left Costa looking for another club, which he wants to be Atletico Madrid, despite him insisting he was happy at Stamford Bridge before the breakdown of his relationship with Conte.\nThe 28-year-old is being fined for every week he refuses to return to the club to train as he doesn’t want to join the reserves and has revealed that Manchester United manager Mourinho has called him directly during his time in Brazil.\n“Jose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am OK and to see how I am,” Costa told the Daily Mail. “He wished me good luck.\n“I never had any problems with Jose, we have a strong relationship. Everyone was very sad when things didn't work out in the end for him at Chelsea.”\nCosta also reveal that his current Chelsea teammates were keeping in contact with him and constantly telling him how much they missed having him in the changing room.\n“They send messages saying ‘I miss you’ and that they love me,” he added.\n“I am always talking with the boys — particularly Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz and Willian. We have banter over WhatsApp.”", "Exiled Chelsea star Diego Costa has given a withering assessment of head coach Antonio Conte and accused the Premier League champions of treating him as if he were a \"criminal\".\nCosta was Chelsea's top scorer with 20 goals as they secured a second league title in three years last season but Conte has since informed the Spain international he does not feature in his first-team plans.\nThe manner of this rejection provides a major flash point in the current stand-off, with Costa claiming Conte dumped him via text message when he was away on international duty in June.\nChelsea maintain the 28-year-old forward has been aware of their plans since January, around the time he was heavily linked with a move to Tianjin Quanjian in the Chinese Super League.\nStill don't get Diego Costa's point. Stop sulking, get fit, move clubs. As for the text message, \"disrespect\" etc, grow up, who cares — Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) August 14, 2017\nThe upshot is Costa going AWOL, back to his hometown of Lagarto in Brazil, where UK newspaper the Daily Mail tracked him down at his family home while watching the Blues' shock 3-2 defeat to Burnley.\nA return to former club Atletico Madrid remains the desired option for Costa, who is presently racking up fines as he refuses to return to Chelsea and train with the reserves.\n\"I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,\" he explained. \"I'm not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.\n\"They gave me a week extra off [at the start of pre-season training] but since then it's fines all the way.\n\"They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here. So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me.\"\nAtletico's player registration ban would prevent Costa from playing for them until January but the forward is willing to remain out of action for as long as it takes his Chelsea ordeal to play out.\n\"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me,\" he said.\n\"I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.\n\"My desire is to go to Atletico. I’ve spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, 'If the manager doesn't want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid'.\n\"I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to - not the club that's paying the most.\"\nCosta claimed to have been on the verge of signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge but accused Conte of \"putting the brakes on\" and sees no prospect of reconciliation with the Italian, who brought in club-record signing Alvaro Morata as his replacement.\n\"His ideas are very fixed and clear,\" Costa said of Conte. \"I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change.\nAntonio Conte has handled the Diego Costa situation so poorly, you need only read Costa's latest comments. Pathetic by the Italian. — Adam Joseph (@AdamJosephSport) August 14, 2017\n\"I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn't possess charisma.\"\nAs for the infamous text message, that is set to remain on Costa's phone for posterity.\n\"There are ways of going about it. You don't do it by text message. You should be honest and direct to someone's face,\" he added.\n\"I was angry at the time. Now I am more calm. I have not deleted the message. If people accuse me of lying, I can show them.\"", "Stepping out of Diego Costa's childhood home in Lagarto on Saturday afternoon, the message was clear.\n'Next time in Madrid,' we joked, but beneath the playful goodbye lay a straightforward truth. While Antonio Conte is at Chelsea, Costa feels he cannot possibly return.\nDuring Sportsmail's interview, Costa described the Italian coach as 'distant', 'lacking charisma' and also implied that the Chelsea boss relies heavily on his backroom team for his man-management.\nDiego Costa invited Sportsmail into his family home back in Brazil for an exclusive interview\nThe Chelsea star spoke exclusively to Sportsmail's Adam Crafton about his future in the game\nCosta cares passionately about the club. He kicked every ball in his living room as Chelsea chased the game against Burnley. He continues to talk to his team-mates most days. However, a reconciliatory approach would be required from two hot-headed characters. Conte will not concede ground and Costa is not prepared to give an inch.\nAsked if he would answer an SOS call, Costa replied: 'You know the manager does not want me.'\nIt is clear that the 28-year-old cannot return to the London club while Antonio Conte is there\nEighty miles from the coast of Brazil, Costa is commemorated in his home town of Lagarto\nThe Chelsea star watched his side's home 3-2 defeat by Burnley during the opening weekend\nConte declared that Costa is 'in the past' after the 3-2 loss. So it would seem there is no way back. It is also true that Costa has a unique bond with Atletico Madrid. There are more photos of life in Spain than in London at his parents' home. Should Chelsea fail to agree a fee with Atletico, then Costa's credibility will be in doubt ahead of the World Cup.\nHe is likely to be left out of Spain's squad next month. Chelsea have a degree of strength. Yet Costa was not wrong when he highlighted his popularity.\nIndeed, Sportsmail understands Chelsea's players are bemused by the club's transfer market activity, with the key players cut adrift and the squad short of numbers.", "Diego Costa has been fined two weeks' wages by Chelsea\nChelsea have fined Diego Costa two weeks' wages worth £300,000 for failing to return to pre-season training with the rest of the squad last month.\nThe striker is currently in his hometown in Brazil and is furious with the club for preventing his return to Atletico Madrid.\nHowever, the sanctions put in place by the Stamford Bridge club seem to have had the desired effect and Costa is now expected back in London this week.\nSky Sports claim the 28-year-old will report for training and will comply with his current contract which runs until June 2019.\n\"Chelsea want Diego Costa to come back to the UK, start training, get match fit and put himself back in contention for selection,\" Sky reporter Kaveh Solhekol tweeted.", "Chelsea striker Diego Costa has opened up on his current situation with the Blues, and has claimed that the only team he will leave Stamford Bridge for is former club Atletico Madrid.\nCosta spent four years at the Vicente Calderon, where he enjoyed huge success, developing a magnificent relationship with manager Diego Simeone as well as the fans, and has discussed his desire to return to La Liga after being told he is no longer wanted at Chelsea:\nDavid Ramos/GettyImages\n\"My desire is to go to Atletico. I've spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, 'If the manager doesn't want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid,'' Costa told the Daily Mail.\n\"I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. The language is better for me in Spain. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to, not the club that's paying the most.\n\"Diego Simeone wants me. It is very clear. I have always had a bond with him. The fans and people love me there. They respect me.\"\nThe problem surrounding such a move comes in the form of a transfer embargo - meaning Atletico can't sign anyone until 2018, but that doesn't seem to deter Costa.\n\"I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup.\"\nReports have claimed that he is considering legal action, but the Spanish international has denied such claims:\n\"At the moment, no. I want people to do things the right way.\" Costa said when asked if he was considering legal action.\n\"Why won't they let me go if they don't want me? I have to do what I have to do. I have to think of myself. I've been a good boy here and tried to do the right thing.\"", "Diego Costa didn’t hold back in an interview with the Daily Mail who traveled to Brazil to track him down.\n[ MORE: Ronaldo to get 12-game ban? ]\nCurrently hanging out at his family home in Lagarto in the north east of the country, Costa was watching Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat to Burnley on the opening day of the season sat on the sofa while family members would glance into the room and shake their heads in disbelief.\nCosta, 28, made plenty of things clear in the outrageous interview as he aimed to set the record straight, stating he has already been fined several weeks wages by Chelsea, that he couldn’t believe Antonio Conte text him saying he was no longer needed at the club and he also made it clear he wants to rejoin his former club Atletico Madrid.\nWhat did we actually learn from Costa’s side of the story?\nBelow are the main takeaways from what he said as his future at Chelsea appears to be over, at least while Conte is boss, which may not be for much longer if the Blues continue their poor form throughout preseason and to start the Premier League season…\nCosta almost signed a new Chelsea deal in January before he was left out of the squad for a game at Leicester following a training ground incident\n“In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.”\nAlthough Conte seems to be adored universally, Costa says that’s far from the case with Chelsea’s squad\n“His ideas are very fixed and clear. I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change. I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn’t possess charisma.”\nCosta is holding out for a move to Atletico Madrid, who are banned from signing new players until January 2018, but Chelsea want to sell him to the Chinese Super League. His lawyer is also talking about taking action against Conte’s “discriminatory behavior”\n“Why won’t they let me go if they don’t want me? I have to do what I have to do. I have to think of myself. I’ve been a good boy here and tried to do the right thing. My desire is to go to Atletico [Madrid]. I’ve spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, ‘If the manager doesn’t want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid.’ I have rejected other offers.\n“They want to sell me to China or other teams. The language is better for me in Spain. If I’m off, I’m going to the club I want to go to — not the club that’s paying the most. Diego Simeone wants me. It is very clear. I have always had a bond with him. The fans and people love me there. They respect me.”\nAs far as Costa is concerned he has no future at Chelsea, plus he also claims his teammates send him messages of support\n“I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn’t want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go. If you were to ask all my team-mates, they’d say the same. They send messages saying ‘I miss you’ and that they love me. I am always talking with the boys — particularly Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz and Willian. We have banter over WhatsApp. They ask how I am. They really love me for the person I am. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be saying they miss me and love me.”\nIf a move to Atletico doesn’t materialize, Costa is fine with staying in Brazil for a year\n“If I have to I will stay in Brazil. I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don’t pay me. I’ll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I’d go back now and do as they say. At the start of summer, they gave me an extra week of holiday. Then a week later they called to see where I was but by then the team was in Asia on tour, so I could go back and not have any contact with the boys.\n“That seems a very bad and ugly life. It doesn’t respect what I have done for the club. I am here with people who love me. I want the fans to know I still care deeply about them but I’m not going back to be separated like that. I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup.”\nCosta will continue to be fined by Chelsea for staying in Brazil and training there on his own instead of with Chelsea’s reserves, but that’s what he intends to do unless the situation changes\n“They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn’t be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys. I’m not a criminal. I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that. They gave me a week extra off but since then it’s fines all the way. They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here. So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me. I take the hit every week but I’m not driven by money. The important thing is to be happy with how I live.”\nFollow @JPW_NBCSports" ]

[ "The man is wet." ]

[ "The man is sleeping on the beach.", "A man holds a large knife.", "A young woman holds up a starfish.", "The man is holding up a large barbell", "A man is holding a child's hand in the ocean next to a large rock", "A starfish sits in the sand on the beach.", "There is a man holding a large spoon", "A man holds a large monkey.", "A large ship sunk in the ocean.", "A man holds up a candle.", "A man is holding up a sign.", "An old man is holding a large bag.", "A man holds up a glass.", "A man holds a large bass drum.", "A man is holding a large photographic instrument.", "the man is holding a sign for a large protest", "A man holds up a rag.", "A group of haters at an union, holding up large, blue letters.", "A man holds up a hammer.", "The people are in the ocean while a man holds a sign.", "Fishermen battle the large waves in the ocean.", "A man climbing up a large concrete building.", "A man holds up a sign by a wall.", "A young man is swimming in a blue lagoon and holds up a large orange trout", "The man is climbing up a large rock face.", "A man holds up a fork.", "a man is holding a treat up for a dog", "A man holds up a crowbar.", "The man is holding an announcement in a large group of people.", "A large ocean and the Golden Gate bridge.", "The man is holding up a bank at gunpoint.", "a large man holds his hands out" ]

[ "Ready at Dawn" ]

[ "God helps those who help themselves" ]

[ "Selenium is a mineral nutrient that may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, thyroid disorders, and cancer. Brazil nuts are a good source." ]

[ "Brown rice is rich in fiber, carbohydrates and minerals like manganese and selenium, 2 and phytonutrients like lignans and phenolics. 3. What does it mean to your health? Plenty of health benefits. Here are some: Health Benefits Of Brown Rice 1. Lowers Cholesterol And Blood Pressure", "Selenium commands (or selenese) are of three types : Actions, Accessors and Assertions. A Selenese tells Selenium what to do. Selenium commands (or selenese) are of three types : Actions, Accessors and Assertions.", "What should I avoid while using selenium sulfide topical? Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes, nose, mouth, rectum, or vagina. If it does get into any of these areas, rinse with water. Do not use selenium sulfide topical on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, or broken skin.", "When one extracts the xpath of the object, one can use that object using Selenium IDE, Selenium RC, or Selenium Web-driver. Xpaths are constants. They do rarely change. If there is a text-box, and the label of the text-box changes but the position does not change then xpath remains the same.", "Table of Contents. 1 What is vitamin D? 2 What are the vitamin D requirements? 3 What does vitamin D do for your health? 4 What does vitamin D do for your health? 5 What does vitamin D do for your health? 6 What causes a vitamin D deficiency? 7 What causes a vitamin D deficiency? 8 How is a vitamin D deficiency diagnosed? 9 What is the treatment for a vitamin D ...", "What is Selenium | Overview of Selenium Components. What is Selenium : Selenium is a free (open source) automated testing suite for web applications across different browser and platforms. It is quite similar to HP Quick Test pro (QTP) Only that selenium focuses on automating web based applications.", "Side Effects of Selenium. Although it's difficult to overdose on selenium from foods, the case isn't the same for selenium supplements. Selenium poisoning, or selenium toxicity, is a major health risk linked to selenium. Ingesting too much selenium can trigger various selenium toxicity symptoms. Selenium poisoning can either be acute or chronic: 19", "What Health Administrators DO NOT Do! Now, let’s try and answer the key question: What does a health administrator do? To begin, we will tell you what a health administrator does not do. First, health administrators do not tell nurses, physicians, PAs, or NPs how to practice medicine or nursing. Why? Well, a manager is not going to tell someone with special and unique knowledge how to practice.", "what does 5 mg of valium do what does 5 mg of valium do Employees in Health Sciences Center programs should follow the time tracking processes required in the TAL System. Norman", "I have knowledge in manual testing. But i am interested to learn Selenium but i dont have any idea about in programing knowledge even i don't have any idea on C Language also. please suggest me what can i do please help me in this. Re: [selenium-users] Re: How Much Java Knowledge Do We Need For Selenium.", "what does aciclovir tablets do what does aciclovir tablets do Employees in Health Sciences Center programs should follow the time tracking processes required in the TAL System.", "What other names is Selenium known by? What is Selenium? How does Selenium work? Are there safety concerns? Are there any interactions with medications? Dosing considerations for Selenium. What other names is Selenium known by? Atomic number 34, Dioxyde de Sélénium, Ebselen, L-Selenomethionine, L-Sélénométhionine, Levure Sélénisée, Numéro Atomique 34, Se, Selenio, Selenite, Sélénite de Sodium, Sélénium, Selenium Ascorbate, Selenium Dioxide, Selenized Yeast, Selenomethionine, Sélénométhionine, Sodium Selenite.", "WebDriver and the Selenium-Server ¶. You may, or may not, need the Selenium Server, depending on how you intend to use Selenium-WebDriver. If you will be only using the WebDriver API you do not need the Selenium-Server.If your browser and tests will all run on the same machine, and your tests only use the WebDriver API, then you do not need to run the Selenium-Server; WebDriver will run the browser directly.f you will be only using the WebDriver API you do not need the Selenium-Server. If your browser and tests will all run on the same machine, and your tests only use the WebDriver API, then you do not need to run the Selenium-Server; WebDriver will run the browser directly.", "To get sufficient levels of Vitamin E, and avoid selenium toxicity, you need an all-Vitamin E supplement with no selenium. Many areas of the US are selenium deficient and horses do need Vitamin E/Selenium combined products or selenium in grain mixes (Selenite).", "What are the Best Selenium Supplements. There are several different forms of Selenium Supplements. The 'organic' forms of selenium, in studies, seemed to raise blood levels more effectively than did synthetic forms of selenium and were less toxic.hat are the Best Selenium Supplements. There are several different forms of Selenium Supplements. The 'organic' forms of selenium, in studies, seemed to raise blood levels more effectively than did synthetic forms of selenium and were less toxic.", "We don’t, however, recommend you do all your test automation using Selenium IDE. To effectively use Selenium you will need to build and run your tests using either Selenium 2 or Selenium 1 in conjunction with one of the supported programming languages.Which one you choose depends on you.e don’t, however, recommend you do all your test automation using Selenium IDE. To effectively use Selenium you will need to build and run your tests using either Selenium 2 or Selenium 1 in conjunction with one of the supported programming languages.", "To begin, we will tell you what a health administrator does not do. First, health administrators do not tell nurses, physicians, PAs, or NPs how to practice medicine or nursing.", "XPaths are derived from the html paths of the objects. One can install firebug, and on the top of firebug, one can install firpath. Both are installed as addons on Firefox. When one extracts the xpath of the object, one can use that object using Selenium IDE, Selenium RC, or Selenium Web-driver.Xpaths are constants. They do rarely change. If there is a text-box, and the label of the text-box changes but the position does not change then xpath remains the same.ne can install firebug, and on the top of firebug, one can install firpath. Both are installed as addons on Firefox. When one extracts the xpath of the object, one can use that object using Selenium IDE, Selenium RC, or Selenium Web-driver.", "Selenium Automation Hybrid Framework (Data Driven & Modular Driven) Selenium Automation Hybrid Framework. (Data Driven & Modular Driven) Beginner Level. I hope that you have enjoyed the journey of “Ten steps to setting up the Selenium Automation Framework” so far and you have understood all the topics well. Let’s revise what we have covered and do a Practice Exercise on it.", "What is HIPAA, and what does it do? Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, the Department of Health and Human Services promulgates rules and regulations to regulate the privacy and security of medical information.", "Selenium monosulfide, along with elemental selenium and sulfur, has been used in medicinal preparations in the past, causing confusion and contradiction as to exactly what form selenium is in in any given topical preparation.", "What Does a Health Unit Coordinator Do? Health unit coordinators work in hospitals, nursing homes, or other health facilities performing tasks that support patients, physicians, nursing staff, and other departments.", "What Does Your Body Do to Excess Vitamin B or C That You Might Consume? The Best Foods to Eat to Clean Out Your Colon; The Health Effects of Eating Raw Garlic Daily; Green Chili Health Benefits; What Do Garlic Cloves Do for Your Body?", "Native (i.e., elemental) selenium is a rare mineral, which does not usually form good crystals, but, when it does, they are steep rhombohedra or tiny acicular (hair-like) crystals. Isolation of selenium is often complicated by the presence of other compounds and elements.", "What Does a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Do? A psychiatric nurse practitioner, or mental health nurse practitioner, performs a wide range of mental health services, including patient assessment, psychiatric diagnosis, and medication management. Keep reading to learn more about what psychiatric nurse practitioners do.", "Adults should not consume more than 400 micrograms of selenium per day, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Some selenium supplements contain 200 micrograms.", "Read the school crisis plan to determine what is appropriate to do in this type of situation. If the plan does not include this important information, talk with the school's mental health professional and clarify what teachers and staff should do when a student talks about suicide.ead the school crisis plan to determine what is appropriate to do in this type of situation. If the plan does not include this important information, talk with the school's mental health professional and clarify what teachers and staff should do when a student talks about suicide.", "What Does a Health Inspector Do? - Video. Health Inspectors help keep the public safe by inspecting a variety of locations for health and safety hazards. They may also be called environmental health specialists or occupation health specialists.", "home / study / science / chemistry / chemistry questions and answers / A 46.2mg Sample Of Phosphorus Reacts With Selenium To Form 135mg Of The Compound. What Is The ... Question: A 46.2mg sample of phosphorus reacts with selenium to form 135mg of the compound. What is the emp... A 46.2mg sample of phosphorus reacts with selenium to form 135mg of the compound.", "1 Researchers have recently discovered that tuna contains the mineral selenium in an unusual form called selenoneine. 2 This form of selenium plays an important role in the health of the fish by serving as an antioxidant and protecting the fish's red blood cells from free radical damage. Researchers have recently discovered that tuna contains the mineral selenium in an unusual form called selenoneine. 2 This form of selenium plays an important role in the health of the fish by serving as an antioxidant and protecting the fish's red blood cells from free radical damage.", "How can I volunteer at Elliot Health System? Who do I contact with billing questions? Does Elliot offer health services to local businesses? How do I find a doctor? Does the Elliot have a Trauma Center? How many beds does the Elliot have? Is the Elliot an accredited hospital? What is the NICU? Does the Elliot have a Pediatric Unit?", "What does the executive branch do in health care? The executive branch has some influence on health care. The branch is able to make or veto laws that directly affect health care and patients." ]

[ "Does anyone have a really convincing logical or biblical argument about this ?\n'This' being, I sincerely hope, the Lord's return.\n\n'This' is exactly the problem, I find personally : that so much consideration of what is termed 'eschatology' is about complex formulations regarding the future : the future of the world, of what presently professes to be 'Jewish', of what presently professes to be 'Christian' and what presently consists, largely, of nations in conflict.\nWhat is forgotten in many of these schemes - is the Lord himself and his return.\nWhat is forgotten, often, is the first five words of the Apocalypse written by the Apostle John :\n\nThe Revelation of Jesus Christ. [Revelation 1:1, KJV.]\n\nIt is he who is revealed in the 'unveiling' and it shall be he who is revealed at the end of time. He, himself, personally.\nAnd what is so often forgotten are the words of Jesus himself about the future :\n\nTake heed that no man deceive you ... [Matthew 24:4, KJV.]\n... be ye also ready ... [Matthew 24:44, KJV.]\n\nSo many schemes are, in fact, deceptive, because they take the mind off of Christ and into a labyrinth of complications about the future. And they dissuade one from being 'ready'.\nThe most convincing logical and biblical argument I know of (which is the crux of the above question) is to be ready for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ : whatever is happening in the world, or in Israel, or in the spectrum of Christian profession, or in the heavens, or on the earth.\n(After all is said and done, I may not live another hour to contemplate these happenings, in any case.)\nTo be ready, personally, in my own walk, my own conduct, my own prayers, my own deeds and my own words (which includes these ones) knowing that all of it will be judged and scrutinized, as it must be according to many scriptures.\nAnd to be ready, corporately, in all my relationships, my associations, my affiliations and all my interactions, knowing that all of these, also, will be judged and scrutinized, as it must be, according to many scriptures." ]

[ "The Main Difference is Whether to View it as Eschatological or Not\n\nThe \"Christian symbolic\" or \"spiritual\" view believes the symbolism represents aspects of the church now (during the present time, in this age), and is a common view of amillennialists. Whereas the \"apocalyptic\" view still sees the vision referring to eschatological (yet future) realities for the church in symbolic form, also generally a variant amillennial view.1\n\nWhile \"amillennial\" means literally \"no millennium\" (believing no 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ per Rev 20:1-6), the view does hold to a form of \"millennium\" in that they take the 1,000 reference as symbolic, referring to the present age (thus why Ezekiel's temple is seen spiritually representing of this age Christian experience),2 or the age to come (i.e. eternity; with Ezekiel's temple spiritually representing after death Christian experience).3\n\nYou can see this difference stated in the blog post by D. A. Carson (accessed 10-7-2014) mentioned by the OP as in the other post, but it could be overlooked. Specifically, the number 3 view he notes he states, \"chapters 40–48 are straightforward symbols of what is fulfilled in the Christian church [present age],\" while of the number 4 view he states, \"chapters 40–48 envisage the messianic future [eschatological age].\"\n\nSome More Specific Ideas\n\nThe following information comes from a presentation I did on amillennial views of Ezekiel's temple for my PhD studies in 2012, and so the descriptive titles (classifying terminology) is my own.4\n\n#1 Present-somatic Essential Symbolism\n\n(A \"Christian symbolic\" or \"spiritual\" view in the present discussion here).\n\nIn this view all details of Ezekiel's temple vision are irrelevant, and only what the interpreter sees as the essential aspects of the tabernacle and temple (in its entire OT context) of value as types symbolizing the body (hence somatic) of Christ and the Church in the present age by the fact that it is the dwelling place of God. Kim Riddlebarger was a one time advocate.5\n\nAccording to Riddlebarger (pages 78-80), the view states that “the New Testament taught that Christ is the new temple,” with respect both to Christ’s own physical body (which certainly is a reference to John 2:19-22, though Riddlebarger does not give such reference) and His mystical body comprising the Church (where he notes 1 Cor 12:12ff, and 2 Cor 6:16). Because of this, he states, “what use remains for a future literal temple?” and later ties John 4:14 and Christ’s being living water to Ezekiel 37 and the water flowing from the sanctuary (which is actually an image found in chapter 47 verse 12, not chapter 37). What he does not do, in any way, is try to give an exposition of Ezekiel chapters 40-43, he just loosely designates the vision to representing the future “temple” of Christ’s body.\n\nProblems: \n\n\nReducing four whole chapters of explicit details to merely a singular point that a temple is where God dwells implies no respect for any of the details given (since they are totally superfluous), making the chapters almost insanely created for all the detail given for no reason. \nThe whole interpretation depends on later Christian revelation to make sense of, and thus the people of Ezekiel's day would have no idea what Ezekiel was really referring to (i.e. no reason to make a leap from temple building being reflective of a temple body).\n\n\nConclusion: The present-somatic essential view lacks any intelligibility from the perspective of an OT saint, and Scriptural sanity. While the essential symbolism itself is not inaccurate when coupled with NT revelation, it cannot be the original meaning to the text. Rather, Christ and later NT revelation used the existing temple imagery (including that of Ezekiel) to build a new picture linking building and body.\n\n#2 Eternal-cosmic Historical Symbolism\n\n(An \"apocalyptic\" view in the present discussion here).\n\nIn this view a broader survey of real or supposed temple imagery throughout Scripture’s recorded history (of which Ezekiel’s vision is but a part), is done for the purpose of pointing to an eternal temple that fills the cosmos. This is Riddlebarger’s later view, outlined in a blog post (accessed 6-15-2012; still active as of this posting on 10-6-2014, though details for any change was not checked).\n\nLike the earlier view it also lacks any exposition of the chapters in Ezekiel or attention to any details&mdash;even though specifically the post in one part is about trying to answer a question on the \"details\" of Ezekiel's vision.6\n\nRiddlebarger's admits his later view relies heavily on G. K. Beale (another amillennialist) as outlined in his book The Temple and the Church's Mission. Riddlebarger's later view is decidedly absent of any references to Christ as the final temple (which he so highly stressed in his earlier view; see #1 above), though Beale himself does still mention that point in his concepts.7\n\nRiddlebarger's post summarizes Beale’s view that Ezekiel’s temple is “a picture of the new earth [emphasis added] as the dwelling of God.” In this later view, Riddlebarger, while speaking of Ezekiel’s vision in comparison to John’s vision in Rev. 21-22, states, “Obviously, the visions are related to each other as type-antitype (earthly language, eschatological fulfillment [i.e. the \"apocalyptic view\" being discussed here]).” What apparently was not obvious to Riddlebarger before is now after reading Beale’s book (of course, we can all change views upon noticing something--but if it was so \"obvious,\" why was it missed before?). Riddlebarger states, “As Beale points out (pp. 346-345 [sic; perhaps he meant 346-355(?) of The Temple and the Church's Mission]), the new heavens and earth are now the holy of holies, as well as the new Jerusalem, and the new Eden.”\n\nIn Beale's article,8 Eden itself is seen as a temple, and the new creation returns back to that, while “Ezekiel and Revelation are developments of the first garden-temple” (9). Beale later states, “at the climax of all history, the inaugurated indwelling presence of God completely fills the entire cosmos, which appears to have been the design of the Ezekiel 40–48 temple all along” (31). So for Beale, Ezekiel’s temple imagery is symbolic of the new creation “temple” after the second advent, but the new creation is itself consisting of only the New Jerusalem, which is the “eschatological tabernacle” (6). \n\nProblems: \n\n\nSame as problem (1) of view #1 above. \nSimilar to problem (2) of view #1 above, but instead of the original audience having nothing to make a \"body temple\" connection, here there is nothing in Ezekiel to indicate making a connection of the imagery to the entire cosmos. \nThe NT picture of the body temple actually becomes secondary to the ultimate cosmic temple.9 \nThe Temple is not the New Jerusalem, though Beale attempts to equate Ezekiel's temple with John's New Jerusalem (both referring to the entirety of the new cosmos). While a few details may match between them (such as the representation of square/cube shapes in measurements), there is a vast difference between a temple and a city. There are also practically no parallels in the details given for each (there are a few). In other words, by again ignoring details of the visions, a few broad similarities have been linked (and in my opinion a poor interpretation made based off that link).\n\n\nConclusion: Eternal-cosmic historical symbolism suffers from similar issues as the present-somatic essential symbolism, only it in fact introduces more issues, even while attempting to bring in a larger Scriptural basis for the view.\n\n#3 Present-kingdom Macroscalar Symbolism\n\n(A differing \"Christian symbolic\" or \"spiritual\" view in the present discussion here).\n\nThis view is related to #1 above, but rather than emphasizing the \"body\" aspect, it views Ezekiel’s temple as a picture of the Church in kingdom community during the present Gospel age, utilizing some attention to larger scale (i.e. macro scale; hence macroscalar) details, while still ignoring micro details of the text.\n\nThe view is represented by Patrick Fairbairn's commentary from the mid 19th century.10 While he does give a broad (not verse by verse) exposition of the chapters, he still tends to avoid details, recognizing mistakes of other amillennialists in “an arbitrary and fanciful kind” which they “entered into the explanations they gave particular parts” (435; see also p. 450). So he avoids fanciful interpretation of the small (micro) details, while arguably still fancifully addresses larger (macro) details, or as he puts it, “the general design” has meaning, whereas the details “have no independent or satisfactory meaning” (447).11 \n\nFairbairn sees the vision of Ezekiel as idealistically spiritual, and representing “the great enlarging of the spiritual Jerusalem and temple, the Church under the Gospel” (437).12 It is a “grand outline of the good in store for God’s Church and people” (445). For him, Ezekiel “speaks … chiefly of Gospel times, but as one still dwelling under the veil and uttering the language of legal times” (449). He reveals through a rhetorical question aimed against literal interpretation that he believes even the first temple and its activities had no “independent value apart from the spiritual truths they symbolically expressed” (446), and later notes that even with some of the “minuteness” of detail it would make it “impossible to construct an architectural plan without taking a good deal for granted” (455).\n\nHis macro scale symbolic meaning is evident. The walls represent sacredness, the gates and guard chambers reveal that the way to God is by holiness (455). The outer court represents a separation to God’s holy service (457). The inner court and its accommodation for sacrifices pictures “the higher elevation to which the Divine kingdom was to attain” (459). The various details are given simply to indicate “a full and everyway complete reconstruction of the house of God,” that is, a non-material reconstruction. He believes Ezekiel’s extra emphasis on detailing all the outbuildings is because of “the due elevation of the Divine community” they symbolize (463). The temple chambers represent that the future service of God would “meet God’s perfect approval” (468) while the extensive outer space around the complex symbolizes “the vast enlargement that was to be given to the kingdom of God in the times of the Messiah” (470). The altar itself and the consecration of it represent “how the work of fellowship and communion with [the Lord] is to proceed on the part of the people” (474)\n\nProblems: \n\n\nStill has issues handing details (small scale ones) like views #1 and #2. \nWhile there is some intelligibility in some of the symbolism that Fairbairn offers (walls do indicate separation and thus could symbolize sacredness; but see (3) following), in what way could an original reader see this as being the Church of the Gospel age? None at all. \nArbitrary symbolism&mdash;Fairbairn ends up fanciful in his macro interpretations just as he criticized others for their interpretations of micro details. He would be hard pressed to find a basis in Scripture for nearly all his symbolic linking of the major architectural elements of the temple complex to the things he has them symbolizing in the Church. Indeed, he offers no such Scriptural support. In this way, his view is worse than either of the previous two views, which at least had some NT or other OT Scriptural links to tie their views to. This is undoubtedly the inevitable hole one falls in when trying to expound any details about the vision as symbolic, and hence why some amillennialists simply avoid exposition of the passage at all. \nA misunderstanding of types&mdash;Fairbairn’s contention that the temple (any temple) itself has no “independent value apart from the spiritual truths” it symbolizes reveals a major misunderstanding of types (note: he considers the temple an “embodied representation of Divine realities” [446] which is a type).13 This is because the antitype pictured by the type depends on the realities of that type to establish the picture. Fairbairn here is saying there really is no reality to what the temple was doing other than being a symbol, and thus it is not really a type at all, but merely a symbol.\n\n\nFinal Conclusion\n\nTwo types of \"Christian\" or \"spiritual\" symbolism were noted above that place the symbols of Ezekiel's temple primarily as reflecting the present reality of the Church&mdash;either as body or kingdom community. The other view fits the \"apocalyptic\" symbolism by focusing on an eschatological end design of the cosmos pictured in Ezekiel's temple.\n\nI'm sure these do not fully exhaust the symbolic ideas that have been attempted from Ezekiel's temple vision, but it should help to understand the difference between the two broad categories that take the vision as primarily symbolic.\n\nAll the views suffer from ignoring the details of the chapters (or symbolizing without support for the symbolic connection), some more so than others. All views face a challenge of how the original message of Ezekiel would have been of any intelligible value to his original audience. All do not take a grammatical-historical (literal) interpretation of Ezekiel's text, and for that reason I personally reject them (but that is my hermeneutic).\n\n\n\nNOTES\n\n1 Theoretically these views about Ezekiel's temple could still be held by a millennialist (one that believes the 1,000 years of Rev 20:1-6 is literal), but practically few if any do. The \"literal (post-exile)\" view noted in the other answer could also be a millennial view, but considers the Ezekiel reference to be already historically fulfilled in the second temple. The \"millennial\" view is purely a millennial view, which is also an eschatological view, but taking the temple and sacrificial system to still be a literal building to perform such services during the 1,000 year period. DISCLAIMER: I am a millennial view advocate.\n\n2 See amillennialist works such as Kim Riddlebarger, A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003), 31; also Oswald T. Allis, Prophecy and the Church (Philadelphia: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1945), 3. In this case the 1,000 years refers symbolically to the present Christian age.\n\n3 This view really sees no time reference at all in the 1,000 years, other than a large number representing eternity, and the time period and eschatological symbolism refers to \"the blessed state of the saints in heaven\" (Allis, 5; but he is speaking not of his own amillennial view, but that of Kliefoth).\n\n4 Since I am a millennialist, I will also include some refuting points against these views because (a) I do not believe they are a correct reading of Scripture, and (b) stating some of the problems shows both some of the similarity and differences in the symbolic approaches, which helps further answer the question.\n\n5 This appears to be Riddlebarger's earlier view given in A Case for Amillennialism, which changed to the second view discussed above. Many of these same ideas can be found in Emanuel Swedenborg's views, who birthed the Christian offshoot of Swedenborgianism. See Robert S. Fischer, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: Compiled from the Theological Works of Emanuel Swedenborg (Boston: The Massachusetts New-Church Union, 1925), 284-301.\n\n6 There, one of the specific questions he is supposedly answering is from a person (Meg) who states, “I've never heard an amil explanation of the cooking pots and rooms for slaughtering the sacrifices of the people, and the chamber for the prince &amp; his sacrifice,” that is, the details of Ezekiel’s vision. But again Riddlebarger avoids the details, claiming, “I don't have the space to cover all of the details that Meg mentions.” Like space is at a premium on a web page! This is simply an avoiding of having to handle the details, which is exceptionally difficult (and essentially purely speculative) in all the \"symbolic\" views. The only allusion to any detail Riddlebarger gives is the fact that Ezekiel’s description of “temple utensils” are just to picture things in “earthly terms\" (an exceptionally vague answer).\n\n7 See G. K. Beale, “Eden, the Temple, and the Church's Mission in the New Creation,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 48 n. 1 (March 2005; elec. ed. 2009):19ff. This article is Beale's own summary of the view expressed in the book Riddlebarger mentions, and Riddlebarger appears to have correctly understood the view when compared to this article.\n\n8 Ibid. All parenthetical page numbers are references to this article.\n\n9 (All references also from Beale's work.) Beale has a self-defeating argument on his hands. He wants to agree with other amillennialists that “Israel's temple was a symbolic shadow pointing to Christ and the Church as its end-time substance” (20), and that, “our contention is that Christ not only fulfills all that the OT temple and its prophecies represent but that he is the unpacked meaning for which the temple existed all along” (27). Yet this exalting of Christ and His Church as the temple suddenly gets displaced by Beale (and is perhaps while Riddlebarger does not even note it), who then states that Christ and the Church are “a magnified view of the beginning form of the new creational temple” (27). That is, Christ and the Church are not the final temple, and thus not really the “end-time substance,” but rather the new creation itself is that substance, “the final form of the temple” (27). Perhaps the nail in the coffin of this view would be Rev. 21:22, which explicitly states “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” How much clearer could it be that the only “physical” temple in eternity is God Himself manifesting in creation and the Lamb, Christ, God incarnate eternally as man? The new cosmos itself is not the temple.\n\n10 Patrick Fairbairn, An Exposition of Ezekiel, 1851 (Minneapolis: Klock &amp; Klock Christian Publishers, 1979), specifically pages 431-475 regarding chapters 40-43 of Ezekiel. Parenthetical page references are to this.\n\n11 It is almost incredible that of Ezekiel 41:15 Fairbairn notes “the account as to details is remarkably general and obscure; and why then given at all?” (466). So he ignores most of the specific, non-obscure details of these chapters, but then wonders at why a “general” picture is given without details at this one point? What!?!?—that makes no logical sense!\n\n12 Such an idea of “enlargement” is evident in Beale’s view as well, though for him, it is not about the Gospel being spread, but rather about the actual locality of the temple, which enlarges to the entire recreated universe.\n\n13 All types have a basis in a real, historic person, event, or thing. They must indeed become embodied in reality before they could be legitimately considered a type for anything. So it cannot be a type for Fairbairn because the temple has not existed yet in reality (not ever become embodied, i.e. built), nor ever would be.", "Biblical and systematic theology are two different ways of studying the Bible. The main difference is what the theologies study.\n\nBiblical theology is focused on studying a portion of the Bible and how that relates to the rest of the Bible. An example may be specifically studying a portion of Isaiah. The person studying may look back at what led up to one of Isaiah's prophecies and how that prophecy is fulfilled in Christ.\n\nSystematic theology focuses on different topics and studies what the Bible says about that topic. An example here may be studying the attributes of God. A person studying the attributes would start by finding all the scripture which mentions the attributes of God. After having all the scriptural references, they could then build a doctrine based on that scripture.\n\nThese methods of theological study are complimentary. While biblical theology may give you insight into a specific portion of scripture, it may not be the best way of building a doctrine since it may not give you all that scripture says on a specific topic. On the other hand, systematic theology can give you a very detailed view on a topic, but that view can be enhanced by providing even more context to the specific scripture which discusses a view.", "You should stick to a single container so that you don't need to set up different tags for each section of your site. However, in GA, I would probably set up a separate view for each section, and also a rollup view. You can easily use include filters to make sure you have one view containing only the front-end section, one for just the admin section, and finally one for everything (in addition to best practise views like Test and Raw).", "The latest argument in Evangelical theological circles is that we should not consider this part of the original gospel.\n\nThe ESV Study Bible is a Bible published in the last few years and all of the scholarship and notes comes from a wide swath of evangelical theologians and academics. Its study note on this passage provides a good summary of this view:\n\n\n 7:53–8:11 There is considerable doubt that this story is part of\n John’s original Gospel, for it is absent from all of the oldest\n manuscripts. But there is nothing in it unworthy of sound doctrine. It\n seems best to view the story as something that probably happened\n during Jesus’ ministry but that was not originally part of what John\n wrote in his Gospel. Therefore it should not be considered as part of\n Scripture and should not be used as the basis for building any point\n of doctrine unless confirmed in Scripture.\n\n\nI have personally come to subscribe to this point of view.\n\n\n\nCrossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2039). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.", "Here are some sources. \n\n\nHindu scriptures - Best site to get Hindu Scriptures in Sanskrit and English. This site has all main scriptures such as Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas and many other Ancient Scientific literature. (This site is getting revamped now with new design. Click on hinduscriptures.in to read introduction to Hindu scriptures\nInternet Archive - This is another best site to get scriptures for free. Sanskrit ebooks and Hinduism ebooks have index of useful books uploaded to Archive.org.\nSacred Texts Hinduism - This site has good collection of scriptures such as four Vedas (separately in both Sanskrit and English), Mahabharata, some Puranas. Most of the works were translated by Foreign authors.\nSanskrit Documents - This site has an excellent collection of various scriptures (original Sanskrit verses) and many useful sites to get Hindu Scriptures, also Sanskrit Learning resources and processing tools. Some notable useful resources linked are:\n\n\nList of digital repository of Scanned Books \nSanskrit e-texts, literature, scriptures, and stotras available elsewhere and links to Scriptures and Stotras \nRelated sites and Book Stores.\n\nBhagavadgita.us - This site has Bhagavad Gita with commentaries from eminent Acharyas such as Adishankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhva and Gaudiya Philosophers. (Only site of Bhagavadgita with multiple commentaries).\nHolybooks Hinduism - For all kind of Hindu Scriptures in short size including works of modern Yogis.\nShankaracharya.org - Best site for various topics such as Advaita Basics, Advaita Discussions, English translation of some works of Adi Shankaracharya, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras.\nVeda base - Best site for Srimad Bhagavatam and Gaudiya Vaishnava literature.\nVedanta Shastras Library - Great site to learn Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmasutras. - For English translation of Vedanta Prashthanatrayi, Vedas, Epics, Purans, Literature of Adi Shankara, Ramkrishna and Krishnamurti and some stotras, mantras and rituals, stories etc.\nTirumala ebooks - For books on Tirumala Temple, Visistadvaita Philosophy, Regional books (especially Telugu, Tamil and Hindi).\nValmikiramayana.net and Valmiki Ramayana from IITK - Former one has unabridged Ramayana without uttara Kahnda while latter one has Verses of Ramayana in major Indian Languages.\nMahabharatha Resources - For complete Mahabhartha including Hari Vamsa Parva.\nShaivam.org - For scriptures of Lord Shiva and Shaivism.\nHimalayanacademy.com - For Scriptures related to Agamas, Hindu Scriptures, Shiva-centric texts and other Spiritual books \nVedic reserve of Maharshi University and GRETIL - Former one has all Hindu Scriptures in Sanskrit (Devanagari) while latter one has Scriptures in IAST (Unicode (UTF-8)).\nWisdom Library Hinduism - For Patanjali Yogasutras, Manusmriti, Brahma Sutras and some Upanishads.\nWestBengal Dspace - For Puranas in English language and Bengali.\nadvaita-vedanta.org - For books and information about Advaita Vedanta including complete works of Sri Adishankaracharya.\nAstrojyoti.com - For various Gitas, tantras, Jyotishya books and abridged versions of puranas.\nAghori.it - This site has information about Tantra, Sri Chakra, Chakras and other Gitas.\nthevaaram.org - Complete Tirumurai of 12 Volumes with original verses and translation into various languages by Dharmapuram Adheenam.\nBelur Math - Complete works of Sri Swami Vivekananda.\nTelugu Bhakthi - For scriptures in Telugu language.\nHinduonline.co - For scriptures in Sanskrit\nVedarahasya.net - This site contains a few articles of Sri Maha Perival, translations of prime vedic scriptures, some rare photographs and few interesting links to other sites in the Internet\nKamakoti.org - This site has works of Sri Adishankaracharya, history of Kanchi Peetam, essence of Puranas and many other books on Sanatana Dharma. This site also provides Scriptures and other books in Telugu and Tamil.\n\n\nWorks of Adi Shankaracharya\nEssence of Puaranas\nUnabridged Puranas in Sanskrit and Telugu (Telugu Script).\n\nDigital Library of India\nDigital Corpus of Sanskrit: Only Sanskrit scriptures.\nAncient Voice\nGita press IITK: Various translations and commentaries on Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Other Gitas, Brahma Sutra, Yog Sutra, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramacharitmanas and Principle Upanishads available in Sanskrit and in some Indian languages.\nPuranic Encyclopedia (nitaaiveda.com) or Puranic Encyclopedia (archive.org)\nsanskritweb.net - For Vedas and few other scriptures in Devanagari (Text searchable formats).\nVedpuran.net - For scriptures in Hindi and other languages. It contains mainly abridged versions.\nliterature.awgp.org - (From Gayatri Parivar) For books, magazines and articles related to various Hinduism topics. Also various Shruti and Smriti treatise in Hindi.\nacharya.org - Sri Vaishnava books.\nHoly Teachings of Vedanta - [pdf] Vedanta text e.g. Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras etc. all with various commentaries and English translation. Ramayana, Yoga Vashishtha, Srimad Bhagavatam and many more books.\nDarshana Press - Word to word English translation of Shad Darshana (six school of Hindu philosophy) Sutras.\n\n\nSome more additional Sites (sites of Yogis and Acharyas):\n\n\nSwamisivanda.org, dlshq.org and Swamikrishnanada.org - Best sites of Divine life society to learn various Yoga techniques and to get books on Spirituality and Philosophy.\nSriramanamaharshi.org - For books and teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi.\nParamahamsa Yogananda - For Kriya Yoga and Philosophy. \nsriaurobindoashram.org - For writings of Sri Aurobindo\n\n\nNote: Please update this answer if you know any online sources that are out of copyright. Don't add another answer.\n\nIf you want to save this answer as PDF, visit How do I get/print a particular Q/A in printer-friendly format?", "I too am trying to figure this out, the best I've come up with is toggling the view off and on before synchronizing. So my key-in for syncing view 1 is:\nview toggle 1;view toggle 1;googleearth synch\n\nthis would work too:\nview off 1;view on 1;googleearth synch", "About the best you can do in LR is to check \"Treat JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos\" under 'Preferences--->General' and view each separately.\n\n'Photo--->Stacking--->Auto-Stack by Capture Time' will auto arrange each JPEG/Raw set next to each other.", "Hindu scriptures, including the Mahabharata which contains the Bhagavad Gita, were originally passed down through countless generations via oral tradition. But nowadays the main source we have on them (other than the limited oral tradition that still goes on in some ashrams) is via written manuscripts, and manuscripts had to be copied and recopied as the material they were written on (either bark in North India or palm leaves in South India) was of poor quality. So as it happens, the best manuscripts we have today of the Bhagavad Gita are not the manuscripts of the Mahabharata, but rather manuscripts of commentaries of the Bhagavad Gita, because a commentary needed to quote accurately the verses it was commenting on.\n\nThe famous Adi Shankaracharya wrote a commentary (the Bhagavad Gita Bhashya) which quoted 693 of the 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita, so the \"Shankara recension\", the version of the Bhagavad Gita quoted in his commentary, as preserved in the South Indian manuscripts, has served as the accepted reference for verses in the Bhagavad Gita - it's the one relied upon whenever people make translations of the Bhagavad Gita or the Mahabarata (since the Mahabharata has to include the Bhagavad Gita).\n\nBut in parallel with the South Indian manuscripts of Adi Shankaracharya, there is another commentary on the Bhagavad Gita that has been diligently preserved in manuscripts - the commentary of the Kashmiri Shaivite philosopher Abhinavagupta. He commented on relatively few verses, but some of the verses he quotes are verses that we otherwise don't have from any other source. The version of the Bhagavad Gita quoted in Abhinavagupta's commentary, as passed down in Kashmiri manuscripts, is known as the \"Kashmiri recension.\" In the introduction to this book, Shripad Krishna Belvalkar describes some of the differences between the Shankara and Kashmiri recensions. This mostly has to do with relatively minor grammatical and syntactical changes that lead Belvalkar to conclude that the Kashmiri recension is probably a distortion by later scribes of the original text of the Bhagavad Gita, which in his view would be closer to the Shankara recension.\n\nBut the more important difference is the fourteen extra verses unique to the Kashmiri recension. These would be the only thing that could possibly be called by the term \"Bhagavad Gita apocrypha\". That's really tiny, but you have to consider that the Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse portion of a 100 thousand-verse epic poem, so there's not much room for apocrypha. In any case, if you want to know what these verses say, they're given in Sanskrit in the appendix of Belvalkar's book. But if you don't know Sanskrit, you can read Swami Lakshmanjoo's brief commentary on the extra verses. (Lakshmanjoo apparently believed that these few extra verses contained some important mystical truths that only the Kashmiri Shaivites were in possession of.)", "I don't believe that a comprehensive answer to this question is possible at this time.\nMany denominations refrain from even identifying a preferred eschatological position, let alone require their adherants to support it, so adherence statistics won't cut the mustard. To answer the question properly would require professional surveying on eschatological views. The organization most likely to do have done this is the Pew Research Centre, and they don't seem to have been asking the specific questions that would pin down a person's views sufficiently; the closest related questions that I could find that they have been asking are:\n\nDo you believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ--that is, that Jesus will return to earth someday, or don't you believe this? -- Pew Forum on Religion &amp; Public Life/Pew Research Center for the People &amp; the Press Survey, Jul, 2006\n\nand\n\nSome people say that the state of Israel is a fulfillment of the biblical prophesy about the second coming of Jesus. Do you believe that this is true, or not? -- Pew Forum on Religion &amp; Public Life/Pew Research Center for the People &amp; the Press Survey, Jul, 2003 &amp; 2006\n\nThese questions are not only insufficient to pin down eschatological views into the desired categories, but they haven't been maintained within their annual survey.\nThis leaves more ad hoc surveys with questionable sampling methods, like this one that gives figures for Evangelicals:\n\nA majority of evangelical leaders believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth and then reign with his followers for 1,000 years, a new survey shows.\nThis end times theology is called premillennialism and 65 percent of surveyed evangelical leaders identify with it.\nAs part of its monthly poll, the National Association of Evangelicals surveyed its board of directors, which include the CEOs of denominations and representatives of a broad array of evangelical organizations, on their eschatological beliefs.\n&quot;It’s in our human nature to want to prepare ourselves – physically, emotionally, spiritually – for what might be ahead,&quot; said NAE President Leith Anderson.\nThe poll, released this week, found that 13 percent of those surveyed are amillennialists – believing that the non-literal millennial reign of Christ is happening now as Christ reigns at the right hand of the Father.\nFour percent believe Christ's second coming will occur after the 1,000-year period during which the nations will be progressively converted to Christianity. This is postmillennial theology.\nSeventeen percent, meanwhile, identify with &quot;other&quot; end times theology.\n-- Christian Post, Poll: What Evangelical Leaders Believe about the End Times, Christian Post Reporter Audrey Barrick, March 9, 2011 (emphasis added)", "Ok I think I found one way to do this. Not sure if it's the best way so I'm open to other answers. Here's what I did. First I enabled View -> Show Grid and View -> Snap to Grid. Then I selected the path tool. Then I clicked once for each of the 6 corners of my shape starting at the top left corner and working my way around clockwise. Then I held down the control key and click again on the first corner to close the shape. Then I went to Edit-> Stroke Path. Voila!", "The way you have it right now there are 3 edit buttons and it is not really clear what modifies which until the user clicks, opens and then sees it.\n\nI suggest you use only one edit button which switches between view mode and edit mode. Then in the edit mode you can display the different editable areas to the user as you think it best fits. Having a button to edit each individual section (from the view mode) might be easier for the power user but not for the less experienced user.", "In Drupal 8, best practice is to use hook_views_query_alter() in MYMODULE.views_execution.inc file. If instead it is placed in MYMODULE.views.inc, it will be executed only when rebuilding the views cache, causing your view to function properly once and then not subsequently.\n\nMYMODULE.views_execution.inc file should have this structure...\n\nuse Drupal\\views\\ViewExecutable;\nuse Drupal\\views\\Plugin\\views\\query\\QueryPluginBase;\n\n/**\n * Implements hook_views_query_alter().\n */\nfunction MYMODULE_views_query_alter(ViewExecutable $view, QueryPluginBase $query) {\n\n // Only for my_view view.\n if ($view-&gt;id() == 'my_view') {\n // some action\n }\n\n}\n\n\nRef: views_test_data.views_execution.inc", "Gantt chart is the best management tool you should look for while dealing with resources, timeline, and events.\nThe resource allocation view in Gantt chart helps you to display the events assigned for each resource individually along the timeline. \n\nThe Syncfusion Gantt chart allows you to view the events assigned for each resource in your organization on the fly with its rich set of features.\n\nThe resource allocation view in Gantt chart also helps you to check which resource is over-allocated with events and which resource is available on a given timeline.\nAnd you can add or remove an event from the timeline using the add and edit toolbar options available in the Gantt chart.\n\nYou can find an example below with resource allocation view in Gantt chart which may satisfy your requirement.\n\nhttps://jsplayground.syncfusion.com/5ymgtgye\n\nRegards,\n\nBharath.", "A premillenialist would say, \"No.\"\n\nTim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling Left Behind series of novels, wrote a book called Revelation Unveiled, a commentary on the book of Revelation from a premillenial, pre-tribulation viewpoint. The book essentially provides a scriptural basis for the Left Behind series.\n\nThere are several chapters in the book devoted to the first few verses in Revelation 20, discussing different viewpoints and defending the premillennial view. In a chapter titled \"The First Resurrection,\" he talks about this \"believer's resurrection\" occurring in three phases.\n\nPhase 1 is the resurrection of the church age saints. These are Christians who have died from the time of Jesus through the time of the Rapture (which he places before the tribulation). This is the resurrection described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, with the Rapture happening immediately after.\n\nPhase 2 is the resurrection of the Old Testament saints: those who were servants of God before the time of Jesus. Based on Daniel 12:1-2, he places this resurrection at the end of the tribulation (still before the millennium).\n\nPhase 3 is the resurrection of the tribulation saints. These are the people described in Revelation 20:4: those that had lived during the tribulation, but were martyred and did not worship the beast. This occurs shortly after Phase 2.\n\nThese three groups, which together make up all believers of all time, are all considered part of the \"first resurrection\" described in Revelation 20:6. Mr. LaHaye places the timing of all of these within a 7 year period.\n\nThe \"rest of the dead\" mentioned in Revelation 20:5 are the unbelievers of all ages. They are not resurrected until after the millennium, when they are judged (Revelation 20:11-15).", "As a prior answer has examined where Enoch failed in canonicity, this one shall turn to the Book of Revelation to determine what factors led the church to recognize its canonicity. \n\nThough a popular genre, few apocalyptic works found their way into the New Testament canon. The most obvious exception comes to the modern world as The Revelation to John or The Apocalypse of John. Though a few books have apocalyptic sections, no other New Testament work is apocalyptic from the first to last verse.1\n\nHistorical Background\n\nBefore any work can be properly studied, its historical background must be examined. Revelation easily places itself within the apocalyptic genre by its opening verse (\"the apocalypse of Jesus Christ\") and by following the accepted apocalyptic characteristics with only two exceptions: pseudonymity and statements of authority.2 Other than those two factors, Revelation contains all the characteristics of the apocalyptic genre: 1) dualism; 2) complete determinism; 3) life beyond history; and 4) imminent expectation of the eschaton. Furthermore, Revelation is also prophecy (Rev. 22:18f) and an epistle (Rev. 2 and 3). This section will speak of Revelation's author, location, date, and sitz im leben.\n\nAuthorship\n\nWhereas Enoch had at least five authors working over several centuries, Revelation has one author and comes from the first century. However, scholars debate the exact identity of the John who wrote the Apocalypse. Briefly, they give four possibilities: 1) John the Apostle; 2) John the Elder; 3) John Mark; 4) an unknown/pseudonymous John. As Revelation displays no similarities with Mark's gospel in style or grammar the third option has never been a serious consideration.3 Likewise, an unknown or pseudonymous John would be unlikely to gain major acceptance in the churches. Indeed, a pseudonymous work had little chance of becoming canonical.4 Therefore, only John the Apostle and John the Elder remain as serious considerations. Of these two, the early church held the same author wrote the Gospel of John and the Revelation, namely, John the Apostle. Though not unanimous, this view prevailed.\n\nJudging the book on its own merits gives a similar story. From the beginning, the author identifies himself as \"John\" with no qualifying title. Obviously, the area knew John so well that he had no need of any further title—his own name gave authority to the work.5 If choosing a pseudonym, the author would have wanted to qualify which John he meant. \n\nAlso from internal evidence, one may deduce the author is a Palestinian Jew turned Christian. The author shows an affinity and familiarity for the Jewish Scripture that few converts would have had. Revelation contains a higher percentage of Old Testament allusions in its verses than any other New Testament work (278 allusions in 404 verses).6 Also lending credence to the Jewishness of the author, Revelation uses many semitisms and grammatical solecisms that a Greek would be unlikely to use.7 \n\nThose who argue for John the Elder say that Revelation contains too many differences in style and grammar from John's Gospel and Epistles. Dionysius used such an argument in A.D. 247.8 However, the style differences may be answered by the different genre or the use of a different scribe. Furthermore, Revelation and the Gospel contain many similarities in motif, Christology, eschatology, and expressions.9 Based on these facts, this paper concludes that John the Apostle wrote the Revelation.\n\nLocation\n\nJohn wrote the book of Revelation while exiled to the Isle of Patmos.10 From the Isle, John sent Revelation as an epistle to the seven churches under his care in Asia minor. One notes his choice of which churches to address. He did not choose only large churches or only small churches. He chose some wealthy and some poor. However, all seven lay along a major Roman trade route in the province of Asia Minor. By writing to these seven, John's book would travel fastest and spread farther.\n\nDate and Occasion\n\nLike other Apocalyptic works, Revelation comes from a time of crisis.11 Though John writes little of history before Christ, he tells enough of the situation that the modern reader can determine the crisis with a little effort. Commentators usually fall within two dates for Revelation: A.D. 65-68 and A.D. 96. Both dates require examination here.\n\nThe Late Date (A.D. 96)\n\nIf Revelation is written late, the book aims to encourage Christians during an imperial persecution. Those who argue for a late date to Revelation use both internal and external evidence. As external evidence they point to the early church writers like Iraneus (A.H. 5.30.3), Victorinus of Pettau (Apocalypse 10.11), Eusebius (H.E. 3.17-18), Clement of Alexandria (Quis Dives Salvetur 42), and Origen (Matthew 16.6) who all agree John wrote during the time of Domitian.12 Further, late-date advocates point out how several of the churches addressed in the first three chapters had historical circumstances that do not match an early date for Revelation.\n\nFirst, several of the churches addressed had lost their ardor for Christ, and heresies had infected others. Churches usually do not lose their ardor or find heresies in their first generation.13 Second, John calls Laodicia rich, but an earthquake almost leveled the city in A.D. 60. The city took many years to rebuild its wealth. Third, the church at Smyrna was not founded until A.D. 64, so it cannot have endured for a long time (as Revelation 2:8-11 seems to imply) if only three years old.14 \n\nLikewise, those who claim a late date for Revelation point out that the emperor worship described in chapters 13-20 matches best with Domitian.15 Though some earlier emperors proclaimed themselves gods, Domitian took the title \"Lord and God,\" usurping kyrios a title of Christ.16\n\nAnother piece of evidence comes from the use of \"Babylon\" as a code word for a city in Revelation. Though early daters say Babylon refers to Jerusalem, 4 Ezra, 2 Baruch, and The Sibylline Oracles all refer to Rome as Babylon. Jews and Christians linked the cities together because both powers had sacked the holy city.17 In a similar manner, the Pauline epistles refer to several heretical groups but never to the heresies plaguing the churches of Asia Minor, the Nicolatians. Both pieces of evidence point to a later first century date for Revelation.\n\nAn Early Date\n\nThose who argue for an early date tend to see Revelation as a polemic against the Jews who rejected the Messiah.18 They see at least partial fulfillment in the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Though they read Revelation 11:1-2 literally with its temple measurements, the measurements better match Ezekiel's eschatological temple.\n\nOther problems come from the early date. For instance, the early daters insist that the number 666 refers to taking the Hebrew letters of Caesar Nero(n) and adding them up in a gematria. Though the arithmetic does indeed come to 666, such a view supposes a knowledge of Hebrew in a thoroughly gentile audience. Likewise, with little to no justification in the Greek, they tend to read Revelation 1:7's \"all the tribes of the earth will mourn Him\" as \"all the tribes of Israel will mourn Him.\"19 \n\nBased on the evidence, this paper concludes that John wrote Revelation about A.D. 96 during Domitian's anti-Christian persecution, which John saw would expand in later years. Thus, Revelation serves to encourage to Christians facing their first major persecution that the Messiah will be victorious over their enemies. However, it also warns them of persecution for keeping the faith.\n\nConsideration of Canonicity\n\nRevelation had the longest and hardest fight of any book to be recognized as inspired. Though numerous early authors quoted and approved of it, others argued against Revelation.\n\nHistory of Inclusion and Exclusion\n\nRevelation appears in canonical listings as early as the Muratorian fragment in the second century. Iraneus quotes it often and approvingly, even making Revelation the basis of his “already-but- not-yet” eschatology.20 Cyprian, Clement of Alexandira, and Origen all accept the book. Likewise, though Dionysius interprets the book allegorically and rejects apostolic authorship, he accepts it as canonical.21 \n\nOn the other hand, many in the early centuries disputed Revelation’s place in the canon. Marcion rejects Revelation because of the numerous Old Testament references in the book. Gaius and the Algoloi also reject it because the Montanists use Revelation so often.22 Eusebius places Revelation in both his \"universally acknowledged\" and \"spurios\" lists. Both times he qualifies his judgement with \"should it seem right.\" Chrysostom never quotes from Revelation, leaving the modern world no clue to his thoughts on the book of Revelation. Gregory of Nanzianus, and Cyril leave it out of their listings of the canon. Moreover, the Nestorian churches still leave Revelation out of their canon.23 Revelation has never held a very secure place in the Eastern Orthodox canon. The Syriac Peshitta omits it, and the Council of Laodicia did not recognize it.24 As late as 850, the Eastern Church listed the book as disputed. They still do not read from Revelation regularly. Greek commentaries written in the fifth and sixth centuries probably helped Revelation gain acceptance in the Eastern empire.25 \n\nEven though the East had trouble with the book, the West recognized Revelation as inspired fairly early. Jerome, Ambrose, Rufinus, Augustine, and Innocent all accept it as canonical.26 The Third Council of Carthage (397) listed as canonical, and at the Third Constantinople Council officially ratified Revelation in 680. The book then follows a bumpy path into the modern world. Calvin could not understand the book and refused to write a commentary. Though Luther leaves Revelation in his translation, he sees it as \"unapostolic\" and cannot find Christ.27 \n\nFactors in Consideration of Canonicity\n\nAs said above, the early Church did not place any book in the canon haphazardly. In summary, a canonical work has to contain adaptable wisdom on how to live at any time.28 However, three other factors come into play: the book must 1) come from Apostolic circle in the first century; 2) contain only orthodox teachings; and 3) show inspiration.\n\nAs discussed above, John the Apostle did write Revelation. Though debated early, the view of John the Apostle as author prevailed, much to the delight of Justin Martyr, Bishop Melito of Sardis, and Theophilus of Antioch who all defended the Apostle as author.29 After the view became accepted, the West almost stopped arguing against Revelation.\n\nHaving settled the question of authorship, Revelation also came under attack because of its theology. The Eastern church did not like the earthly eschatology taught in the book. Many in the West viewed Revelation as obscure and used it to speculate the future. To combat these positions, the East interpreted it allegorically and Augustine argued that Revelation be included only with an admonition against using the book speculatively (City of God XX.6-9).30 Eventually, the Church recognized Revelation as inspired.\n\nAssessment of Determining Factors\n\nAs with all books, inspiration determined Revelation's canonicity. Though one can never empirically prove inspiration, it can be disproven. For example, had Revelation attempted to deceive people by being pseudonymous, one could almost guarantee the non-inspiration. However, the Church became convinced of the Apostolic origin of the book. Likewise, had Revelation contained doctrines contrary to already accepted Scripture, the Church would have seen the Holy Spirit was not behind it.\n\nOn the other hand, Revelation contains much to recommend its inspiration. The book more than adequately fulfilled Luther's rule of \"Does it teach Christ.\" The book itself claims to be Scripture, and as the author was an Apostle, one is hard pressed to think the author might be wrong on such an important matter. Furthermore, the book contains adaptable wisdom on how to live at any time. Revelation has a message for both its original audience and today's reader.31 The book encourages readers from all times to hold fast to the faith while warning of the persecution to come later. \n\nUnlike First Enoch, which showed its lack of inspiration by contradicting orthodox doctrine and presenting a faulty soteriology, Revelation fulfilled the criteria for inspiration more than adequately. The book comes from the first-century, Apostolic circle, sustains and expands orthodox teaching, and has a message for believers beyond its first audience. Beyond these three traits, Revelation has some undefinably characteristics commending it to Christian readers.\n\nEnd Notes\n\n1 For a differing viewpoint, see Robert L. Thomas “A Classical Dispensationalist View of Revelation” in Four Views on the Book of Revelation, ed. C. Marvin Pate (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 181 who defines the book as simple prophecy based on Revelation 22:18ff.\n\n2 The other apocalyptic writers see themselves as heirs to the prophets and not prophets. Revelation’s claims to being a prophecy (10:11; 22:18ff) as well as its apocalyptic genre and the seven small epistles within make it unique in the ancient world.\n\n3 Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977), 9.\n\n4 Bruce, The Canon of Scripture, 261; G. K. Beale The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999), 34.\n\n5 Collins, John J. The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1998), 271.\n\n6 B. S. Childs, The New Testament as Canon: An Introduction (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press International, 1994), 509.\n\n7 G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, 35. Edward McDowell, The Meaning and Message of the Book of Revelation. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1951), 11.\n\n8 Scott Gambrill Sinclair, Revelation: A Book for the Rest of Us (Berkely, California: BIBAL Press, 1992), 25; Bruce Metzger, Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1993), 14.\n\n9 See C. Martin Pate, “A Progressive Dispensationalist View of Revelation” in Four Views on the Book of Revelation, 171-172 for a chart favorably comparing some of the key elements in John’s Gospel and Revelation.\n\n10 Amazingly, this author found little if any dissent to this view. \n\n11 As the nature of the crisis determines the date, this section will combine what was two sections in Enoch.\n\n12 G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, 19.\n\n13 Edward McDowell, The Meaning and Message of the Book of Revelation, 4.\n\n14 G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, 16.\n\n15 Henry Barclay Swete, Commentary on Revelation: The Greek Text with Introduction, Notes, and Indexes, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1977), ci.\n\n16 G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, 5.\n\n17 Ibid., 18-19.\n\n18 Kenneth Gentry, Jr. “A Preterist View of Revelation” in Four Views, 51.\n\n19 Ibid., 48.\n\n20 G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, 20.\n\n21 Bruce, The Canon of Scripture, 85, 191, 192, 195.\n\n22 D. A. Carson, Douglas J. Moo, and Leon Morris. An Introduction to the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 480.\n\n23 Bruce, The Canon of Scripture, 198, 212-215.\n\n24 Carson, Moo, and Morris, An Introduction to the New Testament, 481.\n\n25 Swete, Commentary on Revelation, cxvii.\n\n26 Ibid., cxviii.\n\n27 Carson, Moo, and Morris, An Introduction to the New Testament, 481. Luther later changed his mind. With Revelation’s references to the Lamb who was slain in chapter 5 and the vision of Christ coming in glory in chapter 19, one wonders why Luther could not find Christ in it.\n\n28 James A. Sanders, Canon and Community, 28.\n\n29 Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1990), 930.\n\n30 Many before and since have used Revelation as a blueprint of the future (See, Marvin C. Pate, Four Views on the Book of Revelation, and Arthur W. Wainwright, Mysterious Apocalpyse (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1993), 21-87 for a history of the millennial interpretation to Revelation). Such use of Revelation is wrong if, as Sinclair says, “[Revelation’s] authority came from Christian leaders who insisted Revelation must not be used for futuristic speculation” (Scott Sinclair, Revelation: A Book for the Rest of Us, 27) However, if Revelation’s authority comes not from the Church but from God, then the fourth century Church’s opinion on the book’s interpretation matters does not bind later believers. The job of the early Church was to recognize Revelation’s authority and place it in the canon, not to dictate its interpretation for all eternity.\n\n31 For this reason, this author now holds an “already-but-not-yet” view of Revelation.", "Sridhara Swami says in the introduction to his commentary of Srimad Bhagavad Gita the following:\n\n\n (1) I bow down to the wonderful Madhava (Sri Krishna), the embodiment\n of supreme bliss, who with one mouth expressed what had been taught\n with dexterity by Sesha through innumerable mouths.\n \n (2) After respectfully bowing down to Vishnu and Shiva, the Lord of\n the universe, and being guided by devotion to them, I am writing this\n commentary called Subodhini on the Gita.\n \n (3) After scrutinizing according to my lights the views of the\n commentator (Sankara), and likewise the words of his expounders, I am\n beginning this commentary on the Gita.\n \n (4) This gloss called Subodhini, a mere intelligent reading of which\n elucidates the meaning of the Gita, should always be meditated upon by\n the wise.\n\n\nCommentary by Sridhar Swami of Srimad Bhagavad Gita 1.1 translated by Swami Vireswarananda\n\nIt is clear that Sridhara Swami mentions that he read Sankara's commentary of the Gita to write his gloss. That would suggest that he was an Advaitist. There is a catch, however.\n\n\n ...yet his leaning towards devotion as opposed to knowledge is so very\n marked that the orthodox section at first refused to accept his\n commentary as authoritative. For a decision, the commentary was placed\n before the Lord Visweswara (according to some, before the Lord\n Bindumadhava) in Banaras, and tradition says that the Lord appeared in\n a dream and gave the verdict thus;\n \n \"I know the true teaching of the scriptures, and so does Suka. Vyasa\n may or may not know. But Sridhara knows everything through the grace\n of the Lord Nrisimha.\"\n \n After that the orthodox section withdrew their objections.\n\n\nPreface by Swami Vireswarananda to the English translation of Srimad Bhagavad Gita by Sridhara Swami\n\nI think it would be correct to say that Sridhara Swami was an Advaitist with leaning towards devotion. It would be a stretch to say anything more.", "A Hex Editor that supports binary templates to parse and view data is probably the best tool to view where a sqlite database starts and ends. Then you can copy these hex bytes out to a seperate file and view as database from there on.\n\nAn example of such a hex editor is 010 editor and here is an example of a sqlite binary template for sqlite.", "As long as you have the appropriate check constraints on the date column on each of the underlying tables, you can create a partitioned view:\n\nCREATE VIEW dbo.2015Sales\nAS\nSELECT date, sales FROM dbo.Jan2015Sales\nUNION ALL\nSELECT date, sales FROM dbo.Feb2015Sales\n...\n\n\nThis would allow the UNION ALL to be hidden behind the view, and SQL Server can eliminate irrelevant tables (based on your check constraints) from the query plan if the query explicitly specifies a date range.\n\nHowever, partitioned tables, in which all of the data would be in one table and no UNION ALL would be needed, is the more common approach.\n\nThat said, there are a lot of potential performance implications for either approach, so it's best to test on your specific data and workload. For example, partitioned views frequently yield query plans with extraneous Concatenation operators, a situation that may reduce the accuracy of the Cardinality Estimator (especially in SQL 2012 and earlier). And partitioned tables, while very useful and probably what you want, do come with a couple potential downsides as well.", "The Bible itself is replete with commands that we are to have a reverent fear of God that is to coexist with our love of God. The fear of God is a recurrent theme in Scripture, and it is commended and linked directly with holiness. Nave's Topical Bible, for example, shows several subtopics and a multitude of individual references for the topic \"Fear of God.\" See also the prophet's experience in Isaiah, chapter six.\n\nThat being said, the short answer to your question is: yes, the fears that you list, and many others, seem plainly reasonable for sinful human beings -- that is to say, all human beings. Prior to entering heaven, however, the believer is changed so that those fears cease to be relevant. Here's why.\n\nThe Christian \"ordo salutis,\" or \"order of salvation,\" has been developed from a close study of the Scriptures. While different traditions have slightly different teachings about the number and order of the steps, a frequently offered summary includes the steps of:\n\n\nJustification, which occurs when one receives faith in Christ and forgiveness of sins;\nSanctification, the ongoing process by which a Christian is brought into greater conformity with Christ over time; and\nGlorification, the final perfecting of a believer which takes place after death and prior to entrance into heaven. The particular timing will vary according to one's eschatological views.\n\n\nAt glorification, the Christian is entirely cleansed of his \"sin nature,\" and he no longer has any inclination towards sin whatsoever. Being perfectly free of sin enables him to delight wholly in God, and all other things become secondary and unimportant in the immediate presence of God's glory.\n\nThat's why nothing else matters in heaven. Man was originally designed to find satisfaction in God alone. When sin entered the picture, we became distracted and focused on the creation, instead of the Creator -- that is, we all became idolaters, to greater and lesser degrees. Glorification remedies that problem.\n\n\n\nHere's a bit of further reading on glorification in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, with several references to Scripture.\n\nHere's a link to the \"Order of Salvation\" entry in volume three of The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge at CCEL.\n\nHere are some links to related discussion from John Piper. Each video is about three minutes in duration, and he directly explains why Christians have no need to fear heaven. As always, he explains things much more clearly and simply than I ever could, and I recommend his teachings wholeheartedly: Video 1, Video 2\n\nAnd for more on the idea of finding satisfaction in God alone, see Desiring God, the ministry of John Piper. He teaches about something called \"Christian Hedonism.\"", "I agree with the previous answer by Joseph and will seek to reiterate it by looking at the immediate context of 1 Thess. 4. \n\nIn 1 Thess. 4:13 Paul refers to \"those who are asleep\" and is simply trying to encourage them since it seems that some of them were grieving. They were under the misconception that the dead would not experience the coming of the Lord. Paul seeks to emphasize that when Christ comes, both the dead (sleeping) and the living will experience his coming. \n\nThis simple surface level reading of the text is made murky by the many confusing teachings on 1 Thess. 4:17 in regards to the \"rapture\". The word 'caught up' is from the latin word \"raptura\" and here in Thessalonians is the only time this word is used to refer to the 2nd coming. It seems that the confusion in your question comes from trying to understand how all the various teachings of the NT fit into a coherent picture. This turns into a puzzle game of trying to fit the different pieces together and often around the pieces of the millenium and the tribulation. I believe Paul is simply trying to encourage grieving people with hope, teaching that both the living and dead would experience the coming of the Lord. \n\nHere is an interesting note on 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 from IVP Bible Background Commentary: \n\n\n Judaism traditionally associated the resurrection of the dead with the\n end of this age and the inauguration of the kingdom, and readers would\n assume this connection in the absence of a direct statement to the\n contrary. When paired with a royal “coming”, the word for “meeting” in\n the air normally referred to emissaries from a city going out to meet\n the dignitary and escort him on his way to their city. The contrast\n that this image provides with the honor thought to be particularly due\n to the “Lord” Caesar and his emissaries could well have provoked\n hostility from local officials (cf. 2:12; 5:3; Acts 17:7).\n\n\nIt seems to me like this passage in it's original context was meant to inspire hope and vision of the Messianic King coming to visit his people. I believe it is best when read that way and not used as a piece in a messy and confusing puzzle of one various eschatological view.", "For string changes your best bet is altering the view in a custom module. Use hook_views_pre_render to modify the output of the fields prior to the view result being fully outputted.", "Well, this can not be the best solution but it works:\n\nfunction mymodule_update_7001(&amp;$sandbox) {\n // Views.\n if (is_callable('views_save_view')) {\n $views = module_invoke_all('views_default_views');\n foreach ($views AS $view_object) {\n views_delete_view($view_object);\n }\n // Rebuild it.\n $views = module_invoke_all('views_default_views');\n foreach ($views AS $view_object) {\n views_save_view($view_object);\n }\n }\n\n // Pages\n module_load_include('inc', 'page_manager', 'plugins/tasks/page');\n if (is_callable('page_manager_page_save')) {\n $pages = module_invoke_all('default_page_manager_pages');\n foreach ($pages AS $page_object) {\n page_manager_page_delete($page_object);\n }\n // Rebuild it\n $pages = module_invoke_all('default_page_manager_pages');\n foreach ($pages AS $page_object) {\n page_manager_page_save($page_object);\n }\n }\n}\n\n\nBasically just keep updated the views and pages definitions (views_default_views and default_page_manager_pages), the delete and rebuild them.\n\nObviously, this remove all customizations done via the Drupal's UI, so only do it for the views and pages you need to update!", "I guess you might have been exposed to a know issue Kanban view gets into irreparable bad state over record type confusion. Also there is no workaround mentioned in the known issue. Your best best bet would be reaching out to support and raise a case.", "The best place to find classes of R packages is with a task view:\nhttp://cran.r-project.org/web/views/\n\nWithin task views, the Spatial view is going to have a large number of options:\nhttp://cran.r-project.org/web/views/Spatial.html\n\nPart of the complexity is that there are different levels of granularity or zoom levels. You probably are looking for something that has polygons for nations and polygons for states/provinces within nations. That would make the \"maps\" and \"mapsdata\" packages most relevant,\n[I don't have enough reputation to post links to those]\n\nThe best way to learn R tools is with vignettes, so a search for \"R vignette maps mapdata\" is a great way to start.\n\nMapping data is a big ball of wax, because many different disciplines have very different needs for their data, hence you have tools from the GIS community, spatial statistics, geology, political science, etc. The \"Applied Spatial Data Analysis with R\" is a nice overview of working with spatial data in R.", "In D6 views caching you have two kinds of options\n\n\nCache your query results -- Length of time your raw query results should be cached\nRendered Output -- Rendered HTML Output to be cached\n\n\nIn Block Cache in Performance settings\n\nBlock Rendered HTML Output to be cached which will be same as view setting.\n\nFor best performance you should use Views Caching option since it provides query level caching as well as rendered output caching.", "If you want to include paginated content, the best solution would be to add a rel canonical to a view all version of the page and then submit this through your sitemap.\n\nYou will do this by adding the following link in your &lt;head&gt; section of your page. You would need to change the URL to the URL of the view all page.\n\n&lt;link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http://www.example.com/product.php?item=swedish-fish\"/&gt;\n\n\nYou should also look to add rel prev and rel next to the paginated content on your website. Sometimes it can be good to have a 'category page' (so to speak) indexed, however you have to be aware of duplicate content. Each time you post a new article it will push the last article on each page to the following page. As Google won't re-index each of these pages simultaneously, you need to reduce the chance of duplicate content by only having one version indexed.", "The best coding practice is to utilize view files in order to achieve that.", "The four eschatological viewpoints described are quite different and to a large extent mutually exclusive. Furthermore each viewpoint has adherents with different concepts of what that viewpoint actually describes, so it hard to be too definitive. Some history of the passage would help put them in perspective. \n\nIt is generally accepted that Isaiah chapters 1-39 were written by Isaiah, son of Amoz, who lived during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah, although there were numerous later additions and changes to that portion of the book. Chapters 40-55 are attributed to an anonymous author now known as Second Isaiah or Deutero-Isaiah, who lived during the Babylonian Exile. This author had a very different style to that of First Isaiah, who used brief, emphatic diction, compared to Second Isaiah's poetic style and more extensive vocabulary. Chapters 56-66 are attributed to another anonymous author now known as Third Isaiah or Trito-Isaiah, who lived shortly after the Return from Exile. So, chapter 65 can be seen as referring to the hopes and aspirations of the Jews who had recently returned from Babylon. We can see the hardships of captivity compared to the joys of freedom:\n\n\n \n There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred\n years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed\n (Isaiah 65:20)\n And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and\n another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat ... (Isaiah\n 65:21-2)\n \n\n\nTo Third Isaiah, freedom was such a wonderful experience that he compared it to paradise, as in verse 65:25:\n\n\n The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. \n\n\nPremillennialism is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically return to earth before Christ's reign for 1,000 years during a golden age of peace. However, there are two very distinct schools of premillennialism, historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism, which is largely based on the nineteenth-century ideas of Darby and Schofield. Premillennialism is largely based on interpretations of the Books of Daniel and Revelation, along with the the Olivet discourse from the synoptic gospels, but Isaiah 65:17-25 fits in well with this view. Wayne Jackson, in an article entitled 'Examining Premillennialism' draws on Isaiah to support the concept of premillennialism, but does not mention verses 65:17-25.\n\nPostmillennialism expects that eventually the vast majority of those living will be saved. Increasing gospel success will gradually produce a time in history prior to Christ's return in which faith, righteousness, peace, and prosperity will prevail in the affairs of men and of nations. Postmillennialism also teaches that the forces of Satan will gradually be defeated by the expansion of the Kingdom of God throughout history up until the second coming of Christ. Many postmillennialists also adopt some form of preterism, which holds that many of the end times prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled. Although I see Isaiah 65:17-25 as less of a good fit here, because the the age that began in the first century and will continue until his final coming has not so far been like a paradise on earth, some postmillennialists see it as being at least a figurative reference to postmillennialism. \n\nFull preterism says that the destruction of Jerusalem fulfilled all eschatological or 'end times' events, including the resurrection of the dead and Jesus' Second Coming, or Parousia, and the Final Judgement. Partial preterism holds that most eschatological prophecies, such as the destruction of Jerusalem, the Antichrists, the Great Tribulation, and the advent of the Day of the Lord as a \"judgement-coming\" of Christ, were fulfilled either in 70 CE or during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero, but that the second coming and the resurrection of the dead have not yet occurred. Preterism does not focus on an earthly paradise like that portrayed in Isaiah 65, although like all Christian eschatology it looks forward to eternal paradise after the final judgement. Nevertheless, some preterists do see echoes of preterism in Isaiah 65:17-25.\n\nThe question asks what other views there are. One view that has to be discussed is that the passage can only be read literally, reading verses 65:17-25 as the author originally intended them to be read. On this view, it is simply a statement of hope for the new Jerusalem and the new land the Jews were to begin building after the Return from the Babylonian Exile, with God's help.", "It's very unlikely that private videos are visible to people who don't have permission to view it. Chances are either the \"view as public\" feature doesn't work quite right or the videos are actually pubic.\n\nThe best way to be sure is to use private/incognito mode of your browser or sign out of Google before viewing your video tab.", "When a workplace is getting creative with the money it's a sign that unless you see it as a career company it's best to view it as a stepping stone.", "While views shouldn't contain business logic, they still can contain basic conditional logic, loops, etc.\n\nSince your website is “very heavily based on whether an event has occurred or will occur”, this is definitively a case where you'll have two views, not one.\n\n\n What questions could I ask myself to help me determine the best approach to take to this in the future?\n\n\nWhat you should ask yourself is whether each view corresponds to a page, as it would be defined by a person who don't know anything about the internal workings of a website.\n\n\nFor example, a list of products and the details of a product are logically two pages, and so you'll find two views.\n\nInternally, it may correspond to a single AJAX request which retrieves all info about all the products. Or in order to display the details of a product, you may be doing a dozen AJAX requests to different APIs. What matters is that non-technical persons will see it as a page which shows a list of products and a page which shows the details.\nOn the other hand, a list of products ordered by a price and a list of products ordered by a name feel more like a single page, and will probably correspond to a single view.\n\n\nSince the notion of pages is itself not very precise, you may also be guided by how much change is there between two views:\n\n\nIf two views are sharing no more than a header and a footer, there are chances they should remain separate.\nIf two views are practically a copy-paste with only a tiny part being different, they should be merged in a single view with an if/else statement.\nIn between, the choice remains rather subjective.\n\n\n\n\nNote that having two different views doesn't necessarily lead to code duplication (or rather markup duplication in this case). Most view/template engines have:\n\n\nMaster views, which enable for a given template to inherit from a master template which contains the surrounding markup,\nPartial views, which enable for a given template to embed markup from another template, markup which can this way be shared between several views.", "Just keep it simple and give them an option as Mark as viewed or Mark as completed.\nThis allows the user to know that if he marks the customer as viewed, he has an option to filter them out the next time he searches.\nThis is very commonly used in a number of cases especially email and users can understand it fast\n\nThat said,some A/B testing might be helpful to understand what wordings work best" ]

[ "Small business optimism rose in January to its highest level since 2004, according to the Index of Small Business Optimism, released monthly by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).\nThe index reached 105.9 in January, an increase of 0.1 points since December. The increase follows the largest month-over-month increase in the survey’s history following the election. Five of the index components increased and five decreased, but many remained near their record highs, according to a release from the NFIB.\nJob openings and job creation plans both posted small gains. At the same time, the percent of owners planning capital outlays fell two points to 27 percent. Owners expecting better business conditions and better sales also dipped slightly, but according to NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg, the high readings support expectations of actual spending.\n“The stunning climb in optimism after the election was significantly improved in December and confirmed in January,” said NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan in a release announcing the index numbers. “Small business owners like what they see so far from Washington.”\nState-specific data isn't available, but NFIB State Director Tom Underwood said the national trends are reflected in Kentucky. “There's no doubt that small-business owners are encouraged by what they're hearing,\" he said." ]

[ "Most leaders of Milwaukee area businesses are optimistic about the fourth quarter, according to the latest Business Outlook Survey from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.\nOf the Milwaukee area businesses surveyed, 69 percent expect fourth quarter sales gains, 63 percent expect fourth quarter profit gains and 53 percent say they plan to add employees during the fourth quarter.\n“The level of optimism expressed by area businesses suggests continuing business growth through the remainder of 2017,” said Bret Mayborne, the MMAC’s economic research director. “The levels of optimism expressed across the board remain healthy, but have not improved over time, suggesting that while continuing growth is expected, accelerated gains are not likely in the near-term.”\nThe Business Outlook Survey, conducted by the MMAC, contains responses from 112 Milwaukee area firms, both large and small, employing a total of more than 34,800 people.\nRead more economic data reports at the BizTracker page.", "WASHINGTON — American consumers saw their confidence rebound in April to a level close to the 18-year high it had reached two months ago.\nThe Conference Board says its consider confidence index rose to 128.7 in April, up from a March level of 127.0. The March level was just below the 130.0 hit in February, which had been the highest since November 2000.\nThe business research group’s index measures consumers’ assessment of current conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Economists believe the strength in confidence reflects a strong labour market, with unemployment at a 17-year low, as well as the impact of the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts approved in December, which began showing up in workers’ paychecks earlier this year.", "Shoppers checkout at a Target store in Falls Church, Virginia May 28, 2010. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque\nNEW YORK U.S. consumer sentiment was scaled back slightly in the latter half of March but was still stronger than February on optimism about jobs and finances together with low inflation, a private survey released on Friday showed.\nThe University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its consumer sentiment index recorded a final reading of 96.9 for March, down from a preliminary reading of 97.6 earlier in the month but higher than February's final reading of 96.3.\nAnalysts polled by Reuters had forecast the final March figure to match the preliminary one.\n\"The continued strength in consumer sentiment has been due to optimistic views on three critical components: higher incomes and wealth, more favorable job prospects, and low inflation expectations,\" the survey's chief economist Richard Curtin said in a statement.\nIn January, the university's consumer sentiment gauge reached 98.5, the highest since January 2004.\nThere is disparity on the outlook about the economy based on political party affiliation, he noted.\nRepublicans surveyed expected robust growth, while Democrats surveyed expected an imminent recession, Curtin said.\n\"Overall, the data indicate both rising optimism as well as rising uncertainty due to the partisan divide,\" he said.\nThe survey's measure on current conditions ended at 113.2 in March, down from a preliminary reading of 114.5 which was the highest since November 2000. It was higher than February's final figure of 111.5.\nThe component on consumers expectations finished at 86.5, below the preliminary reading of 86.7 and unchanged from the February's final figure.\nConsumers' inflation outlook bounced back from earlier March but was weaker than a month ago.\nThe survey's one-year inflation measure was 2.5 percent, up from the preliminary reading of 2.4 percent but down from the final February figure of 2.7 percent.\nThe five-year inflation gauge was 2.4 percent, up from a preliminary reading of 2.2 percent but lower than the final February figure of 2.5 percent.\n(Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)", "(Add quote, details on latest data)\nNEW YORK, March 31 U.S. consumer sentiment was scaled back slightly in the latter half of March but was still stronger than February on optimism about jobs and finances together with low inflation, a private survey released on Friday showed.\nThe University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its consumer sentiment index recorded a final reading of 96.9 for March, down from a preliminary reading of 97.6 earlier in the month but higher than February's final reading of 96.3.\nAnalysts polled by Reuters had forecast the final March figure to match the preliminary one.\n\"The continued strength in consumer sentiment has been due to optimistic views on three critical components: higher incomes and wealth, more favorable job prospects, and low inflation expectations,\" the survey's chief economist Richard Curtin said in a statement.\nIn January, the university's consumer sentiment gauge reached 98.5, the highest since January 2004.\nThere is disparity on the outlook about the economy based on political party affiliation, he noted.\nRepublicans surveyed expected robust growth, while Democrats surveyed expected an imminent recession, Curtin said.\n\"Overall, the data indicate both rising optimism as well as rising uncertainty due to the partisan divide,\" he said.\nThe survey's measure on current conditions ended at 113.2 in March, down from a preliminary reading of 114.5 which was the highest since November 2000. It was higher than February's final figure of 111.5.\nThe component on consumers expectations finished at 86.5, below the preliminary reading of 86.7 and unchanged from the February's final figure.\nConsumers' inflation outlook bounced back from earlier March but was weaker than a month ago.\nThe survey's one-year inflation measure was 2.5 percent, up from the preliminary reading of 2.4 percent but down from the final February figure of 2.7 percent.\nThe five-year inflation gauge was 2.4 percent, up from a preliminary reading of 2.2 percent but lower than the final February figure of 2.5 percent. (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)", "Getty Images Americans are pretty satisfied about the U.S. economy, job prospects and their own finances. Consumer confidence is near an 18-year high.\nThe numbers: Consumers confidence rebounded slightly in April with a small gain that put the index back near an 18-year high, suggesting the U.S. economy remains on sound footing despite fresh worries about trade tensions.\nThe consumer confidence index climbed to 128.7 in April from 127 in March, the Conference Board said Tuesday. Two months ago, the index hit the highest level since the end of 2000.\nWhat happened: The present situation index, a measure of current conditions, rose to 159.6 from 158.1. The future expectations index advanced to 108.1 from 106.2.\nAmericans were more optimistic about their own finances and they think jobs are easy to find, the survey showed.\nRead: U.S. economy hits brakes in early 2018, but it’s gassed up and ready to go for spring\nBig picture: The U.S. economy appears to be speeding up after a slowdown at the start of the year, repeating a pattern that goes back almost two decades. Millions of Americans have found jobs, the unemployment rate is at a 17-year low and businesses are investing more.\nEconomists polled by MarketWatch predict the U.S. will grow a healthy 3.2% in the second quarter that stretches from April to June.\nRead: Signs of higher U.S. inflation are popping up everywhere\nWhat are they saying?: “Overall, confidence levels remain strong and suggest that the economy will continue expanding at a solid pace in the months ahead,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at board.\nMarket reaction: The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.25% and Standard & Poor’s SPX, -0.27% rose in Tuesday trades. The 10-year Treasury yield TMUBMUSD10Y, +0.66% rose slightly and touched 3%, a level it hasn’t seen in quite some time.", "WASHINGTON — American consumers were feeling more confident in April, rebounding to a level close to the 18-year high it had reached two months ago.\nThe Conference Board said Tuesday that its confidence index rose to 128.7 in April, up from a March level of 127.0. The March level was just below the 130.0 hit in February, which had been the highest since November 2000.\nThe business research group’s index measures consumers’ assessment of current conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said the strength in the confidence survey suggest that the economy will continue to expand at a solid pace in the months ahead.\nConsumers’ assessment of current economic conditions improved somewhat, with consumers rating both business and labor market conditions favorably.\nAnalysts said the strength in confidence reflects a strong labor market with unemployment at a 17-year low, as well as the impact of the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts approved in December, which began showing up in workers’ paychecks earlier this year.\nAnalysts said that confidence was also helped by less stock market volatility in recent weeks and a lessening of worries about a full-blown trade war erupting in response to the Trump administration’s tougher policies.\nLike this article? Gain access to all of our great content with a month-to-month subscription. SPECIAL: Start your subscription with our low intro rate of just $14.95.", "The snow may be falling, but optimism is riding high for Wall Street and investors as we dive headlong into a new year. What began with a whimper in 2016 ended with a bang.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Fox News.", "Feb 14 Gold prices firmed on Tuesday as investors turned their attention to testimony from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen later in the day for hints on the central bank's interest rate strategy. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was mostly unchanged at $1,225.06 per ounce at 0048 GMT, while U.S. gold futures inched up 0.04 percent to $1,226.3. * The dollar index was nearly flat on the day at 100.94 . That was not far from Monday's high of 101.11, its strongest since Jan. 20. * SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.49 percent to 840.87 tonnes on Monday from 836.73 tonnes on Friday. * Investors are focused on testimony by the Fed's Yellen before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday in the wake of hints from other policymakers that could suggest they are leaning towards more hikes in interest rates this year than the two currently priced in by markets. * Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan on Monday said the U.S. central bank should act soon to raise rates, or risk having to abandon its plan to do so slowly. * A measure of U.S. inflation expectations rose for a second straight month in January to its highest level since mid-2015, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey released on Monday that reinforced the view that interest rates would keep climbing. * The European Commission said on Monday that uncertainty about U.S. policies, Brexit and elections in Germany and France would take their toll on the euro zone economy this year. * The value of gold held by Venezuela fell 23 percent in 2016, according to its central bank, as the OPEC nation cashed in the precious metal amid an economic crisis, low oil prices and heavy debt payments. DATA AHEAD (GMT) 0130 China Consumer prices Jan 0130 China Producer prices Jan 0700 Germany GDP flash Q4 0930 Britain Consumer prices Jan 1000 Germany ZEW economic sentiment Feb 1000 Euro zone GDP flash Q4 1000 Euro zone Industrial production Dec 1100 U.S. NFIB business optimism Jan 1500 Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen delivers semiannual monetary testimony before the Senate Banking Committee (Reporting by Arpan Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Joseph Radford)", "By Ted Chen / Staff reporter\nPublic confidence in economic growth remains soft, despite three consecutive months of improving sentiment in private consumption and employment prospects, a monthly survey by Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控) showed yesterday.\nThe survey found that public confidence in economic growth and employment prospects this month rose to the highest level since July 2015.\nThe optimism was also reflected in an uptick in the sentiment toward spending on durable goods.\nThe sentiment is supported by six consecutive months of increasing exports and a record-high official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reading last month, Cathay Financial economic research department assistant manager Achilles Chen (陳欽奇) said.\nThe National Development Council’s business climate monitoring indicators have stood at “green” for eight consecutive months since July last year, signaling stable growth, Chen said.\nThe readings show that economic growth momentum remains intact amid a global recovery, with GDP expected to grow at least 2.1 percent this year, Chen said.\nWhile 47 percent of respondents expect this year’s GDP growth to exceed last year’s, only 5.2 percent of respondents said the economy will expand beyond 2 percent, the survey showed.\nThe median GDP growth expectation in this month’s survey printed 1.4 percent, little changed from the previous month, the survey showed.\nThe reading falls in the lower limit of a separate GDP growth forecast by Cathay Financial last month that pegged this year’s growth at 2.1 percent, with an 80 percent likelihood for the figure to stand between 1.4 percent and 2.5 percent.\nRespondents gave a median inflation forecast of 1.32 percent for this year, higher than the 1.08 percent forecast by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the survey showed.\nWhile respondents were upbeat about job prospects, expectations for pay hikes declined, the survey showed.\nThe survey found that 33.7 percent of respondents expect inflation to decline between 1 percent and 1.25 percent this year, while 30 percent are anticipating the figure to exceed 1.5 percent.\nMeanwhile, despite lingering uncertainties about US economic and trade policies under the administration of US President Donald Trump, as well as upcoming elections in Europe, this month’s survey showed that risk appetites of local investors rose to its highest since 2015.\nRallies in the stock prices of Taiwanese suppliers to Apple Inc has pushed the TAIEX to its highest over the past 23 months amid high expectations for the US firm’s flagship smartphone launch later this year, Chen said.", "GLOBAL BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE MARKET is valued at USD 18.26 Billion in the year 2017. Global Business Intelligence Market is further estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.43% from 2018 to 2023 to reach USD 29.67 Billion by the year 2023. North America region holds the highest market share in 2017 with Asia-Pacific region is considered as the fastest growing market in the forecasted period. At a country level, the U.S. is the biggest market in 2017 and it is projected to grow at a gradual pace in the coming years.\nGet Free Access to Sample Report @ https://genesismarketinsights.com/Sample_Request/GENRE059\nOracle Corporation (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), SAP (Germany), are some of the key players in the Business Intelligence market. Rising research and development expenses to cater changing demand of end users, similarly, growth strategies such as acquisition, merger, and expansion of the distribution network were few techniques adopted by most of Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers in recent years.\nThe On-premise segment is expected to hold the highest market share during the forecast period. On the other hand, Unstructured Data type is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the year 2018-2023. As there is an adoption of the IOT and rising the demands for analytics in small enterprises is the main region for the generation of unstructured data.\nKey Benefits for Stakeholders\nManufacturers Business Intelligence\nDistributors and Retailers\nResearch and Consulting organization\nTechnology Standards Organizations, Forums, Alliances and Associations\nAccessories manufacturer\nHealthcare facility, private clinics, and Laboratories\nResearchers, and Clinicians\nRegulatory bodies, policy actors, and consumers.\nBy Deployment Model\nOn-Cloud\nOn-Premise\nBy Data Type\nUnstructured Data\nSemi-Structured Data\nStructured Data\nBy Application\nSupply Chain Optimization\nFraud Detection & Security Management\nPredictive Asset Maintenance\nWorkforce Management\nOperation Management\nNetwork Management & Optimization\nSales & Marketing Management\nOthers\nBy Region\nNorth America\nEurope\nAsia-Pacific\nLAMEA\nKey Market Players\nOracle Corporation\nSAP SE\nMicrosoft Corporation\nInternational Business Machines (IBM) Corporation\nAlteryx, Inc.\nMicrostrategy, Inc.\nPentaho (Hitachi Vantara)\nInformation Builders\nQlik Technologies, Inc.\nTableau Software, Inc.\nRead Report Overview with Full TOC @ https://genesismarketinsights.com/viewreport/60/31/Business-Intelligence-Market", "In the US, according to analysts from Danske Bank, the most important data releases next week will be CPI and CPI core figures for September and also the minutes of the September FOMC meeting.\nKey Quotes:\n“In the US, the most important data release next week will be CPI and CPI core figures for September, released on Friday. We estimate CPI core increased 0.2% m/m (1.8% y/y against 1.7% y/y in August), which is a bit more than the trend seen over the past half year. If this holds, we expect headline CPI to come out at 0.6% m/m (2.3% y/y against 1.9% y/y in August). However, this is a lot stronger than normal, which is due to a strong contribution from energy prices coming from increases in gasoline prices (caused in part by the increasing oil price, but also due to the hurricanes hitting in late August/early September). In summary, if our estimates turn out right, then both CPI and CPI core will be close to/above the 2% target, but note that the Fed targets PCE inflation (still significantly below target) and hence it is still struggling with low inflation.”\n“Friday also brings retail sales control group figures for September. August saw a decline of 0.2% m/m and we estimate some of this was reversed in September. Hence, we estimate retail sales control group increased 0.4% m/m.”\n“On Tuesday and Friday, NFIB small business optimism for September is due out and University of Michigan consumer confidence for October, respectively. Both indicators remain at very high levels and we do not expect any significant changes.”\n“Note also that the minutes from the FOMC meeting on 19-20 September is due for release on Wednesday. We will look out for any comments about discussions regarding whether the FOMC members have a target level in mind for when to stop QT. However, we do not expect them to reveal much about this as they are likely to want to keep it an open question in order to preserve their flexibility to adjust QT as they move along. Also note that the ‘dot’ plot did not change much at the last FOMC meeting, which indicates that there were no major changes in personal attitudes towards the conduction of monetary policy.”", "The London Digital Security Centre is working alongside the Metropolitan Police to combat cyber crime targeted against small and medium sized businesses\nLondon Digital Security Centre\nContact\nAlison Page Marketing\n***@alisonpagemarketing.co.uk Alison Page Marketing\nEnd\n-- The London Digital Security Centre and Metropolitan Police Service have recently conducted a mailshot to some 500 businesses that have reported an online crime to Action Fraud, over the period November 2016 to March 2017, as identified by the NFIB victim data - the City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.The Centre works with the City of London Police and Metropolitan Police, along with a number of other partners, to help protect London's businesses from cybercrime enabling them to innovate, grow and prosper whilst operating in a secure digital environment. The mailshot is the second of its nature.: \"Businesses – particularly SME's - in London are increasingly being targeted online by criminals looking to exploit any weaknesses in their staff, processes and systems. One of our key priorities is to communicate the threat and help these businesses to make it more difficult for them to be exploited and to become victims of this type of criminality. Our collaboration with the London Digital Security Centre is crucial to achieving success in this objective.\"Recipients of the mailshot are also invited to attend aonfrom 1pm to 4pm at 6 Mitre Passage, North Greenwich, London, focusing on the key areas of digital security that will help to protect businesses from cyber criminality, and support them to work in a secure digital environment.Businesses interested in attending this event, can register via the Centre website at https://londondsc.co.uk/ or via Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ e/london-digital- security-ce... Online crimes affecting businesses in London are on the increase and are causing severe harm to businesses of all sizes. To help combat this the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime founded the London Digital Security Centre in 2015.The City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau is using millions of reports of fraud to identify serial offenders, organised crime groups and established and emerging crime types. The 526 business records have been identified from the NFIB records, over the period, with the following fraud categories: Denial of Service Attack, Denial of Service Attack Extortion, Hacking – Server, Hacking – Personal, Hacking - Social Media and Email, Hacking - PBX / Dial Through, Hacking Extortion or Mandate Fraud.To further assist business in London the Centre has launched a free membership scheme. Members are provided with access to a wealth of material and services to help the business to enhance its digital security, including online training resources and technical solutions.The Centre will also be offering a range of free digital security assessments, enabling members to review and develop the level of digital security within their business, along with the opportunity to attend free digital security workshops and have one-to-one consultations.Businesses interested in becoming a member can register online at https://londondsc.co.uk/, \"We know that only a small proportion of online crimes are being reported, we want to help protect these businesses from future vulnerabilities and raise awareness of what the Centre can offer.\"For further information on the London Digital Security Centre please visit https://londondsc.co.uk/or contact John Unsworth by email at: john.unsworth@londondsc.co.uk.", "Business optimism falls to seven-month low\nThe confidence of UK businesses is faltering against the backdrop of protracted and unclear Brexit negotiations, according to the latest Business Trends Report by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP.\nThe new report reveals that the BDO Optimism Index - which indicates how firms expect their order books to deliver over the coming six months – has declined to 102.05, from 103.17 in October. It now sits at its lowest level since April this year and is only just above the long-term trend of 100.\nThe dip in optimism is also being reflected in BDO’s Output Index, which indicates UK business output in November. The index has fallen a further 0.09 in November to 98.99, below the long-term trend and at its lowest reading in almost two years.\nFirms’ outlook for the future is being dampened following a challenging end to the year in which clarity about the UK’s exit from the EU remains unclear, despite the agreement of a deal last Friday, and the Office for Budget Responsibility revised its growth forecast for the UK economy down to 1.4 per cent.", "Dec 12 (Reuters) - Gold was slightly higher in early trade on Tuesday, having shed half a percent in the previous session, ahead of the start of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting in the United States. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was up about 0.1 percent at $1,242.72 an ounce by 0049 GMT, after losing 0.5 percent on Monday. * U.S. gold futures were 0.2 percent lower at $1,244.40. * The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was little changed at 93.925. The dollar was unchanged at 113.56 yen * Asian shares were trying to string together a fourth session of gains on Tuesday as optimism about global growth looked set to outlast an almost certain hike in U.S. borrowing costs this week. * U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver a speech on the plan to overhaul the nation's tax code on Wednesday, the White House said on Monday. * Incoming Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell appears set to let an expected trillion-dollar tax cut run its course through the economy as weak wage growth and inflation buttress his view that the economy remains underpowered. * The European Union needs to consider regulating bitcoin, European Central Bank ratesetter Ewald Nowotny said on Monday, citing the risk of money laundering. * Newly launched bitcoin futures on Monday suggested that traders expect the cryptocurrency's blistering price gains to slow in the coming months, even as it blasted above $17,000 to a fresh record high in the spot market. * Prime Minister Theresa May hailed \"a new sense of optimism\" in Brexit talks, telling parliament on Monday an agreement to move negotiations on to future trade ties would reassure those concerned Britain may leave with no deal. DATA/EVENT AHEAD (GMT) 1000 Germany ZEW economic sentiment Dec 1100 U.S. NFIB business optimism Nov U.S. Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee starts its two-day meeting on interest rates (Reporting by Apeksha Nair in Bengaluru)", "Powered by robust order growth and healthy production, American manufacturing expanded last month at the fastest pace in 13 years, figures from the Institute for Supply Management showed on Oct. 2.\nFactory index climbed to 60.8 (est. 58.1), the highest since May 2004, from 58.8; readings above 50 indicate expansion\nMeasure of new orders increased to 64.6, the strongest since February, from 60.3 Employment gauge rose to 60.3, the best reading in more than six years, from 59.9 Index of prices paid advanced to 71.5, the highest since May 2011, from 62\nThe strength of the advances in the ISM’s gauges partly reflects impacts from hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Harvey forced the shutdowns of Houston-area refineries and chemical plants. Many retail establishments, including car dealerships, were flooded in the storms and merchandise was destroyed.\nTimothy Fiore, the ISM survey committee chairman, said that the most direct impact from the storms was in the supplier deliveries index, indicating slower deliveries; that gauge factors into the overall index.\nSeventeen of 18 industries reported growth in September; only furniture makers showed contraction, according to ISM.\nWhile increased factory bookings and production may also reflect a bounce-back from the storm, the nation’s producers had already been on firmer footing because of improving global demand and an increase in U.S. capital spending. The ISM also reported a pickup in its measure of exports as producers benefit from a U.S. dollar that’s weakened this year, making American-made goods more attractive to overseas purchasers.\nOrders will probably remain strong in coming months as a gauge of customer inventories held close to a six-year low. What’s more, the ISM’s order backlogs index crept up to the highest level since April 2011, helping explain why more factories are stepping up hiring.\nOther highlights from the report include:\nThe ISM production measure rose to three-month high of 62.2 in September from 61.\nThe measure of export orders climbed to 57 from 55.5.\nThe Gauge of order backlogs rose to 58 from 57.5\nThe Index of supplier deliveries increased to 64.4, the highest reading since July 2004, from 57.1. This figure shows longer lead times as producers have trouble meeting demand.\nBy Agnel Philip", "End\n-- SMALL BUSINESS EXPO (http://www.thesmallbusinessexpo.com), is proud to announce their upcoming trade show at the Hyatt Regency Houston on Thursday, October 19th.Small Business Expo has partnered with local non-profit organizations including: American Business Television, Apple Capital Group, BNW Marketing, ChinAmerica, City of Houston, Excelerate America, Greensheet Media, Houston West Chamber of Commerce, NAWBO Houston, Network After Work, NFIB, Plan Empower Grow, PeopleFund, Small Business Connexion, Small Business Today Magazine, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Veterans Commission and U.S. Small Business Administration.Small Business Expo (https://www.thesmallbusinessexpo.com/event-view/houston/)expects to have more than 3,000+ registered attendees wcj ranging from C-Level Executives, small business owners, entrepreneurs and startup companies.HOUSTON SMALL BUSINESS EXPO will take place at the Hyatt Regency Houston| Marketplace Exhibit – 1200 Louisiana Street Houston, TX 77002 from 9:00am until 5:00pm.For media inquiries, or complimentary press passes please contact: Susan Baah, 212-651-0679, Susan@theshowproducers.com About Small Business ExpoSmall Business Expo® is the nation's largest small business networking and learning event in the country. From 2015-2017 it was ranked as an Inc. 5000 company as the fastest-growing privately held business. Every year, over 100,000 small business professionals and entrepreneurs across the country attend Small Business Expo to take their business to the next level. The show's owner, Film, Stage & ShowBiz Expo LLC. was founded in 2008 by Zachary Lezberg.", "The establishment survey provides a bleak picture for September jobs. The household survey does just the opposite.\nAccording to the household survey, a stunning 906,000 more people were at work in September than August. The total employment level showed 154.3 million Americans with jobs, easily a record.\nAt the same time, unemployment rolls fell by 331,000, which itself is not a record but is the lowest since July 2001.\nFinally, the total labor force surged by 575,000 to its highest level ever, the employment-to-population ratio rose to 60.4 percent, its best level since January 2009, and the labor force participation rate jumped to 63.1 percent, the highest since March 2014. That all coincided with an unemployment rate decline to 4.2 percent, the lowest in 16 and a half years.\nAnd then there's wages — average hourly earnings gained 2.9 percent, or 12 cents an hour, tied with July for the biggest monthly jump since June 2007.\nIf it all sounds like a jobs market that is nowhere near as bad as a negative headline number would indicate, that's not an accident.\n\"You had a pretty nice pickup of people entering the jobs market and people getting jobs. That's a really good combination,\" said Beth Ann Bovino, U.S. chief economist at S&P Global Ratings. \"That to me is reason to believe that this jobs market is a lot more upbeat than 33,000 lost jobs in that establishment employment report.\"\nBovino believes businesses wiped out by the hurricanes may not have had the time or ability to respond to the BLS inquiry, while households could have been better able to communicate. Workers not able to go to their jobs totaled nearly 1.5 million, the highest since January 1996.\nMarkets seemed relatively unfazed by the report, with stocks trading right around even through the morning and most on Wall Street willing to dismiss the negative parts of the September report and wait for more data.\nBovino said the ADP/Moody's Analytics count of private payrolls released Wednesday, showing an addition of 135,000, could be a more accurate picture when all is said and done.\nIt wouldn't be unusual for the BLS to substantially modify an initial count — August was revised up 14,000 to 169,000 and July cut 51,000 to 138,000 — and even then future months are likely to show a rebound, particularly due to weather-related events. In August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit, payroll growth was just 67,000 in September but rose to 341,000 in November. Hurricane Charley in August 2004 saw payrolls gain 162,000 in September then 346,000 in October.\n\"I suspect that household survey is probably a stronger indication of what the jobs market is than the establishment side,\" Bovino said.", "Becoming an entrepreneur is easier than ever before—technology is shrinking the world, opening markets, and making it possible for many people to strike out on their own in the field of their dreams.\nThere are many reasons for starting your own business, and there seems to be a current mood, political climate and strong economy to support such a move.\nHiscox is a major online business insurance company that produced their eighth annual DNA of Entrepreneur report in the fourth quarter of 2016 that looks at the state of small businesses in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. The report examines the opportunities and challenges currently faced by entrepreneurs. Over 4,000 small and medium-sized businesses with up to 50 employees were surveyed. Of those, over 1,000 were located in the United States. Owning your own business continues to be the American dream, with 50 percent of U.S. respondents saying they always knew they wanted to be their own boss.\nSurprisingly, the study found that only 37 percent of entrepreneurs cited ‘making more money’ as the primary motivator to starting their own business. The biggest motivators to starting their own business were more flexibility over working hours (68 percent); being in greater control (61 percent); and the ability to work from home/remotely (57 percent). And, while they prioritize flexibility over working hours, entrepreneurs are taking little to no vacation as more than one in five (22 percent) claim to take no holiday at all.\nSolid growth\nEntrepreneurs in the U.S. are confident and optimistic. Of the U.S. companies surveyed, 70 percent reported revenue growth over the past year, and nearly as many, 68 percent, reported growth in profit. Even more companies, 73 percent, said they increased the number of new customers over the past year. The sectors that showed the most growth were financial services; hospitality, which includes food, drink, travel and leisure; and technology, media and telecom.\nForbes’ 18th annual look at the Best Places for Business and Careers splits the 401 U.S. metro areas between the largest 200 by population and 201 with populations below 262,700 to assess the best and worst business climates. The top 10 small places hail from nine different states with only Oregon landing two metros up top as Corvallis at No. 5 joins Bend at No. 1.\nBullish on hiring\nOf all the countries surveyed, businesses in the U.S. reported the highest level of optimism for the year ahead. In the U.S., 23 percent of business owners intend to increase their headcount in the upcoming year. This year’s report also looked at the topic of succession planning. Surprisingly, 61 percent of U.S. small business owners do not have a succession plan in place.\nAccording to the Forbes survey, the Bend metropolitan statistical area has come roaring back from record job loss and peak unemployment levels at 17.9 percent during the “Great Recession” with the current top job growth rate in the country last year at 6.6 percent. The five-year annual rate of 3.8 percent also ranks among the highest in the U.S.\nFunding challenges\nSmall businesses in the U.S. have been struggling with funding with 17 percent reporting that bank funding is more difficult to come by this year, a figure that was just 13 percent in 2015. Some business owners (23 percent) are using their personal credit card to help finance their business. Also, given the difficulty of obtaining traditional bank financing, U.S. small businesses are turning to alternative means of funding, including venture capital (11 percent) and peer-to-peer (15 percent).\nIn Oregon, Business Oregon is a State funded program for small businesses that might not otherwise qualify for traditional bank financing. It offers direct loan and loan guarantee programs to help business grow and scale, as well as working capital. The following business finance programs are backed by lottery dollars and include direct loan and loan guarantees.\nOregon Business Development Fund (OBDF) provide direct loans that leverage private capital and provides incentives for businesses to expand or locate in Oregon.\nOregon Capital Access Program (CAP) provides a form of loan portfolio loss reserve so financial institutions may make business loans that carry higher than conventional risks while complying with federal and state banking regulations.\nOregon Credit Enhancement Fund (CEF) provides loan guarantees to financial institutions in order to increase capital availability to small businesses.\nOregon Industrial Development Bonds (IDB) are available to manufacturing projects, exempt facilities and nonprofit organizations to provide access to capital primarily for value-added manufacturing.\nEntrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF) offers direct loans to help start-ups, micro-enterprises and small businesses expand or become established in Oregon.\nGovernment support\nJust over a third, or 34 percent of U.S. business owners, think the government’s policies support entrepreneurs, a decrease from 37 percent last year. Respondents cited the following ‘wish list’ of government actions to support small businesses: reduce direct taxation, stimulate lending; subsidize training and professional development courses; and relax employment laws. In the U.S., 31 percent of respondents say political instability is negatively impacting their business.\nEncourage courage\nDespite the challenges and obstacles before them, small business owners recognize that nothing great can happen without risk. They continue to take courageous strides to grow their business. The state of American entrepreneurship remains one of cautious optimism. Growth in revenue and profit is expected over the coming year. According to Oregonbusinessreports.com, “Oregon continues to see full-throttle rates of growth. Job gains are outpacing the typical state as are wages for Oregon workers. The state’s economy is quickly approaching full employment, or a healthy labor market. Such a milestone has not been seen since 2000.\nEncouragingly, underemployment, or those involuntarily working part-time in Oregon is back to pre-Great Recession rates. Given the ongoing economic strength in Oregon, the economic outlook has been raised relative to recent forecasts. The state is now expected to maintain these full-throttle rates of growth through the end of 2017 before longer-run demographics weigh on the outlook.”\nEconomic and political forces continue to challenge. The risks to success are well defined, but there is the potential to manage them better. In Oregon, realizing the American dream of ‘being your own boss’ is alive and well.\nBruce Barrett is a Certified SCORE Mentor with SCORE Central Oregon and a Broker with Windermere Commercial Real Estate. Contact Bruce at barrett@Windermere.com", "SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER\nAs voters, Californians rejected Donald Trump. As consumers, they love him.\nThe Conference Board, which measures consumer confidence, reports that consumers in the Golden State are more confident that they have been since 2007, before the Great Recession.\nSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER\nThe Orange County Register notes:\nThe Conference Board’s consumer confidence index for California rose in December to its highest level since October 2007. This was the first month the continuous polling that tracks shoppers optimism in eight big states and across the nation had fully reflected Trump’s upset win in the November presidential election. Exit polling showed the economy’s future was a major decision-changing topic for presidential voters across the nation. In California, where presidential votes went heavily in favor of Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, confidence fell for two months in advance of the election, pushing the state’s optimism to a nine-month low in October. The index then rose in November and December in the largest two-month surge in nearly two years.\nThe Conference Board also reported a surge in consumer confidence nationwide:\nThe Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased considerably in November, posted another gain in December. The Index now stands at 113.7 (1985=100), up from 109.4 in November. … “Consumer Confidence improved further in December, due solely to increasing Expectations which hit a 13-year high (Dec. 2003, 107.4),” said Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “The post-election surge in optimism for the economy, jobs and income prospects, as well as for stock prices which reached a 13-year high, was most pronounced among older consumers. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions, which declined, still suggests that economic growth continued through the final months of 2016. Looking ahead to 2017, consumers’ continued optimism will depend on whether or not their expectations are realized.”\nIt is unclear how much of the surge is directly due to Trump’s victory, as consumer confidence decreased in some states where Trump won, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, though confidence levels in both states were still at historically high levels, the Register reports.\nIn addition, there may be independent reasons for Californians to feel confident. Rains, for example, may have encouraged Californians to believe the state’s five-year drought is ending.\nStill, the state seems to be experiencing a “Trump bump,” along with the rest of the nation, as consumers anticipate an end to the onslaught of federal regulation and a more favorable climate for entrepreneurship, economic growth and job creation.\nJoel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He was named one of the “most influential” people in news media in 2016. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can’t Handle, is available from Regnery through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.", "Microbusiness owners are optimistic about the coming year, with 52% of owners in firms with 0-4 employees expecting to see an uptick in revenue in the next year, and 35% projecting revenue will stay about the same, according to the Q2 MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index.\nSome of the microbusiness owners are planning to hire, with 27% saying they plan to add staff in the next year. Among respondents in this size category, 9% said they actually did hire in the past year.\nThe survey of 1,002 U.S. business owners by Ipsos from March 22-April 23 included small businesses of all sizes, up to 500 employees. In the full sample, two-thirds expressed optimism about their company, with 65% of women-owned small businesses expecting higher revenue in the next 12 months, compared to 61% of male-owned small businesses. Among woman-owned firms, 36% expect to hire in that period, compared to 30% of male-owned firms.\n“The optimism in hiring next year is high,” says Tom Sullivan, vice president of small business policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Concerns for finding, hiring and keep qualified and willing employees is the highest its been since the year 2000.”\nU.S. Chamber of Commerce\nAlthough businesses with 0-4 employees expect to hire at a slightly lower rate than larger counterparts, their outlook is very positive. Among microbusinesses, 59% expect to see revenue increase in the next year, and 29% expect it to stay the same.\nOne contributing factor may be the local economy. Among microbusinesses, 26% said the health of the local economy is somewhat good, and 18% said it is very good. They viewed the national economy through a slightly different lens, with just 12% saying it is very good and 35% saying it is somewhat good.\nMost owners of ultra-lean businesses say the health of their business is average or better, the survey found.\nAmong owners with firms from 0 to 4 employees, 32% rate the health of their businesses as very good, 21% say it is “somewhat good” and 33% say it is about average. Only 10% say it is somewhat poor, and 3% say it is very poor.\nCompetition from local firms has been stable for many of the firms with 0-4 employees, with 78% saying the level is about the same as six months ago.\nAnd most are comfortable with their cash-flow situation, with 27% saying they are very comfortable with it, and 48% saying they are somewhat comfortable with it.\nMany owners of small businesses across the size spectrum are working very hard to grow their businesses. They reported an average workday of 14 hours, compared to the 7.8 hours a day the average American worker puts in, and sleep an average of 6.7 hours a night.\n\"I didn't find that surprising,\" says Sullivan. \"Running a small business is not for the faint of heart or someone who lacks passion.\" He recounts the story of one former Wall Street professional who started a business and told him she traded her career for a business where she works nine to five. \"I start work at 9 am and end work at 5 am,\" she joked.", "OTTAWA, April 20 Lending activity to small Canadian businesses dipped in February, though borrowing by medium-sized firms rose for the fourth month in a row on strength in the construction sector and oil-related provinces, data showed on Thursday.\nThe PayNet Small Business Lending Index declined to 116.1 from 117.2 in January, while the gauge for medium business lending rose to 232.8 from 230.9, the highest level since January 2016.\nThe mild pullback for small businesses and the relatively low delinquency rate suggests companies will be poised to take advantage of stronger economic growth when it comes, said PayNet President Bill Phelan.\n\"They're not finding a lot of organic economic growth but they're not risking a lot, they're not putting a lot of new capital to work,\" Phelan said. \"They're maintaining their financial resources until the day they find some more growth.\"\nCanada was hurt in 2015 by the sharp drop in the price of oil, a major export, but stronger economic data recently has suggested the economy may be turning a corner. At the same time, oil has recovered to trade around $50 a barrel.\nIn oil-producing Alberta, the index of loan originations rose to 167.1 from 166.4. Activity in Saskatchewan, which is also sensitive to commodity prices, increased to 261.2 from 260.6.\nActivity in the construction sector rose to 135.4 from 133.6. Housing activity in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec gave the sector a lift, Phelan said.\nThe number of small businesses that were 30 days behind on their loans held steady at 1.11 percent, while those that were 90 days or more late remained unchanged at 0.35 percent. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)", "A strong improvement in demand also encouraged firms to hire at a faster pace than in May. Photo: Bloomberg\nBengaluru: Activity in India’s service industry rebounded in June from a mild contraction last month, a private survey showed, expanding at its quickest pace in a year on the back of a surge in new business orders. The Nikkei/IHS Markit Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 52.6 last month, its highest since June 2017, from 49.6 in May. The 50-mark separates growth from contraction.\nThe recovery in services firms’ activity, along with a robust pace of manufacturing growth reported on Monday lifted the composite PMI to 53.3, its highest level since October 2016. That points to a solid finish for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2018-19, after Asia’s third-largest economy grew at its quickest pace in nearly two years in January-March.\n“Encouragingly, the latest performance was the strongest seen in a year, against a backdrop of improving demand conditions, as evidenced by the fastest gain in new business since last June,” said Aashna Dodhia, an economist at IHS Markit.\nA strong improvement in demand also encouraged firms to hire at a faster pace than in May.\nA sub-index that tracks growth in output prices fell to its lowest level in more than a year, even as the rise in input costs slowed just marginally.\n“Overall input costs rose at the strongest rate since July 2014, and amid a weak rupee and higher oil prices, inflation may remain elevated,” added Dodhia.\nRetail inflation in May accelerated to a four-month high and has more or less cemented views that the Reserve Bank of India to tighten policy again this year, and perhaps as early as August. That has raised concerns over growth prospects. Optimism faded among purchasing managers, according to the survey, with sub-indexes measuring business expectations and future output dipping to eight-month lows in June.", "U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in April to the second-highest level since 2000 as Americans grew more upbeat about both current conditions and the economic outlook, according to figures Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board.\nHighlights of Consumer Confidence (April) Confidence index rose to 128.7 (est. 126) from 127 in March\nPresent conditions measure advanced to 159.6 from 158.1\nConsumer expectations gauge rose to 108.1 from 106.2\nKey Takeaways\nA bigger share of respondents expect to purchase big-ticket items including cars and major appliances within six months, while a record 7.8 percent of respondents said they plan to buy a home. That will support both consumer spending, the biggest part of the economy, as well as housing prices that are already handily outpacing wage gains amid tight supplies.\nAt the same time, the April report from the Conference Board showed the labor differential, which measures the gap between respondents saying jobs are plentiful and those who say they’re hard to get, narrowed to 22.9 percentage points, a three-month low.\nBigger after-tax paychecks and a still-strong job market -- with the lowest unemployment rate since 2000 -- are helping to sustain sentiment. The latest results contrast with other signs that consumer and business confidence measures, while still fairly high, are coming off the lofty levels seen in the past year.\nEconomist Views\n“Confidence levels remain strong and suggest that the economy will continue expanding at a solid pace in the months ahead,” Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said in a statement.\nOther Details\n24.5 percent of consumers said they expect better business conditions in next six months, compared with 23.2 percent in March\nShare of households who expect incomes to fall in next six months decreased to 6.8 percent, matching the lowest since 2000, from 7.2 percent; those expecting an increase were little changed at 23.1 percent\nShare of those who said more jobs will be available in coming months was 19.5 percent after 18.9 percent\n— With assistance by Chris Middleton", "Markets in Asia opened lowered on Wednesday, following an overnight drop in US stocks. Photo: Mint\nUS stocks end lower; Asian markets follow suit\nMarkets in Asia opened lowered on Wednesday, following an overnight drop in US stocks where the Dow fell more than 400 points.\nUS stocks fell on Tuesday, giving up earlier gains, as investors worried about rising interest rates and reacted to comments on a conference call from bellwether Caterpillar that hinted economic growth may slow later in the year.\nAirtel Q4 profit falls 78% to Rs82.9 crore\nBharti Airtel Ltd’s net profit fell 78% in the March quarter as the telecom regulator slashed international call termination charge and a brutal tariff war triggered by the entry of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd continued unabated.\nNCLT reserves order in Binani Cement hearing\nThe Kolkata bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) finished hearing the dispute over insolvency resolution at Binani Cement Ltd, with Dalmia Bharat Ltd, the highest bidder selected by the lenders to take over the assets, insisting that there was no question of allowing the revised bid of Ultratech Cement Ltd.\nMalaysia’s IHH revises offer for Fortis Healthcare, to immediately invest Rs650 crore\nFortis Healthcare said Malaysia’s IHH Healthcare Berhard has made a binding offer to immediately infuse Rs650 crore in the company as part of its overall proposal to invest Rs4,000 crore.\nBrent oil hits highest since late 2014 as supplies tighten amid strong demand\nBrent crude oil rose for a sixth day to hit its highest since November, 2014 at over $75 a barrel, buoyed by expectations that supplies will tighten just as demand reaches record levels.\nBSE Mid and Small-cap indices outperform Sensex in April so far\nAfter a dismal start in 2018, mid-cap and small-cap stocks have seen a firm rebound in April. In the month so far, BSE Mid and Small-cap indices have outperformed Sensex, despite high valuation premium, indicating investors are shifting to riskier segments.\nTata Chemicals looks at Bolivia to feed growing appetite for lithium\nTata Chemicals Ltd is looking at business opportunities related to the exploration and import of lithium from Bolivia to India and possibly to other countries where the company operates.\nDCM Shriram Q4 profit down 68% at Rs51 crore\nDCM Shriram Ltd reported a 68% decline in consolidated net profit at Rs50.71 crore for the quarter ended March mainly due to lower sales realisation in sugar business.\nEarnings corner\nICICI Lombard, Ultratech Ltd and Wipro will announce March quarter earnings today.", "Share this: Facebook\nTwitter\nGoogle\nLinkedIn\nReddit\nA regular monthly poll by Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) said that views of the business climate in the country in May 2018 were at their highest since 2009.\nThe total business climate indicator increases by 2.1 percentage points compared with April and reached a new longterm maximum (33.1 per cent) since 2009.\nThe composite indicator in the industry sector was 1.4 percentage points up on April, with managers more optimistic about the business situation, the NSI said.\nTo continue reading, please click here.\n(Photo: Carl Dwyer/freeimages.com)\nComments\ncomments", "Nearly 3 of 5 small business owners (58 percent) currently approve of the job President Donald Trump is doing but really need his domestic agenda to be put into place. That’s the finding from the first Survey Monkey/CNBC quarterly Small Business Index.\nPotential Impact of Trump on Small Business Optimism\nDespite the 58 percent approval rating, small business owners indicate stalling the economic agenda President Donald Trump is proposing will cause this figure to drop.\nThe Index gives an overall “Confidence” score for small businesses. This score is based on answers to eight questions in the survey. The first survey has small business confidence at 60 out of 100.\nLess Hearings, More Legislation\nIn order to get small business confidence higher — or at least to hold steady — lawmakers in Washington D.C. need to get to work. Think less investigations and more passing bills.\nFor instance, the biggest issue facing small businesses is taxes. According to the survey, 25 percent of small businesses believe this is the most important challenge facing them. And 42 percent of those surveyed believe a change in tax policy will have a positive impact on their business.\nEarlier this year, President Trump unveiled a brief look at the proposed tax plan for next year. If it were passed as proposed, the new tax rate for businesses could be as low as 15 percent.\nRegulations, customer demand, and the cost of healthcare coverage were all identified as the next greatest challenges to small businesses, according to the Survey Monkey data. Fourteen percent of small businesses identified each of those factors as their biggest challenge. Here’s a deeper look at some of the data from this survey:\n38 percent say that regulation changes will impact their business positively (26 percent say it will have a negative impact)\n27 percent say trade policy changes will have a positive impact on their business (22 percent negative)\nHiring Freeze\nDespite another small business survey painting the President in a positive light, it’s not all good news.\nSmall businesses don’t expect to hire much full-time help in the coming year. Just 27 percent of the small businesses surveyed say they’ll add a new job over the next year.\nRed Pill\nSurvey Monkey and CNBC surveyed more than 2,000 small business owners for this first index. Of those that responded, 38 percent are Republicans and 23 percent are Democrats.", "American consumers were feeling more confident in April, rebounding to a level close to the 18-year high it had reached two months ago.\nThe Conference Board said Tuesday that its confidence index rose to 128.7 in April, up from a March level of 127.0. The March level was just below the 130.0 hit in February, which had been the highest since November 2000.\nThe business research group's index measures consumers' assessment of current conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said the strength in the confidence survey suggest that the economy will continue to expand at a solid pace in the months ahead.\nConsumers' assessment of current economic conditions improved somewhat, with consumers rating both business and labor market conditions favorably.\nAnalysts said the strength in confidence reflects a strong labor market with unemployment at a 17-year low, as well as the impact of the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts approved in December, which began showing up in workers' paychecks earlier this year.\nAnalysts said that confidence was also helped by less stock market volatility in recent weeks and a lessening of worries about a full-blown trade war erupting in response to the Trump administration's tougher policies.\nBut some analysts said the high confidence levels may be over-stating the potential for consumer spending growth in coming months.\n\"The sluggishness of real income growth, even after the tax cuts, means that spending cannot rise as fast as the surveys appear to imply,\" said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Economics.", "(AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File). FILE- In this April 9, 2018, file photo shoppers walk in a mall in Salem, N.H. On Tuesday, April 25, the Conference Board releases its April index on U.S. consumer confidence.\nBy MARTIN CRUTSINGER\nAP Economics Writer\nWASHINGTON (AP) - American consumers saw their confidence rebound in April to a level close to the 18-year high it had reached two months ago.\nThe Conference Board says its consider confidence index rose to 128.7 in April, up from a March level of 127.0. The March level was just below the 130.0 hit in February, which had been the highest since November 2000.\nThe business research group's index measures consumers' assessment of current conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Economists believe the strength in confidence reflects a strong labor market, with unemployment at a 17-year low, as well as the impact of the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts approved in December, which began showing up in workers' paychecks earlier this year.\nCopyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "An employee works on the assembly line of the Nissan Micra at the Renault SA car factory in Flins, near Paris, France, February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier\nBRUSSELS Sentiment towards the euro zone economy edged down but stayed buoyant in March, signalling faster growth as inflation expectations among businesses and consumers also rose, EU data showed on Thursday.\nThe European Commission's monthly sentiment survey showed the main index dipped to 107.9 points from 108.0 in February, remaining well above its long-term average of 100.\nA Reuters poll had pointed to a slight rise to 108.3 points, but economists remained upbeat about the 19-country bloc's growth prospects.\n\"While this release may have disappointed somewhat, it is still pointing to strength in economic activity,\" Bert Colijn, senior economist at ING said.\nHe noted the figures signalled the first quarter was the bloc's strongest since 2011, in line with predictions of faster economic growth in the first three months of the year.\nQuestions remained, however, whether that acceleration would extend into the second quarter.\nThe euro zone's economy grew 0.4 percent in the last three months of 2016 on the quarter, and 1.7 percent on the year. Preliminary estimates on the actual growth in the first quarter will be released by the EU statistics office on May 3.\nA separate business confidence indicator released on Thursday by the EU Commission was stable at 0.82 points in March, remaining at the highest level since June 2011 but also below market expectations for an increase to 0.86.\nInflation expectations among consumers and manufacturers went up, adding to signs that price pressures are normalising and fuelling a debate about when the European Central Bank might unwind its monetary stimulus.\nThe consumer index of price trends over the next 12 months rose to 15.3 points from 14.5 in February, the highest since October 2013, although the pace of the increase slowed down.\n\"Given that consumers' inflation expectations are rising only slowly, we nevertheless expect the ECB to continue asset purchases throughout the year and into 2018,\" said Stephen Brown, economist at Capital Economics.\nEuropean statistics office Euros tat will on Friday release flash estimates of euro zone inflation for March, with economists polled by Reuters expecting 1.8 percent, down from February's 2 percent and in line with the ECB's mid-term target of below but close to 2 percent.\nThe indicator for selling price expectations among manufacturers rose to 9.8 points from 9.0 in February, the highest since July 2011.\nThe slight dip in overall economic sentiment was mainly due to less optimism in the services sector, the largest part of the euro zone economy and whose index dropped to 12.7 from 13.9 points, and in industry, where it fell to 1.2 points from 1.3.\nThe drop of confidence in the two main economic sectors of the bloc was partially offset by more optimism among consumers, whose reading rose to -5.0 points from -6.2 points in February.\n(Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by John Stonestreet)", "Shoppers fill the elevators at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa on Black Friday. Nationally, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose in November and December to its highest level in 15 years.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at The Wave.", "Small business owners are holding fast to their aversion to taking on more debt, even though they’re optimistic about the future.\nThat’s the finding of a report on small business credit released last week by 12 Federal Reserve regional banks across the country. The report, based on a 2016 survey of businesses that have employees, found that about three-quarters of company owners used personal funds when their businesses needed cash, instead of seeking financing including loans. And only 19 percent of companies expect to increase their debt level this year, down from 34 percent that did so in 2016.\nThe number of companies that sought financing in 2016 was little changed from the previous year, 45 percent versus 46 percent. But most of those companies sought relatively modest amounts of money — 55 percent wanted $100,000 or less, and three-quarters wanted $250,000 or less.\nThe survey asked companies that weren’t seeking financing for their reasons. Nearly half said they had sufficient funds, while 27 percent said they didn’t want to take on debt. Seventeen percent didn’t apply for financing because they expected to be rejected.\nThe report found that small businesses were about as optimistic as in 2015, with 61 percent expecting their revenue to grow this year and nearly 40 percent expecting that they’ll hire more workers.\nThe survey is in line with others conducted by banks and small business advocacy groups in recent months that show business owners are more optimistic, but not enough to make them step up their borrowing significantly. Many companies were either burned by high debt levels during and after the recession or want to avoid finding themselves unable to make their loan payments.\nGETTING MORE RESULTS FROM MARKETING\nMarketing can be expensive and time-consuming, but small businesses can do it more efficiently by using social media and taking steps to draw more visitors to their websites. SCORE, the organization that gives free counseling to small business owners, is sponsoring an online seminar with tips to help companies reach more customers. It will be held Tuesday, April 25, at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/2o73FvP .", "* Philly Fed's business gauge falls for second straight month\n* Measure on regional new orders declines from three-decade peak\n* Manufacturing employment hits highest in nearly six years\n* Mid-Atlantic firms plan for more capital spending in 2017 (Adds quote, details on latest data)\nNEW YORK, April 20 The Philadelphia Federal Reserve said on Thursday its gauge on manufacturing activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region fell to its lowest level in four months in April, retreating further from a 33-year peak reached in February.\nThe regional central bank's business conditions index fell to 22.0 in April from 32.8 in March. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a reading of 25.0 this month.\n\"They have come down from really high levels, but these are still very good, positive readings,\" Michael Trebing, senior economic analyst at the Philadelphia Fed, told a conference call with reporters.\nVarious measures on U.S. business confidence had soared shortly following Donald Trump's surprise win in the presidential elections in November as business owners and company executives hoped Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress would slash taxes, loosen regulations and enact heavy spending on infrastructure. But they have begun to recede from their peaks.\nThe Philadelphia Fed's barometer on new orders, a key gauge of future activity, slipped to 27.4 from 38.6 in March which was the strongest since December 1987.\nThe measure of the six-month business outlook decreased to 45.4 from 59.5 in March which was the highest since August 2014.\nThe component on prices paid declined to 33.7 from March's 40.7 which was the strongest since May 2011.\nOn the other hand, the survey's employment index climbed to 19.9 in April, the highest since May 2011, while its gauge on capital expenditures in six months stepped up to 36.5 from 34.5 in March.\nIn a special section in this month's survey, 51.5 percent of the firms said they plan to increase their capital spending this year due to expected higher sales. This compared with 40 percent a year earlier.\nMoreover, 36.7 percent of the respondents said their capital spending will take place in the first half of this year, while the rest plans to do so in the second half. (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" ]

[ "Battle of Tobago" ]

[ "the Danish West Indies", "Battle March", "March West", "Indis", "Tony Tooke", "Federation of the West Indies", "West University Place", "Isumbras Took", "University of the West Indies", "Indy", "University of the West Indies Museum", "The Committee to the West Indies", "Hildibrand Took", "West Indies Cricket Board", "Peregrin Took", "pressure at which that transformation takes place", "Battle of Liberty Place", "Indy Eleven", "The British West Indies dollar", "indie rock", "BWIA West Indies Airways Limited", "Laws of the Indies", "the Council of the Indies", "West Indies National Football Team", "march", "that which burns", "Enterprise of the Indies", "that which purifies", "marches", "Indie World", "Battle of Battles", "Indy 200" ]

[ "Hinduism" ]

[ "Vishnu Gupta", "Vishnu Tanay", "Vishnu Sahey", "religions", "Religion", "Abrahamic religions", "the Supremes", "that which burns", "that which purifies", "a single religion", "being", "Religion of Humanity", "no state religion", "Bad Religion", "civic religion", "The history of religion", "Vishnu Digambar Paluskar", "Lord Krishna", "Mesoamerican religions", "Hindu parable", "Lord Shiva", "Hinduness", "that which is heard", "The New Religion", "Shaktism", "all religions", "the Vedas", "Sri Vaishnavism", "Vaccination and religion", "Vedas", "Growth of religion", "pagan religions" ]

[ "Voice changer has a free version" ]

[ "use any of the free music converters available", "use Yahoo! Messenger with voice. It's free. The person you're calling will need to also have Messenger.", "Try recording a voice of child laughing. Set the recorded voice as the ring tone. Easy and free.", "if you want free voice chat you are wasting your time. http://www.google.com/search?q=voice+chat+on+your+site", "http://www.skris.com\\n100% Free and high quality. Voice chat, video chat, messenger, email, ...", "try Stoik Video converter it's free", "You need a device called \"VoIP Gateway\" to convert the standard Analog voice to voice packets.\\n\\nThe cheapest is to use VoIP software client, but better quality can be achieved with hardware device.\\n\\nFor mobile phones there are bluethooth adapters.\\n\\nAnd you need a company wich will terminate calls for you (ITSP)", "yes \"read a loud\", \\nat&t natural voices...\\nor simply, microsoft agents... all convert your typed text to voice.\\nyou will nedd of course, speakers", "Y!M with voice is free.", "Try using this Software\\n\\nMagic RM RAM to MP3 Converter 2.5(Free)\\nWebsite: http://www.magicvideo.net/\\n\\nALO RM to MP3 Converter(Shareware)\\nWebsite: http://www.download2you.com/details_page.asp?titleID=12541\\n\\n\\nThree Tools (Not Free)\\nhttp://www.mp3towav.org/mp3-to-rm.asp\\n\\nRM to MP3 WAV Converter (Trail)\\nhttp://www.jklnsoft.com/rm-to-mp3-converter/", "you need to download it. its free and i reccomend yahoo with voice. its free and there are more features.", "goto http://downloads-zdnet.com and search for Free Mp3 Wma Converter 1.4 this is one of the best and it's free", "The first link is an online currency converter web site.\\nThe second link is to a free converter (called \"Universal converter\") that you can download and use on your pc with no installation required.", "you just get an audio converter,they're free from download.com. it converts the files from wma to mp3 or vice versa.", "There are several converters. Try this, for example...", "im pretty sure yahoo w/ voice doesnt hava a C.C. and i know it has a webcam and is free.", "another opportunity is the River Past Audio Converter\\nhttp://www.riverpast.com/en/prod/audioconverter/index.php", "I think this free. Converts flash to .avi", "videora ipod converter, and it's free!!!!\\n\\nPS. itunes loses sound when it converts video, just in case you run across any mpgs you want to convert to .mp4 or .m4v.", "free translators... see links below", "Look at CQphone. It's free.", "What are you using? I recommend Stopzilla. I have voice working on my tablet PC and it works great. You can use it free or register for only $20. That's $20 off list price.\\n\\nhttp://www.antispywarecompare.com/stopzilla.htm", "Here is 2 free programs to convert your files\\n\\nhttp://www.freewarefiles.com/program_6_226_17908.html\\n\\nhttp://www.freewarefiles.com/program_6_226_17383.html", "Check out \\nhttp://www.audioutilities.com/\\nhttp://www.mp3-converter.com/mp3_converter_freeware.htm\\nhttp://www.mp3-converter.com/\\nfor a list of mp3 converters !", "go to freeaudiobooks.com", "Free or Paid?\\nFor free, you can try Audacity (you may need to get additional plug-ins, though.) http://www.download.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10325373.html?tag=lst-0-1\\nAt a cost, you can try ImTOO Encoder. http://www.download.com/ImTOO-MPEG-Encoder/3000-2194_4-10499530.html?tag=lst-0-2\\nBoth programs will do exactly what you need to do, and ImTOO will do even more for you. You can convert almost all media files with it.", "Yes, use the great free vidoe converter super. Which can convert any video file to other format.\\n\\nhttp://www.erightsoft.com", "Yes. Go to http://www.flip4mac.com/ and download the free converter.", "Just get a $10 mic, get your friend or whoever to get a mic. Both of you install the latest yahoo messenger. Use the voice chat.\\n\\nIts free.", "Free Ipod Video Converter from http://www.jodix.com may possibly work???", "http://www.skris.com\\n100% Free dating site with voice and video chat", "None that are free....Sorry.\\nMost have you register and pay a small fee monthly or large fee for one time use." ]

[ "That's an IBM PS/1 monitor. The large DB connector is used to give supply to the computer (which has not a power supply of itself). The monitor is VGA capable, so as long as you connect it to a VGA adapter and set it to 640x480 @60Hz, you are fine. The monitor can go down to 50Hz, and possible, up to 72Hz." ]

[ "My guess is that your VGA monitor is reporting itself as a mono monitor to the VGA card. This may be caused by the monitor being too modern for your Compaq: The VGA card expects the monitor to report its capabilities using three pins from the VGA connector, but modern monitors use I2C to report EDID information on those pins. If the impedance at some of these pins is too low or too high, they may be read as N/C or GND.\n\nQuoting http://pinouts.ru/Video/Vga15_pinout.shtml\n\nID pins set-up\n\n4 11 12\nID2 ID0 ID1\n\nn/c n/c n/c no monitor\nn/c n/c GND Mono monitor which does not support 1024x768\nn/c GND n/c Color monitor which does not support 1024x768\nGND GND n/c Color monitor which supports 1024x768\n\nGND means connected to ground\nn/c means that the pin is not connected anywhere\n\n\nIf this is happening, the VGA BIOS will reprogram the internal palette to show gray shades instead of colors. To find out if this is so, you can test this:\n\nWithout starting Windows (that is, in \"pure\" DOS mode), execute debug\n\nC:\\&gt;debug\n\n\nAnd enter these commands at the debug command prompt (a dash):\n\n-o 3c7,0\n\n\nThis is to select DAC palette registers for read. Now, repeat the following command three times to get the R,G and B information for each palette entry.\n\n-i 3c9\n\n\nAfter entering the i command, debug will return the byte at that I/O port address, as in this example.\n\n-i 3c9\n00\n-i 3c9\n00\n-i 3c9\n00\n\n\nMy first palette entry is therefore RGB(0,0,0). Do it a second time\n\n-i 3c9\n00\n-i 3c9\n00\n-i 3c9\n2A\n\n\nMy second palette entry is RGB(0,0,2A), which gives me a dark blue.\n\nIf you continue doing this, you will get the RGB values associated to each palette entry. A VGA card programmed with a grayscale palette will show identical values in R,G and B for each non-black color. For example, the second palette entry may show like this in a B/W setup:\n\n-i 3c9\n05\n-i 3c9\n05\n-i 3c9\n05\n\n\nWhich is roughly the grayscale shade equivalent to the original dark blue color.\n\nTo quit debug, just enter q at the debug command prompt.\n\nIf with this test you conclude that your monitor is reporting itself as a B/W monitor to your VGA, a solution would be to take a VGA extension cable and wire it so pins 4 and 11 at the VGA card side go to GND, and pin 12 is left unconnected. On the VGA monitor side, these pins may be unconnected.", "Probably none.\n\nYou're most likely using MST - in a very unusual fashion, similar to how 5k monitors, and the old IBM T220 did. Your graphics card likely is aware that its \"one monitor with very high refresh rates, and I need to render it as seperate tiles\", and I somehow suspect its rendering as 4x1080px120hz 'tiles'\n\nI'm unaware of MST even working on multiple video cards.\n\nIn practice, 4k60 gaming on a single video card is tough - so you'd want to take advantage of SLI/Crossfire or the DX12 multigpu options anyway, which still don't need you to plug in the monitor into different cards. \n\nSo for regular use, I'm doubtful multiple cards are better than one card capable of presumably handling 2 or more 4k60 monitors. For gaming, you will likely need a eyewateringly powerful setup.", "The first release of Windows to provide built-in support for multiple monitors, on graphics cards with appropriate drivers, was Windows 98. Support was subsequently added to the NT line with Windows 2000.\n\nSome graphics cards provided support for multiple monitors in earlier versions of Windows, at least in Windows NT 4.0 as described here (with SP3, released in May 1997); Matrox cards in particular were famous for this. I used a G450 with dual outputs under NT 4.0 with two monitors.\n\nI suspect that some CAD software (AutoCAD in particular) might have supported multiple monitors on Windows earlier than that — this was a common setup on other platforms (including DOS).", "More concrete/formed examples would help, and it will depend on what it is.\n\nExamples in scope:\n\n\nI'm using {program} to edit the meta data, having tried X, Y and Z, but it doesn't work. What am I doing wrong?/How can I make this work?\nWhere in the settings do I have to go to set the wallpaper for {operating system}?\nHow can I set a video to display as my wallpaper on {operating system}\n\n\nExamples out of scope or just off-topic:\n\n\nWhere was this photo taken?\nWhat program can I use to extract EXIF/meta data?\nIs EXIF/meta data absolute and can it be used in court?\nWhat advantages are there to using SD Card vs {something else}\nWhere can I get wallpapers designed for dual/side-by-side monitor setup?\nHow can I get my photo to be added as one of the default system wallpapers?\nTalk to me about the history of wallpapers", "I have the same setup, except with a GTX 970. I use a cheap-o VGA kvm and it works great. \n\nThis HDMI KVM is what your are looking for.\nSea Wit HDMI KVM Switch - 2 Port KVM Switcher Supports 1080P 4Kx2K \n\nThe setup is very easy, have one cable from your GPU plug into HDMI 1, and another from your laptop plug into HDMI 2... Then what ever monitor you want to use to switch between desktop/laptop... plug that monitor into HDMI out. Then simply plug in your mouse/keyboard into the KVM. \n\nI keep my laptop on the left side of my desk, so I use my left monitor and leave the other 2 connected to the desktop. I kept my KVM on my desk for a while, but realized that I just hit scroll lock 2 times and windows would automatically switch the kvm for me, so now its tucked behind the desk. \n\nLet me know if you have any other questions, I'm sure there are cheaper options out there... but this one has good reviews, even if their marketing seems a bit hyped.", "Short, spec based recommendation is the Lenovo X390 Carbon. \n\nI'm assuming you're in Europe but not the UK, so the price on Lenovo's Irish site is €1730-1800 (i7, 16GB soldered RAM, 512GB-1TB SSD). Changing keyboard to German, French etc is free. When I checked on the Irish site, a 1TB SSD was only €30 more than a 512GB and they're giving away a free Moto One Phone :-).\n\n\n\nSuper long version, because upgrading to a new Linux based machine (even without the work and touchscreen reqs) is always a dice roll: \n\n\nTouch Screen, under €2k\n\n\nThere's a number of great touchscreen laptops that are conveniently around €2k e.g. Dell XPS variants, Lenovo X1 variants, HP Spectre and Envy variants, Huawei Matebook X etc.\n\n\nWork use case, 2-4 week horizon, Ubuntu 18.04, touch screen and under €2k\n\n\nBecause your livelihood depends on it, you can't afford downtime with installation, driver issues (funtime imo), support communication and returns uzw. However with current support, the touch screen requirement on Linux is limiting. Do I have any experience with touch screen laptops running any version of Ubuntu? Nope. But at least someone else does. Forums show others who have Ubuntu installed on similar Lenovo laptops with/out touchscreens without issues.\n\nSo you'd like Ubuntu 18.04.02 LTS Hardware Certification. The Hardware Certification is usually based on a manufacturer installed version of Ubuntu rather than a standard Ubuntu, but it is very encouraging nonetheless. Having 18.04 support listed by Lenovo themselves inspires further confidence that you've taken as many steps as you can to mitigate risk. \n\nAs of now, 18.04.02 LTS hardware certified and touch screen leaves the Lenovo X390 Yoga and X1 Extreme. Under €2k leaves the X390.\n\n\nX390 business extras\n\n\nLoads of ports: Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI (next section for dual external monitors), 2 x USB Type A ports, micro SD card slot which can have a SIM slot for LTE.\n\nThe charger is 65W via USB-C. Less cables, less hassle.\n\nThe X390 Ubuntu hardware cert lists Wacom in the hardware details. For this kind of money, its nice to doodle in a meeting while pretending to take notes. The pen slots into the machine and automatically charges.\n\nYoga flexibility - laptop, tent, tablet.\n\nThinkpad keyboard.\n\nPrivacy cover for camera.\n\nThe only known downsides I can foresee at this point would be the lowish screen brightness at 300 nit and the fingerprint scanner is currently not supported, probably never will be.\n\n\nMy own dual external monitors and docking station experience\n\n\nI'll try not to moan too much...I've had nightmares with proprietary TB3 docks, even on Windows with drivers and BIOS up to date. Almost all I've seen require Windows drivers. Even if those work, you'd have spent nearly €200 for the chance it might work with some functionality on Linux :-O. I used Windows To Go for automatic BIOS (saved a little Unetbootin time) and driver upgrades. With Bitlocker enabled, that kept privacy invasive corporate IT away. \n\nNow I just connect one monitor via HDMI and the other through a generic USB Type C hub into a TB3 port. The hub has another HDMI port for the other monitor, USB ports for peripherals and an Ethernet port. No dongle mess. Am I downgrading the bandwidth of a TB3 port to USB 3.1? Yes. Am I limited to 2 monitors on HD? Yes again but I don't care, because it works on every screen, every time, needs no power supply and cost a fraction of a TB3 dock. A similar setup should work for all/most Linux laptops.\n\nYou could walk into Saturn/PC World etc during off peak hours with a live 18.04 USB and try any docks/hubs you have access to. Make a deal with the sales rep that you'll buy if dual external monitors work etc.", "not sure how public we are trying to make the solutions, but figure this will be a buried question soon anyway once answered....but i greatly appreciate the help given and found and would like to return favor only way i know.\n\ntry change attacker MAC to same as victim router MAC then begin attack\nhttps://security.stackexchange.com/a/72538 (related to problems w/deauth)\n (1)So do this:\n\n Disable mon0.\n Shut down wireless interface ifconfig wlan0 down (or whatever your interface is called).\n (my step) run: airmon-ng check -&gt; kill NetworkManager PID (networkmanager fucks up hw ether mac change)\nSet the attacker's MAC to your routers: ifconfig wlan0 hw ether TARGET_MAC.\n (this is where u do the monitor mode method)Reactivate interface, create new mon0 and do your deauth attack. It should work now. (Also make sure replay the deauth packet 3-4 times as for some reason sometimes a single death just won't work.)\n\n\n(3)try When you enter monitor mode you can specify a channel like this: \"airmon-ng start wlan0 x\" where x is the channel number\n\n(2)try alternative monitor mode method: https://security.stackexchange.com/a/135841\n\n ifconfig wlan0 down\n sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode monitor\n sudo ifconfig wlan0 up\n\n\nThis is can cause SIOCSIFHWADDR: Invalid argument error\n\n iwconfig wlan0 mode managed (to undo monitor mode &amp; fix error)", "Latency is the amount of time it takes sound to travel from the source to your ears. It occurs in digital and analog setups. For example: the further you stand from your speakers the longer the latency, due to the speed of sound (~1 ms/foot or ~3 ms/meter).\n\nIn a digital studio setup your signal is traveling into your sound card where it's converted from analog to digital, mixed with other digital signals, placed on an output buss, converted back to analog, amplified and then transmitted to speakers or headphones for you to hear. That entire process takes some finite amount of time and that's usually what people are referring to when they talk about latency in a digital studio setup.\n\nThe best way to combat latency is to use hardware that supports hardware monitoring. This is where the input signals from your live sources and your playback sources (the tracks being played back on your computer) are mixed in the hardware and not in the DAW software on your computer, before being converted back to analog and sent to your monitoring setup. Hardware monitoring provides the lowest level of latency possible — less than 1 ms. Low enough that you can't really perceive the difference between the sound from say, your voice hitting your ears and the sound picked up by your microphone and sent through your hardware setup and back to your headphones hitting your ears. It feels nearly instant and that's important when you're trying to perform. If latency gets to be too large you start to hear an echo of your performance in your monitors as it takes a perceptibly longer amount of time for the signal to travel through the system and reach your ears through the monitors than it does coming straight from the source (like your mouth in the case of singing).\n\nSoftware monitoring via the DAW can cause latency to spike as your signal will have to travel in to the DAW software running on your machine, get mixed, and then get sent back to your interface for D/A conversion. Modern computers, while fast, are still general computing devices and in a busy DAW project or with too many plugin effects on a live monitored signal, software-based monitoring can get terribly laggy. If you can't avoid software monitoring make sure you're not putting a lot of effects (ideally no effects at all) on the signal you're monitoring and keep the number of effects on the playback tracks to a minimum to keep the CPU use light while monitoring.\n\nUp-to-date drivers are also a good idea. If you're on Windows ASIO drivers are a huge improvement over DirectSound drivers. On a Mac the CoreAudio library is quite awesome and supported natively by anything worth using to record.", "The problem lies at the other end of the cable: different hardware &amp; software (PC vs Mac) sending different rendering to the same monitor. Alot of settings in both your PC and Mac can affect this, and there's no magic button to 'sync' settings affecting color rendering.\n\nIf I had this problem, I would not worry much. My client will probably see a third set of colors.", "I do this all the time at work, I'm currently rendering a 6 screen video wall for an installation. The easiest way to work is to create the video at the size of all the displays put together, e.g. for 3 × 4K displays it would be 11520 × 2160 pixels. This is so that you can work on the whole thing at once, and also so you can justify to your boss the insane amount of money they spent on your workstation (did I say that out loud?). \n\nYou can use standard video tools like NLEs, e.g. Premiere or Resolve, compositors and animation packages like Fusion and After Effects or 3D applications like Maya, Lightwave or Blender. All modern versions of this kind of software will have the capability to work at custom resolutions, but as mentioned, your hardware will need to be pretty good, you'll have to budget for render time, and your proxy game will need to be strong (proxies are low-res substitutes that you can use to work on, then swap for the high-res originals at export time).\n\nThen you export, and encode into the playback format suitable for your playback devices. Some playback devices are able to handle large videos and split the playback into multiple screens. Small computer-based devices like Intel NUCs and Mac minis can be hooked up to multiple monitors and standard video players like VLC can be used to play the content full-screen across them all. Alternatively you can get multiple playback devices, one for each screen and synch them over a network. The output format will depend on the hardware you are using to play the material, so talk to whoever is setting that up.\n\nTo split the composition you re-compose the full composition into the screens that will be displayed on each monitor. In the installation I am working on at the moment there are 6 screens, but the material is being played as three parts, with each playback device playing to two screens. So I've split my 10800 × 1920 into three 3600 × 1920 compositions.\n\nThe tools above all have the ability to take one composition and nest it into another at a different resolution, but as I've found in my current projects you may have to re-edit the main composition to help with renders (I was hitting a GPU memory wall with some GPU-based effects, so I had to resize some of my layers and shuffle things to get it to render without choking).", "It's really annoying when things like that happens :( that happened to me too a few times...\n\nI work mainly in two offices (I would say 50-50), the main bigger home office and a second very small office in another city, also often I work at client's place so it's very important for me to be 100% mobile.\n\nThis is my setup in the main office:\n\n\nA desk with a powerful mobile workstation connected to a docking station, to this I connect one 24\" monitor, speakers, network, keyboard, etc. It acts like a desktop workstation and this is my main work computer.\nA second desk with a mini tower workstation with a 24\" monitor, which is essentially a clone of #1. I use Adobe software bundles that by licence are installable on two computers, other than that I use mainly Open Source software for coding, office, etc, so I don't have big expenses for double licences. This is the backup worstation in case the first has problems, but usually I use both togheter for different tasks or batches (or to occasionally watch stream tv or listen to music :) ).\nNAS with two 3Tb HD's in RAID 1, with remote access (personal cloud), so I can access my backup files from anywhere. Here are made daily backups of the data of the two computers.\nNetwork color laser printer, photographic printer, other devices...\nSmall photo studio.\n\n\nAt the second small office I have:\n\n\nA desk exacly like #1 of main office with docking station, 24\" monitor,etc. When I go from an office to another I just unplug the mobile workstation and plug it in the other docking station, so I have my same workplace in the two offices.\nA single disk 3Tb NAS with remote access.\nEconomic printer.\n\n\nWhen I go at client's office I just use the mobile workstation itself.\n\nNote: all the monitors are calibrated so they match each others so I have no problems with colors.\n\nWith me I always bring a good computer case with my mobile workstation, tablet, rechargers, briefcase with papers, and all the basics.\n\nSo in case of main pc failure I have the clone desktop workstation where I can work with no problems, I'm also used to use only one 24\" monitor so I don't feel in difficulty for this aspect. Also I do daily backups in 2 different NAS so I can access anytime the data from anywhere. I also use external HD's for on the fly backups or if I have many Gb to save or process.", "I can see nothing wrong with the proposal. Would merge+synonymize. \n\n\n\ndual-monitor\n\nupdating post history, 247 rows affected\nupdating posts, 204 rows affected\nupdating PostTags associations, 159 rows affected\nremoving/renaming old tag, 0 rows affected\nupdating count for master tag, 1 rows affected\ntag remapping of [multiple-monitors] and [dual-monitor] complete!\nremapping 1 synonyms\n6 favorite and ignored tags remapped!\nTag Synonym dual-monitor -&gt; multiple-monitors was approved!\nBroadcasting tag-engine reload\n\n\n\n\ntriple-monitor\n\nupdating post history, 28 rows affected\nupdating posts, 23 rows affected\nupdating PostTags associations, 16 rows affected\nremoving/renaming old tag, 0 rows affected\nupdating count for master tag, 1 rows affected\ntag remapping of [multiple-monitors] and [triple-monitor] complete!\nremapping 0 synonyms\n0 favorite and ignored tags remapped!\nTag Synonym triple-monitor -&gt; multiple-monitors was approved!\nBroadcasting tag-engine reload", "Dell S2719DM\nThis monitor is 27 inches, 2560 by 1440, and claims a brightness of 600 nits. This beats out even the brightest 500 nit Macbooks, and certainly the more common 350 or 400 nit ones. And it's only $350.\nIt's also fairly thin. It only has HDMI ports, but so does the Mac Mini, so no big deal.", "Eizos are pretty much the rolls royce of monitors. They make the best and terribly pricey monitors for graphics professionals and their build quality and warranties kind of match that.\n\nThat said, my sensible go to brand for monitors is dell. \n\nI'm going to suggest an IPS display (for excellent colour quality) and factory caliberation (which means the panel ought to be consistent, and of good quality. 1440p seems to be a happy medium. I'd go with the Dell U2515H in this case.\n\nDell's got excellent build quality as far as their P series monitors go, and like my p2715q, its factory caliberated (which includes checks for consistant brightness, colour quality and so on). It also has an excellent built in stand allowing for a full range of motion (which is awesome!) on vertical height and rotation, as well as some tilt. \n\nIts the 'closest' option to your eizo I can think of, and I've generally had great experiences with their monitors", "If managing half screen window maximizations is the biggest requirement there are some window snapping softwares.\nWindows 7 has snap built in that lets you maximize windows to half the screen. I have a love hate with this one. Mostly I hate it when it snaps when I don't want it too. \n\nOSX has BetterSnapTool on the mac app store for $1.99. you can get BetterTouchTool for free which also provides custom gestures. It looks like the developer extracted the snap feature out of BetterTouchTool since people got it just for the snaping feature. I just got it to test it out and so far its pretty cool. Unlike windows 7 snapping BetterSnap allows for quarter window sizing. I have a 3 monitor setup and it is working nicely on each monitor", "I would be much more tempted to buy a Mac mini as a dedicated server, you can hide it in a corner where it's less likely to be put to sleep/rebooted/stolen or messed up over time through normal use. Also they're available with OSX server from day one rather than having to buy the OS on its own. They do a dual disk version now too.\n\nAs for how hard they are to set up, well for file and print services they are ridiculously simple, the email and VPN services are simple as well, if you have a decent enough grasp of DNS. I've not personally setup any chat service so can't comment.", "But when i go to promiscous or monitor mode i will be disconnected from my router and cant see any traffic except dhcp and such stuff. but no relevant tcp, udp,.. stuff.\n\n\nFor promiscuous mode, which is mainly a wired-network feature (it doesn't work well on Wi-Fi adapters), you won't be \"disconnected\" in the sense that you will no longer be connected to the network. However, Ethernet doesn't generally work the way it originally did, and promiscuous mode doesn't work as well as it used to. Promiscuous mode is a mode your network adapter works in, in which it hands packets to the host no matter what the destination MAC address, but if the switch won't even send you the packets that aren't broadcast or multicast or addressed to you, there's nothing your adapter can do.\n\nFor monitor mode, which is a Wi-Fi feature (it doesn't exist on wired adapters), whether you are \"disconnected\" in monitor mode, in the sense that you will no longer be connected to the network, depends on your network adapter, OS, and driver. Wi-Fi networks are on a shared medium, unlike switched Ethernet networks, so you'll be able to capture all the packets; however, most Wi-Fi networks are \"protected\", using WEP or WPA/WPA2, meaning the traffic is encrypted, and you'll need a tool that can decrypt that traffic (such as Wireshark) and the password for the network and, for modern networks using WPA or WPA2, the initial connecting-to-the-network handshake for each device whose traffic you want to decrypt.\n\nYour problem sounds like \"can see only broadcast traffic\" (such as broadcast DHCP requests), so you're probably on a switched Ethernet, and will have to use one of the techniques mentioned in the Wireshark Wiki's page on Ethernet capturing.\n\nHowever, you later refer to being associated with the network, which sounds like Wi-Fi. In that case, promiscuous mode won't help; you'll need monitor mode and all the stuff necessary for decrypting traffic.", "The problem is, in my opinion, the lightDM is not great with multi-monitors. There is a good fix though.\n\ninstall disper\n\nsudo apt-get install disper\n\nthen edit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf to have a \n\ndisplay-setup-script=disper -s line\n\nexample:\n\n[SeatDefaults]\nuser-session=ubuntu\ngreeter-session=unity-greeter\ndisplay-setup-script=disper -s\n\n\nThis will use only the primary monitor for the greeter and unity will take over once your actually logged in.\n\nSee this answer for more information, but not that it's using the proprietary driver and that's not what you want. It should still work though.", "LG's 29UM69G-B and 29UM59A-P are both 29&quot; 2560x1080 ultrawides with USB-C and HDMI, with the 29UM69G-B apparently being the updated version. It's juusstt over the 30 cm mark at 32.8 cm without the stand; however, it still gets my recommendation as there are no other USB-C equipped ultrawides that are this small. Worst come to worst, you can strip the plastic housing off the monitor, which should hopefully get you a centimeter or two.\nIn terms of mounting, both monitors support a standard 75x75 VESA mount and weight only 5 kg, which is well supported by almost all monitor arms. Most monitor arms are shorter than the monitor when mounted level with the desk; here's an example of an adjustable arm set to a low position with a small monitor. Notice that the top of the arm is still below the top of the monitor, even though the monitor is below the top of the base (where the desk would be):\n\nI recommend using monitorarms.co to find an arm that's within your budget and fits your mounting/look preferences. They have a convenient chooser, as well as well-documented specs for a ton of arms.", "Assuming you have the rest of the hardware/don't mind sharing some with your PC a mac mini would probably be the cheapest option. Why? They're roughly about half the price of the Mac laptop models to start with. Exact prices would vary with model and country.\nDownsides? You'd need to supply your own keyboard/mouse and monitor. Its not as portable as an macbook of any flavour.\nIts pretty reasonably priced compared to a comparable NUC class machine.\nThey're also often available refurbished, which may be cheaper. I'd go for a core i5 model over a core 2 model if possible.\n\nAs of 2020 and Mac silicon, this makes even more sense, since you can run ios software natively, new Macs will be Arm, not PC based, and there's nothing particularly comparable.", "The command you are looking for is ddccontrol, available from the regular Ubuntu repository.\n\nWARNING! ddccontrol sends data over the i2c bus, which is inherently a dangerous thing to do. Most i2c devices are very low-level and very dumb, one misplaced command can be enough to brick them or at least freeze the computer. That said, DDC/CI is a somewhat standardized, quite established and quite old technology, so the risks is not too high.\n\nFor this reason, by default, i2c devices are only accessible to root. You will most likely need to prefix all commands below with sudo. (I have voluntarily not done it to ensure you read the instructions and not blindly copy/paste them.)\n\nProbing your monitor\n\nThe first thing to do is to probe the various i2c buses in your computer (mine has 11 such buses...), searching for the one that is actually on the graphics card, connected to the screen.\n\nThe ddccontrol -p command does that, and shows what it found. Sample output from my computer:\n\nDetected monitors :\n - Device: dev:/dev/i2c-4\n DDC/CI supported: Yes\n Monitor Name: VESA standard monitor\n Input type: Digital\n (Automatically selected)\nReading EDID and initializing DDC/CI at bus dev:/dev/i2c-4...\nI/O warning : failed to load external entity \"/usr/share/ddccontrol-db/monitor/DELD070.xml\"\nDocument not parsed successfully.\n\nEDID readings:\n Plug and Play ID: DELD070 [VESA standard monitor]\n Input type: Digital\n\n\nNote the I/O warning: it merely means that your monitor is unknown to ddccontrol, so it does not know the description of all the non-standard commands and values it may support. This does not prevent you from issuing the commands, but this may be a trials and errors process.\n\nNote also the detected bus name: dev:/dev/i2c-4 in my example.\n\nListing all commands\n\nThe ddccontrol -d dev:/dev/i2c-4 command reads all the possible controls (from 0x00 to 0xff) and shows the values it found. Of course, you should use the bus found when probing.\n\nddccontrol also shows a description for the controls and values that are known to it; either standard ones, or ones described in XML files. In my example, there is no XML file for my monitor (see the I/O warning above).\n\nQuerying a value\n\nThe ddccontrol -r 0x10 dev:/dev/i2c-4 queries the current value of the 0x10 control. Example output:\n\nReading 0x10...\nControl 0x10: +/21/100 C [Brightness]\n\n\nThe current value is the number in the middle, 21 in my example. The value after that is supposed to be the maximum, but this seem to only work for ranged values (such as brightness and contrast), not so much for list items.\n\nSetting a value\n\nThe ddccontrol -r 0x10 -w 25 dev:/dev/i2c-4 sets the value of the 0x10 control. Example output:\n\nWriting 0x10, 0x19(25)...\nControl 0x10: +/25/100 C [Brightness]\n\n\nNote that you can set values in hexadecimal or decimal formats. In my example, I used decimal.\n\nChanging monitor input source\n\nI found the command and values to use to switch my monitor inputs. It works well, by you will of course need to experiment to find the values for your monitor. Mine is a Dell UltraSharp U2515H.\n\nControl 0x60 [Input Source Select]\n\n\nValue 15: DP\nValue 16: mDP\nValue 17: HDMI (MHL) 1\nValue 18: HDMI (MHL) 2\n\n\nThe values are in the same order as the Input Source menu in the monitor.\n\nFor example, switching to DP: ddccontrol -r 0x60 -w 15 dev:/dev/i2c-4", "Perhaps transferable to your problem, one method from Olyha B., Rutledge J., \"TrackPoint System Version 4.0 Engineering Specification\", IBM, 1999: \n\n\n 2.2.3 DRIFT CORRECTION\n \n Due to the significant temperature sensitivity of the force sensors, it is necessary to recalibrate the zero force\n origin of each axis on a periodic basis. In order to properly\n recalibrate, it is necessary to determine when a ‘hands off’ condition\n exists (i.e. when no force is being applied). This is done by\n monitoring the X and Y axis force samples, and when there is minimal\n change in the readings (no more than ±1 count) for a specified length\n of time (3 seconds by default) it is assumed that the hands off\n condition exists. At this time the X, Y, and Z axis origins are reset\n to the smoothed current value of the X, Y, and Z axis force samples\n respectively. It should be noted that noise introduced by any source\n other than applied sensor forces will severely impact the\n effectiveness of this technique.\n\n\nIn my experience as a long-time ThinkPad user, this technique cannot always differentiate between the user trying to move the mouse cursor at constant speed and real sensor drift. Then again this is not usually dangerous and it is easy to manually trigger recalibration by hands off. Perhaps there should be a more advanced analysis algorithm running that can identify velocity variation in a manual attempt to move the mouse cursor at constant speed.", "I'll start with VGA, which is, in my opinion, a \"standard\".\n\nVGA is an analog signal. This basically means that the quality will not be as great as cables that make use of digital signals, especially at high resolutions. The problem with analog is that noise often distorts the signal and the quality ends up not being as good. So in terms of quality, go for the other three.\n\nDigital signals do not have this problem because they are noise tolerant.\n\nDVI is a digital signal that has a few different connecter types and two link modes: \n\n\nDVI-A has an analog signal.\nDVI-D has only a digital signal.\nDVI-I has both, making it especially useful as it can be used with VGA-DVI adaptors\n\n\nMost adaptors are single link and support a resolution up to 1920x1200 whereas dual link supports up to 2560x1600.\n\nHDMI is the standard for HDTVs. It is also a digital signal and is therefore fully compatible with DVI-D and DVI-I. The benifit of HDMI over DVI is that is has the ability to carry audio as well as the video signal although it does require that your monitor has built in speakers. Recently, HDMI 2.0 was released and gives HDMI the ability to better deal with 4K (Ultra HD) displays at a higher frequency and FPS. If your display or TV has HDMI 1.4, you’ll be limited to 3,820×2160, 4K, at 30 Hz. However, if you’ve got a video card and 4K display with HDMI 2.0, you’ll be able to get 4K at 60 Hz.\n\nThere's not much difference between between HDMI 1.4 and DVI besides the audio in the HDMI, which can be a real benefit depending on your setup and that colour ranges for HDMI go beyond the RGB spectrum which DVI is limited to. The only benefit of the DVI is the physical screws that support the DVI cable and help prevent port damage.\n\nDisplayPort is the newest of the lot and is aimed towards higher end monitors - newer and high-end monitors tend to have DisplayPort. Its designed to deal with 4K at higher FPS and Hz. DisplayPort is capable of 3840×2160, 8K at 60Hz or 4k at 120Hz!\n\nDisplayPort looks like it's the way of the future, especially if you want 4K.\n\nGenerally it depends on your setup (monitor and graphics card), what you can and can't use but for the future of gaming DisplayPort looks the way to go.\n\nReferences and more info:\n\n\nhttp://www.makeuseof.com/tag/video-cables-explained-difference-vga-dvi-hdmi-ports/\nhttps://superuser.com/questions/15884/hdmi-vs-component-vs-vga-vs-dvi-vs-displayport \nhttp://www.avadirect.com/blog/displayport-vs-hdmi-vs-dvi-vs-vga/", "Tridion Montoring is available for 2011. There is a monitoing endpoint which you can hit to ensure that Tridion is Healthy or you can setup as a service. \nYou have to setup and install monitoring agent before you can do this. Refer this section and install per you needs \nTridion Monitoring Documentation\n\nAlternatively, you can also monitor individual Tridion services using tools like SCOM for Windows and have alerting setup on the same to take action.\n\nAs far as logs are concerned use tools like Splunk to filter out information that you are looking for in the logs as it provides easy search capabilities so that you don't have to parse huge logs by your self and you can also plot graphics of common errors as well. \n\nUpdate\n\nWell, you will have to use a combination because even if you monitor services for failure, you will have to figure out the root cause for failure using logs so that you can fix the issue. You can use SCOM monitoring for Tridion Services and NLB health check for deployer, oData services (if you plan to use them) which will cover the monitoring needs.", "As well as being the first colour Mac-like, the Atari ST was absurdly competitive on price, being the first mainstream 68000-based home computer. The Amiga wasn’t relaunched for the home market until 1987*. As a result it is the original home of a wealth of innovative game software — especially in Europe it was often the lead platform for games until the late ‘80s, and even after that it was usually the better platform for 3d titles.\nThe Atari ST was available with 512kb RAM and the monochrome monitor for $800 in 1985. When it came out later that year, the Amiga had no monitor, 256kb of ram and cost $1,285; you were at very close to $1,600 with a colour monitor.\nThe Atari ST was the first range to offer 1mb of RAM for less than $1,000, by a safe distance. You could buy one of Atari’s laser printers plus the ST, and DTP software for quite a bit less than Apple’s LaserWriter alone.\nAmongst the games software, Eye of the Beholder is commonly cited, as is Another World; nowadays people also tend to mention Alpha Waves, also labelling it the first 3d platformer.\nIn terms of hardware, I guess the main forward-looking piece is the fully DMA’d implementation of SCSI that drew from a pre-standardisation version of the spec and is therefore usually called ACSI. The Mac wouldn’t gain any SCSI support until the Plus in 1986, and in that implementation it polls a status register then polls a byte, much like how other simple machines read floppy disks; I don’t think Apple ever added DMA drive access to a plain 68000 Mac, though models after the Plus did gain a blocking read so that you don’t have to spin on the status register.\nThe ST’s DMA controller also drives the floppy disk which was a first for a home computer but I think the IBM PC and clones were already there in terms of machines that you could find in ordinary retail channels.\n* this claim has caused some comment controversy; see below. My claim is that the Amiga was originally launched as a professional machine, and an example contemporaneous source is The LA Times:\n\n... Commodore--which just began shipping the Amiga--will have to do better than Apple did with its Macintosh or IBM did with the PC in their first years on the market. The Amiga, which starts at $1,300, is intended to compete with more expensive personal computers such as those two.\n...\nBecause the Amiga, which has won praise from technical reviewers, is a more sophisticated and expensive machine than the more familiar Commodore 64 and the newer Commodore 128, the company isn’t peddling it through K mart and other discount or toy-store chains.\nSelling through specialty stores also serves to upgrade the company’s current image as a maker of cheap computers to play games on, which is the part of the computer market hit hardest during the industry’s current weakness.", "Since your camera supports NTSC and PAL video over HDMI, recording video from a mac won't be much of a problem. You'll just need a small conversion box to get the video in. For our macs with thunderbolt, we use an Ultra Studio Mini Recorder. If you don't have thunderbolt, Grass Valley has a product that works over firewire. Once the feed's connected, you can capture from within Final Cut. Just open the import window (cmd-i) and you'll see a list of cameras at the top left. In fact you can probably try this out now, because if your monitor has a camera in it, it'll be listed as a facetime camera. Select the facetime camera or ultra studio or whatever your input source is, and click import. When you're done, click stop import. The recording will show up in your events browser.\n\nAs far as taking pictures from your mac, I know there's an app for Cannon cameras that lets you adjust settings, trigger the shutter, and download the image over USB. Nikon probably has one too, but I don't know for sure.", "Please do not allow this tag to live!\n\nThere are too many things that use \"edge\" in it's name, and the system isn't smart enough to know if it will be really useful. Examples:\n\n\nUbuntu-edge, the operative system.\nEdge of the monitor/tablet/screen/etc.\nThinkpad edge, \nEdge swapping, a effect of compiz\nEDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) the digital mobile technology\nEdge, of a window.\nOthers \"edge\"s of anything...\n\n\nBecause of this, this tag should be avoided/nuked.\n\nIf tags are needed to contain \"edge\" they should use the hyphen (-), example:\n\n\nthinkpad-edge (I really do not make too much sense of this one... someone might)\negprs and in the excerpt/wiki say that is also know as EDGE\nno other case scenario where \"edge\" could be useful for looking at question/answer, and won't give headaches later.", "You are\n\n\n A (computer) monitor\n\n\nSome can be forgiven for thinking I watch you,\nbut in fact you are the one watching me.\n\n\n A monitor can be one who watches, but in this case, I'm looking at my monitor right now\n\n\nI suppose I keep an eye on the mathy fellow,\nbut that just makes me a little bit gooey.\n\n\n Not entirely, sure, but I'm guessing the mathy fellow is the CPU?\n\n\nI guess I don't lead but I can be led, \n\n\n LED monitors \n\n\nthough sometimes I have crystallizing moments.\n\n\n Or liquid crystal monitors\n\n\nwithout light I am out of sight however, \n\n\n You can't see anything if the monitor produces no light\n\n\nwith a magnet I can get real funky.\n\n\n Especially if you're a CRT monitor, as magnets will distort the picture\n\n\nTo give your answer you would key, but you would get little feedback without me.\n\n\n I won't know I'm right until I see a response to this on my monitor :)", "Thanks for this BTW. I had a similar situation: DisplayPort ports on computers, DisplayPort switch, DisplayPort monitor. And of course, the windows jumping around every time I switched the monitor.\nI tried and tried to find a pass-through EDID adapter for DP to no avail. All I could find were headless plugs meant to fool some server's GPU that it was attached to a monitor. So I tried to duplicate your setup.\nI ended up going with different hardware, but I also took it a step further. Since I wanted to keep my existing DP switch, I brought the HDMI back to DP before reaching the switch.\nSo, it's computer DP -&gt; DP-to-HDMI converter -&gt; HDMI EDID pass-through adapter -&gt; HDMI-to-DP converter -&gt; DP switch -&gt; monitor. I'm not running 4K, but it works fine at 2560 x 1440. And now the windows stay where they are during the monitor switch.\nHere are the parts I used from Amazon:\nDP to HDMI: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M09PT7O/\nHDMI EDID: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0722NVQHX/\nHDMI to DP: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077JMLGMG/", "For a work environment I would recommend nvidia quadro. Not the p600 or p620 those are likely to be too small and under perform although they would work and be the cheapest option. The previous model line goes P1000, P2000, P4000, [P5000], P6000. With price going from least to most expensive. I think the current model line right now is RTX but buying the P model ought to save you some money and would perform just fine.\nThe P2000 is still a thin 1 slot card and does not require supplemental pcie power from the power supply. I would recommend either this or the P1000.\nThe P4000 is still a 1 slot card but requires supplemental power so make sure something like that will work in your setup.\nThe P6000 is a dual slot card requiring supplemental power, and quite expensive. I would not get this unless you know you can make use of its performance.\nThey would all support up to 4 monitors, the cards only have DP outputs so plan for dp-to-hdmi adapters and whatnot.\nThere's the ongoing debate of geforce vs quadro, and geforce while you can often get the same performance or better for less money the quadro is business oriented and will provide stable drivers, no shenanigans, and may allow specific configuration for 3d render of graphic or CAD software whereas geforce would not. For business you typically do not worry about the 20% markup or whatever for the quadro line of graphics cards vs the consumer geforce. Getting a new card less than $180 usd that's not likely to happen. If you're running on a 19&quot; monitor 1280x1024 then a p620 would probably be ok, but a 27&quot; @ 2560x1440 or better then you'll be wanting a p1000 and a 4k monitor probably a p2000.", "I run an almost exact set of applications on my developer workstation, and I'm very satisfied my setup:\n\n\nWorkstation (Not laptop)\n2 SATA harddrives 10.000 RPM. OS and applications on one, code on the other. This makes the compile/build very fast.\n4 GB RAM (Windows can not use more than this if you are running on 32bits)\n2 monitors, 22\" widescreen. One horizontal as main screen (VS), and the other set up vertical on the right side for documentation/MSDN/outlook/VM.", "This happens to me when my second screen is a TV. Some screens chop off the edges of the screen.\n\nHere are three things I'd try:\n\n1 Mirroring\n\n\n \n Go to System Preferences » Displays\n Select \"Arrangement\"\n Click \"Mirror displays\"\n \n\n\n\nImage via http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5019\n\nThis makes both monitors display the same screen, forcing them to be the same aspect ratio. If the aspect ratio is different, there will be blank space around the image.\n\n2 Change screen resolution.\n\n\n Go to System Preferences » Displays.\n Try changing the resolution for your second screen.\n\n\nThe system will ask you to confirm if the settings work, so you don't have to worry about accidentally messing things up. Go nuts.\n\n\nImage via this StackOverflow question, since I don't have a second display connected right now.\n\n3 Change the settings on the monitor itself.\n\nIf the menu bar is still missing, try using the monitor's menu to change the crop settings.\n\nThis is isn't as likely with modern monitors, but it's a possibility (especially if you're using a CRT monitor or TV)\n\nMore notes\n\nIf you see a menu bar on top but it's blank, the options should appear once you click on that screen." ]

[ "Stephen Hawking" ]

[ "a has-been", "understand", "it has been sold", "Say Say Say", "a goal", "My Dad Says", "goal", "a ha-ha", "Simple", "\"Say, Say, Say\"", "Goals", "a-ha", "I understand", "British", "Pull quote", "Ha", "a quote (or estimate)", "Field goals", "Say", "a field goal", "try to understand", "Real Simple", "goals and assists", "University", "the complete plays of Shakespeare", "The Simple Life", "Score a goal", "Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad", "Universal", "simple & compound", "goal tend", "Simple Simon" ]

[ "The problem of the two of you getting hired together in the same department is much harder than for each of you getting hired separately somewhere near each other.\n\nThe problem is simply that there aren't enough job openings for two people in the same field at the same time, or even near in time. There might be exceptions, such as if you are in a very competitive and hot new area in which universities are competing for faculty in that field, but that is also rare. \n\nBut, if you are in an area with a lot of universities, such as NYC or London, for example, you could probably find employment close enough to solve your problem. One of you might need to take a job at a lower ranked place to make this work, I suppose. \n\nBeing nearby, but at different institutions would also open the options for collaborations separate from each other, as well. \n\nYou can't really control how people judge your collaboration, but if you are being interviewed separately for jobs, each of you can stand on your own in your knowledge of the field and potential for future work. But, don't obsess over what you can't control. \n\nI'll note that it is easier for a university to solve the two-body problem if the two are in very different fields. It gets harder the more similar they are, especially the same sub-field. But being \"hot\" helps if you can find the place that is trying to rapidly expand. That is rare for lots of reasons and it isn't a stable situation. \"Rapidly expanding\" today could be \"saturated\" tomorrow." ]

[ "AFAIK there's neither a clear Verse nor a Verse one could conclude from that a woman could marry more than one man. But we have a clear and long Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sunan abi Dawod explaining the different forms of marriage which existed in Jahilya and how Islam prohibited all but one of them!\n\nTherefore there is no doubt among Muslim scholars that this is prohibited, as it seems to go against on of the major the goals of the Islamic shari'a مقاصد الشريعة, which is to secure and guard the offspring!\n\nPlease: read also this Article and here where many issues have been explained about the matter of polyandry (a woman having more then one husband)! Also here some logical reasons why polyandry creates social, ethical and personal problems.\n\nHere's a short overview on some of these issues:\n\n\nThe identity of the child becomes ambiguous. -> Inheritance problems etc.\nGrowth Stunts.-> A woman can only birth for one healthy child \"each year\", how could she satisfy the wishes of more then one husband if each wants a certain number of children?\nThe stronger and mightier husbands will sleep with the wife when they want to...\nIf a husband becomes bed-bound due to an accident for a few months, then he will need his wife to look after him day and night. \nEconomics: the husband should care about the family, but which husband and if he doesn't have children yet with the wife ...\nWomen find they cannot sometimes fulfill the sexual desires of their husband, due to monthly periods, pregnancies and so on.\n...", "There is no problem for a Buddhist and a non-Buddhist to enjoy a married life together.\n\nHowever, the Buddha recommended couples to be in tune in conviction, for best results, in the Samajivina Sutta:\n\n\n [The Blessed One said:] \"If both husband &amp; wife want to see one\n another not only in the present life but also in the life to come,\n they should be in tune [with each other] in conviction, in tune in\n virtue, in tune in generosity, and in tune in discernment. Then they\n will see one another not only in the present life but also in the life\n to come.\"\n \n \n Husband &amp; wife, both of them\n having conviction,\n being responsive,\n being restrained,\n living by the Dhamma (the Buddha's teachings),\n addressing each other\n with loving words:\n they benefit in manifold ways.\n To them comes bliss.\n Their enemies are dejected\n when both are in tune in virtue.\n Having followed the Dhamma here in this world,\n both in tune in precepts &amp; practices,\n they delight in the world of the devas,\n enjoying the pleasures they desire.\n \n\n\nThere is no prohibition on Buddhists marrying religious non-Buddhists. Of course, if a Buddhist who does not believe in a Supreme Creator God, is married to someone who thinks that belief in a Supreme Creator God is mandatory for a pleasant afterlife, this produces some lack of compatibility between the couple, but this does not make marriage impossible. It is simply not optimum.", "The 13th century scholar, Ibn Khatir said in the commentary of the said verse:\n\n\n Allah said,\n \n (but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of\n annoyance),) meaning, when the wife obeys her husband in all that\n Allah has allowed, then no means of annoyance from the husband are\n allowed against his wife. Therefore, in this case, the husband does\n not have the right to beat her or shun her bed. Allah's statement,\n\n\n\"when the wife obeys her husband in all that Allah has allowed\" -- means that the wife obeys the husband only if what the husband asks her to do is halal in Islam. If he tells her to do something that is haram, she must disobey him. Prophet once said something that means something like there is no obedience to the creation over the creator. And obedience doesn't apply if what the husband asked the wife to do is masbooh (doubtful matters).\n\nFurther reading: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/a/36194/32459 (references are provided in it)", "In Italy, quoting the website of the European University Institute, \n\n\n apart from ‘assegno di ricerca’, ‘professore a contratto’, and ‘ricercatore di tipo B’, all other positions are tenure or tenure-track.\n\n\nIn particular any position of Associate Professor (‘professore associato’) is a tenure-track or tenured one, and that of Full Professor (‘professore ordinario’) is tenured after a probationary period ('professore straordinario').\n\nWe may generalise saying that \"tenure\" (somewhat if not perfectly) corresponds to titolarità di cattedra, and is usually translated as such - literally \"ownership of a professorship chair\". Since titularis is an attested Late Latin word, we may translate tenure as titularitas cathedrae. This German website describes Paul Fridolin Kehr as titularis cathedrae historiae medii aevi Gottingensis, so \"tenured professor\" may be translated as (professor/docens) titularis cathedrae.", "If you are not married, the Buddha said to look at opposite sex friends like brother &amp; sister:\n\n\n 'Come now, monks: with regard to women who are old enough to be your\n mother, establish the attitude you would have toward your mother. With\n regard to women who are old enough to be your sister, establish the\n attitude you'd have toward a sister. With regard to women who are\n young enough to be your daughter, establish the attitude you'd have\n toward a daughter.'\n \n SN 35.127\n\n\nIf a person wishes to get married, the Buddha taught a suitable partner has the same life goals &amp; attitudes; particularly living according the five precepts:\n\n\n Householders, if both husband and wife wish to see one another not only in this present time but also in the future, they should have\n the same faith, the same virtuous behavior, the same generosity and\n the same wisdom. Then they will see one another not only in this\n present time but also in the future.\n \n AN 4.55\n \n \n \n Householders, there are these four ways of living together. What four? A male wretch lives together with a female wretch; a male wretch lives together with a female goddess; a male god lives together with a female wretch; a male god lives together with a female goddess.\n \n AN 4.53 \n \n \n \n When both husband and wife are endowed with faith, charitable and self-controlled, living their lives righteously, addressing each other\n with pleasant words, Then many benefits accrue to them and they dwell\n at ease.\n \n AN 4.53 &amp; AN 4.55\n\n\nIf one or both people had many sexual partners before they get married and do not respect the precept of sexual fidelity then, as the Buddha taught above in AN 4.53 &amp; AN 4.55, their marriage will most likely (but not always) have problems. The Buddha particularly emphasised sexual misconduct should be avoided by and towards women, as follows:\n\n\n 242. Unchastity is the taint in a woman. \n \n 242. In a woman, misconduct is an impurity.\n \n Dhammapada", "Following the feedback, I posted the question in Academia. The answer concerns Quebec\n\n\n In French North America:\n \n Full professor translates to Professeur titulaire.\n \n A tenured associate professor would be Professeur agrégé.\n \n An untenured assistant professor would be professeur adjoint.\n \n I suppose it’s possible to get promoted to “associate prof” without\n getting tenure (the processes of promotion and tenure are generally\n distinct), but “tenure” is agrégation.\n \n The notion of “adjunct professor” does not translate to “professor\n adjoint” but rather to professeur associé.\n \n I’m not sure there’s an English equivalent to Maître de Conference.\n Maybe this is before the “professeur adjoint” level.\n \n “tenure track” translates to “en voie d’agregation” or “avec\n possibilité d’agregration”; the latter formulation is used for\n recruitment but a professeur adjoint already hired would use the\n former.\n\n\nActually there is a old similar thread in the same forum. Regarding France, there is an answer that covers French particularities.\n\n\n In France, the position Assistant Professor is a permanent position.\n As research activities are also done in labs in addition to the\n universities, the positions are:\n \n assistant professor (maître de conférences) : permanent teaching\n position, but can not supervise PhD students alone.\n \n Is typically working towards a habilitation (HDR, habilitation à\n diriger des recherches), a longer-lasting standalone research project\n of about 5 years, during which the person co-supervised a few PhD\n students. After defending the project in front of the jury a person\n with an HDR can supervise PhD students alone.\n \n professor (professeur des universités) : permanent teaching position,\n can supervise PhD students alone.\n \n full researcher (chargé or directeur de recherche) : permanent\n research position without teaching, can supervise PhD students alone\n if holder of the HDR.\n\n\nThere is a complete wiki article as well. \n\nEDIT\n\nThere is a newer answer concerning France in Academia:\n\n\n To be honest, the first three title (Lecturer, Assistant/Associate\n Professor) were always quite nebulous to me. What you must understand\n is that the two systems are completely different.\n \n Basically, if your job is permanent and your activities are split\n between teaching and research, you have the rank of a maître de\n conférences (MdC) or professeur des universités (PU). Note that the\n answer on the \"related\" question mentions the habilitation à diriger\n des recherches (HDR), which is more of a degree than a rank. You need\n to have a HDR to apply to full professorship positions, but you are\n still a maître de conférences in the meantime. Finally, there are\n several tiers within both positions (MdC and PU) based on seniority.\n \n If your job is not permanent but still have to teach and do research,\n you are most probably an Attaché Temporaire d'Enseignement et\n Recherche (or ATER).\n \n If your job is permanent and only have teaching duties, you are most\n probably a professeur agrégé (or PRAG).\n \n And finally, if your job is not permanent and only have teaching\n duties, well, you are not really in the academic system and I don't\n think there is a rank or title for that.\n \n So to answer your questions:\n \n No, I believe maître de conférences is the equivalent of a tenured\n professor (in terms of service/duties but not necessarily experience).\n I have seen some people using maîtresse de conférences, so I guess it\n is accepted. All your translations are not valid since they aren't\n associated with anything in the French system. Since there is no\n tenure track in France, it doesn't really make sense to try and\n translate it. Extra item: If you are searching for translations\n because you are writing your CV, I also recommend what has already\n been said in the comments: just use the official title and don't mind\n too much about translating it one way or the other.", "Tenure can refer to the length of time a person holds a particular position, for example, on a committee, or in elected office. When the tenure is over, they are no longer in that position. They have held the position for the designated length of time.\n\n\n During his tenure as mayor, Mr Jones was a good friend to commercial\n developers, not an ally of local neighborhoods. Now that his tenure is over, local groups are hoping to prevent construction of two casinos he had fast-tracked.\n \n Next year, her tenure on the school board will be over, and she plans to run for the state senate.", "There's some talk about that here -- A Happy Married Life:\nA Buddhist Perspective\n\nTHE HUSBAND\nThe Buddha, in reply to a householder as to how a husband should minister to his wife declared that the husband should always honor and respect his wife, by being faithful to her, by giving her the requisite authority to manage domestic affairs and by giving her befitting ornaments. This advice, given over twenty five centuries ago, still stands good for today.\nKnowing the psychology of the man who tends to consider himself superior, the Buddha made a remarkable change and uplifted the status of a woman by a simple suggestion that a husband should honor and respect his wife. A husband should be faithful to his wife, which means that a husband should fulfill and maintain his marital obligations to his wife thus sustaining the confidence in the marital relationship in every sense of the word. The husband, being a bread-winner, would invariably stay away from home, hence he should entrust the domestic or household duties to the wife who should be considered as the keeper and the distributor of the property and the home economic-administrator. The provision of befitting ornaments to the wife should be symbolic of the husband's love, care and attention showered on the wife. This symbolic practice has been carried out from time immemorial in Buddhist communities. Unfortunately it is in danger of dying out because of the influence of modern civilization.\n\nThat's a reference to DN 31\n\n&quot;In five ways should a wife as the western direction be respected by a husband: by honoring, not disrespecting, being faithful, sharing authority, and by giving gifts.\n&quot;And, the wife so respected reciprocates with compassion in five ways: by being well-organized, being kindly disposed to the in-laws and household workers, being faithful, looking after the household goods, and being skillful and diligent in all duties.\nIn this way, the western direction is protected and made peaceful and secure.", "There wouldn't be a simple single word that someone of Korean cultural assumptions would understand to mean what you want.\nYou'd probably have to be explicit and say 고모의 와이프/고모의 아내 for \n'Father's sister's wife', and or 삼촌 의 남편/삼촌 의 바깥분 for 'Father's younger brother's husband'. \n\nOf course within the family or among people who are familiar with the situation, it might be possible to agree on something shorter and more convenient. For example, '고모부' could be an amusing pun for 'father's sister's wife', because 부 can be a Chinese character representation for a character 夫 meaning husband, AND a character 婦 meaning wife - as in the word 부부, meaning 'husband and wife'. Just to be clear, this would not be understood unless you were 'in on the joke' - 고모부 in general means father's sister's husband.", "Husband and wife for hundreds of times of consecutive rebirth. How?\n\n\nIn AN 4:55 - The Same in Living, the Buddha visits a married couple in their residence. Here he is given alms food whereafter he gives a teaching to the householders. \n\nBoth householdes, Nakulapitā and Nakulamātā, asks the Buddha how they can remain together in this life and meet and be together in future lives as well.\n\nThe Buddha teaches: “Householders, if both husband and wife wish to see one another not only in this present life but also in future lives, they should have the same faith, the same virtuous behavior, the same generosity, and the same wisdom. Then they will see one another not only in this present life but also in future lives.”\n\nBelow is the quoted sutta.\n\n\n \n The Same in Living (1)\n \n \n On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Bhaggas in Suṃsumāragira in the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove. Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed, took his bowl and robe, and went to the residence of the householder Nakulapitā, where he sat down in the prepared seat. Then the householder Nakulapitā and the housewife Nakulamātā approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The householder Nakulapitā then said to the Blessed One:\n \n “Bhante, since I was young, when the young girl Nakulamātā was given to me in marriage, I do not recall ever transgressing against her even in thought, much less by deed. We wish, Bhante, to see one another not only in this present life but also in future lives.”\n \n The housewife Nakulamātā in turn said to the Blessed One: “Bhante, since I was a young girl given to the young householder Nakulapitā in marriage, I do not recall ever transgressing against him even in thought, much less by deed. We wish, Bhante, to see one another not only in this present life but also in future lives.”\n \n “Householders, if both husband and wife wish to see one another not only in this present life but also in future lives, they should have the same faith, the same virtuous behavior, the same generosity, and the same wisdom. Then they will see one another not only in this present life but also in future lives.”\n \n Both husband and wife are endowed with faith,\n charitable and self-controlled,\n living their lives righteously,\n addressing each other with pleasant words,\n \n Then many benefits accrue to them\n and they dwell at ease.\n Their enemies are saddened\n when both are the same in virtue.\n \n Having practiced the Dhamma here,\n the same in virtuous behavior and observances,\n delighting after death in a deva world,\n they rejoice, enjoying sensual pleasures.", "Old Testament Period\n\nEcclesiasticus 23:32-33\nSo every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another: For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath fornicated in adultery, and hath gotten her children of another man.\n\n\nIntertestamental-New Testament Period\n\nMatthew 19:1-9 (cf. 5:31-32; Mark 10:1-12)\nAnd it came to pass when Jesus had ended these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan. And great multitudes followed him: and he healed them there. And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any reason? Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? And he said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put away? He saith to them: Because Moses by reason of the hardness of your heart permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication,* and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.\n\n\n* Not to be taken as an 'exceptive clause': it isn't in any of the parallel narratives, anywhere, or in St. Paul—probably included to justify/clarify Joseph's course of action earlier in the same Gospel, regarding possible unfaithfulness before the marraige consummation (Matthew 1:18-19). Hence Matthew alone mentions it. Fornication is too wide and ambiguous for Jesus to be taken to be making an exception for it, anyway. He is restricting divorce to one of His 'but I say to you's, that is, no divorce, period. Otherwise, He wouldn't be updating Moses' mandate at all.\n\nNew Testament Period\n\n1 Corinthians 7:10-11,17\nBut to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband. And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife. ... so in all churches I teach.\n\nDivorce is disallowed, period.\n\nMatthew 18:15-17\nBut if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.\n\nThis is an unrelated context, and it doesn't pertain to making new moral laws, only upholding them by the authority given the church (v. 18), which authority is not to be sought unless the person cannot be reconciled without it (v. 15, 17).\n\n\n1 Corinthians 7:11\nAnd if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.\n\nI'm not sure St. Paul is even talking about divorce here; it sounds more like living apart long-term. Hence, &quot;remain unmarried&quot; (i.e. to another) and the only other option &quot;be reconciled to her husband&quot; (return); together with the blanket statement: &quot;let not the husbad put away his wife&quot; (here he talks about divorce and forbids it as Jesus did). This is proven in verses 12:15 where he says that 'putting away' (divorce) and &quot;departing&quot; are different situations: &quot;let him not put her [the unbelieving wife] away...let her not put away her [unbelieving] husband...But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart.\nHe nor Jesus anywhere allows divorce (e.g. in Romans 7:2-3 it is 'till death do we part').", "In my experience, setting up academic jobs more than one academic year in advance is uncommon precisely for this reason: each party gets nervous that the other will back out. Thus for instance it is relatively common that one wants to accept one position and \"finish out\" a current position, and in my experience it is quite often acceptable to stay for one additional academic year and very rarely acceptable to stay longer than that.\n\nI would be interested to hear more about the circumstances in which a position gets offered and accepted 1.5 to 2 years in advance. As for the ethics: formally accepting an academic position involves (i) announcing your intention to do so and (ii) signing something saying that you accept the job, with a certain start date. I do know that some positions which are funded by external grants need to be accepted conditionally on final funding of those grants (I was quite recently involved in such a situation). This is potentially awkward, as the risks involved in a conditional offer not coming to fruition are highly asymmetrical: for the employer it means that some people's time has been wasted and that certain proposed projects will not get carried out; for the employee it means that a highly trained, valued worker is out of a job for a year through no fault of their own. It may be that one has the ethical right to turn down a conditional offer for an unconditional offer under certain circumstances; I don't think you should use this an excuse, but if you honestly have doubts that the offer will become actual, then I think at some point you are entitled to take a real job rather than a virtual one. (I would be interested to hear more about this point from others.)\n\nIf you are really signing on a dotted line a commitment to a position far in the future, conditional on funding, and with an uncertain salary...well, it is not clear to me why one would sign such a contract. Barring exceptional circumstances you probably shouldn't. \n\nI feel like the standard unit of \"going through with the position you accepted\" is one academic year. In other words, if you agree in writing to take a position, then ethically speaking you should keep it for at least one year (I think). Most formal contracts I am familiar with are academic year to academic year anyway: I am a tenured faculty member and I still sign a contract every August. In my department we have the understanding that a postdoc, for instance, should feel to vacate the position at the end of any given academic year if they get a better job: in fact, these usually count as success stories, including on our part. In general vacating a postdoc for a tenure-track job seems especially understandable. \n\nAll of the above makes me unsure of what the etiquette might be on a position that starts so far in the future. As you can see, I am skeptical that such an arrangement should be as ethically binding as a standard offer, but it depends on the understanding both parties had when entering the arrangement. \n\nAdded: The additional information seems helpful. Is the current postdoc at the same institution as the partner's tenure-track job and the future \"soft-money\" gig? I gather not. Anyway, in this case the \"soft-money\" job sounds more like a courtesy to the tenure track partner than anything else. Have you signed any paperwork saying that you intend to take the job? If not, I think you're totally fine not to end up taking it (however if your partner plans to stay this should be done carefully so as not to cause trouble for him/her) and they probably will not even be that broken up about it. Probably you haven't signed a contract for something so far in the future, right? If you did sign a form signifying your intent to work at a certain job, it seems to me that you need to ask if you can not take the job rather than tell. But it's hard to imagine the circumstances in which they would hold you to a future job that you no longer want.", "No\n\nTo start with the phrase, \n\n\n A wife is supposed to wear what her husband wishes\n\n\nIf your husband is following the Sunnah of our Islam, then definitely he won't be asking you about this request.\n\nAccording to our Hadith and Holy Quran, a Husband can ask his wife to wear whatever he wants, provided it should be in private and within our Shariah laws.\nAlso if the wife is not comfortable, then she can tell him the same.\n\nNote the Keyword ASK has been written.\n\nBut to be in Public, it should be something to which body parts can't be visible or seen through or the structure of different body parts can be notified.\n\nSo, my dear sister, you should inform your husband of the same, so that he can understand it in a better way.", "In 30 May 2015, a website (publishing in French) called El Manchar, published an article called:\n\nTitle: Un nouveau marié dépose une plainte contre sa femme pour faux et usage\nde faux\nTranslation: A newly married husband files a complaint against his wife for forgery\n\nThe small article says that a man was so shocked after seeing his wife without makeup for the first time that he decided to sue her for fraud and psychological suffering.\nApparently, the staff of Emirates 24/7 have seen the article posted by El Manchar, and decided to adopt it in English and make a piece of news; those are the indicators:\n\nEmirate 24/7 said that the husband is seeking $20,000 of damages. EL Manchar also\nsaid the husband is also seeking $20,000 of damages (1) \n\nEmirate 24/7 said that the husband mistook the wife for a &quot;thief who came to steal his apartment&quot;. And so El Manchar said that too:\n\n\n\nOriginal: Épouvanté, le mari aurait d’abord cru qu’un cambrioleur s’était introduit par effraction au domicile conjugal avant de se rendre compte que l’intrus n’était autre que sa femme démaquillée.\nTranslation: Terrified, the husband would have initially thought a burglar had entered breaking the marital home before realizing that the intruder was none other than his wife cleansed.\n\nNow, as you look further into El Manchar, you will find this in the about section:\n\nAbout: El-Manchar est un site d’informations fausses et complètement saugrenues. Il a été créé dans le seul but d’explorer le champ de l’absurde. Aussi, les articles qui y sont publiés, ne renvoient à aucune occurrence du réel mais juste à des occurrences du possible. La devise d’El-Manchar est « avec des scies, on refait le monde »\nTranslation: El-Manchar is a site consisting of completely false and absurd information. It was created for the sole purpose of exploring the field of absrud. Also, the articles published therein, does not refer to any actual single occurrence but just occurrences which could be possible. The motto of El Manchar is &quot;with saws, we change the world&quot;\n\nGoing through their twitter account, you will find out a tweet where they express pride and satisfaction for their viral but fake story that have circulated and made online headlines on Yahoo, DailyMail, Huffington Post, EliteDaily, Metro and many more...\n\nYou will also find Facebook images where they mock news articles for falling for their fake news.\n (1) El Manchar said that the guy is seeking &quot;20 millions de centimes&quot; of damage. It is referring to centimes of dirham. 20 million of centimes of MAD is equal to 200,000 MAD (Morrocan Dirham). 200,000.00 MAD = 20,307.06 USD", "Having a child changes people and their relationship significantly. She sounds to me like she is under a lot of stress (real or imagined or both) and is taking it out unfairly on you, leaving you holding the bag on chores and interaction with your son.\n\nMy suggestion is to emphasize to her that you value your relationship and marriage and want to work on it together. Find a couple's counselor. In the counselor's environment, watch how she responds to the counselor when they suggest that your wife alter her behavior or view your behavior differently. That will be a good gauge as to whether she will remember how to treat you with respect and be willing to change and work on the marriage.\n\nIn addition, I would suggest to your wife that she seems to be under terrible stress and suggest to her that she undertake counseling on her own in lieu of couples counseling or in addition to it. If she says you're the problem, you can lead by example and engage in individual counseling--you sound like you could use that release valve even if she doesn't go and it'll be a good resource if you find she's not willing to change and you decide to divorce.\n\nCitation: My husband and I met at 19, married at 21, and had a child at 26. By the time our child was about 3, we were fractiously struggling with each other and headed toward divorce. We went to couple's counseling where the counselor helped us learn to communicate effectively and respectfully. She helped each party be listened to by the other party. My husband resisted individual therapy for many years, but I went on my own and found that it bolstered me during a difficult time. Eventually, as I had set an example and normalized the idea, my husband went to individual therapy to work on his temper/anger/boundary issues. Today, many years later, we are happy together and continue to communicate the way our counselor taught us nearly twenty years ago.\n\nIt's important to underscore that during that twenty years, my husband was diagnosed with clinical depression and was treated. I was diagnosed as bipolar (which is very hard to diagnose--I was misdiagnosed for a long time and the worst thing you can do to a bipolar person is treat them with antidepressants as the SSRIs make mood swings worse) and was treated. Appropriate treatment helped significantly. Don't rule out the notion that you and/or your wife have underlying issues that are increasing the difficulty of your marriage right now.", "It's considered a form of &quot;masturbation&quot; in the English language (dictionary.com), but this is irrelevant to its permissibility.\nSpousal (mutual) masturbation is considered permissible by scholars (even strict ones).\n\nIt is permissible for the couple to stimulate each other's private parts as a form of enhancing sexual gratification.\nAskImam (also AskImam)\nIt is permitted to a husband and wife to masturbate each other.\nIslamWeb\nIt is not haraam, rather, it is permissible, because it is a part of the enjoyment which Allaah has allowed.\nIslam Q&amp;A\nQ 784: Is it permissible for a husband to masturbate using his wife’s hand?\nA: It is not an instance of ḥarām masturbation.\nleader.ir\n\nHowever, AskImam considered a husband masturbating his wife during menses as haram:\n\nIt is Haraam (strictly prohibited) for the husband to masturbate his wife while she is menstruating.\nAskImam", "According to the Tantras it is usually not ok for the husband to initiate his wife. But if the husband is Siddha Mantra (mastered a Mantra) then he can.\nThe Brihat TantrasArah quotes the following verses from the Rudra YAmala Tantram in this context:\n\nRudrayAmale:\nNa patnim dikshayed bhartA na pitA dikshayeth sutAm | Na putrancha\ntathA bhrAtA brAtaram nacha dikshayet || Siddha mantro yadi pati\nstadA patnim sa dikshayet | Shakti tvena varArohe na cha sA putrikA\nbhavet ||\nIn Rudra YAmala Lord Shiva says to Goddess PArvati:\nA husband must not initiate his wife; a father his son or daughter; a\nbrother a brother. However, if the husband is Siddha Mantra, he\ncan initiate his wife but then he can not behave with her like a\ndaughter (because for a Guru his disciples are like his children) like he does with his other disciples.\n\nSo, it is not totally disallowed. A Siddha Guru can initiate his wife but his behavior towards her should be like a husband and not like a father.\nNow, if we talk about the Smritis (like Manu Smriti etc), then according to those texts, a wife is not qualified to be initiated (here initiation means the Vedic initiation). So, the question itself does not arise.\nBut Smritis say for a wife, his husband is her Guru and her stay in his house is the Gurukula VAsa and etc.\n\nManu Smriti 2.67. The nuptial ceremony is stated to be the Vedic\nsacrament for women (and to be equal to the initiation), serving the\nhusband (equivalent to) the residence in (the house of the) teacher,\nand the household duties (the same) as the (daily) worship of the\nsacred fire.", "First you have lots of questions in one question, these questions is not answered by one simple answer. However, i can sum up your questions as \"why woman are not equal with man?\"\nFirst of all people are equal as soul and human in front of Allah, but there are some physical differences and these differences bring different tests, like giving birth. After all everything in this world is an exam for us to learn what and who we are.\nOther then this basic thing, some of your questions are just some tradition of Muslim society, which are not influenced by Quran.\n\nQuran see humans as equal: \n\n\n breathed some of My spirit into divine touch. When God created him\"(or her in this sense). [Noble Quran 15:29 See also 32:9]\n\n\nThis is my basic answer but you can read more from this site:\n\n\n From the marital standpoint, the Quran clearly indicates in Surahs 30:20 and 42:11 that marriage is not just an inevitable evil, marriage is not somebody getting married to his master or slave, but rather to his partner.\n \n \"Among His Signs is this, that he created for you mates from among\n yourselves, that they may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has\n put love and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are signs for\n those who reflect.\" [Noble Quran 30:21]\n \n There are numerous verses in the Quran to the same effect.\n \n Secondly, the approval and consent of the girl to marriage is a\n prerequisite for the validity of marriage in Islam. She has the right\n to say yes or no.\n \n Husbands' and wives' duties are mutual responsibilities. They might\n not be identical duties, but the totality of rights and\n responsibilities are balanced. The Quran says:\n \n \"Women have the same rights (in relation to their husbands) as are\n expected in all decency from them, while men stand a step above them.\"\n [Noble Quran 2:228]\n \n This only specifies the degree of responsibility, not privilege, in\n man's role as provider, protector, maintainer, and leader of the\n family. The same Surah speaks about divorce, about consultation\n between husband and wife, even in the case of divorce. When there are\n family disputes, first the Quran appeals to reason and the\n consideration of positive aspects of one's spouse,\n \n \"Dwell with your wives in kindness for even if you hate them, you\n might be hating someone in whom God has placed so much good.\" [Noble\n Quran 4:19]\n \n If that appeal does not succeed, and problems between the husband and\n wife continue, there are measures that can be applied. Some of these\n measures are done privately between husband and wife. Some of them\n might appear harsh, but there are qualifications to restrict excessive\n or abusive use of these measures. These measures are considered an\n attempt to save a marriage rather than break a family apart. If the\n situation does not improve, even with the limitation and prevention of\n excesses, the next step is a family council. One arbiter from his\n family and one from her family should sit together with the couple and\n try to resolve the problems.\n\n\nYou can find more here and here and here", "TL;DR: A husband may refuse khul' regardless of whether or not the wife is capable of repaying the mahr. Among the reasons a husband may refuse khul' is the inability of the wife to pay the husband an agreeable compensation. Ordinarily, khul' requires returning an amount equivalent to the mahr, but the husband can agree to less.\n\n\n\nIt seems that the mahr is normally the amount to be returned.\n\n\n Khul' is when a wife demands divorce if she does not like her husband for any reason. She can do so giving him back the bridal money he gave her.\n IslamWeb\n\n\nThis appears to be due to the hadith Sunan an-Nasa'i 3463 [grade: sahih]. However, there are fatawa that say that this is not a strict requirement:\n\n\n It is up to the man and his wife to agree on a lesser compensation. Most scholars agree that the compensation may be more than the mahr itself, but some scholars say that this is not permissible.\n Dar Al-Ifta (see also Islam Q&amp;A)\n\n\nThe Dar Al-Ifta fatwa continues\n\n\n A man who does not have anything to give as mahr must not be offended if his marriage proposals are rejected. Similarly, a woman who cannot compensate her husband for what he stands to lose as a result of the termination of marriage is not to feel aggrieved if he refuses. But in these matters, it is recommended to show forbearance and kindness to others. Even though we may be unhappy with the termination of the marriage, as a community we should look into helping her.\n Dar Al-Ifta\n\n\nThis indicates that the husband may refuse the divorce if she cannot afford it. She may then take it to a sharia court; see another Dar Al-Ifta fatwa for the technical details.\n\nA Darul Iftaa fatwa describes the case that the husband is at fault:\n\n\n However, the Fuqaha state that, if the husband was at fault and it was his wrongdoings that resulted in the failure of their marriage, then it is impermissible for him to demand a financial payment in return for a divorce.\n Darul Iftaa", "举案齐眉 https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E4%B8%BE%E6%A1%88%E9%BD%90%E7%9C%89\n是指送饭时把托盘举得跟眉毛一样高。形容夫妻间互相敬重。\nDescribe the mutual respect between husband and wife\n\nThe act of 举案齐眉 indicates the married couple treating each other respectfully and pleasantly as treating a guest,\nAnother idiom 相敬如宾 (mutually respect each other like a guest) stated it even more clearly.\nThe literal translation of 举案齐眉 and 相敬如宾 are different, but the metaphorical meanings are the same, therefore, you can translate both idioms as: &quot;mutually respect&quot; (between husband and wife) or more descriptively: &quot;having a harmonious relationship&quot; (in marriage)\nExample sentence:\n夫妻倆三十年來举案齐眉，相敬如宾 (In the past 30 years, husband and wife show great respect to each other, having a harmonious relationship)\nOne of the problem in long marriage is losing respect between spouses. Taking the relationship for granted, they forgot their spouse is still an individual being who expectes to be treated politely and respectfully. You still need to say thank you to your wife when she put your dinner in front of you. you still need to respect your husband's opinion even it is an idiotic one and not laugh at him. Just like you wouldn't do that to an important guest (you can still disagree and debate with him politely)", "The job market is extremely competitive, and not having had an official position will not help your CV. This is not the 70s or 80s. Academia is a very different place to what it was then. You should be aware that there is a high chance you won't be able to continue in academia, whatever you do with the next year. Would you be comfortable with running down your savings and then finding you have to change course anyway? If you want to do so, I would strongly advise talking to some tenure-track and newly-tenured professors (or equivalent) about what it is really like. I know some people now are deciding that academia in its current state isn't worth the effort.\n\nFor a strategy if you do decide to self-fund:\nYou need your CV to show the benefit of your extra year. However, applying for maths positions, you don't actually have an extra year, because of the length of the application cycle. To some extent that will help you - you'll roughly still be applying as a new PhD. But you should be looking to have a longer list of good papers. Since getting anything published in that timeframe is basically impossible, I would suggest getting work up on the arXiv, and finding a well-respected researcher in your field as a referee, who feels able to say that they think the paper is of the standard of X journal (or words to that effect). I don't think that's massively easy though.\n\nIn addition, I would suggest getting at least one more 'thing' on your CV beyond its current state: organising a conference, writing a grant application, or some solid teaching experience.\n\nThe relative merits of going into industry instead will depend on what your field is. For pure mathematics is unlikely you'd be able to move back from industry to academia. In statistics or some applied maths, you can still be seen as a credible researcher on the basis of work in industry. The difficulty is being able to demonstrate your personal contribution to the results. Also, many potential positions will want someone who can teach as well as do research. Demonstrating that would be difficult, but I think not impossible (eg. by supporting colleagues or by tutoring as a part-time job).", "I was thinking maybe\n\n\n Joyce is married to a woman\n\n\nbut if that's the case then the references to\n\n\n \"the husband\" and \"his wife\" don't make any sense to me, and would be actively misleading.\n\n\nMy only solution is:\n\n\n Joyce is a transgender man. Earlier when he was living as a woman, his wife was abusing him, hence he was \"Joyce, the abused woman\". Now he has transitioned to living as a man, hence he is \"the husband\" who is not harmed by the police. His wife is the abuser and hence the police have no sympathy for her.\n\n\nActually I have a new solution which is: the original meaning of the question was ruined by the edit, so\n\n\n Joyce was never a woman and always the husband", "Usually, Korean people do not know well the pattern beyond\n사촌(cousin)\n\n\n We will focus to relation when I was a child.\n\n\nCouple is 무(zero)촌. That is, there is no curtain. But parents and\nchild has 일(one)촌. But we do not use 일촌. We use father (아빠,\n아버지) or mother (엄마, 어머니). Similarly, grandfather(할아버지)\nor grandmother(할머니) has 이(two)촌.\n\nConsider father's younger brother. me->father -> grandfather->\nbrother so that we call him 삼(three)촌 (uncle). But if he married,\nwe use 작은아버지(small father) (And we call his wife 작은어머니)\n\nHere we call his child 사(four)촌 (cousin). With respect to age, we\nuse 사촌 동생, 사촌 누나 and so on.\n\nConsider father's older brother : 큰(big)아버지.\n\nConsider mother's brother : 외삼촌. (We call his wife 외숙모)\n\nConsider father's sister and mother's sister : 고모 (aunt, her husband 고모부) and 이모 (her husband 이모부)\n\n@Here 부 is China character implying man or husband.\n\n\n Consider when we married or we are old :\n\n\n(a) Older sister's husband is 매형 and\n conversely, he call me 처남. Younger sister's husband is 매제.\n\nMy wife call my older sister 시누이 and younger sister 아가씨.\n Conversely, my sister call my wife 올캐\n\n(b) My younger brother's wife is 제수씨. Conversely, she call me 아주버님.\n\nMy wife call younger\n brother 도련님 (If he married, then it is 서방님). In further he\n call my wife 형수.\n\n\n In further, consider wife's family :\n\n\nWife's older sister call me 제부 and her husband call me 동서.\n Wife's father and mother are 장인 어른 and 장모님.\n\nLastly, wife's older brother is 형님 (compare 처남)", "I've taken a few days to think of the best answer for this question, and the best I've come up with is there really is no \"right or wrong\" here, only \"quicker or longer\".\n\nBut first, lets take a walk into the past.\n\nBack in the \"old\" days, the division between editor and re-recording mixer was very defined. With the sound for film originally being edited on magnetic film, there wasn't much the sound editor could do to manipulate the sound other then a partial fade by actually dissolving the magnetic oxide off of the film with acetone. Even adjusting the levels during the transfer process weren't a great option because if you were too low, there would be too much hiss, or on the other side if you were too loud it would create distortion. With the sound editor only being able to actually hear a few tracks played back at once, their primary job was to find the sound and place them in sync (not an easy task). \n\nThe re-recording mixer had the luxury to listen to all the tracks together and was their job to balance them all together. If there was a problem with a track, or something needed to be added, the mixers hands were tied. The tracks would be taken off the machines and sent back to editing.\n\nAs we walk a bit forward in time, multitrack tape machines made the sound creation job easier, and more creative. The overall track counts started to increase. Unfortunately on the dub stages, the re-recording mixers had to start pre-dubbing tracks in order to be able to play them all back at once during the mix due to the available real-estate on the consoles. This led to bigger consoles and the invention of mix automation.\n\nFast forward to today - (what in the heck is tape?)\n\nWith both editorial and the mixer using the exact same gear the lines between the two positions are becoming very blurred. DAW's have given sound editors the ability to literally create hundreds of tracks of audio. They have also given the re-recording mixer the ability (along with new digital consoles and control surfaces) to play them all back and manipulate them without extensive pre-dubs. \n\nThis is where quicker and longer comes in.\n\nFor the sound editor it obviously makes their job longer to automate volume, pans, and sometimes even reverbs to their tracks. Most editors I know prefer this because they have been working closely with the Director and the sound supervisor anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. When the session leaves them, they know the tracks will be at least listened to once the way they have intended them to play. While the re-recording mixer has the ability to change anything, they can focus on the balancing of the elements to work on the emotions of the film and make sure it flows properly.\n\nIf the tracks have no automation and is left up to the re-recording mixers to weave through them, the final mix will take longer. Longer on a mix stage equals money.... a lot of money. You can generally get one week in an edit suite for the cost of one day on a mix stage.\n\nLike I said at the beginning, there is no right or wrong. As a re-recording mixer I can see it both ways. If the tracks come to me with volume and pans, its great. (My wife likes this as well because I'll be home for dinner earlier) If the tracks come to me with nothing though, I also enjoy it because I get to really mix a lot! (Mixing is fun...and that's why we all do this right?)\n\nSome people don't want me messing with their stuff, others gladly welcome it. Like I said there is no right or wrong. All I ask is that it's in sync! :)", "A person who is studying while living with someone is usually encouraged to marry so that they are no longer living in sin. If the person not studying (you in this case) is strongly opposed to the others becoming a JW both should evaluate if the relationship should continue. One cannot get baptized as a JW if they are living with a person without being legally married.\n\nThere are many Jehovah’s Witnesses who are married to non Jehovah’s Witness mates. They are encouraged to work hard at making the marriage a success. \n1 Cor 7:12-16 (NWT)\n\n\n But to the others I say, yes, I, not the Lord:i If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is agreeable to staying with him, let him not leave her; 13  and if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is agreeable to staying with her, let her not leave her husband. 14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in relation to his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15  But if the unbelieving one chooses to depart,* let him depart; a brother or a sister is not bound under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace.j 16  For wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband?k Or, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?\n\n\nAs far as getting married in a court house that is perfectly acceptable and valid marriage.", "When we read in Quran the Verses about the relationship between husband and wife and family matters we always find the words \"و ان خفتم\" =\"And if you fear that ...\". \n\nWe also can find that Allah ordered the believers to consort with women in kindness\n\n\n O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by\n compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take\n [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear\n immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike\n them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.\n \n [Surat an-Nisa' (4:19)]\n\n\nAnd he described how wife and husband should live together:\n\n\n And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that\n you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection\n and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.\n \n [Surat ar-Rum (30:21)]\n\n\nA Wife's Basic Rights Regarding Her Husband's Behavior not mentioning from her other rights regarding living expenditures, housing, clothing, and education of children. Are:\n\n\nThe first and worthiest condition of marriage to be fulfilled by the husband is to \"keep the promise or promises he made to the wife at the time he married her.\"\n\n\n\n Narrated `Uqba:\n \n The Prophet (ﷺ) said: \"The stipulations most entitled to be abided by\n are those with which you are given the right to enjoy the (women's)\n private parts (i.e. the stipulations of the marriage contract).\n \n [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sunan abi Dawod]\n\n\n\nHe cannot order her to do anything that is against religion. \nHe must exercise patience and be prepared to listen to her advice in every situation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to listen to the advice of his wives in matters ranging from the smallest to the greatest.\nHe must respect her and pay attention to her needs so that she will respect him and pay attention to his. This could mean expressing gratitude pay attention to her not ignoring her!\nHe must never ever divulge the secrets of the household and those of the married couple.\nHe must strive with sincerity to acquire her trust, and seek her welfare in all the actions that pertain to her.\nHe must treat her generously at all times. The Prophet (s) said that the best gift or charity (sadaqa) is that spent on one's wife.\nIf she works outside the house, it is praiseworthy for the husband to hire house help to relieve her from too heavy a burden. Again expressing gratitude!\nHe must avoid excessive jealousy and remember that Allah is also jealous that he himself not commit. \nHe must protect her honor and not place her in situations where it is compromised or belittled.\nHe must exercise patience and forgiveness in the case of disagreement or dispute, and not rush to divorce. This means he should try to avoid quarrels!\nHe must not dwell on what he dislikes in his wife, but on what he likes.\nThe husband is not to stay away from his wife or keep his wife in a state of suspense, whether at home or abroad, for a protracted period of time except with her consent. This means a husband shouldn't neglect his wife!\n\n\n\n And you will never be able to be equal [in feeling] between wives,\n even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely\n [toward one] and leave another hanging. And if you amend [your\n affairs] and fear Allah - then indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and\n Merciful.\n\n\n\nHe shouldn't beat his wife!\n\n\n\n Bahz bin Hakim reported on the authority of his father from his\n grandfather (Mu'awiyah ibn Haydah) as saying: I said: Messenger of\n Allah, how should we approach our wives and how should we leave them?\n He replied: Approach your tilth when or how you will, give her (your\n wife) food when you take food, clothe when you clothe yourself, do not\n revile her face, and do not beat her.\n \n Abu Dawud said: The version of Shu'bah has: That you give her food\n when you have food yourself, and that you clothe her when you clothe\n yourself. \n \n [Sunan abi Dawod (just one of two ahadith), a similar Hadith is in\n Sunan ibn Majah and in al-Adab al-Mufrad of Imam al-Bukhari]\n\n\n\nCaring for one's wife's sexual fulfillment is an obligation of religion. Again this would mean he shouldn't neglect his wife!\nA Husband should beShowing his affection for his wife as our Messenger (peace be upon him) used to do:\n\n\n\n \n Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama:\n \n \n Um-Salama said, \"I got my menses while I was lying with the Prophet\n (ﷺ) under a woolen sheet. So I slipped away, took the clothes for\n menses and put them on. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Have you got your\n menses?' I replied, 'Yes.' Then he called me and took me with him\n under the woolen sheet.\" \n \n Um Salama further said, \"The Prophet (ﷺ) used\n to kiss me while he was fasting. The Prophet (ﷺ) and I used to take\n the bath of Janaba from a single pot.\"\n \n [sahih al-Bukahri, Muslim]\n \n \n Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:\n \n \n The Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss her and suck her tongue when he was\n fasting. \n \n [Sunan abi Dawod, qualified as da'if by al-Albani and others because of the addition \"suck her tongue\"]\n \n \n Narrated `Aisha:\n \n \n The Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was\n fasting, and he had more power to control his desires than any of you.\n Said Jabir, \"The person who gets discharge after casting a look (on\n his wife) should complete his fast.\"\n \n [Sahih al-Bukhari]\n\n\nHere another thing a good husband should do according to the sunna:\n\n\n Narrated AbuSa'id ; AbuHurayrah:\n \n The Prophet (ﷺ) said: When a man himself wakes at night and wakens his\n wife and they pray two rak'ahs together, they are recorded among the\n men and women who make much mention of Allah. \n \n [Sunan abi Dawod]\n\n\nand at least some useful links:\n\nhttp://www.sunnah.org/msaec/articles/responsibilities_husband.htm\n\nhttp://islamqa.info/en/10680\n\nAnd at least from a shia' point of View\n\nhttp://www.al-islam.org/principles-marriage-family-ethics-ayatullah-ibrahim-amini/part-2-duties-men\n\nAnd Allah knows best!", "You can use pictures of the patients family with captions saying who they are and their relationship to the individual.\n\nIf they are still able (but forgetful) in the kitchen put pictures on the cupboard fronts to show what is in them. If they can't get the right order of a task e.g puts water in the teacup and then switches on the kettle. Try putting together a storyboard of the task;\n1 Put water in the kettle\n2 Switch the kettle on.\n3 Take Mug from cupboard\nand so on.\n\nIf you are in the UK the Alzheimer's Society has information and Resources to help. No doubt similar information exists in other countries.\n\nA friend of my father-in-law would forget to take her medication - so a dosage box was obtained that could be programmed to open the section for today at the appropriate time the tablet should be taken. Of course they can still forget what the opening of the dosage box means for them, if no one is with them.\n\nIf they are forgetting their husband or wife they can get distressed by that partner getting frustrated by the fact they are not remembering who the patient is married to. As hard as it is, just keep calm and cool and keep saying each time I'm Fred\\Bill\\Mary (insert name here) your husband\\wife.", "Which scriptures deal with rules for widows?\n\n\nThe Dharma Shastras prescribe rules for widows. \n\nVerses from various Dharma Shastras below:\n\n\n Parāśara (4.29).—‘If, on the death of her husband, a woman remains\n firm in her chastity, she obtains heaven, on death, in the manner of\n the Religious Students.’\n \n Śukranīti (4.4.57-59).—‘On the death of her husband, the chaste woman\n should either accompany him or observe the vows; she should not go to\n other houses; she should maintain chastity, control her passions and\n give up personal adornment.’\n\n\nMore verses from the Manusmriti:\n\n\n The good wife, desirous of reaching her husband’s regions, should\n never do anything that may be disagreeable to her husband, alive or\n dead.—(154).\n \n Well might she macerate her body by means of pure flowers, roots and\n fruits; but she should not even mention the name of another man, after\n her husband is dead—(155).\n \n Till her death, she should remain patient, self-controlled and\n chaste,—seeking that most excellent merit that accrues to women having\n a single husband. (156).\n \n Many thousands of unmarried Brāhmaṇa students have gone to heaven,\n without having perpetuated their race—(157).\n \n On the death of her husband, the good wife who remains firm, goes to\n heaven, even though childless; just like those students—(158).\n \n That woman, however, who from a longing for a child, disregards her\n husband, brings disgrace to herself in this world and falls off from\n her place in the other world.—(159).\n \n What is born of another is not a ‘child’: nor is one begotten on\n another man’s wife; for good women a second husband is nowhere\n ordained.—(160).\n \n She, who, having abandoned her own husband who is inerior, has\n recourse to another person who is superior, becomes contemptible in\n this world and is called a ‘remarried woman.’—(161).\n \n The woman, who, through failure in her duty to her husband, becomes an\n object of contempt in the world, comes to be born as a jackal and is\n tormented by foul diseases.—(162).\n \n She, who does not fail in her duty to her husband, having her thought,\n speech and body well-controlled, reaches her husband’s regions; and is\n called ‘good’ by all gentle-men.—(163).\n \n By such conduct, the woman, having her thought, word and body well\n controlled, obtains excellent fame in this world, and also her\n husband’s region in the other world.—(164).\n \n The twice-born man, knowing the law, should cremate the wife of his\n own caste,—who behaves herself in the said manner, and dies before\n him,—with the sacred fire and along with the sacrificial\n implements.—(165).", "According to all Religion, Wife must obey her husband and do accordingly. Allah said that, \"If I allowed you(women) to bow down in front of anyone, it would be you husband.\". From this, the significance of husband is clear.", "My answer would be that the Bible has little or nothing to say about roles (that is, who does what) within a marriage, but it has quite a lot to say about authority. Authority does not have to do with who does what, but who leads whom and where the buck stops.\nEphesians 5:21-33 is key:\n\n21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.\n22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.\n25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church — 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.\n\nWhich, in the context, starts of with an admonition for mutual submission between believers and then goes on to define the authority structure within a family.\nI have yet to meet a women who honestly would object to being submissive to a man whose objective was to love her &quot;just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her&quot;.\nNote also that Christian authority is (should be) exercised with a servant's heart. That is to properly lead my wife I must strive to serve her.", "There's no such thing like one-two-one correspondence between words in one language and another one, however, as of золовка, to my knowledge it's always about husband's sister (while brother's wife is always невестка).\n\nThere's also no obligation in any language to have specific term for any kind of relations. Actually husband's sister's husband can be called зять which stands for \"муж дочери, сестры, золовки или племянницы\". However, I assure you that the majority of native speaker will have very hard times trying to answer this question out of the top of their head. \n\nWife's brother's wife is невестка as well - the same word as for son's wife. There was also word сношенница which was used for indicate relations between to men wife's, one can find it in Dal's dictionary:\n\n\n Сношени́ца, влд. тмб. жена деверя, жены двух братьев друг другу\n\n\nbut this one is obsolete, nobody uses it as of now. \n\nThose relationships were more important in older societies and therefore as of now this terminology is gradually getting erased from usage.", "It is a reflection of traditional gender rôles and stereotypes. The husband earns the money, the wife cares for the children. The husband would be older than the wife and so would start receiving a pension at about the same time. Also, women were seen as weaker and frailer and less able to work into her sixties.\n\nThese rôles were never as fixed as lawmakers and pension providers seemed to believe. But these were the stereotypes that were prevalent at the start of the 20th century, and became fixed in pension and welfare legislation." ]

[ "Eleven years after Will & Grace's first finale, Sean Hayes reprised his outrageous character Jack McFarland in the series' reboot — but it wasn't easy to jump right back into the role. \"When we did the table read of the first episode of the reboot I was like, 'oh boy.' Your body feels it. I forgot how much work this is. So it was hard to get the energy and find the energy. But slowly it comes back.\"\" McFarland has starred on Broadway, hosted the Tony Awards, and produced TV shows like Hot in Cleveland and Celebrity Game Night. Now, he's also a podcaster. He co-hosts the show Smartless with actors Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. And he's partnered up with internist and comedian Dr. Priyanka Wali for his new podcast, HypochondriActor (Hayes loves puns). HypochondriActor tackles his lifelong obsession with medical stories. \"My favorite part of talk shows is when people from all walks of life come on and share a medical issue they've had because it connects us. Right? It's my dream come true. I get free medical advice.\" NPR's Ask Me Another host Ophira Eisenberg challenged Hayes to two games inspired by his medical obsessions. First, he identified Broadway musicals based on descriptions of injuries suffered by characters in those musicals. Then, he played a word game called \"Diagnosis Dessert,\" where every answer is a sweet treat combined with an ailment. Interview Highlights When asked if his puppy does any tricks I mean, we're lucky if we can get him to come when he's called. But he literally will eat anything. We call his mouth \"The Chamber of Secrets\" because you could open up his mouth at any point in the day and fish out anything you're missing. On his early show biz days filling in as a piano player for a dinner theatre in Illinois I was sitting at home and the phone rings... \"Can you get here? The piano player/music director has tendonitis, she can't even push down on one key.\" So I got there, I had no time, I sight read the second act in front of everybody. I'm missing every other note but I'm young so I feel invincible. I think I was like 22 years old. And then, the show ended but it was a two show day. So in between shows I had an hour and a half to then go and practice the whole thing. I grew up a little bit that day. Heard on Sean Hayes & Ed Helms: Podcast No. 9." ]

[ "It's going down at Ask Me Another! Don't crumble or stumble under the pressure, because in this game contestants have to think of words that end in \"-umble.\" So let's get ready to... Heard in 'Til Death Metal Do Us Part JONATHAN COULTON, BYLINE: From NPR and WNYC, live from the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina, it's NPR's hour of puzzles, word games and trivia, ASK ME ANOTHER. Here's your host, Ophira Eisenberg. (APPLAUSE) OPHIRA EISENBERG, HOST: Thank you, Jonathan. Our VIP happens to think Durham is the greatest city in the world. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: And I have to tell you, I am falling in love with this town. Strangers on the street actually smiled at me... (LAUGHTER) EISENBERG: ...Because, I guess, they were happy? (LAUGHTER) EISENBERG: The coffee's good, seems affordable. Hipsters don't seem as annoying here. (LAUGHTER) EISENBERG: I'm told Durham's official religion is trivia. (LAUGHTER) EISENBERG: It's like a chiller Brooklyn, but with barbecue. It is the dream. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: And our VIP is a Durham local. You know him from his band, The Mountain Goats. You've probably seen him at Watts Grocery. And he's the author of the new novel \"Wolf In White Van.\" It's John Darnielle. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: Now let's get ready to rumble with our first two contestants, Keith Hayes and Susie Hansley. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: Both of you, when you gave us your contestant's quiz, both of you wrote very funny limericks. KEITH HAYES: Thank you. EISENBERG: So we thought, knowing that you're good with words, good with rhymes, we thought we'd ask you - task you to give us a little cheer, your cheer for Team Susie tonight and Team Keith. Go ahead, Keith. HAYES: OK. I just have to preface - I'm from Alabama. EISENBERG: OK. HAYES: Originally - OK. EISENBERG: Sure, OK (laughter). HAYES: So here's my cheer. EISENBERG: Is that a disclaimer or a preference? HAYES: Well, you know (laughter), take it as you will. EISENBERG: OK. HAYES: My cheer is (singing) he's a good old boy from Tuscaloosa, and if he don't win he'll be the first loser. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: All right, Susie. SUSIE HANSLEY: I'm a big fan of Bugs Bunny, so I'm going for a tried and a true, which is - (cheering) firecracker, firecracker, sis, boom, bah, Susie, Susie, rah, rah, rah. EISENBERG: Yeah. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: I like the energy. You guys are going to be perfect in this game that is called Buffer the Consequences. You don't have to be a sports fan to recognize announcer Michael Buffer's famous catchphrase, let's get ready to rumble. HAYES: Yeah. EISENBERG: Yeah? All right. HANSLEY: (Humming). HAYES: That's like sportsball, right? EISENBERG: Yeah, that's like - yeah, sportsball, exactly. Yeah. Well, we're doing an homage to that phrase, so you don't have to know anything about sports. You just have to give us answers and all of your answers will end in the letters M B L E. So, go ahead, really open up those lungs. (LAUGHTER) EISENBERG: To help me out with this game is our one-man house band, Jonathan Coulton. (APPLAUSE) COULTON: Hello. EISENBERG: And the winner will move on to our Ask Me One More final round at the end of the show. You guys ready? HAYES: Oh, yeah. HANSLEY: Yes. EISENBERG: All right. Should we open up the newspaper and play that game that combines cartoons and a word scramble? (SOUNDBITE OF BELL) EISENBERG: Keith. HAYES: Get ready to jumble. EISENBERG: Yes. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: I like the way you said it, too. HAYES: Thank you. Thank you. EISENBERG: That was good. COULTON: That's commitment. That's commitment. EISENBERG: Yeah. HAYES: I feel like I was channeling something that I didn't know I had. EISENBERG: (Laughter) An inner-Keith came out? HAYES: Yeah, yeah. It was a new personality. (LAUGHTER) COULTON: Should we take this chocolate chip cookie and smash it up into little pieces? (SOUNDBITE OF BELL) COULTON: Keith. HAYES: Get ready to crumble. COULTON: That's right. (APPLAUSE) EISENBERG: I like the idea of boxers just throwing cookies at each other. (LAUGHTER) COULTON: It would be more fun to watch. EISENBERG: Yeah, and you'd totally want ringside seats. Just sit there with your mouth open. Should we start to shake or quiver slightly because we are little nervous? (SOUNDBITE OF BELL) EISENBERG: Keith. HAYES: Get ready to tremble. EISENBERG: Yeah, and he's trembling. There's an act-out. COULTON: Keith, now I feel like you're overselling it a little. (LAUGHTER) HAYES: I've been waiting my whole life for this moment. (LAUGHTER) COULTON: Should we act like Homer Simpson's best friend, the town drunk of Springfield? (SOUNDBITE OF BELL) COULTON: Keith. HAYES: Get ready to Barney Rumble? Grumble? I can't remember. COULTON: I'm sorry. That is incorrect. Susie, do you know the answer? EISENBERG: I know he has a last name. HANSLEY: I know he has a last name. Can I make one up (laughter)? EISENBERG: Yeah. HANSLEY: Get ready to stumble. I don't know. (LAUGHTER) HANSLEY: Well, if he's drunk. COULTON: It would be funny if his name wa", "This weekend, the Tony Awards will open with a medley of songs from Broadway musicals, including a tune from the Burt Bacharach-Hal David classic, Promises, Promises. The musical has also been nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Actor (Sean Hayes), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical(Katie Finneran), Best Orchestrations (Rob Ashford) and Best Choreography (Rob Ashford.) On May 5, 2010, Burt Bacharach and Hal David spoke to Terry Gross about their 50-year musical relationship and their lengthy careers in the music industry. Lyricist Hal David and composer Burt Bacharach began their collaboration together in 1957 after meeting in New York City's legendary Brill Building -- the home of dozens of music publishers, as well as songwriters such as Carole King, Neil Sedaka and Paul Simon. Only a year later, their song \"The Story of My Life\" hit the U.S. country music charts. Soon afterward, Perry Como recorded their song \"Magic Moments,\" which also climbed the charts. But it was in 1961, when Bacharach and David started their collaboration with the sultry pop star Dionne Warwick, when they had their biggest string of hits. Between 1961 and 1981, Warwick charted 38 singles co-written or produced by Bacharach and David. Their song \"Walk on By\" became one of Warwick's classic numbers, along with \"Do You Know the Way to San Jose?\" and \"Wishin' and Hopin',\" which was also recorded by Dusty Springfield. During the '60s and '70s, Bacharach and David also wrote for some of the biggest names in the recording industry, including Tom Jones, Gene Pitney, Bobby Vinton and Lou Johnson, who released the first version of their hit \"(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me.\" In 1966, the duo began to release movie theme songs, including Alfie, What's New, Pussycat? and The Look of Love. Their work in movies led to Broadway: A year later, they were asked by producer David Merrick to collaborate with Neil Simon on the musical Promises, Promises. Based on the Simon book The Apartment, the musical stars an insurance salesman named Chuck Baxter whose boss uses his apartment for romantic liaisons. The show originally featured Jerry Orbach, Jill O'Hara and Edward Winter and ran for several years in New York City before moving to London's West End. A revival opened on April 25 and stars Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth as the musical leads. Though Bacharach and David would create several more hits together -- Isaac Hayes' \"Walk on By\" and B.J. Thomas' \"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head\" among them -- they ended their collaboration in 1973, shortly after the release of the critically panned movie musical Lost Horizon. \"I drove up to the opening-night theater having just read the Los Angeles Times review, and I just wanted to get out of town,\" Bacharach says. \"And I wanted to go down to Del Mar -- I had a little beach house there -- and hide and not write and just play tennis every day. Even though my attorney said, 'You'll get in trouble with Hal if you don't write for Dionne Warwick ... I just ignored his advice. As far as responsibility, it's on me.\" \"Whatever it was,\" David adds, \"we've been friends ever since.\" In 1993, the duo reunited -- after 20 years of working solo -- for a new Warwick song, \"Sunny Weather Lover.\" They recently collaborated on another new song, \"You've Got It All Wrong,\" for the revival of Promises, Promises. Interview Highlights On The Song 'Promises, Promises' Burt Bacharach: \"I remember coming to New York, and we'd come to see the show after it'd been playing, and I'd go backstage and [original cast member Jerry Orbach] would say, 'Man, if I have to sing this song again...' Granted, it is very notey -- in other words, it is not an easy song to sing. My motivation is the urgency that makes it work, dramatically. Or you think it's going to work dramatically by the anger that comes through in that many notes, in that many words. But Jerry, after three months, he was saying, 'Why'd you have to make it so difficult?'\" On The Song 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' Hal David: \"When Burt was hospitalized with pneumonia...\" Bacharach: \"It was, like, maybe three days after we opened in Boston, too. And we had good reviews in Boston.\" David: \"We thought we had a hit. But there was one spot in the show, where we had a song called 'Wouldn't That Be a Stroke of Luck?' or something similar to that...\" Bacharach: \"That's a good title, though.\" David: \"But we threw it out. That song didn't work. Everybody [working on the show] liked the song, but the audience didn't like the song. And while Burt was in the hospital, I started writing lyrics for that song. The famous lines, 'What do you get when you kiss a girl / You get enough germs to catch pneumonia after you do / She'll never phone ya'... I don't recall thinking that Burt was in the hospital and had pneumonia, but obviously that's what I wrote.\" Bacharach: \"And we wrote it really quickly.\" David: \"I gave you a lot of the lyrics. I think w" ]

[ "REASON: FBI Handling of Michael Flynn Case Is Disturbing: Why didn’t the FBI charge Flynn with an underlying crime? It might be because there was none.\nYou could eliminate most special counsel abuses by requiring that “process” charges, like False Statements Act violations, be referred to the regular DOJ for prosecution rather than falling within the special counsel’s bailiwick." ]

[ "One of the unfortunate ironies of the manufactured \"Russiagate\" controversy is the perception of the FBI as a friend of liberty and justice. But the FBI has never been a friend of liberty and justice, writes Sheldon Richman. And the Michael Flynn case doesn't seem to be an exception.\nFlynn, the retired lieutenant general who spent less than a month as Donald Trump's national-security adviser, has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in connection with conversations he had with Russia's then-ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, between Trump's election and inauguration. But one need not be an admirer of Flynn—and Richman is not—to be disturbed by how the FBI has handled this case.\nGovernment law-enforcement agencies should not be allowed to administer credibility tests to Americans or others, argues Richman. If they have evidence of real offenses against persons and property, bring charges. Otherwise, leave us all alone.\nView this article.", "Donald Trump could face significant new trouble arising from the Russia investigation, with a new report suggesting that the president may have instructed former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to lie to the FBI earlier this year.\nFlynn just pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia, and reports indicate that he is now working with special counsel Robert Mueller on the investigation. That could pose some major problems with Trump if it turns out that the president had anything to do with his lying to the FBI, which is what a new report from NBC News suggests could be under investigation.\nThe report claims that Mueller is digging into what happened during an 18-day period after White House officials were told that Flynn was susceptible to Russian blackmail. The questions could point to obstruction of justice by President Trump, two people with knowledge of the investigation told the news outlet.\nTo that end, Mueller’s team has reportedly conducted a series of interviews with people inside Trump’s inner circle, including White House Counsel Don McGahn and others working in the West Wing. Mueller is reportedly looking into interactions that may have taken place each day in the nearly three weeks it took Trump to fire Flynn after learning about his interaction with Russia and blackmail risk.\nAs Jonathan Chait of New York Magazine pointed out, Trump’s instruction to Flynn to lie to the FBI might explain why Flynn took such large legal risks with his actions.\n“It would explain why the White House took so long to fire him, why Trump asked James Comey to let Flynn off the hook and then fired him when he failed to promise to do so, and why Trump continued to signal his affection for Flynn even afterward,” Chait wrote.\nReports within the last two weeks indicated that Mueller’s investigation has shifted away from actual collusion with Russia during the 2016 campaign — which was the original tack of the probe — and focused more on whether there was obstruction of justice after the fact. If proven, Trump could face possible indictment, which is expected to become fuel for impeachment hearings.\nEx-FBI agent rips Trump: He'll insult US intel every chance he gets, but says nothing about Russia https://t.co/bRklabs5QZ pic.twitter.com/zATgEcUEP0 — The Hill (@thehill) December 10, 2017\nWhile the latest reports could indicate massive trouble on the way for Donald Trump, the president continues to deny any collusion with Russia and has called the investigation a witch hunt.", "FBI agents interviewed Michael Flynn shortly after he took office as National Security Adviser about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, current and former officials told The New York Times on Tuesday.\nWhile it is not clear what he said in his FBI interview, investigators believed Flynn was not entirely forthcoming, the officials said. If the authorities conclude that he knowingly lied to the FBI, it could expose him to a felony charge.", "Officials say FBI agents interviewed Michael Flynn shortly after he took office as National Security Adviser.\nFBI agents interviewed Michael Flynn shortly after he took office as National Security Adviser about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, current and former officials told The New York Times on Tuesday.\nWhile it is not clear what he said in his FBI interview, investigators believed Flynn was not entirely forthcoming, the officials said. If the authorities conclude that he knowingly lied to the FBI, it could expose him to a felony charge.\nThe report comes a day after President Donald Trump asked for Flynn’s resignation, amid reports that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, which included discussion of U.S. sanctions.\nFlynn maintained publicly for more than a week after his interview that his conversations with the ambassador had been innocuous and did not involve sanctions against Russia, noted The New York Times.\nShortly after the FBI interview, on January 26, then acting attorney general, Sally Yates, warned the White House that Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail because of inconsistencies between what he had said publicly and what intelligence officials knew to be true.\nIt is unclear whether Flynn had a lawyer for his interview with the FBI or whether anyone at the White House, including lawyers there, knew the interview was happening, according to the report.\nEven after FBI agents interviewed Flynn and Yates warned the White House, Flynn denied yet again — this time to The Washington Post on Wednesday — that he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador.\nEarlier on Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that Trump had asked Flynn to resign because of an “erosion of trust” and not because Flynn broke any laws.\nHe stressed the White House had reviewed the situation and determined that Flynn did not violate any laws during his call with the Russian ambassador.", "Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images\nWhen discussing Michael Flynn’s resignation on Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer was not clear on whether White House counsel needed 17 days to figure out if the national security adviser’s December calls with Russia’s ambassador were legal, or if he made that determination “immediately.” Regardless, it seems unlikely that Flynn will be prosecuted under the 218-year-old Logan Act, which bans private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. However, Flynn may be in legal trouble if he lied to the FBI.\nThe New York Times reported on Tuesday evening that FBI director James Comey sent FBI agents to interview Flynn on his calls with Sergey Kislyak during his first few days on the job. The FBI had briefed the Obama administration on the potential Logan Act violation after the calls were intercepted as part of routine U.S. surveillance. New concerns were raised when Spicer denied that Flynn had mentioned sanctions on the calls during his first full press briefing on January 23.\nIt’s not clear what Flynn said in the interview, whether his lawyer was present, or if the Trump administration knew about the interview beforehand. But if Flynn told the agents that he hadn’t mentioned sanctions on the call, as he’d been saying publicly, that would be a felony.\nOn January 26 acting Attorney General Sally Yates informed new White House counsel Don McGahn that there were discrepancies between the intercepted calls and what Flynn was claiming publicly. Spicer said President Trump was informed “immediately,” and directed McGahn to look into the matter.\n“[Flynn] is at serious risk of being prosecuted if he told the FBI what he told the vice president,” former Obama White House ethics lawyer Norm Eisen told Politico.\nHowever, others questioned whether Flynn would actually face legal trouble if he did lie to the FBI. Politico noted that the final decision on criminal charges lies with the Justice Department. Democrats are pressuring new Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from investigations into the Trump team’s relationship with Russia due to his role as a Trump surrogate on the campaign trail. However, advisers to Sessions told the Times they see no reason for him to remove himself from the case.", "Per the NYT, another in the recent series of revelations by the FBI: four T***p campaign aides and associates spoke with Russian intelligence during the presidential campaign*.\nWhile, as yet, the evidence does not point to \"collusion\" with the Russians in their efforts to sway the election to T***p, the report says the timing of the calls were \"suspicious\". As a result, the NSA will analyze other intercepted communications and further investigations will occur.\nWhile they continue the investigation, the fact of the contact, alone, begs the question: why would any contact with Russian intelligence be needed during an election campaign from a candidate's team? And by four different people, all connected to the T***p campaign, one reportedly being Paul Manafort (who broadly denied knowing what the FBI was referring to)?\nAlthough it was not reported exactly when the communications occurred, the time was framed as \"during the year before the election.\"\nIt was not believed that these had any relation to the calls of Flynn in December, 2016.\n\"Stay tuned. Much more to come, I'm sure.\"\n*Previously, spokespersons for the T***p campaign denied ever having any contact with any Russians. More recently, the official word became a denial of \"any improper conversation with Russian officials\". Now, with the \"proof\" facing them, will they pull a \"Flynn\" position?", "Furthermore, The New York Times reported that FBI agents interviewed Flynn about his interactions with the Russian ambassador. “That raises the stakes of what so far has been a political scandal that cost Mr. Flynn his job,” The Times wrote. “If the authorities conclude that Mr. Flynn knowingly lied to the FBI, it could expose him to a felony charge.”\nTexas ties\nOn Capitol Hill, attention swiftly turned to whether Congress would investigate Flynn further after his resignation.\nThe two Texas senators diverged with their reactions to the news. Sen. John Cornyn immediately called for the Senate and House intelligence committees to launch an investigation into Flynn’s actions, while Sen. Ted Cruz repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether he believes Flynn should appear before Congress.\nRep. Joaquin Castro, the lone Texas Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said “investigations must take place to determine how severely this administration has compromised our nation’s security.” But Rep. Mike Conaway, the lone Texas Republican on the committee, pointedly declined to comment when asked multiple times whether he thinks an investigation should be launched.\nMust-see TV\nAs is often the case, senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway was tasked with explaining the president’s change of tune to news networks Tuesday morning and faced a skeptical Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today Show.”\nLess than 7 hours before Flynn resigned, Conway said that Trump still had “full confidence” in the embattled national security adviser. She insisted that the claim had been true when she said it but that the revelation Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his interactions with the Russian ambassador was what made his position “unsustainable.”\nLauer pushed back, noting that the Justice Department had warned the White House last month that Flynn had not been completely forthright in characterizing his conversations with the ambassador. Conway responded with a confusing non sequitur about how Flynn had continued to serve in his role over the past few weeks, to which Lauer retorted, “That makes no sense.”", "Transcript:\nShow: HARDBALL\nDate: February 14, 2017\nGuest: Susan Page, David Ignatius, Glenn Thrush, Claire McCaskill, Ashley Parker, Matt Schlapp, Ruth Marcus, John Stanton, Indira Lakshmanan\nCHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: How deep does this go?\nLet`s play HARDBALL.\nGood evening. I`m Chris Matthews in Washington. Well, today, NBC reported\nthat President Trump failed to tell Vice President Mike Pence that despite\nall the White House denials, national security director Mike Flynn did, in\nfact, speak with the Russian ambassador about those sanctions that Obama\nslapped on Russia for interfering with our elections.\nWell, for two weeks, the vice president thought he was right when he told\nthe country that Flynn never discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.\nThe VP only learned the truth, by the way, five days ago, all which raises\nthe question, what were Trump and Flynn talking about all the this time?\nBefore Flynn called the Russians, after he called Russians and ever since,\nwas Trump in cahoots with Flynn, or was Flynn out there all alone opening\nup this new era of good relations with Vladimir Putin all by himself?\nWell, today, explaining why Flynn was fired, Sean Spicer confirmed reports\nthat the acting general told the Trump White House about Flynn`s\nconversations with the ambassador. Spicer also made clear that the White\nHouse does not believe Flynn did anything that constituted a legal\nviolation.\nLet`s watch.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The acting attorney general\ninformed the White House counsel that they wanted to give, quote, “a heads-\nup to” us on some comments that may have seemed in conflict with what the -\n- he had sent the vice president out, in particular.\nThe White House counsel informed the president immediately. The President\nasked him to conduct a review of whether there was legal situation there.\nThat was immediately determined that there wasn`t. That was what the\npresident believed at the time, from what he had been told, and he was\nproved to be correct. The issue, pure and simple, came down to a matter of\ntrust\nQUESTION: That is not a problem, that General Flynn discussed sanctions\nwith the Russians?\nSPICER: No, there is – as I – I can`t say it clearly enough. There was\nnothing in what General Flynn did in terms of conducting himself that was\nan issue. What came down to, plain and simply, was him misleading the vice\npresident and others and not having a firm grasp on his recollection of\nthat.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: Well, Flynn`s conversation with the Russian ambassador took\nplace December 29th, the same day the Obama administration unveiled new\nsanctions against Russia for messing with our elections. And that\nconversation was first made public in mid-January by “The Washington Post”\ncolumnist David Ignatius. In the days that followed, Trump officials,\nincluding Vice President Pence and spokesman Sean Spicer, denied sanctions\nwere ever discussed in that conversation.\nDemocrats on Capitol Hill today called for an investigation.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), MINORITY LEADER: General Flynn`s resignation is\nnot the end of the story, it is merely the beginning. There needs to be an\nindependent and transparent investigation because the White House knew for\nweeks that General Flynn misled the vice president and that discussion\nabout sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise\nour national security because he was subject to blackmail.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: Well, meanwhile, “The New York Times” reported today that the\nFBI agents interviewed Michael Flynn last month after his conversation with\nthe Russian ambassador.\nI`m joined right now by “USA Today`s” Washington bureau chief Susan Page,\n“New York Times” White House correspondent Glenn Thrush and “Washington\nPost” columnist David Ignatius, who broke a lot of this story.\nI guess this gets a little entangled. And Hallie – and Hallie Jackson, of\ncourse, is with us from – let`s go to Hallie Jackson right now for the\nupdate on that.\nHallie, what grabs us – and it`s almost like the television show “Veep,”\nwith Julia Dreyfus (ph). You know, you go – Louis Dreyfus. You go, how\ncan you not tell the vice president for two weeks that he was putting out\nthe wrong story when he was told to put out the story that there was no\ndiscussions of sanctions in that conversation between Mike Flynn, the\nnational security director, and the Russian ambassador, when, in fact, the\nWhite House knew, the president knew and never told the vice president that\nthat was in the conversation?\nHALLIE JACKSON, NBC CORRESPONDENT: Right. And I mean, that was something\nthat you saw on this network, Chris, is this idea that Vice President Pence\ndid not – you know, was apparently unaware that these inconsistencies\nexisted.\nI want to share some information with you, additional information that I`m\ngetting in the last couple of minutes here from a White House official.\nAnd excuse me for being out of breath from running over from the West Wing\nbut – and for looking at my iPad here.\nBut I found it interesting that according to this official, the vice\npresident and Mike Flynn spoke on Friday about all of this. So it was a\nday after “The Washington Post” story came out. It was a day after, as we\nnow have learned on the record the vice president learned all of this\nthrough media reports, likely that “Washington Post” report that came out\non Thursday night, and a day after, according to the press secretary here\nin the White House, Mike Flynn modified his story, if you will,\nessentially, tacked on that sentence, you know, in addition to saying that\nhe didn`t not believe he talked about election-related sanctions, saying,\nBut I could be, you know, misremembering. And I`m paraphrasing here, but\nsaying that, I might have said something. I`m not really sure.\nYou know, I asked about the attitude currently of Mike Flynn – you know,\nsort of in the idea this is somebody who`s going to now come out and maybe\nspeak publicly against the president. But I am told that as of today, at\nleast, he seemed rather upbeat, rather stoic about all this.\nYou may have seen that yesterday morning, there was interview that came out\nwith the DailyCaller, which is an outlet that was published – founded,\nrather, by Fox News`s Tucker Carlson, in which Flynn vigorously defended\nhimself, said that he had the confidence of the president, said he crossed\nno lines in that conversation with the Russian ambassador and was\nparticularly perturbed about leaks coming from inside the White House.\nMATTHEWS: Right. OK.\nJACKSON: I am told that at that point, Flynn felt the ambiguity around his\nstatus had been lifting, which is interesting, given that not, you know, 12\nhours later, we were already hearing that the president was evaluating\nFlynn`s position…\n(CROSSTALK)\nJACKSON: … and then, of course, the ultimate resignation – Chris.\nMATTHEWS: Thanks. Thanks so much, Hallie Jackson from the White House\nwith scoop.\nLet me go – let me go back to David. You put the dates together, January\n26th, when the White House counsel was informed that there was a\nconversation about sanctions between Flynn and the Russian ambassador. And\nthen you put together (INAUDIBLE) last Friday. That`s a hell of a\ndifferential in time. That`s 14 days or so.\nIs there any explanation why the White House never told the VP what was\ngoing on and let him go out there and tell the wrong story?\nDAVID IGNATIUS, “WASHINGTON POST”: No. And Sean Spicer said in the little\nclip that you showed that this is about a matter of trust. And I think\nthat there`s a reasonable question, especially for Mike Pence, whether he\nwas trusted by President Trump. President Trump withheld from him the same\ninformation that we`ve been upset, we`ve been writing about, Mike Flynn\nhaving withheld from him. He allowed Pence to be out there advancing a\nnarrative that we now know to have been false.\nAnd the president similarly allowed – allowed Mike Pence to be in that\nsame situation. Increasingly, Chris, as I look at this, I have the feeling\nthat President Trump intended to try to ride this out until it became\npublic, thanks to the reporting of “The Washington Post” last Thursday\nnight. And that – I think that should…\nMATTHEWS: Your reporting, yes.\nIGNATIUS: … bother people.\nMATTHEWS: I want to go to Glenn on this because if you look at – if there\nwere any moral justice in the world – we don`t expect a whole lot in\npolitics, at least not immediate justice – you know, Pence should fire\nTrump for the same thing Trump fired Flynn, You didn`t tell me, you didn`t\ntrust me, you give me the wrong story and let me hang on it.\nGLENN THRUSH, “NEW YORK TIMES”: I would just point out that Mike Pence now\nhas a fairly long track record of having to go out and defend the\nindefensible for Donald Trump. I think this is what he signed up for.\nYou know, I talked – I`ve been talking with his staff on and off for a\ncouple of weeks about this. I think there`s a lot of anger on his staff,\nand I think some of that came through to him. I don`t think Mike Pence is\nexpressing his anger to Donald Trump. I think Mike Pence was expressing\nhis anger to Flynn.\nAnd the way that I heard it over the last couple of days is that even after\nthis was proven, Flynn still wouldn`t give him a full apology. Flynn was\njust saying, This could have been a mistake in my recollection. And I\nthink that`s what pushed Pence.\nAnd we should say Pence is a remarkably slow man to anger, as we have\nseen…\nMATTHEWS: (INAUDIBLE) calm.\nTHRUSH: That is really what pushed him. And I think that in addition to\nthe headline that came out yesterday about the FBI investigation – I think\nTrump – your reporting is absolutely right. I think Trump was totally\nwilling to wait this out. He was in no rush to get rid of Flynn.\nMATTHEWS: Yes.\nTHRUSH: In fact, the main reason he didn`t want to get rid of Flynn is\nbecause it looked bad getting rid of your national security adviser three\nweeks into the game, not because of any special loyalty. But once these\nheadlines started piling up, he had Pence on his back, I think that made it\nall inevitable.\nMATTHEWS: Well, Susan, I guess the big question – you write all the front\npage stories for “USA Today,” and you guys know the big front page, the A\nsection stuff. Is the big story here that Flynn blew it, he didn`t tell\nthe truth? Or is the big story there`s remaining murkiness about our\nrelations between – between Trump and Putin?\nPutin was helping Trump win the election. That`s all established fact. We\nput sanctions on him for having done so. There was a conversation now we\nknow of between – between Trump`s guy, Flynn, and Putin`s guy, the\nambassador, about how things are going to be nice or something. We all can\nfigure that out.\nThis possibility that Trump`s people were in cahoots at some point with\nPutin when Putin decided to put his thumb on the scale. That to me is the\nbig scandal, if there is one, in this whole piece that will go down in the\nhistory books, that there was collusion at some level, passively at least,\nbetween the Trump people and the guy helping them win the election over in\nMoscow. That`s to me the big story.\nSUSAN PAGE, “USA TODAY”: You know, the…\nMATTHEWS: Or it`s not.\nPAGE: That`s right. And the fact is, General Flynn doesn`t matter. What\nmatters is the president. And why has he had this attitude from – through\nthe campaign and as president to have this remarkable deference to Russia.\nAnd I would just say I think the cause and effect is the reverse on – in\nterms of leaks. I think the fact that the president wasn`t going to act\nprompted people to be willing to leak. And now he`s mad at the leaks\nbecause they forced him to act, but that is going to be a signature of his\npresidency.\nPAGE: Yes.\nPAGE: You know, this is the way in which institutional Washington can push\nback…\nMATTHEWS: You mean political people in the NSC, people that can talk to\nthe press.\nPAGE: Or in the State Department or…\nMATTHEWS: Right.\nPAGE: You know, there was one…\n(CROSSTALK)\nMATTHEWS: Will you interpret what Trump means? If you`re a Trumpster out\nthere, you`re a real gung-ho Trump guy or woman, and he`s saying to you,\nYou know, I didn`t do anything wrong here. The press just leaks. But if\nanybody knows what leaking means, it`s not creating a story, it`s revealing\nit.\nPAGE: That`s right.\nMATTHEWS: And so the…\nPAGE: It`s forcing action…\n(CROSSTALK)\nMATTHEWS: Leakers are talking to the reader, the person out there.\nThey`re serving the person, the leaker. You know, they`re blowing the\nwhistle on somebody. And somebody blew the whistle on Trump and that whole\nteam were doing, covering up what Flynn had been talking about, Glenn.\nI would think, if I were a person out there and felt alienated, I`d say,\nThank God somebody`s looking out for me and leaking me what`s really going\non in D.C. because that`s what Trump said he would stop, the secrecy and\nelitism of Washington.\nTHRUSH: Well, now you have secrecy without elitism, right?\nMATTHEWS: OK.\nTHRUSH: I mean – and I think these leaks – I would extend the universe\nof leakers beyond NSC and other civil service career staff. His own people\nleak on him to communicate with him. You can`t argue with Donald Trump\nacross the Resolute desk in the Oval Office. It doesn`t work. You either\nlose your job, or you say, Thank you, sir, and walk out of the room. The\nway that you communicate…\nMATTHEWS: You rat him out afterwards.\nTHRUSH: The way you communicate with him – and we have heard his aides\nsay this – is to go on the – either go on the Sunday shows, go on this\nprogram…\nPAGE: Yes.\nTHRUSH: … and commute with him that way, or now in the most time-honored\nWashington tradition, leak unsatisfactory facts, let the pressure build,\nand then you can force a result.\nMATTHEWS: OK, back to you, David, because it`s your reporting here that`s\ncreated – moved history along here. Trump blames you, basically, for\nputting in stories in “The Washington Post,” which is doing a hell of a job\non this whole front, and so`s “The New York Times.” You guys are battling\nit out like the old days. I love it because we`re getting great coverage.\nYou had the story last night. You must have been up all night with it…\n(CROSSTALK)\nMATTHEWS: The guy`s gone. It`s great stuff!\nIGNATIUS: It`s – it`s…\n(CROSSTALK)\nIGNATIUS: It`s been a good time for our business. We`re doing our job.\nIt does worry me that the president has now identified illegal leaking as\nthe thing he`s most worried about. It also worries me that Devin Nunes,\nthe chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the same thing\ntoday. So there`s an attempt to focus on the leaking of information, not\nthe underlying behavior. That`s worrying.\nLet me just note one interesting thing that came out in the last 24 hours.\nWe now know that Jim Comey, the director of the FBI was reluctant to allow\nthe acting attorney general, Sally Yates, to give this information to the\nWhite House showing that Mike Pence had been lied to because she was afraid\nthat the White House would interfere with the FBI`s ongoing\ninvestigation…\nMATTHEWS: She was afraid, or Comey was afraid?\nIGNATIUS: Comey was afraid. Comey said, Madam acting attorney general,\ndon`t give them this information. He later changed his mind. What does\nthat tell you? It tells you that the director of the FBI is worried that\nthe White House is going to sabotage an ongoing legal investigation.\nThat`s really disturbing.\n(CROSSTALK)\nMATTHEWS: … a lot people on the left, the progressive side of the\npolitics who watch this show a lot and – they would be surprised because\nthey thought Comey had his finger on the scale against Hillary Clinton, for\nTrump. Now I think he`s a institutionalist myself. And this would bear\nthat out, right?\nIGNATIUS: Well, I think it means that he wants to preserve the integrity\nof this investigation. We should all – all – I mean, the only way we`re\ngoing to get out of this thicket is that these investigations are completed\nand there are facts…\nPAGE: Yes.\nIGNATIUS: … the public accepts. And that`s what Comey`s trying to do,\nand he was trying to protect that.\nPAGE: I think that is – but I think that`s true of calculation being made\nby the intelligence community on what information they give the White\nHouse, what information they give about sources of information, because of\nconcern about – you don`t really know what the story is behind this\nadministration`s attitude toward Russia.\nTHRUSH: And I think what you`re starting to see – and this is the really\ndangerous dynamic for the president. You`re starting to see Roy Blunt in\nthe Senate, on the Republican side, Lindsey Graham, who`s always been a bit\nof an outlier, and now some indication that Mitch McConnell might be open\nto a larger investigation. We already have the intel committees looking\ninto this stuff. The further that moves down the road, the bigger the\ntrouble for the president.\nMATTHEWS: (INAUDIBLE) by the way, congratulations for “Saturday Night\nLive” and Bobby Moynihan (ph) playing a much larger size version of you, I\nmust say. Let me as you about…\nTHRUSH: I`m bigger than life.\nMATTHEWS: OK. Chuck Schumer came out today, and Chuck Schumer showed a\nbit of (INAUDIBLE) coming out and say – We want the Justice Department to\ndo this, but we don`t want – we don`t want Jeff Sessions doing it. So you\nhave one of these recusal kind of things. Is that the strongest danger to\nthis White House, it`s done as a – as a criminal investigation by the\nJustice Department? Is that the thing that would really scare them?\nTHRUSH: Oh, I think it would scare the hell out of them. You know, I also\nthink – remember, this entire crew that got Donald Trump election, when\nyou go to Kellyanne Conway, Dave Bossie, this entire group of people,\nBannon – they`re Clinton hunters from the 1990s.\nMATTHEWS: Oh, yes.\nTHRUSH: And so they understand the danger of appointing a special\nprosecutor better than anybody! It is – it would be, I should say because\nwe`re not up the road yet, one of the richest ironies and perhaps the\nbiggest consolation prize for the Clintons if it moved into the direction\nof a special prosecutor.\nMATTHEWS: And they all remember Phil Rheines, who`s the presidents guy for\nHillary Clinton – he`s already put out (INAUDIBLE) his tweet, you know,\nbecause he`s a – he`s – you know, you got what you paid for, basically.\nWhat goes around comes around, an old Washington expression. The Hillary\npeople are actually – I`m not knocking them. They`re thrilled with this\nstuff. And maybe they should be.\nThanks, Susan Page, Glenn Thrush, David Ignatius, who made the news this\nweek.\nComing up, reaction from Capitol Hill. Democrats are calling for\ninvestigations, as we said. The chairman of the House Oversight Committee\nsays there`s no need to investigate Flynn and his Russian ties. Of course\nyou would say that. How long can Republicans hold the line on that baby?\nTonight, cracks are starting to form. The truth may come out here.\nPlus, with Flynn out after just 25 days, it`s worth remembering what he\nsaid about Hillary Clinton, as I said, last summer. Catch this for those\nof you who believe in (INAUDIBLE) might call getting even, at the\nRepublican convention.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nGEN. MICHAEL FLYNN, U.S. ARMY (RET.): … a tenth, a tenth of what she\ndid, I would be in jail today! Crooked Hillary Clinton, leave this race\nnow!\n(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: He was leading the “lock her up” number. Anyway, more of that\nahead. And maybe a lot more of that ahead.\nAnd tonight, inside the White House, upheaval is becoming the new normal, a\nresignation at the highest level, actually a firing, a power struggle in\nthe West Wing and a slew of leaks, as we said. Can Trump keep this going?\nFinally, let me finish with “Trump Watch” for this Tuesday night.\nThis is HARDBALL, where the action is.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nMATTHEWS: Well, guess who came to lunch at the White House today? New\nJersey governor Chris Christie. Christie was shut out of a job in the\nTrump administration in part because of his role prosecuting the father of\nPresident Trump`s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. But with the White House now\nin turmoil, could Christie get another chance? White House spokesman Sean\nSpicer said the conversation today had to do with combating drug abuse.\nWell.\nWe`ll be right back.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I would like to know, did he just\ndo this as a rogue General Flynn, that he just decided to call the Russians\nup one day and say, we`re going to have a different view on sanctions,\ndon`t worry about it, or did it come from somebody else in the White House?\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: That`s exactly my question for Senator Graham there. That`s\nwhat I`m thinking. Who set him up? Who got Mike Pence on the phone with\nthe Russian ambassador?\nThat was Senator Lindsey Graham asking some of the same unanswered question\nlooming today everywhere in the wake of Lieutenant General Michael Flynn`s\nresignation. Actually, he was pushed to resign as national security\nadviser.\nIn addition to the FBI-led counterintelligence inquiry into potential\ncontacts between Trump aides and Kremlin officials, there are also\ninvestigations under way in various committees up on the Congress.\nRepublican Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican, told a Saint Louis radio\nstation today that Flynn should be questioned by the Intelligence Committee\nas soon as possible.\nHere`s Blunt.\n(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)\nSEN. ROY BLUNT (R), MISSOURI: The Senate Intelligence Committee is looking\nat this. I would think we should talk to General Flynn very soon. And\nthat should answer a lot of questions.\nWhat did he know, what did he do, and is there any reason to believe that\nanybody else knew that and didn`t take the kind of action they should have\ntaken?\n(END AUDIO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: While members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans,\nclearly want answers, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer went further\ntoday and called upon law enforcement, the Justice Department, to conduct\nan independent investigation.\nI`m joined right now by Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri.\nThank you, Senator.\nAs a former prosecutor, I just want to get your thinking on this. The big\nquestion that leaps to mind all day, or certainly late today, was what\nLindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina raised, which is, does\nanybody think that Mike Flynn went out there all alone and established this\ncordial relationship with the Russian government, where he`s up there\nchatting away about sanctions or whatever else on the phone, without any\nleave from the new president?\nHey, get on the phone and work this guy. Just tell them we didn`t like\nwhat they did in the campaign.\nIt just seems to me that Putin`s guy talking to Trump`s guy would both be\non a leash of some kind. They wouldn`t be just having this get-together\nacross the line there between two countries.\nYour thoughts?\nSEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D), MISSOURI: Well, and, as a former prosecutor,\nthat brings up so many other questions.\nHow many times had General Flynn talked to people in Russia during the\ncampaign? What, if anything, happened when he was in Russia in 2015? What\nkind of contacts were there? Surely, it was not a coincidence that the\nleaked material from Podesta`s e-mails came out two hours after the tape\nstarted being played of what Donald Trump said on that bus about grabbing\nwomen.\nThis is all – all of this has to be looked at. And the public has a right\nto see it.\nAnd the double standard, Chris, that is going on right now is stunning.\nKeep in mind that Jason Chaffetz, the chairman of the House Oversight\nCommittee, issued 70 subpoenas after the head of the FBI announced there\nwas no criminal activity involved with Hillary Clinton`s e-mail server.\nThat was after. He still issued 70 subpoenas.\nSo, the notion that there`s no subpoenas, there are public hearings going\non, there are not these questions being asked, and certainly the answers\nare not being provided in a public forum, demands that we have a select\ncommittee that looks at all of this and lets the public make up their mind\nas to whether or not this administration can be trusted.\nMATTHEWS: Well, let me ask you the question that Lindsey Graham raised,\nthe senator from South Carolina again. And it`s a question on everybody`s\nhead.\nIf you put all this together, these dots, if you will, from the beginning,\nwe know it is an established fact that the Russians, Putin, helped defeat\nHillary Clinton.\nWe know it by leaking all that stuff out of the DNC. They didn`t leak it\nout of the RNC, just the DNC. We all know. And because of that\nestablished fact – again, not fake facts, alternative facts, not fake\nnews, reality – the last administration under President Obama went out and\nput some of these sanctions.\nThey made some people persona non grata. They sent some people home. They\nwere probably spooks to begin with, but they sent them home to Moscow.\nSo, this is all fact. And it`s also a fact now that Mike Flynn was on the\nphone with the Russian ambassador talking about sanctions, and I guess also\ntalking about the new administration and their reaction to those sanctions,\nwhether they would lift them or not.\nDo we have enough evidence here already as fact that there`s been an\ninteresting relationship, intriguing, mysterious, maybe illegal\nrelationship, between this new administration and the Russians? Do we have\nenough to go with an investigation now?\nMCCASKILL: Absolutely.\nAnd keep in mind that, in December, there was a bipartisan call for a\nselect committee that could look at this, because, as you know, Chris, in\nthe Senate, every committee has jurisdiction, but no committee has\njurisdiction over all of this.\nThat`s why select committees are formed, so that we can look at the CIA and\nthe FBI and the military all in one setting.\nWell, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan said, no, let`s do it in the\nIntelligence Committees.\nNow, what do the Intelligence Committees mean? It means that this is all\nnot done in public.\nMATTHEWS: Yes.\nMCCASKILL: And I think – I think there was an effort to try to tamp this\ndown, look the other way.\nAnd that`s what is really a problem here. I don`t know what the facts –\nall the facts are at there point. And I want the truth to come out. But\nfor these Republicans who spent days and days and millions and millions of\ndollars over repeated hearings around Hillary Clinton`s e-mail server…\nMATTHEWS: Public, televised hearings.\nMCCASKILL: Yes. That`s…\nMATTHEWS: They all wanted them publicized. They didn`t want to do\nanything in private.\nMCCASKILL: They all wanted – that`s exactly right.\nMATTHEWS: Right.\nMCCASKILL: And so that`s why I think it`s really important that we apply\nthe same standard.\nPeople in America are sick of this rabid partisanship, that, if it`s one\nparty, it gets investigated, if it`s the other party, we look the troops\nway.\nMATTHEWS: Right.\nMCCASKILL: Let`s do this above-board, by the book, and have the\ninvestigation that can reassure. I think, frankly, the Trump\nadministration ought to welcome it, because how are they going to govern\nwith this cloud over them until all this gets cleared up?\nMATTHEWS: I love it that we have senators from a state, a purple state\nlike Missouri, so we can actually hear something near reasonable.\nAnyway, before his short tenure in the White House, Lieutenant General\nMichael Flynn was an outspoken critic of Hillary Clinton. Here`s his\nspeech at the Republican Convention last summer. He called her reckless\nand careless.\nAnd, well, watch this. Watch this quote about lock her up. He led the\ncheers.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nMICHAEL FLYNN, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We do not need a reckless\npresident who believes she is above the law.\nAUDIENCE: Lock her up! Lock her up!\nFLYNN: Lock her up. That`s right. Yes, that`s right. Lock her up.\nI have called on Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race because she – she\nput our nation`s security at extremely high risk with her careless use of a\nprivate e-mail server.\nIf I – a guy who knows this business, if I did a tenth, a tenth of what\nshe did, I would be in jail today.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: Well, we will see where that one goes.\nAnyway, did you notice the way he said “she”? He didn`t like that word\n“she,” did he, Senator?\n(LAUGHTER)\nMATTHEWS: Maybe I`m being too Freudian here, but I thought it was an odd\nway he kept saying, with disgust, the pronoun “she.”\nAnyway, what do you think?\nMCCASKILL: Yes.\nAnd maybe I`m old-fashioned.\nMATTHEWS: You`re not old-fashioned. Go ahead.\nMCCASKILL: But working on the Armed Services Committee, I really value the\nfact that our military leaders really try to avoid partisanship.\nSo, it was stunning to me that General Flynn was so partisan and, I think,\nreckless in the way he participated in the campaign. If you`re going to\nlead this nation in the area of national security, you have to conduct\nyourself in a very dignified way…\nMATTHEWS: Right.\nMCCASKILL: … and make sure the American people don`t think you are\ntrying to play sides, but rather you`re trying to protect them.\nAnd I thought he was an odd choice for that job in the first place, given\nsome of the things he did during the campaign.\nMATTHEWS: He reminded me of “A Tale of Two Cities.” He was playing Madame\nDefarge, the one…\n(LAUGHTER)\nMATTHEWS: … sewing the shroud for her enemy.\nAnyway, thank you so much, Senator Claire McCaskill of the state of\nMissouri.\nMCCASKILL: Thank you.\nMATTHEWS: I`m joined right now by MSNBC political analyst Michael Steele,\nformer chair – another moderate voice, sir. Thank you.\nMICHAEL STEELE, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes.\nMATTHEWS: It`s interesting to watch Roy Blunt, who is a regular\nRepublican…\nSTEELE: Yes. Yes.\nMATTHEWS: … established Republican, and Lindsey Graham, because I think\nmost people, they`re all looking for what I think people call deep history.\nThere`s a pattern of this thing.\nAnd knowing Trump`s ego, it`s not especially evil, but can we imagine him\nnot responding to the Cupid`s arrow coming across from Moscow and not\nresponding to this – he gave him the election?\nSTEELE: Yes.\nMATTHEWS: Don`t you think he would respond and say, well, we will look out\nfor you down the road or something?\nSo I don`t think it`s surprising that Mike Flynn was on the horn talking to\nthe Russian ambassador about, well, we will walk these sanctions Obama put\non. We will work this…\nSTEELE: Right. We will work it out. And I think that…\nMATTHEWS: And then lying about it.\nSTEELE: That`s the problem. It is that phone call on the day he placed it\nthat relates back to the campaign, given everything that we know so far\nthat has been in the public.\nI think the administration has a view that if it can just go away and we\nnot deal with it…\nMATTHEWS: Well, that`s what David Ignatius, who broke this story, said.\nSTEELE: Yes.\nMATTHEWS: It looked like the president sat on it for 11 to 14 days and\ndidn`t even tell his V.P., and let his V.P. keep telling the false story.\nSTEELE: Right. Right, because the thinking was, it would go away.\nMATTHEWS: Yes.\nSTEELE: What they didn`t anticipate correctly was that the press would\nfollow the bread crumbs in the story.\nMATTHEWS: Sure.\nSTEELE: And it would reveal what has now led to the…\nMATTHEWS: I like that, the bread crumbs. I like that.\nSTEELE: Yes. They followed the bread crumbs.\nMATTHEWS: It`s Grimm`s fairy tales.\nSTEELE: Yes, you know?\n(CROSSTALK)\nSTEELE: … in the oven.\n(LAUGHTER)\nSTEELE: So, here we are.\nSo, I think the call by commonsense Republicans, Republicans who understand\nthat there`s a political consequence that could be paid from this as well,\nthat they want to get this out in the open. This is not the best way –\nthis is no way to start an administration.\nMATTHEWS: Who can walk into the room tell the president, do the right\nthing here?\nSTEELE: That`s – now, that`s the question. That`s the question.\nMATTHEWS: Get it behind you, brother.\nSTEELE: Where is the Howard Baker in this lot…\nMATTHEWS: Yes.\nSTEELE: … who has, at a critical moment, not to go tell the president to\nresign or get impeached and all that, but to go in that room and say, we\nhave got a problem and we need – we need to deal with it?\nMATTHEWS: The only way you can – the problem with that is, it was the\nproblem with Nixon in Watergate. It got so deep, he couldn`t get out of\nit.\nSTEELE: He couldn`t get out.\nMATTHEWS: Because if they had said that to him and say, Mr. president,\ndon`t be so pious with us, you`re the guy that got him on the phone in the\nfirst place, if that`s the case.\nSTEELE: Right.\nWell, and that figure can do that now, if that figure – is it Paul Ryan?\nMATTHEWS: If that is true.\nSTEELE: We will see. Is it Mitch McConnell? We will find out.\nMATTHEWS: Well, Mike Flynn knows it all.\nSTEELE: But Mike Flynn knows it all.\nMATTHEWS: He knows it.\nSTEELE: Absolutely.\nMATTHEWS: And he`s off and loose right now.\nThank you, Michael Steele. I love the fact that Roy Blunt said, get to him\nfast…\nSTEELE: Get to him fast.\nMATTHEWS: … before he builds a story up.\nSTEELE: That`s right.\nMATTHEWS: Up next: turmoil and upheaval in the White House we`re talking\nabout. We just over three weeks into the Trump administration, but is this\nnormal? Is this the new normal? It`s certainly not the regular normal.\nThis is HARDBALL, where the action is.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nDONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, this just came out.\nThis just came out. WikiLeaks. I love WikiLeaks.\n(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)\nTRUMP: You have to go back to WikiLeaks. Oh, WikiLeaks.\n(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: What an ironic turn of events that represents.\nAnyway, as a candidate, as you saw, President Trump loved the rolling\ndisclosure of hacked e-mails known as WikiLeaks that unleashed damaging\ninformation on his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. He loved them. He\nwaved them around. This is another leak.\nBut now the president, President Trump, is blaming what he calls illegal\nleaks for the downfall of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn.\nPresident Trump tweeted this morning, for example: “The real story here is\nwhy are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these\nleaks be happening as I deal on North Korea, et cetera?”\nWell, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reiterated the president`s\nconcern – of course he does – that`s what he does – he reiterates – in\nhis briefing this afternoon.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: But I think there`s also a story\nhere, when the amount of leaks that are coming out of people that are\nentrusted with national security secrets and classified information are\nleaking it out. That`s a real concern for this president.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: Well, President Trump`s allies on the right are also blaming\nleaks for the drama unfolding at the White House. They`re also joining in\nthis. Here they go.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nLAURA INGRAHAM, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: But I think this really was the\ndeath by a thousand leaks. We have seen…\nUNIDENTIFIED MALE: The leaks, exactly.\nINGRAHAM: … a leak problem, which I think – we wrote about this maybe\nthree or four weeks ago.\nUNIDENTIFIED MALE: I read that.\nINGRAHAM: The leaks that were coming out of this administration and the\ntransition before the administration were at a level that I don`t remember\nseeing for quite some time.\nSEN. RON JOHNSON (R), WISCONSIN: Those are the questions that have to be\nasked. Who tapped the phones? Who was listening to it? Who leaked it?\nI think those are legitimate questions to ask. And leaks of this nature\nare incredibly damaging to America, to our national security, and we need\nto look into it.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMATTHEWS: Well, “The Washington Post” reports – quote – “Upset about\ndamaging leaks of his calls with world leaders and other national security\ninformation, Trump has ordered an internal investigation to find the\nleakers.”\nI think Nixon tried that.\nRepublican strategist and former Bush White House official Steve Schmidt\ntold “The Washington Post” – quote – “None of this is normal. The\nincompetence, the sloppiness and the leaking is unprecedented.”\nMatt Schlapp is president of the American Conservative Union and a former\npolitical director to George W. Bush. Ashley Parker is a White House\ncorrespondent for “The Washington Post.”\nI have got to start with Ashley, because leaking is from one end a way for\npeople in the government, whether they`re political appointments or civil\nservice people, to let the public know stuff. Their constituency is the\npublic, who wants to know what is going on. And they tell them.\nWhether they`re doing it properly or not, at least they know who they are\nserving. They are serving the public. And reporters carry the news.\nI`m making your case, I think.\n(LAUGHTER)\nMATTHEWS: But that`s what you do, I think, for a living, is try to let\npeople in the government tell the country what`s really going on.\nASHLEY PARKER, “THE WASHINGTON POST”: Sure.\nWell, there`s a long tradition, as you know, in history of whistle-blowing.\nBut I would also try to make a distinction between leaks and what has been\nquite good reporting by “The Washington Post” and other news organization\nto kind of ferret out the truth of what actually is going on in this White\nHouse and, for instance, what General Flynn may or may not have discussed\nwith the Russian ambassador.\nSo, it is a combination, of course, of people being willing to talk to us,\nbut also reporters being quite dogged in trying to tease out the truth that\nthe White House doesn`t necessarily want out there.\nMATTHEWS: Matt, how do we – I don`t think the public cares about leaks.\nI know people in government, presidents…\nMATT SCHLAPP, FORMER WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS: No,\npresidents hate it.\nMATTHEWS: Nixon went – he created the plumbers because of leaks.\nSCHLAPP: Reagan hated it. He told Casey to go investigate the leaks.\nIt`s – they hate it.\nMATTHEWS: And, by the way, you can`t check the e-mail, because nobody is a\ndoofus enough to e-mail leaks.\nSCHLAPP: Yes. That`s exactly right.\nMATTHEWS: You do it on the phone sotto voce on a cell phone somewhere in\nthe bathroom, wherever you go to do it. I don`t know where…\nSCHLAPP: There might be a couple doofuses that might do that. I don`t\nknow.\nMATTHEWS: Well, what do you make of this fight?\nTrump is caught. He`s caught – his national security chief, former\nnational security chief, Mike Flynn, was talking to the Russian – the\nRussian ambassador about what is – how things are going to be different\nand whatever regarding these sanctions.\nThat`s maybe not a Logan Act violation, but it`s a little bit murky. And\nnow the president gets mad because we know about it. Well, the president\nwasn`t going to tell us. He wouldn`t even tell his vice president. So,\nhow can he blame the media for telling the public, when he is keeping it\nsecret from everybody?\nSCHLAPP: Yes, I think it`s painful for the president, because I actually\nthink he really likes General Flynn. I think they got to be pretty good\nfriends and colleagues.\nMATTHEWS: He doesn`t trust him.\nSCHLAPP: Look, I think he got caught in a…\nMATTHEWS: He says, I don`t trust the guy.\nSCHLAPP: He got – exactly. He got caught in a bad position, because\nGeneral Flynn changed his answer.\nAnd he made the vice president go out there with the wrong story. And I\nthink, eventually, that just wasn`t lasting. And he had to take steps and\nhe accepted the resignation. I think it`s actually the right thing for him\nto do.\nIt`s amazing how people are criticizing him for doing this. The Donald\nTrump most people on the left would criticize would be the guy who wouldn`t\naccept the fact that it`s time to move on. And he did. He accepted the\nresignation.\nMATTHEWS: Well, there`s still the great story out there, Ashley.\nAnd that`s to what extent did the president know about these conversations\nor conversation with the Russians, because, of course, Trump must be\nthrilled that he got elected president. Who wouldn`t be? And he must\nunderstand that one of the reasons he was elected at the last minute was\nall this leaking about the DNC by the Russians, all the hacking.\nThat was a factor, determined by the last administration as worthy of\nsanctions against Russia. And then to have his guy talking about those\nsanctions with the Russians, are we to believe Trump knew none of this, any\nof it?\nPARKER: Well, if you look at what`s been reporter, and it is still sort of\nunfolding in real-time, but after Vice President Pence went out and\ndefended Flynn that the Department of Justice then went to the White House\ncounsel`s office said, you know, Flynn has not been honest with the vice\npresident, and in the process, he has compromised himself. And apparently,\nthat was conveyed to the president that evening.\nIt`s still little unclear the full scope of what was conveyed. So, for\nabout two weeks, the president has known these conversations have gone on\nto at least some extent.\nMATTHEWS: Yes, and he kept it to himself.\nHow is this Pence thing working out?\nMATT SCHLAPP, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: I think it`s working out great.\nMATTHEWS: Even though the president doesn`t tell him what`s going on.\nSCHLAPP: Well, I think, look, I think – we don`t know exactly what the\npresident was told obviously.\nMATTHEWS: We know that Pence, the vice president, know about these things,\nhe heard in the papers.\nSCHLAPP: He didn`t commit a crime. There was nothing illegally. What he\ndid is he probably just (INAUDIBLE) lied and the president was having\ntrouble figure out how to – how does he handle this and he decided that\nthe gave him the ultimate penalty, kicked him off the team.\nMATTHEWS: He sure did. And he called him untrustworthy. That`s brutal.\nThat`s not good for your resume.\nSCHLAPP: It`s the guy he respects.\nMATTHEWS: And by the way, we`re going to see if we have an enemy out\nthere, too, now. Anyway, but you don`t think he`ll have an enemy?\nSCHLAPP: Who will have an enemy?\nMATTHEWS: Trump will not have an enemy on Mike Flynn.\nSCHLAPP: No, absolutely not.\nMATTHEWS: We`ll see. How he sweet talks it.\nAnyway, Ashley Parker, thanks for your reporting and coming on.\nMatt Schlapp, a good fellow. He sometimes has to serve an unpleasant duty\nhere.\nUp next, a Flynn fall-out. Where do things go from here? The HARDBALL\nroundtable will be here next.\nYou`re watching HARDBALL, where the action is.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nMATTHEWS: Welcome back to HARDBALL.\nIt`s only – well, it`s day 25 of the Trump administration. It seems like\nlonger than that, and the resignation of retired Lieutenant General Michael\nFlynn last night has raised more questions than is answer, obviously.\nFor more, I`m joined by our roundtable. Ruth Marcus, columnist for “The\nWashington Post”. John Stanton, who`s senior national correspondent for\n“BuzzFeed News”. And Indira Lakshmanan, who`s a columnist with the “Boston\nGlobe” now.\nI remember listening to you in NPR all those years.\nAnyway, Indira, I want you to start, and this is wide open roundtable.\nPlease talk to each other, talk among yourselves.\nI want to know where the story is going. Last night about – early in the\nevening, Kellyanne was out there defending it saying it was not going to\nhappen. So, she – this all broke sometime late yesterday.\nAll of a sudden, Flynn was fired. He – but that became clear today. Last\nnight, he resigned, what a noble act. Today, he was fired because they\ndon`t trust him.\nThis story keeps developing hour by hour. Where is it going? Is it going\nto the question of the relationship between Donald Trump, his troops,\nincluding Flynn, and the Russians? A cahoots relationship, something that\nwas too tweet for the law and for us to like. What`s it about?\nINDIRA LASHKMANAN, BOSTON GLOBE: I think it`s an inevitably going to what\ndid Donald Trump know? The obvious, of what`s become a cliche, and when\ndid he know it?\nI think we have been asking that question since the campaign. We have been\nasking about it with regard to Russian hacking about what did Donald Trump\nknow. But we have to also been asking the question about what did he know\nabout that telephone call. And to me and to all the former national\nsecurity officials who I`ve talked to, Republicans and Democrats alike who\nworked in that National Security Advisers office, it absolutely strains\ncredulity that an incoming national security adviser would not tell his\npresident-elect what he is talking about. And even if it`s not\nspecifically about sanctions, even if it`s about the expulsion of these 35\nRussian spies, there is no way he wouldn`t have talked to the president\nabout that.\nSo, I think what happens next is definitely the investigations that we`re\ngoing to see on the –\nRUTH MARCUS, THE WASHINGTON POST: He probably just inadvertently didn`t\ntalk to the president about that. I think Indira has got it right. And\nyou have to add to that, the fact that the president-elect tweeted after\nthe Russians decided not to do a sort of tit-for-tat expulsion. I always\nknew Vladimir Putin was smart.\nSo, you know he was paying attention to this at the very same time that\nSean Spicer tells us today. Of course, not –\nMATTHEWS: So, Flynn might have just – might have said to the president,\nyou know why they didn`t retaliate because we chatted the other day and I\ncalmed things down.\nJOHN STANTON, BUZZFEED NEWS: Let`s look at this, this does sort of\nhighlight a problem that for this administration, which is, if you look at\nwhat happened last night, right, Kellyanne Conway said he resigned. He`s\nfallen on his sword. Most administration would have sort of handled that.\nBut then there`s the story that comes out in “Politico” saying that it was\nreally difficult for Trump, that he didn`t want to go to talk to Flynn.\nAnd then, immediately, they come out and they`re like, oh, he fired him.\nMATTHEWS: And fired him and admit what he called with, whatever –\nMARCUS: Extreme prejudice.\nMATTHEWS: Extreme prejudice, that`s the old execution term.\nSTANTON: Right.\nMATTHEWS: And they said because he wasn`t trustworthy. Why did they\nthrough that on top if it?\n(CROSSTALK)\nLAKSHMANAN: Because he wasn`t.\nAnd not to mention they`ve known about it for weeks, even though Trump told\nthe press on Air Force One and there`s video of it, that the press asked,\nwhat about these stories about Flynn? And he said, what are you talking?\nI don`t know about that. We`re going to have to look into that.\nMARCUS: There`s so many different layers of arguments here and sort of\nelbowing, right? There`s Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer elbowing. There`s\nthe Mike Pence –\nMATTHEWS: They`re elbowing each other?\nMARCUS: Well, they`re certainly not –\nLAKSHMANAN: The information is elbowing, right?\nMARCUS: Mike Pence, who has very good reason to feel seriously aggrieved\nin how this affects our relationship –\nMATTHEWS: You must have been watching a lot of “Veep” to get ready for\nthis.\nMARCUS: Not only –\nMATTHEWS: Julia Louis-Dreyfus never was told anything.\nMARCUS: Not only with the president, her meeting in the West Wing –\n(CROSSTALK)\nMARCUS: But with others in the White House staff, I`m curious about\nwhether there are other heads to roll in the White House staff, and the way\nin which this really ramps up the pressure on the Senate and Congress to\ninvestigate.\nSTANTON: They`re taking the cues from him and he seems to care about his\nappearance. So, if he only he cares about –\nMATTHEWS: That`s what Ignatius said a few months ago in the show. He said\nhe would have kept this whole thing to himself.\nThe roundtable sticking with us. And up next, these three will tell me\nsomething I don`t know. This is getting interesting.\nThis is HARDBALL, where the action is.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nMATTHEWS: Well, President Trump`s pick for labor secretary is now on shaky\nground tonight. The “Washington Post” is reporting that at least four\nRepublican senators are on the fence now about whether to support Andrew\nPuzder. They include Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of\nAlaska, Georgia`s Johnny Isakson, and Tim Scott of South Carolina, all are\nwithholding judgment at this point.\nPlus, they may represent the Democrats` last best chance to pick off a\nTrump cabinet nominee.\nAnd we`ll be right back.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nMATTHEWS: We`re back with the HARDBALL round table.\nAnd starting off, Ruth, tell me something I don`t know.\nMARCUS: So, Donald Trump has spent a lot of time complaining about how\nDemocrats are obstructing confirmation of his nominees. Well, guess what?\nHe`s going to have only himself to blame after the cabinet is finished.\nThere are only three deputies that have been identified of all the cabinet\ndepartments, to fill this void.\nAnd hardly anybody else is going to be home alone at all those agencies, so\nsome of the – if you thought –\nMATTHEWS: Whose fault is the fact – don`t they have to – doesn`t the\nSenate have to confirm those deputies?\nMARCUS: Yes, the Senate can only confirm people if they`re nominated.\nNobody has been nominated.\nMATTHEWS: Is he leading up to the cabinet secretary? Is the call on who\nto nominate as under secretary?\nMARCUS: No, he`s fighting with them. You know, you saw with Elliott\nAbrams. There`s a lot of division. But when you don`t get that staff\nstarted, and it`s not just deputies. It`s all the things down. You`re\ngoing to have a government in continuing disarray.\nMATTHEWS: John?\nSTANTON: The House Republicans are asking EPA to begin an investigation on\ntheir scientists, alleging they`re using encrypted e-mails and other\ntechnology that makes it impossible to see what they`re using to\ncommunicate with each other, and they are alleging they are conspiring\nagainst the new EPA administrator.\nMATTHEWS: People with brains are keeping to themselves.\nOK, Indira?\nLAKSHMANAN: I spent the day talking to House and Senate folks\ninvestigating Michael Flynn and you may not know, there are apparently\ntranscripts of these conversations that he had with the Russian ambassador.\nSo, that is the next shoe to drop.\nMATTHEWS: When do we see that?\nLAKSHMANAN: That is what the Democrats are pushing for.\nMATTHEWS: I want to read them.\nAnyway, Ruth Marcus, thank you. John Stanton – we want to know what he`s\ntalking too the Russians about. Indira Lakshmanan, thank you, from “The\nBoston Globe”, from the hub.\nWhen we return, let me finish with Trump Watch. You`re watching HARDBALL.\nThe hub.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nMATTHEWS: Trump watch, Tuesday, February 14, 2017.\nIn Washington, the spectacle of a political hanging creates a good bit of\nSchadenfreude, that excellent German word for the feeling one gets when\nsomeone else is suffering and it`s not you. It`s why I don`t like saying\nit, but I will. Nobody in this city of Washington, D.C. is ever late for a\nhanging. It`s the one show people will drop everything else in order not\nto miss.\nAnd this, let`s accept it, is the reason why people get fired, because it\ngrabs all the attention away from that big, bad story – the guy doing the\nhanging would prefer you not ask too many questions about. Is the big\nstory here about Mike Flynn, or is it about the half-told mystery of what\nthe Russians, Vladimir Putin, that is, were up to in the 2016 presidential\nelections? And closer to home, what was his electoral beneficiary up to?\nBy that I mean our new president.\nDid Donald Trump`s team ever send a thank you note to Moscow? Did they\never whisper that the Russian government should hold off on bad behavior\ntoward us before the new team gets to town and makes things square between\nus? Was there a message sent back to Putin that his kindness before\nNovember 8th would be rewarded after January 20?\nOn that point, what was the deal between the Russian benefactor, Putin, and\nthe American beneficiary, Donald Trump, during all those weeks? Did Trump\nsay nothing when he saw cupid`s arrow flying through the air? Did he not\nrespond at all when Vlad the Impaler impaled Hillary? Or did he say\nsomething, send some note of gratitude that he might some day soon be\ncalled to explain?\nIt`s all interesting. The dots are there. We need someone to see if\nthey`re connected, don`t you think?\nAnyway, happy Valentine`s Day.\nAnd that`s HARDBALL for now. And thanks for being with us.\n“ALL IN WITH CHRIS HAYES” starts right now.\nTHIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY\nBE UPDATED.\nEND", "If Michael T. Flynn informed Donald Trump about his multiple conversations with the Russian ambassador about rolling back President Barack Obama’s sanctions to punish Russia for interfering in the U.S. presidential election, it’s an impeachable offense for President Trump.\nIt would mean that while still a civilian, Trump violated the Logan Act, which makes it a crime for Americans “without authority of the United States” to engage in diplomatic negotiations with foreign governments in a dispute with the U.S. government.\nEither Flynn was freelancing, which seems unlikely for a matter of such gravity. Or he was representing his boss, The Donald, which makes Trump equally guilty.\nCongress must hold hearings on Russia’s dangerous interference in American elections and diplomacy.\nAnd lawmakers must call Flynn to testify under oath about what Trump knew about Flynn’s discussions with the Russian Ambassador and when Trump knew it.\nAnd if Senate Republicans refuse to hold hearings, the Resistance must occupy the offices of every Republican House and Senate leader.\nIf, as is likely if Flynn doesn’t perjure himself, Trump knew what was going on, then Trump must be impeached for violating the law and putting American security in danger.", "Transcript:\nSEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: Obviously, we`re not going to ignore\nsomething like that.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nSTEVE KORNACKI, MSNBC HOST: That full interview, Joe Scarborough, Mitch\nMcConnell, you can catch it all tomorrow, “MORNING JOE.” Don`t miss it.\nI`m Steve Kornacki. “MTP DAILY” starts right now.\nCHUCK TODD, MSNBC HOST: Yes, it`s Tuesday.\nTrust, turmoil and President Trump.\nTonight, new questions about who knew what and when. About now former\nnational security advisor Mike Flynn and his talks with the Russians.\nDemocrats calling for an investigation.\n(BEGN VIDEO CLIP)\nREP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: This is not a Democratic issue. This\nis not a Republican issue. It`s not an independent issue. This is an\nAmerican issue, for the soul of our democracy.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: While Republicans are in no rush.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nREP. JASON CHAFFETZ (R), UTAH: It`s not something the Oversight Committee\ncan actually look at.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: Plus, trust troubles. The White House says the issue is Flynn\nlying to the vice president. But the real issue runs much deeper, trust in\nthe administration and competence that they can get the job done.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: The whole environment is one of\ndysfunction in the Trump administration, as far as national security is\nconcerned.\nREP. PAUL RYAN (R), WISCONSIN, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: You cannot have a\nnational security advisor misleading the vice president and others.\nREP. ADAM KINZINGER (R), ILLINOIS: The cover-up could be far worse than\nwhat they actually did.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: This is MTP DAILY and it starts right now.\nGood evening, I`m Chuck Todd here in Washington. Welcome to MTP DAILY and\nwelcome to day one of what is arguably the biggest presidential scandal\ninvolving a foreign government since Iran contra.\nTake a breath, hyperbole aside, folks, hunker down, this is a class five\npolitical hurricane that`s hitting Washington.\nAll this hour, we`re going to dive into every angle of this breaking story\nas the White House scrambles to contain the fallout.\nToday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that\nPresident Trump knew, for weeks, that his national security advisor,\nMichael Flynn, had misled the vice president and, apparently, White House\nchief of staff Reince Priebus, among other White House officials, about\ndiscussions he had with Russia as the Obama administration sanctioned them\nat the end of calendar year 2016 for interfering in the election.\nThe warning that Flynn misled the White House first came from the\nDepartment of Justice. And the White House says that it quickly escalated\nfrom there.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEAN SPICER, U.S. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Immediately after the\nDepartment of Justice notified the White House Council of the situation,\nthe White House Council briefed the president and a small group of the\nsenior advisors. The White House Council reviewed and determined that\nthere is not an illegal issue but rather a trust issue.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: Spicer went on to say that Mr. Trump was briefed on January 26th.\nBut what`s unclear is if the vice president was part of that small group of\nadvisors or was he kept in the dark all the way up until Friday? That`s\nsomething we don`t know.\nDid Flynn go rogue, by the way, when he spoke to Russia? Well, here`s\nmore from today`s White House briefing.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nUNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the president instruct him to talk about\nsanctions?\nSPICER: No, absolutely not. No, no, no. I think the president was – had\nno problem with the fact that he acted in accord with what his job was\nsupposed to be doing.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: Now, the White House is painting this as a matter of trust between\nthe president and Flynn and not the matter of potential legal misconduct on\nthe sanctions front.\nBut it still doesn`t answer a lot of additional questions surround this\nepisode. For instance, we`re still not sure exactly what Flynn told the\nRussians. He spoke to the Russian ambassador the same day that the Obama\nadministration was expelling 35 Russian diplomats for punishment for\nelection hacking.\nPutin`s response surprised the Obama administration because he didn`t\nrespond at all. It`s actually what prompted, apparently, some\ninvestigating into phone calls and things like this.\nAnd so, the next day, Mr. Trump ended up praising Putin on Twitter for\nbeing smart for not retaliating.\nHere are some more questions. Why did the president ask for Flynn`s\nresignation hours after White House counselor, Kellyanne Conway, told us\nthat the president had full confidence in Flynn? Here`s Spicer`s\nexplanation for that one.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSPICER: I`m not going to get into the specifics of what the president`s\nthinking was. But I will just say, as I noted in the opening statement,\nthat it was an evolving and eroding process.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: Then there`s the decidedly mixed reaction from Republicans with\nsome sounding the alarm and others dousing the flames. Senator majority\nleader, Mitch McConnell, still does not want to have a select committee to\ninvestigate what happened. Senator Lindsey Graham wants answers.\nHouse Oversight Chairman, Jason Chaffetz, says the issue will, apparently,\nwork itself out. And Senator John McCain is slamming the entire\nadministration as a dysfunctional mess.\nSo, where do things stand right now? Reporting team is covering the three\nbig angles of this story. Hallie Jackson is at the White House. Kasie\nHunt on Capitol Hill where it`s been a wild day there. And Pete Williams\ncovering the latest inside the Justice Department and the FBI.\nBut let me begin at the White House where this political storm, in the eye\nof the storm over there, with Hallie Jackson. And, Hallie, look, it seems\nto me, at least short term, the biggest thing to clear up is, what did Vice\nPresident Pence know and when did he know it? And, at this point, when did\nhe know it?\n[17:05:03] HALLIE JACKSON, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, NBC NEWS: So, we\nhave some new reporting on that, Chuck, just in the last couple of minutes,\nI can share with you because this has been a question that NBC has\nconfirmed via two sources here. That Vice President Pence learned about\nthis warning, from the Justice Department, learned that Mike Flynn had been\ninconsistent or inaccurate with him, Thursday night.\nJust before the media reports about this began to emerge, I am told that\nvice president then began making inquiries into what exactly had happened.\nObviously, you know how this thing unfolded over the next 72 hours.\nThis leads to another question, of course, which is, why was the vice\npresident who, frankly, was the, sort of, public face of this, right?\nGoing on the television, defending Mike Flynn very publicly.\nWhy wasn`t he informed 11 days prior when President Trump knew?\nParticularly given how central the vice president has been to, not just in\nthe administration, but the administration`s outreach, or the White House`s\noutreach, to places like Capitol Hill and elsewhere?\nTODD: No, that does seem to be that that is the explanation as to why they\ndecided to fire Flynn then.\nI guess the question is, did Flynn get fired because we, in the media,\nfound out what happened?\nJACKSON: So, you saw in the – there are a couple interesting moments, a\nlot of interesting moments in the press briefing today from press secretary\nSean Spicer, Chuck. But one of them was when Spicer got pretty fired up\nabout the idea of leaks. He was asked about this a couple of times.\nIt reflected what you heard from President Trump earlier in the day when\nhe tweeted that the real story was actually the illegal leaks. And so,\nthere seemed to be real concern, from Sean Spicer, that these leaks were\nhappening.\nThe follow-up question that never got asked was the question that you just\nasked which is if these leaks hadn`t happened and nobody had found out\nabout this, would Mike Flynn still be the national advisor right now?\nTODD: And I think that that is a question that still has a lot of people\nscratching their heads.\nHallie, I will leave it there.\nLet`s go across Pennsylvania Avenue. I want to check in on Capitol Hill.\nEarlier today, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell sat down with MSNBC`s\nJoe Scarborough in an interview that will air in full tomorrow on “MORNING\nJOE.”\nHere`s what McConnell said when asked about calls for a special select\nindependent investigation into this episode.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nJOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC HOST: As far as an investigation goes in the\nSenate, obviously, a lot of people are talking about the need for\ninvestigations. And Roy Blunt came out and said that there needed to be a\nstrong, vigorous investigation.\nMCCONNELL: Yes, that`s happening. That`s happening.\nSCARBOROUGH: And you still don`t think there needs to be a select\ncommittee?\nMCCONNELL: No, I don`t think there needs to be a select committee. We\nknow how to do our work. We have an intelligence committee. Over on the\nJudiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham has got a subcommittee that`s going to\nlook at it. I don`t think we need to go through setting up a special\ncommittee.\nBut we are going to look at Russia involvement in the U.S. election. It`s\na significant issue. You know, we know they were messing around with it.\nWe don`t think they any had impact on the outcome. But, obviously, we`re\nnot going to ignore something like that.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: Let me go to Kasie Hunt. All right, Kasie, Mitch McConnell, once\nagain, despite calls, and it`s coming, it`s from a minority of Senate\nRepublicans right now and, obviously, almost all of the Senate Democrats.\nBut Mitch McConnell`s holding strong on this issue, believing that Richard\nByrd can handle this in the Intel Committee. And he mentioned the Lindsey\nGraham subcommittee hearing. What kind of patience do Senate Republicans\nhave for this?\nKASIE HUNT, CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT, NBC NEWS: Well, I have to tell\nyou, Chuck, yes, it`s true that he is resisting calls for the independent\ncommittee. And that is something that, you know, even today, you heard\ndifferent language from Chuck Schumer on this. He was more focused on\nSessions and the investigation there.\nMitch McConnell did give up a little bit of ground, though, on the scope\nof that Senate Intelligence Committee investigation. He, later on in a –\ntelling reporters today that Mike Flynn would be a part of that broad\ninvestigation. In blunt saying that it`s likely Flynn will come up and\ntestify.\nOf course, it`s going to be behind closed doors in the Senate Intelligence\nCommittee but that this would expand to include that. And he did not give\nthe White House a lot of cover on what has happened over the last 24 hours.\nNow, what I will tell you he maintained – and, you know, you having\ncovered Mitch McConnell for as long as you have, understand he is somebody\nwho is very strategic. He is very private until he wants to be. And he\nwants control over the situation.\nKeeping this investigation in the Senate Intelligence Committee means that\nhe will have a say and the Senate will have a say over what pieces of this\ninvestigation eventually become public. And I think that is the real key\nhere.\nWhat Democrats are asking for is for this process and investigation to be\ndone more out in the open. We know that, regardless of the findings right\nnow, they will have the power to keep that behind closed doors, if they so\nchoose.\nSo, I think that is, like, the key point here for McConnell.\nTODD: And I think that`s going to be the sticking point for a lot of\npeople, including the John McCains and Lindsey Grahams of the world, who\npolitically would not like to see this behind closed doors.\nAnyway, Kasie Hunt, thanks very much.\nLet me bring in our Justice Correspondent Pete Williams. So, Pete, first,\nI want to get to the FBI investigation. We now have learned that Mike\nFlynn was investigated – was interviewed by the FBI.\n[17:10:06] PETE WILLIAMS, MSNBC JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Correct.\nTODD: We don`t know – is he currently under investigation? There`s a lot\nof sources – sources say that it could be and it wouldn`t be a surprise if\nhe were, considering that he was among the people that supposedly had a\nrelationship with one part of the Russian government.\nWhat do you know?\nWILLIAMS: What they tell us is that the FBI, shortly after Mike Flynn took\noffice as the national security advisor, did interview him about his\nconversation with the Russian ambassador. They say that he was not under\ninvestigation, the Russians were. That this is part of the FBI`s very big,\nvery sprawling investigation of the Russian meddling in the election,\nincluding the hacking and other attempts by Russia to influence the voting\nhere, including whatever contact the Russians might have had with people in\nAmerica to try to get Americans to help them in this effort.\nSo, that`s why they interviewed him. They wanted to know about his\nconversation with the Russian ambassador. And they say that – as a result\nof this interview, that they don`t believe he faces – I mean, I`m told by\na couple of sources that he doesn`t – they don`t believe he faces any\nlegal jeopardy.\nIn other words, one possible problem for him would be if he lied to FBI\nagents. The people I`ve talked to say they don`t get the impression that\nthat is a problem.\nTODD: You said – you used a description on the FBI`s Russian\ninvestigation that I`ve never heard before, that it`s very big and very\nsprawling.\nWILLIAMS: Yes.\nTODD: Well, that, to me, seems to – should be a blaring headline. I\nmean, that`s surprising to me because James Comey doesn`t even confirm that\nthere is an investigation in public.\nWILLIAMS: To the Russian – of the Russian elections? I don`t know\nwhether that`s the case or not.\nTODD: Well, he`s very careful on what he confirms. And he doesn`t give\noff a hint on this.\nWILLIAMS: It`s looking at the Russian hacking which they publicly\ndisclosed.\nTODD: We know they`re doing that aspect.\nWILLIAMS: Right. It`s looking at any other attempts to influence the\nelection. And this is something that, you know, the Russians have been\ndoing this for at least, what, three or four general elections,\npresidential elections.\nSo, it`s trying to figure out who in Russia is involved with this. Part\nof this is the FBI does this with the Russians every day. There`s a – you\nknow, people have to keep track in their heads that the Russians – that\nthe FBI has two separate things. They do criminal investigations, yes.\nBut they have a long-running function, keeping their eyes on the Russians,\nin terms of looking at spying. There`s a whole counterintelligence arm of\nthe FBI that is going after the Russians every day on this.\nTODD: And that`s a regular thing. That`s almost, like, you know, work\nthat`s continuously done. It`s not just open ended.\nWILLIAMS: It goes back to the Soviet Union.\nTODD: it`s an open-ended investigation.\nWILLIAMS: Yes.\nTODD: But you may use that in order to find information about the\nspecific probe.\nWILLIAMS: Without question. Yes, that`s what`s going on here.\nTODD: Well, let me ask you one quick question before I let you go. Chuck\nSchumer is calling for Jeff Sessions to recuse himself since he`s attorney\ngeneral. What would he be – what would the role of the Justice Department\nbe in anything right now having to do – or is this all in the FBI?\nWILLIAMS: Well, it`s if, at some point, the FBI needed to seek the\nattorney general`s permission to do something. I can`t think it right off\nthe top of my head what that would be. But if they ever decided to file\ncharges against someone, then that would go to the Justice Department and\npresumably that would be why the attorney general might be asked to recuse\nhimself.\nBut it does seem to me that that`s way ahead of things, at this point.\nTODD: Anything that would somehow get to his desk, we`re a long way away\nfrom that.\nWILLIAMS: Oh, without a question.\nTODD: All right. Pete Williams, thank you very much.\nAs Kasie Hunt just mentioned, a lot of Republicans on Capitol Hill today\nwere forced, again and again, to answer the same question. Should Mike\nFlynn`s communication with Russia, itself, be investigated? Here`s a\nsampling of answers.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nMCCAIN: I think there is significant dysfunction in the national security\napparatus of the Trump administration. When you see that you don`t know\nwho`s in charge, this Flynn situation. The whole environment is one of\ndysfunction in the Trump administration, as far as national security is\nconcerned.\nUNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Should there be a broader independent investigation\ninto the administration`s ties to Russia?\nREP. JASON CHAFFETZ (R), UTAH: I think that that situation has taken care\nof itself.\nMCCONNELL: I think it`s likely that General Flynn would be, at some point,\nasked to come and talk to the committee about both post-election activities\nand any other activities. I think there are a number of unanswered\nquestions that need to be answered.\nSEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I`d like to know, did he just do\nthis as a rogue General Flynn? That he just decided to call the Russians\nup one day and say, you know, we`re going to have a different view on\nsanctions. Don`t worry about it. Or did it come from somebody else in the\nWhite House?\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: Let`s bring in the panel. Cornell Belcher is a Democratic pollster\nand strategist. Anne Gearan is a national politics correspondent for “The\nWashington Post” and has covered the State Department in national security\nfor years. And Michael Warren is senior writer for “The Weekly Standard.”\nWelcome to all of you.\nAnn Gearan, I want to start with you. It`s a White House under siege.\nWe`ve – you and I have been around here long enough to see plenty of White\nHouses under siege. They`re –\n[17:15:08] ANNE GEARAN, NATIONAL POLITICS CORRESPONDENT, “THE WASHINGTON\nPOST”: Not quite like this.\nTODD: – in full damage control mode. How are they doing?\nGAREN: Well, I think you have Sean Spicer`s briefing today to answer that\nquestion. He was swatting flies as fast as he could swat until he could\nshut the thing down. Interrupted only by his Skype questions, most of\nwhich were friendly or off the topic that he didn`t want to talk about.\nAnd he, repeatedly, said a couple of things that I think are going to be\nthe subject of further inquiry investigation, including that there`s no\nlegal problem here whatsoever. That the problem Flynn ran into was one of\ntrust and not of law. I think that very much remains to be seen.\nTODD: Yes, Michael, that seems to be – obviously, that`s what the White\nHouse wants. They want this to be a personnel decision because they don`t\nto want open up the Russia can of worms.\nToday, it seems, though, this just did that. Lindsey Graham, John McCain,\npeople that have been chomping at the bit on this topic now feel as if –\nOK, you know what? No more Mr. nice guy.\nMICHAEL WARREN, SENIOR WRITER, “THE WEEKLY STANDARD”: Yes. The Senate was\nalways where Republican resistance to Donald Trump, their own president\nfrom their own party, was going to originate. But this has probably\nhappened a lot quicker –\nTODD: Right.\nWARREN: – than Mitch McConnell and the Republican senators thought it\nwould.\nLook, the fact of the matter is that concerns about Russia, concerns about\nTrump and his administration`s closeness with Vladimir Putin, their softer\nviews on Russia, they`re different from where the Republican Party is,\nparticularly in the Senate. So, this is where you`re going to see it\nconflict.\nI don`t think they`re relishing getting into this. But this is an issue\nwhere, unlike, say, other issues where on, like, trade, immigration, –\nTODD: Right.\nWARREN: – where Trump deviates. This is one place where Senate\nRepublicans want to have this fight.\nTODD: And, you know, Cornell, I think the White House`s problem is the\nMike Pence situation. It looks like that he was deliberately kept in the\ndark. And he is the security blanket for all those congressional\nRepublicans.\nCORNELL BELCHER, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER AND STRATEGIST: Right.\nTODD: All those congressional Republicans got comfortable with Donald\nTrump, not because of anything Donald Trump did but because of Mike Pence.\nBELCHER: Well, and the political fallout of this – I mean, you guys are\nreporters. I`m a political hack, right? But the political fallout is\nthis, I mean, now you have Republicans having to carry this, right? And\nhaving to carry this water. And now, the tremendously, already unpopular\npresident, his trust numbers, looking at them now, his trust numbers are\ngoing down.\nAnd furthermore, when you have Republicans like Blunt – I mean, Graham is\none thing, but Blunt coming out from saying you`ve got to investigate. I\nmean, the Russian things make a lot of Republicans, and particularly base\nRepublicans, uncomfortable.\nRemember, Republican parties are historically the parties protecting us\nfrom the big, scary bear –\nTODD: Right. The bad (ph) bear.\nBELCHER: – in the woods. Right, a Reagan reference.\nBut now, we have a White House that`s cozying up with this. But the other\npart about this mistrust, I think, Chuck, that`s interesting to me is that\nthe president knew about this for, what, almost two weeks? His national\nsecurity advisor is having back door – is having conversations with\nRussians and lying to the public and lying to the vice president about him.\nCan you imagine if this happened under Obama and Obama didn`t immediately\nfire him? There would be – you know, the House Republicans would lose\ntheir minds.\nTODD: Well, I wonder, I mean, do House Republicans have a credibility\nissue that maybe they need to have their own investigation almost as a\nhedge?\nGEARAN: To clear their own names.\nTODD: I mean, just their own name here or at least have this up there if\neverything goes south on them.\nGEARAN: I certainly imagine it`s a conversation they`ll be having. I\nmean, that, you know, wouldn`t you all rather have something that clears\nthe air here?\nI mean, I think, certainly, the White House is working and you see them –\nyou see the public part of this, but they`re working behind the scenes to\ntry to make sure that this goes away as fast as they can make it go away.\nTODD: Obviously, Michael, and they want to make the leak part a big issue.\nAnd you`re seeing – if you look at some of the advocacy media, you`re\nseeing that some of it is (INAUDIBLE.) And the leaked stuff isn`t\ninsignificant.\nWARREN: Right.\nTODD: OK. And I think it`s a – worthy of a separate discussion. But\nyou don`t have leaks if people think things are going well. I mean, so the\nleak is a – is certainly problematic but it`s not the main problem.\nWARREN: But it`s complex. And, look, you can sort of see this viewpoint\nin the House rather than the Senate, from intelligence chairman Devin Nunez\nwho, really, came out with a statement last night praising General Flynn.\nWhich I think reflects a viewpoint, it`s in the administration as well,\nit`s not shared by Mike Pence, that the intelligence community was out to\nget Flynn.\nAnd so, you are going to see, I think, pushback from Republicans on that\nissue.\nTODD: By the way, I think that`s the true – it`s a very true statement.\nWARREN: Yes.\nTODD: I mean, there were a lot of people trying to get Flynn, in the\nadministration as well. Like, in the west wing. I mean, he was a target\nwhich, then, makes – it gets to the whole judgment.\nBELCHER: Right, it does – it does get back to the judgment. At some\npoint, I do think you`re going to see Republicans triangulating – House\nRepublicans triangulating from the White House on – the White House on\nthis because they have to face their voters in the midterm.\nTODD: Right. I think that is right.\nYou guys are sticking around. We`re staying on this topic. Different\nangles of it.\nDevelopments on this story continue to come in pretty quickly. We just\nlearned that the Senate Intelligence Committee will investigate\nconversations between Mike Flynn and the Russian ambassador.\n[17:20:05] So, what will that look like? Coming up, I`ll talk to the top\nDemocrat in the Senate Intel Committee.\nKeep it here.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nTODD: Welcome back.\nThe Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee says his\ncommittee isn`t the one who should be investigating Mike Flynn`s\nconversations with the Russian ambassador. But he does want answers about\nwhether the president discussed secret national security matters in public.\nCongressman Jason Chaffetz sent a letter to the White House chief of\nstaff, Reince Priebus, today, seeking formal explanation for photos that\nemerged on social media over the weekend, around the same time that North\nKorea fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.\nPhotos appear to show Mr. Trump and the Japanese prime minister at Mar-a-\nLago, reviewing papers with members of the public, or at least members of\nMar-a-Lago, nearby.\nNBC News has not independently verified the timing of the photos.\nCongressman Chaffetz wants to know whether classified or sensitive\ndocuments were reviewed in common areas and what the vetting process is for\nanyone who was allowed on the grounds of Mar-a-Lago.\nNow, the White House insists all the rules were followed.\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSPICER: Apparently, there was a photo taken which everyone jumped to\nnefarious conclusions about whether it may not be discussed. There was\nsimply a discuss about press logistics and where to host the event. There\nis a skiff there. It was utilized on two occasions that evening.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nTODD: I`ll talk to a Republican member of the House Oversight Committee\nright after this break.\nMore MTP DAILY is coming up.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nTODD: And we are back.\nMore now on the ongoing fallout from former national security advisor Mike\nFlynn`s forced resignation.\nSince the news broke last night, Democrats have been uniformly calling for\nincreased investigations. But on the other side of the aisle, as we talked\nabout at the top of the show, the messaging on what to do next is more\nmixed.\nJoining me now is Congressman Steve Russell of Oklahoma. He serves on the\nHouse Oversight Committee. Congressman Russell, welcome to the show, sir.\nREP. STEVE RUSSELL (R), OKLAHOMA: Thank you.\n[17:25:00] TODD: Let me ask you this. In general, what do you believe the\njurisdiction of the House Oversight Committee should be and is, in your\nopinion?\nRUSSELL: Well, we have oversight, and have since 1815, over every aspect\nof government. But when it comes to sources and methods, that will tend to\nfall under the Intelligence Committee, for obvious reasons.\nTODD: Is there a point that you believe this Russia angle of the election\nhacking – is there a point that this does rise to oversight because,\nnumber one, it is more public. And that there is a part of this that I\nthink there – that it`s important for the public to know and see you guys\ninvestigating. But that it – that it fits better there than in the intel.\nRUSSELL: I think what you have to balance against that is national\nsecurity.\nTODD: Yes.\nRUSSELL: One of the things that we see, as I travel extensively with\nmembers from the other side of the aisle – I served with Steve Lynch on\nthe National Security subcommittee. He and I traveled a lot to foreign\nshores. We`re very much united on foreign policy. When we leave our\nshores, it`s about defending the country.\nSo, before we would get into anything like that, we would have to make\nsure that what is it we`re investigating? What damage would it cause to\nour national interests that we all share?\nTODD: What is – let me ask you this. What made Benghazi something that\nbelonged at the Oversight Committee that, say, this Russia investigation\ndoes not?\nRUSSELL: Well, in that case, I think you had to have a special committee\nthat went into the investigation because you had completely different\nnarratives. You have a fake report about some type of a video that had\ncaused many of these things and it just went south from there. As the\nevidence began to mount, then the special committee was formed.\nIn this case, you have conversations that occurred with Mr. Flynn that\nwill come out, at some point. That will probably be done through some\nsources and means, discussion that would be classified, as the evidence\ncomes out. Then, we`ll see what the evidence says.\nTODD: We`re 25 days in. What do you tell your constituents back home?\nThis was big Trump country, Oklahoma. We know that. What do you tell your\nconstituents back home of what`s happening so far?\nRUSSELL: Well, you`re watching government at work. You`re watching every\nadministration as it comes into office getting settled.\nLook, you know, wishing for the demise of a particular administration is\nlike wishing that the pilots on an airplane would fail that we`re riding\nin.\nThis is our country. And so, while we see General Flynn has made some\nerrors by his own admission and he has resigned. And then, you know,\naccounting to himself for that.\nAt the same time, most Americans need to be asking the question, hey, how\nare we going to get a new national security advisor.\nTODD: Right.\nRUSSELL: And how do we get them confirmed as quickly as possible, so that\nwe all may feel safe from acts of terror or threats that are emerging.\nTODD: You heard Senator McCain very worried about the dysfunctional\nnational security advisor. There`s a general – the general in charge of\nthe special ops forces. He brought up that same – he called if turmoil.\nHe`s very concerned about it.\nYou`re a veteran. How concerned are you? I mean, this is not easy. If\nyou`re dealing with a special ops mission right now, and we know there may\nbe some that are happening right now, it looks a little unsteady over here.\nRUSSELL: Well, it may to the politician. I would – I would beg to differ\nthat view as being held by the warrior. Just like people in the foreign\nservice or people in uniform that have served for decades. They serve from\nan administration to administration and they`re dedicated to defending the\nConstitution and protecting the republic.\nTODD: What would be one thing you`d like to see President Trump do quickly\nto give – to restore some confidence in the – in the west wing right now?\nRUSSELL: Well, I think that if he would name who his new selection is for\na national security advisor and then maybe meet with members of Congress,\nboth sides of the aisle, about a quick confirmation so that –\nTODD: Well, it`s not confirm. He can pick whoever he wants on that.\nRUSSELL: Well, yes, my bad. That is true. And I think it`s important he\nwould move quickly so we would have the full cabinet available for national\nsecurity.\nTODD: All right. Steve Russell, Congressman from Oklahoma. On the\nOversight Committee. Thanks for coming on and sharing your views, sir.\nRUSSELL: No, thank you. My pleasure.\nTODD: We`re going to hear more on this from both Republican congressional\nleaders tomorrow right here on MSNBC, “MORNING JOE.” We`ll have special\ninterviews with House speaker Paul Ryan and senator majority leader Mitch\nMcConnell. That`s tomorrow morning starting at 6:00 A. E.\nAnd just ahead here on MTP DAILY, I`m going to talk to the vice chair of\nthe Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, about their plans to\ninvestigate the conversations between Mike Flynn and the Russian\nambassador, stay tuned.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nCHUCK TODD, NBC NEWS POLITICAL DIRECTOR, “MEET THE PRESS DAILY” SHOW HOST:\nWelcome back. The office of government ethics is asking the White House to\nconsider disciplinary action against the president`s senior counselor,\nKellyanne Conway, in a letter to the White House legal counsel. The\ndirector of the office of government ethics said the following, there are\nstrong reason to believe that Miss Conway has violated the Standards of\nConduct and that disciplinary action is warranted.\nWhat that is, we don`t know. This all stems, of course, from comments\nConway made on Fox News on February 9th in the wake of Nordstrom dropping\nIvanka Trump`s clothing line. She was defending the president on what he\ndid on Nordstrom and she went even further. The office of government ethics\nsays Conway unquestionably appeared in an official capacity during an\ninterview where she said quote, go buy Ivanka`s stuff.\nPress Secretary Sean Spicer said later that day that Conway had been\ncounseled on that matter. But the office of government ethics says they\nhaven`t received notification of any disciplinary action and that the White\nHouse needs to investigate Conway`s conduct. More “MTP Daily” just ahead.\nBut first, here`s Kate Rogers with today`s “CNBC Market Wrap.”\nKATE ROGERS, CNBC REPORTER: Thanks, Chuck. For the fourth day in a row,\nstocks on Wall Street finish even further in the record territory. The Dow\nrose 92 points, the S&P closed up 9 points, while the Nasdaq ended up 18\npoints. Banks also rallied and bond yields got a boost following comment\nfrom Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. Apple also closed at another all-\ntime high with shares rising nearly 1 percent. Warren Buffett Berkshire\nHathaway quadrupled it`s stake in Apple in last year`s fourth quarter to\nabout 57.4 million shares. That`s it from CNBC, first in business\nworldwide.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nTODD: Welcome back. One of the big stories today. Fallout from the\nresignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn barely on the job\nfor three weeks. Senate intelligence committee says it will investigate the\nconversations between Flynn and the Russian ambassador to the United\nStates. Committee Chairman Richard Burr says the committee is going to\naggressively continue it`s oversight responsibilities.\nBut what is the scope of this investigation? Joining me now is Senator Mark\nWarner. He`s a ranking democrat on the senate intel committee and the way\nintel community works, it truly is a – this is not a hierarchy, correct me\nif I`m wrong, Senator Warren, but in the tradition of basically almost co-\nchairs, is that fair to say?\nMARK WARNER, SENIOR U.S. SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA: It is. He`s the chair, I`m\nthe vice-chair. This is really one of the few committees that still works\nin a bipartisan way.\nTODD: Right.\nWARNER: Maybe because a lot of it is behind closed doors, but we actually\ngo after something in an organized fashion.\nTODD: Well, let`s talk about the scope of the investigation.\nWARNER: Sure.\nTODD: What is is it? Okay. Is it – what is it beyond Mike Flynn and the\nphone calls?\nWARNER: Let me go through it. It`s three – at least three discreet areas.\nFirst, it`s looking into the amount of Russian interference in the\nelection, particularly focusing on the amount of disinformation, the false\nnews. I don`t think most Americans realize that were literally 1,000\nRussian internet trolls working in a single location in Russia trying to\ninterfere in our election, putting out fake news. A lot of times if you\ngoogled something, you`d end up with not MSNBC or even Fox News. You`d end\nup with Russian fake news. We got to show the extent of that.\nSecond, we`ve got to look at the amount of hacking that was done into both\nthe Podesta e-mails, the DNC e-mails, the selective leaking of those e-\nmails. Again, I don`t think most Americans realize the that the first time\nthe Podesta e-mails were leaked to the public was literally two hours after\nso the-called Access Hollywood tape came out. Clearly, they were trying to\ninfluence against Clinton for Trump.\nAnd then third, the area that includes Mr. Flynn, what are the cases of\ncontacts between either campaign and we`re focusing now on the Trump\ncampaign, Trump campaign and Russian officials before the election and now\neven in the aftermath after the election.\nTODD: So what are you investigating? Are you investigating the\ninvestigators? Is this pure oversight or do you have your own team here\nthat might do some of it`s own investigative work out in the field?\nWARNER: We`re looking at the raw intelligence that ended up creating the\nreport that President Obama put together that was released late in his\nterm. We`re also looking and going to be interviewing a number of\nindividuals who may have been involved in either gathering some of that\ninformation or reaching some of those conclusions. And it`s – as Richard\nBurr said, this is going to be far reaching.\nAnd what`s most important is we`re going to go wherever the intelligence\nand the facts lead. That could be very troubling, that could be very\nconcerning, and we`re already seeing in the case of General Flynn,\ncircumstance where while we haven`t seen the underlying transcripts,\nobviously you`ve got an individual that was quite close to the president,\nhe had one story, then he changed his story that led to a resignation.\nThat raises a whole series of other questions about who he talk to and when\ndid they know. But we got to first of all get a copy of what was exactly\nsaid between General Flynn and the Russian ambassador.\nTODD: Speaking of that, obviously the White House has made a big deal about\nthe leaks. President Trump has made a big deal out of the leaks. Are you\ntroubled by the amount of leaking that has been going on and, you know,\nperhaps people are leaking because they feel like whistle blowers, but\nthere seems to be a lot here when it comes to some national security.\nWARNER: Well, as somebody who sits on the intel community and realizes the\nintel community has to be protected in terms of sources and methods, of\ncourse I`m concerned about leaks. I don`t think we make our country safer\nthat way. But what we`ve seen in the case, for example, of General Flynn,\nwe`ve seen one set of facts, we`ve seen the general change his story, and\nnow we`ve seen his resignation.\nObviously having that information out, having – not knowing for example\nwhen the vice president knew or didn`t know, was he in effect left out to\ndry by General Flynn, you know, it`s really important for national security\nmeans as well that we`d get to the bottom of this and we actually get the\nfacts out.\nTODD: I assume you`re confident in your abilities to do this investigation\nand that you`re confident in the intel committee`s ability to do this\ninvestigation, but should it be broader? Should there be a senate select?\nAre you there? Should there be multiple committees looking into other\naspects of the Russian interference?\nWARNER: What I`ve said is – I think the intelligence community and\ncommittee is the right venue. We`ve got long time ties with the\nintelligence community, part of this is built on trust, and I think part of\nthat trust means a number of these figures are coming forward and sharing\nthe appropriate information.\nWhat I`ve also said though, if there`s ever any evidence that there`s an\nattempt to squash this information or not allow the information to go where\nthe truth leads us, then I and I believe the other members of the\nintelligence committee at least on the democratic side will say timeout, we\nneed to look at something else.\nTODD: There`s a concern that it`s too easy on intel to essentially say, oh,\nturn the cameras off, get rid of the reporters, do it all behind – and\nfrankly there`s no sunshine at all.\nWARNER: Chuck, at the end of the day, this is so important, this goes to\nour very basic democratic process. I can give you one promise, we`re going\nto make sure as much of this as possible, while protecting sources and\nmethods can be released. The American public deserves to find out and\ndeserves to know what happened in terms of Russian interference. And quite\nhonestly, if I would think the administration with all the clouds hanging\nover the administration on this subject, they`d want that information out\nas well.\nTODD: Are you worried that they`re going to cite executive privilege to\npresent Mike Flynn from testifying?\nWARNER: Listen, I am – we`re a couple weeks into this administration and\nnothing wouldn`t surprise me. But I think there is so much pressure – and\nI`ve heard from other republican members of the committee, they also\nbelieve if this proves to be the case, what the reports have made, then Mr.\nFlynn needs to testify, we need to get these facts. We have to first of all\nfind out what actually transpired and all we`ve got so far are press\nreports.\nTODD: When should we expect to see you guys impaneled on this\ninvestigation?\nWARNER: Well, Chuck, we`ve already put out calls for information from all\nthe intelligence agencies. I personally made it very clear to each of these\nagencies, we expect full cooperation. We`ve already got a team looking in\nthat information, looking at that raw intelligence. And I think this needs\nto be cleared up as quickly as possible. We`ve got to do it thoroughly, but\nit`s got to be cleared up as quickly as possible because quite honestly,\nthis leaves a cloud over the whole administration.\nTODD: I think I hear you there. Anyway, Senator Mark Warner, democrat from\nVirginia, vice chair of the intel committee. We`ll be watching. As much as\nyou`ll allow to be public. Keep that in mind.\nWARNER: We want to make as much public as possible.\nTODD: All right. Senator Warner, thanks very much. I`ll be right back with\nwhat I`m obsessed with today.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nTODD: Welcome back. Tonight, I`m obsessed with a sad story that appeared in\nthe “Wall Street Journal” today. It`s all about what can happen to people\nin Washington when they fly too close to the sun or in this case too close\nto power and money. And we hope a lot of people read this story that are in\nWashington that are close to power. It`s a story of a smart, creative, and\nambitious young man named Evan Morris.\nBy the time he was just 27, Evan Morris became a top lobbyist for one of\nthe world`s biggest pharmaceutical companies, Roche Holding AG of\nSwitzerland. Morris was a game changer, figured out better ways to get\nmembers of congress to give Roche Holding what it wanted. The company made\nbillions and Morris got rich too. As Brody Mullins who wrote this story and\nreported on it in detail noted today, he traded in his Mazda for a Porsche,\nfour of them in fact.\nMorris indulged himself with $2,000 dollar bottles of wine, bought a $3\nmillion vacation home, and a $300,000 dollar mahogany speed boat. He is\nmarried with two children. It turns out, he had one more thing, a big\nsecret. It turns Evan Morris was secretly embezzling much of the money that\npaid for his lifestyle for the golf memberships, the Rolex, the fancy\ncigars and more. The company`s chief compliance officer flew across the\ncountry to confront him with evidence of impropriety.\nMorris left the meeting early. His wife was worried and he didn`t her\ncalls. Hours later, Morris texted his wife with contact information for his\naccountant, financial planner, and life insurance provider. You can\nprobably guess what happened next. Evan Morris took his own life at the age\nof 38. A brain if little known Washingtonian who fell prey to the twin\ntemptations of Washington. Power and money. It`s a story I hope plenty of\npeople are reading today so they don`t make the same mistakes. We`ll be\nright back.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nTODD: Time now for “The Lid.” Panel is back. Cornell Belcher, Anne Gearan,\nand Michael Warren. You know, one of the things that is going to happen in\nthis administration no matter what is a national security adviser. And\nMichael, I say this because we heard some names that have been out there.\nWe have somebody that is very close to Jim Mattis, David Petraeus, who we\nknow his philosophy. And you have General Kellogg who could (inaudible).\nWhat`s interesting to me here though that we have not talked about is, you\ncorrect me if I`m wrong, but all three of those guys, I don`t think share\nthe same philosophy on foreign policy as President Trump and Mike Flynn.\nMICHAEL WARREN, SENIOR WRITER AT THE WEEKLY STANDARD: Right. It would be a\nshift no matter who is picked by President Trump. It`s interesting though,\nI`m hearing from my sources in the White House there would be huge reaction\nif Petraeus were picked.\nTODD: To the negative, right?\nWARREN: To the negative. I think a lot of people would leave the national\nsecurity counsel staff if that were to happen. Bob Harward is a little more\nsort of a cipher and people don`t quite know it. He actually worked on the\nNSC back in the Bush administration. That pick could be a little more –\ngreeted more friendly.\nTODD: It`s interesting, and our own Hallie Jackson is reporting that the\nWhite House is saying (inaudible) they were interviewing him last week in\nanticipation of this. Okay, take them at their word on this. I think they\nprobably always knew they had to have a backup NSC at this point\nconsidering how much fire there was. What do we know about him?\nANNE GEARAN, NATIONAL POLITICS CORRESPONDENT FOR THE WASHINGTON POST:\nInteresting thing about all three of these guys is that they are all former\nsenior military as is Flynn. Petraeus of course was one time Flynn`s boss.\nBut as you indicated, they all do have more of the Mattis and Kelly and\nTillerson mainstream republican foreign policy approach, or mainstream non-\npartisan foreign policy approach. Tough on Iran, tough on Russia, tough on\nChina, but not as forward on the kind of punch them in the face aspect of\nforeign policy that Flynn was advancing.\nTODD: And this is what I am curious about, Cornell, at the end of the day,\nthe president – if the president doesn`t personally have a connection with\nthe national security adviser. This is so much different than a secretary\nof defense. I`m sorry, it just is you`re with this person all the time.\nThey have the other great office in the west wing besides the chief of\nstaff. It seems to me all three, neither one of them seem to have a\npersonal relationship with him yet.\nCORNELL BELCHER, PRESIDENT OF BRILLIANT CORNERS RESEARCH AND STRATEGIES:\nHere is the thing, he came in saying he is going to make up safer, right?\nAnd he`s going to take care all of the bad guys, he`s gonna go out there\nand get the bad guys and make make us safer. This is a really important\npart of his brand, right?\nAnd for the last week or so, they pretty much screwed this up, right?\nAmericans over next week are not going to feel safer because of what`s\nhappening here. He needs to pick someone who is straight ahead, no nonsense\n– fine, pick up straight head no nonsense republican from the Bush era,\nbut he has to get this fixed because it is the cornerstone of his brand.\nTODD: I go to this, Michael, here is another thing. There is chatter on the\nweekend that Reince Priebus was in trouble. Christopher Ruddy of Newsmax,\nlike basically – whoever wants to interview me, I`m here to say bad things\nabout Reince Priebus. You`re in the middle of the crisis on Flynn. If\nyou`re going – at this point, you`re bleeding. If you`re gonna do more, do\nit now. I don`t know if they are going too.\nWARREN: Yeah, I don`t know. I mean, this really goes to change every single\nday. (inaudible) was on the rise a week ago and always sees – you know,\napparently he was involved in sort of pushing out Mike Flynn.\nTODD: He was mislead personally too. He came out – he was – you know,\nVice President Mike Pence was on another show vouching for Flynn, Reince\nwas on my show vouching for Mike Flynn.\nWARREN: Exactly. I think that the sort of operative issue here is that it`s\nchaos in the west wing. And Reince I think is trying to do this, always\ntelegraphing this, he`s trying to bring some control to what`s going on\nhere and maybe that`s why he is going to stick around for a little bit\nlonger.\nTODD: And I have to say I think the thing that probably surprising more of\nWashington than anything is maybe Mike Pence is more powerless than people\nthought. You know, there was a perception that during the transition, it\nwas – you had basically Mike Pence handling half of the cabinet, maybe\nnot.\nGEARAN: One thing that we can conclude after this crazy few days is that\nthere`s really only one person whose opinion matters and that`s Trump. If\nyou`re done on his list, then your down. If you`re up on his list, then\nyou`re up. And he will tolerate a fair amount a lot, maybe a whole lot more\nthan fair amount of, you know, side way shooting among the very people\nadvising him.\nTODD: He has a high tolerance for political pain. He really does.\nBELCHER: I think republicans would be astonish that – because Mike Pence\nis supposed to be the guy who is the adult in the room, he is not the adult\nin the room.\nTODD: That role to me is something they need to hurry up and reestablish. I\nthink Capitol Hill republican back in place. Anyway, thank you, guys.\nAppreciate it. After the break, can Trump team beat the Vegas odds? We will\nshare with you what Vegas had on (inaudible). Stay tuned.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nTODD: In case you missed it, the end of football season does not mean the\nend of your betting addiction. Trust me. You can put money on the line in\nalmost anything these days and that includes the White House. The Irish\nbookmaker Paddy Power is offering 4 to 1 odds that impeachment proceeding\nwill be brought against President Trump in 2017. The company is also\noffering 15 to 8 odds that President Trump will resign during his first\nterm in office.\nIf you like placing a long term bet, 2020 is on the table. Trump is at 6 to\n4 odds to win a second term. That`s pretty good. Elizabeth Warren and Tim\nKaine 11 to 1. You can have Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson available at 100 to 1\nodds, might be was getting, or you could just wait a few weeks for March\nmadness.\nWhat we were looking for though, did anybody offer up Mike Flynn as the\nfirst resignation? That we didn`t find from the Irish just yet. Maybe\nbecause Flynn is Irish.\nThat`s all for tonight. FOR THE RECORD with Greta starts right now.\nTHIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY\nBE UPDATED.\nEND", "By Alison Frankel\nNEW YORK, June 14 (Reuters) - In more than two hours of testimony before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday afternoon, Attorney General Jeff Sessions had some harsh words for fired FBI director James Comey.\nBut if special counsel Robert Mueller is looking for near-contemporaneous corroboration of Comey's state of mind after a critical and disputed conversation with President Trump, Sessions provided it.\nOBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE?\nDuring the hearing, the AG criticized Comey´s \"usurpation\" of authority when the FBI director disclosed the outcome last summer of the bureau´s investigation into Hillary Clinton´s use of a private e-mail server.\nSessions stood by his May 9 memo to President Trump in which he said Comey should be removed to give a \"fresh start\" to the FBI. The AG also disputed Comey´s account of Sessions´ reaction when the FBI director asked the AG not to leave him alone with President Donald Trump.\nSessions also, however, confirmed that Comey appeared to be concerned about being asked to do something improper after a meeting with President Trump on April 14.\nWe don´t know whether special counsel Mueller is investigating a potential obstruction of justice case based on Comey´s assertion that Trump asked him at that April 14 meeting to drop the FBI´s investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.\nIf Mueller is probing Comey´s account, however, it´s significant that Sessions essentially corroborated Comey´s state of mind after that private conversation with President Trump.\nPresident Trump said in a press conference last week that he did not ask Comey to drop the Flynn probe. In a tweet, he said he felt vindicated by the fired FBI director's testimony, despite Comey´s \"false statements and lies.\"\nMark Corallo, a spokesman for Trump's personal counsel Marc Kasowitz, declined to comment in response to an email query about Sessions´ testimony. Peter Carr, a spokesman for special counsel Mueller, also declined to comment.\nIn Sessions' testimony Tuesday, the AG did dispute some of the particulars of Comey´s story about his interactions with President Trump.\nThe former FBI chief said in his testimony last week that Sessions lingered at an April 14 Oval Office meeting in which Trump asked Comey to stay, after dismissing everyone else. Comey said he sensed the AG might have been concerned the president was going to make an improper request.\nAccording to Comey, once everyone else had left the room, President Trump asked him to drop the Flynn investigation.\nIn Tuesday´s testimony, Sessions agreed that he was one of the last men to leave the Oval Office that day but said in response to questions from Senator Marco Rubio that he didn´t have \"a major problem\" with a private meeting between Comey and Trump. \"I knew Jim Comey could handle himself well,\" Sessions said.\nThe AG also disputed Comey´s account of his response when the former FBI director approached him after the April 14 meeting. Comey testified that Sessions just nodded when Comey asked the AG to be sure he wasn´t left alone with the president again.\nSessions said Tuesday that he and his chief of staff remembered the response differently. According to the AG, he told Comey that the FBI director should follow Justice Department protocol on contacts between the White House and DOJ.\n\"I think he´s incorrect,\" Sessions told Senator Roy Blunt about Comey´s recollection.\nSessions said Comey did not tell him why he was agitated. Comey testified that he could not discuss the specifics with Sessions because the AG was recused from the FBI´s investigation of possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. (Comey said he raised concerns with the acting deputy AG but did not receive a response before he was fired.)\nSessions did not accuse Comey of either false statement or lies. He seemed to go out of his way to limit his criticism of Comey´s handling of the Clinton e-mail case.\nMost importantly, Sessions said he interpreted Comey´s request not to be left alone with the president \"as concern he might be asked something improper.\"\nGOV'T SEEKS CORROBORATION\nWhen two participants in a conversation offer different accounts - as Trump and Comey apparently do of their April 14 meeting - \"the most obvious thing the government looks for is corroboration,\" said a white-collar defense lawyer.\nHe said Sessions' account of his conversation with Comey after that meeting seems to back Comey. Sessions' testimony, he said, is all the more notable because he is \"someone on the side of the president.\"\nTo be sure, that´s not outright vindication of Comey´s description of his conversation with the president. Those specifics can only be verified if, as the president has hinted, audiotapes exist.\nBut in his testimony, Sessions confirmed under oath that a man he regarded as an experienced and unflappable prosecutor was unnerved by his private meeting with the president.\n(Reporting by Alison Frankel. Editing by Alessandra Rafferty.)", "Transcript:\nShow: THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW\nDate: February 14, 2017\nGuest: Adam Schiff, Tim Weiner\nCHRIS HAYES, “ALL IN” HOST: THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW starts right now.\nGood evening, Rachel.\nRACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC HOST: Chris, you know that I`m your biggest fan in\ngeneral?\nHAYES: My mom and/or wife or father might have something to say about that\nbut appreciate that.\nMADDOW: I am your biggest fan not related to you and I think your show is\ngood every night but I think you`re great at this. But I think your show\ntonight was freaking spectacular, man, from the very beginning to those\nlast couple segments. Really well done.\nHAYES: I tweeted it to one of those how to eat the elephant days in the\nnewsroom, one bite at a time.\nMADDOW: You chose good bites, well done.\nHAYES: Thank you.\nMADDOW: Thanks my friend.\nAnd thanks at home for joining us this hour.\nI will try to live up to Chris`s excellent example tonight. I will do my\ndamnedest. I want to start by telling you about a man who is the head of\nthe Ethics Committee in the Russian parliament. He was a member of\nVladimir Putin`s political party. As a member of parliament, he declared\npublicly what his income was.\nHe said his only income was his government salary. He was making about\n$72,000 a year. He reported also that his wife contributed to the family\nincome. She made an additional, about $5,000 a year or so, thereby\nbringing their total family income to about $77,000 a year, give or take,\nbefore taxes.\nBut you know, you`d be amazed how far that goes. It turns out that one\nmember of the Russian parliament, head of the ethics committee, Putin`s\nparty, he and his family owned their home in Russia. They also owned a\nsecond home in Russia. They also owned a large apartment. They also owned\nanother large apartment.\nThey also on top of the that scrounged up spare cash enough to do a lot of\nwhat appears to be long-term real estate investing. He owned not one, not\ntwo, not three, not four but six large plots of land and a jet ski, and a\nsnowmobile and a Land Cruiser and a Porsche Cayenne and a Mercedes and\nanother Mercedes and also another Mercedes, which means he must have been\nmiraculously efficient with that government salary.\nBut then there was the really embarrassing part for him. As the head of\nthe ethics committee, as a prominent member of Vladimir Putin`s party in\nparliament, he was also involved with a lot of the really aggressive anti-\nAmerican stuff that Putin has done in Russian politics over the last few\nyears. For example, you might remember he`s got a lot of press here, it\nwas one of the ways Putin decided to retaliate against American families\nand Russian orphans as part of his response to U.S. sanctions a few years\nback.\nDo you remember this story? Putin and his party in parliament decided to\nblock American families from being allowed to adopt Russian kids. They\ninterrupted individual kids` adoptions to punish America.\nThis guy was involved in that. He was one of the real anti-American hard-\nliners in Putin`s party. And that`s why the rest of his real estate\nportfolio was particularly hard for him to explain when it became public\nknowledge, because in addition to all that property and all those vehicles\nthat he was somehow able to afford on his $75,000 a year salary in Russia,\nin addition to the four homes, the six large parcels of land, the three\nMercedes and all the rest of it, he also owned a fabulous waterfront ocean\nview apartment in billionaire Mark Cuban`s building in Miami Beach. Wow!\nAnd he owned a second Miami Beach waterfront condo as well. Lovely ocean\nviews, look, really nice fitness room. In addition to his two big Miami\nwaterfront condos, he also owned a really nice big house with a pool on a\nlarge piece of land up the Florida coast, in Ormond Beach.\nDid I mention that his reported income was 75 grand or so before taxes?\nAnd he has kids.\nSomehow this friend of Vladimir Putin, the head of the ethics committee in\nthe Russian parliament, this prominent politician in Putin`s political\nparty somehow, he was able to put together a pretty nice real estate\nportfolio and nice life-style for himself and his family, either by being a\nmiraculous saver and bargain hunter or by some other undisclosed means.\nRather than face pressure to disclose what those means might be, that\nlawmaker, the head of the ethics committee in the Russian parliament, he\nactually decided to resign a couple years ago when pictures of his\nproperties and property records and documentation of all his vast holdings\ngot posted publicly on a Russian blog and he had no explanation for how he\nwas able to afford all that stuff.\nOver the last few years, that blog made quite a lot of news in Russia,\nexposing the inexplicable fabulous wealth of Vladimir Putin`s cronies and\napparently corrupt politicians in Russia. And they were good at it. They\nposted their original source materials so it couldn`t be debunked by the\nRussian government. They used public records, particularly from other\ncountries so the stuff couldn`t be disappeared offline by the Russian\ngovernment. They made funny little memes and pictures to go along with\ntheir scandals to make them stick more.\nThis guy – see, they have the ethics committee chairman, his head? They\nphotoshopped it on to a guy in sandals on a beach chair enjoying the Miami\nsun.\nSo, the ethics committee guy in the Russian parliament resigned over that\nscandal once all of his international real estate holdings were made public\nand he couldn`t explain how he got the money to do that. Other Putin\ncronies and politicians also got embarrassed and were also forced to resign\nby the same tactic, the same exposure of their corruption.\nAnd the guy who ran that blog, who had these good instincts and\nperformative skills for how to make stories like this stick, he decided to\ndo something very brave after exposing all these Russian politicians. He\ndecided he would not an anonymous source doing this stuff in Russian\npolitics. He blogged under his own name, he stood by what he was doing.\nHe became an activist. He became a really effective opposition figure in\nRussian politics. Those protests that so freaked out Vladimir Putin\nstarting in 2011, the ones that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton\ncomplained about internationally which so drove Putin into a frothing rage\nagainst Hillary Clinton, well, this guy, Alexei Navalny, he was a key\nfigure in those anti-Putin protest that made such a big impact and that\nupset Putin so much.\nAlexei Navalny eventually ran for mayor of Moscow in 2013. He did\nsurprisingly well, freaked out Putin even more. This past year, Alexei\nNavalny announced he would run for president of Russia against Vladimir\nPutin next year when Putin`s term is up.\nAnd you can see where this is going, right?\n“The New York Times” Moscow bureau described him a couple of days ago as\nthe only opposition candidate with a broad, enthusiastic, popular following\nin Russia. Last one left.\nAnd at one level, that makes us all surprised to learn that he`s still\nalive. That Vladimir Putin allowed him to exist for this long. But it\nmeans you will not be surprised to learn why the “New York Times” Moscow\nbureau was writing about him for an American audience just last week is\nbecause last week, Putin figured out a way to disqualify Alexei Navalny\nfrom being an opposition figure, from running against Putin for president.\nThey found a remote regional court hundreds of miles from Moscow and they\ngot that court to convict Alexei Navalny in some obscure scheme involving\ntimber futures. I should tell you – this is the most recent in a series\nof things they have tried to convict him of or set him up for.\nAt one point, they went after him for alleged elk coaching. Elk poaching?\nThey reportedly tried to convict him of stealing some street art. There\nwas a fraud allegation from the government involving perfume.\nThey`ve come up with weird stuff to arrest Alexei Navalny for. But this\nembezzlement conviction that they just finagled in this remote court last\nweek, that`s now the important one because arguably Russian law says if you\nare convicted of a crime like that, if you are convicted and sentenced for\nembezzlement, which he just was, that legally disqualifies you from running\nfor office.\nSo, yes, timber futures. OK. That`s what we`ll get him for.\nAnd now, the most viable opposition politician in Russia, this 40-year-old\nhandsome, telegenic, clever, accomplished, well-known, corruption-exposing\nprovocateur just won`t be allowed to put his name on the ballot if he tries\nto run against Putin next year. He says he will appeal, he insists he will\nfigure out a way to still run for president.\nBut you know what? Under Vladimir Putin the state has its ways and because\nof what appears to be this absolutely, totally ginned up embezzlement\nconviction that they were able to pull off last week, they`ve already used\nthat as an excuse to shut down his means of raising money towards running\nfor president next year. That`s already gone.\nRussia has a justice system. Russia has a court system. That doesn`t\nnecessarily mean that Russia has the rule of law. In the same way Putin\nhas taken over almost all sources of news in his country, in the same way\nthat he`s taken over big business, it`s not possible to operate an\nindependent business of any significant scale in Putin`s Russia without\nPutin being cut in and being involved.\nIn the same way that he`s technically presided over a democracy for 17\nstraight years while opposition leaders consistently find themselves\narrested or dead and opposition parties find themselves outlawed or\notherwise structurally sidelined, so, too, the Russian just system. On\npaper, it looks great, right? But in real life, everybody up to and\nincluding punk bands and billionaires find themselves in inside literal\ncages in Russian courtrooms at the pleasure of the president. And his\npolitical opponents get prosecuted and convicted when he wants them\nprosecuted and convicted, and that`s how the justice system worked.\nThe rule of law cannot just exist on paper, it`s only real, it only really\nworks when it operates with independence, with independence from the\npolitical system, when the judicial system operates at its own discretion\ngoverned by law and not directed or constrained by any political agenda.\nNot directed or constrained by any political agenda. Not directed or\nconstrained. Right?\nIn our system of government, we count on both the judiciary and the\nlegislative branch of government to be separate from the executive branch\nof government. Right? We count on them to constrain the executive branch\nand act as a check on the executive branch when the executive branch\noverreaches.\nWe not only to expect them to resist being used as political tools by the\npresident, we expect them to independently investigate the executive branch\nwhen there are serious questions about the behavior of that branch of\ngovernment. That`s how our rule of law works, right?\nLate last night, in the middle of the night, the national security advisor\nto the president resigned, was fired? Resigned? Resigned? Was fired? We\ndon`t know. But he`s out. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.\nBeing national security advisor is a hard job. There have been a bunch of\nscandals surrounding the national security advisor position or the person\nholding that position over the decades. It`s thought of one of those jobs\nthat`s very hard to hold on to for a long time, a lot of turnover in that\njob.\nPrevious record for the shortest term ever as national security advisor,\nthough, was something like two and a half years. That was the previous\nshortest term ever. Michael Flynn only lasted 24 days.\nAnd there are a number of things about the national security adviser sudden\ndeparture last night which still make no sense.\nWe`ve got Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee here\ntonight to help us sort this out.\nWe`ve got also Tim Weiner here tonight. He`s the foremost modern historian\nof the FBI and the CIA. Tim Weiner will be here to help us sort this out.\nBut there are just some baseline fundamental questions we don`t have an\nanswer for. Or that we have answers for that make no sense.\nFirst, there`s just the direct simple question of Mike Flynn and how he got\nto be national security advisor. How he lasted 24 days at that job. I\nmean, it`s now widely reported that General Flynn was under investigation\nby counterintelligence community at the FBI and by counterintelligence\ninvestigators at the CIA. He`s also reportedly under investigation by the\nU.S. army for having taken allegedly undisclosed payments from the Russian\ngovernment during the presidential campaign at the end of 2015. Those\ninvestigations didn`t just start now.\nHow did he get named national security advisor? The president is cleared\nto receive all classified information, including information about the\ninvestigations that are currently under way. With what the president must\nhave known about the multiple investigations, including counterintelligence\ninvestigations of Michael Flynn, why would you ask Michael Flynn to be your\nnational security advisor? We don`t have an explanation of that one yet.\nHere`s another one. The “New York Times” reports late this afternoon that\nthat general Flynn as part of these investigations was interviewed\npersonally by the FBI soon after the new administration came into office.\nThat was at a time General Flynn insisted he hadn`t had conversations with\nthe Russian government about these sanctions that the U.S. imposed on\nRussia, for them interfering in our presidential election. No, he didn`t\ntalk to them.\nWe now know despite those protests to the contrary that Michael Flynn\nabsolutely did have those conversations and the Justice Department knew he\nhad those conversations because they taped him. They overheard him having\nthose conversations with the Russian government because they were\nwiretapping Russian government officials.\nSo, he did an interview with the FBI about their investigation into his\ncontacts with the Russian government. He did an interview with them soon\nafter the administration started? Did the national security advisor lie to\nthe FBI about the content of those conversations when they questioned him\nabout it? If so that would, of course, be a felony and he would be\nexpecting to go to jail now.\nHas the FBI investigation of General Flynn proceeded along those lines?\nAnd that gets me to my next point. Since, Jeff Sessions became attorney\ngeneral of the United States, has he interfered with the FBI investigation\nof General Flynn or the investigation of the Trump campaign and its\ncontacts with Russia in any way? Has Attorney General Jeff Sessions\nchanged the focus of those investigations or changed their direction at\nall? Has Attorney General Jeff Sessions been briefed on the FBI\ninvestigation of General Flynn and his contacts with the Russian\ngovernment?\nBecause that`s getting us to the really, really important point here,\nright? We now know that the Justice Department, including the acting\nattorney general, Sally Yates, she went to the White House at the end of\nJanuary. And they informed – she and another senior career justice\nofficial informed the White House counsel that Michael Flynn had had\ncontacts with the Russian government that were not only undermining U.S.\ngovernment sanctions against Russia, these were also contacts that he lied\nabout and they told the White House that he`d done it.\nAnd they told him that because he`d been lying about it he could\nconceivably be blackmailed by Russia which is a very bad thing, right? For\nsomebody with that much access to the president and that much access to\nclassified information that Russia might be very interested to have. I\nmean, General Flynn is national security advisor.\nRemember, he was rewriting the president`s daily intelligence briefing so\nthe president wouldn`t get straight information from the intelligence\ncommunity, he`d just get what Michael Flynn told him. That was a weird\narrangement. Why was that set up? No information to the president other\nthan one what Michael Flynn tells him?\nGeneral Flynn was also not working with the fully staffed National Security\nCouncil. He never bothered to staff the place up. He alone had incredible\ncontrol of the information flow to the president and incredible access to\nthe president.\nAnd if the Russians were in a position to be able to say to him, hey, do\nwhat we want you to do, tell us what we want you to tell us or we will\nexpose you, if the Russians were in a position to say to him, hey, we know\nyou lied about this and we can prove it, you wouldn`t want us to expose\nthat about you, would you? You better do what we want.\nIf they were in a position to blackmail him that way because they knew him\nhe lied and they had him dead to rights and they could expose him on that,\nthat`s a serious security problem at the highest levels of the U.S.\ngovernment. And we now know that the White House knew about that for weeks\nand they took no action. Why did they that I can no action? Why did they\ncontinue to let Michael Flynn have the access to the president and the\naccess to classified information he enjoyed up until the night he was\nfired?\n“The New York Times” and “The Washington Post” have both reported citing\nmultiple sources that his contacts with the Russian government didn`t start\nonce he was national security advisor. They didn`t start once Trump was\nelected, when they were in the transition period. Both papers report that\nMike Flynn was in contact with the Russian government during the campaign,\nbefore the election, while Russia was interfering in the U.S. election in\nmultiple ways to tip the balance of the election to Donald Trump.\nDid Mike Flynn help them with that? Did Mike Flynn or anybody else from\nthe Trump campaign collude with the Russian government and their efforts to\nundermine the U.S. election? It`s a very, very, very serious charge.\nRight now, it`s an absolutely unanswered one at this point.\nWill that charge be investigated? If it turns out to be true, will it be\nprosecuted?\nThe head of the House Oversight Committee today was asked whether he might\nopen an investigation into Michael Flynn and his contacts with Russia.\nJason Chaffetz answered, quote, “I think the situation has taken care of\nitself.” So, no then.\nThe top Republican in the House and the top Republican in the Senate have\nboth insisted there` no reason for any sort of independent or special\ninvestigation into these allegations because the intelligence committees\ncan handle it.\nWell, OK, this contact with the Russian government that Mike Flynn lied\nabout, that has led to him being fired from this administration, that\ncontact with the Russian government, that happened during the presidential\ntransition.\nThe head of the House Intelligence Committee was a member of the Trump\npresidential transition. Congressman Nunes was asked yesterday about his\nreaction to the Flynn allegations, he described them as, quote, “a lot of\nnothing.” Well, yeah, if he was going to be investigating them, he`d been\ninvestigating the Trump transition, which he was part of.\nWell, if it`s the FBI investigation you`re hanging your hat on here, can we\ntalk about Director James Comey and his role in this year`s politics? We\ncan talk about that at length some other time. I`ll buy you a beer, you\nbuy snacks, we`ll talk about it, it`s a long conversation.\nBut even putting that aside, putting him aside, the new attorney general,\nthe head of the Justice Department of which the FBI is a part, Attorney\nGeneral Jeff Sessions was just sworn into office after explicitly refusing\nin his confirmation process to recuse himself from investigations involving\nthe Trump campaign and its ties to Russia. The attorney general – the new\nattorney general who has now sworn in insisted during the confirmation\nprocess that he will not recuse himself. He will stay involved in any\ninvestigations of Russia and the Trump campaign.\nThe attorney general was part of the Trump campaign. He was the chairman\nof Donald Trump`s national security advisory committee. So, he`s going to\noversee this national security information into the Trump campaign? And\nits contact with Russia during the campaign?\nI mean, asking him to fairly and impartially oversee those investigations\nwould have him in effect investigating himself. So, rule of law. We`ve\njust gone through something that`s a very big deal. The national security\nadvisor is out. No national security advisor has ever been forced out in\n24 days. No national security advisor has ever been forced out in\ncircumstances this scandalous and I`m including the ones who were convicted\nor pled guilty to felonies.\nThe White House`s behavior and the president`s behavior around this ouster\nis bizarre and unexplained and in some cases, it`s inexplicable. The\nallegations here about national security risks and the undermining of the\nU.S. government by a foreign power, these are as serious as anything that\nhas ever been alleged against any president not just in modern times but\never.\nAnd the question tonight is: where`s the rule of law? What`s the remedy\nfor that, right? Where are we thinking the investigation is going to come\nfrom here? Where are we thinking the prosecution is going to come from\nhere if the investigation warrants it?\nI mean, we have the rule of law in this country. I believe it, I`ve read\nall about it. But who`s going to make it a reality with these kinds of\nallegations against this administration? That`s next.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\nMADDOW: Hi. So, we`ve got the top Democrat on the House Intelligence\nCommittee, Adam Schiff. He`s going to be joining us live in just a moment.\nI have actually pushed that back for a second just because I want to bring\nyou some breaking news that the “New York Times” just posted.\nThis has just gone up since we`ve gone on the air. I`ve just been marking\nit up with my trusty highlighter. We haven`t prepared graphics or\nanything, but let me just tell you what they`ve just reported directly\nrelevant to what we need to talk to Congressman Schiff about and what we\nare discussing.\n“Trump campaign aides had repeated contacts with Russian intelligence” is\nthe headline. The operative word there being “campaign.” This is during\nthe campaign. This is during the election.\nI`ll read you the lead. “Phone records and intercepted calls show that\nmembers of Donald Trump`s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump\nassociates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials\nin the year before the election.” “The Times” is citing four current and\nfour American officials, four officials, current and former.\nAmerican law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the\ncommunications around the same time that they were discovering evidence\nthat Russia was trying to disrupt the election by hacking into the\nDemocratic National Committee.\nThe intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign\nwas colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to\ninfluence the election. And this is very carefully couched. “The\nofficials interviewed in recent weeks said that so far, they had seen no\nevidence of such cooperation.”\nBut they are documenting repeated contacts at the same time that the\nRussian intelligence agencies were influencing the election. One of the\nadvisers picked up on the calls was Paul Manafort, who was Trump`s campaign\nchairman for several months last year. The call logs and intercepted\ncommunications are part of a larger trove of information that the FBI is\nsifting through as it investigates the link between Trump`s associates and\nthe Russian government, as well as the DNC hack.\nBut again, the headline here “Trump campaign aides had repeated contacts\nwith Russian intelligence” reportedly at the time that Russia was trying to\ninfluence our election. This has just been posted by “The New York Times”.\nByline on this is Michael Smith, Mark Mazzetti and Matt Apuzzo.\nWe`ve got the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam\nSchiff, joining us next and none too soon.\nStay with us.\n(COMMERCIAL BREAK)\n(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)\nSEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: General Flynn`s\nresignation is not the end of the story, it is merely the beginning. There\nneeds to be an independent and transparent investigation. The White House\ncounsel cannot lead this investigation and the new attorney general cannot\nbe – Jeff Sessions – cannot be the person to lead that investigation.\nI expect Jeff Sessions to recuse himself and, B, I expect what`s put in its\nplace to be independent, transparent and impartial.\nWe`ll wait and see what they propose.\n(END VIDEO CLIP)\nMADDOW: The Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer today calling for an\nindependent investigation of Michael Flynn who has now resigned as national\nsecurity adviser, saying the White House counsel can`t lead the\ninvestigation, the new attorney general cannot be the person to lead that\ninvestigation. There needs to be an independent investigation.\nSince last year, the FBI and CIA have both been reportedly investigating\nGeneral Flynn`s contacts with the Russian government. The U.S. Army is\nreportedly also investigating whether he illegally received money in the\nform of speaking fees from the Russian government during his trip to Russia\nin December, 2015, that`s the trip where General Flynn went to a gala\ndinner and sat next to Vladimir Putin. That was less than two months\nbefore the Iowa caucuses. That was December, 2015.\nWhen the “Washington Post” interviewed Mike Flynn about that trip last year\nand asked him what he talked to Putin about, General Flynn told “The Post”\nthat their questioning on that topic was boring. That was his quote,\n“boring.” That`s how seriously he`s taking these worries.\nAccording to U.S. intelligence agencies, the Russian campaign to influence\nthe U.S. presidential election consisted of hacking, stealing data,\nselective leaks. Also, the direct propaganda side of it. These prolific\nefforts by the Russian government to inject false news stories into the\ncampaign to undercut damaging news that might hurt Donald Trump, to disrupt\nsocial media interaction among Clinton supporters, to overwhelm\nauthoritative sources of news with nonsense and noise.\nAnd some of those tactics are one size fits all for the Russians, right?\nThe Russians have experience using those tactics in other countries where\nthey`ve interfered like Sweden and Estonia and other countries.\nBut to the extent they could be further enhanced by tailoring them to the\nU.S. environment, did they get any U.S. help? Did they get any U.S. advice\non the best ways to weaponize their tactics against our election, against\nour system of government?\nI mean, it`s worth asking now, did Michael Flynn help them? I mean, when\nhe was in contact with the Russian government during the campaign, before\nthe election, during the campaign, did General Flynn help them in their\nefforts to interfere in our election? Did anybody else in the Trump\ncampaign help them?\nI mean, as U.S. intelligence agencies and Congress are investigating\nRussian interference in the election designed to benefit Donald Trump,\nthere is this record of General Flynn, leading Trump supporter, hobnobbing\nwith the Russian president during the campaign. I mean, we know that his\ncommunication with the Russian ambassador in December was only one in a\nseries of contacts between Flynn and that Russian official, contacts that\nbegan before the election.\nI mean, the reporting here is that Russia actively meddled in our election\nand that General Flynn was talking to the Russian government while that\noperation was under way. What was going on in those conversations?\nFurther to that point, the “New York Times” just moments ago has reported,\nciting four current and former American officials, the “New York Times” has\njust reported that multi – wasn`t just Flynn, it was multiple Trump\ncampaign aides and associates who had contacts with Russian intelligence\nofficials in the year before the election, during the campaign, at a time\nwhen Russian intelligence officials were interfering in our election to\nhelp Donald Trump.\nWhat was the substance of those comments? What was the substance of those\ncommunications? Did Michael Flynn and these other Trump campaign staffers,\ndid they know about Russian efforts to interfere in our election which,\naccording to the “New York Times,” were happening contemporaneously with\ntheir contact with those Russian officials? At the same time Russian\nofficials were talking to Trump campaign people, Russian officials were\ntrying to influence our election. Did those Trump campaign people know the\nRussians were doing it when they were talking to them?\nIf they knew about it, did they try to stop them from doing it? Did they\nencourage them? Did they help them? We don`t know and I don`t know if or\nhow we`re ever going to find out? I mean, is this just 100 percent a\njournalistic enterprise now or will our government get to the bottom of it?\nWill our government even try to get to the bottom of it?\nJoining us now is Congressman Adam Schiff of California. He`s the top\nDemocrat on the House Intelligence Committee.\nCongressman Schiff, thank you very much for being here. It`s nice to have\nyou back.\nREP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: Thank you. Good to be with you.\nMADDOW: Let me ask your response to this new reporting from the “New York\nTimes.” I don`t know if you had a chance to review it. The headline is\n“Trump campaign aides had repeated contacts with Russian intelligence”.\n“The New York Times” citing multiple American sources saying that phone\nrecords and intercepted calls show members of Trump`s presidential campaign\nhad repeated contacts with Russian intelligence officials during the\ncampaign and the year before the election.\nI just wanted to get your response to that.\nSCHIFF: Well, this is really, I think, the heart of the investigation and\nthat is was there some form of collusion between the Trump campaign and the\nKremlin? The Kremlin was engaged in illegal activities in the United\nStates designed to influence the outcome of the election. Obviously, their\nintent was to help Donald Trump and hurt Secretary Clinton, and were Trump\ncampaign surrogates or aides or others affirmatively working with the\nRussians towards that illegal object?\nThat`s really one of the central and most important allegations to be\ninvestigated. And we have agreement on a bipartisan basis to do that\ninvestigation, but there are a lot of big questions about whether we can\nget that done, and one of them, frankly, is personified by one of the\nphotos you just showed and this is Director Comey, because we`re going to\nneed his cooperation if we`re going to do this investigation.\nWe`re going to need to know what the FBI has looked at, who they have\ntalked to, what leads they have run down, what they haven`t run down, what\nyet must be investigated. And there`s a big question about whether we will\nget that cooperation. So, that I think is one of the most serious sets of\nallegations.\nThe other set involves that conversation in December between Flynn and the\nRussian ambassador. Was this done at the direction of the president? With\nthe knowledge of the president? With the knowledge of others in the\nadministration?\nIt seems odd to imagine Flynn was acting as some kind of a rogue agent and\nit`s, I think, entirely plausible that rather what he was doing was\nconveying to the ambassador and perhaps to others, we ought to explore\nanyone he had contact with the idea, “don`t react to the Obama sanctions,\nwe`ve got your back.” That would be directly undermining the U.S. national\nsecurity interests and that is also another very serious issue we have to\ninvestigate.\nMADDOW: Congressman, it was reported today that you told Democrats in a\nclosed-door caucus meeting to expect more information to surface on this\nsubject and specifically about General Flynn in coming days. Can you tell\nus what you`re expecting and why you advised your fellow Democrats of that?\nSCHIFF: You know, actually, I`m not sure where that came from, because I\ndid talk to the caucus but not about that. I don`t have any understanding\nthat some other shoe is about to drop. I`m sure we will, you know, during\nthe course of our investigation. Again, a lot of information on these very\nissues, but I don`t have any foreknowledge that something is about to\nbreak.\nMADDOW: When you mentioned that Director Comey at the FBI a key factor\nhere in figuring out whether or not our government is going to investigate\nand if need be prosecute these matters, for me, it`s – I`m trying to look\nat this from a big picture and I feel like what we know about this thus far\nis because people inside the government and inside the intelligence\ncommunity have been willing to leak stuff to reporters. Clearly, it seems\nnow clear from the facts in terms of the White House admission that when\nthe Justice Department went to the White House weeks ago and told them what\nthey knew about General Flynn that they were worried he was potentially\nsusceptible blackmail, and so, he was in a very scary position in terms of\nnational security operating in the White House, the level that he was at.\nWe know the White House had no real reaction to that for weeks until\nsomebody leaked it to a reporter, it became public, they had a hard time\nanswering questions and now Flynn is gone. Similarly with this “New York\nTimes” reporting, somebody has leaked to the “New York Times” that phone\nrecords and intercepted calls shows that members of the Trump campaign were\ntalking to Russian intelligence officials. That`s the only way we know it.\nI`m happy to have the information. I don`t know if I should have\nconfidence that any of the investigations inside the government – the FBI,\nany legislative investigation, any other form of investigation here – will\nbe above board and impartial and will get further to the truth here.\nSCHIFF: Well, you know, I can tell you a couple things. I`m going to be\npushing my hardest to make sure we have a credible and thorough\ninvestigation. And if I run into a roadblock in any direction, whether\nthat comes from the House leadership or comes from the FBI, I`m going to be\npublic about it, I`m not going to be part of an investigation unless it is\nreal and credible.\nBut I`m going to push the get the work done. I think it`s a fundamental\nresponsibility of the Congress to investigate and oversee this.\nThe other point I want to underscore is the one you just mentioned, which\nis the president learned weeks ago that his national security advisor, not\nsome low-level federal employee, his national security advisor, had lied\nand that lie was conveyed to the American people and, you know what? They\nwere OK with that. For weeks they were OK with that and likely Flynn would\nstill be there today if “The Washington Post” hadn`t broken than story.\nNow, what does that say about this administration that they were willing to\nallow the public to be misled even when they learned the truth?\nAnd the final point I want to make and you began your program with this\ntonight, and I`m so glad you did focusing on Putin`s, you know, attempt to\ndiscredit and eliminate his political rival or potential political rival,\nwhat the stakes are here because, you know, people ask and Sean Spicer\nwants to suggest what`s the big deal about Flynn talking to the Russian\nambassador? Isn`t that sort of ordinary course of events?\nThe big deal is this. We`re in a global struggle with Russia right now.\nThey are trying to propagate their authoritarian model around the world.", "D.C. FBI Insiders Fear: “General Flynn Might Take a Flamethrower to this Town Before He is Done”\nThe biggest, baddest dude in Washington D.C. might be President Trump but Gen. Mike Flynn is running a close second, according to FBI insiders who fear he may start talking soon.\nAnd talking about the FBI and what exactly went down during his ordeal with the Bureau’s Andrew McCabe-infused investigation of Flynn. Those unflattering details, insiders reveal, would bring more unwanted turmoil and public scrutiny to the embattled agency. Especially the FBI’s actions wielded against Flynn which likely involve illegality and corruption.\nWorry quickly swept through the Beltway this weekend after Flynn appeared at a political rally days ago to support a California underdog running for Congress; Flynn’s first public appearance since he was sacked as national security adviser in 2017.\nThat surprise appearance clearly put the D.C. establishment on notice.\nFlynn is back.\nAnd he has a score to settle, according to one close friend.\n“I think he is gearing up to name names,” Flynn’s confidant said. “He knows where many political bodies are buried in D.C. and what does he have to lose? Nothing.”\nThat fact makes Flynn a very dangerous man, especially in Washington D.C., a place held together by secrets and people who want to keep them hidden. And elites recognize the fact that a rogue Flynn could add up to big trouble for such secrets and those they would expose.\nOne FBI insider said General Flynn “might take a flamethrower to this town before he is done.”\nThe FBI’s disgraced former deputy director Andrew McCabe, who was fired on Friday, certainly put Flynn through the federal ringer over the last year. Sparked by what now appears to be a tainted FBI operation, U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller and Flynn struck a plea agreement months ago on a single felony charge of lying to the FBI.\nBut Flynn associates said while that plea was an public admission of guilt, the purpose of the plea was to put a tourniquet on Flynn’s swelling legal fees and to put the matter to rest so that he and his wife and family could begin to rebuild.\nEmotionally and financially.\nFlynn recently put his house on the market to help offset his legal fees and other losses linked to McCabe’s ginned-up probe, sources said.\nThat said, Flynn may have never lied to the FBI at all. His plea was merely a vehicle to end the bogus investigation, one close associate said.\nFlynn’s sentencing has been recently delayed as more and more problems are uncovered about Mueller’s investigation which was based on McCabe-influenced FBI personnel, including Peter Strzok whose interview of Flynn was the basis for the federal charge against him. But Strzok has since been defrocked as well, kicked off Mueller’s team and demoted inside the FBI for wielding a wild anti-Trump bias. That would include or extend to an anti-Flynn bias as well.\nIf Flynn’s plea is not vacated by a federal judge in the District of Columbia — which it would appear could be in the works — White House sources have stated President Trump will almost certainly pardon Flynn.\nFlynn is expected to relocate to Washington, D.C., one close associate said.\n“People should be worried,” a close associate said. “This is a very very bright man and he may want to get involved in the D.C. game. Before he was always somewhat of a private outsider.\n“They may have created a monster.”\nThe FBI’s wayward Frankenstein?\nAmerica could certainly use an anti-Swamp monster.\nHelp Support True Pundit’s Independent Voice by Contributing Today! $ Donation Amount: We can only deliver independent news & Intel with your support. Keep our unique voice alive. Donate Now Select Payment Method PayPal\nCredit Card\nBank Account Personal Info First Name * Last Name Email Address * Donation Total: $1", "Less than a month in to the new administration, President Trump's national security advisor, Gen. Michael Flynn, has resigned after admitting that he misled his White House colleagues, including Vice President Mike Pence, about conversations he'd had with Russia's ambassador to Washington.\nIn those conversations, officials say, Flynn discussed sanctions that the Obama administration had imposed on Russia to punish Moscow for its interference in the U.S. election. Those conversations could have violated the Logan Act, which prevents unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments in relation to “disputes or controversies.” The law, however, which was enacted in the 1790s, has never been used to prosecute anyone.\nHere's the timeline of events leading up to Flynn's resignation:", "1. Good for Alan Trammell - By any measure, conventional statistics, advanced metrics, awards, postseason success, Trammell belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was stunning my colleagues in the Baseball Writer’s Association of America overlooked Tram his 15 years on the ballot. His career, conventionally and metrically, was literally identical to fellow shortstop Barry Larkin’s statistically. While Trammell didn’t come close, Larkin, justifiably, got in the second year he was eligible. It couldn’t have been market bias, either. Cincinnati is a smaller market than Detroit.\n2. Good for Jack Morris - Simply put, Morris was a victim of a Sabermetrics witch hunt. It’s not that the metrics community didn’t have a valid point to make about how advanced math should factor into the Hall of Fame process, but how they did it and why, campaigning vehemently to keep Morris out, and trolling and intimidating writers eligible to vote, was reprehensible. A lot of it was self-serving from those simply resentful they didn’t have a vote.\nI agree that Wins Above Replacement is the first statistical measure that should be considered when evaluating Hall of Fame worthy candidates, but it isn’t the only one. I also agree wins have traditionally been vastly overrated. But it shouldn’t totally be dismissed Morris won more games than any pitcher during the 1980s. Anybody ever check out the most-winning pitchers of other decades? It does mean something.\nWAR, for its many strengths, is a flawed measure in some ways, too, particularly in regard to era-to-era measurement of pitchers, and even in regard to present day evaluation because it doesn’t include technology. The steroids era began much earlier than, it seems, many suspect. I heard one explanation from a voter, when Morris barely didn’t get in at the end of his BWAAA eligibility, that, “It’s not the Hall of very good.” That is pompous and disrespectful to those, who play the game. Morris is the one who went out there and did it. He won two complete games in the ’84 World Series. He had a Game 7, 1-0, 10-inning shutout to clinch a World Series title 1991. Few pitchers were as successful ever. Who, when he is that close, should deny him? If somebody is close to getting inducted, I vote for them.\nAdvertisement\nThe game is about players. It’s not a writer’s game or a broadcaster’s game or a number cruncher’s game or a front office game. It’s about athletes performing in time and space, and then evaluating them, statistically, and otherwise.\nThe sad part is the blow back on the metrics community. The so-called advanced math has very much improved knowledge and understanding of baseball. It’s overdue for Bill James to go in the Hall of Fame. But many fans are close-minded to it because they can’t stand being talked down to, making it a hard sell for those of us who believe advanced metrics should be much more a part of the every day conversation about the sport. That’s especially true now that franchises put so much emphasis on analytics.\n3. Not good for Lou Whitaker - There are three factors which make Trammell’s Hall credentials better than Whitaker’s: Trammell won the World Series MVP in ’84, he had an MVP-caliber season in ’87 and in retrospect should have won it, and shortstop is a more premium position than second base. But metrically, Whitaker was a better player than Trammell and all but 77 players to ever to play MLB, according to the baseball-reference.com version of WAR. He won multiple Gold Gloves, he was a Rookie of the Year and a brilliant leadoff hitter. To me, it’s sacrilegious Tram and Lou didn’t go in together. I think there should be another statue at Comerica Park, and it should be of Tram and Lou turning a double play.\nWhitaker was clearly hurt by WAR not being a widely-circulated number when he became Hall eligible in 2001. If it had been, he undoubtedly would have stayed on the ballot. I voted for him at the time, but most of the writers in Detroit didn’t.\nThing is, the “Sweet” Lou persona is a misnomer. Whitaker is a difficult person, frankly, to like. It shouldn’t matter, though, because it’s not a good guy award. Whitaker belongs in every bit as much as Tram, and it would be incredibly wrong if Tram got in because he’s popular with media and former players, and Lou is not.\n4. Good for Ted Simmons - One of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Oakland County and this state, the former Southfield High standout fell just a vote short from the Modern Era Committee. He’s a borderline Hall of Famer with a career WAR above 50. He played 20-plus years and was one of the best switch hitters ever, outperforming the average player by a wide margin during his era. “Simba” played a premium position, catcher. It’s just that Simmons, like Whitaker, never got past his first ballot in 1994. It was wrong, and his Hall merits haven’t been debated nearly enough since. Glad to see they finally are.\n5. Good for Bill Lajoie - Team president Jim Campbell and manager Sparky Anderson got the biggest share of credit for the ’84 Tigers, and their decade-plus of tremendous success, but Lajoie was the brains behind the operation. As scouting director working with a limited budget and staff, he is the one who discovered and drafted Trammell, Morris, Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish and Dan Petry. As general manager, he is one who orchestrated the spring training trade for Willie Hernandez, which put the ’84 Tigers over the top. In the 1976 MLB draft, the Tigers selected Trammell in second round, Morris in the fifth round and Ozzie Smith in the seventh round.\nSmith didn’t sign with the Tigers. I asked Lajoie if he regretted not being able to sign Smith.\n“Why? We got the better player,” Lajoie said.\nMy favorite quote ever.", "Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger is calling it a crime for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to have had the kind of phone conversations he had with a Russian ambassador prior to Donald Trump’s inauguration. Flynn was forced to resign, and Kinzinger says the cover-up, the lying to the Vice President was worse than the crime. Meanwhile, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin called for an independent investigation of Flynn’s actions, while Senator Tammy Duckworth pressed for Congressional hearings.", "by\nOne of the unfortunate ironies of the manufactured “Russiagate” controversy is the perception of the FBI as a friend of liberty and justice. But the FBI has never been a friend of liberty and justice. Rather, as James Bovard writes, it\nhas a long record of both deceit and incompetence. Five years ago, Americans learned that the FBI was teaching its agents that ‘the FBI has the ability to bend or suspend the law to impinge on the freedom of others.’ This has practically been the Bureau’s motif since its creation in 1908…. The FBI has always used its ‘good guy’ image to keep a lid on its crimes.\nBovard has made a vocation of cataloging the FBI’s many offenses against liberty and justice, for which we are forever in his debt.\nThings are certainly not different today. Take the case of Michael Flynn, the retired lieutenant general who spent less than a month as Donald Trump’s national-security adviser. Flynn has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in connection with conversations he had with Russia’s then-ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, between Trump’s election and inauguration. One need not be an admirer of Flynn — and for many reasons I certainly am not — to be disturbed by how the FBI has handled this case.\nOne ought to be immediately suspicious whenever someone is charged with or pleads guilty to lying to the FBI without any underlying crime being charged. Former assistant U.S. attorney Andrew C. McCarthy points out:\nWhen a prosecutor has a cooperator who was an accomplice in a major criminal scheme, the cooperator is made to plead guilty to the scheme. This is critical because it proves the existence of the scheme. In his guilty-plea allocution (the part of a plea proceeding in which the defendant admits what he did that makes him guilty), the accomplice explains the scheme and the actions taken by himself and his co-conspirators to carry it out. This goes a long way toward proving the case against all of the subjects of the investigation. That is not happening in Flynn’s situation. Instead, like [former Trump foreign-policy “adviser” George] Papadopoulos, he is being permitted to plead guilty to a mere process crime.\nWhen the FBI questioned Flynn about his conversations with Kislyak, it already had the transcripts of those conversations — the government eavesdrops on the representatives of foreign governments, among others, and Flynn had been identified, or “unmasked,” as the ambassador’s conversation partner. The FBI could have simply told Flynn the transcripts contained evidence of a crime (assuming for the sake of argument they did) and charged him with violating the Logan Act or whatever else the FBI had in mind.\nBut that’s not what happened. Instead, the FBI asked Flynn about his conversations with Kislyak, apparently to test him. If he lied (which would mean he’s pretty stupid since he once ran the Defense Intelligence Agency and must have known about the transcripts!) or had a bad memory, he could have been charged with lying to the FBI.\nAs investigative reporter Robert Parry explains:\nWhat is arguably most disturbing about this case is that then-National Security Adviser Flynn was pushed into a perjury trap by Obama administration holdovers at the Justice Department who concocted an unorthodox legal rationale for subjecting Flynn to an FBI interrogation four days after he took office, testing Flynn’s recollection of the conversations while the FBI agents had transcripts of the calls intercepted by the National Security Agency. In other words, the Justice Department wasn’t seeking information about what Flynn said to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak – the intelligence agencies already had that information. Instead, Flynn was being quizzed on his precise recollection of the conversations and nailed for lying when his recollections deviated from the transcripts. For Americans who worry about how the pervasive surveillance powers of the U.S. government could be put to use criminalizing otherwise constitutionally protected speech and political associations, Flynn’s prosecution represents a troubling precedent.\nWhy didn’t the FBI charge Flynn with an underlying crime? It might be because his conversations with Kislyak were not criminal. McCarthy writes:\nA breaking report from ABC News indicates that Flynn is prepared to testify that Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians — initially to lay the groundwork for mutual efforts against ISIS in Syria. That, however, is exactly the sort of thing the incoming national-security adviser is supposed to do in a transition phase between administrations. If it were part of the basis for a “collusion” case arising out of Russia’s election meddling, then Flynn would not be pleading guilty to a process crime — he’d be pleading guilty to an espionage conspiracy. David Stockman shows that the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller themselves indicate the Flynn-Kislyak conversations contained no evidence of criminal behavior.\nFlynn spoke to Kislyak to ask that Russia not escalate tensions after President Obama imposed sanctions last December for the alleged election meddling and to ask that Russia not vote to condemn Israel, via a UN Security Council resolution, for its illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land. In other words, not only were Flynn’s discussions with Kislyak unexceptional — presidential transition-team foreign-policy officials have spoken with representatives of other governments in the past — but the content of those discussions should have raised no suspicions. Would non-escalation of the sanctions controversy or a UN veto have undermined Obama’s foreign policy? I don’t see how. (True, the Obama administration abstained on the resolution, but would Obama have objected had Russia vetoed it? By the way, Russia voted for it, and the resolution passed, as it should have.)\nThe Flynn plea certainly does nothing to indicate “collusion” with the Russians. For one thing, the conversations were after the election. And perhaps more important, Kislyak was not looking for favors from Flynn; on the contrary, Flynn was lobbying the Russians (successfully on the sanctions — Vladimir Putin did not retaliate — and unsuccessfully on the UN resolution.) Where’s the evidence of Russian influence on the Trump team? There was foreign influence, but it was from Israel, a regular meddler in the American political process. All indications are that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Trump son-in-law and special envoy to everywhere Jared Kushner to lobby the world to defeat the UN resolution. Kushner, who has helped finance illegal Israeli settlements, then directed Flynn to call every Security Council member, not just Russia.\nWhat about the Logan Act? The Act, enacted in 1799, around the time of the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts, prohibits private citizens from unauthorized “correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.”\nRight off the bat, the Act appears to violate freedom of speech. And as Parry writes, “That law … was never intended to apply to incoming officials in the transition period between elected presidential administrations.”\nNote also that only two indictments have been brought in 218 years: in 1803 and 1852. Both cases were dropped. Far more serious contacts with foreign governments have occurred. In 1968 Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon (with help from Henry Kissinger who was working in the Johnson administration) had a representative persuade the president of South Vietnam to boycott the peace talks President Lyndon Johnson had been arranging with North Vietnam. That decision most likely prolonged the Vietnam war and resulted in combat deaths that would not have occurred. Unlike the Flynn case, Nixon’s action undercut the sitting president’s policy and, more important, the interests of the American people.\nI hold no brief for Flynn, whose conduct while working for Gen. Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan, his dubious efforts on behalf of Turkey’s strongman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and his apparent financial conflicts of interest are enough to make anyone cringe. But that cannot justify what the FBI did in this plea case.\nGovernment law-enforcement agencies should not be allowed to administer credibility tests to Americans or others. If they have evidence of real offenses against persons and property, bring charges. Otherwise, leave us all alone.", "Ed note– I’m not yet settled on exactly what happened behind the scenes with Flynn’s resignition, but it’s hard to argue against what is contained in this article. Continue reading Share this: Facebook\nEmail\nGoogle\nTwitter\nMore\nTumblr\nPrint\nPinterest\nLinkedIn\nReddit\nLike this: Like Loading... Related\nThis entry was posted on 02/14/2017, 8:33 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.", "Via Daily Caller:\nIn the final hours before his resignation, now-former White House National Security Adviser Michael T. Flynn said he “crossed no lines” in his discussion with Russia’s ambassador, but ultimately he was most concerned about the steady stream of leaks to reporters based on classified information.\n“In some of these cases, you’re talking about stuff that’s taken off of a classified system and given to a reporter. That’s a crime,” Flynn told The Daily Caller News Foundation Investigative Group during a telephone interview from his White House office on Monday.\n“You call them leaks. It’s a criminal act. This is a crime. It’s not just a wink and a nod,” Flynn said.\n“Over the weekend,” Bloomberg’s Eli Lake reports, Flynn “was instructed not to speak to the press when he was in the fight for his political life. His staff was not even allowed to review the transcripts of his call to the Russian ambassador.”\nKeep reading…", "Photo: George Frey/Getty Images\nIt has never been clear what crimes, if any, Donald Trump might have personally committed in the course of the Russia scandal. But in the 24th paragraph of a new NBC News report on the investigation is a sentence that indicates Robert Mueller’s cleanest shot — so far — at proving illegality by the president. Mueller, NBC reports, “appears to be interested in whether Trump directed [Michael Flynn] to lie to senior officials, including Pence, or the FBI, and if so why, the sources said.”\nThis could be very important. Here’s what it means.\nIn December 2016, Flynn sat at the center of hidden diplomacy between the Trump transition team and Russia. The departing Obama administration was putting into place sanctions to punish Russia for its criminal theft of emails. The Trump team was quietly telling Russia not to retaliate because it would reverse or undermine those sanctions. Flynn conveyed this message to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December. The next month he denied doing so to FBI agents.\nTwo days after that, Sally Yates, the acting attorney general, met with White House counsel Don McGahn and told him about Flynn’s lie, which she had learned of through FBI surveillance of Russia. The danger of the lie was extreme. Since the Russians were privy to the conversation Flynn had denied ever having, they knew he was lying, and thus had powerful blackmail leverage over him.\nAnd yet, despite having been informed that the incoming national security adviser was an extreme security risk, the White House responded with strange lethargy. Flynn remained on the job for 18 more days, and was finally fired, supposedly for lying to Vice-President Mike Pence. Trump nonetheless praised Flynn effusively, and reportedly later conveyed the message he should “stay strong.”\nThere are many questions around this episode, but the most pertinent ones concern why Flynn would behave so recklessly. He took a big risk by speaking with the Russians, violating the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from “influenc[ing] the measures or conduct of any foreign government” or “defeat[ing] the measures of the United States.” Flynn’s career in intelligence work would have made him perfectly aware of the high likelihood that his conversation was being surveilled. He took a second additional risk by allegedly lying about this to the FBI.\nNews reports have focused on the possibility that Trump ordered Flynn’s outreach to Russia. It makes sense (to whatever extent anything in Trumpworld makes sense) that Flynn would get the president-elect’s approval before communicating such an important message. On the other hand, there is also some debate about the severity of Trump’s exposure to a violation of the Logan Act, which is extremely old and has not been tested in court.\nBut NBC is raising a different, and more serious, possibility: that Trump also instructed Flynn to lie to the FBI about his conversation. That scenario would explain a lot. It would explain why Flynn took not one but two gigantic legal risks. It would explain why the White House took so long so fire him, why Trump asked James Comey to let Flynn off the hook and then fired him when he failed to promise to do so, and why Trump continued to signal his affection for Flynn even afterward.\nFlynn might have done both legally dubious things of his own volition. He is a pretty unstable character, after all. But it seems at least as likely that he felt empowered to take such obvious chances because the incoming president offered him cover.\nIf this is what happened, the legal violation would not be ambiguous at all. Lying to the FBI is an obvious crime. Even the tortured rationales Trump’s defenders are making on his behalf — that he didn’t obstruct justice by firing Comey, and would also not be obstructing justice by shutting down Mueller’s investigation — would be irrelevant in the face of this action. (Obviously, they would just invent new rationales. But still.)\nWe don’t know whether Trump did tell Flynn to lie. And if it happened, we don’t know whether Flynn has actually testified to this effect. But for the first time, we have a clear line of sight to a potential act of undeniable illegality by President Trump.", "February 14, 2017, 6:36 PM | National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation led Democrats to call for a bipartisan investigation, while House Republicans are staying away from the issue. GOPers in the Senate say they will call Flynn to testify. Nancy Cordes reports.", "Two teenage boys were charged with disorderly conduct after being found tripping on LSD early Saturday morning.\nSouth Lyon police were called to a home on Washington Street after midnight after reports of someone screaming and pounding on doors of nearby houses.\nPolice could not find or hear anyone until another caller told dispatch there was someone trying to get into the shed behind a neighbor’s home. Police found the boy, who seemed to be in a daze, running in between houses.\nThe boy told police that he didn’t know his name and didn’t provide coherent responses when asked other questions. His eyes were dilated and appeared to be impaired.\nAdvertisement\nPolice put the boy into handcuffs for his safety and put him in a patrol call to wait for an ambulance. The boy’s mother, who officers reported also seemed impaired, was advised her son was being transported to a local hospital for treatment. Child protective services was contacted due to his mother’s condition and inability to respond.\nWhile the boy was waiting in the patrol car, a 16-year-old boy approached officers and told them he and the 14-year-old had consumed LSD.\nThe second boy was also transported to a local hospital for treatment and met there by family members.\nPolice filed disorderly conduct petitions for both boys with the county prosecutor’s office.", "Mere days before Gen. Michael Flynn was sacked as national security advisor, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe gathered more than a dozen of his top FBI disciples to plot how to ruin Flynn's aspiring political career and manufacture evidence to derail President Donald Trump, according to FBI sources.\nMcCabe, the second highest ranking FBI official, emphatically declared at the invite-only gathering with raised voice: \"Fuck Flynn and then we Fuck Trump,\" according to direct sources. Many of his top lieutenants applauded and cheered such rhetoric. A scattered few did not.\nThis was one of several such meetings held in seclusion among key FBI leaders since Trump was elected president, FBI sources confirm. At the congregation where McCabe went off the political rails and vowed to destroy Flynn and Trump, there were as many as 16 top FBI officials, inside intelligence sources said. No lower-level agents or support personnel were present\nSenior intelligence sources said that embattled FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe openly professed his disgust for President Donald Trump at a senior staff meeting while loosing his cool demeanor in the process.McCabe, the second in charge of the FBI, ranted at a staff meeting a week after Trump's inauguration (approx Jan 27) about the newly sworn-in president, catching many FBI agents off guard with his anti-GOP vitriol.At the meeting, when a subject came up dealing with a request of the FBI made by then-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn dealing with the National Sheriff's Association, McCabe told the packed conference room: \"I hate Trump.\"Flynn's request for cooperation from McCabe and the FBI was likewise tabled, sources said. Flynn has since been sacked and was forced to resign largely due to the FBI's conduct.These additional troubling revelations about McCabe come a day after True Pundit exposed the deputy director as a partisan FBI agent apparently waging his own liberal-infused domestic political policy and who took part in secret meetings to derail Flynn and Trump. That", "The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee claims that the FBI acted illegally by eavesdropping on former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s telephone calls.\nRep. Devin Nunes has called foul on the leaks of classified information obtained via conversations between Flynn and a Russian ambassador .\n“I expect for the FBI to tell me what is going on, and they better have a good answer. The big problem I see here is that you have an American citizen who had his phone calls recorded.”\nDailycaller.com reports:\n“Any intelligence agency cannot listen to Americans’ phone calls,” Nunes told reporters Tuesday night. “If there’s inadvertent collection that you know is overseas there’s a whole process in place for that.”\nHe explained, “It’s pretty clear that’s not the case, so then they could have been listening to someone else and inadvertently picked up an American. If that happens, there’s a whole process in place to where they have to immediately get rid of the information unless it’s like high level national security issue and then someone would have to unmask the name — someone at the highest levels.”\n“So in this case it would be General Flynn and then how did that happen. Then if they did that, then how does all that get out to the public which is another leak of classified information,” Nunes added. “I’m pretty sure the FBI didn’t have a warrant on Michael Flynn.”\nThe California Republican said he expects the FBI to tell him exactly what is going on.\nFlynn resigned from his post Monday night.\nThe Washington Post reported last week that intelligence officials recorded his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. before Trump officially took office. The recordings, according to The Post, seemed to contradict Flynn’s claim that he had not talked to the ambassador about loosening U.S. sanctions with Russia.\nDemocrats are calling for an independent investigation into not only the Flynn matter but also other Trump personnel. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer went as far as to call on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from any investigation.", "General Michael Flynn should be in jail, by his own admission.\n\"I have called on Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race because she put our nation's security at extremely high risk with her careless use of her private email server,\" he added.\nAs the \"lock her up\" chants resumed, Flynn encouraged the crowd and explained the reasoning behind the attacks on Clinton.\nRussian lawmakers defend Michael Flynn, blame U.S. for his exit\n\"You know why we're saying that? We're saying that because if I — a guy who knows this business — if I did a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail today. So … So … Crooked Hillary Clinton, leave this race now.\"", "Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned former-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn last month about whether he talked about sanctions with a Russian official, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the issue.", "WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller is trying to piece together what happened inside the White House over a critical 18-day period that began when senior officials were told that National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was susceptible to blackmail by Russia, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.\nThe questions about what happened between Jan. 26 and Flynn's firing on Feb. 13 appear to relate to possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump, say two people familiar with Mueller's investigation into Russia's election meddling and potential collusion with the Trump campaign.\nMultiple sources say that during interviews, Mueller's investigators have asked witnesses, including White House Counsel Don McGahn and others who have worked in the West Wing, to go through each day that Flynn remained as national security adviser and describe in detail what they knew was happening inside the White House as it related to Flynn.\nPlay Facebook\nTwitter\nEmbed Over 18 crucial days, what did Trump know and when? 8:07 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog\nSome of those interviewed by Mueller's team believe the goal is in part to determine if there was a deliberate effort by President Trump or top officials in the West Wing to cover up the information about Flynn that Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general, conveyed to McGahn on Jan. 26. In addition to Flynn, McGahn is also expected to be critical in federal investigators' attempts to piece together a timeline of those 18 days.\nNeither McGahn's lawyer nor the White House responded to requests for comment. A spokesman for the special counsel's office declined to comment.\nWhen did Trump learn Flynn lied to the FBI?\nThe obstruction of justice question could hinge on when Trump knew about the content of Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. during the transition, which were at the crux of Yates's warning, and when the president learned Flynn had lied about those conversations to the FBI, according to two people familiar with the Mueller probe.\nFlynn pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to the FBI on Jan. 24, an interview that took place the day after he was sworn in as national security adviser.\nRelated: Mueller has enough evidence to bring charges in Flynn investigation\nYates has testified to Congress that she informed McGahn on Jan. 26 that Flynn had not been truthful in statements to senior members of the Trump team, including Vice President Mike Pence, when he said he did not discuss U.S. sanctions with Russia's ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. Yates said Flynn was susceptible to blackmail by the Russians because he had lied about the contents of a phone call with Kislyak.\nFlynn's timeline from Dec. 29 to Feb. 13. MSNBC\nTrump's legal team and senior White House aides are refusing to say when and how the president first learned that Flynn had lied to the FBI. Yates testified that in her Jan. 26 meeting with McGahn he asked her about the content of Flynn's FBI interview.\n\"Mr. McGahn asked me how he did and I declined to give him an answer to that,\" Yates testified in May. She told Congress that it would have been inappropriate for her to tell McGahn whether Flynn had been truthful.\nRelated: Mike Flynn's son is subject of federal Russia probe\nThat same day, Jan. 26, McGahn also briefed Trump and some of his senior advisers on his conversation with Yates, according to then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.\n\"Immediately after the Department of Justice notified the White House counsel of the situation, the White House counsel briefed the president and a small group of senior advisers,\" Spicer told reporters on Feb. 14.\nTwo former federal prosecutors who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity said most lawyers in McGahn's position would have immediately gone to Flynn and asked him whether he had lied to the FBI.\nFormer acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on Capitol Hill on May 8, 2017. Eric Thayer / Getty Images\nPresident Trump told NBC's Lester Holt in an interview on May 11 that he didn't ask for Flynn's resignation after Yates's warning because once McGahn looked into it, he \"came back to me and [it] did not sound like an emergency.\"\nThe conversation with Kislyak that Flynn misled Pence and other officials about took place on Dec. 29, the same day the Obama administration announced new sanctions against Russia in retaliation for Moscow's interference in the U.S. presidential election.\nOn Jan. 12, The Washington Post reported that Flynn had spoken on the phone with Kislyak on Dec. 29. The timing of the call raised questions about whether the two had discussed sanctions. Three days after the Post report, Pence publicly said he had been assured by Flynn that sanctions were not discussed.\nOther senior Trump officials, including Spicer, also said publicly during the transition that Flynn did not discuss sanctions with Kislyak. Spicer repeated that line from the White House podium on Jan. 23, saying he had asked Flynn about it again the night before.\nDon McGahn, general counsel for the Trump transition team, gets into an elevator in the lobby at Trump Tower in New York, on Nov.15, 2016. Drew Angerer / Getty Images\nCourt documents from Flynn's plea deal show Flynn had discussed sanctions with Kislyak on Dec. 29 in coordination with Trump transition officials. NBC News reported that Flynn spoke with his incoming deputy K.T. McFarland to discuss what to say to Kislyak about the new U.S. sanctions in order to keep Russia from retaliating.\nIn the second week of February, Flynn again told senior White House officials he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Fresh questions arose at that time because Washington Post reporters had multiple sources saying the two men had discussed sanctions. Under repeated questioning by the senior officials, Flynn shifted his story, according to White House officials familiar with the matter.\nPence said he first learned that Flynn had misled him when the Post story was published on Feb. 9. Four days later, Yates's warning to McGahn became public in another Post story.\nOnly then, on Feb. 13, did Trump fire Flynn, saying he did so because he had misled Pence.\nSergey Kislyak, right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with President Donald Trump at the White House on May 10. Kislyak served as Russia's ambassador to the U.S. until July. Russian Foreign Ministry Photo / via AP, file\nJustice Department officials who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity said they had expected the White House to fire Flynn on Jan. 26 upon learning that he had lied to the vice president.\nInstead, Trump fired Yates on Jan. 30, citing her refusal to enforce his executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from travelling to the U.S. Before she left, however, she made available, at McGahn's request, evidence she had that Flynn had not been truthful about his conversations with Kislyak, according to her congressional testimony.\nMueller is trying to determine why Flynn remained in his post for 18 days after Trump learned of Yates' warning, according to two people familiar with the probe. He appears to be interested in whether Trump directed him to lie to senior officials, including Pence, or the FBI, and if so why, the sources said.\nIf Trump knew his national security adviser lied to the FBI in the early days of his administration it would raise serious questions about why Flynn was not fired until Feb. 13, and whether Trump was attempting to obstruct justice when FBI Director James Comey says the president pressured him to drop his investigation into Flynn. Trump fired Comey on May 9.\nTrump denies pressuring Comey to drop the Flynn investigation, and his legal team has disputed any notion of the president obstructing justice.\nEducation Secretary Betsy DeVos listens at left as Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland speaks at the Women's Empowerment Panel, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at the White House in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP\nTrump raised new questions about possible obstruction of justice on Dec. 2 when he wrote on Twitter that he fired Flynn because he had lied to Pence and the FBI, suggesting he already knew Flynn was in legal jeopardy for lying to federal investigators at the time he fired Comey.\n\"I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI,\" Trump wrote. \"He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!\"\nTrump lawyer John Dowd later took responsibility for the tweet, saying he had drafted it for the White House social media director to post.\nDuring her testimony before a Senate subcommittee in May, Yates testified that she didn't tell McGahn in their Jan. 26 meeting what Flynn told the FBI because that was under investigation. She said, \"He asked me how he had done in the interview, and I specifically declined to answer that.\"\nFormer National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (C) exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse on December 1, 2017 in Washington. Michael Reynolds / EPA\nBased on Yates's testimony, McGahn's tone appears to have hardened in his second meeting with Yates the following day, Jan. 27, which took place after he spoke with Trump and other advisers. Yates testified that during that Jan. 27 meeting he questioned her about why it mattered if Flynn misled Pence. \"Essentially: 'What's it to the Justice Department if one White House official is lying to another?'\" she said McGahn asked her.\nWhite House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has repeatedly referred questions to Dowd about when Trump knew Flynn had lied to the FBI. Dowd has declined multiple requests to answer that question.", "DAMON LINKER IN THE WEEK: America’s spies anonymously took down Michael Flynn. That is deeply worrying.\nThe whole episode is evidence of the precipitous and ongoing collapse of America’s democratic institutions — not a sign of their resiliency. Flynn’s ouster was a soft coup (or political assassination) engineered by anonymous intelligence community bureaucrats. The results might be salutary, but this isn’t the way a liberal democracy is supposed to function.\nUnelected intelligence analysts work for the president, not the other way around. Far too many Trump critics appear not to care that these intelligence agents leaked highly sensitive information to the press — mostly because Trump critics are pleased with the result. “Finally,” they say, “someone took a stand to expose collusion between the Russians and a senior aide to the president!” It is indeed important that someone took such a stand. But it matters greatly who that someone is and how they take their stand. Members of the unelected, unaccountable intelligence community are not the right someone, especially when they target a senior aide to the president by leaking anonymously to newspapers the content of classified phone intercepts, where the unverified, unsubstantiated information can inflict politically fatal damage almost instantaneously. . . .\nBut no matter what Flynn did, it is simply not the role of the deep state to target a man working in one of the political branches of the government by dishing to reporters about information it has gathered clandestinely. It is the role of elected members of Congress to conduct public investigations of alleged wrongdoing by public officials.\nWhat if Congress won’t act? What if both the Senate and the House of Representatives are held by the same party as the president and members of both chambers are reluctant to cross a newly elected head of the executive branch who enjoys overwhelming approval of his party’s voters? In such a situation — our situation — shouldn’t we hope the deep state will rise up to act responsibly to take down a member of the administration who may have broken the law?\nThe answer is an unequivocal no.\nIn a liberal democracy, how things happen is often as important as what happens. Procedures matter. So do rules and public accountability.", "Catching up with the Wall Street Journal yesterday, I found Saturday’s Journal editorial “Mr. Comey’s bad week.” The editorial focuses on the Comey memos that I posted together with my 10 notes on them. My notes overlap in part with the points made in the Journal editorial as it uses the memos to make “a weasel assessment.” The Journal editorial makes one good point that I missed and one critical point that I overlooked.\nA good point on Michael Flynn:\n[F]ar from suggesting the President encouraged the FBI director to close his eyes to a crime, the memos make clear Mr. Trump was making the case Mr. Flynn hadn’t done anything wrong.\nA critical point that I overlooked:\n[C]ontrary to [Comey’s] claims, the memos suggest little reason for appointing a special counsel: Far from looking to obstruct an investigation into Russian collusion, Mr. Trump urges Mr. Comey to continue to investigate in hopes that this would show that the ugliest details in the Steele dossier weren’t true. Mr. Trump’s motives were personal vindication because he feared his wife might believe the allegations, and Mr. Trump should not have made the request. But asking for an investigation to disprove the Steele dossier undermines the charge that Mr. Trump fired Mr. Comey to obstruct justice. We don’t know what other evidence special counsel Robert Mueller has, but hanging an obstruction rap on the Comey memos isn’t going to work.\nIn overlooking this point I missed the forest for the trees. I wanted to make sure that you could take them into account in connection with your own review of the memos.", "Please enable Javascript to watch this video\nMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A little girl's family is hoping for the best after she was shot in North Memphis Monday night.\nThe father of 10-year-old Vynnitra Dobbs told WREG she had surgery at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Tuesday afternoon. She will be sedated for the next 24 to 48 hours.\nIn the daylight you can see the bullet hole. The bullet that pierced the window also struck 10-year-old Vynnitra.\n\"By the grace of God the bullet didn`t go into her brain. Her skull stopped the bullet,\" said her father.\nDobbs is holding out hope he`ll see her contagious smile again soon.\n\"Laughs. She laughs all the time.She didn`t have nothing to do with it. She didn`t have nothing to do with it. She didn`t have nothing to do with nothing. She`s so innocent,\" said Dobbs.\nDobbs is convinced the bullet that went through his apartment and hit his little girl inside was meant for him. He walked me through what he says led up to the chaotic crime scene.\nHe said he was outside his house when a man he recognized but doesn't know by name approached him. The man began yelling at him, telling him to leave the area. Dobbs said he knew he had a gun so he went inside his apartment to get away.\n\"I came back outside, ended up talking to some neighbors on the side we hear four shots boom, boom, boom, boom.\"\nDobbs said he didn`t really think much of the gunshots; unfortunately gunfire is common in the area. A few minutes later he went back inside his and saw the unthinkable.\n\"Went in the house my little brother said my baby had been shot, her mama had her, she was trying to keep her woke,\" he explained.\nDobbs believes the man who pulled the trigger is the same person who confronted him.\n\"I know he's the shooter. I know he is, I know he is. You ain't ever shooting the person that you shooting at. It`s always gonna be someone innocent,\" he said.\nNow this father is re-evaluating things.\n\"I don`t know if it`s a call for me. It could be my wake up call. I don`t know.' I`m never leaving her no more I know that she aint ever going out my sight no more\"\nHe has a message for the shooter.\n\"Just turn they self in. Just turn yourself in. Just show my child that you didn`t mean to do it.\"\nLast check with the Memphis Police Department the shooter is still on the run.\nDobbs said he appreciates all of the support and prayers. He said even the principal of Vynnitra's school, Douglass Elementary, came to pray for her at the hospital.", "Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — In the days following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to discuss his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., according to multiple government officials.\nABC News has previously reported that Flynn’s communications with Russia, including with its ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, have been examined as part of a broad counterintelligence investigation into contacts between the Trump team and Russians. This is the first confirmation that the FBI spoke with Flynn directly.\nIt was not immediately clear what the FBI and Flynn discussed.\nLaw enforcement sources told ABC News that the inquiry has not found evidence of any criminal wrongdoing in the communications examined thus far, but that the probe remains under FBI and Department of Justice review.\nFlynn’s interview with FBI came before then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates reached out to the White House on Jan. 26 to alert the administration that the National Security Adviser may have misled officials about the nature of his conversations with Kislyak.\nABC News has also learned that FBI Director James Comey had expressed concern about telling the White House, fearing it could impact the FBI probe, but he acquiesced after investigators were able to interview Flynn. Questions remain though about how forthcoming Flynn was in his interview with FBI.\nFlynn’s resignation Monday evening came in the wake of news reports about Yates’ contacting the White House more than two weeks before.\nHe resigned in a letter saying he “inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador.”\nFlynn initially denied he talked specifically about sanctions with the ambassador. And Vice President Mike Pence publicly vouched for Flynn, saying in TV interviews that Flynn and the Russian envoy had not discussed sanctions.\nABC News confirmed last week that Flynn and Kislyak did talk after Trump’s campaign victory about U.S. sanctions against Russia over its interference in the presidential election, which raised questions about whether Flynn’s conversations may have violated federal law.\nAdministration sources said Flynn called Pence last week to apologize.\nDespite Flynn’s resignation, Republicans as well as Democrats called Tuesday for the investigation into his actions to continue.\nCopyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.", "Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) tells Greta Van Susteren that the House and Senate intelligence committees should look into Mike Flynn before further action is taken.\nDuration: {{video.duration.momentjs}}" ]

[ "BASRA, Iraq - Oil and gas spilled during recent sabotage attacks on Iraq's southern oil pipelines ignited Sunday and firefighters battled to douse the flames." ]

[ "Employees in the southern Iraq oil company announced that the country&#39;s south oil pipeline was attacked on Sunday at dawn, just few kilometers from a position where 8 oil pipelines were attacked on Wednesday.", "BP Plc has submitted a revised plan for preventing and responding to spills at the Prudhoe Bay oil field following pipeline corrosion problems and oil spills earlier this year, a state official said on Monday.", "ST. JOHN&#39;S, NFLD. - Another spill at Newfoundland&#39;s Terra Nova oil field has added about 1,000 litres to the 165,000 litres of crude spilled Sunday.", "A fish-seller sets himself alight while protesting over the handling of South Korea' s worst-ever oil spill.", "The captains of two vessels that triggered a massive oil spill in South Korea are charged with negligence.", "Militants have attacked the headquarters of Iraq&#39;s South Oil Company in Basra, sparking a fire that&#39;s burned warehouses and offices.", "The owners of two ships involved in South Korea's worst oil spill are charged with breaking pollution laws.", "Water spilled into the North Sea from offshore oil and gas drilling is less of a threat to fish than previously thought, a Norwegian study showed on Thursday.", "Mortar rounds crashed into an oil processing facility near the northern city of Kirkuk on Monday, igniting a huge blaze, and a U.S. Air Force jet with one pilot crashed while supporting American soldiers fighting in Anbar province, a hotbed of Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency.", "At least 18 oil workers were killed when a drilling rig hit an oil platform in stormy weather, spilling gas and oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the state-owned oil company said.", "Exxon said it was reviewing its legal options in the wake of Alaska’s decision to strip it of leases to an oil and gas field.", "Shi'ite militia have set fire to an oil well in southern Iraq, Baghdad said Monday, adopting a new tactic in the uprising against U.S. forces and the new Iraqi government.", "An accelerating thaw of the Arctic may open vast regions for oil and gas exploration but that brings worries of spills in the fragile environment, experts said on Thursday.", "The company has announced the sale of its part share in the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields to the British-owned Paladin Oil &amp; Gas.", "U.S. Congress members on Thursday chided BP Plc. BP.L executives for allowing pipelines at Alaska's Prudhoe Bay oil field to get so corroded that there was a major oil spill in March and partial closure of the giant field in August.", "Iraq&#39;s northern oil exports were halted Wednesday following a series of massive attacks on Iraq&#39;s pipeline network linking northern oil fields in Kirkuk to Turkey.", "SABOTEURS blew up a cluster of export pipelines in southern Iraq yesterday, reducing further the country’s oil output, in the latest in a series of attacks targeting the oil industry.", "Oil exports from southern Iraq have grounded to a complete halt because of a spate of attacks on pipelines. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Iraqi official from South Oil Company said oil flows", "Rebels blew up a pipeline inside an oilfield in southern Iraq in the latest in a series of attacks on the country&#39;s oil infrastructure that", "Eight oil pipelines feeding two oilfields in southern Iraq have been sabotaged in a bomb attack, Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV channel reported on Thursday.", "A bomb exploded under an oil pipeline and set it on fire Monday south of Baghdad, and Iraqi and U.S. forces were sent to secure the area, police said.", "Public sector behemoth Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd on Monday said it has acquired an offshore oil field in Western Australia.", "BHP Billiton, Australia&#39;s biggest oil and gas producer, said a second appraisal well at its Shenzi discovery in the Gulf of Mexico found oil, increasing the likelihood the field can be commercially developed.", "Eight pipelines feeding two southern oilfields have been damaged, dealing a blow to Iraq&#39;s vital but beleaguered oil industry.", "BAGHDAD: Iraq&#39;s southern oil exports were still below normal yesterday as firefighters battled to put out a new blaze at a sabotaged pipeline, industry officials said.", "Iraqi oil officials said yesterday that insurgents blew up a cluster of pipelines in southern Iraq, though they said they did not expect oil exports to be significantly reduced.", "Saboteurs blew up a junction where multiple oil pipelines cross the Tigris River in northern Iraq on Tuesday, sending plumes of smoke leaping into the sky, officials said.", "An explosion has ripped through a section of a pipeline near the Baiji refinery in northern Iraq. Witnesses say the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.", "Clemson&#39;s college football game with rival South Carolina was interrupted in the second half when a fight involving several players erupted, spreading nearly the entire length of the field at Clemson&#39;s Memorial Stadium and coming close to spilling into", "British oil and gas firm Cairn Energy has seen profits drop 40%, but reports strong reserves in its Indian oil fields.", "British oil giant BP said it had signed an agreement with the Iraqi government to study an oil field in the south of the country.", "KIRKUK, Iraq - Bombers blew up a section of an internal pipeline carrying crude oil to the Baiji refinery in northern Iraq on Friday, the latest in a spate of attacks on oil or gas pipelines in the past month." ]

[ "This is simply the best apple cider, and with only three ingredients. We like our apple cider very favorable and have found if you do 10 ounces or less, it is perfect." ]

[ "Use them in a old stainless milk strainer to filter fresh apple cider pressed in an antique cider press circa 1869. Work very well.", "I bought this to boil water for hot cocoa, hot apple cider (mix) and for french press coffee. I was tired of boiling water in a pot on top of the stove and in the microwave. My friend had one similar and I saw it and had to have one, and I am glad I got it.", "DONT FORGET TO KEEP THE VALVE OPEN during your event. I kept it closed, to keep contents warm and there was no flow. I never realized until the end of the party, that NO ONE drank anything. (Otherwise, was great to serve herbal peach-tea or spiced apple cider instead of the coffee hassel. Kids can partake too and don't feel left out of adult drinks.)", "The Mulled Cider & Chestnuts scent is disgusting. Don't buy it, you'll thank me later.", "I love everything about these glass jars. So sturdy with all the features that matter most to me including a BPA free plastic lid. I just harvested a batch of Fire Cider I made in one of the jars and its perfect. Looking forward to future projects with kombucha and fermented veggies. Highly recommend!", "Farah, a young Muslim girl, begins her story on her second day in a new school in a new country. She listens and nods but doesn't speak. So many things are strange to her, including the cloths and language. Her class is going on a field trip to an apple orchard where they will each pick an apple to be made into cider. When she puts a green apple into the cider press instead of a ripe red, one as her classmates have done, they symbolically protest. But the cider from all the apples they have mixed together is a beautiful metaphor for the benefits of intermingling different people. Farah begins to make friends. She even learns a new word \"App-ell.\" Her simple story helps us understand the feelings of one of the many immigrant children striving to make their way on our American world. Tee Lewin's gorgeous full-page watercolors depict the apple picking adventure. This is a great picture book for early primary and ESL classrooms.", "The book is full of useful information. Virtually every type of apple is covered with info on disease resistance, how to grow, what they taste like etc. It is small and can easily be dragged around to nurseries when trying to decide what apple trees to buy to grow, which is exactly why we got the book. The reviews I read before purchasing were accurate. Thanks!", "I have used these cutting boards in the kitchen and they are easy on knives, easy to clean, and economical. The poly boards in this order were used as pressing plates in a home made apple cider press and performed beautifully on that task too. Well worth the money.", "Audrey is baking apple pies for every school in the district for a fund raiser. She goes to the market to Tess and Thea's apple booth. They have the best apples and she needs 10 bushels. Their brother Thomas helps her take them home. Audrey has been interested in Thomas for awhile. She is very nervous and keeps turning red, like the apples. After a few days Thomas calls and invites her on a date for a private tour of the orchard, Thomas likes her, too. Will it be a here are some trees, you can pick some to take some home, have some cider, time for you to go home date? Or, is it a hand holding, talking about dreams of the future, kissing kind of date? You will have to read and see. I received this book for an honest review.", "Folk Medicine is a very compact and informative book with remedies proven to be effective in 'olden times'. Human ailments where natural treatments like apple cider vinegar are first recommended are first tested on animals (herds of cows) that cannot give verbal, subjective results to the treatments so successful effect of treatment can only be observed by the comparative effect on the animals with and without treatment. Resulting in honest studies.", "Its Mexican mango season so there are fruit flies everywhere in my kitchen. Every day these trapped killed a couple. Amazing!\nI think they may be reusable if you suck everything out and just use apple cider vinegar mixed with dish soap in the future", "I bought one of these when I started getting into home made hair products. I'm buying more to hold a greater variety of home made hair products.\n\nFor the curious, I had dry hair and an itchy scalp and tried a zillion different commercial products, none of which gave me results anywhere close to a simple routine of coconut oil, baking soda scrub, and apple cider vinegar rinse. I didn't realize how bad the itchiness had gotten until the vinegar took it away.\n\nBut yeah, great bottles. Am buying again.", "I've use Frontline plus and the advantix II, the advantix II works better but neither are 100%. I use natural stuff like vinegar, apple cider during baths, and natural repellant like this below which i also left a review on which works better than any of these over the counter meds. However sometimes even with all the precautions I take I will find a tick and recently fleas on my pups after i took them to a new park so this stuff seems to help in addition to other natural remedies.\n\n<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/FLEA-TICK-Repellent-Spray-8-Ounce/dp/B003IUF1FS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">FLEA TICK Repellent Spray 8 Ounce</a>", "I was able to try this product for free through a promotion that the company had. I purchased this drink at a local store and not Amazon. It is significantly cheaper at the local store.\n\nI really enjoyed the product display, appearance and packaging. It was very eye-catching and appealing.\n\nI enjoyed the beverage. It wasn't too sweet, but didn't lack flavor either. I thought it was the perfect level of sweetness. I found that it was very easy to quickly drink the can. I usually finished mine within a couple of minutes.\n\nI did not have the energy kick that others seemed to have had from this beverage. I gained significantly more energy drinking a cup of coffee or even drinking a caffeinated pop (Pepsi).\n\nI would recommend this beverage to friends.", "I love this water but was a little disappointed. The picture shows Apple as one of the flavors but it came with cherry flavor instead. Which is my least favorite.", "Bought these to get more use out of the large bottles of apple cider that go on sale every fall at my grocery store. They replace the pressure-sensitive twist caps that come with the bottle which never seem to form an airtight seal again. Since this uses a cone liner the seal is perfectly airtight, stretching these awesome glass bottles a lot.", "Simple instruction on how to reap the many benefits of Apple cider vinegar. I have been drinking it daily for a couple of weeks now. I have lost 3 pounds and have less of an appetite. It works as a mild laxative and keeps the stomach acid in check. I have Small Lymphocytic lymphoma and keeping my lymph nodes clear is important to me. This is a handy little reference book.", "Having already been a fan of 'Jamba Juice', we were excited to try this new product. We are always seeking a somewhat healthier alternative, for grabbing drinks on the go, and this one seemed to fit the bill. First, it was appealing that this one stated that it was 'natural', and apple is one of my favorite flavors for snacks, candy etc. One of the first things I noticed is that it was very bubbly and tart-two qualities that may make it best enjoyed ice cold with nice. It is relatively sweet, so the ice may help in this regard, as it helps dilute the sweetness/flavor a bit. Given the amount of sugary and other 'booster' drinks on the market, this one provides a unique, refreshing alternative to the likes of sports drinks (I occasionally use Gatorade Fruit Punch, Vitamin Water or just plain water) if busy, or engaging in energy exerting activities. This product combines an interesting flavor/texture, for those seeking health conscious alternatives-give this one a try, it's definitely different.", "It's a glass jar. If you're writing a three paragraph review for a glass jar, then you need to rethink some things.", "Someday a man will walk up to you with a brand new deck of cards wrapped in the original plastic wrapper and says he can make the jack of spades jump out of the deck and squirt apple cider in your ear. DON'T bet with this man! He might be Titanic Thompson called by Amarillo Slim the greatest proposition bettor of all time.\n\nWonderful stories about a fascinating man who lived his life on the edge and did it his way. I enjoyed the book immensely. Try it, you will like it!", "Awful!! What a waste of my money for 6 little apple sauce. Very misleading. Now that I see the reviews.. I deserve a full refund!! Doesn't deserve the one star. Should be a -Zero", "There are plenty of recipes but I wish there was more information about the choice of vinegar brands, especially cider vinegar which vary in quality and flavor. By not giving recommendations it suggests that all brands are interchangeable.", "This is my second review for a Skiva product and I continue\nto be impressed by the quality and price of their products.\n\nThis Lightening Cable is the best available outside of paying\na premium price for a Apple cable.\n\nI believe if this cable is bought from Apple or from Amazon it is 18-20 USD.\n\nI know this because I have paid that price on more then one occasion.\n\nI got so disgusted paying through the nose to Apple that I have tried just about every\n\ncable and Adapter that in any way can be used on a Apple product to finally find an alternative.\n\nI really believe that Skiva is that alternative, to a lesser degree Amazon Basics has never\ndisappointed me regardless what product it is. I am using a Amazon Basics mouse now\nas I am writing this review.\n\nIn other words I am giving you the benefits of my research on trying the break the chains of Apple and their high prices for everything. Sort of this addiction we have to Cupertino.\n\nTake my advise if you are in need for anything related to Apple take a look at the Amazon Basics product if their is one but most of all put in Skiva in your search box.\n\nYou will find they have many Apple accessories and from what I have seen so far including of course the cable I am now reviewing they have much better prices then\nApple and with a high quality. This cable and the Skiva products I have seen so far\nare well built and appear to have the potential to last a long time.\n\nOf course time will tell on thiis but no other Vendor I have found can come this close to a Apple original cable or accessory.\n\nI only discovered Skiva because I agreed to receive this cable for a discount for an honest\nreview. I not only am giving a honest and unbiased review but have become a big fan for this Company and the many varies products they produce.\n\nSo take my advise use the Amazon return policy and buy a Skiva and Apply cable\nrun your own tests and come to your own conclusion.\n\nMost likely you will have the same analysis as me ...... paying full price for anything\nin the Apple Universe is the same as fools Gold.\n\nIt is a pleasure to finally find an alternative to the Apple Monopoly.\n\nOf course Apple charges a premium for all their products but\nfrankly I can not find the difference between this cable and\na cable sold by Apple.\n\nDont believe me buy on Amazon both products knowing\nAmazon has a great return policy and check yourself.\n\nIn my view the cables may even be made in the same factory but with a different logo.\n\nThis cable works just as well as a more expensive Apple Cable and the quality is very good.\n\nGo do your test and compare.\n\nHave tried many products sold on Amazon which are made for all Apple products and rarely have I found a betterr product then Skiva.\n\nWas given a discount to try this product for an honest review.\n\nI am sold on Skiva regardless of discount have finally found a reliable alternative to the Apple\npremium...... which lets face it is high.", "Fall has come to Moraine, Wisconsin and the town is getting ready for an influx of tourists. The apple cider and caramel apple stand has opened on Main Street and the corn maze is has been readied at the Country Delight Farm. After stocking The Wild Clover, beekeeper Storey Fischer still has her hands full...her boyfriend, Hunter, has moved in with her, her mom is getting married, and her neighbor Patti has her panties in a twist because a witch has moved into the neighborhood.\n\nThe entire witch coven comes to visit and one of their members is found murdered in the corn maze. It's up to Storey to find the real culprit when an innocent man is arrested.\n\nLove these books. Although Moraine is a fictional town, the setting is real...I get a kick out of recognizing landmarks in my neck of the woods. This is the 5th book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. However, once you read it, I can guarantee you will hunt down the first four books. Very enjoyable book!", "NOTE: This is an unbiased review. No compensation for a positive review was provided. My reviews are based 100% off of my personal experience with the product.", "More like 3 and a half stars. The blueberry is outstanding, all the other coffee is mediocre to okay worth a try but not a second buy.", "I bought this after seeing a similar product proposed on \"Shark Tank\". I must admit I was dubious. It does seem like a gimmick. When it arrived, I poured a glass of wine straight and then poured one through the device and gave my wife a blind taste test. The aerated wine is significantly superior. We drink a lot of red wine and from now on it'll all be poured through this device.", "Just received these, and really impressed with the quality and selection. Tried four so far (yea, I'm awake now), and each were smooth, not over-flavored, and fresh tasting. This is definitely the way to go, and not the others that were maybe a couple dollars cheaper and the review were so-so.\n\nOnly change I would make is a choice of with and without decaf. I'm morally against decaf, so those three are a waste. Maybe for company.\n\nIt's going to take me a while to sample all the way down the row, but looking forward to the discoveries that await.", "I received this exactly when promised. it takes 3 weeks so allow time for it to arrive I cannot believe how wonderful this tastes. I have been looking for an alternative for so long and have tried so many things I think this is perfect. Mix it with warm water and a little bit of creamer and its so yummy. It does not have any bitter taste as you will other instant hot beverage.\nplus has just right amount of caffeine.", "The bottle arrived quick and is very good quality. The only reason for the lower score is the spinning hanger. The hanger will often need to be repositioned to drink from the bottle.", "I was so surprised to see so many good reviews of this product. I have sensitive skin which is prone to redness so I try a lot of different brands. This is one of the worst. I thought I would try this due to the \"alcohol free\" and \"oil free\" claims.\n\nThe only part of this trio that I actually liked was the daily face wash. It foams up great with a very clean feeling and very little perfuming. I would give this product a very good review.\n\nThe bad reviews are the others in the trio. The \"alcohol free\" mint herbal toner...is it really alcohol free? I loved chemistry class and most words that ended with col and ethyl were alcohol related. There were many words listed in the ingredients with these endings. The mint does cover the alcohol smell! I've already dumped it into the toilet and then worried that it may pollute the Chesapeake.\n\nLastly, the oil free moisturizer is like covering my skin with mud. I thought from the description that it would be light but it just makes me sweat for a couple hours after application.", "Too big and cumbersomeboth for our dwarf hamster and her cage. Bummer. Unsolicited review: the Apple Wood sticks/twigs for chewing are awesome(!) and very well received. If you're able, break those into two for even greater duration and value." ]

[ "I had to rework my coax cable line with the help of my cable provider but once set up it works great." ]

[ "Okay, it does what is says it does. Helps but doesn't solved the issue. Can be a problem to set up.... BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE GREAT ON THIS PRODUCT. On my installation had to hook up to cable box as opposed to TV, so doesn't work on Amazon Firestick, and Apple TV... but it helps on the cable programs.... I am still looking for something else, but this program does an adequate job.", "I've been using this modem with Cox Internet Service and so far everything's been working great. Here are the main things I like about the modem:\n\n-- The set-up was easy and trouble-free.\n-- It works well with both my Mac and PC.\n-- There seems to be a noticeable speed improvement from the older Motorola Surfboard modem I'd been using, especially with videos.\n-- It's quiet and doesn't overheat.\n-- The neutral ivory color and a compact size that doesn't take up much space.\n\nI'd much rather own a modem like this than have to buy or rent one from my cable company. I can't comment on how it works with other cable providers, but from my experience so far, I have no complaints about it.\n\nI'll update my review at some point if anything changes or to add more comments.", "Great piece of equipment. Easy set up, with cable co. Increased download speeds. Don't have to pay cable co. for their equipment. Good deal all the way around.", "Very difficult to set up, but once it is it works well", "When I first hooked up this KVM switch, I thought that it was a piece of crap. \"BUT I WAS WRONG!!!\" I made the mistake by hooking up the switch box with out reading the instruction's. I just hooked it right up, thinking that it was so easy just to hook up the cable's. So, after a couple of time's hooking up the cable's' and unhooking the cable's. I said that this switch box is a piece of crap. (But I used other word's.) Then I had the brain storm to read the instruction's. Well, be hold, it worked like a charm. I did not know that there was a default installation set up. Once I hooked it up cable by cable just the way the instruction's state, all was great. Work's Like a charm, and as of today, no problem's as yet. I really like this KVM switch box, and I would and I have recommend it to anyone. Great product, if you read and fallow the instruction's. LOL,LOL!!!", "Easy to set up. Easy to use. Goodbye cable TV", "This is a great product. It's a little bigger than I expected but it works great. It does not come with the usb cable but I knew this before I bought it. I went to the apple store and bought the .3m length charging cable from apple for $29. This worked great!! Once the shell was fully charged, I was able to fully charge the watch 4 times and I still have 2 lights lit up on the power shell. This is great for someone who is always on the go. Great product. Only suggestion would be an on off button? It seems that you have to set the watch in place then hit the button to begin to charge. I did assume that once the watch was set in place that it would automatically start charging. That is not how it works. But other than that, I love this device!! I've only had it about 2 weeks now.", "Very easy to set up and works perfectly. I'm not sure of how great the speed is, but at least I have connectivity.", "Good well made cable that works great for what I needed it for.", "These are great, but make sure you use balanced cables. I needed to pick up a pair of TLS to XLR cables for them to connect to my interface, once I did, they were dead silent when nothing was playing, and they sound excellent when monitoring.", "Works great! Cable buy tested several ports and my power level is the same across all and is as good as what is coming into the house. He was impressed.", "I got this modem in a couple of days. Everything worked great . Thanks... No more renting from the cable company.", "Very nice mesh cable set for connecting my video cards up to my mining rig. Works as intended. The cables are a bit pricey though but work well and seem to be good quality construction.", "From my Macbook Pro, you have to go to system preferences --> sound--> and choose external speakers for the sound to come through. Aside from that, the cable is easy to set up and provides exceptional audio and visual quality. It is exactly what you're looking for.", "Works great. Cable could be a little softer and more flexible, but it's fine for my uses.", "works great. A little tricky to set up but anyone with a little knowledge of Networking can figure it out.", "Plugged in, turned on, and its been smooth sailing for a month or so of WOW cable internet. Bought this for price, performance and support, though I doubt I'll ever need support. Very happy, would buy again and again!", "But after the ordeals the actual modem and everything works perfectly", "Cable works as described, very pleased with it, I would recommend it.", "If you have a cable service provider, the RFs transmitted to your house are probably coded and only digital boxes that are provided by your cable company will work. This means that this box will not work via a cable antenna connection. This reason I purchased this box was so I could avoid paying Cox cable an extra $10 a month for an additional HD box for my new HD projector. I'd rather pay $40 once instead of $120 over the entire year. It will work if you have an HD antenna that captures OTA signals and converts them to digital signals for your TV. Also, I did test out the plug and play feature and it did work but only for flash media or mass storage devices that are formatted as FAT16/32. Most people have hard drives that are formatted NTFS so the plug and play function will not work in that case. For the money, this is a okay product but it will only work for people that use OTA HD antennas and have FAT16/32 formatted mass storage devices. That should advertised better.", "I have a 6-year old computer that I wanted to connect to my newer TV. Unfortunately the computer only has VGA and S-video out. I tried a couple different set-ups before getting this cable and none worked. This cable did exactly what I wanted it to and I can now stream and watch video from my old laptop on my TV,\n\nThe S-video component of the cable is a little cheap and I have had to bend the pins back into place once or twice, but I won't knock off more than one star unless one actually breaks.\n\nFYI, the laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1720.", "I purchased a Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV from Amazon for about $1200 in November 2008. Set up was easy and the TV has a great picture. The only issue I had was that I connected the cable box to the tv with a coaxil cable. That gives you a terrible picture. Once I switched to an HDMI cable it was great and the picture worked itself out and the anoying black bars went away for the most part. The picture is clear and crisp and the tv menu is fairly easy to figure out although there isn't a lot of detail on what the settigs actually mean. I read a lot of reviews about the sound but it seems fine to me. There was one HD movie on cable (lord of the rings) when the sound started to sound kind of rumbling like the sub woofer was messed up. I switched channels and it was fine. When I went back to the movie the sound was okay. The remote is too long and not well designed but it works fine.", "At first I had no problem with this cable as it did everything it was supposed to do. I had this cable for 11 months and now it has stopped working for me. Even though the switch is on the HD setting, the Xbox is only recognizing the TV setting. While I was happy with the price that I got it for, I was hoping it would last a lot longer then a year. Also I am not a heavy gamer and would only play my Xbox 360 once every week or two.", "In my IT Support practice I keep cables in stock. Cable Direct is one of my preferred brands. Their Cat5e cables have provided excellent service. In a lot of customer environments wires end up in a \"rats nest\" so the very well done anti-snag is a plus when untangling. I have found they perform reliably and hold up well to frequent plug-in, and unplug cycles. Reliability is my main criteria for network cables and Cabled Direct has delivered for years.\n\nThe anti-snag strain-relief is well designed for the tight spaces on some computer's LAN jacks. You can slide the rubber anti-snag to the side to depress in the release tab in tight spaces. Good design.\n\nThese are flexible CAT5e cables and this makes them easy to work with in racks or in wiring channels.\n\nThis cable is well made and is at a very economical price. I've had great luck with Cables Direct Cat5e cables in the past. Not having to worry about connection failures makes these 5 stars for me.", "Works well for what i needed but it has a weird glitch to it if any hookups come undone... you have to unplug everything and hook it back up again for it to work. Hard to explain but once i figured it out, it hasn't really been much of a hassle. Still works fine", "I bought this for use with my xbox one. 3tb is much larger than the internal drive it came with. 4 stars because the cable didn't work. Had to go by a cable from frys, about 15 dollars. The cable provided should have worked. New cable had no issues. Drive is very fast and quiet.", "Cable hookup was slightly different. Made it work, fired right up.. Now I need some line.. Dog from hell chewed up last years.", "This stuff works GREAT. I brought this to my trip to Nicaragua and did not get bitten once. A great alternative to the chemical sprays that are out there and still provides protection.", "Worked great with my Samsung GS7. The longer length comes in handy bedside while the shorter cable is perfect for being on the go (car) and in workplace settings where long cables gets in your way. Would recommend this product. I cannot say it'll work with other phones but my GS7 has no problems with it.", "These worked GREAT at first...however over time they have stopped working properly. Cable Matters products usually start out working wonderfully...however this is the 2nd set of Cable Matters usb cables that I have purchased that have stopped working!! The first set I bought I figured we were just too rough on...now I KNOW that these products simply stop working after around 6 months. I ordered other brands that have lasted and this time I just ended up ordering another brand. So beware that these seem fabulous at first, but after 6 months they will not work so well until they completely stop working altogether.", "Love this product. It works like a charm. I would order again. My cable box isn't even in the same room!", "Setting up my entertainment system I needed a HDMI cable that would go up into my attic and into a cabinet. What I read on the internet that Gold vs Non-Gold is true the quality doesn't go away I have bought all different kinds of HDMI cables and I can't tell the difference.\n\nThis cable has been going strong for 3 + years and hasn't missed a beat!\n\nGreat product!!!" ]

[ "It was suggested by my Dr to use Ginger Altoids to help me kick 20 years of taking acid reflux medicine. I've tried to stop many times before and it hasn't been worth the horrid side effects of the reflux coming back! Amazingly they helped me so much that I have gone a month without medicine. He said the Ginger would suppress the acid and it has. I'll be stocking up to ensure I always have them on hand." ]

[ "HealthWise low acid coffee tastes great and it doesn't require a lot of coffee to make a strong brew. As I, like many, have a condition called acid reflux, this coffee is the only one I can drink that doesn't have a negative effect on my system. Even if I didn't have this condition, I would drink this delicious coffee.", "This tea might not taste delicious but has an ok flavor, the effects it has on my body are wonderful; it helps with acid reflux and it works wonders when i feel nauseated.", "You are ridiculous. Water that is alkaline is not going to cause your throat to burn, give you acid reflux OR send you to the hospital. Nothing about what you said even made an ounce of sense.", "It is expensive, but the price on Amazon is a lot cheaper than what I have seen at the stores. I have tried several brands of organic honey and this one is absolutely the best tasting, best texture and I feel the most beneficial in terms of settling my stomach and acid reflux yet it has a great flavor too.", "Egyptian Licorice tea is my new favorite tea. It taste great, is mildly sweet with just a hint of cinammon. Also, it seems to really soothe my acid reflux which is a big plus. This tea is can be found in most health food stores and is a *must* for fans of herbal teas and those looking for a pleasant unusual tea.", "The manufacturer of this Dark French Roast Coffee advertises that it is gourmet coffee with less than half of the acid found in regular coffee. This minimizes, they say, heartburn, acid reflux, and mild stomach irritation. They add that their coffee lacks \"the bitterness\" found in regular coffee. My wife and I tried the coffee and found no difference in taste between it and the regular store brand coffees.", "Two years ago I had an acid reflux \"event\" and was told to go on a low acid diet.<br /><br />I initially quit coffee, but I mean really, it turns out life is meaningless without my jolt so I found a solution in this coffee.<br /><br />Yes, it is weaker than other ground coffees, so either add more, or set your machine to \"strong\" setting.<br /><br />I also have toast with my coffee. This is what my ENT told me to do as it helps with those who have acid reflux.<br /><br />It seems every year there are conflicting reports on the risks ro benefits of coffee. Let me tell you this: Drinking coffee is fine unless you are the type that gets the jitters. Just dont smoke and you will be ok. Also, there is some eveidence that coffee prevents Alzheimers, but I do not know much more about that.", "I always count on Amazon reviews when buying products, but never write any of my own. In this case I wanted to write a review, because I was persuaded to try this product based on the positive feedback provided by Amazon customers after extensively researching any/everything I could find related to infant reflux.<br /><br />My daughter was diagnosed with reflux after a scary choking episode at 8 weeks. She was on Gentleease and the doctor prescribed Zantac 2x a day as well. The reflux improved a bit, but she still had major issues and painful reflux episodes so we were switched to Prevacid Solutabs. The Prevacid helped with the pain of the reflux, but the reflux itself also troubled our daughter and caused discomfort and gas since she tends to gulp air when refluxing. After trying Enfamil AR RTF her reflux improved greatly the 1st 24 hours, but she reacted terribly on day 2 with severe gas and stomach pains (Maybe because the proteins in Gentleease are broken down, but they're not in the Enfamil AR?). At our doctor's suggestion we started to add rice cereal to the Gentleease instead (12 teaspoons per 8.5 oz bottle) which also helped the reflux, but made her very gassy - I suspect because the liquid was so thick even with a Dr. Brown's level 3 nipple that she was sucking in too much air.<br /><br />I decided to give Similac Sensitive RS a try and have been thrilled with the results. We have been using it for roughly 5 weeks with great success. Even though the prevacid neutralizes the stomach acid that is needed to bond with the Rice Starch, the formula helped with my daughter's reflux tremendously. She takes her prevacid 1x/day in the evenings and her reflux is tougher at night, but vastly improved from anything else we have tried. At her 4 month check-up the doc suggested that we start rice cereal with a spoon and that has seemed to help as well.<br /><br />If your infant is suffering from reflux and you're playing the formula roulette game I highly recommend trying this product. Other pro's - the container is easy to store (vs. a can) and it is less expensive than the Enfamil RTF products.<br /><br />The product can get very bubbly if accidentally shaken, but the bubbles dissipate after the bottle is warmed up.", "Do you get heartburn with coffee? Before I started my little purple pills I did, and now I get to enjoy all the drinks and foods that used to burn my chest and torment my sleep.<br /><br />I was intrigued when I saw this product with the description: \"Puroast Low Acid Coffee introduces our great taste, low acid coffee in a single pot, 3 oz. size which is great for the office, home, or travel. Puroast Low Acid Coffee offers consumers who a great tasting, smooth coffee that is proven to give symtpom (sic) relief to consumers who suffer from heartburn, reflux, and other related conditions.\"<br /><br />I got a pack, and it wasn't bad coffee, and I didn't get heartburn, but I haven't had it in years since I started the medicine.<br /><br />Alas - I also had a medical school education which allowed me to know that \"stomach acid\" is not only a real thing, but its hydrochloric acid, literally about the strongest acid possible. One of the amazing things about human physiology is that our stomachs are designed to successfully hold that caustic solution. Our esophagus is not, and when the sphincter between the stomach and throat is weak - even momentarily - the stomach acid splashes up into our esophagus and causes the familiar \"heartburn.\"<br />Methylxanthines are common substances that will relax the sphincters in our body, and they're found in high quantities in caffeine and chocolates, for example. So - how useful is a \"low acid coffee\" in preventing the actual cause of heartburn if it has the desirable caffeine?<br /><br />I wrote the Puroast people and pointed out these things and they wrote me back with links to research done by biochemists on coffees. I was still scratching my head over what to write in my review when I got an email from the CEO of Puroast! Yeah, I was surprised! Anyway, he wrote:<br /><br /> \"Puroast does not make a claim as to the correlation between the pH<br />of its coffee and the causes of heartburn/reflux, only that the coffee has<br />significantly lower acid content (up to 80% lower) than leading commercial<br />brands.\"<br /><br />So - \"Puroast Low Acid Coffee offers consumers who a great tasting, smooth coffee that is proven to give symtpom (sic) relief to consumers who suffer from heartburn, reflux, and other related conditions.\" - isn't a claim that there is a correlation between the ph of its coffee and the causes of heartburn? Am I being trivial to point out that their product description misspells \"symptom\" and that the package I received misspelled \"gourmet?\")<br /><br />So - is it good coffee? It ain't bad. It's absolutely worth drinking on the basis of its flavor alone. But is it worth >15 bucks for 10 one-pot bags? I'd try the larger bags first. Or I'd keep taking my purple pills and keep drinking the coffee that tastes best to me.", "Im not much of a Starbucks fan and most of their coffee turms my stomach in knots but not so with Sumatra!This is a low acid coffee of high quality and at a very competitive price. Coffee used to give me all sorts of gastric/reflux problems but coffees such as this...and $$$peaberry$$$ allow me to drink coffee again!", "Was looking for a reasonably priced Manuka honey, also called healing honey, since I read a lot about the amazing properties. I wanted to try it for my acid reflux and to heal my foot ulcers. My foot ulcers were really severe and after 2 1/2 years of treatments, none of them worked, I was almost ready to give up, but decided to try Manuka honey as a last resort.<br />My acid reflux responded to the honey after only a few days and I no longer need medication!<br />My foot ulcers are also GONE! After only 4 weeks my ulcers were about 30% smaller, after 8 weeks they were closed and about 75% smaller and at the end of 3 month, they are GONE. I applied a thin layer of honey to gauze, placed it on the ulcer and bandaged it with rolled gauze. Change the honey gauze pad every 12 to 16 hours and rinse foot before applying the next treatment.<br />Would recommend the Wedderspoon Honey to everyone, the price is unbeatable and the taste of the honey one of the best ones.", "If you want great vanilla, hazelnut flavor DO NOT BUY THIS TEA. It taste good, but has such an overpowering cinamon and spicy taste that the vanilla and hazelnut is lost. It also is not good for people with acid reflux. I take prilosec everyday and usually can eat almost anything without suffering, but 3 tums later and I still hurt.<br /><br />Like I said it does taste good and I will buy yogi products in the future, but I will read the ingredients first.", "I just tried the nutty marshmallow and it is awesome.<br />I have problems with some bars due to acid reflux and also gallbladder problems, but this hasn't bothered me yet. Plus at 150 calories it is a pretty lightweight snack, though a little small. Vegan too for those who want vegan treats. It's not made from real marshmallow root (which I was hoping for), but then almost no marshmallow snacks are.", "This is my second try into Cafe Altura coffee and I must say I am again impressed. I have tried the Peruvian, which is very good. However, the Sumatran is just a bit better. Is stronger than Peruvian and has a very complex taste that makes a cup of coffee something to appreciate for more than just Splenda and creamer. This coffee is not for the faint of heart. If you have acid indigestion issues, I would not recommend this. This is definitely something that could cause some acid reflux. For those without that problem, the strength makes this coffee that much better!", "Our baby handles this better than any other formula we've tried. Very little gas and spitups, plus she's growing like a weed. Her acid reflux went away, she sleeps better, its great.<br /><br />My complaint - this stuff should not cost as much as it does. Its a scam that they jack the price of the only formula that works for certain children, knowing parents who have no choice will have to pay for it. Its costing us nearly $500 a month for this stuff. The businessmen at Abbott Labs who decided to profit off children with special dietary needs should be ashamed. I'm *certain* it can't cost twice the price to manufacture this.", "This is the best quality Barley I have found on line. Strong good flavor. The brand<br />from Denmark taste bland and washed out of flavor. Arrowhead mills organic is high quality.<br />I will stay with this brand. Using Barley water has gotten me off all sodas. It keeps from hunger between meals, it prevents UTI and acid reflux as well as being a high quality health<br />tonic. It is also the sports drink of England.", "This K cup breakfast blend is one of the best I have tried for that first morning cup. The flavor is full body and does not kick back like some brands that are too strong and give acid reflux. This coffee is really smooth and nice without that over bold taste kickback. Every cup had been very consistant and dependable. If you like morning blends you will be thrilled with this one.", "I bought this to hopefully help with acid reflux (chewing gum = more saliva, supposed to help neutralize excess acid + real mastic gum is supposed to be helpful with getting rid of some of the \"bad\" bacteria).<br /><br />I'm not really sure if there are any health benefits yet, but it does taste different+ good. Somewhat like the scent of pine trees, but muted/not strong.<br /><br />The ingredients in order are:<br />Gum Base, glucose, Sugar, corn starch, natural identical flavor (mastic), glazing agent (carnauba wax), permitted color (e171).<br /><br />So I'm not sure how much natural mastic is in there, but it's probably more than regular gum ;)", "Very flavorful. Really helps IBS symptoms. Does NOT irritate the stomach or esophagus for people who also have acid reflux. [But all peppermint relaxes the spincter between the two, so pay attention to it's effect on you.]<br /><br />To make a big batch of ICED TEA....use 2 tablespoons per cup of boiling water, steep for 7 mins., add honey to taste, strain it into a container with an equal amount of ice and pour yourself a cup! Yum!", "I tried to drink this a few different ways, even with half the mix. And it was MUCH too acidic. Yes, I do have acid reflux problems. But I have no problems drinking things like Vitamin Water and Gatorade. I couldn't handle this drink.<br /><br />On the flip side, I did feel pretty good after drinking this. I think the energy part works.<br /><br />I would strongly recommend you stay away from the powdered version if you don't have an iron stomach.<br /><br />I haven't tried the concentrate or the regular drink that comes in cans.<br /><br />UPDATE: Tried out the Low-Cal Wild Berry that comes in the can and it wasn't too acidic. Don't know what the deal is with the powder.", "Ginger is a miracle herb in terms of calming a nauseous stomach. I constantly eat this, and the crystallized ginger....while pricey for a small bag, these ginger chews are an incredible treat. Keep an eye on how much you ingest-- ginger can spur heartburn for those with GERD or acid reflux. If you're nauseous or pregnant or have constantly frazzled nerves (as I do), ginger chews and and crystallized ginger are some of the best remedies.", "Hypoallergenic formula was necessary for our daughter's acid reflux.<br /><br />We found out from a friend that most insurance companies will completely cover the cost of hypoallergenic formula, either by reimbursing you what you've spent on it, or if you get it as a prescription through your pediatrician. Ours did!<br /><br />Many doctors don't know this, so they don't know to give a prescription for the formula. Call your insurance company today!", "I have used Manuka honey for a couple of years now. My respiratory doctor had recommended the honey to me when I had a very bad cold. I tried a few different brands but I have found this brand to be ABSOLUTELY the best. The honey has therapeutic properties and really helps with colds, sore throats and acid reflux. It is a great homeopathic remedy.<br />The honey comes from the tea tree and the best/purest comes from New Zealand. I was told some brands repackage their honey in the USA and put regular honey in the mix. The pure manuka is really the prize in the honey.", "I am a pretty healthy person. I excercise everday,I do not eat red meat, very litte chicken and turkey, no pork, and and i love fish and veges! I didnt order this coffee for health benefits i basically ordered because regular coffee gives me reflux. This coffee taste great and is low acidic. They say it helps with high blood pressure and other ailments, but seeing that i do not have any health issues right now i wouldnt know about that on a personal level. I do have friends who rave about its healing powers but again i think it is a lot to pay for coffee... i can get that same low acidic properties from Starbucks. If i had the extra cash i would continue to order, but i dont.", "I really love this tea. I have IBS, I try to eat healthy but eating a lot of fiber, fruits and vegetables can be hard on my stomach. This tea relieves nausea, gas, bloating and excess acid issues. I also love the flavor. I drink this tea every evening, it is so soothing to my poor stomach. And its naturally slightly sweet flavor takes care of my sweet tooth. As a side note...the Yogi brand of Ginger tea works amazingly well to soothe coughs.", "I love this tea, it is great for people who suffer from IBS. It helps relieve bloating and gas from foods. Great tasting too!", "I was in search of an alternative to Starbucks French roast coffee - i am no longer able to drink it, i tried many different kinds of coffees - no acids, decaf and then read a review from a man who indicated that this coffee satisfied his craving for Starbucks French Roast that he also could no longer drink, so I decided to give it a try; He was right, it is hard to believe that this is a decaf coffee, it satisfies my craving for that rich full body taste that Starbucks French roast provides and none of the after effects of heartburn or acid reflux; it is awesome. My wife who continues to drink the Starbucks is easily fooled as to which coffee she is drinking - if you have hesitancy - just go for it, give this one a try, you won't regret it;<br /><br />gator-golfer", "A popular t-shirt reads, \"Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin!\" And like all vitamins, it's had benefits and side effects for the thousands of years it's been morning's drink of choice. A recent article in Canada's Globe and Mail suggests drinking enough coffee fends off type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gallstones, Parkinson's disease, and liver cancer. The article continues, saying coffee may even protect some women from breast cancer.<br /><br />But a later article in the same publication warns, \"If you have heartburn or reflux disease (GERD) you should limit or avoid (coffee)....both regular and decaffeinated - (It) relaxes the muscle that keeps stomach acid from rising into the esophagus and throat. Coffee also stimulates acid secretion in the stomach.\"<br /><br />Puroast Low Acid Coffee is no bitter pill to swallow for anyone wanting coffee's benefits without its burn. It's Dark French Roast blend, brewed on a Sunday morning, was rounded and flavorful with a slightly nutty aftertaste, not at all harsh. It's obvious audience is those suffering from acid reflux or other upset stomach ailments. Yet anyone wanting a good cup of coffee will appreciate its taste.<br /><br />Satirist Alexander Pope praised coffee \"which makes the politician wise/And see through all things with his half-shut eyes.\" Goodness knows that profession provides heartburn enough without daily coffee worsening it! Puroast provides a dark, rounded cup of coffee with savory taste and the caffeine buzz many need, without the acrid aftertaste some coffees leave behind. Recommended.", "I have used this honey for paper cuts, sore throats, acid reflux. As a mask for my face. Leaves the skin feeling super soft and helps with acne break outs. I tell anyone who will listen about the many uses for this honey. It is a little pricey but I figure its better than the stuff in the pharmacy thats just as costly because you have to keep buying it over and over because it really doesn't work as well.", "About six months ago I switched to drinking low-acid coffee because of some acid reflux problems I was having. Trader Joe's low acid French roast is probably the best tasting low-acid coffee I've tried, but unfortunately Trader Joe's doesn't make a decaf version and I'm trying to cut down on my caffeine. For decaf low-acid coffee I've tried <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P28DHY\">HealthWise 100% Colombian Supremo, Decaffeinated, Swiss Water Process Low Acid Ground Coffee, 12-Ounce Cans (Pack of 3)</a> and Puroast (both purchased off Amazon). Neither one is great, but HeathWise is better. HealthWise is bland, so you have to use more coffee to get a good-tasting cup (I usually mix a scoop of decaf with a scoop of the Trader Joe's, and that helps), but the Puroast decaf smells and tastes off. I can't describe what's off about it--it's just not pleasant. It certainly doesn't have that rich coffee aroma and flavor we coffee-lovers love. Perhaps the non-decaf version is better. If you need low-acid decaf and you're desperate, this will do--hence the three stars. But I would never serve this to a guest in my home, and I really can't recommend it.<br /><br />UPDATED REVIEW<br />After drinking this coffee on and off for a couple weeks, I've come to the conclusion that it's actually causing me intestinal distress. So not only is it unpleasant tasting, it's upsetting my stomach in a way that completely negates the only reason I bought it. I wish I could return my unopened bag, but unfortunately Amazon has a \"no returns\" policy on groceries. Disappointing all around.", "My husband use to go to mcdonalds a few time a week to get a caramel frappe one day he saw the mocafe on amazon and wanted to try it and he hasn't bought a frappe from mcdonalds since, we make ours with 2% milk and it's the best, plus we don't get that caffine acid reflux that you get from fast food places. we highly recommend the tahitian vanilla latte we just ordered one each of the other flavors, try some whipped cream and caramel and you'll be hook too.", "Since I had my daughter, she has been through 5 different formulas before finally being able to tolerate Nutramigen. Yes, it's expensive but so much worth the price. When your child has acid reflux, milk and soy food allergies to the point where blood and intestinal tissue is found in their stools (as mine did), the price is insignificant. Even with trying the Similac brand, Alimentum, it didn't work and she didn't like this formula." ]

[ "When parents need a babysitter this holiday season, they may find their usual choices -- a local high school or college student, a relative or nearby friend -- are on vacation or unavailable. When those options don't work, an increasing number will turn to a different source: the Internet." ]

[ "Where is the Humane Society when you need it? Where are those organizations against cruelty to dumb animals - or in this case, drunk Irishmen?", "Fashion Wire Daily - Where was Pierre Berge when you needed him most?", "A quick look at where President Bush stands on key issues:", "Before you take a stand know where they stand. A special voter guide from The New York Times.", "Nanoparticulates offer golden opportunities... if you know where to look.", "By Jaret, Peter Experts tell you how to equip your kitchen so you can create no- fuss healthy meals. Where can you get the healthiest dinner in town? Put down that Zagat-you don't need to look any further than your own kitchen.", "A quick look at where Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry stands on key issues:", "If you want to hold tomorrow's winners, look where the market isn't.", "A familiar-looking man in his early 60s took the stand at the Scooter Libby trial yesterday morning. \"I need to ask you to spell your last name,\" said defense attorney Bill Jeffress.", "Need a cheat sheet on the candidates in the race for Illinois&#39; US Senate seat? Here&#39;s a look at where Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Alan Keyes stand on 10 key issues as they head into Tuesday&#39;s vote.", "You are the soul of your enterprise--which is why you need a plan for when disaster strikes.", "Life & style: What will you be wearing in 2008? Our A-Z of fashion has all you need to guide you through the looks", "Where&#39;s &quot;Extreme Makeover&quot; when you need it? After all, the mask the Phantom of the Opera wears covers only a quarter of what is an otherwise fetching mug.", "By Henry Brean By HENRY BREAN REVIEW-JOURNAL At Temple Bar, one of the few places where you can stand in Arizona and look east into Nevada, two men unload a rented Sea-Doo from a half-submerged trailer.", "Where&#39;s Spidey when she needs him?", "If you want to hold tomorrow's winners, look where Mr. Market isn't.", "By Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader Feb. 11--HERE'S A SILLY riddle that delights children: What always disappears when you stand up? Your lap.", "By The Associated Press LONG BEACH, Calif. - A 5-year-old boy spent Monday afternoon at a stranger's house after he was picked up from school by a baby sitter who, on her first day on the job, thought he was the boy she was hired to look after, police said.", "What you learn about people — and yourself — when you need them to donate an organ.", "If you believe magazines are leading indicators of where the economy is heading, things are not looking good.", "By Susan Jurgelski Sensory integration In the corps Chip of a lifetime TMB hours Thanks to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center has a new sensory-integration room in its occupational- therapy department.", "Who stands to lose when a pension plan fails? And, just as important: If you find that you are not fully insured, what can you do?", "Who needs a promotion when you can just retire?", "A therapeutic dip in the pool. An escort to the midnight buffet. Round-the-clock access to a doctor. And an unsurpassed view during a daily walk.", "Also: Stephen Hawking looking for assistant. Read these stories and more from around the Web on News.com Extra.", "In an Alexandria strip mall, Erin Rexroth watched her 21-month-old daughter, Haley, straddle and bounce on a plastic alligator one recent day at the My Gym. Rexroth, 27, stood apart. On the playroom's other side, older parents chatted with a nanny and a grandmother next to a plastic basketball hoop.", "Looking at Hollinger International tells you all you need to know about companies that should never make it into your portfolio.", "These are the skills you need to rethink on your way up the IT food chain, or training you should consider avoiding if you're looking for a career in computers.", "You never know when you're going to need a good bail bondsman. Or when a good bail bondsman is going to need a good lawyer.", "Depending on where you're standing, the growing skyline of the new Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is looking like either a boon or a bane.", "Google Enhances Google Local Service Google has announced enhancements to its newish Google Local service at http://local.google.com . When you go to the page you'll see a space for what you're looking for and another space for where you'll looking. The results pages is where you'll see the real difference. I decided ...", "Keep your stuff in sight, even when you're out Motorola's Homesight remote domestic monitoring kit is to be offered in the UK, allowing parents to keep an eye on their kids, spouses to spy on crafty consorts and travellers to bust burglars at a distance using a computer or a mobile phone.…" ]

[ "Print this handy pool maintenance calendar and put on your fridge so the whole family can help you take care of the pool this season. I usually tell people to shock once a week or every two weeks depending on how often they use the pool. I recommend this because it’s an insurance plan." ]

[ "The type of shock you use to shock your pool also affects how long you have to wait until you jump back into the pool. The two most popular shocks we encounter at INYO are shocks with chlorine and shocks without chlorine. Shocks with chlorine, or cal-hypo, make up the majority of chlorine- based shock available today.", "The free chlorine level of your pool measures zero; The combined chlorine level rises above 0.5; How do I shock my pool? The goal of shocking your pool is to raise the free chlorine level of your pool water to roughly 10 times the combined chlorine level of your pool water. By reaching this mark which is commonly referred to as break point chlorination,” free chlorine is able to eliminate contaminates and protect the health of your pool.", "How long do you wait to swim after you shock your pool? With the exception of superchlorinating (which requires waiting until the chlorine level drops to recommended levels), you can generally use your pool when the chemical is… dispersed throughout the pool. Fifteen minutes to one hour is a good rule of thumb.", "Shock Your Pool With Chlorine. To completely get rid of all the algae in your swimming pool, you need to double shock your pool even if it’s just a light shade of algae. Below is the recommended a guideline for double shock treatment to your pool. Pounds of Shock. Pool Gallons.", "Depends on the Chemical. When doing a pool shock (superchlorinating the pool with concentrated chlorine), you should wait between eight and 36 hours before swimming in your pool.", "Why do I need to shock my pool every week? Shocking your swimming pool is a very important element in maintaining your pool water's clarity and balance. Using chlorine tablets alone will not kill off all bacteria and algae that grow in the pool water.", "Pool shock can raise the chlorine level of the pool rapidly so you will always want to be careful when adding it to your pool water. It is also always best to check the chlorine level of the pool with a test kit or test strips before adding any shock. There are two different ways that you can buy swimming pool shock.", "This Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies video will show you how to maintain your pool during the summer – when you are swimming in your pool more frequently. You will need to shock your pool more frequently in the summer.", "The only way you can do this is to ADD MORE CHLORINE. Or as some dealers say SHOCK your pool. A SHOCK DOSAGE IS 2 POUNDS per 10,000 GALLONS, for calcium hypochlorite (powdered shock) or 3 gallons per 10,000 gallons for sodium hypochlorite. THIS MUST BE DONE ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS WHEN SWIMMERS HAVE BEEN IN THE POOL.", "SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain. SLAMing your pool is the best way to eliminate algae, sanitize your pool and get your water crystal clear. If you have algae, or the CC level is above 0.5, or the free chlorine (FC) level is zero, you should SLAM the pool. You cannot do this overnight...it often takes several days to see it completed...no shortcuts.", "Then, you need to determine the color of the pool from the algae. If you salt water pool is light green or teal, then you should double shock your pool using standard calcium hypochlorite shock. Before shocking, it’s best to take a pool brush and brush the walls and floors of your pool.", "How do you put salt shock in your swimming pool? If you own a salt pool and you need to raise the salt level, go buy NON-IODIZED salt and add the appropriate amount (as determined by your particular salt-chlorinator's …owners' manual) to get the level to where it needs to be.", "There are different kinds of pool shock that you can use in your swimming pool, but I would always recommend pre-dissolving the chemical before adding it to your pool, especially if you have a liner. The shock I commonly refer to is calcium hypochlorite shock, which has a high amount of unstabilized chlorine.", "If your pool has a lot of algae, you will need to triple the shock. Sometimes your pool water may turn black green due to excess amounts of algae. To clear this “creature from the black lagoon” you will have to quadruple shock your pool.", "This Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies video will show you how to maintain your pool during the summer – when you are swimming in your pool more frequently. 1 You will need to shock your pool more frequently in the summer. 2 Have a regular cleaning routine. Run your pump one hour for every ten degrees of outside temperature.", "You will only want to mix a 1lb bag of pool shock with the 5-gallon bucket 3/4 full of water. If you need to add more then 1LB of pool shock then you will have to mix a bucket for each bag of pool shock. Use something other then your hands to mix the pool shock. Most people use a stick, a small metal pole etc.", "Step 5. Shock the swimming pool-Using pool shock will kill off bacteria and algae that is still in your green swimming pool. Most likely if your pool is a deep green you will need to add several bags of pool shock over a period of days.This step should start to clear up your swimming pool.4 ft above ground. My chlorine level has been high this week but the green is still there. A local pool place thought it was chlorine block and 24hrs ago I put in 6 backs of shock and later in the day 6 gallons of bleach.", "Use 1 gallon of liquid chlorine for each 10,000 gallons of water in the pool to provide a shock chlorination treatment. Perform a shock treatment of chlorine to your pool once each week. You can't make a blanket statement like this since liquid chlorine is commonly available in 6%, 10% and 12.5% strengths! Also, the CYA level in the water has a direct influence on how high the FC needs to be raised to 'shock'.", "Its for those people that needed to shock a pool the night before, forgot, and have a large gathering at the pool that day... Most shock n swim pool products say you can swim from anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour after use. Just read the label. The other products you added will not harm your pool for use, just read the label on the shock n swim. Worst case scenario is you have to wait 12 hours like a normal chlorine shock.", "shock products. Adding shock to your pool removes contaminants that cause poor water quality. When you add a shock treatment to your pool, you remove contaminants that cause cloudy water, chlorine odor and eye irritation—not to mention preventing future problems and reducing the need for other chemicals. Shock XTRA BLUE.", "Before adding shock to the pool skimmer you will first want to back wash your pool filter and remove all of the air from the filter system. Usually you will add powered or granular pool shock through the skimmer. Liquid pool shock can be poured directly into the swimming pool in most cases.", "Please read more about many of your options below. Annual pool maintenance cost can vary, depending if you do the work yourself or have a professional do the work for you. The cost will vary from about $25 per month for DIY to $60-$100 per month for a professional to do it for you.Electric cost will vary from $250-$350 annually to run the pump, depending on the size of the pool and how long you run the pump.If you heat your pool, the cost will depend on the type of heater, how often you use your pool in cooler months, etc.lectric cost will vary from $250-$350 annually to run the pump, depending on the size of the pool and how long you run the pump. If you heat your pool, the cost will depend on the type of heater, how often you use your pool in cooler months, etc.", "Shock, Shock, Shock! Pool shock treatments are essential when opening your pool in the spring, along with pool maintenance during the swimming season. Also known as granular chlorine or powdered chlorine, pool shock can be used to kill algae, remove bacteria and other micro-contaminants, and is also used when chlorine is low and needs a quick boost.", "There are 3 different types of pool shock on the market today: 1 Calcium Hypochlorite Shock. 2 Lithium Hypochlorite Shock. 3 DiChlor Shock. 4 Potassium Peroxymonosulfate (non-chlorine shock) Non-chlorine shock is typically used in bromine pools, but you can use it in chlorine pools as well. You do not need to pre-dissolve and it only takes 15 minutes before you can swim again. However, this type of shock can get very expensive. No chlorine. No pre-dissolve. 15 minute wait time. Add anytime.", "1 Don’t use an algaecide before shocking, pool shock will break apart the polymer chains, rendering it useless. 2 Check your pH, before shocking, and then again a few hours after shocking. 3 Dilute your chlorine in a bucket for vinyl pools; for plaster pools, just pour it in. Run the filter 24/7 until water is clear.", "How long do you have to wait before going swimming after putting shock plus into a 1 200 gallon vinyl pool? You should always check that your chlorine level has dropped back into the recommended range 1-3ppm. You can do this by using a test kit.", "Should be diluted to prevent damage to all pool surface types. Adds calcium to your pool; a problem for already hard pool water. Leaves behind a messy shock dust after a pool shock treatment. 65% available chlorine. Not bad, but some pool shocks are stronger.", "Chlorine- free shock oxidizes bacteria and organics in your pool without any additional chemicals. With this type of shock, you can swim in the pool just one hour after. Chlorine- based shock contains high levels of pH and will alter both your pH and chlorine levels in the pool. Chlorine- free shock has a neutral pH and will not affect any of your other chemical levels.", "Pool water testing is vital for a sanitary and well functioning pool. How often you test the water in your pool depends on how heavily it is used and what you are testing for.", "Potassium Peroxymonosulfate (non-chlorine shock) Non-chlorine shock is typically used in bromine pools, but you can use it in chlorine pools as well. You do not need to pre-dissolve and it only takes 15 minutes before you can swim again. However, this type of shock can get very expensive.", "Correctly shocking the pool water results in very high chlorine levels, more than 10ppm. You will have to allow the shock to sanitize and oxidize the pool for a minimum of 8 hours before you can try to lower the chlorine levels in the pool. Another cause of high chlorine levels is setting your chlorine feeder, chlorinator or chlorine floater too high.", "Storing Pool Shock. 1 Use entire 1 lb bags, do not store opened bags of pool shock. 2 Separate chlorine shock from other chemicals. 3 Never allow pool shock to come in contact with any other substance. Keep chlorine shock clean and dry. Dirt or leaves can react 1 violently. Never mix different types of chlorine together." ]

[ "Was there a V96? I know I went to V97 and V98 but I cant remember if there was one before that...." ]

[ "Super, Super Leeds\\nSuper, Super Leeds\\nSuper, Super Leeds\\nSuper Leeds United", "Pretty much - there are still a few tickets left for Leeds, but thats about it now. they're already turning up on ebay! Probably by the time you read this reply Leeds will be sold out too! I've just heard on the radio that the organisers are trying to get permission to increase crowd capacity at both venues and if they're successful there'll be more ticketes going on sale in a few weeks time - Radio 1 has the details, you could log in to their web site for more info", "As in which country? It cost me a lot less in Bangkok than it did Leeds!", "Marcus Hahnemann (Reading), Gary Kelly (Leeds), Ibrahima Sonko (Reading), Joleon Lescott (Wolves), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Steve Sidwell (Reading), Ashley Young (Watford), Phil Jagielka (Sheffield United), Jason Koumas (Cardiff), Marlon King (Watford), Kevin Doyle (Reading)", "The band is called Love Spit Love\\n\\nUGH! Disappointed to hear someone attempting to cover How Soon Is Now. You just can't match Morrissey...in my opinion, anyway.", "True ! Good Luck leeds !", "It,s the lovly We,re leeds rhinos, we're leeds rhinos in the south stand. Sorry don,t know the name of the actual song. Keep it horny", "The main lineup was, of course, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. \\n\\nIn the early days, Pete Best played drums until being replaced by Starr. Stu Sutcliffe played bass until his death in 1962, when he was replaced by McCartney. Billy Preston is often considered the \"fifth Beatle\" for his work on organ/piano with the band in the late '60s. \\n\\nFor a short time in 1969, Eric Clapton was seriously considered as a replacement for Harrison, who had threatened to leave the band, but the idea never got off the ground. The band was broken up within a year.", "Crystal Palace. They have sneaked up and have the experience to do it. Leeds & Watford have shot their bolt and Preston don't have the quality.", "DJ Shadow, Nightmares on Wax, Thievery Corp, Kid Loco, Air, Bonobo, Morcheeba, Tosca, Unkle, Jazzanova, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band, Lemon Jelly, Massive Attack, Royksopp, Fila Brazillia, Ulrich Schnauss, Fischerspooner, Groove Armada, FC Kahuna, DJ Vadim, LTJ Bukem, Nobody, Verbrilli Sound, Eutow, Zero 7", "Leeds (where I live) is a city in the north of England, 200 miles north of London - it doesn't have a castle other than a folly a park.\\n\\nJust to be confusing Leeds Castle is near Maidstone in the county of Kent (England) and lies about 40 miles southeast of London (nowhere near the city of Leeds).\\n\\nHere's the website... http://www.leeds-castle.com/", "There were a few line-up changes over the years, but mainly it was Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, Doyle, and Robo. Other members included Franche Coma, Mr. Jim, Bobby Steele, Manny, Dez Cadena, and even Marky Ramone later on.\\n\\nAs far as records?\\n \\nAround eight 7\", and around a dozen-plus LPs, including some 12\" EPs. \\n\\nAnd don't forget the tons of bootleg vinyl on the Misfits from over the years. Remember- that band has been around since 1977, so there's quite a bit on 'em.", "Hi Womble. I had tickets with my boyfriend at the time but we broke up just before the gig. Crap timimg!! He took his daughter though and had a great time.\\nI went to the Silver Clef awards there a few years ago. I also saw Genesis there.\\nOff to see Austrailan Pink Floyd next week at the Albert Hall, then Roger Waters in Hyde park in July.", "37 miles, by Harry Tranton of Leeds in 1934. What the hell kind of question is that?", "\"Monsters of Rock\" is at Milton Keynes Bowl on the 3rd June, with Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Journey and (presumably) other bands to be announced.", "Im the biggest leeds fan out, n id love it if we went back up, i doubt if we will do it this year but next year hopefully we'll do a reading lol.", "The band came into being in 1962 when former schoolmates Jagger and Richards met Brian Jones, who named the band after the title of the Muddy Waters song \"Rolling Stone\". The original line-up included Jagger (vocals), Jones (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Richards (guitar), Ian \"Stu\" Stewart (piano), Mick Avory (drums) and Dick Taylor (bass). Taylor left shortly after to return to art school, and was later to form The Pretty Things. He was replaced by Bill Wyman. Another early part-time member was influential drummer Carlo Little, who was with Cyril Davies All Stars.", "There were a couple groups he performed with before The Faces (in '69) that contained future rock stars, one being Mick Fleetwood with \"Shotgun Express\" (in '66), but the most notable, was when he joined the \"Jeff Beck Group\" in '68.\\n\\nHis first hit, once he went solo, was Maggie May in '71. He was 26 years old at that time.", "Near Harewood a few miles north of Leeds, Yorkshire, England.", "Judas Priest with Dokken.\\n\\nCan't remember the year. Had to be around 1986 or 1987 though.", "its a light which bring way to leed a life", "Sunderland defeated Leeds 1-0 in Wembley Stadium when Ian Porterfeld scored in the 31st minute.", "this is what Peter Hammill himself wrote early january, after the tour:\\n\\nQUOTE\\n\\nAnd now we've come to the end of this particular chapter of the band's history.\\n\\n..And?\\nAt present there are no plans for any further shows or recordings for this incarnation of Van der Graaf Generator. After the experiences of the last couple of years I'm reluctant to utter the word \"never\" in the context of the group but it does seem unlikely that this line-up will attempt anything else in the immediate future. A fascinating ride it's been but time's up. In due course I expect we'll explain things further.\\nUNQUOTE\\n\\nnow, what does \"this incarnation\" imply/suggest??? (there have been various line-ups/incarnations of Van der Graaf, so....???", "Here is the answer to your question...press the link.\\n\\nDerek Harper, Rolando Blackman, Sam Perkins, James Donaldson, Mark Aguirre, Brad Davis, Adrian Dantley, Bill Washington, Terry Tyler, Herb Williams, Detlef Schrempf, Roy Tarpley, Morlon Wiley, Uwe Blab, Anthony Jones, Steve Alford", "No . So you need Flash back ; to understand the reason .\\nDifficulties between Mam & Dad , could leed to this .", "June 13th, 1968 in Manchester, England", "The oldest railway in the world is the Middleton Railway in Leeds, England.\\n\\nIt began operating in 1758 and is still in operation today. When it opened it was used to transport coal from the mines to the canal in Leeds where the coal was loaded into barges and transported to other towns and cities.\\n\\nToday about half the length of the original line remains and is used for pleasure trips.\\n\\nThe first public railway was the Stockton to Darlington Railway line in England which opend in 1825 primarily for the purpose of transporting coal from the mines around Darlington and West Durham to the port of Stockton.\\n\\nPrior to the railways the main method of tranporting bulk goods had been by canal but something faster and more direct was needed. The railways were very successful and quickly a linked network spread across much of the UK joining industrial areas, ports and towns.", "ahh i was there!!! i know it's too late but i was just very excited to see this question and i had to respond... i'm sorry i can't help =[", "No, never happened. There's a laundry list of performers who have (Love, The Byrds, Hendrix, Deep Purple just to mention a few), but VF isn't one of them.\\nYour Dad must have been thinking of the band \"Love\"...they were about as trippy as you could get!", "i cannot make a list for you , i'm not sure of the year but there's afew band names , s club 7 , 911 ,steps , wheats", "Unsure as the final game of the Chamionship(Play Off Final) is to be played tomorrow between Leeds and Watford. Fear if Watford win, they will come straight down with Fulham and possibly Aston Villa. If Leeds qualify, add Sheffield Utd could join in the relegation fight.", "Leeds United in season 1997/98, after coming from Portugal (Boavista).\\n\\nHis career:\\n2005/06 Middlesbrough \\n2004/05 Middlesbrough \\n2003/04 Chelsea \\n2002/03 Chelsea \\n2001/02 Chelsea \\n2000/01 Chelsea \\n1999/00 Atlético \\n1998/99 Leeds United \\n1997/98 Leeds United \\n1996/97 Boavista F.C.\\n1995/96 Campomaiorense\\n1994/95 Campomaiorense\\n1993/94 Campomaiorense\\n1992/93 Campomaiorense / AZ Alkmaar \\n1991/92 AZ Alkmaar \\n1990/91 AZ Alkmaar" ]

[ "(CNN) -- Iran's Red Crescent Society will try to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza by sending food and medical supplies to the besieged Palestinian territory, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday. Red Crescent official Abdul Rauf Adibzadeh said one shipment of relief goods will arrive in Gaza via Egypt by the end of the week, Iranian media reported. The aid group is also preparing to send two relief ships to the coast of Gaza, including a hospital ship with doctors, nurses and operating rooms and another vessel with more relief goods like food and medication, the IRNA and Mehr news agencies reported. Israel stopped a convoy of six ships trying to deliver aid to Gaza last week in defiance of an Israeli blockade, killing at least nine people in the course of boarding one of the vessels. Adibzadeh said there is a possibility that Iranian Red Crescent ships may be attacked but added that, despite the danger, if the Iranian authorities approve, the shipments will be sent to Gaza. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the Iranian ships will be part of a new aid flotilla organized by several Islamic countries, though he declined to say which countries are involved. He called it \"strictly a humanitarian effort for the people of Gaza.\" \"We are preparing two ships to head for Gaza that will provide humanitarian aid,\" Mehmanparast said. \"Their departure depends on how soon we coordinate with other countries that are also sending aid ships. The process of organizing the operation is under way.\" Separately, a \"Jewish boat\" is planning to try to reach Gaza, two pro-Palestinian European Jewish groups announced Monday. \"Our purpose is to call an end to the siege of Gaza, to this illegal collective punishment of the whole civilian population,\" Edith Lutz said on behalf of European Jews for a Just Peace in the Near East and Jews for Justice for Palestinians. The group is not saying when the boat is sailing or where it is leaving from \"in order to avoid sabotage,\" Lutz said. Israeli commandos intercepted the first convoy at sea May 31 and stormed the largest vessel, the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara. The ships were carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, organizers said. The Palestinian territory has been blockaded by Israel since its takeover by the Islamic movement Hamas in 2007. The deadly raid sparked international condemnation. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden avoided mentioning the issue directly when he spoke after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt on Monday. He said that the present situation \"is unsustainable for all sides\" and that the Israelis and Palestinians needed to \"move to direct negotiations as soon as possible that will result in an end to the occupation that began in 1967 and to a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel and a Palestinian state living in peace and security.\" The U.N. Security Council has called for an inquiry into the flotilla raid, and the U.N. Human Rights Council has condemned the assault and voted to launch an investigation. Israeli officials have defended the legality of the raid, criticizing those aboard the Mavi Marmara for attacking the boarding party and insisting that they can handle the investigation themselves. CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report." ]

[ "Officials in Washington said Monday they would grant consular access to the U.S.-held suspect in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said officials do not believe the suspect, Manssor Arbabsia, 56, is entitled to consular visits because he is a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen. But the agency has long encouraged authorities to allow consular visits in such cases and would do so this time, he said. Earlier, a senior administration official said Monday the United States will grant access if Iran formally requests it. The Iranian Foreign Ministry posted a statement to its website Sunday saying that it had given a note demanding access to Arbabsia. but Toner said that it did not appear that the request had been received yet. U.S. officials arrested Arbabsia last week on suspicion that he conspired with an Iran-based member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to hire hit men from a Mexican drug cartel to set off a bomb next year at a restaurant to be visited by Adel Al-Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the accusations were baseless and called for access to the suspect. \"Iran's Foreign Ministry reiterated that any delay by the United States in facilitating consular contact with the Iranian national would be contrary to the logic of international law and the United States' obligations,\" the Foreign Ministry said. The United States alleges individuals in the Iranian government knew about the plot. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said Iran is willing to look at evidence in the plot. \"We are prepared to consider any issue, even if it is falsely created, with patience. We have asked the Unites States to provide us with the relevant information regarding this scenario,\" he told the Islamic Republic News Agency. The State Department said last week there had been direct contact with Iran about the alleged plot, but a senior Iranian official denied it. Two State Department officials said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, met with Mohammad Khazaee, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations. But the Iranian mission in New York denied it. \"There were no kinds of negotiations between the two countries, and there was not such a contact,\" said Alireza Miryousefi, press secretary for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations. Salehi said Monday the American allegations were aimed at creating discord between states in the region. And he asserted that Iran had never been involved in terrorist operations, the Islamic Republic News Agency said. Salehi's apparent willingness to look at evidence of the plot comes in stark contrast to the response of the country's supreme leader. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the allegations \"meaningless and absurd\" in his first public reaction to alleged plot. \"They (the U.S.) want to isolate Iran,\" Khamenei said over chants of \"Down with America\" in a speech Saturday before thousands in Gilangharb, Iran. The alleged scheme involved a connection to the Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, which formally answers to Khamenei. Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is also accused in the alleged hit. Authorities developed the case against the suspects with the help of an undercover informant posing as an associate of a Mexican drug cartel, according to officials and an FBI agent's affidavit. Reza Aslan, a religious scholar and author, told CNN on Saturday that the described plot doesn't fit the Quds Force's modus operandi. Using a drug cartel would be risky and a Quds Force agent would be more reliable than Arbabsiar, a used-car salesman in Texas, he said. \"It's sloppy. It's uncharacteristic,\" Aslan said. \"It really does not serve Iran's interest in any legitimate way.\" Iran could more easily target Saudi diplomats in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, Aslan said. \"Doing so on U.S. soil is unmistakably an attack on the United States, not on Saudi Arabia.\"", "U.S. President told Congress 'no options off the table' but door remains open to peaceful talks with Tehran . Germany, France and Britain make rare joint statement, warning Iran it would face economic isolation . Tehran remains defiant and says it will block the sensitive oil-important Strait . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Updated: . 06:59 GMT, 25 January 2012 . Strong words: President Obama used his State of the Union speech in Washington last night to send a message to Iran that the U.S. would keep up the pressure on its disputed nuclear program . President Obama used his State of the Union speech last night to ramp up pressure on Iran after Europe sent battleships to the Gulf. The U.S. President warned Iran that America would focus on its disputed nuclear program with 'no options off the table' but said the door remained open to talks for a peaceful resolution. The President's comments came as European nations sent an international flotilla of . warships, led by U.S. carriers, through the sensitive Strait of Hormuz on Sunday as a 'clear . signal' to Tehran. Iran has threatened to close the strait - through which 35 per cent of the world's tanker-borne oil exports pass - in retaliation for sanctions against its oil exports. In Washington last night, Obama told Congress that Tehran was isolated and facing 'crippling' sanctions that he said would continue so long as the country kept its back turned to the international community. He said: 'America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal. 'But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.' When he came to office in 2009, Obama broke with his Republican predecessor George W Bush and offered an olive branch to Iran, saying he wanted a new beginning with the country that Bush had labeled part of the 'axis of evil'. However tensions have escalated over the Iranian nuclear program that Tehran claims is for energy purposes and the West fears is to build a nuclear weapon. In the State of the Union address, which focused mainly on the U.S. economy, Obama also said he was sure that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad 'will soon discover that the forces of change can't be reversed' and said the U.S. would stand against violence and intimidation in the Middle East and beyond. He also sought to assuage concerns among Jewish voters in the United States about his stance on Israel. 'Our iron-clad commitment - and I mean iron-clad - to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history,' the President said. Iran's nuclear program is a major concern for Israel, which has not ruled out a unilateral strike on Iran's nuclear sites. The strong words from President Obama followed a rare joint yesterday where German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and British prime minister David Cameron warned Tehran it would face economic isolation unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions 'immediately'. They added: 'We have no quarrel with . the Iranian people. But the Iranian leadership has failed to restore . international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its . nuclear programme. We will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.' Flotilla: The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (left), takes over from the USS John C. Stennis in the Arabian Sea. The USS Abraham Lincoln later led the convoy through the Strait of Hormuz . The statement, which concluded a day . of intense activity, was backed up by an 'unprecedented' package of EU . sanctions, designed to suck the lifeblood from the regime – including the . ban on importing Iranian oil into Europe. Tehran responded with defiance, with . elements of the ruling regime warning it would shut the strategically . critical Strait of Hormuz – a move that would effectively close the Gulf . to shipping and send oil prices rocketing. The United States has warned Tehran . that closing the Strait, which carries one-fifth of the world's oil . exports, would trigger a massive military response from the West. The . message was underlined at the weekend when Britain, the U.S. and France . sent six warships through the Strait. Mr Cameron said the UK 'will not accept' Iran's bid to develop a nuclear weapon while the country's defence secretary Philip Hammond warned that reinforcements will be available if needed. Mr Hammond was speaking at a press . conference in London following the annual round of talks between UK and . Australian foreign and defence ministers. Australia's foreign minister . Kevin Rudd said his country would enforce the same ban on Iranian crude . oil exports agreed by the European Union yesterday. Under pressure: USS John C. Stennis (L) and USS Abraham Lincoln (R) pictured last week. President Obama said in his State of the Union speech last night that the U.S. would keep at Iran to end its nuclear program . Between them, EU member states import . almost 600,000 barrels a day of Iran's crude oil exports – more than a . fifth of the total. A . ban on exports of gold, precious metals and diamonds from Iran has also . been imposed, along with more economic and travel bans on members of the . hardline regime. Leading figures . in Tehran responded . furiously. Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of the Iranian parliament's . foreign affairs and security committee, said: 'If any disruption happens . regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of  Hormuz will . definitely be closed.' Senior politician Heshmatollah . Falahatpisheh added: 'In case of threat, the closure of the Strait of . Hormuz is one of Iran's rights.' Sources believe full closure . of the Strait remains unlikely because it would bring 'huge negative . consequences' for Tehran. But they fear Iran could engage in months of . threats and disruption which would ramp up oil prices in the West . without sparking a full military reprisal against Iran. A U.S.-led carrier group passed through the . strait, which is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. The USS Admiral . Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with a fleet of 90 planes, headed the . group. It was escorted by British ship HMS Argyll, a guided missile cruiser and two . destroyers from the U.S. Navy and a French warship. Threats: Iran has stepped up threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil flows, in retaliation for facing sanctions . Insiders said it was unusual for a . flotilla made up of ships from three separate navies to pass within a . few miles of the Iranian coastline. A defence source rejected suggestions . that it was a provocative move intended to increase pressure on Iran, . adding: 'It is a statement that makes abundantly clear that these are . international waters and all countries need to respect that. This shows . that we are working in partnership and solidarity.' Professor Paul Stevens, a senior . research fellow at the think-tank Chatham House, said he doubted Tehran . would carry out its threat to blockade the strait, for fear of sparking a . 'shooting war' with the U.S. Instead, he said, an oil blockade would . encourage hardliners in Iran to launch a wave of terror attacks. Professor Stevens said an oil blockade . was unlikely to succeed, because Tehran could ship its oil, which makes . up 50 per cent of its revenues, through pipelines to Turkey and Egypt. He added: 'History is littered with failed oil embargoes. However, the . lessons of history appear to have passed by the decision makers of the . EU.' Threat: The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS John C. Stennis during the handover in the Arabian Sea. The departure of the USS John C Stennis prompted Iran to warn the Americans not to send any more carriers . World map illustrating global sea trade in oil and highlighting the Strait of Hormuz .", "Britain could send military reinforcements to the Gulf if the dispute with Iran escalates, the Defence Secretary has revealed. Philip Hammond said the decision to send HMS Argyll as part of an international flotilla of warships through the sensitive Strait of Hormuz on Sunday sent a 'clear signal' to Tehran. And he warned that reinforcements will be available if needed. Iran has threatened to close the strait - through which 35 per cent of the world's tanker-borne oil exports pass - in retaliation for sanctions against its oil exports. The news comes after Prime Minister David Cameron last night said Britain 'will not accept' Iran's bid to develop a nuclear weapon. Flotilla: The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (left), takes over from the USS John C. Stennis in the Arabian Sea. The USS Abraham Lincoln later led the convoy through the Strait of Hormuz . British warship: HMS Argyll, the Type 23 frigate, which joined the U.S. vessels (file photo) Mr Hammond was speaking at a press . conference in London following the annual round of talks between UK and . Australian foreign and defence ministers. Australia's foreign minister . Kevin Rudd said his country would enforce the same ban on Iranian crude . oil exports agreed by the European Union yesterday. He and defence . minister Stephen Smith will attend today's National Security Council . meeting. It follows yesterday's rare joint statement . where German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Nicolas . Sarkozy and Mr Cameron warned Tehran it would face economic isolation . unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions 'immediately'. They added: 'We have no quarrel with . the Iranian people. But the Iranian leadership has failed to restore . international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its . nuclear programme. We will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.' The statement, which concluded a day . of intense activity, was backed up by an 'unprecedented' package of EU . sanctions, designed to suck the lifeblood from the regime – including the . ban on importing  Iranian oil into Europe. Tehran responded with defiance, with . elements of the ruling regime warning it would shut the strategically . critical Strait of Hormuz – a move that would effectively close the Gulf . to shipping and send oil prices rocketing. Under pressure: USS John C. Stennis (L) and USS Abraham Lincoln (R) pictured last week. President Obama said in his State of the Union speech last night that the U.S. would keep at Iran to end its nuclear program . Threats: Iran has stepped up threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil flows, in retaliation for facing sanctions . The United States has warned Tehran . that closing the Strait, which carries one-fifth of the world's oil . exports, would trigger a massive military response from the West. The . message was underlined at the weekend when Britain, the U.S. and France . sent six warships through the Strait. The tensions come amid mounting concern that Tehran is close to developing a nuclear weapon. After talks to agree the new EU . sanctions, Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was 'no plausible . civilian explanation' for Iran's programme of uranium enrichment. Pressure: British Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was 'no plausible civilian explanation' for Iran's nuclear programme . He vowed to keep increasing the pressure on Tehran and said the sanction 'represented a significant increase in peaceful and legitimate pressure on the Iranian government to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme.' He added: 'Until it does so the pressure will only increase.' Between them, EU member states import . almost 600,000 barrels a day of Iran's crude oil exports – more than a . fifth of the total – although only a tiny fraction ends up in the UK. A . ban on exports of gold, precious metals and diamonds from Iran has also . been imposed, along with more economic and travel bans on members of the . hardline regime. Backing the EU stance, Mr Rudd said: 'It is not just that we endorse the actions taken in Brussels for Europe, we of course will do the same for Australia. The message needs to be delivered to the people of Iran, to the political elites as well as the government of Iran, that their behaviour is globally unacceptable. 'This is not a piece of idle philanthropy on the part of Australian foreign policy, this costs,' he said - pointing to tumbling exports to Iran'. He added: 'But it is a cost worth paying.' Oil imports from Iran to Australia were now 'negligible' however, he said. Mr Hague urged the regime to 'come to . its senses' and resume talks on its nuclear programme. Leading figures . in Tehran responded . furiously. Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of the Iranian parliament's . foreign affairs and security committee, said: 'If any disruption happens . regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of  Hormuz will . definitely be closed.' Senior politician Heshmatollah . Falahatpisheh added: 'In case of threat, the closure of the Strait of . Hormuz is one of Iran's rights.' British sources believe full closure . of the Strait remains unlikely because it would bring 'huge negative . consequences' for Tehran. But they fear Iran could engage in months of . threats and disruption which would ramp up oil prices in the West . without sparking a full military reprisal against Iran. A Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS . Argyll, was part of the U.S.-led carrier group which passed through the . strait, which is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. Threat: The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS John C. Stennis during the handover in the Arabian Sea. The departure of the USS John C Stennis prompted Iran to warn the Americans not to send any more carriers . World map illustrating global sea trade in oil and highlighting the Strait of Hormuz . The USS Admiral . Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with a fleet of 90 planes, headed the . group. It was escorted by the Argyll, a guided missile cruiser and two . destroyers from the U.S. Navy and a French warship. Insiders said it was unusual for a . flotilla made up of ships from three separate navies to pass within a . few miles of the Iranian coastline. A defence source rejected suggestions . that it was a provocative move intended to increase pressure on Iran, . adding: 'It is a statement that makes abundantly clear that these are . international waters and all countries need to respect that. This shows . that we are working in partnership and solidarity.' Professor Paul Stevens, a senior . research fellow at the think-tank Chatham House, said he doubted Tehran . would carry out its threat to blockade the strait, for fear of sparking a . 'shooting war' with the U.S. Instead, he said, an oil blockade would . encourage hardliners in Iran to launch a wave of terror attacks. Professor Stevens said an oil blockade . was unlikely to succeed, because Tehran could ship its oil, which makes . up 50 per cent of its revenues, through pipelines to  Turkey and Egypt. He added:  'History is littered with failed oil embargoes. However, the . lessons of history appear to have passed by the decision makers of the . EU.' EU governments are calculating that the loss of European oil markets will persuade Iran to reopen talks on its nuclear plans. The ban has been phased in partly to ease the impact on EU nations facing economic difficulties and which are very dependent on Iranian oil. The UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands led calls for nothing more than a three-month delay before the sanctions bite, but Greece, which fears its economic woes will worsen if it cannot find alternative suppliers at Iran-style preferential rates - urged a much longer phase-in to ease the pain. Mr Hague said an oil embargo was designed to persuade the Iranian government to launch 'meaningful' talks with the international community on its nuclear intentions. Europe's foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton also insisted the sanctions were needed to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. An offer to Iran three months ago to begin new talks has gone unanswered, she pointed out. But concern remains that sanctions designed to hit Iran will inevitably hit some EU member states as well. Based in Plymouth, HMS Argyll is the longest-serving Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy. Built in the 1980s on the Clyde, she was commissioned in 1991. Following a £20m refit in 2009-2010, HMS Argyll is now one of the most up-to-date and capable frigates in the Fleet, with her weapons and sensors significantly enhanced. HMS Argyll, currently in the Middle East, is part of the Combined Maritime Forces - a US-led, 25-nation, multinational naval partnership promoting security, stability and prosperity across 2.5m sq miles of international waters. About 40 per cent of the world's shipping and a third of the world's oil passes through the region, most through the chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab-el Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal. The ship's main tasks includes counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and building on established relationships with regional allies. Source: Royal Navy .", "ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's foreign ministry Wednesday rejected concerns raised by the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief that the country's nuclear weapons \"could fall into the hands of an extremist group in Pakistan or in Afghanistan.\" Mohamed ElBaradei, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief. fears for Pakistan's nuclear weapons. Mohamed ElBaradei's comments to Al-Hayat newspaper were \"irresponsible\" and \"unwarranted,\" foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq said at a news briefing on Wednesday. \"Pakistan rejects the statement by Dr. ElBaradei, Director General IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), hinting at the possibility of its nuclear weapons falling into the hands of extremists,\" according to a ministry statement. \"As head of the IAEA, which is a U.N. body, he has to be careful about his statements which ought to remain within the parameters of his mandate. \"His remarks also ignore the fact that the strategic assets of Pakistan are fully secure and under multilayered safeguards and controls exercised by the National Command Authority.\" In an interview published in Al-Hayat Tuesday, ElBaradei said that Pakistan's recent political instability makes it more sensitive to susceptible to problems in other Muslim countries. \"The effects of any new war in the Middle East and the Islamic world could have repercussions, not only in Iran, but what I fear most is the effect in Pakistan, a nation with many internal problems,\" ElBaradei said. \"I fear a system of chaos or extremist regime in this state, which has 30 or 40 nuclear weapons.\" Pakistan has been in a state of political upheaval since the country's opposition challenged President Pervez Musharraf's tight grip on power, pushing him to step down as military chief and lift the emergency rule he had imposed in early November. The country further spiraled into chaos after the December 27 assassination of leading opposition figure and former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto. In response to the IAEA director-general's comments, Pakistan's foreign ministry stressed in its statement that ElBaradei, \"on several occasions, has been briefed about the structure and control mechanisms put in place to ensure complete safety of our nuclear assets.\" \"Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state. Our nuclear weapons are as secure as that of any other nuclear weapon state. We, therefore, believe statements expressing concern about their safety and security are unwarranted and irresponsible. \"Pakistan attaches great importance to IAEA and has extended cooperation and assistance to the Agency on many important issues towards the fulfillment of its mandate. Our civilian nuclear program is under IAEA safeguards and we have always fully complied with IAEA obligations,\" the ministry said. E-mail to a friend .", "An Iranian actress - already exiled from the country for exposing her breasts in a 2012 photo shoot - has caused another uproar after posing naked in French magazine, Egoiste. A stylish black-and-white picture of Golshifteh Farahani taken by world-renowned photographer Paolo Roversi features on the front cover. It shows the 31-year-old staring sultrily into the camera, body slightly twisted to reveal her completely uncovered form. Farahani was exiled from Iran in 2012 for revealing her right breast in a promotional video with other actors to promote Cesars - the French equivalent of the Academy Awards. Scroll down for video . Exile: Golshifteh Farahani, who has caused an uproar by posing naked in a French magazine, has not been able to return to Iran since 2012 (pictured) when she exposed her right breast in promotional video . Controversy: The 31-year-old actress (pictured at the premier of 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' features completely naked on the front cover of French magazine Egoiste . Authorities phoned her family in Tehran to say she would be 'punished, that her breasts would be cut off and presented [to her father] on a plate', Middle East news site Al-Arabiya reported at the time. She now lives in Paris with her husband but this latest act of rebellion against her allegedly oppressive home country has raised questions about her safety. Fox News claims Farahani told the luxury publication: 'France has liberated me. [Paris] is the only place in the world where women do not feel guilty. 'In the East, you are that [guilty] all the time. As soon as you feel your first sexual impulses.' Farahani is considered Iran's most famous actress after being the first woman from the country to star in a Hollywood blockbuster film. She recently starred alongside Oscar winner Christian Bale in Ridley Scott's epic 'Exodus: Gods and Kings'. And she appeared in the hit 2008 film 'Body of Lies' with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. In the 2012 road-trip movie 'Just Like a Woman', she played a fugitive accused of her mother-in-law's death alongside Sienna Miller whose character had aspirations of winning a belly dancing competition. Iran has seen a rise in policies which infringe the 'most basic rights of Iranian women' since the current President took power in 2013, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. But some argue that Farahani posing naked is not the best way to support the rights of Iranian women. Big screen: Farahani is considered Iran's most famous acting export after appearing in the 2008 film 'Body of Lies' (pictured) and more recently in Ridley Scott's epic 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' Unwelcome: The actress (pictured at the Venice Film Festival) now resides in Paris with her husband and claims that France has 'liberated her' Kamal Nawash from the Free Muslims Coalition said: 'In addition to degrading and objectifying women, posing naked may actually be counterproductive to supporting women's rights. 'Those opposing equality for women, will just point to the naked women and argue to the parents of the nation that it is their traditional values that prevent their daughters from being degraded and objectified as women.' The official Tehran-based news agency has described her as the 'hidden, disgusting face of cinema'. She was also condemned by Iran's Ministry of Culture for 'not wearing a headscarf' at the New York premiere of 'Body of Lies'. Censors banned the last film she made in the country - 'About Elly' - from being shown in the country. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards and eventually won the award for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. Farahani told the British newspaper The Telegraph that she was also informed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guide official that the country 'does need any actors or artists' and that she should offer her 'artistic services somewhere else.' A representative for Farahani did not respond for further comment, and the Iranian government is yet to issue a response to her photo shoot.", "Ayatollah Ali Khamnei authorised his top commander to coordinate with US forces, it was claimed . The mission to crush the Islamic State out of existence leaves the US and the UK facing the unpalatable prospect of having to make common cause with foes in Iran and Syria. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has approved contacts with US military officials to help defeat jihadists, it was claimed last night. Ayatollah Khamenei has authorised his top commander to co-ordinate military operations with the US, Iraqi and Kurdish forces, sources in Tehran told the BBC. Iran - which has called the US 'the Great Satan' - has traditionally opposed US involvement in Iraq, an Iranian ally. Iran's foreign ministry officially denied it planned to cooperate with the US, but Iraq's president Fuad Masum was said to have confirmed the extraordinary development. Shia Iran sees the extremist Sunni Islamic State group as a grave threat. The former chief of the defence staff, General the Lord Richards, said Britain should ask Iran and Syria for assistance - and also persuade Russia to step in, despite the conflict in Ukraine. Asked if the West should consider a deal with the Syrian regime, which it was proposing to attack a year ago, Lord Richards said: 'My judgement is that you do have to come to some accommodation with them. 'Russia, ironically could play a very important role in that and Iran too. 'There are the bones for a grand strategic solution to the Middle East here, if we can get together with people who we viewed as rather hostile. 'This is happening all over the world and needs to be the first stage in a grand strategic plan to once and for all deal with Muslim extremism in places such as Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, and now we hear in Myanmar.' David Cameron dismissed the idea that the Government should co-operate with President Bashar Assad in Syria to tackle the Islamic State - insisting he was 'part of the problem'. The alliance would bring together previously hostile governments in a bid to overthrow extremist Muslims in the Middle East . General Lord Richard Dannatt, former head of the Army, said Britain should ask Iran and Syria for assistance in overcoming ISIS . His suggestion for Britain to appeal to President Assad (right) was dismissed by David Cameron who described the Syrian leader as 'part of the problem' Assad's 'brutal' regime had encouraged the rise of Isis by persecuting parts of Syria's population. The Prime Minister said he still wanted to see a \"transition\" of regime in that country. 'Just as we need in Iraq a democratic pluralistic government to represent all of that country -Sunni and Shia and Kurd - so in Syria we need a transition to a government that can represent all the people in that country and stop brutalising them,' he said. 'My argument is you need that mixture of intelligent politics, diplomatic pressure, long-term engagement in a comprehensive plan as well as the potential for military or other more aggressive action.'" ]

[ "I love this book for it's brevity, clarity and simplicity. While everything in this book is obvious and common sense, it is still amazingly useful. You should not underestimate your minds ability to ignore and distort such obvious things, especially when we are emotionally invested in the product. Reading this book is helpful when starting or reviewing a product." ]

[ "Ted Bell is more and more formulaic and predictable. Losing interest in Alex Hawke and the whole team of characters", "the parachute part is great, but it has a velcro belt which isn't that great and can come apart when running. Maybe I shouldn't run so fast? No, it was for my high school girls soccer team, so not a whole lot of heavy sprinting.", "I have never read books by Lisa Scottoline before, The reading kept my attention the whole book, didn't want to put the book down . Very interesting.", "And the deliciousness continues. Hope just cannot seem to catch a break. Demigods and Monsters picks up right where book 1 ended. In book two we get to know a bit more about Hope's predicament and a possible solution. We also get more information that one becomes either Team Xan or Team Athan. I think that Miss Wagner's voice grew in the writing. The book is fast paced (another read in one sitting) and held my interest from page one to the end. Now, I am left waiting for the third book. I need it NOW. I am not sure if I am either Team Xan or Team Athan. I flip flop between the two. Again, if you like this genre and mythology I do feel that you would enjoy this series. Just give yourself time because you may not want to stop reading after you have begun. Another thanks to Miss Wagner for the delightful read!", "It was a wonderful read that I wish didn't end. The type of book you want to buy the whole series after.", "We just love this whole series! Mary Pope Osborne really knows how to get children engaged in reading. The story lines are simple to follow and so engaging that my children want to read the whole book at once! They look forward to each new adventure.", "Love the keyboard, but the mouse is comber some :( I decided to use a Logitech M705 instead (if only these two would team up to make a set...?) Otherwise it works great :) fast transit and tracked it the whole way", "Just did not find myself wanting to read the whole book immediately. Easy reading if on holiday. Prefer more mystery.", "A hit with young readers. Pete is the right blend of fun with a gentle dose of life lesson (sharing, sportsmanship, trying new things, etc.)\nSome Pete books are better than others and this is one of the handful I buy multiple copies of to give to children in our Reading to Dogs program.\nWhen a child wearing a baseball team shirt tells me he/she doesn't want to read, this is the book I pull out of my bag.", "I really wanted to like this book and after reading the reviews I bought the entire series. I Was bored with the whole thing! In my opinion the charactors were undeveloped and the books just drug. I didn't finish any of them.", "Fit extremely well, I'm 6ft 190lbs and I bought this for our dodgeball team outfit and the sizing was exactly what I wanted", "I wanted to use this as an alternative to exchanging hard drives with my production team. For some reason when you try to upload large files it errors out. I could be doing something wrong but I tried everything.\n\nNo Dice.", "Cry of the Whippoorwill was a book I couldn't put down. The more I read, the more I wanted to know the whole story. Adventure, action, and love. Wonderful book!", "Elizabeth Balzano is an educated, amazing music therapist! Her program is excellent. My son LOVES Ballou and has a wonderful time interacting with the Spectrum Connection/Bounce Series. Children learn excellent emotional communication skills! Whether your child struggles with developmental delays or has a typically developing brain - they will BENEFIT from this series. Parents - YOU will benefit from the wonderful \"Tips: Advice\" special features. Bravo!! Brava! to the whole team - including Brandissmo!! & Sprout! This is a MUST HAVE item - the WHOLE series!", "Quantum Earth is about a team of seven metaphysicians, lead by Mel Hawkins (\"Hawk\") and Shauna Troy, investigating why the Earth is in peril.\n\nIn light of the tsunami, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and other natural catastrophes, many people are wondering if Armageddon is coming for real. Would 2012 be the end of the human race, as we know it? Most importantly, are we responsible for these natural disasters? If so, are we being destroyed so the earth can replenish itself? How can we survive the Earth changes? What can we do to appease it and save the human race? These are the questions the team is asking and seeking solutions to. They have their work cut out for them.\n\nQuantum Earth is more than about metaphysics and climate changes. The author, Julie Achterhoff, fills it with romance, mystery, and fantasy. I read this book in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know who is this mysterious Starborn one, the friend of the team, and the equally enigmatic benefactor who donated 2.5 million dollars. What does he have to gain from the team's work? Is he benevolent enough to help save the Earth and the human race or does he have an ulterior motive? More importantly, I wanted to know the scientists' findings and solutions.\n\nMs. Achterhoff does a great job of keeping the story intriguing all the way to the end. I love that there are actions in this book. She makes me care about her characters, especially the romantically involved leaders of the team: Hawk and Shauna. My jaw dropped when I found out about half of her identity.\n\nI love this book and highly recommend it.\n\nSambath Meas, Author of The Immortal Seeds", "The Gathering has an exciting and engaging plot along with solid characters that will draw you in. You will want to read the whole series nonstop.", "I was very shocked when Biden and our so called leaders named the seal team 6 as the bin laden capture team. It is so sad our leaders wanted a pat on the back instead of concern for the true heros. bin laden was a super star for some and i figured they would go to any lengths to extract revenge. so thankful and so sorry to the team and the families. they deserved better. God bless and keep military and their families.", "My Rating 5 out of 5 stars\n\nThis is book 1 in the Jackman and Evans series and, while it does work very well as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading them in sequence so as to extract full enjoyment from what is an excellent book. That said, I did read Book 2: Their Lost Daughters a few months ago and really enjoyed it so this book has been on my 'to read' list.\n\nThe story begins 20 years ago with the brutal murder of a farmer and his wife. The murderer was caught, imprisoned and has since died. Fast forward to the present day and another brutal murder is committed on the patch of DI Rowan Jackman, DS Marie Evans and their team. They are sifting through the evidence when a man walks into the police station and confesses to the murder. Jackman and Evans think this is too easy and they would be right but just what is going on in Daniel's head and life?\n\nThis is a very gripping story with a lot going on as the team try to untangle the web and uncover the clues. However, there are complications at every turn and all is not as it seems as we join the team on an adrenaline pumping journey through the twists and turns of the case. As more murders are committed and people are running away and going missing this is one very gripping book that is impossible to put down.\n\nI love Jackman, Evans and the team as we learn about them and their lives. They develop very well throughout the book and, as I have grown to expect from Joy, there are no chunks of descriptive text as their personalities develop and we learn about their past lives.\n\nThis is an excellent start to what is developing into a fantastic series you won't want to miss. Definitely worth every one of the 5 stars and a must read for anyone who likes psychological thrillers, police procedural or any kind of crime fiction. I will definitely be reading every book by this author.", "I have read most of the Private Series and every book has been suspenseful and intriguing to the point you do not want to put the book down until you have read the whole thing. I recommend all of James Patterson books.", "German literature can be on the grim side. This definitely reflects that stereotype. And is a bit confusing at times. However, it has kept me interested the whole time, wanting to find out what happens next, and what happens after that, and after that. I read half in the first day after I uploaded it to my Kindle. I love it, but read the synopsis before to make sure it's something you'd like to read.", "I have read better stories and to be honest I read this so I could see how the series ended. The whole series seemed more like chapters of a larger book. Author tended to repeat himself to the point I wanted to put the book aside for awhile.", "the reason I'm giving it at 3 stars because I originally ordered the grey orange and pink ones and when they came in the mail they sent me a whole do different color the colors were black and red and white completely different but to save the hassle and I kept the shoes only because it is the same colors of my louisville Kentucky team but overall I see the quality is pretty nice a little expensive though", "This was a nice read for someone who did not know a whole lot about the game chess and wants to become a master. This book gives tips, trick, and strategies to the game that allow you to accelerate your learning in the game. I would recommend this to anyone who is wanting to the master the game.", "Cade and Nina's story had me from the first page. There are a lot of twist and turns throughout the whole book which will keep you wanting more. Selena Laurence has taken two things close to my heart and made an awesome story. Agriculture and the beach you would not think would go hand in hand and she did it. Cade is fighting the whole families wish to go Organic until he meets Nina and through out the whole story he is pulled from traditional to Organic. I feel in love with him.\n\nSalena Laurance is an amazing writer and has made me into a huge fan. I cannot wait to read another one of her books. She gets you hooked and you will not want to put it down. She writes to put you into her stories and makes you feel like you are right there. These are a must read.\n\nThis review is written for KFA", "My son plays high school and travel team baseball. He wanted a backpack baseball bag and this one is great because the bats are properly enclosed by the zippered enclosure. It just gives more security for the bats and keeps them from wobbling around. The bag was just what he wanted.", "These handles were lovely, but they didn't work with my shower set up. You must have Grohe- compatible cartridges/stems. I wanted to make these work, so I emailed (and later called) the Grohe customer service team to ask what additional products I needed to purchase to install these handles. I was even open to purchasing different handles for my specific use case, if needed. The customer service team was not at all helpful, and frankly condescending. If you're a DIY homeowner, like me, I would steer clear of these. There's no way to get information on how to install these and any attempt to get information is hardly worth your time.", "Really cute, I have a larger butt and it's nice that it covers the whole thing because I don't want to show off my saddle bags!", "Dr. Greer is one of the most wise and experienced Earth ambassadors to our intergalactic family. His story is full of awe moments, honest truth, reality checks and tremendous hope for our future. If you want to understand whats happening in our world in relation to UFOs and the ET presence, you need to read this book. My honest and deepest respects go to Dr. Greer and the Disclosure team. Also watch on Netflix his documentary Unacknowledged. Super cool!!!!", "I would recommend this flashlight to anyone who does security or just wants a great flashlight. The car charger make it perfect to carry for the road side emergencies, and the fact it comes with a rechargeable battery is great. I currently use this flashlight for my security team as a great flashlight for strobe effect and brightness.", "I read both Book 1 and Book 2 online last year. It's an excellent story with gripping characters and I'm very much looking forward to Book 3. Especially if you have already read and enjoyed the first part, I doubt very much a reader would be disappointed with the second.\n\nHowever there's a problem with the current edition. While Book 1 is available through all the various Kindle devices and apps, I had to have my purchase refunded for Book 2 because Kindle for PC is not on the list. This is clearly an error, but anyone looking to read it that way for now is going to have a problem. Supposedly this has been passed along to \"the appropriate team\" but others might want to raise their voices as well.", "This was my first Lee Child books I read with Reacher. At first I was engrossed in the story. Child has a good clipped, clipped action packed style that keeps the story going. Though, by the middle of the novel things definately slowed down and I had to push myself to get through it since I wanted to read the whole book. The end definately picked up again, going back to that gritty action. The ending was a bit abrupt and predictable. Overall a good rainy day read.", "Nice. Didn't get the actual team I ordered. I wanted ny giants... got cardinals instead...not happy with that. The feet were the first to go after only a week of play. The look and size of the toy was good. I Was planning on buying a collection of them for my grandson who is 8, til the feet came off." ]

[ "Detail of thorns. Honey locusts, Gleditsia triacanthos, can reach a height of 20–30 m (66–98 ft), with fast growth, and are relatively short-lived; their life spans are typically about 120 years, though some live up to 150 years. They are prone to losing large branches in windstorms." ]

[ "How to Identify Locust Trees. Identify locust trees (Robinia spp.) by their pendant clusters of fragrant, sweet pea-shaped flowers, which are usually white or pink. And keep an eye out for sharp, straight or forked spines and by their feathery, pinnately compound leaves. Several species of locust trees grow wild in North America and are used for landscaping.", "There are a variety of locust trees in the world. Some of them are not poisonous while other species are. For instance, the honey locust is a non-toxic tree and the black locust tree is.Their appearance is very similar, and it is not easy to distinguish them if you do not have adequate knowledge of them.Honey locust is a tree you should pass carefully because of the thorns in all around its trunk and branches.Each thorn can grow up to 8 inches in length and they can grow from any part of the tree. Their thorns do not contain any toxin, and neither of the other parts of the tree.The seed pod of the honey locust id edible when they ripen in autumn. Although it is not toxic, the fallen branches which contain thorns may be harmful to you if you are walking in the garden.heir thorns do not contain any toxin, and neither of the other parts of the tree. The seed pod of the honey locust id edible when they ripen in autumn. Although it is not toxic, the fallen branches which contain thorns may be harmful to you if you are walking in the garden.", "How to Propagate Honey Locust Trees. The seeds of the honey locust tree grow in long pods. Honey locust trees are a member of the legume family. They are elegant, sun-loving trees that grow fast and prefer rich, moist soil. Native honey locusts have thorns and long brown seed-filled pods, while hybrids, found in most cities, are without thorns.", "Locust trees bloom every year. It is typical for these trees to be in full bloom in early May until late June. Locust trees are big producers of the nectar used by honeybe … es.", "The Black Locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, is sometimes called the yellow locust. Black Locust trees grow naturally on a wide range of sites but does best on rich moist limestone soils.", "How to Care for a Black Locust Tree. Plant black locust trees in a location with full sun or light shade. It prefers loose soil that is moist but well-drained, although it adapts to most soil types. Water the tree often enough to keep the soil moist during its first growing season.", "How Big Do They Get? Weeping cherry trees are fast-growing trees, but they only reach a maximum height of 20 to 30 feet tall, with a spread of between 15 to 25 feet, according to University of Florida horticulturists Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson.ow Big Do They Get? Weeping cherry trees are fast-growing trees, but they only reach a maximum height of 20 to 30 feet tall, with a spread of between 15 to 25 feet, according to University of Florida horticulturists Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson.", "Not to be confused with African locust bean. Ceratonia siliqua, commonly known as the carob tree (from Arabic خَرُّوبٌ kharrūb and Hebrew חרוב harub), St John's-bread, or locust bean (not to be confused with the African locust bean), or simply locust-tree, is a species of flowering evergreen shrub or tree in the pea family, Fabaceae.", "1 A tree from 30-60 feet tall--including the Black Alder, Black Gum and Crabapple--in the same open area can run $150-$874. 2 Trimming a Red Oak, Pine or Black Locust tree just over 60-feet high without obstacles averages $200-$1,000+ . 3 Tree Help.com offers how-to help for homeowners who want to take care of the trimming. Assuming no buildings or utilities are nearby, a 30-foot high tree like a Black Mulberry, Dogwood or Russian Olive will cost $75-$437 to trim, depending on the type and condition of the tree.", "Tree Facts for Kids. Check out our fun tree facts for kids. Learn how tall trees can grow, how long they can live, how they help us breathe, what wood can be used for, what tree roots do and much more. Read on and have fun learning a range of interesting information about trees. Trees are tall plants made of wood.", "The seeds of a Black Locust are poisonous, but the seeds from a Honey Locust are sweet and edible. They were used as food by Native Americans and can be used to make beer. The sweet taste of the seeds is where the tree gets its name.here are other trees in the Midwest with thorns. The Mulberry and Hedge (Ozark Orange) trees have small sharp thorns that can poke and scrape you. In the world of thorns however, the Honey Locust reigns supreme. It is definitely a unique tree and evokes hatred and demands respect from landowners.", "How do you get tall? there is a way to get tall, but its expensive, the only way to get tall is to streatch and get a lot of sleep..", "How Old Do Redwood Trees Get? Giant sequoia trees are larger than redwoods in volume; however giant sequoias do not stand taller. Standing between 280 and 325 feet tall, redwood trees are the tallest in the world. Thick reddish brown bark covers the tree’s trunk, which can span as much as 8 to 20 feet in diameter.", "How Tall Do Magnolia Trees Grow? Tall Magnolias. The tallest of the magnolia trees are the Southern magnolias, which are the state trees of both Mississippi and Louisiana. The Southern magnolia can grow as far west as Texas and reaches heights of as much as 90 feet.", "Confidence votes 11.9K. Locust tree thorns are not poisonous but like any cut or stab wound, they could leave you open to an infection. The poisonous parts of black locust tree are the leaves, seed pods, inner bark and young shoots.onfidence votes 11.9K. Locust tree thorns are not poisonous but like any cut or stab wound, they could leave you open to an infection. The poisonous parts of black locust tree are the leaves, seed pods, inner bark and young shoots.", "The thorns of the Honey Locust are often to blame for foot injuries, as they tend to go right through soft sole shoes and int the foot. Also, if you drive past one of these trees, you have the chance of getting flat tires very often. Some even claim to have seen large birds impaled by the thorns of a Honey Locust tree.", "How to Grow Chestnuts. The chestnut is a great nut tree option for those with smaller plots of land to work with. The mature trees usually stay shorter than 50 feet (many other nut trees can get over 100 feet tall). Trees do best in weather with cold winters and very warm summers.", "Locust bean gum may be used in cosmetics. Locust bean gum may be added to pet food. Locust bean gum may be used to treat coughing. After harvesting, the carob tree's seeds are dehydated, heated, and ground to make locust bean gum.Seeds of the carob tree are used to make locust bean gum. think there is a confusion between locust bean gum and carob powder. Both come from carob pods but the first from seeds and the second from the rest of the carob pod.", "The honey locust tree, or honeylocust, is a fast grower and is considered invasive by some. Flowers are not especially showy. The honeylocust tree is so named because of the taste of the inner flesh of its pods, which appear in fall and unlike the black locust tree, is not toxic.", "Locust bean gum. Locust bean gum is a nature-derived texturizing ingredient from the seed of the leguminous carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), which grows in Mediterranean countries.ocust bean gum. Locust bean gum is a nature-derived texturizing ingredient from the seed of the leguminous carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), which grows in Mediterranean countries.", "Taxonomy and Botany of Sunburst Honey Locust Trees. Plant taxonomy categorizes Sunburst honey locust as Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Suncole.' Note that, although the cultivar name is Suncole, the plant is usually referred to by its trademark name, Sunburst. Sunburst honey locust is a deciduous tree.", "These trees will reach 12-15 feet tall/wide. Once semi-dwarf fruit trees are bearing fruit, a 6-foot tall person can harvest most of the fruit without needing a ladder.", "The world's tallest tree is found in northern California - it's a redwood that stands 379 feet tall. This tree and its relatives are the largest single organisms in the world, but just how big can these trees really get?", "Visit our sister site, BirdSong Nature Shop, for great prices on thousands of backyard birding items: 1 Home. 2 Learning Center. 3 Tree & Shrub Care Guides. 4 Locust. Types Of Locust. Honey Locust.", "The fast-growing English or Persian walnut tree can reach 60 feet with a 60 foot canopy by maturity. A tree of that size can produce a lot of nuts, as much as 6 bushels a year according to the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Extension office. How does one tiny nut end up producing that many fruit? The ...", "Black Locust tree seedlings grow rapidly, are highly resilient in a variety of soils, and grow back even faster from its stump after harvest. By using the existing root system to grow new tree shoots, a Black Locust tree plantation becomes a sustainable resource for a variety of wood products.", "I have a question concerning watering evergreen trees. How much water is needed for transplanted young evergreen trees - 4 feet or so tall, not a seedling. How often and how much water should be given to get the tree established (and for how long) and then how much after establishment. Thanks, Thom.", "These 10 animal facts will amaze you. Locust bean gum is a product that comes from Ceretonia siliqua, a tree more commonly referred to as carob, that is native to Mediterranean regions. The seeds of the carob tree are removed from the tree, then dehydrated.ocust bean gum may be used to treat coughing. After harvesting, the carob tree's seeds are dehydated, heated, and ground to make locust bean gum. Seeds of the carob tree are used to make locust bean gum.", "Best Answer: Locusts and grasshoppers are identical in appearance - how they differ is in their behaviour. Locusts can exist in two different behavioural states (solitary and gregarious) whereas grasshoppers generally do not. When the population density is low, locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers.", "Thornless, Podless, Non-Messy Honey Locusts: Shademaster and Sunburst. First of all, note that there are various kinds of locust trees. For example, black locusts are classified as Robinia pseudoacacia. But even within the Gleditsia genus, we have: Gleditsia triacanthos, thorny locusts. Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis, thornless locusts.", "Black locust uses The best uses of black locust, then and now. January 4, 2001 Question Due to a borer insect killing off the black locust trees here in Oregon, we are able to acquire a large amount of locust logs.I would like any information on the marketability of this wood and what it might be used for.ue to a borer insect killing off the black locust trees here in Oregon, we are able to acquire a large amount of locust logs. I would like any information on the marketability of this wood and what it might be used for.", "Black locust trees are shallow rooted but grow readily on poor sites. Trees growing on such sites are subject to serious damage during periods of prolonged drought. Drought-weakened trees are especially susceptible to borer attack. Grazing of livestock also contributes to borer damage in black locust." ]

[ "Rick Astley of course" ]

[ "What the hell are you doing on earth 65 million years too early?", "What do you mean you people? S/", "Depends. I've been playing guitar for upwards of 10 years, and I've noticed a big improvement and just the last few. I attribute a large part of that to my musical tastes changing so I learn different songs. It all depends on what you consider playing well and what music you want to play.", "Punishes you for what you want to do, rewards you for what you don't, and doesn't let you not play its game.", "Translation:\n\nIn your 20’s people in their 70’s are unattractive to you \n\nHowever, in your 70’s do you find people also in their 70’s attractive or do you find people in their 20’s more attractive?", "One time someone called to ask us the phone number of a competing radio station.", "\"Do you play Fortnite?\"", "You do realize that 92.3 is going to be a different station for anyone not within a close distance of you right?", "If you want her to be your girlfriend, then no. If you want to play childish games . . . ugh, what the fuck are you even doing?", "Do you still have her number? s/", "You can do anything you want,\n\non your last day.", "Keanu Reeves is God, if you play Stupid Games; you win stupid prizes, and if it's your money you can do what you want.", "Do you know what children went through in the 40's? (And many other times in different parts of the world)", "What about that child you brought last night?", "After the last election, what did you expect?", "You gotta do what you gotta do for the bois.", "They always ask what do you do and not how do you do :(", "You scum of the earth", "What have you been doing since I saw you last? Let's go get some coffee and catch up.", "Stepbrother what are you doing", "Focus on playing G, C, and D. Learn those three chords, and you can play tons of songs- add a capo later.", "2. If we had friends do you really think we’d be here! /s", "What did you do?", "You just need a good teacher. It takes more or less a week with constant practice and you can play a simple song already.", "What do you mean?", "What do you like", "Take it to the police station they can hide it for you", "Wouldn't that be funny if you going to the nurse's station is what alerted staff that your friends were truent?", "having a verse or two of a song in your head but no amount of google searches will help you discover what the song is", "What are you doing stepbro?", "depends on what you are doing", "what do YOU mean by \"you people\"" ]

[ "Biscay" ]

[ "that which burns", "that which purifies", "that which is heard", "Spain Square", "Ghazni province", "Manisa Province", "Jenny Spain", "the program in which they are enrolled", "Grenville Province", "the Province of Canada", "Anhui province", "Chikuzen province", "speed at which they expand", "Province Wellesley", "that which is done by an agent", "Mpumalanga province", "Muthanna Province", "Herat Province", "Guizhou province", "Province No. 3", "Bamyan Province", "Aki Province", "Cape Province", "Gauteng province", "Babil province", "Puntarenas Province", "Kandahar Province", "Copperbelt Province", "Liaoning Province", "Burgas Province", "marine provinces", "Sabaragamuwa Province" ]

[ "Audiences know Debbie Allen as an actress, singer, dancer and choreographer. And now, at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse, Allen takes the stage in Pearl, her own song-and-dance version of the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She talks about the venture with NPR's Tavis Smiley on The Tavis Smiley Show. Allen says she has long loved the Snow White story. Years ago as a Howard University student, her directing final project was an adaptation she called \"Snow Black\" -- and Allen recalls with delight that she got \"an A-plus-plus\" on the project. Recently, as an artist in residence at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, she developed Pearl and \"changed the entire story,\" she says -- making the lead character a dentist's daughter with pearly white teeth, and surrounding her with circus performers instead of wood-cutting dwarves. Allen tells Smiley she's especially excited about the youngsters, ages 6 to 18, who perform in Pearl. \"I'm very serious about developing this next generation of young talent, and also just explosing kids to the arts,\" says Allen, who runs a dance academy that bears her name. \"It uplifts their minds, it makes them creative, it helps them to figure out problems. The arts is just a big solution that's staring us right in the face, that's not being taken advantage of.\"" ]

[ "Ever since Disney re-released <EM>Cinderella</EM> on DVD, commentator Tanya Barrientos has been thinking about what the fairy tale princess would be doing if she lived in 2005.", "Two hundred years after the Brothers Grimm first published Children's and Household Tales, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are getting another rewrite. Philip Pullman, who wrote The Golden Compass of the young-adult fantasy series His Dark Materials, took on the challenge of retelling 50 of the original Grimm stories for his latest book, Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm. His collection includes new versions of classics such as \"Hansel and Gretel,\" \"Little Red Riding Hood\" and \"Cinderella,\" as well as lesser-known tales like \"Thousandfurs,\" \"Hans-My-Hedgehog\" and \"The Musicians of Bremen.\" Pullman spoke with NPR's Rachel Martin about the role of morality in fairy tales, how rewriting the Brothers Grimm has influenced his own writing, and whether the princess actually kissed a frog in the original Grimm tale. Interview Highlights On how the Brothers Grimm found stories for their fairy tale collection \"I thought before I began looking into this that [the Brothers Grimm] walked to here and there in Germany with their knapsacks and their notebooks and talking to peasants and saying, 'Tell me a story!' But no, not a bit of it. They were academics. They lived a quiet life, and all the stories that came to them came to them from friends and relations. And they wrote them down, and they altered them a little bit.\" On fairy tales as oral stories \"Oral stories are not a text in the way that a great poem like Paradise Lost is a text. It exists as words on paper. ... But an oral story is something told, and these stories in Grimm are a sort of snapshot of something in movement. They're freezing something that was in motion. So I thought I was entitled to ... alter them again and tell them as I would ... if I'd heard the story and wanted to pass it on to somebody else.\" On how the frog prince turns back into a human in the original Grimm fairy tale \"The main part of the story that we think we know about 'The Frog Prince' ... is [the princess] kisses the frog and he turns into a prince. Well, no, he doesn't. She throws him against the wall with a great splat, and he falls down in a form of a prince. That's what you get in Grimm. ... The kiss is now part of our own mythology ... and it makes a lot of sense. You know, you kiss something and ... you treat it with love and it turns into something worth loving. But I thought I couldn't put the kiss in [my retelling of the story] if it wasn't in Grimm. In the British version of the folk tale, she has to cut his head off, so there's a lot of bloodshed.\" On morality in fairy tales \"They do have a moral, but it's a pretty obvious one: If you behave well, you'll be rewarded; if you behave badly, you'll be punished. You could try and extract a more precise moral from stories like 'Little Red Riding Hood' — don't talk to strange wolves in the woods — but they were intended to entertain. But because we are moral beings, if we tell any sort of story, there will be rewards and there will be punishments. ... We can't really help making stories moral narratives because we're moral beings.\" On how rewriting fairy tales has influenced The Book of Dust, his upcoming sequel to the His Dark Materials series \"[The Grimm fairy tales] move very quickly. There's not an ounce of narrative fat in them. They go very, very swiftly from event to event. And another thing is you see very few adverbs in them, so I'm trying to cut down on my adverbs. You choose the right verb, and you don't need an adverb to qualify it.\"", "In the final installment of her series on beauty, NPR's Susan Stamberg talks with folklorist and fairy tale expert Jack Zipes about images of beauty and ugliness in fairy tales. Zipes says the beautiful heroines in the tales of the Brothers Grimm were docile and domesticated, waiting for their Prince Charming. In other cultures, fairy tales portrayed beautiful women as strong and powerful.", "The British Royal family is one of those slightly absurd oddities about the nation that gave birth to us that causes us to forget, somewhat, that we rebelled against the bastards in the first place. I can actually hear the voice of an old English friend saying about the institution, \"It is slightly ridiculous, isn't it?\" And so it was in that vein I passed around a quote to some British friends from the Independent that caught my eye from Matthew Norman of the Independent: Barring some heartrending split between this depressingly inoffensive young couple, we're stuck with months of mawkish drivel from determined royalists and vinegary carping from committed republicans. For those of us stuck somewhere in the indifferent middle, it's going to be hell on earth. And on the whole everyone I spoke with agreed with that sentiment. There's a slight fairy tale element of a commoner marrying a prince. They seem like a nice enough pair. Everyone's happy they're getting married. But.... The fairy tale of Princess Diana turned into such a tawdry mess, and eventual tragedy, that cynicism seems perhaps the appropriate response. CNN quotes Andrew Neil, the former rector of the University of St. Andrews where William and Kate both studied. It's still the same in that everyone loves a royal marriage and everyone loves a princess, particularly a princess who is going to be queen, but I don't think we believe in fairy tales any more. Looking back at the wedding in the early '80s it did seem to have a fairy-tale quality to it. I don't think we'll be conned a second time. I think we're a little bit more cynical, maybe a bit more realistic. Myself, I look forward to my commemorative beach towel that I'm going to force NPR's Phil Reeves to pick up for me. Call me a cynic.", "Tangled, Disney's latest fairy tale movie, was shut out at the Golden Globe Awards last weekend. Nominated for two — Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song (\"I See the Light\") — the retooled Rapunzel story won neither. The critical shunning could be construed as a key indicator: Fairy tale movies have fallen on hard times. In fact, around Thanksgiving, the Walt Disney Co. revealed it has no plans to make another animated fairy tale. It's hard to imagine a world without Disney's fairy tales. What do we tell the children? Kissed frogs don't turn into princes, wicked stepsisters win out, glass slippers just won't fit. And what colorful icons will we silkscreen all over kids' pillows and lunchboxes? \"Films and genres do run a course,\" said Ed Catmull, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney subsidiary Pixar Animation Studios, in a late-November Los Angeles Times story. \"They may come back later because someone has a fresh take on it ... but we don't have any other musicals or fairy tales lined up.\" In fact, the Times reported, Disney has even backed away from a pair of fairy tale movies — The Snow Queen and Jack and the Beanstalk — that were in the works. The implied message: The fairy tale has reached The End. 'There Is An Outcry' Slaying the fairy tale, however, may be harder than Disney's imagineers can imagine, more difficult than stopping the brooms from toting water buckets in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. For one thing, people might not let Disney off the hook so easily. For another, other storytellers and moviemakers besides Disney are intensely interested in keeping the stories alive. On hearing the news from Catmull, Disney devotees reacted strongly. One woman wrote on Disney's Facebook page: \"Disney, If you honestly think that fairy tales and princess stories need to go, you need to rethink that idea. You will LOSE. Take a minute and read the responses here, and on the plethora of articles stating that you are canning Snow Queen. There is an outcry, Listen to your fans.\" Another simply said, \"So sad…\" Amid the clamor, Catmull seemed to backpedal a little, posting a note on the Facebook page saying that the Times didn't get the story exactly right. Fairy tales, Catmull said, \"are alive and well at Disney.\" He pointed to the recently released Tangled — which the Hollywood trade media report is doing much better at the box office than predicted — and added, \"We have a number of projects in development with new twists that audiences will be able to enjoy for many years to come.\" There was no mention of Brave, a planned Pixar computer-generated production of a mythic Scottish tale, featuring the voice of Reese Witherspoon and scheduled to be released in 2012. Perhaps that's because, as some Disney observers believe, the company – founded on the success of animated fairy tales — is going through an identity crisis. Film industry watchdog Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood says that animated fairy tales \"are getting harder and harder to market. You can't make enough money just appealing to one quadrant, in this case very young girls. By focusing on more two- and three-quadrant movies, Disney reaches a bigger audience. It's that simple.\" Animated fairy tales \"have made too much money for Disney to just jettison them,\" Finke says. \"On the other hand, as a feminist, I do believe all those princess movies have warped generations of young women's views of the world and their place in it. So for that I say hooray.\" Fairy Tales Can Come True The first animated feature film created by the Walt Disney Co. — originally known as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio — was a fairy tale. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs took founders Walt and Roy Disney and their stable of cartoonists three years to create. It was released during the holiday season in 1937. In the ensuing 70 years, the company has given birth to a bevy of movies, including more than three dozen feature-length animated films, many based on fairy tales. And Disney has become a worldwide entertainment behemoth: Its movies and theme parks and merchandise have global appeal. In 2000, Disney created a special category of merchandising and marketing called the \"Disney Princesses.\" The shelves were stocked with all material related to the animated female protagonists, including Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora (\"Sleeping Beauty\"), Ariel (\"The Little Mermaid\"), Belle (\"Beauty and the Beast\") and the rest. Disney executives told The Associated Press that between 2000 and 2009, worldwide sales of \"Disney Princesses\" stuff went from $300 million to $4 billion. To broaden that planetary appeal even further, certain movie critics point out, Disney began tweaking its traditional fairy tale formula. Arguably, the as-old-as-time tales of girl meets frog/ogre/oaf can't possibly hold the attention of young people raised in this omni-ironic world. In 2001, DreamWorks — created by former Disney bigwig Jeffrey Katzenberg, among others — fired a major shot acro", "With NBC's Grimm, the ABC series Once Upon A Time makes two new fairy tale-based shows premiering on network television within a week. That, plus a movie release schedule peppered with fairy tale remakes, raises a question: What's put them in the zeitgeist? Maybe it's because of Harry Potter and Twilight. The studios behind those franchises have made piles of money. But just think about how much they'd have to pay Stephanie Meyer for a Twilight TV series. Fairy tales have the advantage of being free. \"Todd had an idea about six years ago,\" said Grimm co-creator David Greenwalt, appearing on a panel with collaborator Todd Milliner at ComicCon in San Diego last summer. \"And his idea was, 'What can we do that's in public domain?' \" Grimm is named for the Brothers Grimm, of course, but in this show they're not just two guys who collected folk tales. The conceit is that they were the first criminal profilers, and that they just happened to have had mystical abilities: They could see evil wolves and gingerbread-baking witches within killers and child molesters. Grimm is about one of their descendants, a police detective who learns he has inherited their powers from his kindly old aunt. \"We have the ability to see what no one else can,\" she tells him in the pilot, after a fearsome attack from a werewolf-like creature. \"They lose control. They can't hide, and we see them for what they really are.\" Maria Tatar, who chairs the folklore and mythology program at Harvard University, says the real Brothers Grimm \"would have been horrified.\" \"They were two scholars, two philologists\"-- linguists who concentrate on written texts — \"who were just trying to capture the voice of the people,\" she says. Tatar has taken note of the flood of fairy tale adaptations — from last spring's Red Riding Hood movie to big-budget competing takes on Sleeping Beauty and Snow White that are in production now. Tatar says perhaps this need to reconnect with stories passed down through powerful oral traditions is not unrelated to how we communicate now. When she sees her students sitting around in groups, they're usually texting. \"I think we need the melodrama of stories,\" she said. \"There's so little affect in our daily lives that we need the sensory overload, the emotional overload of fairy tales more than ever.\" Filmmakers have been experimenting with fairy tales since at least 1899, when Georges Melies adapted Cinderella. That story has remained a Hollywood favorite, even when it gets a godmother-style makeover — Tatar mentions Two Weeks' Notice, The Princess Diaries and of course, Pretty Woman as examples. Along with Snow White, it's one of the inspirations for ABC's Once Upon A Time, which begins with a curse that transports Prince Charming, the Evil Queen and an assortment of other fairy tale regulars into the real world, as real people. Which, its creators would point out, is harder than it might sound. \"You know, the Evil Queen can't just be evil because she's evil,\" says Executive Producer Edward Kitsis, talking about the need to develop character arcs and back stories. \"She was made evil. In fact, she's more tortured and sad than she is just evil.\" Adapting fairy tales can be treacherous. They can come across as corny, campy or childish in a culture that loves snark and shock. But Harvard's Tatar says you can't argue with their primal symbolism. And she says all kinds of stories can be interpreted through their lens. \"I always think of the Dominique Strauss-Kahn story,\" she says. \"We couldn't stop talking about that. Because it gets to the issue of innocence versus seduction.\" As for the Hollywood fairy-tale adaptation Tatar most looks forward to? Hansel and Gretel. As it happens, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is due out next year. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: When it comes to Hollywood trends, this season fairy tales are in. The movie release schedule is filled with a fairy tale remakes. And not one, but two new TV series, starting within a week of each other, are based on fairy tales. ABC unveils \"Once Upon A Time\" on Sunday. And then next Friday, \"Grimm\" premieres on NBC. NPR's Neda Ulaby took a look at both and she wondered why fairy tales are making such a comeback. NEDA ULABY: Maybe because of \"Harry Potter\" and \"Twilight.\" Just think about how much they'd have to pay Stephenie Meyer for a \"Twilight\" TV series. But fairy tales are free. \"Grimm\" is the show that starts next Friday. It's produced by Todd Milliner and David Greenwalt, who was selling the show to fans at San Diego's Comic Con last summer. DAVID GREENWALT: Todd had an idea in the shower about six years ago. And his idea was what can we do that's in public domain. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) ULABY: Fairy tales' cost effectiveness is great for financially fearful studios, premiering expensive dramas with high production values and special effects. \"Grimm\" is named for the Brothers Grimm. They're not just writing down fairy tales in this show, they were the first cr", "The movie about Michael Jackson's preparation for a series of concerts in London, <em>This Is It</em>, mixes rehearsal footage with production elements from the planned shows. Dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen loved the film.", "Susan Davis speaks to '80s pop sensation Debbie Gibson, who has released her first album in 20 years, \"The Body Remembers.\"", "She's been nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Leading Actress in the film <EM>Something's Gotta Give.</EM> She's probably best known for her work in many Woody Allen films, including <EM>Annie Hall,</EM> for which she won an Oscar. She was also in the <EM>Godfather</EM> films. She's behind the camera, too, as a film director, producer and writer. (This interview was originally broadcast on Jan. 1, 1997)", "Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver is not a sequel to her 2015 novel Uprooted, though both are richly remade fairy tales set in fantastical versions of Eastern Europe with addictive voice work and characterization. It's a sophisticated development of her short story by the same title published in the 2016 anthology The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales — itself a brilliant reclamation of \"Rumpelstiltskin,\" digging deep into that story's anti-Semitism and pulling up something nourishing from the roots. (Full disclosure: I, too, had a story in The Starlit Wood.) In Lithvas — a country ruled by a Tsar and his dukes, and harried by gold-hungry fairy creatures called the Staryk — three young women struggle to make the most of their lives. Miryem is the Jewish daughter of a soft-hearted moneylender who would rather live in poverty than collect his debts; Wanda is the gentile daughter of an abusive alcoholic farmer; and Irina is the part-Staryk daughter of a disappointed duke scheming for the throne. As these women's paths cross during the most vicious winter in memory, they will learn from and teach each other all the shades and colors of debt and payment, gift and hospitality, responsibility and belonging. Lately — unsurprisingly, given our present moment — I have been obsessed with books that think deeply about money and capitalism, that dig into the structures we take for granted. There's a mathematical magic at work in every version of this story: the number of retellings, the exponential development from folk tale to short story to novel, and finally the fractal nature of its every good quality. The friendships made me cry, the points of view were raw and sharp by turns; Wanda's in particular struck deep chords in me, as the woman who loves fiercest and hardest in exchange for the smallest kindnesses, as the most generous with her labour and outlook. There are so many mathemagicians in this book, be they moneylenders turning silver into gold or knitters and weavers working to a pattern. It's gold and silver all the way down. Dumbfounding revelations about the nature of labor and debt, friendship and family curl within sentences like cats licking their paws, simple and pragmatic and mesmerizing at once. The way Novik explores money — as that which is owed to Miryem, taken from Wanda, given to Irina as armor — is by turns tender and careful, unflinching and sharp. The inversion Novik accomplished so beautifully in her original short story is pushed much farther here, explored through a web of moving relationships and intricate plots that culminate in one of the year's strongest fantasy novels. Like Uprooted, the story sometimes overspills the bounds of its plot, and anyone who disliked the romance in that is unlikely to enjoy the romances in this. But like Uprooted, the main narrative engine is deep, loving friendships and alliances between women, taken several steps further here as they discuss and debate their circumstances, values, and loyalties. I didn't want it to end, and I could write gushing praise of it for much longer than I have here — about fairy tale fathers and fairy tale mothers, about how Miryem's Jewishness is the book's warm, glowing heart, about how interlaced it is with the plot's intrusive fairy magic, and about how fascinating is the book's twining of religion, capital, and enchantment. But mostly I'm in awe of how Novik spins moldy, hateful straw into warm and glimmering gold. Amal El-Mohtar is the Hugo Award-winning author of The Honey Month and the editor of Goblin Fruit, an online poetry magazine.", "It's well-known that our favorite fairy tales started out darker than the ones Disney animators brought to life. But you might be surprised by how much darker the originals were. For the first time, a new translation of the Brothers Grimm's tales reveals exactly how unsanitized and murderous the bedtime stories really were. Jack Zipes, author of The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, is the only person who has ever translated the first edition of their tales into English. \"Some of them are extremely dark and harrowing,\" Zipes tells NPR's Rachel Martin. \"Many are somewhat erotic and deal with incest. Most of them are not what we call fairy tales; they tend to be animal tales or warning tales.\" Take, for example, Snow White. In the modern version of the tale, the Evil Queen is Snow White's stepmother. But in the first edition, Snow White is only 7 years old, and it's her biological mother who wants to murder her for her beauty. The stories are hardly appropriate for children by today's standards, and at the outset, they weren't intended to be. The Grimms \"collected these tales to show what life was like,\" says Zipes. \"And they wanted to reveal what they considered the divine truths of the tales.\" And the tales endure. Zipes says that's because they resonate in every era. \"I think they speak to the human condition. ... They also provide hope. For the most part, there is social justice in these tales and ... we need that. We need the hope that these tales provide.\"", "Liz Phair burst onto the independent music scene in 1993 with Exile in Guyville, a fierce, funny, confessional -- and occasionally obscene -- portrait of her life at the time. Since then she's married, divorced, become a mother and, as she puts it, started enjoying her life. \"To be reflecting the same issues that you had at 23 when you're 36 just seemed false to me, it just rang false,\" Phair says. The new, sunnier Phair has been quite a shock to her fans. They accused her of selling out when she worked with The Matrix, a pop producing team, for her last album. Her new release, Somebody's Miracle, also features a cleaner pop sound, but with an edge that fans of Phair's earlier work will recognize. Phair and her guitarist, Dino Meneghin, joined Weekend All Things Considered host Debbie Elliott recently for a performance chat in NPR's studio 4A. DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: Liz Phair burst onto the independent music scene in 1993 with \"Exile In Guyville,\" a fierce, funny and occasionally obscene portrait of her life at the time. (Soundbite of \"Soap Star Joe\") Ms. LIZ PHAIR: (Singing) He's just a hero in a long line of heroes, looking for something attractive to save. They say he rode in on the back of a pickup, and he won't leave town till you remember his name. ELLIOTT: Since then Liz Phair has married, divorced and become a mother, and her sound's gotten a lot sunnier. Her new album is \"Somebody's Miracle.\" Liz Phair and her guitarist Dino Meneghin joined us recently in NPR's Studio 4A. Hello. Ms. PHAIR: Hi. Mr. DINO MENEGHIN (Guitarist): Hi. ELLIOTT: I'd like to start with some music right off the bat, if that's OK with you. Ms. PHAIR: Sounds great. ELLIOTT: Would you like to play something from your new album? Ms. PHAIR: I would love to play \"Somebody's Miracle.\" ELLIOTT: Which is the title track. Ms. PHAIR: Which is the title track. ELLIOTT: OK, let's hear it. (Soundbite of \"Somebody's Miracle\") Ms. PHAIR: (Singing) I'm so far, so far away from it now that it seems like I may never know how people stay in love for half of their lives. It's a secret they keep between the husbands and wives. Baby, there goes somebody's miracle walking down the street. There goes a modern fairy tale; I wish it could happen to me. But I look at myself, wondering if I'm just too weak to have such faith in myself. Once upon a time, I was so restless in love. When things were fine, I changed my mind just because. Now I see how wrong and reckless I've been. Each frog has a prince just waiting inside of him. Baby, there goes somebody's miracle walking down a street. There goes a modern fairy tale; I wish it could happen to me. But I look at myself and I think, `What the hell?' Maybe I'm just too naive to have such faith in myself, you know I'm praying for it. You know I'm praying for it. You know I'm praying for it. ELLIOTT: Liz Phair playing \"Somebody's Miracle\" in NPR's Studio 4A. It's the title track of her new album. That's a beautiful song. Ms. PHAIR: Thank you. ELLIOTT: Tell me about it. Ms. PHAIR: It's a really special song to me. It kind of embodies, I think, the feel of the record. It has a sense of longing and sort of an appreciation for things in life that maybe have meaning as you grow older. Things that are simple as people staying in love for a long time kind of inspires awe in me now. ELLIOTT: The modern fairy tale. Ms. PHAIR: The modern fairy tale. ELLIOTT: I've listened to all of your records in preparation for this interview, and I kind of got the sense as I went through album by album that I was almost watching you grow up. I was listening in as you were going through life. Ms. PHAIR: I think my music has always been for me kind of like diaryesque. In a way, it's the way that I keep track of where I've been. It's that cathartic nature of songwriting for me. I really like to kind of spill my guts in a way when I make a record. And so, yeah, I think it very much is like getting an insider's view, sort of a fly on the wall. ELLIOTT: Early on you were very raw, and then your last album, \"Liz Phair,\" was a little more polished, kind of a poppy sound, and you caught a lot of flack from your fans. They were like, `Where is Liz?' I get the sense that this album--it still has sort of that polished, `It will play on the radio' sound, but there's a little hint of that earlier Liz as well. Did you--was that intentional? Ms. PHAIR: I think it was natural, actually. It was kind of like what was going on in my life. You know, any given Sunday--I just like saying that phrase, `Any given Sunday'--but anytime that you make a recor", "Director Benh Zeitlin conjures up some practical magic in a loose retelling of J. M. Barrie's classic story. But ultimately, <em>Wendy</em>'s clever twists aren't enough to keep your attention from wandering.", "In the mid-1990s, odds are you turned the radio on one time or another and heard Lisa Loeb's \"Stay (I Missed You),\" her platinum-selling No. 1 hit song. The singer-songwriter revisits that same decade on a new track called \"The 90's,\" from her latest album, No Fairy Tale, her first adult album since 2004's The Way It Really Is. Loeb tells Rachel Martin, host of Weekend Edition Sunday, that being a female singer-songwriter in the '90s was difficult. \"I felt like there were a lot of labels,\" Loeb says. \"I played acoustic guitar, and I still do ... but in the '90s I think people would think you're a folk artist. I didn't feel like I was a folk artist.\" Today, she says it's a bit easier, and the music landscape is a bit wider for female singer-songwriters. \"There's so many different ways you can listen to music that you don't have to fit into a genre so that somebody can market you to a handful of stations,\" she says. After releasing children's albums, books, stints on two reality shows and releasing her own line of eyewear, Loeb says she was kicked into gear to do another adult album by friend Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory. He called and agreed to produce the album, and Loeb says they got started within weeks of the call. The title track, \"No Fairy Tale,\" is not as negative as it might sound, Loeb says. \"Actually, this song is about how life is more rich than a fairy tale,\" she says. \"I think in life ... the actual ups and downs of real life are a lot more rich than some that might be perceived to be a perfect fairy tale life.\" (SOUNDBITE OF SONG) LISA LOEB: (Singing) Talk to the radio, oh, to the radio, I just (unintelligible) singing my song... RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Maybe you turned the radio up in the mid-'90s and maybe you've heard this song. Lisa Loeb's \"Stay, I Missed You,\" was a platinum-selling number one song. It was also on the soundtrack for \"Reality Bites,\" which, believe it or not, was a long time ago. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"THE '90S\") MARTIN: This song, called \"The '90s,\" is a brand new track from the singer-songwriter. It's on her latest album, which is called \"No Fairy Tale.\" Here to bring us up to date on what's happened to her since all that time flew by is Lisa Loeb herself. She joins us from NPR West. Welcome to the program. LOEB: Thank you so much. MARTIN: I don't know about for you, but, I mean, it's easy for me to conjure up what the '70s and '80s sounded like and looked like. It's harder for me with the '90s. Maybe it's too close. But when you think about that time, that decade, what images come to mind for you? LOEB: The '90s, to me, looks like not a lot of hair product. So there's, you know, a little bit fluffier, frizzier hair, mock turtlenecks... MARTIN: Oh yes, the mock turtlenecks. LOEB: ...motorcycle boots, some kind of jean shorts, like, long jean shorts. MARTIN: Oh, jean shorts. LOEB: Yeah, long ones - and a lot of Betsey Johnson dresses, which that I do not regret. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"THE '90S\") MARTIN: Since the '90s, you have actually been pretty busy, rather productive. You had a TV show on the Food Network, \"Dweezil & Lisa.\" You also had a reality show called \"Number 1 Single\" on the E! Network. You've done albums and books for kids. With all these different projects, what prompted you to say this is the moment when I want to go back into the studio and record another album? This is your seventh album. LOEB: You know, it was like a tidal wave. And while I was working on a lot of different songs, other projects kept coming up - whether it was kids' records, kids' books, eyewear line. And then personal things like getting married, making television shows, having a child and then having another child. All these things kept taking me away from the hardest project of all, which was trying to write songs for a grownup album and making a grownup album. And then Chad Gilbert came along. He's a friend of mine from a band called New Found Glory, and he came along and he called me up and said I want to produce a record for you. His enthusiasm and his energy, it kicked me into gear. And we literally started within weeks of that phone call. MARTIN: Let's get back into the album. I'd love to play a little bit of the title track from the CD. Let's listen. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, \"NO FAIRY TALE\") MARTIN: What's the story behind this song? LOEB: This is a song I wrote with Maia Sharp. And we wrote a song about...it's called \"No Fairy Tale\" and some people, I think, hear that and think that it sounds kind of negative - like, oh, this is no fairy tale, things are bad. But actually, this song is about how life is actually more rich than a fairy tale. I think in life, whether it's in school, you're trying to make good grades - whether, you know, it's your body, you have to be skinny, and that's the perfect thing, or, you know, in love you have to find your prince and everything will be wonderful. But the ups and downs of real life are actually a lot more rich than something that might be perceive", "The just-released film, “Tale of Tales,” is a fairy tale for adults, based on the book of the same name written by a 17th century Neapolitan named Giambattista Basile. Basile&#8217;s writing predates even the Brothers Grimm, and the tales are darker and weirder than the versions we are used to. A new translation of Basile’s “Tale of Tales” offers English readers the opportunity to read the earliest version of “Cinderella,” along with other classic fairy tales. Here & Now&#8217;s Meghna Chakrabarti talked with Nancy Canepa, who translated “Tale of Tales.” This interview originally aired on WBUR&#8217;s Radio Boston. Guest\n\nNancy Canepa, translator of “Tale of Tales” and an associate professor of French and Italian at Dartmouth College.", "Commentator MAUREEN CORRIGAN reviews the \"Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales,\" edited by Alison Lurie. It includes 40 fairy tales written during the last century and a half by British and American writers.(Oxford University Press).", "She edited such films as <EM>The Hustler</EM>,<EM> Bonnie and Clyde</EM>, <EM>Serpico</EM>, <EM>Dog Day Afternoon</EM>, and <EM>The Wonder Boys</EM>, which has just been re-released. Her Hollywood career began in the 1940s as an apprentice editor. Today shes arguably the highest paid and one of the top five film editors in the business. Allens been nominated twice for Academy awards.", "Bill Clinton toured the talk show circuit today to clarify his use of the term \"fairy tale\" in reference to Sen. Obama's campaign: \"It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war in every year, enumerating the years, and never got asked one time -- not once, 'Well, how could you say that when you said in 2004 you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution?' You said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war. And you took that speech you're now running on off your Web site in 2004. And there's no difference in your voting record and Hillary's ever since. Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.\" As we pointed out in today's headlines, South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn spoke out against Clinton's statement in a New York Times article, saying the former president insinuated that Obama's rise to prominence was a fairy tale. Read More >> \"To call that dream a fairy tale, which Bill Clinton seemed to be doing, could very well be insulting to some of us,\" said Mr. Clyburn, who said he and others took significant risks more than 40 years ago to produce such opportunities for future black Americans. Clinton called into Al Sharpton's radio show today to explain: \"I pointed out that he had never been asked about his statement in 2004 that he didn't know how he would have voted on the war resolution. It disproves the argument that he was always against it and everybody else was wrong and he was right. I said 'So that story is a fairy tale,' and that doesn't have anything to do with my respect for him.\" What do you think Bill Clinton meant? What effects will these statements have on Hillary's campaign?", "Commentator Elissa Ely grew used to having a stuffed animal become a part of her family. And then her daughter moved on.", "NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Debbie Harry, the iconic singer of Blondie, about her new memoir,<em> Face It</em>, which shows how her long-lasting music grew out of a specific place and time.", "When Cate Blanchett was interviewed about her role in <em>Cinderella</em> last week, the interview came to an abrupt end with some inappropriate language. Oh, my! What would Prince Charming think?", "Understanding all the players, alliances and political stakes in the rapidly shifting crisis in Ukraine can be challenging for anyone unfamiliar with Eastern Europe and its history. And it doesn't get any simpler when you step back a century or two — which is why Lily Hyde's stories blending history, myth and geopolitics are grabbing the attention of readers, reporters and activists alike. We all want to believe in fairy tales. Hyde takes it one step further, using fairy tales as inspiration to share stories about Eastern European history with children and young adults. \"I always wanted to be a writer,\" says Hyde, speaking to OZY from Kiev. She wrote her first novel for her sister, who is 17 years her junior. \"I was living in Ukraine and wanted to show her a bit of what it was like, the whole experience.\" The novel, Riding Icarus, is a modern fairy tale set in Kiev about a girl named Masha who lives in a flying trolleybus. Hyde's novels and short stories are set in Siberia, Ukraine and England and have been translated into Ukrainian, French, Korean and Crimean Tatar. \"I've always really loved Eastern Europe and Slavic culture and fairy tales,\" says Hyde. An aunt gave her a book of Russian fairy tales when she was a child, and Hyde was inspired to write her own fairy tale book at the age of 8. \"Since I got older, I've gotten more interested in fairy tale paradigms — how they are the same and how they are different across cultures.\" She recalls a North American indigenous story that paralleled Cinderella and then talks about Slavic fairy tale figure Baba Yaga. \"She's a witch, but she's a really powerful and interesting character,\" says Hyde, adding that Slavic fairy tales often explore interesting female characters who are amoral with a \"strong strain of revenge in them.\" Riding Icarus was Hyde's first novel, but she's best known for Dream Land. It tells the story of the deportation and return of the Crimean Tatars, through the lens of a brave 12-year-old girl named Safi. Set in 1992 Crimea, the young adult novel shows how Safi and her family struggle on returning to their ancestral home among Russian villagers. Many of the anecdotes in the story are based on interviews Hyde conducted with Crimean Tatars while living in Ukraine for 10 years. The novel was endorsed by Amnesty International and first published in the U.K. in 2008, then translated into French (2011), Crimean Tatar (2013) and most recently Ukrainian (2014). Originally from the north of England, Hyde moved to Prague to teach English in the early '90s and has lived in Eastern Europe ever since. Hyde is passionate about rousing attention for these places she really loves, vacillating between teaching Eastern European history through fiction and reflecting on current events through her reporting. In her 20s she worked as a journalist and also published short stories and novels. Hyde came to a fork in the road when the recent events in Ukraine forced her to see history playing out right in front of her. She has put all of her creative work on hold since March, focusing instead on documenting the news through her blog and reporting from Ukraine. \"I can't process what's happening in Ukraine at the moment; it's so important to me and it's too immediate, and nobody knows what's going to happen tomorrow. For the moment, the only way I can sort of respond to it is nonfiction.\" Hyde's fiction is written for children and young adults and was inspired by her teenage years, which she says were characterized by \"an excess of teen angst and self-loathing and thin-skinnedness and feeling utterly misunderstood and alone in the world. You just feel everything so intensely at that age, and you don't know how to process it. Emotions are bigger than you are.\" Hyde gets multiple letters from fans of Dream Land, including one university teacher who was so enamored with the book that she translated it into Crimean Tatar and helped Hyde find a publisher for it. \"I was so impressed that Ms. Hyde had covered and summarized the entire Crimean Tatar national movement in a beautiful and eloquent way,\" Mubeyyin Altan tells OZY. He says this is the first fictional account of the Crimean Tatars written in English. Now in its second print run, Dream Land could be poised to spread farther now that international attention has turned to the Crimean Tatars. Paul Goble, a specialist on ethnic and religious issues in the post-Soviet world, calls Dream Land \"the most important national novel the Crimean Tatars have.\" He adds, \"I wrote a review of it called 'The Crimean Tatars get their Anne Frank.' \" The bold statement led to backlash from people who did not appreciate the metaphor. Still, Goble is not alone in his estimation of the book. \"She has done a lot to show how the past tragedies of the Crimean Tatar people are in increasing danger of being repeated now,\" says Radio Free Europe reporter Robert Coalson. Prior to traveling to Crimea to report there, Coalson read Dream Land as one w", "NPR's Scott Simon talks with award-winning documentary filmmaker Sheila Nevins about her new book, <em>You Don't Look Your Age...And Other Fairy Tales</em>.", "At its core, Helen Oyeyemi's fourth novel, Mr. Fox, is a series of linked stories penned by the book's protagonist, a 1930s-era English writer named St. John Fox. Fox is locked in a love triangle with his wife, Daphne, and an imaginary muse named Mary Foxe. Mary comes to life in many of the 10 stories that Mr. Fox creates, but she also comes off the page to haunt, help and entertain both Daphne and Mr. Fox in their everyday lives, which, thanks to Mary, aren't so everyday. Oyeyemi dares us to wonder what exactly Mary is: an author's inspiration or something more complex — a charming combination of ghost, conscience, marriage counselor and heroine. Mr. Fox is named for the wife-killer in the English folk tale \"Mr. Fox,\" a variant of the Bluebeard story. Oyeyemi's Mr. Fox has a habit of killing women, too, but only fictional women. Mary, named after the heroine in the folk tale \"Mr. Fox\" who is brave enough to confront her antagonist, wants to change him. She prompts Mr. Fox to write a number of inventive and charming stories that riff on fairy tales but also stand powerfully on their own. The women in Mr. Fox's stories often come out on top — or nearly on top, since Oyeyemi's world is full of trap doors. For instance, in a retelling of \"Fitcher's Bird,\" another Bluebeard-like fairy tale, Mary's lover beheads her, but only because she asks him to, believing the act will turn her into a princess. \"That is not what happened,\" Oyeyemi wryly concludes, as reality and fantasy masterfully collide. Similarly, in \"Like This,\" a Yoruban woman is reunited with her lover in the tombs of Pere Lachaise by a \"freelance\" medium named Reynardine (another villainous fox of folklore). Reynardine demands that she write stories about the Yoruban people, and her \"reward\" for doing so is eternal bliss with her lover — never mind that this eternal bliss occurs inside a tomb. Oyeyemi, a Nigerian-born Londoner still in her 20s, has long proven that she can write about anything, but the most touching tales in Mr. Fox involve characters Oyeyemi can no doubt identify with: two young, cosmopolitan women navigating work and love. One is a ladies' companion and budding writer in 1930s Manhattan; the other lives in present-day London and struggles in love as she is haunted by the murder of her mother by her father. Oyeyemi lingers the longest with these two characters, both of whom are enamored with an older gentleman named Mr. Fox (lest we forget that Mr. Fox is the \"real\" author of these tales). Lonely, but bright and charming, these women don't escape the magical realism that Oyeyemi is so fond of — one of them is saved from suicide by a ghost — but they do allow us to more deeply explore love and some of the many emotions that come with it: infatuation, fear and jealousy. In Oyeyemi's prismatic and dark books, including her award-winning third novel White is for Witching, it's common to find spectral figures like Mary Foxe — who charm, trick and manipulate characters and readers — and ample elements of folklore, fairy tales and religion. Within that body of work, Mr. Fox is the most fun. Oyeyemi has a tireless imagination and doesn't stay put for long. It can feel like a jolt when she intermittently detours out of Mr. Fox's world of stories and returns us to his and Daphne's struggling marriage. But it's a testament to the strength of Oyeyemi's concept and its brilliant execution that, like Mr. Fox, we much prefer to escape into his inner life than to confront his reality. Through him, Oyeyemi exuberantly opens doors into other realms, minds and eras — and uncovers beautiful truths at every twisted turn.", "Stories: 1) Pegi Young, Stepping into the Spotlight at Last 2) In an Empire's End, Seeds of Freedom and Conflict", "Stories: 1) Road to War May Have Run Through Italy 2) And Then There's Yente: Bea Arthur's Golden Career", "In these unsettled, unsettling times, some of us look to things like horror movies and dystopian novels as a means to keep things in perspective. Things are bad, these people think, as they delight in characters meeting various grisly ends, or huddling around barrel-fires in fishnet stockings and fingerless gloves, but they're not this bad. As a coping strategy, it's valid. Niche, but valid. Because the vast majority of us are of course not dealing with the present moment by seeking out tiny, bite-sized versions of the yawning uncertainty that now surrounds us — not for us, those kind of homeopathic horrors. No, the rest of us are looking for exactly the opposite: art and culture that reassures us that things are going to be okay, that offers us a happily ever after. Here are a few suggestions. Book and film: The Princess Bride The phrase, \"And they lived happily ever after\" — what we've come to consider the classic fairy tale ending — crops up often enough, with some variation, in the folk tales compiled by the Brothers Grimm. But while the virtuous and pure of heart in those stories often ended up blissfully co-existing in perpetuity, ol' Jacob and Wilhelm gleefully doled out some pretty gnarly, grisly and downright grim punishments to their various antagonists. (Cinderella's step-sisters, for example. Look it up. Yowza.) Disney's animated films based on fairy tales tend to scrub the darker stuff away, which makes them a comparatively thin gruel, narratively, but they are sources of unalloyed happiness — and you can't deny they look great; many also sport catchy tunes, which, bonus. Speaking of: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Into the Woods threw a bunch of Grimm's fairy tales into a melodic blender. But where Disney's impulse was to sweatily paper over the violence and emotional turmoil of those stories, Sondheim and Lapine opted to steer directly into them. While pumping the gas. And hitting the nitrous. Long ago, a friend who'd seen the original Broadway production told me found it depressing. He knew, intellectually, that the show's intent was to dissect the whole notion of happily ever afters, and assert that stories don't truly end — but he soberly advised me to leave at the end of Act One. (Act Two is when all the happy, satisfying, familiar conclusions of Act One disintegrate into chaos and darkness.) At the time, I thought he was nuts. Looking around today, I almost see his point. Almost. Over the years a thriving cottage (heh) industry has arisen, full of stories that seek to deconstruct fairy tale endings by radically reimagining them (comics like Fables and Castle Waiting, television series like Once Upon a Time) and/or dosing them with withering irony (Jay Ward's animated Fractured Fairy Tales.) At first glance, The Princess Bride — both William Goldman's 1973 novel and Rob Reiner's 1987 film — would seem to belong to the latter camp. Both feature wry, knowingly meta elements, both happily riff on our received expectations. And yet this story, filled with giants and pirates and swordsmen and princesses, ends with true love winning out. With, in point of fact: \"mawwiage.\" (Note: While both book and film share a winking meta-narrative structure, in Goldman's novel, the layers of asides and inversions and formal invention are more numerous, and go deeper. It makes it the more satisfying version of the story, but also the more intentionally ambiguous, as far as endings go. If you're looking for sheer uplift — the pirate and the princess get married! the kid is less of a jerk to his grampa! — go with the movie.) Play and film: Shakespeare's The Tempest By now you've noticed that the fairy tale, and fairy tale-adjacent, stories discussed so far share the same narrow, heteronormative definition of \"happily ever ever\" — namely, matrimony. (Notable exceptions: Disney's Frozen films and Moana.) Your mileage on that score may vary, but you can't deny that, for centuries, ending a story with a marriage has been the go-to narrative gambit for sending audiences home happy. Shakespeare casts the longest shadow, here. Famously, his plays fall into three categories: Histories (some folks die), Tragedies (everybody dies), and comedies (everybody gets married). Marriage is to a Shakespeare comedy as Sam Jackson is to a Marvel movie: wait long enough, it'll show up. So if you're looking for something a little chewier than The Princess Bride, try a Shakespeare comedy, which always end on a high, breezy, comfortingly on-the-nose note. (Here's a guy who titled one of his comedies All's Well That Ends Well, spoilers be damned.) My favorite is his final play, The Tempest, because it is so resolutely, stubbornly weird. It's such a dark, violent play, full of monsters and magic and revenge, and then — in the last few minutes! — it turns on a dime. Suddenly, it's All is forgiven! Everything's jake! Let's get married! This tonal whiplash is funnier than anything that's gone before, but it's so dang ", "Commentator Elissa Ely finds herself a captive listener to her optometrist's tale of vision restored.", "The hardest, sharpest, most attractive magic of fairy tales is their power to make you both want to live inside them — and be glad you never have to. Good fairy tales balance sweetness and nightmares. They are candy apples with razorblades inside; kisses touched with poison. Bad ones are nothing but sweet. They coddle and muffle and take all the sharp, dangerous edges off of the dirty business of learning important lessons in a world that's rarely as nice as we want it to be. The bad ones sing Careful what you wish for and Sometimes pretty isn't as important as smart with choruses of cute mice and bluebirds. But the good ones don't end before there's blood on the knife. The good ones understand that scars are the best teachers. And Leigh Bardugo gets that. I don't know where she learned it. She seems like a perfectly nice person. But now that the author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom has turned her hand to re-purposing some of our most familiar fairy tales as the foundational documents of childhood in her \"Grishaverse\" (that world in which her best stories all take place), what we have are a handful of gorgeous, cruel and almost wistful windows onto the dreamscapes and hard lessons of her alternate universe. Language of Thorns is a collection of fairy tales, illustrated by Sara Kipin, which read far more Grimm than Disney. These stories offer no simple architecture of good and evil, but force you to live inside their clockworks, fear and desire combined and twisted together into that ideal mix that speaks both to children first intimating that the world isn't all pastels and candy, and adults who already know its dangers far too well. Bardugo divides them among the imaginary realms of her 'verse. The tales of Ravka come first — a clever fox story as an appetizer, followed by \"The Witch of Duva,\" which is a brutal elementary education in familial love and trust and hunger, all wrapped in the rags of Hansel and Gretel. You can smell every inch of it, feel the ache of starvation while reading, and the irresistible lure of \"flaky rolls, plums in syrup, egg pudding and a rum cake thick with raisins and brown sugar\" all laid out on the witch's table. In Kerch we hear \"The Soldier Prince,\" which is The Nutcracker if The Nutcracker were re-done by the writer's room at Westworld — a brilliant, looping exploration of reality, fantasy and the selfhood of imaginary things that twists and turns and becomes both better and more bitter as Kipin's illustrations crawl and grow along the margins. \"Ayama and the Thorn Wood\" is Beauty and the Beast, only with a too-pat ending which belies its central premise: that telling truths is costly but worthy and that prettiness alone need not define anyone. \"When Water Sang Fire\" is a bloody, ambitious, avaricious version of The Little Mermaid whose best flourishes are in the details of Bardugo's drowned world, those small, otherworldly touches which transform it from a simple yarn about a fish-girl wanting legs into something much darker and much deeper and much, much colder. A tale where even hope is dangerous: \"Hope rises like water trapped by a dam, higher and higher, in increments that mean nothing until you face the flood.\" All of Bardugo's stories have a coldness to them, actually, as if her central aim was to make you remember (without ever precisely saying so) that the world is a cruel place that breaks the young, the sweet and the innocent quickest of all. But they also have in their hearts the vengeance of inconsequence. The little things you never see coming. Her heroines, her villains, her brave nutcrackers, wrathful magicians and overlooked daughters are stock characters — as worn and recognizable as a box full of old action figures. But, at her best moments, she repaints them in unusual ways, giving depth to the wicked stepmother, an aching desire to the toy soldier, mercy to the rat king and more selfishness to the good fathers and soft, round mothers than two generations of animated musicals have prepared us for. Her stories, most of all, feel chewed. As if they'd been told a thousand times around a hundred winter fires. As though Bardugo had heard them as a child in some distant place and lived with them ticking and crying inside her for years before letting them out. They are not sanitized. There's a sense of monstrousness living behind the thickets of the words. Hers are fairy tales with all the darkness intact. Which, maybe, is precisely what we need right now. Jason Sheehan knows stuff about food, video games, books and Starblazers. He is currently the restaurant critic at Philadelphia magazine, but when no one is looking, he spends his time writing books about giant robots and ray guns. Tales From the Radiation Age is his latest book.", "<em>Fifty Shades of Grey</em> is an R-rated fairy tale, a kind of <em>Cinderella</em> tale with restraints. It's about as believable as <em>Jack and the Beanstalk</em> but considerably kinkier in intent.", "Children of all ages love to listen to fairy tales. Commentator Andrew Lam hopes that by telling his niece the tales of his native Vietnam, he can pass on part of his heritage, too.", "This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon, and Barrie Hardymon talk about the fairy tale. With the premiere of the Disney film Maleficent a few weeks away, the gang talks about why fairy tales endure and their place in pop culture. Then, Linda gives a quiz all about the television upfronts. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week." ]

[ "IT WAS A GREAT PRICE AND IT GOT HERE ON THE DAY IT SAID IT WOULD. MY SON TOOK IT TO SCHOOL SO THAT THE MUSIC TEACHER COULD APPOVE IT. THE TEACHER WAS QUITE IMPRESS HE ASKED MY SON WHERE DID HE PURCHASE IT FROM. MY SON SAID MY MOM WENT ON AMAZON AND ORDERED IT. HE SAID WOW IT IS REALLY NICE AND YOU GOT EVERYTHING TO GO WITH IT. MY SON LOVES IT AND PRACTICE EVERYDAY!!!!!!" ]

[ "POSITIVES\nThis was a good movie and made us laugh out loud several times\nFUNNY\nEnjoyable Christmas movie\nTheme throughout is the father son relationship and the son's relationship and overcompensating towards his own son as a result.\nThis dysfunctional family was portrayed very well.\nThe actors and actresses all play their roles extremely well\nHAPPY ending\nLots a lessons\n\nNEGATIVES\nThe magic of the Santa scene could have been played upon more\n\nHINTS\nDO NOT HAVE CHILDREN WATCH THIS MOVIE\nTHIS IS AN ADULT MOVIE so IT IS NOT recommended for children\n\nHIGHLY RECOMMEND", "I got this in July 2011 so that I could charge my iphone4 in the car while listening to it and not have cords running from both ends of the phone. However, it was quickly apparent that this was a low quality cord and there is a loud buzzing sound when I play music. It does what it advertises, just be prepared to only play loud music to drown out the whine.", "The toy is great. But my 5 year old son does not play with it because of a lack of detailed instructions. The toy will suit well creative kids, especially girls. I hope that when my son gets older he will start playing with it.", "My son is on his third play through, so it was worth the money", "Great quality but its a bit smaller than it says great for playing with my son loves it he plays with his army toys with it", "Very realistic looking toys. My son loves to play with these!", "Cheap plastic, and this thing broke within 60 seconds of my son playing with hit.", "My son loves this chair to watch tv and play his games. Highly recommend!", "Not much fun. My son played it once. It is now in the garage sale pile.", "My son and his roommates love playing Guitar Hero. They do not have much free time, they are away at Prep School, so when they play, they have a great time.", "I have to set time limits for this game, because my 6 year old would play it all the time. What I like about the game is that my son and my husband and I can all play together at the same time, and my son's character gets killed more often than the adults, but we can just bring him back and continue on with the game. Great game if you have a little one who wants to play like the grown-ups.", "Product came as described. My son loves playing with these trains and was very excited to add to his collection.", "My teenage son says these gloves have some of the best \"sticky\" around. He plays football as a running back/wide receiver and he won't play without them.", "My son loves it! Had it for 2 months (he got from Santa) and he is still playing with it everyday!", "This is cheap, but cheap in $ too! It was perfect for a night of trick or treating and now my son uses it to play in. Worth it!", "They have held up great for a year so far. Great pirate play keys, large and heavy, loud and clanky.", "My wife enjoys playing on these because they are so easy to press. They have a clean feel and bright sound. I have not been disappointed with the life or sound of these compared to diadarios or martins.\n\nWould not recommend for more aggressive strummers or loud play. I have broken a couple of these with my heavy strum -- need to go light or mediums for that.", "These speakers look very cool, are great quality and when played loud, it is still clear.\nGREAT QUALITY, recommended.", "My son (6) and daughter (5) routinely use this during their play (about once a day, sometimes more). We have had it for over two years, and they never seem to get bored with it. It stands up very well to their sometimes rough play (you can't tell that they've had it for as long as they have). Now that my son is playing with smaller toys, I occasionally think that perhaps it is time to send it to a new home, but then I watch them play with it and decide that we should keep it around. This toy has been an incredibly worthwhile investment.", "This card shuffler does the job, but the only time we really have time to play cards is as night.\n\nThis card shuffler is EXTRMELY LOUD. It seemed like the sound of it echoed throughout my entire house.", "My son loves this toy. Doesn't want to get out of the bath because he loves playing with it so much", "Bought this for my son who wanted to learn the violin - after currently playing the alto sax and flute - and he loves it! By the afternoon he was playing 2 beginner songs. This is a very helpful tool.", "This 'toy' has two modes; On and off. When it's on it plays loud music like what an ice cream truck plays and goes in circles. You have to move it constantly because as soon as it touches something it stops. It doesn't interact or do anything remotely 'fun'. It also stinks like burnt plastic after running for a couple of minutes. I am extremely dissatisfied with this pile of loud, annoying junk.", "My son loves them! These characters were great additions to his skylander collection. A fun game to play with his friends.", "My son loves this costume. Couldn't wait to open it up and refuses to take it off! Great for playing pretend", "My son used to play with Thomas a lot. Now 8 yo but still likes the toy that was bought for his little sister.", "Bought this for my son who enjoys puzzle play, but is also learning to read. It has been great in helping him recognize words.", "Decent guns. One of them started jamming after only a few uses - could be the way my son plays with it though...", "This was a great birthday present for my son. Instead of him digging in the cabinets for pots to play with, he has his own set now!", "My son received this for his 3rd birthday. He loved it then and still enjoys playing with it now. Overall, an engaging toy.", "I bought these for my son and they are great so far. They have kept his hands dry and warm while playing in the snow.", "My daughter loves it. The microphone works well without being obnoxiously loud. The only complaint I have is that the doll's hair is pretty unkempt immediately out of the packaging, but realistically that was going to happen anyway with a five year old playing with it." ]

[ "By . Richard Pendlebury and Stephen Wright . PUBLISHED: . 19:43 EST, 21 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:43 EST, 21 June 2012 . A prominent race lawyer exposed as a crook by the Mail was yesterday booted out of the legal profession and ordered to pay £1.4million in costs. Shahrokh Mireskandari, 51, was struck off after it emerged he had faked his legal qualifications and hid his criminal convictions while representing celebrity clients. The conman was found guilty of an extraordinary 104 breaches of the rules governing solicitors’ conduct by a central London disciplinary tribunal. 'Dear friend': Labour MP Keith Vaz (left) and race lawyer Shahrokh Mireskandari (right), pictured at a House of Commons function in November 2007 . It ruled that while running London-based law firm Dean and Dean, he racked up debts, overcharged clients, conducted improper litigation, failed to keep proper records and used clients’ cash to pay staff salaries. The tribunal hearing took place after the Mail revealed in 2008 that Mireskandari: . • Was a fraudster who had conned his way into the UK legal profession . • Had worthless legal qualifications from a mail-drop university in Hawaii . • Overcharged clients while masquerading as a respected race lawyer . • Had an improper professional relationship with crooked Scotland Yard commander Ali Dizaei. When Mireskandari was exposed by the Mail, he was representing ex-Met assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur in his race claim against Britain’s biggest force and former commissioner, Sir Ian Blair. Close contact: Shahrokh Mireskandari shakes hands with Keith Vaz at a London event hosted by the MP in 2007 . As an ‘expert’ on race relations, Mireskandari ‘paralysed’ Scotland Yard with multi-million-pound race relations litigation, often in cahoots with his Iranian compatriot, the since jailed Dizaei. He even declared he would ‘destroy Sir Ian and his golden circle’ of white officers. Our investigation also revealed how Mireskandari was in close contact with Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee, who publicly described him as a ‘very, very dear friend’ and also as the ‘best lawyer in Britain’. Such was Mr Vaz’s loyalty to the lawyer that he even attempted to intervene in a court case on his behalf and lobbied for him in a letter to the legal watchdog. But, in the aftermath of our investigation, Mireskandari was suspended from practising as a solicitor and his firm closed down, Dizaei was suspended and Mr Ghaffur humiliated into dropping his £1million-plus race claim. The decision to kick Mireskandari out of the legal profession follows a six-week misconduct hearing dogged with attempts by him to halt the proceedings. After getting the hearing adjourned from April last year, Mireskandari failed to return from Los Angeles to give evidence, instead bombarding the tribunal with applications to adjourn on medical grounds. He was represented by 17 barristers but panel chairman Jacqueline Devonish said that allegations of dishonesty had been proved. She said it was ‘not credible’ that the solicitor could have achieved top marks in his doctorate at the discredited American University of Hawaii, while at the same time working full-time and being thrown out of three law schools for poor performance. It also ruled that ‘without a shadow of a doubt’ he acted dishonestly when he hid his criminal convictions for 15 counts of telemarketing fraud in America from the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) when he returned to the UK. The tribunal found he racked up huge debts at Dean and Dean and then ‘dishonestly and recklessly’ used clients’ cash to prop up his business. One client’s mortgage account fund was pilfered by Mireskandari to pay off debts. Another client’s £200,000 bail bond was withdrawn without permission from the court. When a judge ordered it be repaid, Mireskandari was forced to borrow £250,000 from a client to cover the shortfall. Mireskandari was also found guilty of billing clients for work that had not been done. At the same time, he racked up huge debts to barristers. When his firm was closed down, he owed more than £1million in unpaid fees. Mireskandari was also found guilty of participating in an ‘improper scheme’ to reproduce images of a client’s injuries, using a make-up artist, before passing them off as police photographs to the Home Secretary. It was also found he misled the court on a number of occasions – and attracted critical judgments against him. The panel found 54 separate breaches of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct, 36 of the Solicitors’ Account Rules and 14 of the Solicitors’ Practice Rules. Mireskandari claimed he was the victim of a racially motivated vendetta by the SRA and the Mail. But the tribunal dismissed this. Striking him off, Miss Devonish said: ‘The tribunal order that the respondent Shahrokh Mireskandari, solicitor, be struck off the Roll of Solicitors and it further orders that he pay the costs of £1.4million.’ Solicitor Mark Boardman, who represented two of his victims, said: ‘The Mail can be justifiably proud of the hard work, dedication and good old-fashioned investigative journalism that brought this scandal to the attention of the public and resulted in today’s verdicts.’ Mansur Rahnema, a retired heart surgeon, instructed Mireskandari to handle his divorce. The conman bungled the case, presented his client with an £800,000 bill and sued. Years of litigation followed. ‘Thank you for all your courageous reporting,’ Mr Rahnema said. ‘This man is a monster who has caused so much harm to me and my loved ones. He should really be in jail.’ Academic Sheida Oraki instructed Mireskandari for an agreed fee of £1,000. When he presented his bill the figure had risen to £19,000. He sued and drove her to bankruptcy. ‘This is good news but he should never have been allowed to practise in the UK in the first place,’ she said. ‘He has made my life hell.’ Investigation: The Mail revealed that Mireskandari had an improper professional relationship with Scotland Yard commander Ali Dizaei (pictured)" ]

[ "A bogus lawyer who was ordered to pay £1.4million in legal costs after being exposed by the Daily Mail and then struck off has been ordered to pay a further massive sum after abandoning an appeal. Shahrokh Mireskandari, 53, has been given until April 4 to pay more than £230,000 in additional costs after being condemned by a leading judge for 'wholly abusive, unreasonable and manipulative conduct', including attempting to get the appeal hearing adjourned. Mireskandari was banned from practising as a solicitor after an investigation by the Mail revealed that he had faked his legal qualifications and hid criminal convictions while representing celebrity clients. Labour MP Keith Vaz (left) and race lawyer Shahrokh Mireskandari (right), pictured at a House of Commons function in November 2007 . A solicitors' disciplinary tribunal found him guilty in June 2012 of 104 breaches of the rules governing solicitors' conduct after a six-week hearing. The Mail uncovered the scandal . The tribunal found that while running his London-based law firm Dean and Dean, Mireskandari got into debt, overcharged clients, conducted improper litigation, failed to keep proper records and used clients' cash to pay staff salaries. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) accused him of making 'substantial efforts to derail and disrupt' the hearing. Then Mireskandari, who owned a string of properties in London but has fled to Los Angeles to avoid creditors, launched an appeal against the strike-off order and it was listed for a 10-day hearing in February. But less than a fortnight before it was due to begin he applied for it to be stayed on the grounds of ill health. The application was rejected as 'hopeless' by Lord Justice Moses on February 5, who also described it as 'an abusive application designed to manipulate the court into granting an adjournment'. Later the same week Mireskandari withdrew his appeal. Yesterday, the SRA asked Lord Justice Moses to make a costs order against Mireskandari on an indemnity basis - the highest level available - to show the court's disapproval of his unreasonable conduct, which had led to the authority incurring substantial costs in preparing to resist his 43 grounds of appeal. Agreeing, Lord Justice Moses said: 'If this conduct and litigation does not justify an order I don't know what litigation does.' Formally dismissing Mireskandari's appeal, the Appeal Court judge said: 'This has been wholly abusive and unreasonable litigation.' Disciplinary action was taken against Mireskandari after the Mail revealed in 2008 he had launched his legal career in the UK on the basis of qualifications acquired from a mail drop Hawaii university. At the time he was representing ex-Met assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur in his race claim against Britain's biggest force and former commissioner, Sir Ian Blair. He was also in close contact with Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee, who publicly described him as a 'very, very dear friend' and also as the 'best lawyer in Britain'. In the aftermath of the Mail investigation, Mireskandari faced disciplinary action, his firm was closed down, his close friend the corrupt Met commander Ali Dizaei was suspended and Mr Ghaffur had to drop his £1million-plus race claim. Mireskandari was represented by 17 barristers at the misconduct hearing, but panel chairman Jacqueline Devonish said that allegations of dishonesty had been proved. The Iranian-born crook claimed he was the victim of a racially motivated vendetta by the SRA and the Mail. But the tribunal dismissed this.", "By . Stephen Doughty . and David Wilkes . British Airways check-in clerk Nadia Eweida triumphed over the airline yesterday after a six-year battle to wear her cross at work. Her right to profess her religious belief should have trumped the airline’s powers to mould its image by imposing petty uniform rules on its staff, European judges declared. A ‘jubilant’ Miss Eweida, who had lost at a string of hearings in Britain, said her first reaction to the ruling had been to say: ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ Scroll down for video . Victory: A jubilant Nadia Eweida with her cross after she won her court battle . Defeat: (left to right) Shirley Chaplin, Lillian Ladel and Gary McFarlane . But her victory came as three other Christians lost claims at the European Court of Human Rights. Nurse Shirley Chaplin, who wanted to wear a cross with her uniform, was told that her bosses were right to remove her from the wards because of the importance of health and safety for NHS patients. And two Christians who were sacked in gay rights disputes were both properly dismissed, the Strasbourg court ruled. Lillian Ladele, a registrar with Islington council, had declined to conduct civil partnership ceremonies. Gary McFarlane, a Relate counsellor, had been reluctant to give sex advice to gay couples. The judgment in Miss Eweida’s case is likely to open the way for Christians to declare their faith by wearing or displaying the cross at work, unless their employer can show a good reason why they should not. Victory: Miss Eweida said she 'jumped for joy' and thanked Jesus after hearing the decision this morning . But the Government’s Equality and Human Rights Commission said employers would be confused. It called for new laws from . Westminster on the rights of religious believers to demonstrate and . practise their beliefs in public. Miss Eweida, 61, had been told by . British Airways that she must remove the cross she wore with her . uniform, even though the airline was happy for Sikh men to wear turbans . and bracelets and for Muslim women to wear headscarves. After her victory she said: ‘I’m . overwhelmed, but jubilant. When I heard the result I literally jumped up . and down for joy and said “thank you, Jesus”. ‘I’m very pleased Christian rights . have been vindicated. I believe there will be a big impact and it will . encourage employees who are too timid or reserved to wear their crosses . not to be afraid to show their faith.’ Backing: The Prime Minister tweeted this morning he was 'delighted' about the ruling in Strasbourg . The Daily Mail revealed in 2006 that Nadia Eweida had been suspended for wearing a cross . The Egyptian-born Coptic Christian was . sent home without pay in September 2006. Her suspension provoked a . public outcry after it was reported by the Daily Mail. The airline allowed her back to work . in February 2007 under new rules allowing the cross and the Star of . David to be displayed with uniforms. However a series of British tribunals and the Court of Appeal said the airline had been right and she had been wrong. Yesterday the Strasbourg judges said . that while BA had a right to protect its corporate image, ‘Miss Eweida’s . cross was discreet and cannot have detracted from her professional . appearance’. Lost: Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre holds the cross of Shirley Chaplin, whose complaint about not being able to wear it at work in a hospital was not upheld . Case: Marriage counsellor Gary McFarlane, 51, who was sacked for saying he might object to offering sex therapy to homosexuals also lost today . Disappointment: Shirley Chaplin with her confirmation cross pendant which she wears on a necklace - but her discrimination case was lost today . Government lawyers opposed her claim . and the three others in Strasbourg. British officials said the . Government is bound to uphold the decisions of the British courts. However yesterday David Cameron . tweeted that he was ‘delighted that the principle of wearing religious . symbols at work has been upheld – people shouldn’t suffer discrimination . due to religious beliefs’. Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu . welcomed the ruling. ‘Christians and those of other faiths should be . free to wear the symbols of their own religion without discrimination,’ he said. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, . who has backed the right of Christians to declare their faith, said of . Miss Eweida’s victory: ‘I’m delighted that the principle of it has been . upheld by the European Court. ‘The Prime Minister has said we would . change the law if it wasn’t. Our lawyers are still looking through the . judgement but their view is it is not going to be necessary to have to . change the law.’ The judges added: ‘There was no . evidence that the wearing of other, previously authorised, items of . religious clothing, such as turbans and hijabs, by other employees, had . any negative impact on British Airways’ brand or image. Moreover, the fact that the company . was able to amend the uniform code to allow for the visible wearing of . religious symbolic jewellery demonstrates that the earlier prohibition . was not of crucial importance.’ Dr John Sentamu said tribunals and courts should not have to rule on what symbols people could or could not wear . Christians should be able to wear the symbols of their religion without being discriminated against, the Archbishop of York said today.Reacting to the judgment from the European Court of Human Rights, Dr John Sentamu also said tribunals and courts should not have to rule on what symbols people could or could not wear.But the National Secular Society (NSS) said 'true religious freedom' was for employees who feel parts of their job go against their conscience to find another role.Dr Sentamu said: 'Christians are not obliged to wear a cross but should be free to show their love for and trust in Jesus Christ in this way if they so wish.'In July 2012, the General Synod stated that it is the calling of Christians to order and govern their lives in accordance with the teaching of Holy Scripture and to manifest their faith in public life as well as in private.'This means giving expression to their beliefs in the written and spoken word, and in practical acts of service to the local community and to the nation.'The Equality Act 2010 encourages employers to embrace diversity - including people of faith. Whether people can wear a cross or pray with someone should not be something about which courts and tribunals have to rule.' Win: Nadia Eweida at the beginning of her case with three other Britons at the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg last year, with the ruling released today .", "Told off: Osteopath Paul Bolton regularly left patients unattended, a panel was told . An osteopath left acupuncture needles sticking out of a patient's backside while he nipped off to a café for sausage rolls, a disciplinary panel was told. Paul Bolton regularly left patients unattended and told a colleague who challenged him that he would ‘strangle her slowly and watch her eyeballs pop out’, it heard. The British former soldier and police officer was fined £1,500 by the medical authorities in New Zealand over the alleged litany of misconduct and banned from practising for 12 months. However he has since returned home and is advertising services including acupuncture, massage and spinal manipulation. Mr Bolton spent six months working as an osteopath at the Consultancy House Clinic in Dunedin during which there were ‘seven or eight’ complaints from patients, New Zealand’s Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal was told. A massage therapist at the clinic told the tribunal he would often see clients lying unattended on the treatment table with acupuncture needles in their back. He described one morning when he saw Mr Bolton walk up the stairs with a cup of coffee and a bag full of sausage rolls even though he had a patient on the table ‘with a backside full of needles hooked up to the Tens (electro-acupuncture) machine’. He was also said to have jammed needles into a woman's back without warning, putting holes in her t-shirt, and carrying out a strong neck manipulation that left her sore for six months. When clinic managers began to realise he left clients unattended, he was challenged, but he ‘just yelled and screamed’ and refused to talk about it, the hearing was told. The clinic told the tribunal Mr Bolton was ‘aggressive with his patients, was intimidating towards his patients, swore and was too loud’, with two colleagues saying they could hear all his conversations with clients through the concrete walls. The tribunal heard numerous evidence of Mr Bolton's ‘excessively inappropriate foul language’, and how he spent more time talking about himself than engaging with his patients, answering his mobile phone and having personal conversations. When he was confronted for using foul language by one office manager he allegedly ‘called her a 'f***ing c***’. Several incidents: While working at Consultancy House Clinic in Dunedinm Mr Bolton left acupuncture needles sticking out of a patient's bottom while he went out to buy sausage rolls . One colleague said Mr Bolton ‘would typically start the sentence with a 'f***' finish it with a 'f***' and have a 'f***' somewhere in the middle of it. He would frequently use the words 'f***' and 'c***' as part of a normal conversation’. The HPDT ruled that his ‘use of bad language ... is unprofessional and brings discredit to the osteopathy profession’. It had come to the ‘distinct conclusion that Mr Bolton is a large man with a loud voice and an intimidating manner’, who had told a colleague he wanted to ‘strangle (another colleague) slowly and watch her eyeballs pop out’. Ruling that he had brought discredit to his profession in his stint there in 2011-12, it said he had put patients at ‘significant risk’ by leaving them alone while they had acupuncture needles inserted, particularly when electro-acupuncture was being used. It suspended him from practising for 12 months, fined him $3000 (£1,490) and ordered him to pay $45,714 (£22,700) towards the costs of the investigation and hearing. Mr Bolton misspelled his place of work,  has since been working at Carlisle Complementary Therapies – misspelt as ‘complimentary’ on his personal website . Mr Bolton has since been working at Carlisle Complementary Therapies – misspelt as ‘complimentary’ on his personal website – but staff there said yesterday he had been an independent practitioner who was no longer running clinics there. According to the site he offers acupuncture, massage, ‘spinal manipulation’ and exercise advice, charging £50-an-hour. It says that after serving with the Royal Engineers and stints on drilling rigs and with the police he found his ‘true vocation’ studying sports therapy, later training as an osteopath and working with top rugby and football clubs. His biography states: ‘In 2010 I fulfilled a personal dream and worked for two years in the South Island NZ as an Osteopath to the local sporting community and farming communities.’ A woman at his family home in Carlisle declined to comment yesterday, and messages left on the phone number on his website were not returned. A spokeswoman for Britain’s General Osteopathic Council said Mr Bolton was not registered as an osteopath in this country and therefore not entitled to practise using the term. It added that it was in touch with its counterpart in New Zealand and would take the findings of its investigation into account should he seek to register here.", "By . Jo Knowsley And Dominic Prince . David Cameron’s reshuffle was thrown into chaos last night after it was revealed his new Law Minister was found guilty of professional misconduct after illicitly obtaining case notes from a race-hate trial. Tory MP Robert Buckland, 45, was censured by a tribunal following his intervention into an enquiry over an attack by 13 Asians on a white pupil at a school where he was governor. Mr Buckland, appointed Solicitor General last week, last night admitted that he did not tell David Cameron of the charge. His new job includes making sure lawyers do not bring the profession into disrepute – as he was found to have done. New Solicitor General Robert Buckland was found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal of the barristers’ ruling body, the Council of the Inns of Court . He was found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal of the barristers’ ruling body, the Council of the Inns of Court, which was headed by fellow Tory MPs Kenneth Clarke, the then Justice Secretary, and Dominic Grieve, the Attorney General until last week. Mr Buckland yesterday faced calls to resign from his new post. The Mail on Sunday has learned that in 2011 Mr Buckland, a former barrister and part-time judge who has been MP for South Swindon since 2010, was hauled before a disciplinary tribunal of the barristers’ ruling body, after he broke the lawyers’ code of conduct by demanding court documents from a barrister. The censure of Mr Buckland by the Council of the Inns of Court . The incident occurred in 2008 when Mr Buckland was a governor at Ridgeway School in Wroughton, near Swindon, and had been asked to investigate an attack by an Asian gang – four of whom were pupils – on a white boy at the school. Henry Webster, then 15, was punched, kicked and hit with a claw hammer and his mother Liz Webster accused the school of being responsible. Thirteen men were later convicted of the attack. Following this, Mr Buckland, then a prospective MP, told Mrs Webster he was conducting an internal investigation. He also revealed he had asked a fellow barrister, Robin Shellard, who had defended one of the gang, Amjad Qazi, for case notes. Mrs Webster, however, was horrified at the breach. She said: ‘He was a school governor but if the school had been found guilty of racism that would have affected his career. ‘I think he should resign. I’m amazed he took up the appointment. I don’t see how someone who appears to have so little understanding of the law can take a job which demands this level of moral fibre, this level of responsibility. It’s also outrageous that he didn’t mention that he had this in his past when he took the job. He must have hoped it would all be swept under the carpet.’ Believing Mr Buckland was trying to ‘appease’ her, and furious he was breaching protocol, Mrs Webster told the police at the time. Mrs Webster said: ‘I had a meeting with Ed Balls who ordered a serious case review of the school, and I also told Michael Gove, the shadow secretary of education. Finally I went to the Bar Council.’ Documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveal Mr Buckland was called to a disciplinary hearing on March 31, 2011 to hear and determine the charge of professional misconduct at The Council of the Inns of Court. They state the defendants were found guilty of professional misconduct. Under Particulars of Offence they say: ‘Robert Buckland and Robin Shellard engaged in conduct likely to diminish confidence in the legal profession or the administration of justice or otherwise bring the legal profession into disrepute.’ They state the offence as: ‘Mr Buckland requested Mr Shellard to give him access to, and Mr Shellard agreed to provide access to, the case papers in the criminal trial of Amjad Qasi [sic] and others, the said papers being passed to Mr Buckland when Mr Buckland had no entitlement to be provided with those papers and both parties being aware he was not so entitled at the time.’ Amjad Qazi ,19, was jailed for a year for his part in the vicious attack on Henry Webster that left Henry with brain injuries . Mr Buckland’s school investigation never concluded because Mrs Webster launched a civil action against the school for failing to protect her son. She later lost. Last night Mr Buckland, a married father of twins, confessed to The Mail on Sunday that he had failed to notify the Cabinet Office of the misdemeanour. He said: ‘It’s a matter of public record. It’s been recorded by the Bar Standards Board. It happened three years ago. ‘It was a genuine attempt by me to establish facts at the school. This is the only time I have had any issue with the Bar Standards Board. I genuinely thought I was taking the right action for the school. I regret it ended up in the position it did.’ Mr Buckland tried to say the matter was ‘spent’ because more than two years had passed but last night the Bar Standards Board said disciplinary findings stay on a barrister’s disciplinary record indefinitely. Mr Shellard did not return calls made by The Mail on Sunday. Last night, a spokesman for the Solicitor General’s office said: ‘This finding was removed from the Bar records after two years and therefore Mr Buckland was not required to declare it upon appointment as Solicitor General.” But Labour’s Shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry, accused Mr Buckland of ‘bad judgement’ for failing to declare the offence. She said: ‘It is very important that the post of Solicitor General is one the Government and the public can have complete trust in.’ Labour last night said ‘we will be raising more questions about this matter’. Solicitor General and a crime that stunned us all . The Solicitor General’s ‘professional misconduct’ centred on a case where ‘reverse racism’ meant teachers allegedly turned a blind eye to Asian gangs targeting white children at school. The policy was designed to protect an influx of 20 Asian students whom teachers feared might be bullied when they arrived in 2005. In fact, as was later found by a serious case review, the reverse had taken place at the 1,450-pupil Ridgeway School in suburban Swindon. Liz Webster, whose son Henry was almost killed in an attack in January 2007, said: ‘Everyone knew what was going on at that school, that there was a culture of racism by the Asian students. ‘There had been a number of incidents. One boy had his nose broken by the same gang that attacked Henry. ‘Police knew about all it. But teachers wouldn’t deal with this reverse racism. They had this perception that the Asian kids were being racially abused when it was the other way around. ‘They created an Asian safe zone at the school and kept claiming the Asian kids were being victimised. There was a fear at the school of being perceived as having a racial problem. They simply didn’t know what to do about it.’ Henry was 15 when, in January 2007, he was set upon by a group of Asian youths who called themselves ‘Asian Invasion’. Henry had agreed to fight a boy ‘one on one’ to end the harassment he felt he and his friends were experiencing. Victim: Henry Webster with his mother Liz. Mr Webster was left with brain damage after the attack with a hammer by a gang of Asians . Henry – a 6ft 2ins rugby player who stood out because of his flaming red hair and strong stature – was punched, kicked and hit six times with a claw hammer in a vicious attack by the group that lasted about a minute. He suffered three skull fractures – the hammer went into the fluid around his brain – and he had surgery to save his life. Seven young men were convicted of wounding Henry with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. Five were convicted of conspiracy. Another admitted violent disorder. They were given custodial sentences ranging from eight months to eight years. Others received suspended sentences of up to 18 months. Only four were pupils at the school. The court was told the conflicts at the school resembled something one might see in a Quentin Tarantino movie. Henry and his family accused the school of failing to discipline Asian pupils who abused or intimidated white classmates. In 2009 his family launched a High Court challenge claiming the school had been negligent, failed to maintain proper discipline or deal with racial tension. The school denied liability. In February 2010, Mr Justice Nicol rejected the family’s claims and said the school did not breach its duty to take reasonable care to keep Henry reasonably safe while on the premises. Following that ruling the Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board commissioned a serious case review. Published in 2010, it found the school had failed to tackle escalating racial tensions between Asian and white teenagers – even after a riot on the playing fields. It found that not only should playground bullying be monitored for racism, but that schools should appoint ‘different race’ mentors for new pupils to help them settle in. And teachers should consult parents about whether their approaches to religious and cultural requirements are ‘continuously appropriate.’ Mrs Webster, 50, who runs a recruitment agency for domestic staff and nannies maintains that the school was responsible for Henry’s attack. ‘We were never able to see the full serious case review,’ she said. ‘There was something in there the authorities didn’t want me to see. ‘Had the integration of the Asian students been properly handled we are certain this attack would never have happened.’ Henry, 23, is now at university but Mrs Webster says he still suffers ‘fatigue problems’.", "A paramedic who wrote abusive comments on Facebook about an NHS campaigner, whose mother who died at Stafford Hospital, has been suspended. Roy Guest, 51, was told he could not work for a year after posting ‘offensive’ remarks about whistle-blower Julie Bailey's late mother, Bella, who died while being cared for at the scandal-hit institution. One of the many comments he posted on the social media page stated: ‘I hope you suffer a life threatening illness...’ Paramedic Roy Guest, 51, (left) was suspended for a year after posting offensive comments about NHS campaigner Julie Bailey (right). Her mother, Bella, died while on the wards at Stafford Hospital . Ms Bailey set up the campaign group Cure the NHS and has been widely credited for pushing politicians to hold . a public inquiry into the failings. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) panel ruled that Guest should be suspended from the register for 12 months. Panel chair Clair Bonnet said: ‘The panel concluded that his insight is limited. The registrant has not engaged with these proceedings at any stage. ‘Whilst he sought to apologise to JB . in writing, the panel considered that his draft letter was, to a . significant degree, self-centred. ‘It focused more on the impact of his actions upon himself and his family, . rather than on the impact upon JB or upon the reputations of the . profession and/or the trust. ‘The . panel had no evidence before it of the registrant’s current attitude or . whether he had taken any steps to remediate his misconduct. Ms . Bailey, who has since been awarded a CBE, has had problems with trolls in the past, receiving abuse from Twitter users. Comments by the paramedic, who was sacked by West Midlands Ambulance Trust last year, included: 'I hope you get a life-threatening illness' Ms Bailey has been credited with bringing the crisis at the hospital to light and pushing politicians to act . Probes . into the scandal at Stafford revealed that poor care could have led to the deaths . of hundreds of patients as a result of maltreatment and neglect. Many . were left lying in their own urine and excrement for days, forced to . drink water from vases or given the wrong medication. Her campaign eventually led to a full public inquiry into the scandal which in turn has led to wider NHS reforms. A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'West Midlands Ambulance Service is aware of the hearing held by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) panel said Guest had not engaged in any of the proceedings involved with the investigation . 'The HCPC hearing refers to comments made on a Facebook open forum by a former member of staff. 'The incident was taken extremely seriously by the Trust when the posting first became public in February 2013. An investigation was instigated by the Trust and the member of staff concerned was dismissed in May 2013. 'It goes without saying that the Trust would not condone a personal attack and wishes to distance itself from the published comments making reference to Julie Bailey and the situation at Mid-Staffordshire Hospital. Last year, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said cruelty in the NHS became had widespread during the scandal . The hospital was the subject of a 2009 inquiry which found as many as 1,200 people may have needlessly died due to poor care over four years. The scandal came to national attention because of an investigation by the Healthcare Commission into it's day-to-day running. The commission was first alerted by the 'apparently high mortality rates in patients admitted as emergencies'. When the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust failed to provide what the commission considered an adequate explanation, a full-scale investigation was carried out in 2008. The published report severely criticised the Foundation Trust's management and detailed the appalling conditions and inadequacies at the hospital. Last year Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said cruelty was allowed to become 'normal' in the NHS at the time of the Stafford hospital scandal and neither staff nor ministers took any notice.", "Leaders of the legal profession yesterday dropped their controversial advice to lawyers on how to draw up wills according to Islamic sharia law. The Law Society apologised for putting out a guidance note which told solicitors to draw up sharia wills that give male heirs double the amounts inherited by women. It also told lawyers they should cut illegitimate and adopted children out of any inheritance. The Law Society apologised for putting out a guidance note which told solicitors to draw up sharia wills that give male heirs double the amounts inherited by women. Pictured: The Sharia Council of Britain in London . Andrew Caplen, president of the professional body for solicitors, said: ‘We reviewed the note in the light of criticism. We have withdrawn the note and we are sorry.’ The guidance, issued to lawyers amid deep controversy in the spring, was seen as a major advance for sharia law. The religious legal code is seen by critics as discriminating against women and running contrary to basic principles of English law. It told solicitors drawing up wills for Muslim clients who wanted their estates distributed according to sharia rules: ‘The male heirs in most cases receive double the amount inherited by a female heir of the same class. ‘Non-Muslims may not inherit at all, and only Muslim marriages are recognised.’ The guidance said divorced husbands or wives cannot inherit under sharia rules, and instructed lawyers: ‘You should amend clauses which define the term children or issue to exclude those who are illegitimate or adopted.’ Inheritance law allows people to leave as much as they like to whoever they like in their wills. But the Law Society came under heavy criticism after issuing the advice. The organisation, which operates firm equality rules, was seen as encouraging its members to collude in discriminating against women and others who are disadvantaged under sharia law. Inheritance law allows people to leave as much as they like to whoever they like in wills (file picture) Mr Caplen said: ‘Our practice note was intended to support members to better serve their clients as far as is allowed by the law of England and Wales.’ The National Secular Society, which had been pressing the Law Society to withdraw the advice, said it welcomed the decision. Director Keith Porteous Wood said: ‘This is an important reversal for what had seemed to be the relentless march of sharia to becoming British law. 'Until now, politicians and the legal establishment either encouraged this process or spinelessly recoiled from acknowledging what was happening. ‘This is particularly good news for women who fare so badly under sharia law, which is a non-democratically determined, non-human rights compliant and discriminatory code.’ Sharia rulings are made by an estimated 85 tribunals attached to mosques throughout the country. The decisions made in them have no force in English law, but operate on a voluntary basis, with all parties agreeing to be bound by rulings. English courts often rubber stamp sharia court decisions. In divorce cases, for example, a judge will in many cases examine documents and forms submitted after a decision in a sharia tribunal and declare the divorce official in English law . Sharia law has gained growing respectability, particularly on the political left, since 2003, when the then Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said British courts might recognise sharia tribunals and that official acceptance of sharia ‘seems unavoidable’.", "Whistleblower Jason Phur, 39, has been awarded £46,000 after an employment tribunal ruled her was unfairly dismissed . A mechanic who was unfairly sacked when he accused garage bosses of overcharging customers for unnecessary work, has been awarded £46,000 in compensation. Whistleblower Jason Phur, 39, told an employment tribunal a whole host of not needed work had been carried out by mechanics at the garage. He claimed one driver was hit with a £2,500 bill after he was told to remove the complete cylinder head on a car when the fault was with the engine control unit. The father-of-three also told the hearing he was ordered to fit a new clutch on a Vauxhall Astra when it did not need replacing. He said he voiced his concerns about the work to company director Nick Sutton who called a staff meeting where a row broke out. Three weeks later disciplinary proceedings were brought against Mr Phur and four days after that he was sacked with a letter accusing him of a 'negative attitude' at work. He took privately-owned Volksline to a tribunal where Mr Sutton claimed the mechanic had thrown a chair at him and worked at a 'substandard' level. But the three-man panel rejected that and said his explanation for starting disciplinary proceedings was 'implausible and inconsistent'. One disgruntled customer also told the hearing he was overcharged for work when he took his car for a service in 2011. Bank worker John Forster said the garage told him he faced a £500 bill to repair an oil leak and replace brake pads. He told the hearing he was 'absolutely flabbergasted' and took his vehicle to a different mechanic who said nothing was wrong with it. The panel, sitting in Ashford, Kent, ruled in Mr Phur's favour and awarded him £46,000 in compensation from the Canterbury-based company. They said: 'A disclosure alleging a criminal offence is in the public interest.' Mr Phur, a father-of-three, 39, from Herne Bay, Kent, said: 'They just didn't like the fact that I spoke up against the regime. 'What they did to me has had a huge emotional and psychological impact upon me. 'They were very worried that this might get into the papers so at one point they tried to arrange an out-of-court settlement, but obviously it came to this instead. 'I haven't yet recovered from the ordeal of going through it all, but at least I have been totally vindicated in pursuing this.' Volksline was founded in 1979 by David Sutton (right), 70, and is run by his son Nick (left). They pair deny they have ever fitted parts that did not need fitting . Volksline (pictured) claims it as an 'honest' firm that has 'never fitted parts that didn't need fitting' Volksline was founded in 1979 by David Sutton, 70, and is run by his son Nick and a team of nine mechanics. After the case Nick Sutton, 51, said: 'We have never fitted parts that didn't need fitting. We are an honest firm which has been operating in Canterbury for 35 years. 'We always treat our employees well. This whole thing feels like a punch in the throat.' Mr Phur's solicitor Mike Arnold said: 'This judgement demonstrates that workers should come forward to complain if they believe that there are wrongdoings that they believe are being committed by their employer and are in the public interest. 'Whether the workers' beliefs are true or not is not the issue. As long as the allegations are made, they must be investigated correctly. 'The worker must not suffer any detriment because they have blown the whistle and certainly must not be dismissed because of it. 'The law protects those who whistle-blow.' Volksline has never been prosecuted for defrauding any customers and the tribunal's remit does not extend to investigating such allegations.", "An Iraqi refugee who made ‘dubious’ claims about having cancer, falling and injuring himself, and his father dying so he could continue to receive disability welfare while overseas finally came unstuck when the Department of Social Services refused to believe he’d received death threats from Iraqi insurgents. Ali Mahmood, who has a degree in chemical engineering but has never worked in Australia, first legitimately claimed Disability Support Pension - which can be $800 a month - for his spinal scoliosis in 2003 when he arrived in the country on a humanitarian visa. However, over the past decade Mr Mahmood left Australia to visit Iraq on four separate occasions –remaining outside of Australia for longer than the 13-weeks allowed in order to still receive DSP. Each time he sought extensions to his ‘portability period’ with excuses such as his father had died (it later turned out to be his divorced wife’s father) and that he had cancer, which there is no medical record of. Ali Mahmood's appeal to keep his disability welfare has been rejected after a tribunal concluded he did not have any evidence to prove his life was threatened in Iraq that stopped him from returning to Australia . It wasn’t until his final trip to Iraq, on 30 November 2012, that the 54-year-old came unstuck for his absences when the Sunni Muslim claimed his life was in danger from Shia Muslims in his home country. Mr Mahmood did not notify Centrelink that he was going overseas this time and after email correspondence - where he asked to be allowed to still claim - Centrelink refused the request and decided that the DSP should be cancelled from 1 March 2013. His Family Tax Benefit (FTB) instalments were also cancelled as of 22 March 2013 after he failed to provide an estimate of his income. After the Social Security Appeals Tribunal agreed to stop his payments on the recommendation of Centrelink, a determined Mr Mahmood took his case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Residence in Australia is a pre-condition for receipt of a DSP. If recipients go overseas they are required to notify Centrelink in advance. There is a 13-week portability period - the period you can still claim while overseas - for DSP. He arrived back in Australia on 1 March 2014 and claimed he was unable to leave Baghdad before because of death and kidnapping threats made by insurgents. Senior Tribunal Member D Letcher QC said in an Administrative Appeals Tribunal, in Adelaide on October 24, that he ‘did not accept the applicant’s account for a number of reasons’. The reasons included the fact Mr Mahmood made no contact with the Australian embassy in Baghdad ‘and resisted all efforts to have him contact it. I infer that this was because he knew that any embassy enquiry would show he was not under any threat’. The judgement went on: ‘The applicant has a history of overstaying his absences and seeking extensions of the portability period for dubious reasons and, having regard to all the evidence before me, I consider that this is what occurred on this occasion.’ Mr Letcher said there was ‘no independent corroboration’ and that ‘the applicant was a very unsatisfactory witness, being evasive, contradictory and inconsistent in his demeanour and responses to questions’. Mr Mahmood refused to attend the hearing in person for cross-examination. ‘I do not accept that he received any threat to his life or well-being in Baghdad,’ Mr Letcher concluded. In the Administrative Appeals Tribunal the full list of outrageous claims Mr Mahmood made to the Department of Social Services over ten years to try and keep his welfare payments while overseas were also revealed. In 2007, he claimed he left Australia because his dad was very ill and died two days after he arrived. ‘At the hearing, the applicant (having given evidence that his father was alive in 2012) said that the deceased in 2007 was his wife’s father. I note that the applicant and his wife separated in 2006, were divorced on 23 January 2007, and the applicant professed to know nothing of his wife’s whereabouts or activities “for the last 8 years”,’ Mr Letcher said. During the 2008 trip, he claimed that he had fallen and hurt himself, and was granted another extension. On 23 February 2010, he advised that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemotherapy. Extensions to his portability period were granted until April, and then June and, finally, August 2010. His further application for an extension on 30 August 2010 was refused because he did not provide any current treatment information. He appealed that decision to the SSAT but was unsuccessful. ‘In evidence to this Tribunal, the applicant said that his abdominal cancer had been diagnosed on biopsy in Damascus and chemotherapy commenced. ‘Later, he consulted doctors in Jordan and was told that it had all been a mistake and he had no cancer. He did not bring back to Australia any hospital or medical reports, x-rays or pathology results,’ Mr Letcher revealed.", "Tribunal: Dr Arun Singhal, 65, allegedly told a depressed woman patient in Huyton, Liverpool , that he would only sign a sick note for her if she paid for it . A FAMILY doctor stunned a suicidal patient by telling her: ‘You can go and jolly well do it now,’ a medical tribunal was told. Dr Arun Singhal, 65, is said to have twice advised the woman to kill herself during medical consultations, adding: ‘If you don’t know how to do it, it’s on the internet.’ The GP is also said to have told the patient she was a ‘disgrace’ and even added a false entry on her records claiming she had threatened to kill him. The distraught patient used a mobile phone to secretly record some of his comments during one of the consultations and he is now facing a disciplinary hearing. Yesterday she sobbed as she recalled how she had to gasp for breath when her family doctor advised her to kill herself during a row at his surgery. The woman, who is in her 30s, had warned Singhal she was contemplating suicide after learning she was to be called to give evidence as a witness in a rape trial. She was concerned that some of her neighbours were involved in the case. The hearing listened to the recording of their conversation in which the doctor refused to give her a sick note excusing her from appearing in court unless she paid him privately. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester was told the incidents took place over two consultations in 2011 after the woman – known as Patient A – registered with Singhal’s surgery. She had suffered various mental health issues and had initially gone to see Singhal claiming her anti-depressant medication was not working and she was feeling suicidal. As she was leaving the surgery in Huyton, Liverpool, she thought she heard the doctor urging her to commit suicide, saying: ‘You should go home and kill yourself.’ She told the hearing: ‘At the time I was feeling really depressed and it wasn’t until I got home that I thought, I’m sure he told me to go and kill myself when he patted me.’ A further consultation was booked in December 2011 after Patient A was asked to give evidence in the rape trial and she decided to record the meeting in sceret. In the recording played to the hearing, the doctor and Patient A are heard arguing about the sick note, before she said: ‘I’m going to commit suicide.’ The doctor replied: ‘You can go and jolly well do it now; if you don’t know how to do it, it’s on the internet.’ Surgery: The woman, who was on antidepressants, taped her appointment with Dr Singhal in Huyton, Liverpool . She said: ‘You’re my doctor and you’re telling me to kill myself? I’m suicidal!’ The doctor replied: ‘You are trying to blackmail me. If you are suicidal, you should go and do it.’ The woman then called him ‘a disgrace of a doctor’, and he said: ‘You’re a disgrace to be a patient.’ Asked why she had taped the second consultation, she said: ‘I was feeling very suicidal. ‘I knew he had said it to me previously. I thought he might say it again.’ Singhal is also accused of failing to include a reference to the woman’s expression of suicidal intent in her patient notes and even added a false entry claiming she had threatened to kill him. Boyd Morwood, for the General Medical Council, said: ‘Quite clearly, if the doctor is found to have said these words to Patient A, the GMC’s case is that this would be an abrogation of his position of trust, present a danger to Patient A because of her vulnerable position and undermine her trust in the profession.’ The hearing, which is expected to last five days, is going ahead in the doctor’s absence after the panel heard he did not wish to take part. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "Former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly who won a landmark ageism case against the BBC has attacked the corporation saying John Simpson has been given a new indefinite contract 'because he's man'. The 57-year-old, who successfully sued the BBC for age discrimination after she was dismissed from the programme, hit out on Twitter after learning of the new contract awarded to the broadcaster's world affairs editor. The 70-year-old journalist, who has worked for the BBC for more than 45 years, has been given the new deal that will see him work for the corporation for as long as he likes. Scroll down for video . Former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly, left, who has attacked the BBC for giving world affairs editor John Simpson, right, an indefinite contract because 'he's a man' In an exchange on Twitter, Channel Five News correspondent Julian Druker sent a post to Miss Reilly with a link to a story about Mr Simpson, with the question 'Wonder what @OReillyMiriam thinks' And just three minutes later, Miss Reilly replied simply saying: 'He's a man.' Mr Druker then followed up with: 'I hope you've double-sourced this Miriam', to which she replied saying, 'Yes, I think you'll find that's accurate.' On Twitter, Miss O'Reilly was asked what she thought about Mr Simpson's new contract, to which she simply replied: 'He's man' A spokeswoman for the BBC refused to comment saying they do not discuss staff contracts. Miss O'Reilly was 51 when she was told in November 2008 that she was being dropped from Countryfile after eight years of co-presenting the Sunday lunchtime show. She then took the BBC to an employment tribunal and successfully sued them for age discrimination saying she had been devastated when she was told she would no longer be on the show. When asked if she had 'double-sourced' her information, she said 'Yes, I think you'll find that's accurate' The programme relaunched in April the following year in a Sunday prime-time slot with Julia Bradbury, 43 and Matt Baker 33, along with long-serving host 70-year-old John Craven. In the wake of her victory, Miss O’Reilly was given a three-year deal to return to the corporation. But in 2012 she announced she was leaving to launch a support service for women facing discrimination in the workplace. Her Twitter bio now states: 'Journalist. Writer. Campaigner. Fought ageism at the BBC and won.' Earlier this year, Miss O'Reilly also hit out on Twitter at her Countryfile replacement Miss Bradbury after she disputed that the 57-year-old had been a victim of age discrimination on the show. Miss O'Reilly was dropped from Countryfile in 2008 before it was relaunched in 2009 with Matt Baker, Julia Bradbury and John Craven, pictured . In an interview Miss Bradbury said that Miss O’Reilly’s departure from Countryfile in 2009 was simply a result of planned changes to the show’s format rather than discrimination. But in a series of tweets, Miss O'Reilly wrote: ‘So you know better than three judges in a legal case and former BBC DG [director general] Mark Thompson who accepted the tribunal decision? ‘Before you make ill-informed statements I suggest you look at the legal case – one day you might need it. Until then good luck with the a**e licking.’ Miss Bradbury did not respond to any of the tweets. Miss O’Reilly then told the Daily Mail she believed Miss Bradbury was simply voicing the defiance of senior producers on Countryfile, whom she claims have refused to accept the employment tribunal’s 2011 ruling.", "By . Darren Boyle . Celebrity chef Annabel Karmel said she wanted to 'curl up' and never get up again after a former employee accused her of sexual harassment. The 57-year-old author and chef fired Mark Salter last June just four months after he had been employed as a sales director. Last month she settled a case with Mr Salter, offering to pay him £3,000. Annabel Karmel, pictured admitted that 'collapsed weeping' in the hallway of her home during the employment tribunal . Mark Salter, pictured, had sued Ms Karmel for £50,000 but according to the chef the case was settled for £3,000 . Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Ms Karmel said the case has had a major impact on her life. She said: 'My career depends on my reputation and here he was trying to wreck it. He didn't have a shred of evidence but it has cost me £60,000 to defend my name.' 'I just wanted to curl up and never get up again. I remember going home and collapsing in the hall and weeping. I just felt it couldn't be happy again.' Mr Salter was initially looking for £50,000 in compensation from the renowned celebrity chef. Ms Karmel added: 'I am speaking out because I want to clear my name. I want to get on with my life but I also want to help other people who have suffered from this. There out to be a register of people who have sued companies and why.' The Sunday Telegraph claimed that Mr Salter has had seven jobs over the past decade and taken three legal cases against former employers. The employment tribunal heard claims that Ms Karmel had made sexual comments to Mr Salter. He also said she wore provocative clothing in a bid to seduce him before dismissing him just four months after he joined her firm. Mrs Karmel had tried to keep the hearing secret, obtaining a gagging order preventing publication of her name, her company’s name and the name of her former employee. Her legal team argued that her reputation and status as a ‘well-known media personality’ would be irreparably damaged regardless of the outcome of the case because it involved an  allegation of sexual misconduct. Ms Karmel said he was speaking out at this time in a bid to clear her name after the allegations became public . But the Daily Mail successfully  challenged the order. Employment judge James Tayler ruled it was ‘patronising to the British public to assume that they are incapable of understanding that an allegation is just that until it has been proved’. The judge said ‘the fact that a hearing will involve the airing of information that is personal and embarrassing and engages the qualified right to respect for private and family life’ is not ‘sufficient to outweigh the principle of open justice’. Mrs Karmel contested all the allegations made at the four-day employment tribunal hearing in central London. Last month she agreed terms with her former sales manager following hours of legal wrangling. He withdrew his claim of sexual misconduct as part of an undisclosed settlement. In a statement issued through her lawyers, Mrs Karmel said: ‘Mark Salter has withdrawn his employment tribunal claim and unreservedly retracted the allegations against me. ‘I have defended his claim throughout and am glad this has now been resolved. It has been agreed that neither party will make any further comment on this matter.’ It has been reported that Mr Salter claimed the celebrity author ‘only employed good-looking men’ and made inappropriate comments about his good looks in front of clients. In between discussions with her legal team she found time to tweet nutritional advice for babies and young children, urging mothers to ‘keep food in large chunks’ for youngsters to hold on to. The food guru has published 37 books, is regularly on television, radio and in the Press and her business has expanded to include baby products and ready meals. Mrs Karmel says she was inspired to create healthy meals following the death of her first child, Natasha, and because of her son Nicholas’ fussy eating habits. She has two other grown-up children. Divorced from their father, oil broker Simon Karmel, she lives in a £20million home in one of London’s most sought after districts with film producer partner Stephen Margolis. Her books carry the seal of approval of Great Ormond Street Hospital and she was awarded an MBE in 2006.", "Denials: Physiotherapist Leith Brown, pictured, says Patient A's husband wants to 'ruin' him . A hospital physiotherapist had an affair with a married female patient – and the couple spent nights together while the woman’s husband was sleeping in the same house, a disciplinary hearing has heard. Leith Brown could be struck off the professional register if allegations of misconduct are proved. The affair ended when the husband found out about it and confronted senior managers at the private Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in North London, which has previously treated Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jerry Hall and Kate Moss. The woman, known as Patient A, told the hearing that Mr Brown had seduced her when she went to see him for treatment. She said he had been ‘charming and professional’ – until he touched her inappropriately during one session. A similar incident occurred at another consultation, but she told the tribunal she had not complained because her ten-year-old niece was in the room at the time. The affair began in 2012, soon after she attended a course he ran in ‘Mindfulness’. The couple would meet at an annex of her home. Over a period of six months, Brown would stay most nights while the husband was in the main part of the house. Brown also benefited from thousands of pounds that Patient A spent on restaurant trips and taxis, while in exchange she had not paid for some treatment sessions. ‘We were having an affair, we were not having a relationship,’ she told the tribunal. ‘We couldn’t have a relationship. I’m a married woman. ‘He might have wanted a relationship but he was having sex with other women anyway. ‘He wanted us to live together but it wasn’t going to happen. He was delusional.’ Their trysts ended just over a year later when the woman’s daughter discovered emails between her mother and Mr Brown, and told her businessman father. Patient A told the panel that the 59-year-old physiotherapist had been ‘very seductive and persuasive. He bombarded me with texts. ‘I was pursued and seduced. I was under his spell. I deceived my husband. I feel awful about it... It’s what he [Mr Brown] wanted.’ But Mr Brown’s barrister, Sue Sleeman, said the sexual relationship started only after her treatment had ended. Asked why she hadn’t complained earlier about his behaviour, Patient A said: ‘I didn’t tell my husband because I wanted to protect Mr Brown.’ The physiotherapist, who is from New Zealand, told the conduct committee of the Health and Care Professions Council that he often met the woman at her home: . ‘She would cook meals for me, we would watch TV together. We enjoyed the sort of relationship you enjoy with anyone you were in love with. I was not particularly interested in some sort of brief sexual affair. I fell in love.’ He said the allegations of inappropriate touching were ‘monstrous’ and that Patient A and her husband, who wanted to ‘ruin’ him, had invented them . Natasha Price, who organises physiotherapy services at the hospital in St John’s Wood, told the tribunal: ‘This relationship was not forced upon this lady. It was a consensual relationship. He should not have been treating her at the time he was in a relationship with her.’ Mr Brown, who no longer practises at the hospital, denies all the allegations against him. The panel will announce its decision in December. Private: Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in North London, which has previously treated Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jerry Hall and Kate Moss, where Leith Brown, who denies the allegations, practised . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "A drama teacher has been banned from teaching for life after putting an explicit short story which described a man having sex with underage girls into a 12-year-old's textbook. John Salway, 67, intentionally put the self-written fantasy story into the pupil's textbook at Mount St Mary's College in Spinkhill, Derbyshire, so she would find it, a professional conduct panel heard. The short story - which the panel heard demonstrated a 'deep-seated and harmful attitude to children' - detailed a man having sex with two 15-year-old girls. It also referred to the man having sexual activity with a 12-year-old girl. John Salway, 67, a drama teacher at Mount St Mary's College in Spinkhill, Derbyshire (pictured), wrote a graphic short story and slipped it into a 12-year-old girl's textbook . Mr Salway said he wrote the story 'as a sexual fantasy for my own private gratification' but could not explain how it ended up in the girl's book. After reading it, the Year Seven pupil became worried, distressed and uncomfortable and she showed the story to her mother and father, the panel was told. Her distraught parents complained to the school's headmaster and the teacher's career was brought to an end. Mr Salway, who taught drama between 2011 and 2014, admitted at the hearing last month that he had demonstrated unacceptable professional conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute. In a statement, he told the panel he had written the story 'as a sexual fantasy for my own private gratification' but did not explain how the story ended up in the book. Dr Robert Cawley, who chaired the panel run by the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said the allegations 'demonstrate a deep-seated attitude to children which could lead to harmful behaviour'. He added that it lead to a pupil being exposed to the behaviour in a harmful way. Mr Salway, who has now been banned from the classroom for life, said he wrote the story for his own gratification but could not say how the words ended up in the book . He said: 'The panel has determined that Mr Salway's actions were deliberate and there was no indication that he was acting under duress.' Dr Cawley said the teacher - who was not present at the hearing - had a previously good history and had shown remorse early on. But he said the case involved serious sexual misconduct and warranted an indefinite prohibition order. Alan Meyrick, acting on behalf of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, said Mr Salway would be banned from the profession for life. He said: 'This case is a serious one which involves behaviours that fall considerably short of those expected by the public of a teacher. 'Mr Salway wrote a story which itself evidenced a deep-seated and harmful attitude to children. 'Furthermore, the panel found that he deliberately caused a young pupil to read this story, causing distress to her and to her parents.' Mr Salway, who was not present, was given 28 days in which to appeal against the decision to the High Court. Mount St Mary's College is a Roman Catholic independent boarding school which was founded in 1842. Past pupils have included the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins; Sir Denis Henry, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; Sir Diarmaid Conroy, former President of Industrial Tribunals for England & Wales; and Hugh Lofting, creator of Dr Doolittle.", "A tribunal found Cambridge graduate Svetlana Lokhova, 33, was a 'resilient person' driven to a mental breakdown by work colleagues at the bank . A high-flying banker falsely branded ‘Crazy Miss Cokehead’ has been awarded £3.2million after her career was destroyed by sexist taunts. Cambridge graduate Svetlana Lokhova was driven to a breakdown by a campaign of sexual harassment by bullying male colleagues, an employment tribunal found. Workmates falsely accused her of being a cocaine user, dubbed her ‘Miss Bonkers’, and said she was hired by the bank only because of her looks. Miss Lokhova, 33, the only woman in her team, won her legal claim that she was the victim of sexual harassment and unfairly forced to leave her £750,000-a-year role. She was awarded £3.14million for lost earnings, £44,000 for hurt feelings and £15,000 in aggravated damages by judges at the Central London Employment Tribunal. They ruled she was a ‘resilient person’ who had suffered ‘disgraceful’ harassment and victimisation by colleagues in the London branch of Russian-based Sberbank CIB. Miss Lokhova said her reputation was ‘shredded’ by the taunts and slurs, which meant she could never get another job in financial services. She has been unable to work for more than three years and the tribunal said it accepted medical evidence that her City career was effectively over. It heard she was tormented by colleagues on the equity sales desk of the bank, who referred to her as ‘mad Svetlana’ and said she was ‘chemically dependent’ and ‘a major car crash’. Giving evidence last year, Miss Lokhova said: ‘My manager and colleagues described me in sexist terms as “Miss Cokehead”, “bitch”… and “Miss Dodgy Septum” in communications made to senior people and clients. My job was made impossible. This persistent unlawful treatment has had a seriously detrimental effect on my health, with severe and long-term consequences.’ She added: ‘I am completely broken down and exhausted by the bank’s campaign against me. I can never return to financial services again, which I loved and where I was enjoying considerable success. ‘Everybody knows everybody’s business in banking and people believe there is no smoke without fire. My reputation has been shredded.’ The tribunal found Miss Lokhova to be a 'resilient person' but ruled that harassment by her colleague at Sberbank (pictured), David Longmuir, triggered 'chronic and long-term symptoms' of mental breakdown . Miss Lokhova (pictured) was falsely accused of being a cocaine addict and branded 'Miss Dodgy Septum' Former manager David Longmuir sent an email to a client in which he said he was ‘awaiting arrival of Ms Cokehead in a puff of sulphurous smoke’. The tribunal said he should have been sacked for gross misconduct but heard he left the bank a year after Miss Lokhova resigned, and received a payout of about £170,000. When Miss Lokhova brought her legal claim against the bank, the false allegation that she was a drug user was put to her in a public hearing, which she said had made her ordeal worse. The tribunal said it was an attempt to bully her and awarded her aggravated damages to compensate for the ‘deliberate, planned and unnecessary misuse of these proceedings’. Miss Lokhova took a drug test during the hearing, which was negative. She joined the bank, which is Russia’s largest lender, in 2008 in an £80,000-a-year post. The tribunal heard her salary and bonuses increased until she was earning more than £750,000 a year. At one point she was awarded a £600,000 cash bonus after generating profits worth millions. Miss Lokhova said yesterday: ‘The case has been a long, difficult and draining process which has all but taken over my life and those of people close to me. But more than three years after my ordeal began, I have found the one thing I was seeking – justice.’ Sberbank said: ‘We are committed to take on board any lessons to be learned.'", "Accused: Annabel Karmel, 57, fired an employee after he rejected her sexual advances and only hired good-looking men, an employment tribunal has heard . She has made millions from her wholesome image as a mother and homemaker. But Annabel Karmel has been  accused of being a sexual bully who fired an employee, 18 years her junior, when he spurned her advances. The 57-year-old, who writes books on children’s food, was alleged to have made sexual comments to Mark Salter. The 39-year-old had told an employment tribunal that she wore provocative clothing in a bid to seduce him before dismissing him last July – just four months after he joined her firm. Mrs Karmel had tried to keep the hearing secret, obtaining a gagging order preventing publication of her name, her company’s name and the name of her former employee. Her legal team argued that her reputation and status as a ‘well-known media personality’ would be irreparably damaged regardless of the outcome of the case because it involved an  allegation of sexual misconduct. But the Daily Mail successfully  challenged the order. Employment judge James Tayler ruled it was ‘patronising to the British public to assume that they are incapable of understanding that an allegation is just that until it has been proved’. The judge said ‘the fact that a hearing will involve the airing of information that is personal and embarrassing and engages the qualified right to respect for private and family life’ is not ‘sufficient to outweigh the principle of open justice’. Mrs Karmel contested all the allegations made at the four-day employment tribunal hearing in central London. And last night she agreed terms with her former sales manager following hours of legal wrangling. He withdrew his claim of sexual . misconduct as part of an undisclosed settlement. In a statement issued . through her lawyers, Mrs Karmel said: ‘Mark Salter has withdrawn his . employment tribunal claim and unreservedly retracted the allegations . against me. Writer: Karmel, who was awarded an MBE in 2006, invited 39-year-old Mark Salter abroad on work trips as a 'personal chaperone', the hearing in London was told. Above, the cookery writer with her puppy Sabre last year . Mark Salter, who was in charge of sales for the company that handles Karmel's business, brought the sexual harassment, racism and religious discrimination lawsuit against Karmel last year after he was sacked . Mr Salter, 39, claimed that resisting the married mother-of-three’s suggestive behaviour towards him - including deliberately provocative clothing and inappropriate sexual comments - had cost him his job . ‘I have defended . his claim throughout and am glad this has now been resolved. It has . been agreed that neither party will make any further comment on this . matter.’ It has been . reported that Mr Salter claimed the celebrity author ‘only employed . good-looking men’ and made inappropriate comments about his good looks . in front of clients. The Mail on Sunday reported – without identifying . either party – that Mr Salter had accused his former boss of inviting . him on two foreign work trips, which he did not attend, as her ‘personal . chaperone’ and invited him to join her on a visit to a Playboy club. Mr . Salter was also reported to have alleged that she had confided in him . that she was having an affair and once tried to set him up on a date . with a celebrity friend. Mrs . Karmel appeared at the hearing yesterday dressed in a scarlet red, . fitted jacket, black shirt, black stockings and black stiletto heels. Claims: She also allegedly tried to set him up with a celebrity friend and told him that she having an affair . At work: The allegations were revealed today after a previous reporting ban - restricting the press from identifying Karmel and Mr Salter - was lifted. Above, Karmel is pictured with Stena Line chef Chris Evans . In . between discussions with her legal team she found time to tweet . nutritional advice for babies and young children, urging mothers to . ‘keep food in large chunks’ for youngsters to hold on to. The . food guru has published 37 books, is regularly on television, radio and . in the Press and her business has expanded to include baby products and . ready meals. Mrs Karmel says she was inspired to create healthy meals . following the death of her first child, Natasha, and because of her son . Nicholas’s fussy eating habits. She has two other grown-up children. Divorced . from their father, oil broker Simon Karmel, she lives in a £20million . home in one of London’s most sought after districts with film producer . partner Stephen Margolis. Her books carry the seal of approval of Great Ormond Street Hospital and she was awarded an MBE in 2006. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "By . Julian Robinson . Legal action: Gillian Stokes, 44, is suing Shrewsbury School, claiming she was unfairly dismissed - after she accused a female member of staff of sexually assaulting her . A tuck shop lady is suing a prestigious independent school claiming she was unfairly dismissed - after she accused a female member of staff of sexually assaulting her. Gillian Stokes, 44, was sacked from her job at Shrewsbury School, whose famous former pupils include Charles Darwin. She has taken the £30,000-a-year school to an employment tribunal claiming she was unfairly dismissed after she was fired in May 2013. The . hearing, in Birmingham, was told Ms Stokes had worked at the school for . 17 years before she was sacked following a ‘breakdown of trust and . confidence’. The . tribunal also heard that days after she was fired, Ms Stokes sent an . email to all 750 students at the school claiming she had been sexually . assaulted by a female member of staff. Ms . Stokes was also accused of making threatening phone calls and sending . abusive text messages to former colleagues she felt ‘had betrayed her’, . the tribunal heard. She . is suing the school for £24,000 in loss of wages and ‘hurt feelings’ claiming she was sexually assaulted and on another occasion manhandled . by a male member of staff. Ms . Stokes, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, told the tribunal that she was . sacked because of her activities with the UCAT trade union. Giving . evidence on the first day of the tribunal, she said: ‘The first time . [she was sexually assaulted] was in 2009 and then again two years . later.’ Solicitor . Charles Sparling, representing the school, asked why she had taken more . than 18 months to inform the police, to which Ms Stokes replied: ‘A lot . of the reports police receive about sexual assaults are historical.’ Claims: Ms Stokes has taken the £30,000-a-year school to an employment tribunal claiming she was unfairly dismissed after she was fired in May 2013 . She added . that she felt ‘traumatised’ following the alleged assaults and claimed . she was threatened by another member of staff in February 2012 because . she organised an unauthorised union meeting. She said: ‘He threatened me with the sack and placed his hands on my polo-shirt collars and said “we will get you for this.’’ Ms . Stokes admitted sending an email to staff and pupils claiming she had . been sexually assaulted saying she ‘regretted her actions’ adding that . she did it while suffering ‘great emotional distress.’ However, she denied sending messages to former colleagues, including one which read: ‘Careful when you go home. The tribunal heard that days after she was fired, Gillian Stokes sent an email to all 750 students at Shrewsbury School, pictured, claiming she had been sexually assaulted by a female member of staff . ‘Things are bad out there. We wouldn’t want you to have an accident.’ Mr Sparling told the tribunal that between 2005 and 2012, Ms Stokes had filed 16 grievances against the school. The tribunal heard the school had taken out a High Court injunction and restraining order against Ms Stokes after she took to ‘picketing’ outside the school gates in the months following her dismissal. The tribunal is expected to last five days. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "Complaint: A woman has accused physiotherapist Mark Jones, pictured, of sexually touching her during a massage in a Welsh hospital . An NHS physiotherapist massaged a woman until she reached a sexual climax before telling her: 'Now you're really relaxed', a disciplinary hearing was told today. Mark Jones, 41, is accused of sexually stimulating the woman when he was massaging his patient - who had only gone in with a sore neck and shoulder pain. The woman lay on his treatment table as he massaged her intimately for 30 seconds until she reached orgasm. The tribunal was told Jones then remarked to her: 'Now you are really relaxed.' The patient, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went to police the same day to complain about her treatment. She said she felt 'numb' after the assault in a busy hospital - and didn’t know why she hadn’t told him to stop. The woman, who appeared via videolink, said: 'I felt trapped and uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to do and I couldn’t believe what was happening. 'He came into the cubicle and this time he went straight for my pubic area - there was no messing around at all. 'I did climax and he was aware of that because my body physically moved. That is when he said: “Now you are really relaxed”. I didn’t know what to do. 'I was just so frightened of making a fuss and making a scene. I didn’t know if I screamed what his reaction would be. 'I trusted him and I trusted the fact that I was in a safe public space with someone I had been referred to by the NHS.' But she was persuaded by police not to take Mr Jones to trial because the stress of giving evidence in court would be too great. Presenting officer Chloe Binding said: 'Detective Constable Gary Watts said it was her word against his and the process of giving evidence in a criminal trial would be difficult. 'The patient said she felt unable to continue with the police complaint and signed a document saying she would not go further with it.' The Health and Care Professions Council hearing in Cardiff was told the woman suffered from fibromyalgia - which causes muscle pain across the body. She was referred by her GP for physiotherapy treatment with Mr Jones at Ystradgynlais Community Hospital, near Swansea, in South Wales. The woman, who appeared via videolink, said she was persuaded not to take Mr Jones to court after police said giving evidence would be difficult coming from a small rural area. She said: 'I went to see DC Gary Watts in the police station and he said that a second complaint had been made by another patient. 'Trusted': The alleged incident took place at Ystradgynlais Community Hospital, near Swansea . 'He told me the identity of the other woman and I couldn’t understand why he did that. 'He told me that the interview with her would not be valid evidence in court and so therefore it would be my word only against Mark Jones. 'The CPS were willing to take the case on and I had to go through with the decision to face Mr Jones in court where I would probably find it very stressful. 'I was advised that details would probably be made public - that there would be a chance that I would be made to look like I was compliant. I was advised that living in a very small community can have an effect. I decided that I couldn’t go through with the stress of going to court.' The hearing was read the end of woman’s police statement written up by DC Gary Watts. It ended by saying: 'All things considered I don’t think I am strong enough to go through a court case. I maintain that Mark Jones sexually assaulted me.' The woman had been treated by Mr Jones for six months before the alleged sex attack in January 2012. She said she went with neck and shoulder pains but as her treatment sessions went on Mr Jones began to focus more on her 'pubic area'. The woman said Jones had got 'more and more confident' during the treatments until he sexually assaulted. The HPCP conduct and competence hearing was told Jones was accused of three sexual offences and a catalogue of other charges related to poor practice and record keeping. Jones denied any sexual touching took place but admitted a series of failings in his physiotherapy practices and record keeping. The hearing continues.", "Fined: Lawyer Danielle Morris, pictured, said 'I cannot stand Jewish people' during an office rant . A female lawyer who blurted out: 'I cannot stand Jewish people' during an office rant has been left with a huge legal bill after a discrimination case was brought against her by a former colleague. Danielle Morris, 34, was subject of a three-and-a-half year investigation in front of two legal tribunals and almost lost her career after she made the remark during an office conversation. The mother-of-two complained a Jewish man had jumped the queue at a medical centre while she was waiting to take one of her children to see a doctor. Later she relayed the incident in the presence of a Jewish cashier at her law practice in Rossendale, Lancashire. After making her comment, the unnamed cashier said: 'Please do not say that' but Mrs Morris added: 'I don’t care, I cannot stand them.' Three months after the incident in December 2009, the cashier left the law firm - then brought a racial and religious claim against Mrs Morris and the practice and won an undisclosed sum in damages. Mrs Morris herself was then hauled before the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority after a further complaint of discrimination by the cashier. It emerged the matter 'snowballed' despite the lawyer trying to apologise on three occasions - but the cashier refused to meet with her. Yesterday, in a ruling made public for the first time, it emerged Mrs Morris who now works two days a week at another law firm has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £5,250 in costs following a hearing in London. Her own legal costs are thought to be £1,000 and the incident is believed to have cost in total tens of thousands of pounds in further solicitors' costs and compensation. Earlier the SRA was told the incident occurred after Mrs Morris had been made redundant from her job as assistant solicitor at accident claims firm Mulderiggs based in Rossendale, Lancashire and was working her notice. Probe: Danielle Morris, 34, endured a three and a half year investigation in front of two legal tribunals and almost lost her career after she made the off-the-cuff remark. This is the medical centre which she attended . Trouble began after she attended the Bardoc medical centre in Bury with her baby. The hearing was told a man dressed in Orthodox Jewish attire 'caused a scene' at the surgery and as a result was seen first by a doctor. Back at the law firm Mrs Morris relayed the incident to a receptionist she shared her office with and said: 'I cannot stand Jewish people.' The cashier who also shared the office having joined the firm just three months earlier overheard the rant and said: 'Please do not say that.' But Mrs Morris went on: 'I don’t care, I cannot stand them ever since an incident at Bardoc.' The cashier known as Mrs S made a formal complaint to the firm’s senior partner but left the company ahead of an offer of an apology from the practice if 'any offence had been unwittingly caused.' In May 2011 a four-day employment tribunal was held in which Mrs Morris and the firm was found to have racially and religiously discriminated against Mrs S and she was awarded damages. But in May last year Mrs Morris was then brought before the SRA following a further complaint of discrimination by Mrs S about the incident. Initially she denied making the comment about Jewish people but her lawyer Gareth Edwards later admitted it was 'unintentionally discriminatory remark which arose from foolishness and ignorance, not wickedness.' Mr Edwards said Mrs Morris had tried to apologise to Mrs S but it had not been accepted.He said his client had 'not been aware' of the long history of the persecution of Jewish people. Anger: The mother-of-two had been frustrated after complaining a Jewish man had jumped the queue at a medical centre, pictured, whilst she was waiting to take one of her children to see a doctor . Mr Edwards added: 'Because of her age she has had limited direct contact with those who had been familiar with the discovery of the horrors of the holocaust or the attitudes which had led to these events. 'She now has a greater understanding of the offence she had caused and the context in which her remarks could be seen. ‘This was not a case where she held extreme views or had intended to cause offence. She has mainstream moderate views. 'Many people including solicitors make remarks in haste they would later regret. This incident happened several years ago and she has had the matter hanging over her for all this time.' Mrs Morris who now works part time as a conveyancing lawyer at a practice in Oldham told the hearing she had 'plenty of time to reflect on what happened' and insisted she had no intention of insulting Mrs S. She said she did not know Mrs S was Jewish and had made the remarks 'without thinking in a private environment where she thought it would safe to discuss it.' The tribunal was told she had modest means and lived in a house worth £105,000 with equity of just £30,000. She was working part time as she could not afford the £500 costs in childcare. Her husband who works as maintenance technician earns £20,000 a year. In making its decision on April 9, SRA panel chairman Ken Duncan said the panel accepted Mrs Morris had tried to apologise on three occasions but criticised her for not saying sorry on the day she made the remark and for not writing a personal letter of apology to Mrs S. He also criticised her for initially denying making the remarks. Mr Duncan said: 'What she had said was inappropriate and offensive however it occurred on one occasion only. This was not a situation in which there had been repeated or sustained discrimination. 'The tribunal took into account the fact that the events in issue had taken place over three years ago and she had been under the threat of potentially losing her career for that period. 'The tribunal accepted the remarks made were foolish and ignorant rather than malicious.'", "By . Sophie Jane Evans for MailOnline . Success: Fay Hand today secured a five-figure payout for unfair dismissal after winning her employment tribunal case against EE . An employment tribunal has lifted the lid on a 'prank' culture in an EE call centre that resulted in a man being kicked unconscious at his desk. Workers at the mobile giant's site in Darlington engaged in 'occasional incidents of banter' to lighten up the 'somewhat mundane and repetitive' work, the hearing in Teesside heard. These included 'crop dusting' - breaking wind near a colleague - as well as switching the language on others' computers, swapping screens to cause confusion and taping up a computer mouse. But last September, things turned more serious when an employee who had his car keys stolen and his ID card defaced flipped and kicked his colleague at his desk, knocking him unconscious. Operations manager Fay Hand, 37, who had worked for the firm for almost 17 years, was sacked alongside seven others following the incident. But today, Mrs Hand secured a five-figure payout for unfair dismissal after winning her employment tribunal case against EE. Judge Gerald Johnson found the mother of two, who was in charge of 11 team leaders and 111 agents, had an unblemished record and was 'clearly a highly-regarded and valued employee'. The tribunal heard the disgruntled employee had spoken to Mrs Hand after his cars keys were stolen and a new Fifa computer game inside his vehicle was taken and held for ransom. Mrs Hand then told the team leader the worker was not happy and asked her to 'sort it out'. The employee later admitted he had had a 'sense of humour failure' and the issue was believed to be resolved, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard. But the following month, when his . security pass was defaced with a permanent marker by a colleague, he . kicked the man at his desk until he fell unconscious. Tribunal: The work at the mobile giant's site in Darlington could be 'somewhat mundane and repetitive', so employees engaged in 'occasional incidents of banter', the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court heard . The attacker was immediately suspended and the next day he came to work with a three-page statement, claiming the security pass incident was the 'last straw' and his team leader and Mrs Hand had not taken his complaints seriously. Following the incident, EE sacked seven employees, including the victim, the kicker, the team leader and Mrs Hand. Mobile giant: An EE spokesman said the firm took its responsibilities towards its staff 'very seriously' The firm said Mrs Hand failed to protect the employee and breached its policy on harassment and bullying. But Judge Johnson found that the investigation into Mrs Hand’s actions had been 'wholly inadequate', and that her dismissal was pre-judged. Speaking after the case, Mrs Hand, from Wynyard, Teesside, said the employment tribunal had been 'worth going through'. She said: 'It was painful but I had to stand up for myself. It was worth going through all of that, I can hold my head up high again with a clear record. That is what I wanted. 'I did love my job, I did it well and there had not been any issues.' Mrs Hand no longer has a call centre job and works in an office managing fewer people. Today, her solicitor John Mitton, of PG Legal in Gateshead, said: 'From the outset of meeting with our client, it was evident that there were a number of failures adopted by EE with their procedures. This should be a time for reflection on EE’s part.' An EE spokesman said: 'We are one of the largest employers in Darlington. 'We take our responsibilities towards our staff very seriously and have robust policies in place that ensure a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment in the workplace. 'We accept the tribunal’s ruling.'", "The children of the late billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife have claimed that trustees allowed him to drain their $210 million trust to prop up his struggling newspaper, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Jennie Scaife, 51, and her brother David Scaife, 48, said in court documents filed in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania last week that they were told at least $90 million would be left to them. But when the Scaifes - who were also left nothing in their father's will - checked the trust's balance after his death on July 4 this year, they learned that it was completely empty. In court documents, they accuse his three trustees of allowing their banking and oil heir father to use the trust as 'his own personal bank account' and to cover the Tribune-Review's losses, even though it was their duty to preserve funds for them, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Emptied trust funds: Richard Mellon Scaife, the owner of the Tribune Review newspapers who died in July, used millions of dollars from his children's trust to keep the publications afloat, they have claimed . They are demanding an accounting of spending and a hearing is scheduled in the case for December 17. He left nothing to the pair in his will, which split the funds of his other trusts - estimated to be in the billion-dollar range - between his two foundations, the Sarah Scaife Foundation and the Allegheny Foundation. The trust in dispute was the only one that did not give him full control over how the assets were used. It was set up in 1935 by their grandmother, Sarah Mellon Scaife, who said that it should be used for his 'welfare' but that any amount left over should go to his 'issue'. If he did wish to use it, the trustees were expected to weigh up his interest with the interests of his children, the Post-Gazette reported. Broken promises: Scaife's son David Scaife, pictured left, said in his petition that he was told he and his sister Jennie Scaife, pictured right, would be left at least $90 million in the trust . From 2000 to 2004, Scaife took $130 million for the Tribune-Review and much of that sum came from the trust, according to the petitions. Then in 2002, he took out $19.5 million from the trust and then in 2004, he took out $18 million. They claim that in 2005 the trust contained $210 million and by the end of 2007, its balance was $140 million. David Scaife's petition says that the trustees assured him in 2008 that other funds were being used for the newspaper, and that there would be $90 million left for him and his sister. Attorneys told the Post-Gazette that if a trust is usually significantly emptied, the children might be asked to sign a waiver allowing it - but this did not happen in this case. In his petition, David Scaife called the newspaper as 'a waste of trust assets'. Family fortune: Sarah Mellon Scaife, pictured in 1955, set up the trust fund in 1935 and intended for it to be passed down to her son's children, they claim in their petitions which were filed last week . Michael J. Hussey, an associate professor of law at Widener University in Chester, who is not involved in the case, said that they might have a cause of action. He said they could seek to recover the money from their father's estate that they think should have saved for them. The executor of Scaife's estate, Yale N. Gutnick, disputes the children's claims. Gutnick is one of the trustees, along with Scaife cousin James M. Walton and PNC Bank. They will now have to convince the judge that they should not have to detail the trust's spending.", "A father of four who was sacked over comments he made on Facebook has been awarded more than £30,000 at an employment tribunal. Alan Blue, 51, worked for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a meat hygiene inspector at Wishaw Abattoir in Lanarkshire. But he lost his job on November 5 last year after he ‘liked’ a posting on the social media site that appeared to encourage violent behaviour towards the manager. Scroll down for video . Payout: Alan Blue, who was a meat hygiene inspector for the FSA at Wishaw Abattoir in Lanarkshire, was sacked after making posts on Facebook that his bosses didn't like . Mr Blue said: ‘I was at home watching the telly and went on to Facebook on my phone. ‘I saw one of the guys from the abattoir put on that he was gutted he’d been sacked. ‘I hadn’t heard anything so I replied saying, “Sorry to hear that, hope you find something”. He then said one of the other slaughtermen, Willie, had also been sacked. ‘Then Willie joined in and said something daft that someone had hit one of the managers with his hard hat and I meant to put in “Aye right, u wish” and I hit the “i” button by mistake, so it came up “Aye right, i wish”, which was a genuine typo. ‘I never noticed at the time and the conversation went on and one of the guys said “I should’ve just f****d him over the head with a chair” and I ticked the “like” box.’ Almost two weeks later Mr Blue was approached by his manager who said there’d been a complaint from the abattoir concerning comments on Facebook. Facebook problems: Mr Blue said the comment was ‘just banter’, adding: ‘As far as I was concerned it was a closed conversation.’ The FSA launched a disciplinary investigation, claiming the posts were a ‘breach of trust’ and ‘not professional’. However, Mr Blue said the comment was ‘just banter’, adding: ‘As far as I was concerned it was a closed conversation.’ During the tribunal, the FSA claimed there had been a breakdown in trust and confidence between the agency and Mr Blue. But employment judge Peter Wallington, QC, said: ‘There was no objective reason to believe that his performance would in the future be different simply because of his foolish participation in what he had mistakenly believed to be a private online conversation that had become more public.’ Mr Blue was awarded £32,799.13 for unfair dismissal but he says he has not received any of the money since the June ruling and would rather have his job back. He added: ‘I regret liking the comment because I never meant to harm anyone.’ An FSA spokesman said: ‘We are disappointed with the tribunal’s conclusions but believe that the decisions managers took were the right ones given the circumstances at the time.’", "Home Secretary Theresa May defended the decision to terminate the eBorders contract with US firm Raytheon Systems - despite being ordered to pay hundreds of millions of pounds in damages . Taxpayers were last night landed with a £500million bill for the ‘catastrophic’ IT project intended to protect our borders. An arbitration tribunal ruled the way the Home Office had terminated the contract for the shambolic eBorders scheme was unlawful. Defence firm Raytheon will now pocket £223million of public money, including £50million in damages. The settlement is in addition to the £260million the Government had spent by the time Raytheon was fired in July 2010 with the journey-logging system in disarray. Legal fees are expected to push the final bill to half a billion pounds. The contract debacle sparked new questions about the performance of Lin Homer, who was paid £200,000 a year to run the UK Border Agency from 2005 to 2011. She was in charge of her officials’ disastrous management of the eBorders project, and presided over a string of other blunders. But, despite fierce criticism from MPs over her record, Miss Homer has been promoted to the post of chief executive of the HMRC. Her time in charge of UKBA will now be the subject of up to four different inquiries, including a new hearing by the home affairs select committee of the Commons. Keith Vaz, the commitee’s Labour chairman, said last night: ‘This is a catastrophic result. ‘It is now clear that the UKBA didn’t know what they wanted from the eBorders programme. ‘We will want to hear further from Lin Homer, the then head of the UKBA, as to why she sanctioned such a defective agreement.’ The project was initiated by Labour but was poorly managed by officials from the start, and hit by a series of delays. It was eventually axed in July 2010 by Home Secretary Theresa May when, acting on advice from officials, it was deemed impossible to salvage. However, the process that the now defunct UK Border Agency used when reaching a decision to scrap the agreement was flawed according to the Arbitration Tribunal, which settles global contract disputes. Labour's Home Affairs Select Committee chair Keith Vaz said the tribunal's decision was 'catastrophic' for the Government . The Treasury is expected to step in to pick up much of the bill to minimise the ‘impact on frontline services’. In a letter, Mrs May said: ‘The Government stands by the decision to end the eBorders contract with Raytheon. All other alternatives available to the Government would have led to greater costs than the result of this tribunal ruling.’ Despite its own role in the shambles, Labour last night criticised the Government’s handling of the contracts. The party’s Home Office spokesman David Hanson said: ‘This is a crushing verdict. As a result of this stalled process, we are still far away from counting people in and out of the UK.’", "An eccentric man is fighting to keep his driving licence photo as a picture of him with a colander on his head because it is his 'religious right'. Ian Harris, 51, from Brighton, East Sussex, is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster whose followers, known as Pastafarians, regard the pasta strainer as a religious garment. He is challenging the DVLA over his rights to wear the metal bowl in his licence photo, which he says is equivalent to Muslim women being pictured in hijabs. Ian Harris is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, whose followers believe the colander is a religious garment and he is fighting with the DVLA for his right to wear one in his driving licence photo . The father-of-one has already been turned down once by the government agency but has sent off a fresh photo wearing the headgear in a second bid. Mr Harris said: 'I'm fighting for the right to have my religious headgear shown on my photo. I don't understand the DVLA should be able to discriminate whether my religion is valid. 'I have a spiritual connection with the Flying Spaghetti Monster, until they have brain probes how are they going to say I don't? 'Our religion is a minority but the DVLA is discriminating because it allows people who practise major religions to wear headgear in pictures.' The musician had his appeal rejected last month but hopes to emulate fellow believer Niko Alm from Austria, who won the legal right to wear the headgear in his licence photo in 2011. Mr Alm sent off for the licence in 2008 and he was invited to the doctor's to check he was mentally fit to drive, but after three years, his efforts finally paid off. Mr Harris began following the religion, along with his daughter Astri, 4, after it was set up in the USA in 2005 to protest the teaching of creationism as an alternative to evolution in science classes. Members claim to believe that an invisible alien made of spaghetti and meatballs created the universe after 'drinking heavily.' According to its tongue-in-cheek website their 'only dogma ... is the rejection of dogma'. Rejection: Mr Harris has already been turned down once by the government agency but has sent off a fresh photo wearing the headgear and in a second bid . A DVLA spokesman said: 'The photograph must be clear and be a current likeness to allow the Police to link the driver to driving entitlement held without confusion or ambiguity. 'Headgear is generally not acceptable, but may be permissible on religious or medical grounds and any exemptions are dealt with on a case by case basis.' Religious exemptions include the Sikh turban and the Islamic Hijab. Mr Harris, who plays banjo in The Iron Boot Scrapers, vows to fight his corner until he runs out of appeals when he will be forced to send a photo of him without the colander. He said: 'When I get to the final appeal I will have to send a photo without a colander but that would be a bad day for religious freedom.' Other countries including the United States, Austria and the Czech Republic allow Pastafarians to wear the metal sieves in their licence pictures. The Austrian authorities allowed Niko Alm to wear the unusual headgear as it is deemed a suitable accessory for his 'Pastafarian' religion . Shawna Hammon from Oklahoma was allowed to pose for her driver's license wearing a spaghetti strainer on her head because it falls under the state's rules for religious headwear . In September last year Shawna Hammond from Oklahoma, U.S. was granted permission to wear one in her licence photograph. She said the photo obeyed the state's laws that requires people remove their glasses and wear a religious headpiece that does not cover their face, create shadows, or display text or logos. Earlier that year, Christopher Schaeffer, a council member in Pomfret, New York wore a colander on his head as he was sworn into office. In 2013, a Czech man was allowed to wear the headgear on his official identity card after officials ruled that turning down his request would be a breach of the country's religious equality laws. In 2005, a physics graduate from Oregon State wrote a letter about a 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' as a form of protest against the Kansas State Board of Education's decision to allow the teaching of Intelligent Design as an alternative to evolution in public schools. By professing belief in a supernatural entity composed of pasta and meatballs, Bobby Henderson, 24, called on 'Pastafarianism' to be given equal time in science classrooms alongside Christian theory. Word rapidly spread and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (CFSM) now has thousands of followers, mainly on college campuses and in Europe. The central tenet of CFSM is that an invisible Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe 'after drinking heavily'. Pastafarians celebrate every Friday as a holy day - and consider pirates 'absolute divine beings'.", "Benefits claimants cheats are able to keep money they are not entitled to because government officials fail to turn up to legal hearings, it emerged today. The Department for Work and Pensions sent lawyers to just 4 per cent of tribunals held last year to rule on decisions to cut benefits. It means that in many cases people are able to successfully argue in favour of keeping their money, because the government has failed to turn up to challenge it. Thousands of people who appeal against cuts to their benefit stand a better chance of success if the DWP don't turn up . Without a DWP official, judges refer written submissions and lawyers suggest it means the case is more likely to be won by someone appealing to keep their benefits . Official figures also show that the DWP is more likely to win cases if it manages to send someone to the tribunal. There were some 250,000 benefits tribunals last year, as many more people tried to challenged to the welfare system forced through by Iain Duncan Smith. The Work and Pensions Secretary’s decision to force millions of people to face new medical checks and work assessments has led to many people losing benefits, triggering a surge in legal challenges. Labour's Sadiq Khan criticised the government for the soaring number of tribunals . Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan said: 'Government expenditure is under enormous pressure and instead of saving money, the Ministry of Justice is actually spending more taxpayers’ money on spiralling numbers of tribunal cases. 'It's a double whammy. Over the last three years, there’s been a shocking 35 per cent rise in the number of tribunals dealing with decisions made by government departments.' From April to December 2013 last year, only 4.3 per cent of cases had an official from DWP, the Telegraph reported. In 2010 the figure was 8 per cent and in 200 was 40 per cent. However, the government’s own figures show that claimants are more likely to win their case if an official is not there. When an officer was present, just 41 per cent of benefits claimants won their case. But the figure rose to 50 per cent when there was no presenting officer from DWP. Solicitor Joseph Hughes said: ‘If I was an appellant I’d rather have no representation any day than have somebody turn up,' he said. 'You can’t properly test or cross examine the evidence. There’s no-one to answer them back.’ Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said: ‘It's yet another sign of the chaos and incompetence that now reigns at the Department of Work and Pensions, and the utter failure of this government to get a real grip on benefits spending.’ Justice minister Shailesh Vara said: ‘It is a matter for the relevant Department or local authority as to whether they send a presenting Officer to an appeal unless directed to do so by the Tribunal. ‘Departments and local authorities will consider each appeal on a case by case basis. The DWP played down the idea that it loses more appeals because it fails to send officers to court, but admitted it had down ‘no studies’ into the issue.", "By . Craig Mackenzie . PUBLISHED: . 04:04 EST, 29 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:16 EST, 29 September 2013 . [caption . Apprentice winner Stella English has told how she has lost everything over her court battle with TV boss Lord Alan Sugar. The mother-of-two who once thought nothing of paying £200 on a bottle of champagne, claimed she has only £90 in the bank. Ms English also revealed:. She said: 'I'm being treated like a criminal. I can't work, I've been  called awful things, my marriage has broken down. I'm on my knees.' Before landing a £100,000 job with Lord Sugar when she won the 2010 BBC series, she worked as a £80,000-a-year bank trader. She enjoyed a luxury lifestyle with £600 meals of lobster and caviar, £300 designer shoes and three homes reportedly worth £1million. Land Registry deeds . are said to reveal Miss English bought the first flat in 2005 for £250,000 and the . second for £245,000 in 2007. Both were expected to be worth more now. Scroll down for video . Former Apprentice winner Stella English said she had fallen into poverty at a tribunal last week. It has now been reported she spends up to £4,000 a month on PR . But now she claims her riverside flat . has been repossessed and her two other properties in south London are . fully remortgaged and the 'banks own them.' In an interview with the Sunday People, . she said she is struggling to survive, making packed school lunches for . her children, Edward, 7, and five-year-old Frank, and may have to ask . friends for cash handouts. 'I wish I could sell the houses but they are not an asset they are a liability,' said Miss English, who rents a home in Whitstable, Kent. She said she had been shouted at and abused by drunken teens while walking with her young sons on a beach near her home. Downfall: Stella English earned £100,000 a year with Lord Sugar when she won the BBC Apprentice show three years ago . One of the youths spat at her while the other called her a 'gold digger. 'I was begging for them to leave us alone. I managed to get away.' She revealed her husband Ray, a plumber, walked out on her blaming the show and the pressures of her court battle with Lord Sugar whom she had sued for alleged constructive dismissal after leaving his company. Last week a judge ruled she would not have to pay the legal costs after losing the case. But the case cost her a £200,000 a year consultant job with Citigroup because of the media furore. She has since applied for four jobs but hasn't heard back from the companies. 'As soon as the employer realises who I am I don't hear back,' she said . Miss English wept . when an East London Tribunal Service panel ruled that she should not . have to repay any of the money. Miss English said she had fallen into poverty and was trying to claim benefits as she fought off a claim by Lord Sugar, who was trying to win £35,000 in legal costs and damages . She told the tribunal: ‘I cannot afford to feed my kids let . alone pay the mortgage – that doesn’t even matter any more,’ she said. ‘It is my son’s birthday today but I can’t afford to buy him anything . because everything we have goes on trying to survive. ‘A couple of weeks ago I made an application for housing benefit and there is an interview set up. I have no choice. 'Unless I find a contract I will not be able to support my family any more, I am losing close to £3k a month. At . the original employment tribunal, Lord Sugar claimed Miss English . knowingly lied when she said the £100,000-a-year job at his firm was a sham. At the original employment tribunal, Lord Sugar claimed Miss English knowingly lied when she said the £100,000-a-year job at his firm, which she won through the BBC programme in 2010, was a sham . Lawyers for 66-year-old Lord Sugar . insisted Miss English brought the original legal action against him . simply because she was ‘bored’ with her day job and missed the glamour . of appearing on television. But . tribunal judge George Foxwell rejected his application to recover some . of his costs, saying that Miss English truly believed she had a case. Last week it was reported she paid PR firm Big Talent Group up to £4,000 a month to manage her public relations, according to The Mirror. Senior talent agent Terry Mills, of Big Talent Group, declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.", "A pair of Gandhi’s sandals from the 1920s that were given by the great holy man to a friend are expected to fetch more than £15,000 at auction. This iconic footwear has a half-inch heel, which would have boosted the diminutive peace activist's 5ft 4inch frame. The size eight sandals, said to be worth £15,000, form part of a £250,000 archive of material relating to the Indian hero that is being sold. Sold: A pair of Gandhi's sandals from the 1920s that were given to a friend by the great holy man sold for £19,000, £9,000 more than their asking price . Large collection: This painting of Gandhi standing with his iconic stick, measuring approx 61cm by 39 cm, is signed by the artist J L Bhandari who was probably one of Gandhiís many followers . Other lots include a shawl, hand-woven by thread that Gandhi spun himself, his bedsheet, prayer beads and photographs. There are also three of Gandhi’s delicately carved miniature figures depicting the wise monkeys; speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil. Gandhi gave many of the items to a close friend in 1924 when he was living at Palm Bun at Juhu in Maharashtra, India. They have been passed down the friend's family over the years who have now decided to sell the collection. The collection is now going under the hammer at auctioneers Mullock’s in Ludlow, Shropshire. Iconic: A shawl which was hand-woven by thread Gandhi spun himself on a charkha and frequently worn by peace activist . Pictorial maxim: Gandhi's carved three wise monkeys which depict speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil . Richard Westwood-Brookes, the expert from Mullock’s, said: 'There is a huge collection of Gandhi material in the sale. 'It includes his leather sandals which really are iconic and were given to a friend in 1924. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - more commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. The son of a senior government official, Gandhi was born in October 1869 and raised in a Bania community in coastal Gujarat, before training in law in London. He assumed leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921 and led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, increasing economic self-reliance, and above all for achieving Swaraj—the independence of India from British domination. He was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse who thought Gandhi was too sympathetic to India's Muslims. 'They are not in the best condition, but that doesn’t really matter to serious collectors. 'We have grown a reputation for selling items of Indian origin in recent years, and buyers come from around the world. 'Items that belonged to Gandhi are accorded great significance and status by many people in India and beyond. 'They are treated often has holy relics and the market is growing, particularly in the US, as well as in India. 'Other items in the sale in include many photographs and even his prayer beads. 'Among the photographs is one showing him in a smart suit and carrying a hat from when he worked in the legal profession - as far removed from his usual image as it is possible to get.' Not only are the sandals part of the famous image of the Gandhi, along with his spectacles and loin cloth, but they have spawned a phrase. ‘Gandhi’s flip-flop’ entered the lexicon to describe a dry mouth the night after drinking heavily. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - known as Mahatma Gandhi - was the leader of Indian nationalism and was famous for using non-violent civil disobedience. He lived modestly and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by Nathuram Godse who thought he was too sympathetic to India’s Muslims. The auction takes place on May 21. Contrasting image: A photograph of Gandhi suited and booted was sold as part of the £250,000 archive .", "By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 00:14 EST, 13 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:55 EST, 13 March 2013 . Lord Sugar can't admit when he has 'done something wrong' and won't ever be seen to back down, a tribunal was told yesterday. The claim was made during the employment tribunal of former Apprentice winner Stella English, 34, who is suing him for constructive dismissal. Ms English, from Whitstable, . Kent, claims she was treated as an 'overpaid lackey' after being handed a . £100,000 contract for winning series six of the BBC1 show in 2010. Lord Sugar told the East . London Tribunal Centre he has no case to answer but Ms English's lawyer . told the court he just can't admit he may be in the wrong. Legal battle: Stella English, pictured left, is claiming constructive . dismissal by Sir Alan Sugar, pictured right. Her lawyer told the employment tribunal hearing the business tycoon can't admit when he's in the wrong . Philippa Jackson, representing Ms . English, said: 'He's not going to be seen to be backing down. 'He doesn't think much of employees running off and complaining - they should get on with it. 'What's more, he doesn't like it when people cross him. That became evident in the course of his evidence. 'He doesn't even attempt to countenance he might have committed a breach and done something wrong.' She said as Ms English was Lord Sugar's . apprentice, she had the right to expect 'a degree of mentoring' during . her time working for him - something she alleges was lacking. For there to be 'a relationship of trust . and confidence' between an employer and employee, both sides must . consider the job to be 'a genuine occupation', added Ms Jackson. Addressing the fact that Ms English did . not make any complaints about the way she claims to have been treated . before resigning, Ms Jackson said: 'She was clearly in a difficult . situation. She was overpaid. She's come into an established company in . very unusual circumstances. 'All that is relevant in understanding why she did not raise any issues.' Row: Lord Alan Sugar, pictured left, said . that his former employee, pictured right, was is a 'headline-grabber' deliberately 'courting' the media to try and ruin his reputation . Lord Sugar met his former employee Stella English (second from left, front row) on the series that was aired in 2010 - but now she is suing him . But Lord Sugars' representative Seamus Sweeney argued Ms English was 'courting' the media to ruin the tycoon's reputation and compared her to the wife of Chris Huhne. He said: 'The claimant has, in the . eyes of Lord Sugar, deliberately courted the media with a view of . damaging his reputation.' He told how Ms English had 'sold her . story' to the press several times and accused her of being a 'headline-grabber', deliberately sensationalising aspects of her . evidence. Referring to yesterday's sentencing of . former Lib Dem cabinet member Chris Huhne, Mr Sweeney said Lord Justice . Sweeney - who is no relation to him - described how Vicky Pryce using . the media as a weapon. He told the tribunal the same was true . of Ms English, adding: 'Using the media, in this case, was a weapon of . choice... It was a first weapon of choice. 'On the contrary, Lord Sugar has maintained his position, his dignity, until he comes here. 'He can be forgiven in these circumstances for reacting passionately in his cross-examination because he feels wronged.' The hearing has finished and the tribunal will make its decision within a month. If there is to be a remedy hearing, depending on the verdict, it will take place on April 22. Lord Sugar did not comment as he left the hearing in his Rolls- Royce, which has a personalised number plate. Partnership: Lord Sugar pictured with Stella English after she won the Apprentice reality TV show in 2010 .", "Military convictions of two terror suspects will get a full federal appeals court review, testing whether the men could be charged with offenses that were not in place when Congress passed a 2006 anti-terror law. In an unusual move, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia announced Tuesday all seven of its judges would hear an appeal from two Muslim prisoners held for years at the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba. Most appeals of that type are heard by three-judge panels, which separately tossed out the convictions of accused al-Qaeda propagandist Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, and former Osama bin Laden driver Salim Ahmed Hamdan. The Obama administration then requested the full court to hear the case. Oral arguments will be held September 30. The losing party will almost certainly ask the U.S. Supreme Court to offer the final word. Both defendants were charged with providing material support to terrorism and conspiracy for al-Qaeda, around the time of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, offenses that were not included as crimes before the Military Commissions Act went into effect several years later. That law established the tribunal system used to try terror suspects held at Guantanamo, outside the civilian federal trial courts. The ex post facto provision of the Constitution says the government may not retroactively criminalize conduct that was either legal or not on the record when committed. The previous appeals panels concluded only pre-existing federal offenses and violations of the international law of war could be used to prosecute the men. Al-Bahlul and Hamdan are so far the only Guantanamo inmates convicted at the military tribunals. Five other men had separately pleaded guilty to offenses. Other cases, including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and other so-called \"high-value detainees\" are still awaiting trial. Yemeni native al-Bahlul was convicted in November 2008 of conspiring with al-Qaeda, soliciting murder, and providing material support for terrorism. He was accused of making videos for the terror organization. His conviction was overturned in January, and he remains in Guantanamo custody. Hamdan was also tried in 2008, the first man convicted under the new tribunal system. Later that year he was transferred to Yemen to serve out the remainder of his sentence. He had admitted to being the driver of the now-deceased leader of al-Qaeda, and was the subject of a 2010 documentary, \"The Oath,\" chronicling his life and detention. He is no stranger to the federal courts. In a blow to executive authority, the Supreme Court in 2006 ruled the existing military commission system to originally detain and charge Hamdan was not adequate, and the justices said Congress needed to come up new constitutionally permissible rules. That decision prompted Congress to pass the Military Commissions Act and revise the tribunal system. The law also sought to limit federal court jurisdiction to hear habeas corpus challenges to detention, but judges have consistently said they do have the power to be involved. Ever since the 9/11 attacks, federal courts have been asked to determine if detainees had the right to contest their imprisonment and the rules set up to try them. The current appeals court case is al-Bahlul v. U.S (11-1324)." ]

[ "Starting with his 2010 album Born Free, the country music style has dominated Kid Rock's musical direction, and since 2007's Rock N Roll Jesus until 2017's Sweet Southern Sugar, Kid Rock has not released new rap songs." ]

[ "What is Kid Rock Net Worth? Kid Rock (Robert James Ritchie) was born in Michigan and has an estimated net worth of $37 million dollars. A multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, rapper, and actor, Kid Rock's career started slowly, but took off with the hit album, Devil Without a Cause in 1998.", "Rebel Soul is Kid Rock's ninth studio album and final studio album with Atlantic Records. The album was released on November 19, 2012. Kid Rock is the producer on the album and the Twisted Brown Truckers return after Rick Rubin placed in an all-star band for 2010's Born Free. Redneck Paradise was written by The Young Brothers in 2007; they sent it to Kid Rock's representatives hoping he would use the song.", "Kid Rock Net Worth is $37 Million. Kid Rock was born in Michigan and has an estimated net worth of $37 million dollars. A multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, rapper, and actor, Kid Rock's career started slowly, but took off with the hit album", "Kid Rock Booking Agency Profile. Kid Rock (born Robert James Ritchie), is an American singer-songwriter with five Grammy Award nominations. Kid Rock is known for music that incorporates elements of hip hop, rap metal, blues-rock, hard rock, southern rock, funk and country music.", "The same year, Kid Rock began displaying the Confederate flag during his live performances; in a 2002 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Kid Rock defended his use of the flag, saying that it was a symbol of Southern rock and rebellion. During this period, Uncle Kracker began his solo career.", "Height Kid Rock. Sometimes we have questions about: “How tall is kid rock?” At the moment, 03.01.2017, we have next information/answer: 1,75m.*It was submitted by Ramsey, 47 years old.", "Robert James Bob Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations.", "In November, Kid Rock released Cocky, which was marketed as the official follow-up to Devil Without a Cause. With the era of rap metal at its last years of popularity, Kid Rock included several southern rock and country ballads on the album. The first single, Forever was his standard brash rap rock sound.", "Kid Rock's height is 6ft . Find how tall Kid Rock is and any other person or structure on our huge Height Database.", "Ken Levitan of Vector Management is currently Kid's manager. Stephen Hutton managed Kid Rock from 1994 until 2000. Ed Punch Anderews resigned as Kid Rock's manager in 2007. 1 person found this useful.", "What year did Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have kids? Malia was born on July 4th, 1998 (not 1988) and Natasha, known as Sasha, was born on June 6th, 2001.", "Kid Rock Net Worth. Kid Rock net worth is estimated at $37 million. Ritchie, famous by his stage name as Kid Rock is an American multi-instrumentalist, music producer and actor. Kid Rock net worth came from his album releases as well as from his works as an actor, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer. Hi first commercial studio album success was in 1998 titled Devil Without a Cause which sold 13 million copies worldwide which in return augmented Kid Rock net worth. Kid Rock is a five time Grammy Award nominee has sold 25 million albums in the U.S. according to soundscan. In 2000’s he was #1 selling male solo musician who has sold 17.6 million copies. These album sales inflated Kid Rock net worth.", "Enjoy our sedimentary rock facts for kids. Find interesting information and a range of examples that help explain what sedimentary rocks are and what makes them different from other kinds of rocks.", "Height Kid Rock Sometimes we have questions about: How tall is kid rock? At the moment, 03.01.2017, we have next information/answer: 1,75m.*It was submitted", "Kid Rock is really good. If you saw him on the MTV VMAs last year when he did the medley with RUN-DMC and Aerosmith, you would've seen the connection between &quot;Rock Box&quot; to &quot;Walk This Way&quot; to &quot;Bawitaba&quot; in fusing rock and rap.", "Kid Rock Joseph Calleja (November 9, 1974 – November 16, 2000), better known by his stage name Joe C., was an American rapper and musician. His popularity and fame were based on his relationship as hype man and comic relief for fellow musician Kid Rock.", "I was mostly a rap fan, but I still loved hanging out with the drunk uncles listening to classic rock. When I saw Kid Rock, I was like, Well, that's it!. The first time was in '93 at the Main Event in Toledo. It was $5 or $7.", "Kids Sail Free is not what it appears to be FREE. I was booking cruise for 4 using Carnival 's Kids Sail Free category and noticed they raised the rates on the 1st two passengers up $350 to make up for the kids sail free promotion, in reality this saved $29 on each kid.ids Sail Free -- NOT. Kids Sail Free is not what it appears to be FREE. I was booking cruise for 4 using Carnival's Kids Sail Free category and noticed they raised the rates on the 1st two passengers up $350 to make up for the kids sail free promotion, in reality this saved $29 on each kid.", "Kid Rock said in the interview that he mistakenly thought Joe C. was a child. Calleja asked a mutual acquaintance to tell Rock he wanted to smoke a joint with him, Rock said, after which the pair formally met and Rock learned Calleja was actually a 21-year-old adult.", "Kid Rock Splits With Longtime Manager. Just as he's reached the top of the album charts for the first time, Kid Rock has made a major change at the top of his business operations. Rock's manager, Detroit-based Ed Punch Andrews, who also. Just as he's reached the top of the album charts for the first time, Kid Rock has made a major change at the top of his business operations. Rock's manager, Detroit-based Ed Punch Andrews, who also handles Bob Seger, has resigned after seven years of working with the Michigan rocker.", "Years Active: '00s, '10s. Full Bio. MC and producer Kid Ink -- born Brian Todd Collins in Los Angeles, California, and formerly known as Rockstar -- rose steadily by releasing a series of four mixtapes during 2010 and 2011.", "Metamorphic Rock Facts. Enjoy our metamorphic rock facts for kids. Find interesting information and a range of examples that help explain what metamorphic rocks are and what makes them different from other kinds of rocks. Metamorphic rocks have been changed over time by extreme pressure and heat.", "Enjoy our wide range of fun facts and information about different types of rocks and minerals for kids. Learn what rocks and minerals are, what the difference is, examples of rocks and minerals, the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, Mohs scale of hardness and much more.Read on and have fun finding out about rocks and minerals.njoy our wide range of fun facts and information about different types of rocks and minerals for kids. Learn what rocks and minerals are, what the difference is, examples of rocks and minerals, the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, Mohs scale of hardness and much more.", "#9. I like the free portion of starfall and bought the more starfall...my kids go on it but are not into it as much as what's available for free from starfall. Both my kids LOVE reading eggs! I tried out what's free from ABC mouse and kids seem to enjoy it as well.", "Kid Ink was born on 1 April. Which stars are celebrating their birthday today? Check our Celebrities Birthday Calendar and find out celebrities born on your birthday. Biography Brian Todd Collins (born April 1, 1986 in Los Angeles, California), best known by his stage name Kid Ink, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, signed to RCA Records. In his career, Kid Ink released the independent album Up & Away, an EP titled Almost Home and his second studio album My Own Lane.", "Almeria Club was released in January 2002, and the rumor of Kid Rock’s being Williams, Jr.’s son began surfacing in earnest in February 2002, even to the point of being discussed on the radio by morning DJs.", "Enjoy our awesome range of Earth facts for kids. Check out the cool trivia and have fun learning about some of our planet's most amazing features. Sedimentary Rock Facts. Enjoy our sedimentary rock facts for kids. Find interesting information and a range of examples that help explain what sedimentary rocks are and what makes them different from other kinds of rocks.", "About Uncle Kracker. After serving as DJ for his hometown chum Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker (born Matthew Shafer) stepped out from behind the turntables to release his debut solo album, Double Wide, in 2001. Uncle Kracker had performed alongside Rock since 1994, and both favored a combination of funky, post-grunge rock with a hip-hop aesthetic.", "What Genre is Kid Rock? Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by Noriaki, Nov 28, 2000.", "1 out of 150 kids get autism each year. That would be 1 in 70 boys are BORN. and 1 in 110 girls are BORN with ASD. 1 out of 150 kids get autism each year. That would be 1 in 70 boys are BORN.", "Kid Rock, Joe C and Uncle Kracker do some late-night goofing around at the White Room Studios in Detroit in 1996. (Photo: Brad E. Shaw). Joseph (Joe C) Calleja was a 21-year-old Taylor resident who stood 3 feet, 9 inches, his growth stunted by the coeliac disease that later took his life.", "Buy Kid Rock tickets from the official Ticketmaster.com site. Find Kid Rock tour schedule, concert details, reviews and photos. Buy Kid Rock tickets from the official Ticketmaster.com site. Find Kid Rock tour schedule, concert details, reviews and photos." ]

[ "16th" ]

[ "DID", "Importation", "importer", "import", "listing", "Where It's At", "Did Not Finish", "Did It for the Party", "imports or exports", "import tariffs", "BCP Imports", "Hope Is Important", "Import Substitution", "imported food", "import duties", "at the time of import", "to import it and sell it", "imported goods", "friends lists", "The No Fly List", "Where's the beef?", "Where Is the Love?", "A listing contract", "Mickie Most", "a list of medicines", "JP Did This 1", "shopping list", "Don Most", "wine list", "Schindler's List", "Peyton List", "Simpsons Already Did It" ]

[ "If she is lying about being on birth control the he needs to get the hell out of that relationship before she screws him over in other ways!!! Deceitful and sad to think any woman would treat someone like that!" ]

[ "Some guys are just not into this texting thing like women are. Now, you said that he is the love of your life, does he know this. If so, then you have the right to be concern. You might want to talk to him in person about this. But in any case, HAPPY NEW YEARS TO YOU!", "Oh he's emo... The tight ass girly pants, the jet black hair, skinnyness (probably he turned vegan)... And he's PMS'ing. Homoesexuals have better taste in clothes and music than emos. \\nProbably he is going to cut himself, and if you hit him at work he might cry in the bathroom. Hopefully he wont come to you because these emo kids does some super homosexual shit by french kissing men-men, women-women. Aint right at all", "Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome often are infertile because they don't ovulate. 40% to 80% of women with PCOS have a problem with fertility. The reason for this wide variation is that PCOS is a complex metabolic syndrome, with multiple factors that can interfere with fertility. \\n\\nHaving PCOS does NOT mean you will not have children. I would talk to your doctors about how to treat PCOS and increase your chance of having children.", "He has actually moved to the right some, but all in all is still quite moderate, Bush being far right does cause conflict with him and he does disagree with him on certain points. I have allot more respect for McCain then most repuglicans that get in lock step with the far right and never mind what the average American people need.", "Sometimes men don't like talking alot like women do. Have you told him that you want to talk more? Are you sure he is the right one for you?" ]

[ "ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sling TV today expanded its live news offerings with the addition of FOX News, MSNBC and CNN's HLN to Sling Blue base service and launched new \"Cloud DVR Free\" for all Sling TV subscribers. Sling also introduced updates to pricing and channel lineups across both services." ]

[ "Sling Blue includes Thursday and Sunday games on Fox, NBC and the NFL Network. Sling Orange includes Monday night games on ESPN. And if you want to add the NFL RedZone, you'll need Sling Blue. ... Sling TV does not offer CBS, which typically carries AFC games on Sunday afternoons.", "Starting Wednesday (Nov. 28), Sling Blue now includes Discovery Channel, Investigation Discovery (ID) and TLC; the Sling Orange package includes ID and MotorTrend (formerly Velocity). ... Discovery channels not available on Sling TV include Animal Planet, Discovery Family or Oprah Winfrey Network.", "Sling is also updating its sports offerings, with Big Ten Network (BTN) to launch on Sling TV ahead of the 2020-21 college football season. For movies, Sling will launch FXM and will also add FXX, including the linear feed, to Sling Blue Hollywood Extra. Additionally, Nat Geo Wild is joining Sling Blue Heartland Extra.", "You have to pay a $5/month fee to get Paramount Network, which is included in the “Comedy Extra” package for both Sling Blue and Sling Orange. As an example, you'll get Paramount Network with both Sling Blue and Sling Orange, if you get the Comedy Extra package.", "Sling TV local channels Yes, Sling offers live local channels, although the selection varies depending on where you live. Sling offers NBC and Fox in certain cities and markets. You'll also need either the Sling Blue package or Sling Orange + Blue.", "Local channels (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) are limited or nonexistent on Sling TV. ... You can only watch one stream at a time with the Sling Orange package, or three streams with Sling Blue.", "On the more limited Sling Blue service, Sling TV's kids networks include NickToons, TeenNick, Nick Jr., Boomerang, Cartoon Network, ducktv and Baby TV, while the Kids Extra Sling Orange adds Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD.", "Watching SLING TV On Multiple Devices You can watch SLING on all of your favorite compatible devices. ... If you subscribe to our SLING Blue service you can watch on up to three screens at one time. Any extras you add to your SLING Blue service will be included in your three streams.", "Big Ten Network (BTN) will launch on Sling TV ahead of the 2020–21 college football season. Sling Orange and Sling Blue now cost $30 per month each (up from $25 a month) and the price of the combination of Sling Orange and Sling Blue is now $45 a month (up from $40 per month).", "What service do I need to get local channels? You can get NBC and FOX (where available) in our Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Sling Blue services. If you have an AirTV device and an over the air (OTA) antenna, you can watch all of your local channels on the SLING free experience.", "Sling TV will carry those channels along with NBA TV and other ways to watch basketball, including ESPN, ABC, ESPN3. NBA TV is available in the “Sports Extra” pack for an extra $5 for subscribers of either Sling Orange or Sling Blue service.", "Sling TV is reportedly cheaper than Hulu + Live TV providing more flexible streaming plans to its users. Sling has three main plans such as Sling Orange, Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue. ... On the other hand, Hulu Live TV's single streaming bundle is $54.99 per month and includes Hulu's on-demand content.", "Sling TV does not carry ABC. That's right. No ABC. You might recall that Sling TV once carried ABC in its Broadcast Extra add-on package, which costs $5 a month in addition to the $25-a-month base Blue or Orange plan.", "MSNBC is available as part of the U100 package on channel 215, and MSNBC HD is available with an HD service subscription on channel 1215.", "Whether you're a casual sports fan or a die-hard enthusiast, Sling TV offers a huge range of options for streaming live sports online. Get access to top sports networks like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TBS and TNT with Sling Orange, or choose Sling Blue for even more action including local and regional NBC networks.", "Over the last few years, the online streaming service Sling TV has been an increasingly valuable solution for cord cutters wanting to tune in to live sports. It has you covered for the Super Bowl. The Sling Blue package gives you more than 40 channels for $20 a month.", "Yes, Sling TV includes MLB Network as part of their Sling Orange Sports Extra package for $40 a month.", "RFD-TV Joins Sling Heartland Extra Package. RFD-TV and FamilyNet will now be carried on over-the top provider Sling TV's Heartland Extra package. They join other rural-targeted fare including Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel in the $5 add-on to either the Sling Orange or Blue services.", "Sling TV Extends Their Free GSN Preview. Late last year Sling TV started to offer the Game Show Network for free to all Sling TV subscribers. Typically, the Game Show Network is found in the Comedy Extra add-on for $5 a month, but right now it is part of both the Sling TV Blue and Sling TV Orange packages.", "When you add Sports Extra to your Sling Orange or Sling Blue service, you get access to all of the best Pac-12 sports content of the season. ... With Sling, you can watch Pac-12 matchups both at home and on the go when you stream live TV on your favorite supported devices.", "Sling TV features a select number of local broadcast channels, depending on your regional market. ... Only seven markets, including New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles, can watch both FOX and NBC through their Sling TV subscription.", "Stream FOX Sports Southeast on Sling TV Sling TV is another way that you can watch FOX Sports Southeast without cable. Sling Blue is the package you'll need to watch FOX Sports Southeast. Along with the FS Southeast channel, you'll have as many as 40 other networks to enjoy.", "One of the biggest headlines in the streaming world in the past week is that Sling TV, specifically people on the Sling Blue plan, no longer have access to their regional FSN station. ... However, if you are someone who is looking to get their local FSN station, as well as other content in return, look into YouTube TV.", "All Sling TV subscribers get at least 10 hours of space for free to save recorded content using Cloud DVR. For a $5 monthly charge, Sling TV Blue, Orange, and Blue+Orange subscribers can get Cloud DVR Plus, which will record up to 50 hours of content.", "Sling does not offer CBS, ABC, The CW, or Telemundo in any package. ... It's a monthly subscription directly from CBS, which includes live streaming and on demand access for many of its shows.", "Watch Pac-12 Network Live: Basketball, Football and More When you add the Sports Extra service to your base Sling Orange or Sling Blue subscription, you get access to all six regional Pac-12 channels.", "Live FOX Sports 1 is available through Sling TVs “Blue Package.” You can even stream FS1 free for one week using this free trial. It also includes access to Fox Sports 2 (FS2.)", "Sling Orange subscribers can watch NFL football live on ESPN, and Sling Blue + Sports Extra gets you broadcasts from NBC. If you follow a team in the AFC or with local FOX programming, though, it's recommended that you use an antenna to pick up your local broadcasts.", "The cheapest way to get FXNow without cable is to subscribe to Sling TV's Blue plan. With the Blue plan, you get access to FX and 43 other channels. For $25 a month, Sling's a serious contender.", "Reelz is now available in Sling's Hollywood Extra add-on plan which costs $5 a month with a Sling Orange and/or Sling Blue basic subscription. ... The Reelz channel offers a mix of documentaries, movies and original series such as Scandal Made Me Famous, The Kitty Kelley Files and Celebrity Page.", "Local channels are included in many areas, along with ESPN, MSNBC, USA, Syfy, FX, and many other channels.", "Sling TV Adds ABC. Sling TV is apparently providing access to ABC in select markets as part of a new “Broadcast Extra” add-on package that sells for $5 per month, according to information first spotted by Cord Cutter News. ... NBC, CBS and Fox have yet to join the Sling TV lineup." ]

[ "Dublin" ]

[ "The Office", "I took the cake", "the sun (during an eclipse)", "box office", "An Officer and a Gentleman" ]

[ "Pianist Stephen Kovacevich plays the Bagatelles numbers 1, 2, 5, and 6, by Beethoven." ]

[ "\"It was the sort of playing you want to hear again -- and again:\" critical response to a recital last month by 21-year-old Ukrainian pianist Konstantin Lifschitz. From that concert, which took place at Lincoln Theater in Miami Beach during the first annual Miami Festival of Discovery, we'll hear Lifschitz play Eleven New Bagatelles, Op. 119 by Beethoven. (Simon Soong Recordings)", "Next we move on to music by Gyorgi Ligeti. His Bagatelles turned up in a concert at this summer's Red Lodge Music Festival, in Montana. Flutist Sue Makeever, oboist Catherine Estes, clarinetist Gary Behm, bassoonist Carl Rath and hornist William Scharnberg play Ligeti's Bagatelles Nos. 1, 3, and 6.", "Finnish pianist Ralf Gothoni (goh-TOH-nee), the outgoing Gilmore Artist, plays two Bagatelles by Jean Sibelius. (ODE 847-2)", "The Canadian group called Quartetto Gelato (jeh-LAH-toh) plays everything from pop tunes to serious classical repertoire. From a concert the group gave at this year's Savannah On-Stage Festival, in Georgia, we'll hear four of the Five Bagatelles by Antonin Dvorak. 14:30 <br /><a href=\"http://www.savannahonstage.org/aboutsav.html\" target=\"_blank\">Visit the Savannah Onstage Web site</a>", "Caren Levine joins violinists Lynn Chang and Masuko Ushioda and cellist Uri Vardi in the piece for which she learned the harmonium -- Five Bagatelles, Op.47, by Antonin Dvorak. Recorded July 3rd at the Musicorda Festival at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. (Harrison Digital AudioServices)", "From the Five Bagatelles by William Bolcom, we feature numbers three and five. Sharon Isbin is the guitarist on this recording, and she'll be back later in the hour, performing in concert.", "This edition of Classicool Kids features excerpts from our 5/24/05 taping in Philadelphia, PA. You'll hear a teenage woodwind quintet performing from Ligeti's Six Bagatelles, then listen to them discuss putting pieces together as well as competing!", "The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space. The pandemic has sidelined many big Beethoven birthday plans. Jonathan Biss was slated to play concerts around the globe in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth. Instead, he's home in Philadelphia. So it's no surprise that for this all-Beethoven Tiny Desk concert, Biss chose music that explores the composer's own isolation, brought on by deafness and an uncompromising personality. Biss is uniquely qualified for the task at hand. The 40-year-old pianist has recorded all 32 of Beethoven's freewheeling sonatas, performed them worldwide and has taught an online course in the music. That's impressive. Still, what's more astounding is the personal story behind Biss' obsession with Beethoven. The recording project alone took nearly 10 years and the things Biss says he gave up – relationships, even his sense of self – in order to live the dream is heartbreaking. The pandemic has shut down the life and livelihoods of many musicians, and for Biss the down time offered space to confront his relationship to Beethoven and his own demons. He tells his story in a raw and insightful audio memoir called Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven to be released this week. It's the journey of an artist struggling with anxiety and solitude. You can hear some of Beethoven's own struggle in these perceptive performances. The bittersweetness of the Bagatelle Op. 126, No. 1, the moments of fragility in the Sonata, Op. 90, and the interior perspective that reaches outward from the Sonata Op. 109, all prove that Beethoven's music is as meaningful today as ever. SET LIST Beethoven: Bagatelle in G, Op. 126, No. 1 Beethoven: Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 90: I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck Beethoven: Piano Sonata in E, Op. 109: I. Vivace, ma non troppo — Adagio espressivo, II. Prestissimo Beethoven: Bagatelle in E-flat, Op. 126, No. 3 MUSICIANS Jonathan Biss: piano CREDITS Video and Audio: Jonathan Biss TINY DESK TEAM Producer: Tom Huizenga Video Producer: Maia Stern Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin Associate Producer: Bobby Carter Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann", "When Russian-born pianist Igor Levit dropped in to play Beethoven at the Tiny Desk, he admitted he was – even after four cups of coffee – \"still in my time zone change.\" A little jet-lagged, he had flown in from Berlin the night before and hopped an early train from New York to Washington, D.C. But Levit easily slipped into his Beethoven zone – a space he knows all too well. Levit, 32, has been playing the German composer's music for half his life. He recently released a box set of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas and once again he'll be performing complete cycles of the sonatas in various cities to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth in 2020. Levit's set placed the oddball, wryly-humored Andante from the neglected Tenth Sonata between two of the most famous pieces of western music: the opening movement of Beethoven's \"Moonlight\" Sonata and the tender, ubiquitous, bagatelle better known as \"Für Elise.\" Levit's \"Moonlight\" emphasized the mesmerizing qualities in the music, with its oscillating pulse, smoldering low end and tolling bells. The second piece proved Beethoven wasn't always the grumpy guy he's made out to be. His sly sense of humor percolates through the set of variations in a jaunty march rhythm, punctuated with a final, ironic, thundering chord. Levit closed with the ever popular \"Für Elise.\" Sure, it's a \"total eye-roller,\" Levit admits, but he also describes it as \"one of the most beautiful treasures in the piano literature.\" Here we see three distinct sides of Beethoven – foreboding, funny and fetching – from one of his most ardent and thoughtful advocates. Now what could be better than that as an overture to the big Beethoven year ahead? SET LIST Beethoven: \"Piano Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight,' I. Adagio sostenuto\" Beethoven: \"Piano Sonata No. 10, II. Andante\" Beethoven: \"Bagatelle in A minor, 'Fur Elise'\" MUSICIAN Igor Levit: piano CREDITS Producers: Tom Huizenga, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, Alex Drewenskus; Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Mhari Shaw/NPR", "BEETHOVEN CONTEST: Another reminder about the My Favorite Beethoven Contest, asking listeners to send us, on a postcard, the name of the single piece of music by Beethoven that is their personal favorite. They should also include their name, address and daytime telephone number and mail cards to My Favorite Beethoven, Performance Today, NPR, 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001. (For a complete set of rules, send an SASE to that same address.) The entry deadline is December 15th. Three winners will be selected during the PT broadcast on Tuesday, December 16th. First prize is the new 20-volume \"Complete Beethoven Edition\" from Deutsche Grammophon, all of the music Beethoven wrote on 87 compact discs. Second prize comprises four volumes of the set, five CDs containing the complete Beethoven symphonies and eight CDs containing the 16 string quartets. Third prize is Volume Two, the complete concertos on five CDs.", "Beethoven with a kick in his step. Pianist Guelsin Onay performs Beethoven's Seven Landler in D at the Newport Music Festival. Recorded in concert on the 27th of July. (Benchmark Recordings)", "Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes plays Carl Neilsen's Humoreske-Bagatelles nos. 1, 2,4,5, and 6.", "Music and discussion about Beethoven celebrating his 250th birthday. Hosted by David Aus with Rei Hotoda of the Fresno Philharmonic", "On today's edition of \"Coming to Terms,\" commentator Miles Hoffman joins Martin for an exploration of \"character pieces,\" everything you always wanted to know about those pieces with the funny names, including bagatelles, nocturnes, rhapsodies, preludes, songs without words and more.", "We hear pianist Deborah Sobol, oboist Michael Henoch, Larry Combs playing clarinet, horn-player Gail Williams, and bassoonist David McGill play music by Beethoven (1770-1827), his Quintet, Op. 16 for winds and piano. We're in concert in Chicago.", "Czechered Beethoven: The Prague Chamber Orchestra performs Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 1. From a February 15th concert at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts in Scottsdale, AZ. (KBAQ Production Studios at Arizona State University)", "A young guitarist makes her debut on <EM>Performance Today</EM>. Ana Vidovic was born in 1980 in what became independent Croatia. After her career blossomed in Europe, she came to Baltimore to study at the Peabody Conservatory. NPR member station WYSU in Youngstown, Ohio, organized a concert recently featuring Vidovic. From that performance we hear her play a few of the Bagatelles by William Walton, and a short piece called <EM>Alms for the Love of God</EM>, by Augustin Barrios.", "The Vega Quartet plays Beethoven's (1770-1827) String Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 in concert at the Rockport Music Festival.", "We hear music by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) in concert at South Carolina's Spoletto Festival. Anne-Marie McDermott is the pianist, with violinist Elina Vahala and cellist Alisa Weilerstein. The trio plays Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 70, No. 1, the \"Ghost\" Trio.", "Glenn Gould, the Canadian-born pianist, was as renowned for his eccentricities as for his dazzling, idiosyncratic piano work. Twenty-five years after Gould's death at the age of 50, his performances are still being reissued. Sony recently released an 80-CD set of his Columbia records; the package traces the extraordinary range of his recording career. Gould was an indispensable artist, even when he wasn't at his sublime best. No other pianist ever captured his uncanny combination of the sparkling and the gravely solemn. The crisp, clear sound of his touch is unmistakable. The recording studio was more important to him than the concert hall, and even after he stopped appearing in public when he was 32, he continued to record for another 18 years. His first album, in 1955, was his incandescent version of Bach's \"Goldberg Variations\" — maybe the single most famous performance of this brilliant work. A very different version of the \"Goldberg Variations\" — slower, more autumnal than exhilarating, and more controversial — was the last recording Gould released during his lifetime. An entire bonus disc is devoted to Gould and critic Tim Page discussing the differences between these two versions. Gould specialized in Bach, and was both apologetic and unapologetic about playing Bach on the piano rather than on more historically authentic instruments. Beethoven was another Gould cornerstone. He recorded 21 sonatas, plus concertos, variations, a marvelous disc of Bagatelles, and even a complete Beethoven symphony arranged for piano by Franz Liszt. Very few pianists play Haydn, but early in his career, Gould made a memorable version of a Haydn Sonata. Very late, he re-recorded this one and five more. He had a low opinion of Mozart, and said he recorded his last Mozart sonata just to complete the set. He certainly raced through them. He was essentially a classicist, and he never recorded either Chopin or Schubert. But he played surprisingly beautiful and sensitive Brahms. His great loves ranged from the early English composers William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons to such challenging 20th-century figures as Berg and Schoenberg. He rediscovered unusual pieces by Bizet, Sibelius, Grieg, and Richard Strauss. His strangest disc might be Strauss' melodramatic \"Enoch Arden,\" with actor Claude Rains reciting what Gould called Tennyson's \"drawing-room epic.\" Gould was also a composer. Among his pieces are a string quartet and a delightful vocal quartet called \"So You Want to Write a Fugue.\" Both are included in this new set, in which the discs come in CD-sized reproductions of all his original album covers. He wrote his own liner notes, but you need a magnifying glass to read them. Even a new box set won't unravel all of Gould's mysteries, but hearing them keeps reminding us that he was one of the most astoundingly original musicians who ever recorded.", "Jukka-Pekka Saraste leads the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in a concert performance of the Symphony No. 7 by Beethoven.", "Later this hour we'll hear a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 2. But first, an appetizer. Consortium Classicum performs the Adagio from Beethoven's Sextet for Winds in E-flat major, Op. 71. (CPO 999 439-2)", "The Kalichstein Laredo Robinson Trio performs Beethoven's Piano Trio, Op. 11 at the Aspen Music Festival. Then we hear some news about a Beethoven work that was, believe it or not, just premiered. It's his one and only Oboe Concerto, which was pieced together by two Beethoven enthusiasts in the Netherlands, then performed recently in Rotterdam.", "Lorin Maazel conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in an especially loud and festive piece of occasional music: the Battle, Storm and Victory from \"Wellington's Victory\" by Ludwig van Beethoven. (CBS MDK 44901)", "The Prazak Quartet, based in Prague, brought music by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) to a concert they gave in Athens, Georgia. They play the opening of Beethoven's very first string qartet, his Quartet No. 1 in F.", "We'll hear Beethoven's String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 (the \"Serioso\"), played by the Ravel String Quartet at this year's Round Top Festival in Texas. (Greg Klinginsmith Recordings)", "Flutist Marya Martin, bassoonist Frank Morelli and pianist Andre-Michel Schub perform the Trio in G for Flute, Bassoon and Piano by Ludwig van Beethoven. Recorded last month at the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival in Bridgehampton, New York. (Malcolm Addey Recordings)", "Always a fan of Beethoven, music critic Tom Manoff was struck recently by the absence of most of Beethoven's even-numbered symphonies from standard play lists. So, scores in hand, he took to listening to Symphonies 2, 4 and 8. He loved what he heard. MELISSA BLOCK, host: Music critic Tom Manoff has studied and written about Beethoven's symphonies for years. Lately, though, he's felt that he's been neglecting some of them, so he grabbed a collection of CDs and set out to right that wrong. (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 3 'Eroica'\") TOM MANOFF: Sound familiar? This is the opening theme from Beethoven's \"Eroica,\" his \"Symphony No. 3.\" And what about this? (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 5\") MANOFF: Right. The opening of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 5,\" perhaps the most famous notes he ever composed. And here's some music from the seventh. (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 7\") MANOFF: This variation theme from the \"Seventh Symphony\" is one of Beethoven's most popular melodies. And who hasn't heard the \"Ode to Joy\" from his \"Symphony Number Nine\"? (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 9 'Ode to Joy'\") MANOFF: OK, you've heard the music. And perhaps you noticed the numbers. No question that Beethoven's most popular symphonies have odd numbers. As a student, I studied all the symphonies, but over the years, I've neglected the evens. My easy excuse is that the odd-numbered symphonies are recorded and performed more often. The other excuse is that I've been lazy. Whatever my problem, the only cure was to listen. So music score in hand, I began with \"Symphony No. 2.\" (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 2\") MANOFF: If I needed proof of what I'd been missing, here it was, the slow movement from the \"Second Symphony,\" one of Beethoven's typically radiant and lyrical themes. Beethoven could be lyrical, but he could also have fun. (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 4\") MANOFF: This is the scherzo from \"Symphony No. 4.\" (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 4\") MANOFF: My even-numbered marathon was destined for a hiccup from the start. I decided to skip \"Symphony No. 6,\" known as the \"Pastoral\" because it's so famous. The eighth was up next. Here's the last movement, a brisk, foot-tapping finale. (Soundbite of Beethoven's \"Symphony No. 8\") MANOFF: This symphonic journey was under the baton of Herbert Bloomstead conducting the Staatskapelle Dresden, a great-sounding rerelease of all the Beethoven symphonies, which I located online for a ridiculous 16 bucks. You may well wonder if I found these even-numbered symphonies as captivating as the others. Well, on that question, I'm taking the fifth. But why not make up your own mind? Take a good listen to all these even-numbered masterpieces. Odds are, you'll like them. BLOCK: The music is unmistakably Beethoven. Our critic is Tom Manoff. MICHELE NORRIS, host: You're listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.", "Music by Beethoven from the Marlboro Festival Orchestra, conducted by Pablo Casals: It's the scherzo from the Symphony No. 2 in D major, recorded in 1970. (Sony Classical SMK 46247)", "We're celebrating Beethoven's birthday with a Gilmore performance by Murray Perahia. Perahia played Beethoven's 32 Variations in concert at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival last spring.", "In the spring of 1825, Beethoven got terribly sick. Came close to dying, in fact. After his recovery, he revised a string quartet he'd been working on. He added a long, reflective middle movement -- a musical \"thank you\" to God for his life. The Takacs Quartet plays Beethoven's \"Heiliger Dankgesang\" in the NPR studios. It's the third movement from Beethoven's Quartet No. 15, Op. 132.", "Ludwig van Beethoven Musician and Composer Born December 17, 1770 Died March 25, 1827, at 57 years old In Vienna, Austria Between Those Ears Beethoven's dad forced him to practice the piano, like dads have done since the dawn of music. We don't know what tunes Beethoven practiced, but today, kids are forced to play Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata, melodies that Beethoven wrote. Practice paid off for Beethoven and he became a musical genius. He played his first gig when he was eight years old. He performed for kings, he did concert tours, and he had a lot of fans. And he had long hair just like a rock star. It turns out Beethoven's hair helped uncover how he died. Today, you can get Beethoven's music as a ring tone on your cell phone. But back then, without CDs or iPods, the only way to hear his music was live. You had to be there with him in concert. However, something went wrong for Beethoven. Eventually Beethoven couldn't hear what he was playing at his own concerts because he went deaf. He started losing his hearing when he was twenty-seven. By forty-five, he was totally deaf. Over time, Beethoven had to imagine the music he was playing. He only heard what he composed inside his head, between his ears, under his long hair. When he wrote his ninth symphony, he couldn't hear a thing. That's like Leonardo da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa with his eyes closed. Take a gander at his piano. Even though Beethoven was unable to hear, he always composed at his piano. He picked up and moved with his piano forty times in his lifetime, and that was no easy thing, considering there were no trucks or cranes or piano dollies. Being deaf made him not want to be with people, especially ladies. He was a bachelor and there weren't any little Beethovens, so it's kind of funny and sad he was named the greatest Romantic composer. There was no sign language back then, so Beethoven and his friends wrote notes back and forth, like instant messaging on the computer, but with a pencil and paper. Beethoven was clumsy and cranky most of the time. He had stomach problems that made him feel lousy for the last thirty years of his life, with constant diarrhea, vomiting, and gas. Houses had no plumbing yet, which means there was no toilet either. He had to use a thing called a chamber pot. In 1827, Beethoven got pneumonia, and he couldn't shake it. His stomach was killing him. He couldn't go to the bathroom (chamber pot); his skin was the color of a banana, and blood dripped out of his mouth. Then he got dropsy. That's when fluid inside your body that's supposed to get out, can't. Very quickly, Beethoven's body filled up with rotting fluid. He got huge. His stomach bloated, and the skin stretched across it tight as a balloon. A doctor in 1827 didn't know much more than a doctor in the Middle Ages, so Beethoven's doctors figured all that Beethoven needed was a drain to get the liquid out. They took him to the hospital. But back then, half the people who went into the hospital came out dead. At the hospital, a hole was drilled into Beethoven's stomach, and then they stuck a hose in it. Beethoven experienced the most painful day of his entire life. Awake and without pain medicine, Beethoven watched forty cups of white pussy gunk flow out of his belly—enough to fill ten quart bottles. This was before stitches, so his doctor plugged the hole with some rags, and sent Beethoven home. The gunk continued to leak out of the hole in Beethoven's stomach. But his belly got even bigger than before they had taken him to the hospital. He went back to the hospital three more times. His doctor reinserted the hose into the same hole each time. And, no surprise, the hole got infected. So his doctors attempted another \"cure\". They tried to sweat out the liquid with a steam bath. They propped Beethoven up in a tub filled with jugs of hot water. A sheet was spread on top of the tub. They didn't cover Beethoven's head because that's where all the music came from, and they were smart enough not to mess with that. After a few hours, the sheet was removed. Instead of sweating out the liquid, his body had absorbed the steam like a giant sponge. Poor Beethoven was as big as the Goodyear blimp. Since there were no such things as photographs to remember him by, a friend summoned an artist to make a drawing of Beethoven shortly before he went unconscious. On March 26, 1827, Beethoven died. After he died, souvenir hunters came and took snips of Beethoven's hair off his head. Some got snips when nobody was looking, some paid for it, and some had already clipped his hair before he was officially dead. By the end of the day, he was completely bald. It was a quirky custom, but a common one before photography. The doctors cut Beethoven's body open and performed an autopsy. All his inside parts were too small or too big, too soft or too hard—the opposite of what they should have been. The autopsy folks sliced Beethoven's skull crosswise at the top; they wanted to look inside" ]

[ "Abstract Asymmetric synthesis of dihydroquinolines by addition of organometallic reagents on a chiral 3-quinolinyl aminal was studied. 1,2-Adducts were obtained with good regio- and diastereoselectivity. The absolute configuration for 1,2-adducts was determined by X-ray analysis and for 1,4-adducts by chemical correlation." ]

[ "A new and convenient synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1 H )-ones has been described using the intramolecular cyclization of 2-aminochalcones catalyzed by 1-octyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromide ([C 8 dabco]Br). Recyclability of the catalyst, high yields, simple isolation of the products, and high atom economy are the noteworthy aspects of the protocol. How to Cite Derabli, C.; Mahdjoub, S.; Boulcina, R.; Boumoud, B.; Merazig, H.; Debache, A. Chem. Heterocycl. Compd. 2016 , 52 , 99. [ Khim. Geterotsikl. Soedin. 2016 , 52 , 99.] For this article in the English edition see DOI 10.1007/s10593-016-1840-8", "An improved method for the preparation of asymmetric monomethine cyanines by the condensation of 6-substituted-2-iminobenzothiazolines and 1-alkyl-4-methylquinolinium salts is described. The preparation can be considered as being more environmentally friendly than the more usual method involving condensation of 2-methylthio-3-methylbenzothiazolium salts and 1-alkyl-4-methylquinolinium salts. The synthesis results in the important fluorogenic intercalating dye 1-methyl-4-[(3-methylbenzothiazoline-2-ylidene)methine]-quinolinium salts, or its derivatives with substituents at the 6-position in the benzothiazole nucleus. The starting materials are commercially available or can be easily synthesized. The procedure for the preparation of these biological non-covalent labels is simple and reliable.", "Two variants are discussed of the synthesis of 1-R-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid β-N-tosylhydrazides which undergo a McFayden-Stevens reaction to give 1-R-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carbaldehydes in high yields. It was shown that the thiosemicarbazones prepared from them exist in the solid state exclusively in the syn-form while in solution a hydrazone ↔ enhydrazine tautomerism is observed. The results of a study of the antitubercular activity of the synthesized compounds are reported.", "The first asymmetric intramolecular Stetter reaction is reported, using the chiral triazolium salt 1 as catalyst. Starting from the easily accessible 4-(2-formylphenoxy)but-2-enoates 2, this protocol opens up an enantioselective pathway to the benzo-annulated pyran-4-ones (chroman-4-ones) 3a–h with good yields and enantiomeric excesses of up to 74%.", "Abstract A novel protocol for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1 H )-ones from 2-aminobenzamides and aldehyde derivatives catalyzed by KOH/DMSO suspension has been developed. The present transition metal free methodology is operationally simple, scalable and varieties of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1 H )-one derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields in short reaction times.", "Asymmetric anionic polymerization of a prochiral quinone methide monomer, 7-cyano-7-ethoxycarbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone methide (1), was examined using two chiral anionic initiators, lithium 4-isopropylphenoxide (iPrPhOLi)/(−)-sparteine((−)-Sp) and iPrPhOLi/(S)-(−)-2,2′-isopropylidenebis(4-phenyl-2-oxazoline) ((−)-PhBox) initiators, in a mixture solution of dichloromethane/toluene (30/70 in vol %), and optical activities of the resulting polymers and oligomers (1-mer and 2-mer) were investigated in detail. On asymmetric anionic polymerization of 1 with iPrPhOLi/(−)-Sp initiator, stereoselectivity was quite low on both initiation and propagation reactions, while in the case of iPrPhOLi/(−)-PhBox initiator, stereoselectivity was quite low on the initiation reaction, but the propagation reaction proceeded stereoselectively, resulting in an optically active polymer of 1 (poly(1)) with a large positive specific rotation.", "Abstract An efficient and environmentally benign protocol for the synthesis of 3-(2′-benzothiazolyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones has been developed. The synthesis of these pharmacologically important compounds can be achieved by the three component condensation of isatoic/5-chloroisatoic anhydride, aldehyde, and 2-aminobenzothiazole in water: ethanol (1:1, v/v) without the aid of any catalyst.", "Abstract A short and efficient synthesis of both enantiomerically pure 2- O -benzyl- erythro -butanetetrols 4 and ent-4 from the readily available D-erythronolactone 1 is presented. The synthesis proceeds in a highly efficient manner and is in both cases substrate controlled.", "Abstract α-Alkylation of the dianions of β-hydroxy sulfoxides proceeds with high 1, 2-asymmetric induction to give threo-α-alkyl-β-hydroxy sulfoxides. The utility of the present reaction was demonstrated in the asymmetric synthesis of (+)- and ( 3 )-cis-7, 8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecanes (disparlure).", "Abstract The synthesis of 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines is achieved via the ether rearrangement methodology. Subsequent reactions yielded cherylline and ether derivatives of amaryllidaceac alkaloids.", "A new organocatalytic one-pot multistep transformation via Knoevenagel condensation/aza-Michael addition/electrophilic fluorination has been developed. Simple starting materials were used under mild conditions to construct fluorinated 2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-one derivatives in good to high yields (up to 98%) and diastereoselectivities (dr up to 99/1).", "The title compound, phenyl-2-(4-{(N-(2,2,4-trimethyl-7-phenoxy-1,2-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methylsulfonamido) methyl}-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)acetate was synthesized in a single pot. The compound was fully characterized by spectral (IR, NMR & MS) data and elemental analysis and was evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activity against both gram positive as well as gram negative bacteria.", "1. The plantHaplophyllum acutifolium has yielded eudesmine, acetamide, skimmianine, and a new base with the composition C16H19NO, mp 122–123°C, which has been called acutine. 2. It has been shown that acutine has the structure of 2-(hept-4-enyl)-1,4-dihydroquinolin-4-one.", "A simple catalytic racemic synthesis of benzopyranes, benzothiopyranes and 1,2-dihydroquinolines is presented. The organocatalytic domino reactions between 2-heteroatom substituted aldehyde derivatives and ?,?-unsaturated aldehydes or ?,?-unsaturated cyclic ketones proceed with excellent chemoselectivity to give the corresponding products in good to high yields.", "The asymmetric synthesis of (2R,3R)-3-methyl-3-hydroxypipecolic acid, a key intermediate in the synthesis of dual MMP-13/aggrecanase inhibitors, is described. The title compound is prepared in seven steps with an overall yield of 41% starting from geraniol. Key steps in the synthesis include Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, which establishes the chiral centers, and a one-pot oxidative olefin cleavage/reductive amination sequence that closes the piperidine ring.", "An 18-step asymmetric synthesis of the bryostatin 1 “southern hemisphere” fragment (1) has been developed. Key steps include an aldol reaction between 6 and 7 and a dehydration to establish the (E)-exocyclic alkene in 2 and a stereoselective Luche reduction and protection with TESOTf to access 1.", "Abstract The asymmetric cyclopropanation of 1,1-diphenylethylene ( 2 ) with ethyl 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-diazopropionate ( 1 ) in the presence of chiral Rh(II) catalysts affords cyclopropane 3 with yields and enantioselectivities of up to 72 and 40%, respectively. Similar results are obtained for asymmetric cyclopropenation of hex-1-yne ( 4 ), although enantioselectivity is lower. The cyclopropanation of mono-substituted olefins ( 8a – 8e ) with 1 leads to cis / trans -mixtures of cyclopropanes 9a – 9e with a maximum ee of 75% for 4-methoxystyrene ( 8c ).", "(S)-4-benzylthiazolidine-2-thione,used as chiral auxiliary,was N-acylated by crotonyl chloride,and asymmetrically Michael reaction with 1-bromobutane,followed by cleavage using NaBH4 to give(R)-3-methylheptan-1-ol,which ordinally proceeded cyanidation,hydrolysis,etc to successfully synthesize the aggregation pheromone of rhinoceros beetles.The enantiomeric exess of the total synthesis is over 93% e.e.and the total yield was up to 39.45%.", "A general [4 + 1] cyclization reaction of carbonyl nucleophiles with 2-iodomethylallyl peroxides, which function as unique electrophilic oxygen synthons, for the synthesis of a broad range of 2,2-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans is achieved under operationally simple conditions. The unprecedented asymmetric version of such reaction is also realized via chiral auxiliary-assisted cyclization, thus providing a distinct approach to access chiral tetrahydrofurans with high diastereoselectivities. The new method can be applied to the synthesis of core structure of posaconazole drug.", "Synthesis of the alkaloids, (±)-cherylline (1) and (±)-latifine (2), was accomplished by application of an isocyanate cyclization reaction according to Tsuda's two step procedure for constructing 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinol-l-one and a regioselective cleavage reaction of aromatic methyl ethers with dimethyl sulfide in methanesulfonic acid.", "The asymmetric inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels–Alder reaction of N-Ts-1-aza-1,3-butadienes derived from 3-argiocarbonylcoumarins and acetaldehyde has been developed using chiral secondary aminocatalysis, giving tricyclic chroman-2-one derivatives in high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).", "3,4 Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and 3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinazolin-2(1H)-ones have been synthesized from the condensation of ketones, aldehydes and urea/thiourea in the presence of sodium tertiary butoxide by the solventless microwave irradiation (MWI) process as well as the conventional process.", "The 1,6-disubstituted- and 4,6-disubstituted-11-aza-5H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-5-one as well as 6-substituted-11-aza-5H-pyrido[a]phenoxazin-5-one derivatives were prepared by the condensation of 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine with 5-substituted-2,3-dihalogeno-1,4-naphthoquinones and 6,7-dibromo-5,8-quinolinequinone respectively. The resulting compounds were subjected to reduction, acetylation, dehalogenation and reaction with aniline.", "The synthesis and analytical properties of two asymmetric derivatives of carbohydrazide and thiocarbohydrazide with pyridine and phenol have been studied. The compounds tested are 1-(2-pyridylmethylideneamino)-3-(salicylideneamino)urea and 1-(2-pyridylmethylideneamino)-3-(salicylideneamino) thiourea. The analytical utility of these reagents is outlined. A spectrophotometric method for determining the formation constants of the complexes is described.", "Abstract An asymmetric conjugate addition reaction between a chiral α,β-unsaturated amido ester and ethyl- N -methylmalonamide has been used as a key step in the synthesis of (3 S ,4 R )-(−)- trans -4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl- N -methylpiperidine, a key intermediate for (−)-paroxetine.", "A biogenetic-type total synthesis of(±)-2-deoxystemodinone (1), by solvolytic rearrangement of the 1-methyl[2.2.2]oct-2-yl methanesulphonate 4, is described.", "Lubricant composition as a lubricant base, and an oil-soluble polyalkylene glycols suitable for use as lubricants in industrial oils, greases or metalworking fluids, (1) alkylated phenyl -α- naphthylamine and (2 ) and a additive comprising 2,2,4-trialkyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline.", "A convenient synthetic procedure for substituted 2-bromomethyl-4-methyl-2-chloro-2,3-dihydrofuro[3.2-c]quinolines hydrobromides was developed, synthons for preparation of new substituted furoquinolines. Reactions with various nucleophiles were performed, and 2-(R’-methyl)-4-methyl-furo[3.2-c]quinolines substituted in the benzene ring were obtained.", "3-Vinyl- and 3-isopropenyl-azetidin-2-ones are ::: transformed into the corresponding ::: 4-acetoxy-3-[1-(2-arylamino-1-hydroxy)ethyl]azetidin-2-ones and ::: 4-acetoxy-3-[1-(2-arylamino-1-hydroxy)propyl]azetidin-2-ones, ::: intermediates for the synthesis of novel carbapenems.", "Abstract Optimization of the lead compound 2-[-4-(4-chloro-benzyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-1-(2,3-dihydro-indol-1-yl)-ethanone 1 by systematic structure–activity relation (SAR) studies lead to two potent compounds 2-[-4-(4-chloro-benzyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-1-(2-methy-2,3-dihydro-indol-1-yl)-ethanone 2n and 2-[-4-(4-chloro-benzyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-1-(2-methy-2,3-dihydro-indol-1-yl)-ethanone 7b . Their related synthesis was also reported.", "1. ::: 1. A method for the asymmetric labelling of pig kidney microvillar membrane proteins is described. ::: ::: 2. ::: 2. The photo-activated reagent, 3,5-di[125I]iodo-4-azido-benzene sulphonate, enabled four of the membrane peptidases to be characterized as transmembrane proteins.", "Abstract The cycloaddition of the fumarate of methyl (R)-mandelate to α-hydroxy-α-phenyl- o -quinodimethane 3 gives a single diastereomer in high yield. The absolute stereochemistry of the cyctoadduct is established and the potential of the reaction for asymmetric lignan synthesis is discussed." ]

[ "Love the case im using it to store my 450l dominator heli worth the money for a quality case" ]

[ "case was large enough to store my computer. bottom could use more padding. i love the light weight of the case and it,s not bulky. I would recommend this case if you don't want to spend a lot of money. i won't be traveling a lot with my laptop, so the case is used mostly for storage.", "I love love love this case, is super cute, light weight, my phone feels like he can breath \":)\", not like when i put a hard thick case, so big and annoying, yeah it protects the phone, but is mostly in my bag or car so i don't ever have to worry about it. The picture is very clear, i got it cause i have the infinity tattoo on my arm and it means alot to me.... Anyway.... Im happy with it.;)", "im loving this case a lot i put in my two needles and they fit perfect side by side. the case protects them with no problems.", "Absolutely love. The colors is vibrant and the care is protective. The screen part was a little scratched but since I already have a screen protector bit on my phone I just took off the one the case came with and use as is. No pictures because Im using it right now lol", "My son loves all the cars characters and we could never find this one in stores. Im not sure its worth what I paid for it, but my son enjoys it so thats what matters.", "Love this case so much! A bit bigger than I thought it would be, but I still like it.", "LOVEEEEE THIS!!!! Omgosh its HUGE and fits almost ALL of my make up. Im a bit of a make up chunkie and have over 50 lip liners!\n\nI was surprised by the size and quality of this product and it looks oh so cute on my countertop! I love how organized my make up is and love using my make up even more so because I no longer have to search through everything just to find that one thing Im looking for!\n\nIt looks so fancy for the price and Ive done EXTENSIVE research on other make up organizers since Im a stay at home mom and money is tight, and this came out to be the winner. SO WORTH IT! I plan on buying another in the future to store my skin care products!", "A very good case. I have using it from the time I received it. It is sturdy and serves me well. Thanks", "I love this is is worth the money... i use it all the time... the case is cool all by its self!", "I love this case, it is thin and shows the beautiful gold color of my iPhone!! I get compliments all the time.. im sure it helps protect drops too.. but im very careful with my phone, and I carry it like a newborn... so... it is never getting dropped... period.. I just won't drop my phone!! but in case I ever do, I think this case will protect! I would buy it again", "I love that this has its own case making it great when traveling however I do wish the case was a bit smaller, when my daughter uses it at a restaurant it takes up half the table. Otherwise love it as does my 2.5 yr old", "its a very good case. i love it. n i still have it . i think u should buy it", "Great case! My only grip would be that the stand in the back doesn't stick in place anymore but I've also been using it for the past few months so I guess that's to be expected", "I will never purachase anything from this seller again. Horrible horrible horrible. Looks and quality were so cheap Im certain I could have found a better case at the 99cent store.", "This case was bigger than I expected. It is very well built, and will suit my needs very well. No regrets getting it.", "Definetly waterproof but people say it sounds like Im in a fishbowl, Ill be using it when I go out on the water and changing into a regular case when Im not.", "I am head over heels in love with my phone case. It came in a timely fashion and its everything i could of asked for and more im so happy and its beautiful. very durable", "This case has proven to be exactly what I needed. I can store my driver's license, credit cards AND cell phone and not have to carry a full purse if I'm out just running quick errands. I love it ! Thanks for coming up with something so helpful.\n\nJDeck57", "I had given up hope on finding a pillow. Recently we bought a new bed and got new super expensive pillows at the same time. Hated them. Bought various others at different store prior to that and didn't like them either. Decided to try this wonderful pillow after reading reviews and Im so glad I did. Its the best pillow ever! I husband loves it too! I bought a extra pillow case for it and made two pillows. Im not even sure how its so perfect but the layers are magical. Great customer service as well!", "The Poetic iPad Pro 9.7 case is a winner. I am very happy with my purchase of Poetic's iPad Pro 9.7 case. It allows the use of Apple's detachable keyboard and offers a place to store the Apple Pencil, both in use and stored for carrying. The quality of the case is excellent. It offers a non slip grip able surface which makes holding the iPad easier. The case also provides some protection for the iPad. I would definitely recommend this case for anyone with the iPad Pro 9.7.", "I order several cases as I like to change them. This case I substantial without being bulky. I love that is is flexible. I feel this would protect if it's dropped. Will be ordering more.", "very nice case i love fits perfect feels good in hand", "I really like the features of this case. I like the fact that I can use it as a case and a wallet especially when I go to the gym and don't want to carry around much", "Love the case. I work in the kitchen so food particles always get stuck in the smallest of places & messing up my speakers. With this case, Im in awe. I love it! I Just wish it had rubber sides or something to help with the grip. Besides that, perfection.", "Great case but my Sony headphones will not fit. I decided to use it to store chargers and cord", "A very nice roomy portable case, has tons of room and offers great protection.", "Amazing case with lots off room to allow good airflow. I also really like the filters on the top, bottom and front.", "Wish they had a legal size, and a briefcase handle, other than those items I love this case. Internal storage is enough for my purposes, and case has held up well to six months of use frequent use with zero issues.", "I was hesitant to order this because of the reviews that said an iPhone 8 did not fit in the case well. Im glad I took the risk and ordered it. The iPhone 8 fits great! Im not sure why others were having issues. Love the purple colors!", "I received my product and it has everything as expected. But my case for the set was busted. It was mishandled while Im shipment.", "I bought this thinking It was as good as my original case but it is not the same. The front has no cover for screen of phone and the construction of case is not the same as my original case that I bought at the ATT store. Will not buy again. Should have gone to the store and looked at the case.", "If I could give this zero stars , I would. I bought this because Im an Animal Control Officer and wanted a strong case and waterproof case for the winter. I have always used OtterBox and never had a problem. I literally had this case on my iPhone 6 Plus for 4 hours. I crouched down and it fell out of my pocket about 6 inches and landed face down in soft dirt, when I picked it up, my screen was shattered. I couldn't believe it. I called the customer service twice and left voicemails and no one has ever returned my call. I had to pay $100 to replace my screen for a $25 case. To say Im unhappy, is an understatement. This case will be returned ASAP." ]

[ "So Tipperary remain the benchmark.\nYou expected a little more insight than that, no doubt. That’s coming shortly.\nThe throb and energy in Nowlan Park for yesterday’s NHL semi-final was provided in large part by the Wexford contingent, who outnumbered Premier supporters in the 19,000-plus crowd. They were passionate and vocal, and their team mirrored that belief with a fine display, going toe to toe with Tipperary for over 60 minutes, never taking that action dearly beloved of rugby pundits, the backward step.\nTipp were smooth and efficient yesterday, however; professional in the best sense. They had clearly done their homework and played accordingly, leading by four at half-time, and by the final whistle they had a double-digit winning margin, forged largely by three clinically finished goals deep in the third quarter.\nSufficient to the day is the newspaper thereof, Joyce told us; drop the word ‘display’ in there for ‘newspaper’ and you’d have a neat summary of Tipperary, April 2017.\nCapable when necessary and crushing when required.\nForget the late flurry of goals and look instead at their reaction to Wexford closing the gap to two just after half-time. The crowd was howling for the men from the south-east, and so was the breeze freshening Tipp faces.\nBrendan Maher and Michael Breen stitched fine points to restore their team’s advantage, though. Scores from distance, into that swirling wind, of a kind Wexford struggled to score in the first half.\nWhen Wexford came knocking again with ten minutes to go, John and Noel McGrath killed the game with goals; straight outta Loughmore (or Castleiney, all depending), while Brendan Maher’s late effort was the icing on the cake.\nWexford had stifled Kilkenny’s goal chances a couple of weeks ago here, but yesterday they found the All-Ireland champions an irrepressible force late on.\nVery well. Wexford can take a lot of positives from the league generally, but was yesterday a step backwards?\nNo. Davy Fitzgerald put it well after the game when he was asked about those final stages.\n“I learned more in those eight minutes — the amount of stuff I’ll be able to show them (his own players) because you can’t leave Tipperary loose. If they get a ball in a bunch they’ll spot a fella 30 yards away and they’ll ping it into him,” said Fitzgerald.\n“You have to be very disciplined in your structure and set-up. When our fella in the hole left the hole that’s when the trouble came. You can’t leave the hole. If we can cut down on those goals you can see we’re going to be — what was the final score today, 1-19 to 5-18?\n“That means they had three more scores. That’s good. We were only a couple of scores away — I know they were goals — but it shows we just have to make sure that we hold that middle tight. If we hold that tight and don’t give up the goal chances — we scored 1-19 and had eight wides to their seven in the first half ; so we had a lot of scoring opportunities we need to take and it’s been the same all year. We’ll try our best as we go along.”\nThe learning goes both ways, of course. Wexford showed their hand against Kilkenny, for instance, and were rewarded with Shaun Murphy’s sweeping masterclass.\nExposure can be a double-edged sword, though, and Tipperary were well warned about Wexford’s alignment. Players like Brendan, and Ronan and Paudie Maher have seen more attacking deployments than Marshal Ney, and they made it difficult for Murphy to cut out their deliveries.\nThere was a corresponding issue when Wexford surged upfield, with Tipperary maintaining a free man to protect their own full back line. When Wexford went high with their deliveries they were simply giving Ronan Maher a chance to stretch his legs. You don’t lamp the ball on top of the best fielder in the country and expect not to suffer.\nFor all that, Wexford came close to a breakthrough more than once, only to be betrayed by a poor first touch. They can expect plenty of practice lifting the ball with two hands on the hurley this week.\nTheir management will also need to address their team’s shot selection. The Leinster side had to cope with a tricky wind in the first half — an early Conor McDonald free died on a gust that might have wheezed down specifically from Mullinahone for that very purpose — but some of those first-half sides are likely to have caused Fitzgerald and co some sleep last night. Maher and Breen’s economy in the same situation would be worth copying.\nThe implications for Tipperary? A little blurred. Michael Ryan’s team are learning the old truth, that nobody roots for Goliath. Such is the grip that Kilkenny have maintained that even last year the blue and gold were viewed almost as romantic interlopers — yes, Tipperary — but now the dynamic is different. Their opponents in Nowlan Park were the choice of the other 31 counties.\nBut what, specifically, did the interested spectators from the Cork management learn from yesterday, for instance? That Tipperary need some silk with the steel in their half forward line? What suited a tight Nowlan Park in windy April might not work as well in Thurles, or other open expanses, during the summer. However, in Noel McGrath, Tipp have a man born to pull the strings around the middle, while Bubbles O’Dwyer showed with his elegant assist for the fourth Tipperary goal that he could play a creative role in that zone as well.\nIt was interesting to hear Michael Ryan talk after the game about his side’s next opponents, Galway, in the league final: “We never fail to have but a good game with Galway. It’s super preparation for us — four weeks out from next Sunday to championship.\n“But look, for the time we’re in, there’s a national title to be played for. We’re delighted to be in that final, we set it out really early in the year that we wanted to have a real go at the league.\n“It was advantage us by a point in 2016, advantage Galway in 2015. In the intervening period, we had a draw in Salthill. There is nothing between Tipp and Galway. It’s a great rivalry. Again, we don’t meet that often but when we do, there’s nothing between us. For us to get out over the line last year in Croke Park against Galway, we were really lucky on the day and we always appreciate that there was nothing in it.”\nAs an example of focus it would be hard to beat, the awareness of how close the margins are in August when you’ve just won a game in April. But that’s how the benchmark is set. And kept." ]

[ "On Tuesday, April 18th Tipperary will play Cork in a Munster Under-17 Hurling Championship semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm). The prize on offer is a place in the Munster final against Waterford on April 25th. And, this bunch of Tipperary players need your support against a highly-talented Rebel outfit.\nIn the quarter-finals Cork ran riot when beating Limerick 0-16 to 0-6 at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. And, this game is of huge significance to these players since no minor inter-county championship will take place in 2018.\nThe Tipperary under-17 hurling team to face Cork on Tuesday evening is: Conor Grace (Toomevara), Darragh Flannery (Kiladangan), Zach Jackson (Moycarkey-Borris), Josh Ryan (St Mary’s Clonmel), Paul Devlin (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill, captain), Barry McGrath (Na Sairsealaigh Óg), Brendan Murphy (Cappawhite), Glen Loughnane (Roscrea), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Michael Nally (Holycross-Ballycahill), Bryan McLoughney (Kiladangan), Kevin McCarthy (Toomevara), Stephen Kirwan (Burgess), Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Mark Downey (Rosegreen).\nThe Tipperary subs on Tuesday evening are: Kevin Bracken (Na Sairsealaigh Óg), John McGrath (Kiladangan), Jack Connolly (Carrick Swan), Éanna McBride (JK Bracken’s), John Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Paudie Maher (Ballingarry), Seán McAdams (Kilruane MacDonagh’s), Tomás Vaughan (Skeheenarinky) and Shane Doyle (JK Bracken’s).\nAdditional panel members: Rory Darmody (Moycarkey-Borris), John Kirwan (Moycarkey-Borris), Seán Ryan (Templederry Kenyons), Ger O'Dwyer (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Aidan Griffin (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill), Jack Ryan (Toomevara), Michael Egan O'Brien (JK Bracken’s) and Eoin Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill).\nThe Premier County’s under-17 hurling management team consists of manager Trevor Hassett (Drom & Inch), coach-selector Séamus Gleeson (Kiladangan), selector Declan Hickey (Skeheenarinky) and selector Martin Ryan (Borris-Ileigh).", "Tipperary will take on Cork in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship final on Wednesday, July 4th (7.30pm) at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. And, although the Rebels are hotly-fancied to win the provincial under-21 title you can be sure and certain that Liam Cahill's Tipperary team will be determined to do the Premier County proud.\nThis Tipperary team lifted the hearts of blue and gold supporters with their stirring semi-final win over Limerick and they are more than capable of beating Cork. Indeed, in an interview with Noel Dundon in this week's issue of the Tipperary Star manager Liam Cahill acknowledged that Cork were a quality side, but he also made sure to point out that the Premier County “have quality too”.\n“Cork have an exceptionally good team. Three years ago this was deemed as the greatest minor team ever to come out of Cork and they picked up a few injuries and were beaten by Limerick,” Liam Cahill explained.\n“Their quality has come through with eight or nine on the senior panel now. The depth of quality they have is exceptional, but we have quality too and we are going to worry about ourselves and make sure that we can be the best that we can be on the night,” Liam Cahill explained to the Tipperary Star's Noel Dundon.\nLiam Cahill (Ballingarry) leads the Tipperary under-21 management team alongside coach Michael Bevans (Toomevara) and selectors John Sheedy (Portroe), Seán Corbett (Boherlahan-Dualla) and TJ Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore).\nBoth the Premier County and the Rebels have endured a significant drought at the grade in recent years - Tipperary have won twenty provincial under-21 titles, but none since 2010 while Cork (eighteen titles) have to search back to 2007 for their last Munster crown.\nThe Cork team on Wednesday will feature a plethora of Rebel senior stars like Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O'Mahony, Robbie O’Flynn and Shane Kingston who, of course, are fresh from last Sunday's senior provincial final win over Clare.\nIn the under-21 Munster semi-finals Cork saw off the challenge of Waterford (0-23 to 1-17). Meanwhile Tipperary beat Limerick thanks to a rousing display in their respective semi-final (1-22 to 1-13) at Semple Stadium.\nMost recently the Premier County lost the 2012, 2013 and 2016 under-21 provincial finals, but Liam Cahill’s men will be keen to break that pattern in Cork. And, another encouraging display in the under-21 provincial final on Wednesday night allied to the success enjoyed by Tommy Dunne's victorious minor hurling team would give the Tipperary hurling landscape a much more healthy complexion.\nTipperary landed the county’s 40th Munster minor hurling title on Sunday last thanks to an eight-point victory over Limerick (1-20 to 1-12). And, it is worth noting that this latest provincial title represented the third Munster minor crown won by the Premier County in four years. Manager Tommy Dunne’s minor hurling team are now through to the All-Ireland semi-finals on the week-ending Sunday, July 29th - the final is scheduled to take place on August 19th.\nTIPPERARY UNDER-21 TEAM\nManager Liam Cahill has named the following Premier County under-21 hurling team to face Cork: Ciarán Barrett (Clonmel Óg), Pádraig Campion (Drom & Inch), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Killian O'Dwyer (Killenaule), Cian Flanagan (Newport), Paddy Cadell (JK Bracken’s), Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Ger Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Colin English (Fr Sheehy's, captain), Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonagh’s), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), David Gleeson (Ballinahinch), Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Bracken’s). Subs: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonagh’s), Darragh Woods (Holycross-Ballycahill), Robert Byrne (Portroe), Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonagh’s), Shane Neville (Lattin-Cullen), Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh).\nFURTHER READING\nTo keep up to date with all the sporting news in Tipperary please click here - to follow the Tipperary Star sports team on twitter please click here - to follow sports editor Brian McDonnell on Twitter please click here. Alternatively, you can also like the Tipperary Star on Facebook.", "A long gap was bridged on Leeside by an impressive young group of hurlers who stormed to a comprehensive victory over Tipperary in the Munster U-21 hurling championship final.\nA long gap was bridged on Leeside by an impressive young group of hurlers who stormed to a comprehensive victory over Tipperary in the Munster U-21 hurling championship final.\nDenis Ring's side were slick and efficient in front of the posts throughout and produced a fantastic display overall to win the county's first title at the grade since 2007.\nIt adds to what has been a memorable few days for hurling on Leeside, following the victory of the senior hurlers in their Munster decider a few days earlier.\nThe next few years look to offer much promise from a Cork point of view based on the current state of affairs.\nThe Rebels got off to a perfect start. They set their stall out from the outset, with Shane Kingston and Declan Dalton slotting over early scores.\nAnd that impressive opening was capped off by their opening goal midway through the first half.\nAfter some good work by Tim O'Mahony to put the ball into his path, Robbie O'Flynn finished clinically to the back of the net.\nAlthough Tipp did get early scores of their own through Darragh Woods and Ger Browne, it was Cork that were in the ascendency, with Kingston and Dalton, with a fantastic sideline cut, adding further well-taken points.\nCork were well and truly in the groove and Liam Healy also pointed before the break with a brilliant effort from out wide.\nMark Coleman also got in on the scoring act and was a number of members from the Cork senior hurling on show on the night.\nTipperary looked to mount some sort of fightback on the restart and they pointed through Lyndon Fairbrother.\nBut Cork put any hopes of a comeback to a shuddering halt, when Jack O'Connor slammed the ball home for the second Rebel goal of the contest.\nDeclan Dalton and Shane Kingston popped over further points for Cork moments after Ger Browne scored for Tipperary.\nThe damage had essentially been done in the first half of play, but Cork continued to show neat interplay on occasions in the second half as well.\nOne such move was when Conor Cahalane, Daire Connery and Robbie O'Flynn were all involved in a move which culminated in Kingston rifling over another point.\nTipp senior Jake Morris did get a point in the latter stages, but his side were unable to get him involved often enough.\nMark Coleman capped off a sensational individual display with a well-taken score, which proved to be one of the last of the game.\nIt is Cork who march on and, based on this showing, they will take some stopping in the All-Ireland series this term.\nScorers – Cork: D Dalton 0-7 (4f); J O'Connor 1-2; R O'Flynn 1-1; S Kingston 0-4; M Coleman 0-3 (1f); L Healy 0-2; T O'Mahony, C Cahalane, E Murphy, A Myers 0-1 each. Tipperary: L Fairbrother 0-5 (4f, 1'65'); G Browne 0-4; S Neville 1-0; J Cahill 0-2; D Woods, J Morris 0-1 each.\nCork – G Collins; D Lowney, D Griffin, N O'Leary; E Murphy, M Coleman, B Hennessy; S Smyth, D Fitzgibbon; R O'Flynn, D Dalton, S Kingston; L Healy, T O'Mahony, J O'Connor. Subs: C Cahalane for Fitzgibbon (22), D Connery for Smyth (45), A Myers for O'Flynn (55), C O'Leary for Dalton, M O'Halloran for Healy (both 56).\nTipperary – C Barrett; P Campion, B McGrath, K O'Dwyer; C Flanagan, P Cadell, D Quirke; G Browne, C English; J Cahill, P Feehan, M Kehoe; D Gleeson, J Morris, D Woods. Subs: C Morgan for Campion (24 ), L Fairbrother for Gleeson, C Darcy for Woods (both h-t), S Neville for English (44), C Stakelum for Kehoe (54).\nRef – J Murphy(Limerick)\nOnline Editors", "Justin McCarthy says the true worth of this Cork team is still unknown given Tipperary “flopped” in last month’s Munster quarter-final.\nThe 1966 All-Ireland medal winner believes Sunday’s clash with Waterford will provide a far clearer picture as to the potential of Kieran Kingston’s side. Where Tipperary afforded Cork the “freedom of Thurles”, McCarthy knows Waterford will pack their defence in a bid to stifle the Rebel forwards.\nEach of Cork’s starting six forwards were on the scoresheet during the 2-27 to 1-26 win over Tipperary, amassing 1-21 from play between them. And while McCarthy described the win as “a step in the right direction”, he says expectation should be tempered until Horgan, Harnedy and co have survived 70 minutes within the environs of a “congested” Waterford rearguard.\n“You can’t judge a team on one game because realistically, Tipperary flopped. Tipperary were hammered by Galway in the league final. They came into the championship then and they thought they would put things together, but they weren’t fresh. A lot of good players played very averagely. They were missing a few players, as well,” stressed McCarthy.\n“You’ll know a lot more about Cork on Sunday because it will be a different type of game.”\nHaving shaded last month’s free-flowing encounter, McCarthy reckons Cork will have to “win ugly” this weekend. “If you’re looking for another exhibition game, forget about it. Won’t happen. If Waterford played a similar game to Tipperary the last day, they’d be beaten well.Waterford will play a more congested game, pulling bodies back. I don’t like the congested game, I don’t think it is doing anything for hurling. Winning nice or winning ugly, it doesn’t matter nowadays so long as you get the result.\n“Waterford will set up with eight backs and just four forwards. And because of that, the Cork forwards will have to be able to do things quicker, smarter and faster. They have to be patient too as you are not going to break down that type of defence straightaway. Cork have to be able to cope. Picking off points from distance could be a way of drawing Waterford out of their congested defence.\n“Cork should not be caught off guard by how Waterford will line up. Cork wouldn’t want to be looking around at each other after 20 or 30 minutes and asking themselves, ‘why are we not getting through’. They’ll have to be ready to readjust from the off.”\nCan they adapt?\n“The younger Waterford players are more experienced than the younger Cork players. They are a bit hardier because they’ve been in Munster and league finals. Deep down, though, Cork are Cork. I know from my own time as Waterford manager, it took a long time to beat Cork in the Munster championship.\n“Their win over Tipperary was badly needed from a Cork point of view and from a hurling point of view. The confidence you get from a game like that is something you can’t measure. If Cork work hard and have quick movement, because there’s no point standing still when you have a Waterford player on either side of you, then they have a great chance.”\nThe former Waterford and Limerick manager doesn’t expect the deferred reopening of Páirc Uí Chaoimh to impact negatively on Kingston’s charges. “It would have been an incentive for the team on Sunday to get the win and ensure their presence at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first Munster hurling final at the new stadium. That’s not there now, but I don’t think it will lessen the team’s motivation. We won Munster finals in Killarney, Limerick and Thurles so the venue shouldn’t be an issue. A final is a final and that should be motivation enough. With regard to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, they have to get the stadium right. There was nothing to be gained from opening it up and it not ready.”", "Alan Cadogan isn’t long playing the ‘nobody gave us a chance’ card when talking about Cork’s win over Tipperary. The difference is that, in Cadogan’s words, “you couldn’t blame them”.\nThe Douglas clubman says beating Tipperary “was a huge confidence booster for us as a group of players, and from the point of view of the Cork public as well. Not many people gave us a chance going into it but you couldn’t blame them either, really.\n“Going in against Tipperary, though, the work was done. It was a great team performance, but once that final whistle went we had to put the game to bed. It was great, we enjoyed the win, but now we’re looking forward to Waterford on Sunday.\n“They’re going to pose a completely different challenge to Tipperary. We know that ourselves, Kieran (Kingston) addressed that very quickly after the Waterford game.\n“We were straight back training the Tuesday night after the Tipp game - some lads went back to their clubs for championship games - but we knew as soon as the Tipp game was put to bed we had to turn our focus to Waterford.”\nMuch of the post-game discussion focused on the youthful Cork debutants. Cadogan describes them as “well able to take care of themselves”. “Looking back on my own experience in making my championship debut, I had older players encouraging me and making me feel welcome, helping me with the training, all of that,” says Cadogan. “The five lads who started against Tipp have fitted in perfectly since they joined the panel, and their play reflected that in the game. They weren’t fazed by anything, who they were marking, anything - all they wanted was to go out and hurl.\n“We’ve been emphasising in training they might not get the same amount of freedom against Waterford the next day, they’ll have completely different tactics and gameplan compared to Tipperary.\n“In fairness to the lads, they’re only 19,20 so in one way taking them under your wing would make you feel fairly old at 24! They’re well able to look after themselves, they bring that freshness to training, but at the same time they’re not afraid to give out either if someone isn’t putting it in at training or if they don’t get the ball they want. They’re maturing as they go, which is great to see.”\nCadogan points out even the newer Cork players have seen plenty of Waterford this year already. “The younger lads have gotten a nice bit of experience in the Munster League and the National League, and it also helped that they experienced championship hurling the last day, some of them for the first time, rather than going in cold against Waterford.\n“They’re an exceptional team, Waterford, and we could all see that they were unlucky not to get to an All-Ireland final last year; they’re probably second favourites at the least to win the All- Ireland.\n“At least our newer players have the experience of facing them twice this year, in the Munster League and the National League, but again - championship is totally different to league hurling. We know the size of the challenge ahead of us next weekend.”\nThe prospect of a Munster final berth against Clare is “a huge incentive”, he says, but adds: “Kieran and the management team have stressed we can only focus on the next game. We can’t take our eyes off the ball, we can only control the controllables, and if we don’t perform against Waterford the next day then nobody will remember the Tipp game.\n“We’re focusing on Waterford totally and on trying to put in another 70-minute performance, as we did against Tipperary. That’s all we can do, and we’re looking forward to the challenge this Sunday.”\nHis manager pointed to the big fish in the qualifiers already, and Cadogan agrees on the need to go through the front door. “If you ask any inter-county team or players they’d all say they want to go through the front door not the back door, obviously it’s the front. You make it to a Munster final and the worst you can expect is an All- Ireland quarter-final. Everyone wants to go through the front door, the qualifiers will get more and more competitive as teams go in there - Kilkenny are there now and Cork or Waterford will join them there next week. Tipperary, Dublin, Limerick.\n“Who wouldn’t want to go through the front door if that’s the alternative?”", "Next week’s hurling league final is far from novel. The pairing of Tipperary and Galway is the most recurring fixture in the past 30 years of finals having been played on seven occasions, nearly a quarter of the total.\nWith two exceptions – in 1989 at Croke Park and 1999 in Ennis – the matches have been played in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds, the venue for next Sunday’s final with a 3.30 throw-in.\nIt is also a renewal of one of the modern game’s most influential rivalries. The stark difference between last year and 2015 for Tipperary was that in the first year they lost to Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final by a point and last August beat them by the same margin before going on to defeat Kilkenny in the final.\nIn fact Tipperary’s last five All-Irelands – all of them going back to 1971 – have featured a win against the Westerners on the way to success in September, including the 2001 final.\nThe counties have equally divided the six finals to date over this period but success has never led to greater things the following September.\nIn 1989 Galway won the league but Tipperary won the All-Ireland, ending the 18-year famine that had afflicted the county – reversing the league final outcome along the way in a controversial All-Ireland semi-final.\nFor more than 50 years Tipperary have been unable to defend their All-Ireland title a year later. As a sign of that difficulty in following up on a Liam MacCarthy, the county has never won the next season’s league title. Over that period of five All-Ireland titles only on one occasion did the county reach the following league final.\nMore businesslike\nThat was in 1992 when they surprisingly lost to Limerick and within a few weeks had been knocked out of the championship by Cork.\nThis year, manager Michael Ryan has alluded to his desire to go about their business like champions but he has also been keen to emphasise that there was nothing special about their attitude to the spring competition.\n“We’ve arrived in a great position today, thankfully,” he said in March after defeating Clare in Thurles for a third successive victory. We approached the league the same way we always do. I hate to tell you lads but that’s exactly how we’ve approached it every year but results didn’t follow us.”\nYet the county has looked undeniably more businesslike in the early months of this season. After Sunday’s big semi-final win over Wexford, Ryan acknowledged their ambitions for the league and he is looked forward to the final against familiar opponents.\nDuring his playing career he hurled in the league finals of 1994, ’96 and 2000, winning the first but losing the other two.\n“We never fail to have but a good game with Galway. It’s super preparation for us – four weeks out from next Sunday to championship but look, for the time we’re in there’s a national title to be played for. We’re delighted to be in that final, we set it out really early in the year that we wanted to have a real go at this league and try and win it. That story hasn’t changed.”", "It was 2013 when people began to realise how much of a young man’s game hurling had become.\nNow it’s just taken for granted that few teams carry a player 30 or over in an outfield position.\nWe assesses 10 of the best new faces to make a name for themselves this spring\nLuke Meade (Newcestown, Cork)\nWe have to recognise Shane Kingston but then he was expected to explode onto the senior scene. Twenty-year-old Meade wasn’t although he did score a hat-trick of goals against Limerick in a January challenge match back in 2015. Meade is the unorthodox, if direct, type of forward that is going to ask questions of defenders long after this competition where he was electric against Waterford and chipped in with points elsewhere.\nDamien Reck (Oylgate-Glenbrien, Wexford)\nThere is pedigree in the teenager and he has already repaid the faith Davy Fitzgerald has put in him. With the Leaving Cert on the horizon, it remains to be seen if he will feature in the upcoming Leinster championship as much as he did in the league but he has looked impressive. Against Tipperary, he made a couple of rash decisions but they can be forgiven as he feels his way into senior inter-county hurling.\nPaddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny)\nWith Michael Fennelly deemed doubtful by Brian Cody for the Leinster semi-final, Deegan may be the man to partner either Cillian Buckley or Conor Fogarty in the centre. Cody likely saw enough of the 21-year-old in his solid displays against Cork, Tipperary and Dublin to know he can do a job for him even if the manager has previously been adverse to throwing young talent in at the deep end.\nSteven O’Brien (Ballina, Tipperary)\nSteven O’Brien of Tipperary has to add some polish to his game but his strength, aerial power, and ability to score stand out. Picture: Inpho/Ryan Byrne\nAfter making a glimpse of an appearance as a substitute in last year’s Division 1 quarter-final defeat to Clare in Ennis, there were concerns that the accomplished young footballer hadn’t made the right decision in choosing to join Michael Ryan’s panel.\nO’Brien has to add polish to his game but his strength and aerial ability stand out and he can score too as proven by the late equalising point against Kilkenny, three points in the win over Clare and a goal in Tullamore.\nAdrian Tuohy (Beagh, Galway)\nNot 24 until next month and having made his senior debut last year, Tuohy is a versatile player but looks so dynamic in the centre. In that way, he’s in the mould of Johnny Coen who has played almost everywhere from right corner-back to midfield. Dislocating an elbow in the first half against Tipperary last August, he was missed but has built on what was a surprise inclusion in the championship teams in 2016.\nStephen Bennett (Ballysaggart, Waterford)\nStephen Bennett: Looks to have put hip injury turmoil behind him.\nNot 22 until October, hip injuries have curtailed Bennett’s progress in recent times but this spring he looked to have put those issues all behind him. His ability to turn from scorer to provider and back again makes him almost a new player for Derek McGrath looking ahead to the summer. He was deadly in Waterford’s vital win over Clare and almost guided them to an unlikely quarter-final victory against Galway.\nGearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s, Limerick)\nA total of 2-16 from play, Hegarty is one man who will take plenty from what was such a mixed bag of a league campaign for Limerick. Turning 23 this year, he made his senior debut in 2015 and started against Tipperary last summer but then was restricted to roles from the bench against Westmeath and Clare. John Kiely will find it difficult not to start him in the Munster semi-final clash with Clare.\nAaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones, Clare)\nOnly 20 this year, Shanagher announced himself last season when his goal helped Clare see off Tipperary on their way to a league title but in starting roles this year he has been a real target man when his team have chosen to go direct. He was a colossal figure against Kilkenny when he scored 1-4.\nGiven more time together, he and Shane O’Donnell can be a real complementary force in the full-forward line.\nDonal Burke (Na Fianna, Dublin)\nIn the stead of club-tied David Treacy, it was Burke who proved to be a reasonably steady hand at the tiller from placed balls with 1-23 of his 2-29 total coming from frees and two points from 65s. When Treacy did return against Clare to resume free-taking duties, Burke fashioned three points from play. The teenager already looks settled in top level hurling.\nJack O’Connor (St Martin’s, Wexford)\nO’Connor is big and athletic enough as it is but at 21 he still has plenty of developing to do, which is only a good thing for Wexford given that he already has a number of consistent displays to his name under Davy Fitzgerald. Another up-and-coming Wexford hurler with strong lineage, O’Connor made his senior debut with another starlet in David Dunne against Dublin in last year’s Leinster quarter-final", "Séamus Callanan suffered a broken thumb against Wexford and has been ruled out of next Sunday’s league final - Tipperary are this week preparing to face Galway in the Allianz National Hurling League final on April 23rd at Páirc na nGael, Limerick (throw-in 3.30pm), but the Premier County will have to do so without the Drom & Inch star.\nCallanan is, obviously, one of the finest players in the country, but Tipperary senior hurling manager Michael Ryan expects his panel to absorb the loss of the 2016 hurler of the year nominee and drive forward. This, after all, is why you build a panel of players in the first place.\n“We have an important match next weekend and he is not going to be available so, yeah, he is frustrated. But I am fully aware that when you play a game you run that risk and we run the same risk every night in training,” Michael Ryan explained before confirming that the Drom & Inch man would be out for three to four weeks, but would be fit in time for the Munster championship quarter-final against Cork on Sunday, May 21st.\n“This is exactly what the panel is for. We have had surgery on the panel - the panel is back down to thirty-five. There really is intense competition in the panel and this is going to create an opportunity - somebody is going to benefit from it. It is unfortunate, but it creates an opportunity - somebody is going to start instead of him,” Michael Ryan said.\n“Séamie is a starter and we can take that as read, but someone is going to get a jersey now that they may or may not have been expecting. This really creates an opportunity for someone,” Michael Ryan told the Tipperary Star before revealing that James Barry should be fine to play against Galway in the league final - the full-back shipped a minor knock against Wexford on Sunday, but has made a prompt recovery. Burgess’ Donagh Maher and Killenaule’s Joe O’Dwyer, however, will not recover from injury in time to be considered for the decider at Páirc na nGael.\nThe Tipperary management team will now have to plan without Séamus Callanan - pictured are selector Conor Stakelum, selector John Madden, manager Michael Ryan and coach Declan Fanning.\nGALWAY\nTipperary have reached the league final as reigning All-Ireland champions for the first time since 1992 and now face the Tribesmen who are seeking their tenth league title (first since 2010). And, Galway, of course, also have a bone to pick with Tipperary - the side managed by Micheál Donoghue has every reason to believe that the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final was their’s for the taking (2-19 to 2-18). Indeed, Michael Ryan holds Galway in high regard and is fully aware that only for Pádraic Maher’s hook, a moment of magic from John O’Dwyer and a key tactical switch, which saw John McGrath moved to full-forward, Tipperary could well have missed out on last September’s All-Ireland title.\n“I really rate them - you just look back over the times that we have met during the last couple of years: we had a one-point loss (championship 2015), a draw in the early rounds of the league last year and a one-point win late on in the championship last year; that’s our most recent three-game history. So, there will be absolutely nothing in this. They are a very fine side and I would rate them as being one of the best in the country,” Michael Ryan explained to the Tipperary Star.\nGalway have lost six All-Ireland finals since their last success (1989), but during the intervening years the Tribesmen have won six under-21 and nine minor All-Ireland titles.\nGalway have been criticised, often unfairly, for their failure to realise their potential, but it could also be the case that Micheál Donoghue’s men have turned a significant corner since the Clarinbridge man was appointed.\nGalway beat the Shannonsiders 1-21 to 1-11 at Páirc na nGael, Limerick on Sunday in their respective league semi-final with Conor Cooney notching the key goal. David Burke, as you would expect, is in terrific form for the Tribesmen while Joe Canning has a real edge to his game the moment. And, when you add players like Aidan Harte and Conor Whelan to the mix you soon realise how formidable Galway are. And, of course, Lukasz Kirszenstein, Tipperary’s 2016 All-Ireland winning strength and conditioning coach, is now working alongside manager Micheál Donoghue to prepare the Galway squad for battle.\nMichael Ryan pictured during the frantic closing minutes of the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final against Galway.\nOUT-WORKED\nSince his appointment as manager of Tipperary Michael Ryan has regularly emphasised his determination to build a hard-working identity for the senior hurling team. And, true to his word the Tipperary players have established a significant reputation for themselves in that regard.\nAgainst Galway in 2016, however, the 2-19 to 2-18 scoreline hid some significant numbers: that day in Croke Park the Tribesmen got the better of Tipperary in the key work rate stats (tackle count, hooks and blocks). And, the prevailing pattern of that contest did not go unnoticed by Michael Ryan.\n“And, they did the very same the year before,” Michael Ryan revealed.\n“So, this is game on. It’s tremendous data and it is undeniable. Last year when we had a one-point win against them they had won the vital areas of performance in the match. We just find Galway to be very worthy adversaries. We find them a difficult team to play and a difficult team to beat. And, they are quite similar to us in that they work really, really hard and they are very mobile and they are good hurlers. So, look, I think this is very much a fifty-fifty contest,” the Upperchurch-Drombane man added.\n“They came at us with a really, really good game plan last year. We were put to the pin of our collar - we really were. And, again, it took a couple of moments of magic to get us through,” Michael Ryan said before revealing that his players were looking forward to the challenge posed by Galway in next Sunday’s league final.\n“This is just a fantastic challenge for us, again. You could not write away for it - to have this calibre of game to come so quickly after a really good game with Wexford. So, we have been spoiled - that’s the way that I would view it. We have come through a really good league this year. We have never played the same team twice and we have, literally, played every one of them,” Michael Ryan explained.\n“Our players simply love the challenge. We will get around to talking about what’s next after this final, but for the week that’s in it our only agenda is to try and take on that challenge against Galway, try to beat them and try to deliver the league title,” Michael Ryan said.\n“The players are very much looking forward to it - we have loads to improve on. Recent history would indicate that it’s two very finely-matched teams and, if anything, given the stats and the kind of raw data that we measure and the work rate that we value so much, these guys have trumped us the last two times that we have met in games of consequence.”\nTipperary travel to Limerick on Sunday next searching for a 20th league title - the Premier County last won the league in 2008 when seeing off Galway in the decider (3-18 to 3-16). Sunday represents the tenth league final between the sides - as matters stand Galway hold a five-four edge.\nFIXTURE\nSunday, April 23rd\nAllianz National Hurling League Final\nTipperary v Galway\nin Páirc na nGael, Limerick @ 3.30pm\nThe final will be preceded by the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 decider between Cork and Kilkenny (1.30pm).", "Limerick officials want the NHL completed by the end of March should the new hurling proposals be given the green light.\nThere was strong support for the recommended changes to the All-Ireland SHC at a meeting of the Limerick management committee on Tuesday evening, although County Board chairman Oliver Mann did highlight their desire for “certain tweaks” to be made.\nCome Sunday evening, the opening three rounds of the Limerick senior hurling, senior football, intermediate hurling and intermediate football championships will have been played off, as well as four rounds of the PIHC, with board members concerned this club activity will be curtailed if the new proposals are passed at Special Congress later this year. Under the blueprint for change, counties will be tied up in provincial action across the concluding three weekends of May and the opening fortnight of June. And with a mid-April finish suggested for the league, the window to run off club championship games is reduced.\n“We will have seven weekends of adult club championship completed by this weekend. We want this to remain the case in the years ahead. So while we are in favour of the new proposals, we believe it is very important that there be a window in the month of April for club matches. That could be achieved by finishing the national league by the end of March,” said Mann.\n“It is very important that we can tell clubs when they are going to be playing championship. We don’t want a situation where there will be uncertainty and a reduced window for club games. For example, when this weekend’s club championship games are complete, players know there will be no more club championship games until the end of July. They can plan around this. We don’t want this changed. We have to look out for our club player.”\nMann welcomed the proposed home and away structure of the provincial competitions. He doesn’t believe the extra games will dilute the Munster championship - replacing the knockout system currently in place would be a round-robin where Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford all play each other.\n“As things stand, there are four games in the Munster championship. This will increase to 11. The extra games will not weaken the Munster championship. They will improve it. The more exposure, the better.\n“That we would get two home matches in the Gaelic Grounds is fantastic. That’s a huge plus. That we would have Cork, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford coming to the Gaelic Grounds in the space of two years is fantastic.”\nMann added: “The hurling championship is crying out for change. I am not saying what is being put forward is perfect, but it is an opportunity for change. We must embrace this opportunity. I am not sure what we have in front of us right now is concrete. There could be small alterations made before any Special Congress.\nThis new system is only being looked at for a three-year trial period and then there would be a review. It would not be forever.”\nClub delegates will be given an opportunity to voice their opinions on the document at a meeting of the Limerick County Board this evening. The proposals will be considered by Central Council this Saturday.", "Cork 2-23\nTipperary 1-13\nJohn O’Shea reports from Páirc Uí Chaoimh\nTHESE ARE VERY good times indeed for Cork hurling and that feel-good factor continued after the events of tonight on Leeside in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling final.\nThe Rebel County won the Munster U21 championship for the first time since 2007, courtesy of a strong display and at times some scintillating score taking.\nThis was a comprehensive victory in the end for Denis Ring’s side. They were slick and efficient in front of the posts and produced a fantastic display overall.\nIt adds to what has been a memorable few days for hurling on Leeside, following the victory of the senior hurlers in their Munster decider a few days previous. Quite a few members of the Cork senior panel were on show here and they duly impressed.\nThe Rebels set their stall out from the outset, with Shane Kingston and Declan Dalton slotting over early scores.\nThe impressive start for Cork was capped off by their opening goal midway through the opening half of play.\nAfter some good work by Tim O’Mahony to put the ball into his path, Robbie O’Flynn finished clinically to the back of the net.\nAlthough Tipp did get early scores of their own through Darragh Woods and Ger Browne, Cork were well and truly in the groove as they went ahead 1-12 to 0-5 at the break.\nTipperary looked to mount some sort of fightback on the re-start and they pointed through Lydon Fairbrother.\nBut Cork put any hopes of a comeback to a shuddering halt, when Jack O’Connor slammed the ball home for the second Rebel goal of the contest.\nTipp senior Jake Morris did get a point in the latter stages, but his side were unable to get him involved often enough, although Shane Neville did grab a late consolation goal for the Premier.\nIt is Cork who march on and based on this showing, they will take some stopping in the All Ireland series this term.\nScorers for Cork: Declan Dalton 0-7 (0-4f), Jack O’Connor 1-2 , Robbie O’Flynn 1-1 , Shane Kingston 0-4, Mark Coleman 0-3, Liam Healy 0-2, Tim O’Mahony, Conor Cahalane, Eoghan Murphy, Aaron Myers 0-1 each.\nScorers for Tipperary: Lyndon Fairbrother 0-5 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’ ), Ger Browne 0-4, Shane Neville 1-0, Jerome Cahill 0-2, Darragh Woods, Jake Morris 0-1 each.\nCork\n1. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)\n2. David Lowney (Clonakilty)\n3. David Griffin (Carrigaline)\n4. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)\n5. Eoghan Murphy (Sarsfields)\n6. Mark Coleman (Blarney)\n7. Billy Hennessy (St Finbarr’s)\n17. Seadnaidh Smyth (Midleton)\n9. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)\n10. Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own)\n11. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills)\n12. Shane Kingston (Douglas)\n13. Liam Healy (Sarsfields)\n14. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum)\n15. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields)\nSubs\n21 Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) for Fitzgibbon (22)\n20. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh) for Smyth (45)\n23. Aaron Myers (Sarsfields) for O’Flynn (55)\n8. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers) for Dalton (56)\n22. Michael O’Halloran (Blackrock) for Healy (56)\nTipperary\n1. Ciarán Barrett (Clonmel Óg)\n2. Podge Campion (Drom & Inch)\n3. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)\n4. Killian O’Dwyer (Killenaule)\n5. Cian Flanagan (Newport)\n6. Paddy Cadell (JK Bracken’s)\n7. Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore)\n8. Ger Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)\n9. Colin English (Fr Sheehy’s, captain)\n10. Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)\n11. Paudie Feehan (Killenaule)\n12. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)\n13. David Gleeson (Ballinahinch)\n14. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)\n19. Darragh Woods (Holycross-Ballycahill)\nSubs\n22. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonagh’s) for Campion (24)\n15. Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Bracken’s) for Gleeson (half-time)\n18. Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonagh’s) for Woods (half-time)\n23. Shane Neville (Lattin-Cullen) for English (44)\n17. Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Kehoe (54)\nReferee: Johnny Murphy(Limerick)\nThe42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!", "Cork 2-23 Tipperary 1-13\nCork swept to their first Munster Under-21 hurling title in 11 years and their 19th in all with a surprisingly comfortable win over Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening.\nThey led by 1-12 to 0-5 at half-time. Goalkeeper Ger Collins saved brilliantly from Darragh Woods’s fourth-minute penalty and the home side took over after that to the delight of the majority of the 6,732 attendance.\nTim O’Mahony set-up Robbie O’Flynn for a well-taken goal after 15 minutes and Cork kept the scoreboard ticking along to be well in control despite losing senior star Darragh Fitzgibbon to illness during the half.\nAny hope of a Tipperary revival disappeared with a couple of minutes of the restart, when Declan Dalton sent Jack O’Connor clear to finish sweetly for Cork’s second goal.\nCork’s other senior players, man-of-the-match Mark Coleman and captain Shane Kingston, contributed handsomely to the success.\nJerome Cahill grabbed a consolation goal for Tipp in injury-time.\nCork: G Collins; S Smyth, D Griffin, N O’Leary; B Hennessy, E Murphy (0-1), D Lowney; M Coleman (0-3, 1 sideline, 1 free), D Fitzgibbon; R O’Flynn (1-1), D Dalton (0-7, S Kingston, captain, (0-4); J O’Connor (1-2), T O’Mahony (0-1), L Healy (0-2). Subs: C Cahalane (0-1) for Fitzgibbon, injured, 22 mins, D Connery for Smyth, 45 mins, A Myers (0-1) for O’Flynn injured 55 mins, C O’Leary for Dalton and M O’Halloran for Healy, both 57 mins.\nTIPPERARY: C Barrett; P Campion, B McGrath, K O’Dwyer; C Flanagan, P Cadell, D Quirke; G Browne (0-4), C English, captain; J Cahill (1-1), P Feehan, M Kehoe; D Gleeson, J Morris (0-1), D Woods (0-2). Subs: C Morgan for Campion 24 mins, C Darcy for Woods and L Fairbrother (0-5, four frees, 1’65) for Gleeson, both half-time, S Neville for English, 44 mins, C Stakelum for Kehoe 53 mins. Referee: J Murphy (Limerick)", "In the backlash to Tipperary’s Munster championship defeat to Cork nobody was spared, not even Seamus Callanan.\nOne particularly lewd rumour doing the rounds in the days after that setback related to Callanan’s personal life and alleged trouble in the Tipperary camp generally.\nCallanan actually scored 0-6 that day despite struggling in the build-up with a hand injury yet still ended up as the butt of quite vicious rumours.\nAs captain Padraic Maher noted last week, championship defeats for Tipperary seem to be scrutinised and commented upon so much more than in any other county.\nCallanan, a two-time All-Ireland winner and a nominee for Player of the Year in each of the last three seasons, has come to appreciate what Maher is talking about.\n“I don’t know why that is, I don’t know what the reason for that is,” said Callanan. “I suppose there is maybe an expectancy that we’ll win every game and when we don’t there is obviously a backlash.\n“We’d set sights for ourselves that we’d win every day we go out but, ultimately, you have to give Cork credit, they are a fabulous team.\n“And Galway in the league final, they are flying this year, so our two defeats were against teams that really performed and there is no shame in that either. There is great expectancy there but we’re doing our best.”\nCathal Barrett’s axing from the panel for a breach of team discipline, a development that was confirmed by the management, seemed to open the floodgates for the various rumours and tall tales that followed on social media and the WhatsApp messaging service.\n“Sure there’s the world of nonsense talk going around but I presume it goes around a lot of other panels too,” said Callanan. “What can we do? We have no control over what people want to say about us. They’re absolutely unfounded rumours but we have no control of that. It’s terrible that these rumours go around but we are kind of powerless towards it.”\nKerry legend DarraghÓ Sé stated yesterday in his Irish Times column that the ‘rise of social media’ is the biggest change in the life of inter-county players, since he retired.\nHe cited the example of the furore in Tipperary over the rumours that were spread online and admitted it must be difficult for players to deal with.\n“This is the age of social media, unfortunately,” said Callanan. “What can you do it about it really? You have to drive on as a group and the only way we can answer people is on the hurling field.\n“Positive or negative talk, you have to distance yourself from it. Because you have to concentrate on your training every night and your routines and your own processes that you go through.\n“Whether it’s good stuff that’s being said about you or bad stuff, neither of it is productive for GAA players to be looking at really. I think you just have to take it for what it is and move on.”\nCallanan said he’s at a loss to explain Tipp’s poor results over the last few weeks, beginning with a heavy league final defeat to Galway.\nHe said there were no warning lights flashing on before either of those games though, with 2010 in mind, perhaps losing to Cork was a good omen. Tipp similarly fell to Cork at the first hurdle back then but recovered to win the All-Ireland.\n“You can’t just refer to 2010 and think it’s going to be the same way, every day is different and we were a different panel in 2010 and every other team is different as well,” said Callanan. “It’s completely different.”\nThe Drom-Inch man will be keeping an eye on the outcome of Saturday’s Central Council meeting which will deal with the proposals for reform of the hurling Championship.\nIf passed, a new round robin structure within the Munster and Leinster championships would come into existence from next year.\n“I’m a fan of the way things are at the moment,” said the big full-forward. “The way the championship is at the moment is the only thing I know and I’m happy with it.”", "By Paul Keane\nTipperary GAA secretary Tim Floyd has claimed that Jason Forde was found ’guilty by association’ earlier this year when he served a one-match suspension for his infamous clash with Davy Fitzgerald.\nForde was initially hit with a proposed two-match ban, and Wexford boss Fitzgerald eight weeks, after their high profile coming together in the Allianz league semi-finals at Nowlan Park.\nFloyd, writing in his report to the upcoming Tipperary annual convention, described Forde’s role in the incident as ’trivial’.\nA Central Hearings Committee agreed with Tipperary and downgraded the suspension to a single game for contributing to a melee.\nTipperary also challenged this charge and claimed that ’Jason Forde could not have contributed to a melee if there was no melee’, alleging the numbers weren’t large enough to constitute a melee.\nAccording to Floyd, the chairman of the CHC defined a melee as ’three or more pushing and shoving’ and concluded that as Forde barged Fitzgerald during the flash-point the infraction was proven.\nIn response to the saga, one of the motions to Tipp’s convention this Sunday will propose that a melee be defined in the rule book as including ’a minimum of 5 players’.\nSilvermines man Forde ultimately sat out the county’s Munster championship defeat to Cork in May and Floyd argues strongly that the punishment didn’t fit the crime.\n\"We decided against going to the Disputes Resolution Authorities (sic) as Jason felt it was becoming too much of a distraction before an important Championship game and so he served his one-match ban on the sidelines against Cork just two weeks later,\" writes Floyd.\n\"It’s very frustrating and disappointing to lose a disciplinary hearing especially when you see similar incidents in every game not being investigated.\n\"I still believe Jason Forde was just guilty by association in an incident that received wide scale publicity because of the high profile of one of the personalities involved.\n\"The definition of a melee as being a minimum of three people involved is still an issue of contention with me and I’m hoping to have it defined in the GAA Official Guide by passing a motion at our Co. Convention to be sent to Congress for consideration.\"\nWexford chief Fitzgerald sparked the incident by entering the pitch to remonstrate with referee Diarmuid Kirwan only to jostle Niall O’Meara before being similarly jostled by Forde. Floyd said that this jostling by Forde was initially labelled an assault, leading to the proposed two-match ban.\n\"We convinced the CHC as they concluded that jostling and pushing was not deemed an assault and so they decided that the infraction as alleged was not proven,\" writes Floyd. \"Unfortunately they decided that the evidence did disclose an infraction less serious, that is to say ’to contribute to a melee’ for which they were imposing a one-match suspension.\"\nMeanwhile, Floyd also expresses concern about attendances at county finals in Tipperary.\n\"My report to convention in 2012 contained a question, ’Where have all the crowds gone?’ This was prompted by poor attendances at our county senior hurling finals for three years in a row which were averaging around 6,500 to 7,000. This downward spiral continued over the past few years, plummeting to a record low of 5,606 in 2015.\"\nThis year’s final between Thurles Sarsfields and Borris-Ileigh drew an improved 8,076 though, as Floyd notes, it’s still well down on the 15,000 that turned out to watch the same sides in the 1952 final.\nFloyd reveals that of that 8,076, just 4,739 actually paid in on the day as 2,009 juveniles were given free access and 1,328 presented ’match passes’ or were stewards or VIP guests.", "Tipperary 1-20 Waterford 1-11\nBy his own admission he's not a fan of hurling under lights, but Tipperary manager Michael Ryan was pleased with his team's comprehensive defeat of Waterford in Saturday's National Hurling League game at Semple Stadium.\nAfter the opening day defeat by Clare, the win kickstarts Tipp's league campaign. But Waterford have some work to do to hang onto their top flight status, as they remain without a point after their opening two games.\nThe clash of last year's beaten finalists in the National League and All-Ireland Championship was a close affair, witnessed by a hardy attendance of 6,363, until Tipp opened up a clear advantage in the second half.\nThey were playing with the assistance of an icy breeze and three points ahead (0-13 to 0-10) when the game exploded to life with two goals in the space of three minutes.\nWaterford struck first when Mark O'Brien drove a low shot to the net, after they had built an impressive move from defence to level the scores for the fifth and final time in the 48th minute.\nTipp's response was emphatic. Three minutes later Jason Forde buried a penalty in the net when he was hauled down by Ian Kenny after he collected John McGrath's pass.\nForde thought he had a second goal two minutes later but he was denied by an acrobatic save by Waterford goalie Stephen O'Keeffe.\nHis team had no need to worry, however, as they closed out the victory in some comfort with a string of points.\nTop scorer Jason Forde, Michael Breen and the McGrath brothers, John and Noel, were their main men in attack, while Sean Curran capped a fine second half display with his second point.\nBrendan Maher hurled consistently at midfield while there were solid defensive displays by captain Padraic Maher; Tomás Hamill, Sean O'Brien and Ronan Maher, who scored four points, including one from a sideline.\nApart from their goal, little was seen of Waterford as an attacking threat in the second half and they had to wait until additional time for their only point, which came from substitute Jamie Barron.\nPatrick Curran, Mikey Kearney, Austin Gleeson were prominent in the first half but the team's second half fadeout will be a concern for manager Derek McGrath - Tipp \"won\" the second half by 1-11 to 1-1.\nInjuries forced Tipp to shuffle their pack inside the opening eleven minutes, with Paul Shanahan replacing Dan McCormack (knee) and James Barry taking over from Joe O'Dwyer (suspected broken thumb).\nIt took them a while to find their rhythm on a freezing cold evening but two points from Sean Curran and Jason Forde in additional time at the end of the first half left them just a point in arrears at the interval (0-10 to 0-9) and well placed for their revival on the turnover.\nTipp scorers - Jason Forde (1-9, 1-0 penalty, 6 frees and 0-1'65), Ronan Maher (0-4, 1 sideline), Sean Curran (0-2), Noel McGrath (0-2, 1 sideline), Brendan Maher, Michael Breen and John McGrath (0-1 free).\nWaterford scorers - Mark O'Brien (1-0), Mikey Kearney (0-3) and Patrick Curran (0-3 frees), Ian Kenny, Austin Gleeson, Brian O'Halloran, DJ Foran and Jamie Barron (0-1 each).\nTipperary- Paul Maher (Moyne Templetuohy), Alan Flynn (Kiladangan), Tomás Hamill (Moyne-Templetuohy), Sean O'Brien (Newport), Joe O'Dwyer (Killenaule), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, captain), Ronan Maher (Thurles), Brendan Maher (Borris-ileigh), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Sean Curran (Mullinahone), Michael Breen (Ballina), Jason Forde (Silvermines) and John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney).\nSubstitutes - Paul Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Dan McCormack (5 minutes), James Barry for Joe O'Dwyer (11 minutes), Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha) for Paul Shanahan (58 minutes) and Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Sean Curran (70 minutes).\nWaterford - Stephen O'Keeffe, Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny, Mark O'Brien, Austin Gleeson, Kieran Bennett, Stephen Roche, Mikey Kearney, Kevin Moran, Colin Dunford, Brian O'Halloran, Stephen Bennett, DJ Foran and Patrick Curran.\nSubstitutes - Peter Hogan for Stephen Roche (19 minutes), Shane McNulty for Austin Gleeson (51 minutes), Jamie Barron for Mark O'Brien (54 minutes), Pauric Mahony for Colin Dunford (58 minutes) and Michael Walsh for Stephen Bennett (60 minutes).\nReferee - Colm Lyons (Cork).", "Cork 2-23 - 1-13 Tipperary\nIn Páirc Uí Chaoimh\nCork totally outclassed Tipperary to end the county’s 11-year wait for a Munster U21 hurling crown.\nThe Rebels fell at this hurdle three times since that 2007 triumph, including last year’s defeat to Limerick, and for the eight players who started the final 12 months ago, there was sweet redemption here.\nTipperary were way below what they produced in the semi-final, but it’s not the end of the road for Liam Cahill’s charges as they still progress to an All-Ireland semi-final against the Leinster champions. Mind you, trying to regroup, such was the nature and manner of this hammering, won’t be easy.\nCork’s Jack O’Connor celebrates scoring a goal at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening. Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.\nIt was game over at the break, the hosts 1-12 to 0-3 in front. Tipperary were in trouble right from the off and found themselves 1-5 to 0-1 behind by the 14th minute. The visitors, following a wild pull by Cork full-back David Griffin, were awarded a third-minute penalty, but there was no green flag waved as Ger Collins was at full stretch to deny Darragh Woods.\nThe sides were level at 0-1 apiece at the time, with Cork hitting an unanswered 1-4 thereafter.\nThe Cork goal arrived on 14 minutes, Tim O’Mahony’s beautiful pass putting through Robbie O’Flynn and he duly obliged in rattling Ciarán Barrett’s net. Darragh Woods replied with his and Tipperary’s second, but they’d manage only one three more points in the remainder of the half. From the 20th minute to Johnny Murphy’s half-time whistle, Cork outscored their opponents by 0-7 to 0-3.\nA Jack O’Connor goal for Cork within three minutes of the restart put to bed any notion of a Tipperary comeback. Tim O’Mahony’s point on 49 minutes meant all starting six forwards were on the scoresheet. Subs Conor Cahalane and Aaron Myers, as well as centre-back Eoghan Murphy, also got in on the act.\nJake Morris scrambled home a late goal for Tipperary. It was nothing more than a consolation.\nScorers for Cork: D Dalton (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 sc); J O’Connor (1-2); S Kingston (0-4); R O’Flynn (1-1); M Coleman (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 sc); L Healy (0-2); T O’Mahony, E Murphy, C Cahalane, A Myers (0-1 each).\nScorers for Tipperary: L Fairbrother (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65); J Cahill (1-1); G Browne (0-4); D Woods (0-2); J Morris (0-1).\nCork: G Collins (Ballinhassig); S Smyth (Midleton), D Griffin (Carrigaline), N O’Leary (Castlelyons); B Hennessy (St Finbarr’s), E Murphy (Sarsfields), D Lowney (Clonakilty); M Coleman (Blarney), D Fitzgibbon (Charleville); R O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), D Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s), S Kingston (Douglas); J O’Connor (Sarsfields), T O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), L Healy (Sarsfields); A Myers (Sarsfields) for O’Flynn (56); C O’Leary (Valley Rovers) for Dalton, M O’Halloran (Blackrock) for Healy (both 57)\nSubs: C Cahalane for Fitzgibbon (22); D Connery (Na Piarsaigh) for Smyth (46)\nTipperary: C Barrett (Clonmel Óg); K O’Dwyer (Killenaule), B McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), P Campion (Drom-Inch); C Flanagan (Newport), P Cadell (JK Brackens), D Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore); G Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), C English (Fr Sheehy’s); J Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs), P Feehan (Killenaule), J Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg); D Gleeson (Ballinahinch), M Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), D Woods (Holycross-Ballycahill).\nSubs: C Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Campion (24); L Fairbrother (JK Brackens) for Gleeson, C Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Woods (both HT); S Neville (Lattin-Cullen) for English (45); C Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Kehoe (54)\nReferee: J Murphy (Limerick).", "Tipperary defeated Wexford in the All Ireland Intermediate ladies football quarter final, 2-15 to 3-11,after a very exciting game which required extra time to separate the sides.\nBoth sides had periods of dominance but crucially Tipperary were never led during the game and in the end they just about survived a spirited late Wexford rally to maintain their superiority over a gallant Wexford team during the course of four games in 2017.\nThis result sees Tipperary advance to play Meath in the All Ireland Semi Final scheduled for August 26th.\nTipperary were first to score through an Aishling Moloney point. Wexford replied through a Bernie Breen point before Roisin Howard restored the Tipperary lead. Wexford levelled with a free after Tipperary goalie Lauren Fitzpatrick was adjudged to deliberate too long with the kick out.\nTipperary had a point from play and another from a free by Aisling McCarthy. Aishling Moloney then had a brace of points, the first a fisted effort from close in, followed by a trade mark long range kick.\nWexford were staying in touch with points of their own and had it not been for a superb save from Tipperary goalie Lauren Fitzpatrick, Wexford might well have hit the front. Tipperary led by 0-6 to 0-4 after fifteen minutes.\nTipperary pushed out the lead through a Gillian O’Brien point and another point from play by Aishling Moloney. The game’s first goal came to Tipperary on twenty eight minutes. From deep in defence a well worked move involving Niamh Lonergan, Jennifer Grant, Roisin Howard and Aishling Moloney was recycled to Aisling McCarthy who blasted to the net.\nShe followed up with a pointed free and as the teams left the field for half time Tipperary had opened up a six point lead, 1-9 to 0-6\nAfter ten minutes of cautious play in the second half both sides had scored a point each, Aisling McCarthy on target from play for Tipperary. Wexford then seized the initiative and after some poor wides were rewarded with a good goal. The Tipperary response was another Aishling Moloney point. Wexford continued to press forward and another drive was parried over the bar to save a certain goal.\nWith the lead again down to two points Aishling Moloney kicked another super point. Wexford were not done yet and two minutes from time they scored the goal to level the game. Both sides held on frantically in the closing minutes to send the game to extra time. Full time Tipperary 1-12 Wexford 2-9.\nThe first period of extra time yielded a Tipperary goal and two points to Wexford being held scoreless. From the throw in Aishling Moloney was fouled en route to goal and while Aisling McCarthy scored the resultant free, the injury to Aishling Moloney would see her leave the game a few minutes later.\nOrla O’Dwyer had point and then Tipperary’s outstanding player Aisling McCarthy made a great run up field before off-loading to Roisin Howard who finished to the net. Tipperary were now ahead by five points at the end of the first period of extra time. (2-14 to 2-9). Tipperary had the opening score of the second half an Orla O’Dwyer point when the goal option was tempting. However just like the second half of normal time Wexford refused to yield and stormed back into the game. They responded with a goal and then followed with a point.\nThe lead was now down to two points. A Wexford free was lobbed into the square and the ball was tipped over the bar to save the day. The final whistle was greeted with much relief and great rejoicing by players and supporters alike as Tipperary held on for a famous victory against their arch rivals of 2017 a very worthy and sporting Wexford team.\nThe display of Aisling McCarthy throughout the eighty minutes from centerfield is worthy of special mention. Her commitment, determination and endurance over eighty minutes must rank as one of the greatest displays ever by a player in a Tipperary jersey.\nApart from her impressive scoring tally for an outfield player both from play and placed balls she set up the crucial second goal which effectively won the game for Tipperary. Well done to all the players, panel and management team and god luck in the Semi Final.\nTipperary - Lauren Fitzpatrick, Laura Morrissey, Maria Curley, Emma Buckley, Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert (C), Laura Dillon, Aisling McCarthy (1-5, 3f), Jennifer Grant, Niamh Lonergan, Mairead Morrissey, Aishling Moloney (0-6), Orla O’Dwyer (0-2), Gillian O’ Brien (0-1) , Roisin Howard (1-1).\nSubs used - Anna Rose Kennedy for Gillian O’Brien (55), Caoimhe Condon for Roisin Howard (55). E/T - Catriona Walsh, Rachael O’Donnell, Roisin Howard, Gillian O’Brien.\nPanel - Patricia Hickey, Siobhan Condon (inj), Sarah Everard, Anna Carey, Elaine Kelly, Alison Lonergan, Aine Fitzgearld, Evrena Everard, Nicola Loughnane.\nManager - Shane Ronayne. Mentors - Alan O’Connor, Elaine Harte, Tony Smith, Physio - Ronan Crosse.", "The GAA yesterday said they will hear the GPA’s concerns after they hung the threat of strike over yesterday’s Bank Holiday Monday games.\nIn a statement on Sunday evening, the official inter-county players’ body said they would back squads unwilling to play yesterday because of a lack of consultation with players regarding the rescheduling.\nThe decision was largely taken out of their hands with all but one of the five football games being called off for a second time due to unplayable pitches.\nThe GAA spokesperson yesterday responded: “The channels of communication remain open with the GPA, and if there are points they want to make during the week they can obviously do so. We encountered freakish weather in recent weeks. We will endeavour to finish out the competitions as soon as possible and the CCCC will be announcing re-fixtures on Tuesday.”\nPart of the GPA statement read: “Notwithstanding the recent inclement weather conditions creating considerable challenges for the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) with regard to rescheduling of games, the GPA consider it wholly unacceptable that no consultation was made with players beforehand.\n“It would appear that little or no consideration was given to players who have contractual obligations to their employers to fulfil. Furthermore, many of our players have personal or family arrangements for tomorrow which must now be changed at short notice.\n“The GPA will be supporting a number of squads who have outlined their commitment not to fulfil their fixtures due to players unavailability. We have this evening contacted the GAA outlining our support for these squads and requesting that the CCCC find an alternative arrangement for these games.”\nThe GPA also pointed out that over 70% of football panels were against the revised fixture schedule introduced this year and called for the GAA to review the decision “in the interest of welfare of our members”.\nIt hasn’t yet been ruled out that depending on results next weekend some Division 2 and 4 final round football games that would be of no consequence could be cancelled.\nMeanwhile, Tipperary secretary Tim Floyd fears the county will face major fixtures chaos later in the year should either or both of their senior teams reach divisional finals next month. The snow flurries over the weekend meant both of the county’s fixtures, the footballers’ Division 2, Round 6 clash against Down in Newry and the hurlers’ Division 1 quarter-final with Dublin in Parnell Park, were postponed.\nIt was hoped that the hurling game would go ahead yesterday but it, along with the Division 4 football games in Aughrim (Wicklow-Limerick) and Ardmore (Waterford-Leitrim), was postponed for a second time.\nHowever, Floyd is concerned progress into either final for Tipperary will mean great difficulty for the county in getting their fixtures schedule completed in time for the Munster competitions later in the year. Both finals are expected to be played on April 7 or 8, a weekend that had already been assigned as a club championship weekend by Tipperary.\n“If we into a league final or an All-Ireland final, it will be a dilemma. Because of the system we have in Tipperary with divisional championships leading into county we probably have double the number of rounds most counties have so we need more Sundays.\n“For that reason, there isn’t too much sympathy for Tipperary. It’s our own problem and we have to face up for it.”\nAs a dual county, Tipperary are fearful of the changes made to the fixtures calendar.\n“It isn’t as if we didn’t warn this could happen but we have just to get on with it now,” said Floyd.\n“The league is going to eat into the month of April. We could be in two league finals.”\nMayo should discover more today about the fitness of Cillian O’Connor and Lee Keegan before Sunday’s crucial Division 1 clash against Donegal in Ballybofey.\nO’Connor’s hamstring problem, which saw him helped off the field, will require further assessment, while Keegan is receiving specialist opinion and will have imaging on his shoulder injury today.\nThe former footballer of the year also had to be removed from the field in the heavy defeat to Tyrone in Castlebar. Mayo need a point to avoid relegation at the expense of Donegal.\nAndy Moran is not expected to face a proposed retrospective ban for shoving his chest into referee Maurice Deegan after the player questioned a decision on Sunday.\nAlthough it has been likened to Diarmuid Connolly’s push on Ciarán Branagan which saw the Dubliner banned for 12 weeks last year, Deegan issued a black card to Moran for what the Laois official is believed to have considered aggressive remonstration whereas no action was taken against Connolly at the time.\nDublin selector Jason Sherlock, though, could face an eight-week sideline ban for shouldering into the back of Galway’s Barry McHugh as he clashed with Ciarán Kilkenny in the counties’ draw in Salthill on Sunday.\n* Kerry’s Mark O’Connor has been upgraded from the rookie list of AFL outfit Geelong Cats as a replacement for Quinton Narkle.\nO’Connor, who captained Kerry to All-Ireland minor glory in 2015, made his AFL debut against Essendon in round eight, before going on to play a further match against the Western Bulldogs in 2017.\nThe junior Gaelic football star joined the Cats as a category B rookie in October 2016.", "Limerick manager John Kiely and Clare co-boss Donal Moloney were agreed that a free-taking competition was an unsatisfying way to decide Monday's Allianz Hurling League quarter-final contest between their sides.\nThe Munster rivals could not be separated despite over 100 minutes of play, which included four halves of extra time, and so it went to the novel tie-breaker to decide who would progress to the final four.\nAfter six successful efforts apiece from the 65m line, Clare's Niall Deasy, having scored his initial attempt, missed in sudden death. Colin Ryan then kept his nerve to book the Treaty men a place in the semi-finals against Tipperary or Dublin.\n\"It's certainly not the way any person involved in hurling wants to see a match finish, taking 65s like that,\" Kiely told TG4.\n\"It's not the way to finish a game but it is what it is and we can't control it. Ideally, you'd like to go out at it again but it's just not to be and that's it.\"\n\"We know we don't have the weekends and we have to push on with the competition,\" he added, while speaking to RTÉ Sport.\n\"It's the best way that we have right now. We had an hour and a half plus to play the game and get a winner and we just didn't find one, so we had to find another way.\"\nLimerick have beaten Clare in the Allianz hurling League, dramatic finish Limerick winning by frees! pic.twitter.com/ixIdZW1cTN — The GAA (@officialgaa) March 19, 2018\nIt had been well signalled in advance that quarter-final winners would be decided on the day but Clare's Moloney suggested that a replay could have been facilitated while the remaining two last eight ties (Dublin v Tipperary and Wexford v Galway) are concluded.\n\"Given the fact that some of the other quarter-finals were postponed, there was every opportunity to play this next weekend,\" he said.\n\"But fair play to Limerick, they had us put away two or three times, we came back. We had them put away two or three times in extra-time, and they came back.\n\"It was incredible hurling and some entertainment. Fair dues to both teams.\"\n\"Both sides really had a cut today\" - John Kiely\nKiely was equally enthusiastic about a tussle that ended 4-21 to 0-33, though he thought his men might have been distracted by the euphoria of securing promotion from Division 1B last weekend.\n\"It was a really good game,\" he said. \"Both sides really had a cut today.\n\"I thought we were a little bit off the boil. Maybe something from the last weekend, it was probably a lot to take on board, especially a young side.\n\"But we kept at it, which was the most important thing. Our attitude was good and we kept working away. We never gave up on it.\n\"It was a great battle between two really good sides that are probably going to have a few more of those battles over the coming years.\"\nColin Ryan with the equalising point, what a sideline! heading for extra time. pic.twitter.com/nI6MuJzhCd — The GAA (@officialgaa) March 19, 2018\nMatch-winner Colin Ryan, who scored two points from play and a crucial sideline after coming off the bench, wasn't overburdened by the tension of the dramatic finale.\n\"There was a bit of pressure there alright but at the end of the day we're doing this all our lives,\" he said.\n\"I'm at this since I was six or seven years of age, it's only stand over a ball and hit it.\n\"The last couple of years we haven't really got that luck so thankfully we got it today and it went over the bar.\"", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nAlmost 44 years since John Meyler first left Wexford for Leeside, he takes a Cork senior hurling team back to his native county tomorrow.\nHaving grown up in Tacumshane, he went to UCC in 1974 and, after a spell in England, eventually settled in Cork in 1982.\nRead Also: GAA reports another bumper year in 2017 with turnover soaring to €65m\nHe immersed himself in sport as a student, not just Gaelic games,and starred in the UCC soccer team’s Collingwood Cup success in 1979, displaying a pedigree which his son, David, a current Ireland international, later tapped into.\nMeyler was fascinated by Cork’s strong sporting mentality, the unshakeable belief in themselves that was alien to him at first, but he drank it in and tried to impart it in Wexford when he was appointed manager in late 2006.\nHe had played at underage and senior level for the county before representing Cork, with whom he won an All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute in 1986.\n(Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)\n“He’s a proud Wexford man and that definitely shone through when he was involved with us,” said former Wexford goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry.\n“He’s the sort of a guy that says it as it is and if you’re not that fond of that, that’s probably your own problem really.”\nIt’s a style of management that Fitzhenry warmed to.\n“I think that would be the way it should be in general for anybody that’s going over a team.\n“Our first introduction to John would have been a weekend training camp in St Helen’s in Wexford.\nRead Also: Dublin hurlers owe Danny Sutcliffe's return to Donald Trump's visa policies\n“You had to be down there on Thursday night, we trained Friday, we trained Saturday and we trained on Sunday and I was talking to John after that and I said, ‘Jaysus John, that was a fairly serious introduction’ and he said to me, ‘After that I know who’s interested in playing hurling for Wexford’.”\nMeyler took charge at a time when Wexford had been in gradual decline as Kilkenny’s greatest ever team reached its peak. They took some terrible beatings from Brian Cody’s rampant side but he still guided them to an All-Ireland semi-final in 2007 with a memorable victory over Tipperary.\n(Image: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry)\nHowever, he was dismissed the following year amid player unrest.\n“I was told that some people didn’t want me, players didn’t want me and that they had lost confidence in me,” Meyler said at the time.\n“Maybe I could have done things better, I accept that. But that’s the way it goes.”\nRead Also: All-Ireland hero Dean Rock says Lee Keegan's GPS toss was ultimate endorsement of free-taking routine\nFitzhenry was outraged and immediately backed Meyler publicly.\n“To this day I think that he was very, very harshly treated.\n“I received a phone call from him to tell me that he was gone. I didn’t believe him, but he said that he had been summoned to a meeting and relieved of his duties as Wexford senior hurling manager.”\nFitzhenry wasn’t privy to any player heave against Meyler.\n“That was never brought up while I was the room or anything like that. I don’t know where it came from really but to be acted upon the way it was acted upon was completely wrong and the man was harshly dealt.”\nAfter that, Meyler had a second stint as Kerry manager before taking over Carlow, who came within two points of knocking Wexford out of the 2013 Championship.\nHaving been involved with Cork teams intermittently over the years, he was under-21 manager and senior selector last year. When Kieran Kingston surprisingly stepped down after last year’s Championship, he was appointed senior manager.\nFitzhenry continued: “I think if he hadn’t ended up where he is now, it would have been a huge waste of talent that he has, for him not to get involved at that level again.\n“Brilliant coach. Great man-manager, his hurling knowledge is second to none and personally I’d like to see him doing very well.”\nHe’ll carry no baggage with him tomorrow, Fitzhenry insists.\n“I honestly don’t think he’ll dwell on what happened during his tenure in Wexford. I don’t think he’s that sort of a guy.\n“I think he will have Cork tuned in for a really tough game in Wexford Park and I’m sure what happened 10 years ago will be far from his mind.”", "Tipperary could be without the corner backs who were on the team that beat Dublin last weekend for Sunday's Allianz National Hurling League game against Waterford in Walsh Park.\nClonoulty/Rossmore's John O'Keeffe and Donagh Maher of Burgess were both injured in the second half of Saturday's 16-points defeat of Dublin in Croke Park, a win that got Tipperary's season off to the perfect start.\n\"Donagh picked up a knock to the head and John O'Keeffe rolled his ankle\", manager Michael Ryan stated after the game.\nHe said that neither injury was too serious but added \"next week is probably going to come too soon for both of them.\nThese guys hate to be injured because that just rules you out, whether it's for a week or two, and it gives someone else the opportunity to get that jersey and do something\".\nFollowing Tipp's easy win over Dublin and Waterford's impressive defeat of Kilkenny in Nowlan Park the following day, Sunday's game at Walsh Park (which starts at 2pm) between the All-Ireland champions and the team they beat in last year's Munster Final is shaping up as a potentially very tasty encounter, even this early in the season.\nWith a team including several fringe players such as standout performer Aidan McCormack, who scored five points from play; Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill goalie Daragh Mooney, Ballina's Steven O'Brien, Jason Forde and Tomás Hamill, Tipp were much too powerful for Dublin. But they are certain to face a much stiffer test in Waterford.\n\"We're going down to play a top-class team, that's what Waterford are, and in their own backyard that will be a real contest\", says Michael Ryan.\n\"We'll be stretched to the nth degree to try and get something out of that game, but they're the challenges the guys love and when we regroup on Tuesday we'll immediately focus on Waterford.\nGod only knows what that will serve up and the weather will play a part.\nTipp and Waterford are two teams that are very well matched, there's nothing between us when we meet, and they're full of quality\", he said.\nWaterford turned in what was possibly the performance of the weekend when beating Kilkenny by 1-15 to 0-17 in Nowlan Park.\nWaterford led from the ninth minute of a close encounter but had to dig deep to withstand a late surge from Kilkenny.\nThey were in front at half time by 1-11 to 0-10 and would have been further ahead had it not been for the great save that Kilkenny goalie Eoin Murphy made to deny Shane Bennett.\nThe only goal was scored by Patrick Curran and Waterford were also indebted to the performances of midfielder Jamie Barron, who scored three points from play; and Pauric Mahony, who scored 10 points from placed balls, including nine frees and one '65.\nManager Derek McGrath was understandably delighted with his side's victory, the county's first in the league in Nowlan Park in 13 years.\nHe praised his players for \"putting their bodies on the line\" to secure the narrow win.\n\"I was delighted to eke it out, in the face of a Kilkenny onslaught. It was very, very rewarding and it will be an important two points before the end of the year\".\nTurning his attentions to Sunday's game, he said \"we are just interested in getting better, and I keep saying it but we are going to stick with our process with player selection.\nEven with Sunday in mind, we are going to give another couple of guys a go and see how they'll go against Tipp.\nI was in Dublin on Saturday and to say Tipperary are on another planet would be an understatement\", he stated.\nSunday's game in Walsh Park will be refereed by Cork official Diarmuid Kirwan.", "Less than a month out from Tipperary’s hurling Championship opener, Jason Forde is looking forward to the 20 May encounter with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.\nThe Tipperary full-forward has played a major role for the Premier County in this year’s League campaign, as Tipp fell at the final hurdle, losing to Kilkenny in the decider.\nAnd while the Nenagh native was named PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April, 12 months ago, Forde was in a very different place.\nThe Silvermines clubman became involved in an altercation with Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald, who had come onto the field of play to protest with the referee.\nForde worked his way into the path of the departing Wexford manager as he left the pitch and what followed was a one-match suspension for the UL student, which ruled him out of the All-Ireland opener.\n\"Looking back, the way it panned out, you obviously wish you didn’t get into that altercation,\" said Forde, speaking in Tuesday’s Examiner.\n\"These things happen. Davy Fitzgerald, in fairness to him, he came out and said there wasn’t much in it.\n\"I think most people would be in agreement that there wasn’t much in it but I suppose the GAA have a job to do as well and they made a decision.\"\nTipperary were beaten by Cork in that opening game of last summer’s campaign, and while Michael Ryan's men fought their way through the qualifiers, before exiting at the semi-final stage, losing to All-Ireland champion Galway by just one point, the Fitzgerald incident proved a defining moment for Forde’s summer.\nThe 2016 All-Ireland winner only started one game in that run to the final four and had to do with a place on the bench in that vital clash with the Tribesmen.\n\"It was kind of hard to take at the time. To be dealing with all that stuff, the possibility of being suspended.\n\"I didn’t know whether it was or it wasn’t and I ended up playing in the league final but then you find out that you do (have to serve a suspension) and you miss the first round of the Championship.\"\nAnd while Forde blames social media for blowing the whole Fitzgerald incident out of proportion, he admitted that he could have avoided the ugly encounter.\n\"I suppose I had a decision as well where I didn’t have to (get involved),\" said Forde. \"I could have turned around and gone away. It’s just unfortunate the way it did turn out.\n\"The whole thing with social media, it kind of steamrolled from there.\"\nBut now, following this year’s League campaign, Forde believes that his side can take plenty of positives going into the summer with no distractions in place ahead of that opening Munster round-robin fixture.\n\"Now versus last year, they are worlds apart,\" said Forde.\n\"Against Galway (in the league final) last year, it was a whitewash. We didn’t show up at all. It can be hard to bounce back from that.\n\"This year, taking the league overall, we have a lot of positives that we’ll be able to take from it.\"", "Kolkata: In a tragic incident, two college students were crushed to death after a bus hit them on Saturday; leading to clashes between locals and police officials.The accident took place at the crossing on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass around 11.45 am.It happened when the bus ignored the traffic signal and ran over the two boys.The accused driver has been arrested.Immediately after the incident, the angry locals pelted stones and torched four buses, lashed out at police officials for not controlling the traffic and instead demanding money from other vehicles.The mob also hurled stones at the police vehicles and set a fire tender on fire.To control the mob, the cops had to report to tear gas and baton-charge the mob to disperse them.\"We have been talking to local people and area domination operation has been carried out,\" the police officer said.", "Victories over Kilkenny at Nowlan Park don’t come about too often and Clare will be well aware of this as they head to the venue for Sunday’s round two league tie.\nThat Kilkenny lost to Cork in Pairc Uí Caoimh on Saturday is sure to result in a greater effort from the Noresiders to get some points on the board.\nBoth counties have players involved in Fitzgibbon Cup action this week, so the line-outs will not be named until after those games. Fears that the Noresiders would be without captain Cillian Buckley have receded. The defender, who was very impressive against Cork, was stretchered from the field in the closing stages but officials are understood to be confident that he will be fit to face Clare.\nIt is also expected that TJ Reid and Liam Blanchfield, who were introduced during the course of Saturday’s game, will be in from the start this week.\nClare were comfortable winners in the corresponding tie 12 months ago, when they were 2-19 to 0-12 victors, while Clare’s last visit to Nowlan Park ended in a one-point defeat. Indeed, the Banner side travelled to the Kilkenny venue twice in a week and lost both games by the minimum margin.\nBoth sides are expected to be along similar lines to what they had on duty last week. Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy excelled for the Noresiders against Cork, while Padraig Walsh was prominent in defence, along with Buckley, until he was forced out of action.\nBrian Cody and his management team must plan without a number of the key players in their many successes over the past decade. Paul Murphy and Colm Fennelly are currently serving overseas with the Defence Forces and are likely to miss the entire league campaign. Ritchie Hogan is out injured, while Michael Fennelly and Jackie Tyrell have retired from inter-county hurling.\nFive of the Clare side that started against Tipperary have Fitzgibbon Cup action this week, along with some of the substitutes. Joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor will be keeping their fingers crossed that they come through their games without injury.\nFollowing the impressive win over Tipperary, the likelihood is that Clare will name a similar team for Sunday’s tie. They will know that while Kilkenny will again be in experimental mode, they cannot be taken lightly. The Noresiders have suffered successive defeats in the past two weeks, losing the Walsh Cup final to Wexford and then going down to Cork last week. They won’t want three defeats in-a-row, so Clare can expect a huge challenge.\nA win on Sunday would go a long way to ensuring Division 1 status for next season, as well as edging Clare closer to the play-offs. A repeat of last Sunday’s form should give The Banner an excellent chance of collecting another brace of points.\nBy sports editor Seamus Hayes", "Tipperary 1-20 Waterford 1-11\nTipperary secured their first win of this season’s Allianz League with an impressive second-half display where they outscored Waterford by 1-11 to 1-1 at Semple Stadium.\nIt was another disappointing display from Waterford as they fell to a second successive defeat, having lost their opening tie at home to Wexford.\nJason Forde led the way with 1-9 as Tipperary bounced back from their opening round loss to Clare.\nTipp blew Waterford away in the second half with Derek McGrath’s men managing just 1-1 against the breeze.\nTipperary trailed by just a point at 0-10 to 0-9 at the break and then pulled away in the second half.\nIt took a superb save from Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe to deny Paudie Feehan just 17 seconds after the restart but Forde tied the sides for the fourth time from the resultant 65.\nWaterford hit back with a quality goal when a good passing movement was finished to the net from a tight angle by Mark O’Brien.\nThat tied the game at 0-13 to 1-10 but Tipperary, aided by a dubious lineball in midfield, were awarded a penalty when Michael Breen was fouled by Ian Kenny.\nForde stepped forward to blast home the penalty and Waterford suffered another blow when Austin Gleeson limped off.\nTipperary pushed on to lead by 1-16 to 1-10 going into the final quarter when Seán Curran, Brendan Maher and Ronan Maher delivered good points.\nThey would have been out of sight had goalkeeper O’Keeffe not produced a wonderful save to deny Forde.\nBut Waterford lacked penetration at the other end to eat into the lead and Tipperary pushed for home and their first win of the campaign.\nRonan Maher landed a superb lineball from the right and Forde tapped over another free as they pulled away for a deserved win.\nTipperary continued to turn the screw and Ronan Maher split the posts with another fine effort from out the field.\nJamie Barron got Waterford’s only point of the second half in stoppage time at the death as they added five wides after the restart.\nBut they now face a difficult task to regroup after two opening round defeats when they take on Kilkenny in two weeks.\nTIPPERARY: P Maher; A Flynn, T Hamill, S O’Brien; J O’Dwyer, Pádraic Maher, P Feehan; R Maher (0-4, 0-1 lineball), B Maher (0-1); D McCormack, N McGrath (0-2, 0-1 lineball), S Curran (0-2); M Breen (0-1), J Forde (1-9, 1-0 pen, seven frees, one ‘65), J McGrath (0-1).\nSubs: P Shanahan for McCormack (4 mins), J Barry for O’Dwyer (10), Patrick Maher for Shanahan (58), C Darcy for Curran (69).\nWATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, I Kenny (0-1); M O’Brien (1-0), A Gleeson (0-1), K Bennett; S Roche, M Kearney (0-3); K Moran, C Dunford, B O’Halloran (0-1); S Bennett, DJ Foran (0-1), P Curran (0-3, three frees).\nSubs: P Hogan for Roche (19 mins), S McNulty for Gleeson (51), J Barron (0-1) for O’Brien (55), P Mahony for Dunford (58), M Walsh for S Bennett (60).\nReferee: C Lyons (Cork).", "Tipperary TD, Michael Lowry has accused the Health Service Executive (HSE) of 'gross negligence' after it emerged this week that no additional ambulance cover is provided in Thurles on big match days, despite the influx of up to 50,000 additional people to the town.\nIt is alleged that one ambulance was on duty in Thurles last Sunday and had taken a patient to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel, when a spectator in Semple Stadium fell very ill. An ambulance was called but such was the delay that the patients father put her into his own car and drove at speed, with the assistance of a Garda escort, to Clonmel. Unfortunately for that patient, the outcome was not a good one at all, and Deputy Lowry was horrified to discover that no additional ambulances were on duty in Thurles for the game, despite the huge numbers attending.\n“This is gross negligence on the part of a statutory authority as far as I am concerned and I am calling on the HSE to rectify this as a matter of urgency. We have another major game in Semple Stadium next weekend and it defies logic to think that the HSE does not think it necessary to improve cover at a time when the population of Thurles increases by five fold.\n“When you get a surge in the crowd, you run the risk of motor traffic accidents for example and if there is only one ambulance on call, you need to have back-up.\nA photo of Semple Stadium taken by Michael McCarthy of Elite Drone Services on Sunday last which captures the extent of the attendance at the Field of Legends.\n“I have asked the National Ambulance Service to remedy this as a matter of urgency because it is extremely unfair to the resident population of Thurles to be left in this precarious position as well,” said Deputy Lowry who added that there is a very modern ambulance base situated very close to Semple Stadium, and yet there is no back-up ambulance provided there.\n“It is absolutely shocking to think that a very distressed patient had to brought to Clonmel in her father's car with a Garda escort in order for her to get the treatment she needed. Can you imagine the distress and the anxiety caused by this to everyone involved. It is just not acceptable that situations like this can be allowed to arise and I am calling on the HSE to sort it right now. We have another big event in Thurles next Sunday and we do not want a repeat of what happened to this unfortunate lady from Clare,” Deputy Lowry said.\nThe HSE ambulance section responded to questioning from The Tipperary Star by stating: \"The National Ambulance Service cannot comment on individual cases. Social events such as a regional GAA final would have an event medical plan developed. This plan would set out the arrangements with voluntary services and other services, to cover the event. This is the responsibility of the event organiser.\"\nThe response does not, however, address the problem of an issue arising outside of Semple Stadium - within the venue the Order of Malta provide more than adequate cover for most minor incidents, but outside of the venue the HSE, ultimately, is responsible.", "No player better personifies the progress of Limerick hurling this season than Cian Lynch. Fitter, faster, stronger, more productive.\nThree years ago, on a similarly balmy sunny day in May, a definitely skinner Lynch attended an U-21 hurling event and spoke about his own ambitions with Limerick, partly based on the tales he was born and raised on.\nIt began with Limerick’s famous Munster hurling semi-final win over Clare in 1996, when Lynch was aged about six months, and being held in the arms of his mother Valerie. Clare were defending All-Ireland champions, red-hot favourites, and poised for victory, until Limerick brilliantly triumphed at the death – thanks to the now legendary fetch, run and winning point from captain Ciarán Carey.\nSo unfolded the slightly less legendary tale of Valerie throwing her infant son into the air, and very nearly missing him on the way down. There was also a perfectly good reason for his mother’s enthusiasm, given Carey is her brother.\nLynch is particularly proud of the Carey connection, not just of Ciarán but Pa Carey too, who also starred with Limerick in the 1990s.\nLynch has grown up a lot since then. Later in 2015, he won an All-Ireland U-21 title with Limerick, and added a second last year.\nNow aged 22, and not nearly as skinny, he’s shifted from the forward line to midfield this year, playing a central role in Limerick’s promotion from division 1B, and also in their opening win over Tipperary in the Munster hurling championship first round.\n“After losing to Tipp in the league semi-final, it was about bouncing back and getting off to good start in the Munster championship,” he says. “Lucky enough, we got over Tipp but there was nothing won, no medals for it, no Munster championship sorted in one game.\n“And you never play a bad Tipp team, and there’s no point saying it’s a bad Tipp team. We knuckled down and came out on top but I know for a fact that they’ll bounce back and they’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the Munster championship and the All-Ireland series. We just backed ourselves and we’ll take every game as it comes, like we’ve been doing all year. Hopefully we can keep going.”\nUnbeaten start\nBeyond bringing that enthusiasm and some extra kgs to his game (he weighed about 76kg when first joining the senior panel, in 2015, and is up to 85kg now), Lynch has extra confidence too, built over the unbeaten start to the season, which only ended with that league semi-final defeat to Tipp.\n“That small piece of belief has maybe been lacking in the last few years. A lot of times we’ve got carried away by wins. We need to move away from that and focus on every week, which is important in the new championship. We’re playing Cork on a Saturday and then Waterford and Clare. There’s no point dwelling on the games that are past. It’s about looking forward at whatever’s coming at you.”\nAlso graduating from the U-21 teams over the last three years are Richie English, Seán Finn, Diarmuid Byrnes, Gearóid Hegarty, Darragh O’Donovan and Tom Morrissey.\n“You’d hope that would be the natural process but it’s not always as straightforward as that. Back in the 2000s, we had good U-21s but never really pushed on to winning at senior level. I know we’d a great win last week but things are very open still. We’re hoping we can keep it up and keep the confidence going.\n“The big aim is to try and win something but it doesn’t happen overnight, either. You’ve to keep that constant flow and constant belief that you are as good as other teams out there. It’s not enough to stand back and admire teams; it’s about looking up and competing and playing to your best.\n“There is a belief there now. If you don’t believe in yourself and your team you’re not going anywhere. We’ve 100 per cent belief in ourselves and the management team. That’s what it’s about – enjoying your hurling too.", "One of my reservations about Waterford was the reliance on veterans Brick Walsh and Kevin Moran for scores. By half-time they had another 1-3 between them! But again, when they really needed them Walsh was outstanding, using all his experience to get a goal after four minutes and generally create mayhem for Mark Coleman, who after a great season to date just didn’t have the strength or know-how to deal with him.\nMoran totally reversed the outcome of the Munster semi-final when Bill Cooper at one stage knocked him back but the shoe was totally on the other foot here. He lorded it at midfield along with Jamie Barron who typified the contrast in energy between the teams on a day when all day the key battles were won by Waterford.\nThe early goal settled them whereas Cork always looked unsettled, both young and old. Luke Meade couldn’t get into it any more than Coleman. Shane Kingston was the only one of the younger brigade to get close to his form. As a whole, the team’s touch was unsure from the start.\nWaterford also dealt with the Tadhg de Búrca situation very well. Darragh Fives slotted in and played the role superbly, even getting a score. That was one of the differences; not only did they do their defensive work but when Fives and Conor Gleeson got the chance they took scores nicely and calmly.\nPhilip Mahony was another to play effectively all day, managing to slip a couple of hand passes out the side door.\nCork looked leggy and were under pressure from the word go and had conceded a goal by the fourth minute. Shane Bennett beat Mark Ellis and Damien Cahalane to the ball and when he played it over Brick Walsh was on his own and Coleman nowhere to be seen. The cracks were there already.\nWaterford always looked more comfortable in the Croke Park setting of an All-Ireland semi-final. But for Waterford’s nine wides in the first half, Cork might have been in trouble a lot earlier.\nAfter Damien Cahalane was sent off – and he couldn’t really have any complaints about it – Cork seemed to react with some urgency. Darragh Fitzgibbon came into it at midfield for a while but even here on one run up the Cusack side, it was Shane Bennett who tracked back and dispossessed him and gave a good ball afterwards.\nFitzgibbon was uncatchable in the Munster championship. The energy was all on one side.\nWhen the goals came in the second half there was no way back for Cork. It was bang, bang – you’re dead.\nGreat praise\nI would wonder though for the second goal why Christopher Joyce didn’t take the simple option of going back to Anthony Nash with the ball and not leaving himself open to a great bit of dispossession by Austin Gleeson, who had been quiet in the first half but came into it with a vengeance and led the Cork defence a merry dance for the third goal – a good finish – with Brick Walsh riding shotgun for him on the outside.\nThere was no way back for Cork after that. Five points behind and a man down, they never looked like scoring a goal apart from a snap chance for Lehane at the end which Stephen O’Keeffe saved well.\nTheir only strategy seemed to be to drive the ball cluelessly in on top of Fives who mopped it up all day.\nDerek McGrath deserves great praise for his role in this achievement. He was doubted after their league exit in Salthill against Galway but compared to last year when they had a league final and replay they have looked an awful lot fresher in the past few weeks.\nThe suggestion that he was planning a different approach for this year with a view to peaking later in the season was treated with scepticism. You have to give him huge credit for that. He recalibrated their year after the lessons of the past two years and he’s now in an All-Ireland final.\nAll the issues from the Munster semi-final were resolved: Conor Gleeson on Conor Lehane and Noel Connors switched onto Alan Cadogan. The form of Lehane has really reflected the form of Cork all season. Gleeson worried him to the extent that Lehane became jumpy and started shooting from the sideline.\nHe also obviously managed the de Búrca situation very effectively. The changes minimised the loss and the team performance didn’t suffer in the absence of such an important player.\nUnfortunately for McGrath he may have to reuse those strategies as the lead-up to the final is likely to feature more suspension controversies.\nOn the positive side they’re going in against Galway rather than Tipperary or Kilkenny and won’t have the same apprehensions. They’ve never lost to Galway in the championship.\nIt’s been a fantastic year for hurling. We’ve seen the re-emergence of Cork and Wexford and brilliant games like Waterford-Kilkenny, ending in a historic victory. Galway have come through and we’re set fair for a great three weeks for hurling. It’ll be no easier to call than the semi-finals and Waterford are an improving force.\nI questioned their scoring capacity and they popped up and scored 4-19 and also hit plenty of wides so they showed they were well capable of competing at the very top of what has been a high-scoring championship.", "A London woman who was adopted in 1945 needs helping finding descendants of her Tipperary family.\nCarole Sparrow was born in Paddington, London, in 1944 to Tipperary’s Mary O'Donoghue.\nCarole visited St. Mary's Church, Clogheen, in June and discovered that her birth mother was born on 16th September 1920.\nMary later moved to London and married a Canadian soldier in 1943. Mary’s parents were Bridget (née Hynes) and John O'Donoghue.\nWith the help of Clogheen parish priest Fr. Patrick J. Butler, Carole unravelled that her Tipperary grandparents, Bridget and John, got married on 24th April 1918.\nJohn was the son of Timothy and Catherine O'Donoghue, whose last known address was 2 Cullenagh South, Burncourt, County Tipperary.\nCarole has longed to find her birth mother for many years, but put it off because she feared hurting her adoptive family.\n“I had a great childhood with a loving family,” Carol tells The Nationalist.\n“But once they had passed away I decided that it was time to look for my birth mother, not just for my self worth but for my daughters and grandchildren.\n“I found my original birth certificate with my mother's name being Mary Rosen, formerly O'Donoghue. I then found out that she married Canadian serviceman Alfred Norman Rosen on 19th June 1943. There was no father's name on my birth certificate, so it is most likely that he was not my father,” Carole continues.\nOn her recent trip to Ireland, Carole spent two hours at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin searching for information about her Tipperary roots.\n“My great grandparents, Timothy and Catherine O'Donoghue, had four children on the 1901 census - John, William, James and Alice. Their address was 6 Cullenagh South, Burncourt, County Tipperary.\n“Then on the 1911 census they had another son called Thomas and their address was 2 Cullenagh South, Burncourt, County Tipperary. It also said that they were farmers.\n“John was a soldier when my grandparents married on 24th April 1918. My mother Mary was later born on 16th September 1920.\n“I do not know if my mother had brothers or sisters and I do not know if I have any brothers or sisters. I am not sure why my mother moved to London and I’m not even sure when she moved to London,” Carole adds.\nContact Carole by email casparrow@outlook.com if you can help.", "Derek McGrath had a number five inked on his hand for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final, the number of the suspended Tadhg de Búrca. The Irish Examiner picks out five aspects of McGrath’s character that make him stand out as a modern manager\n1. Who knew that the scribe who wrote in the Bible about prophets not being recognised in their own land knew about hurling?\nDerek McGrath has taken some shellfire in the last couple of years about the famous sweeper system, with some of the more prominent gunners stationed in his own county.\nNow that Waterford are in the All-Ireland final — only their second appearance since 1963, remember — McGrath would be forgiven for adopting an ‘I told you so’ stance, with smugness optional. Not the De La Salle man, however.\nAfter Waterford beat Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter-final, he was at pains not to criticise TV pundits with more All-Ireland medals than him and remained focused on the next game.\n2. Galway’s Joe Canning sat down for a long, terrific interview with Vincent Hogan which appeared the very weekend the Tribesmen pipped Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. Such is the level of paranoia now among many inter county managers with the media, there was widespread surprise at such a high-profile player’s openness, and shock he overcame his own honesty to hit one of the greatest match-winning scores of all time.\nEarlier this year this writer approached some inter-county managers about participating in a documentary about GAA technology, GAA Nua.\nDerek McGrath was the most open and accommodating, working on a very simple logical basis - that the technology and systems being used by Waterford were being used by everybody else, so what was there to hide?\nLo and behold, Waterford are now in an All-Ireland hurling final. They were unharmed by their candour and co-operation, making nonsense of some of the ‘concerns’ expressed about being on television. A lesson there? You’d hope so.\n3. Austin Gleeson’s talent is not in doubt. Neither is his youth. Collecting both Young Hurler and Hurler of the Year awards before graduating from the U21 ranks was simultaneously a huge achievement and a massive burden for the following season.\nAustin Gleeson salutes the fans after scoring Waterford’s third goal in yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Picture: Ryan Byrne\nMcGrath’s management of Gleeson this year has been terrific, sparing him some of the drudgery — and spotlight — of the early rounds of the national league. Gleeson’s form has been on a rising graph, easing him to a level of performance we saw last Sunday. Any manager will tell you this kind of player wrangling is harder than it appears.\n4. Any man who’ll quote Harper Lee is alright in this corner of the newspaper. McGrath’s day job as an English teacher has speckled many of his interviews with names that go far beyond the usual frame of references.\nOn the other hand, after one game earlier this year he referred to reading a newspaper article and spending a lot of time looking for the point the writer was trying to make. There were a lot of journalists studying their footwear at that stage of the discussion.\n5. For many years now Waterford have been many hurling supporters’ ‘second’ team, a side to be followed when their own goes out of the championship.\nCork’s Patrick Horgan and Shane Fives of Waterford. Pic:©INPHO/James Crombie\nPart of that has been a long-standing commitment to and involvement in local causes, whether it’s university status for WIT or the need for cardiac care services in the southeast.\nMcGrath has maintained that commitment and involvement - take the ‘hand on heart’ campaign which came to the fore during this year’s national league — and has kept his players not just rooted in their community, but helping that community with serious issues from the field of play.\nListen to the Irish Examiner Paper Talk podcast here:\nOr to get the latest episode automatically, you can SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES", "THERE WAS A feast of quality score-taking on display in the Bord Gáis Munster and Leinster U21 hurling finals on Wednesday evening.\nCork scored an emphatic win against Tipperary in the Munster clash to claim their first U21 title since 2007 while Galway edged out Wexford after an extra-time thriller thanks to a late goal from Seán Bleahene.\nThe sides played out a high-scoring contest in Portlaoise and the result sees Galway pick up their first Leinster U21 crown since joining the competition.\nBoth ties produced some superb scores.\nCork 2-23 Tipperary 1-13\nJack O'Connor finishes to the net for @OfficialCorkGAA pic.twitter.com/dsxQqOA6G3 — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nJack O’Connor (Cork)\nIt was a routine win for Cork in the end, which included this excellent goal from Jack O’Connor shortly after the hour mark.\nWith the scoreline reading 1-12 0-6 in Cork’s favour, the ball was delivered into the Cork attack which O’Connor gathered.\nAfter rounding a defender he steadied himself before riffling his shot into the Tipperary net.\nRobbie O’Flynn (Cork)\nRobbie O'Flynn scores a sensational point for @OfficialCorkGAA from the wing pic.twitter.com/sc3WJVH5DV — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nRobbie O’Flynn finished the final with a tally of 1-1 for Cork and his point in the second half was a brilliant individual effort.\nThe Erin’s Own clubman jumped up to catch a long ball in and quickly turned to sprint away from his marker along the wing and strike a long-range effort straight between the posts.\nMark Coleman (Cork)\nSublime stickwork from Mark Coleman for this sideline for @OfficialCorkGAA pic.twitter.com/h2aGvV0Cg6 — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nThe Blarney man produced a man-of-the-match display, which featured another one of his trademark sideline points.\nJake Morris (Tipperary)\nJake Morris with a magnificent score for @TipperaryGAA pic.twitter.com/b8OKQ1A8KS — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nIt was a difficult night for the Premier County, but this fine point from Jake Morris was a positive feature of their performance.\nSome good tackling among the Tipperary forwards saw the ball reach the hands of the Nenagh Éire Óg forward who produced a quick turn to lose his marker before landing a great effort over the bar.\nGalway 4-21 Wexford 2-26\nThomas Monaghan with unbelievable skill, run & finish in this goal for @Galway_GAA pic.twitter.com/2aRhkzT4uA — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nThomas Monaghan (Galway)\nThere was drama aplenty between Galway and Wexford in the Leinster final, with the Tribesmen doing just enough to come out on top.\nThey hit four goals in all, the first of which was scored by Thomas Monaghan.\nThe midfielder collected a pass inside the Wexford half and launched into a solo-run with Wexford midfielder Rowan White staying close behind him.\nWhite’s teammate Garry Moloy tried to hold Monaghan up but the Craughwell flicked the ball in front of him before gathering possession again and driving it low into the net.\nEvan Niland (Galway)\nEvan Niland with a sublime goal off the hurley on the run for @Galway_GAA pic.twitter.com/YwacGe9q83 — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nSimilarly, Evan Niland’s contribution to Galway’s goal count was a superb effort.\nGalway worked the ball well up the field and the move resulted in Niland picking up possession before racing through the Wexford cover.\nDefenders were swarming around him but he used some brilliant stickwork to get the shot off and rattle the Wexford net.\nSublime stickwork from Ian Carthy scoring this last gasp goal for @OfficialWexGAA pic.twitter.com/rI3rTO1Ezw — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nIan Carthy (Wexford)\nIt was an intense affair in O’Moore Park and Ian Carthy’s goal in the sixth minute of stoppage-time ensured that the game would go to extra-time.\nIn a last-gasp attempt to find a goal, Wexford went on the attack and the ball came out to Carthy following a scramble.\nAfter controlling the ball on his stick, he smashed his shot home from close range to send Wexford fans into raptures.\nSean Bleahene (Galway)\nSean Bleahene scores a dramatic late goal to seal victory for @Galway_GAA pic.twitter.com/C84JFVBH81 — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018\nSadly for the Wexford contingent, Galway would go on to win the final on account of this goal from Bleahene.\nWith the scoreboard reading Galway 3-21 Wexford 2-26 in the last few moments of extra-time, Galway dropped a long ball into the danger area.\nIt spilled out to Bleahene who rattled his shot past Wexford keeper Jack Cushe.\nThe42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!", "A man managed to escape the first eruptive fury of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., only to be crushed beneath a block of stone hurled by an explosive volcanic cloud, new excavations at the site suggest.\nArcheologists working at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy, found the man’s remains almost 2,000 years after he died.\nStunning pictures from the scene show a skeleton pinned beneath the stone. The impact crushed the top of the man’s body. His head might still be buried beneath the block of stone.\nLesions on the skeleton’s tibia are signs of a bone infection that probably hampered the man’s escape attempt, archeologists said.\nNonetheless, the man, who was at least 30 years old, survived the first phase of the eruption and fled along an alley, probably limping because of his infection.\nStone might have been doorjamb\nBut there he was hit by the massive stone block — perhaps a doorjamb — possibly hurled at him by the force of the pyroclastic flow. That’s the blazing-hot mixture of gas, lava fragments and other debris belched out by a volcano.\n“This discovery has shown the leaps in the archeological field. The team on site are not just archeologists but experts in many fields; engineers, restorers and (have) the technical tools like drones and 3D scanners.\n“Now we have the possibility to rebuild the space as it once was,” Massimo Osanna, general director of the Archeological Park of Pompeii, told CNN.\n“This is the first time an excavation happens with all of these tools. In the 1800s and 1900s they dug in the area where we found the skeleton, but they did not go as deep as we did. Because of the experts we had, we knew how to do it.”", "Austin Gleeson ruling will be cruicial\nThe outcome of the All-Ireland hurling final won’t be decided this week but the CCCC ruling on Austin Gleeson will play a crucial bearing either way. If the Mount Sion man doesn’t get to play, it would not only be an incalculable personal and family disappointment, it will rob Waterford of a talismanic figure.\nWaterford had several splendid performers in Sunday’s hard-headed win over Cork but consider the luminosity of Gleeson’s achievement in just one five minute spell. The game had been level on eight occasions when the sending-off of Cork’s Damien Cahalane gave Waterford numerical advantage. Gleeson got the next score for Waterford, a long-range point in the 53rd minute. Four minutes later, Cork were still well in the hunt with a 0-18 to 1-13 lead when Gleeson chased down Cork’s Christopher Joyce, who was seeking to clear the ball.\nJoyce turned and looked to outpace Gleeson but had the ball robbed with a neat flick and by the time he recovered, Gleeson had the ball in his hand and was already beginning his flat, squared pass across the Cork goal to where Jamie Barron was waiting. Goal.\nThen, in the 59th minute, Gleeson actually dropped an elementary hand-pass and wrong-footed two Cork defenders with the speed of his recovery. By then, he was on his way to scoring the famous weaving goal which secured Waterford’s passage to a first All-Ireland final since 2008.\nAll of that in five minutes: 2-1 created out of nothing particularly special. The replays of the incident in which Gleeson appears to pull Luke Meade’s helmet off his head will be scrutinised by all interested parties in the coming days. Maybe it can be successfully argued that the Waterford player was looking at the ball rather than his opponent during his seconds and maybe the fact that ball had gone dead can be entered as a mitigating factor.\nAustin Gleeson challenges Luke Meade during Waterford’s semi-final win over Cork. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho\nBut the next few days will be nerve-wracking for Gleeson and Waterford. Trying to win an All-Ireland final is difficult enough with the reigning Hurler of the Year in your ranks. Trying to achieve that with him as a reluctant spectator is an entirely different level of difficulty.\nIf the bookmakers’ judgment is to be trusted, Waterford hopes could soar: they are offering odds of 1 / 2 of Gleeson being available for the final and 6/4 of him missing out through suspension.\nWaterford and Fives show the system works\nThe ‘system’ works. Waterford made light of the absence of Tadhg De Búrca, unavailable for Sunday’s semi-final after receiving a straight red card for pulling at Harry Kehoe’s face guard.\nDerek McGrath’s improvisation of an extra-defender, playing a covering or sweeping role, has had its share of criticism. But even without de Búrca, whose understanding of the sweeper’s role has been central to Waterford’s resurgence under McGrath, the team purred on Sunday.\nMcGrath said before the match that de Búrca’s absence would be critical and had his number five printed on his hand for Sunday’s match. And Waterford didn’t blink and Darragh Fives was so accomplished in the loose defensive role on Sunday that he has almost left McGrath with a dilemma.\nDarragh Fives filled Tadhg De Búrca’s sweeper role with aplomb as Waterford beat Cork. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho\nIt was clear that Waterford’s players know and trust the system and feel comfortable in it and their final score of 4-19 was the ultimate retort to the complaint that their defensive caution makes them a blunted attacking force.\nHurling keeps on reimagining itself\nAt the beginning of this year’s championship, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Galway and Clare were the chief subjects of debate in likely All-Ireland winners.\nThen Davy Fitzgerald and Wexford hijacked the competition through a combination of colour and talent. Then Kieran Kingston’s young Cork team were suddenly aflame and hurling with a confidence and self-expressiveness which delighted not just the Rebel county but custodians of hurling everywhere.\nKilkenny fell in July- a story in itself. Galway and Tipp played out the latest instalment of a rivalry that has all of the quality of the 1980s version but none of the rancour. And now the old game is left with Waterford or Galway for the big honour.\nApart from the fall of the house of Offaly, it has all been good news and future summers seem rich with possibility." ]

[ "Hasid" ]

[ "Love & Other Drugs", "Other Love Songs", "What Time Is Love?", "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits", "Sniper and Other Love Songs", "What If We Fall in Love?", "The Others", "Others", "express", "The Express", "other relatives", "others and themselves", "Do It for the Others", "The Other Conquest", "other galaxies", "controlling the expression of one or more other genes", "What's Up?", "other places", "other investors", "What a Friend", "Other Arms", "The Other Woman", "What's Happening!!", "other spiders", "What's in It for Me", "the other satraps", "What If Nothing", "things are what they are", "Midnight Express", "What a Life!", "What A Night", "What If It's You" ]

[ "This is my first squirrel call. It doesn't do the bark, squeal that real squirrels do. I've sat on my porch and used it while watching the squirrels in my yard,,, they stop for a second, then go about their squirrely business. I think my expectations may have been a bit high." ]

[ "I love this book because It helps me to get better, to get hope, and to know Kiko Argello and what is neocathecumenal way.", "They say that all good things must end. What a delight this series is! I do hope the next one comes quickly!", "What a wonderful story. So much sorrow and yet so full of love and hope. Toward the end I was in tears. This is a must read.", "Cheering for Sincere and for Dana too. This was a great read and I'm hoping for a sequel so I can find out what happened next for everybody.", "Hope and Ben have so much chemistry and I love their story from childhood to adulthood. The banter between Hope and her brothers Gunnar and Axel was hilarious (those boys are ornery, especially when they take out the singles ad on Hope). It will be interesting to see Gunnar and Axel get knocked over the head by love! We get to know some of the other characters in Prairie a little more, which is always delightful. The marriage proposal between Ben and Hope and what happens after was so different, sweet and sexy. I really enjoyed this story.", "There are a few big medical words but looking them up makes you smarter and understand better. I loved this book and Dr Alexander's discription of the Creator/God is exactly what I deep down had been hoping for. It's like you instinctively know what the Dr is saying is true, we just have forgot where we came from. I always thought /hoped God loves ALL of us, no matter what . I also loved the Dr's sense of humor .Thank you Dr Alexander for sharing you miraculous story.", "GREAT book! Patricia Cornwell is tops when it comes to medical-murder mysteries! I hope Kay Scarpetta never dies... I won't know WHAT to read!", "Great replacement does what I need it to do so far all is well hope\nit works for a long time, they are a pain to change.. Do buy", "Even better than the 1st Season! I don't know what they've been feeding the writers, but I hope they continue to feed them well.", "I read Black Beauty simultaneously with my daughter. What an amazing story! A true classic indeed. I hope you enjoy it as much we did.", "Be careful it's hard to put this on down. You want to know what's happening next. I'm currently reading the fourth in the series and I hope there are more to come." ]

[ "What are the strongest military armies in the world?" ]

[ "What are the top 10 richest countries in the world?", "What are the Top ten strongest dragon ball z characters?", "Who are the top 10 novelists in the world?", "Which is the powerful country in the world?", "Who is the most powerful person of the world?", "Who's the most powerful leader in the world?", "What things do we need to get into the top 10 universities of the world?", "What are applications of military power supply?", "Who actually is the most powerful person or what is most powerful organisation of the world?", "What is military?", "What are the top 10 board games?", "What is the best super power?", "What are your Top 10 bollywood songs?", "What are your top 10 favorite reads?", "What are the Axis powers?", "Which is the most powerful country in Asia and why?", "What are the top 10 inspirational movies?", "Who is the most powerful man on earth?", "What are the top 10 books for Christian apologetics?", "Is Indian military getting stronger?", "What are the top 10 website that I should visit?", "Who are the top 10 business astrologers in India?", "What are the best strengths of Indian Army?", "How can India become a military superpower?", "What are your top 10 favorite bands?", "What is the most powerful dog?", "What are your top 10 favorite Disney movies?", "What is \" Driver Power State Failure\" in Windows 10?", "How is Russia a superpower?", "What are the top 10 products people buy with Bitcoin?", "What are the top 10 addictive websites for you?", "What are the top 10 MBA colleges in Bangalore?" ]

[ "Tuesday, 12 December, 2017 - 09:50\nThe owners of mobile water purification business, Safe H2O, are encouraging local councils to put emergency water filtration systems in place before another water safety disaster puts thousands of Kiwis at risk.\nSafe H2O uses micro and nano filtration technology, created by Forsi Innovations in Matamata to clean and purify water supplies, removing pathogens and contaminants such as e-coli, norovirus, giardia, and protozoa cysts. Believed to be a world first, each fully mobile unit is capable of producing several thousand litres of water per hour. They are able to take water from any source and transform it into pure, safe water. They can even use reverse osmosis to turn salt water into drinking water.\nSafe H2O’s nano filtration services are popular with owners of water tanks. However, the owners believe there is huge potential to assist in times of civil emergency. A unit was deployed to support Kaikoura quake victims in November 2016 and Safe H2O would like to see more regions having the units on standby.\nContamination of town water supplies or in the case of emergency where water has been either completely cut off or contaminated is a major concern and a complex challenge. The ability to respond quickly to restore at least a minimum water supply is key. Mobile units can be put in place while longer term solutions are worked through.\n\"Getting emergency water supplies to the people and stock on the ground is crucial - that first response needs to be quicker,\" says Chad co-director. \"After the quakes in Christchurch and Kaikoura, access to water was a challenge as the supply itself had been damaged. In Christchurch, clean water had to be brought in from Auckland. A lot of cost, time and worry could have been avoided simply by having access to water filtration units in the city.\"\nChad hopes that the spotlight on water safety across New Zealand will encourage councils to take the new water filtration technology and its potential to assist in times of emergency much more seriously.\nFor more information on Safe H2O, visit safeh2o.co.nz." ]

[ "A major renewable energy plant and water filtration system set to dramatically improve power and water supplies at the Pilbara’s Mingullatharndo Aboriginal community have been opened.\nThe community’s advanced new facilities — a membrane technology water treatment plant and solar diesel hybrid power system with battery storage — were opened by Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price at a commissioning event at Mingullatharndo yesterday morning,\nIn what could be a pilot project for other Aboriginal communities in WA, the new systems will provide the entirety of Mingullatharndo’s potable water supply and 80 per cent of its power, stopping residents from having to go out of their way to avoid contaminated water and deal with unreliable and expensive electricity.\nFor more information, pick up next week’s copy of The Pilbara News.", "Islamabad-Residents are facing severe problems due to acute shortage of water in the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) supply system for the last many weeks.\nCDA water tanker supply is also pathetic as residents are compelled to buy private tanker to meet their requirement. A resident of Sector G-10, Kashif Ahmed said, “I have been residing in this sector for last many years but this time we have experienced acute water shortage and receive water supply after about 48 hours.” He was of the view, “Water is considered as the basic amenity of life but I think the civic body is not aware of this fact.”\n“Another resident Sana Khan of Sector G-8 said, “Water through CDA’s supply pipelines was not coming properly on time, even sometimes it comes at the evening for a short period of time and the flow of water was not up to the mark too.”\nThe residents of federal capital said they are availing water through private water tankers on heavy payments.\nThey urged the authorities concerned to improve the water supply system in different sectors including I-9, I-10, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, and G-11.\nWhen contacted CDA Director of Water Management said the main reason of acute water shortage supply this year is due to less rainfall during current season. “We were focusing on the maintenance work of water leakage from pipelines and repairing defective walls,” he said.\nHe said CDA has 33 water tankers out of which 20 were functional.\nOn the other side water theft is on the rise in the capital city but the authorities seem little interested in providing relief to the residents even at the peak of the summer season.\nOn June 5, CDA had announced to start an operation against illegal water connections installed on main conduction lines starting from Simly filtration plant but not a single illegal connection has so far been disconnected. According to the sources in the authority, the especially-constituted disconnection squad has not yet conducted a single operation.", "The Hammond Common Council approved a $7.5 million bond Monday for improvements at the city’s water filtration plant.\nThe bond will fund around $5 million in upgrades at the main filtration plant, said Ed Krusa, CEO of Hammond Water Works, and also fund engineering work and repairs and repainting at two water towers. Krusa said improvements are needed at the plant, including a new generator and replacing outdated parts that can no longer be replaced.\n“That’s why we’re upgrading and modernizing,” Krusa said.\nCity officials were unable to provide a copy of the resolution Tuesday.\nResident George Stoya asked if the bond would increase water rates.\n“This bond will not have an increase to your water bill,” said Councilman Mark Kalwinski, D-1st District.\nclyons@post-trib.com\nTwitter @craigalyons", "Description :\nWater Filtration Systems-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Water Filtration Systems industry, standing on the readers’ perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:\nWorldwide and Regional Market Size of Water Filtration Systems 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023\nMain manufacturers/suppliers of Water Filtration Systems worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Water Filtration Systems market\nMarket status and development trend of Water Filtration Systems by types and applications\nCost and profit status of Water Filtration Systems, and marketing status\nMarket growth drivers and challenges\nRequest For sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3023348-water-filtration-systems-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023\nThe report segments the global Water Filtration Systems market as:\nGlobal Water Filtration Systems Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):\nNorth America\nEurope\nChina\nJapan\nRest APAC\nLatin America\nGlobal Water Filtration Systems Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):\nWhole-House Water Filtration Systems\nPoint-of-Use Water Filtration Systems\nGlobal Water Filtration Systems Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)\nIndustrial\nMunicipal\nHousehold Water Treatment\nGlobal Water Filtration Systems Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Water Filtration Systems Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):\nGE\n3M\nCulligan\nPentair\nBrita\nEcoWater\nquasana\nHonerwell\nWatts\nToray\nMidea\nQinyuan\nGree\nHaier\nJoyoung\nRoyalstar\nComplete Report Details @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3023348-water-filtration-systems-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023\nTable Of Content :\nChapter 1 Overview of Water Filtration Systems\n1.1 Definition of Water Filtration Systems in This Report\n1.2 Commercial Types of Water Filtration Systems\n1.2.1 Whole-House Water Filtration Systems\n1.2.2 Point-of-Use Water Filtration Systems\n1.3 Downstream Application of Water Filtration Systems\n1.3.1 Industrial\n1.3.2 Municipal\n1.3.3 Household Water Treatment\n1.4 Development History of Water Filtration Systems\n1.5 Market Status and Trend of Water Filtration Systems 2013-2023\n1.5.1 Global Water Filtration Systems Market Status and Trend 2013-2023\n1.5.2 Regional Water Filtration Systems Market Status and Trend 2013-2023\nChapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions\n2.1 Market Development of Water Filtration Systems 2013-2017\n2.2 Production Market of Water Filtration Systems by Regions\n2.2.1 Production Volume of Water Filtration Systems by Regions\n2.2.2 Production Value of Water Filtration Systems by Regions\n2.3 Demand Market of Water Filtration Systems by Regions\n2.4 Production and Demand Status of Water Filtration Systems by Regions\n2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Water Filtration Systems by Regions 2013-2017\n2.4.2 Import and Export Status of Water Filtration Systems by Regions 2013-2017\nChapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types\n3.1 Production Volume of Water Filtration Systems by Types\n3.2 Production Value of Water Filtration Systems by Types\n3.3 Market Forecast of Water Filtration Systems by Types\nChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry\n4.1 Demand Volume of Water Filtration Systems by Downstream Industry\n4.2 Market Forecast of Water Filtration Systems by Downstream Industry\nChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Water Filtration Systems\n5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview\n5.2 Water Filtration Systems Downstream Industry Situation and Trend Overview\nChapter 6 Water Filtration Systems Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers\n6.1 Production Volume of Water Filtration Systems by Major Manufacturers\n6.2 Production Value of Water Filtration Systems by Major Manufacturers\n6.3 Basic Information of Water Filtration Systems by Major Manufacturers\n6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Water Filtration Systems Major Manufacturer\n6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Water Filtration Systems Major Manufacturer\n6.4 Market Competition News and Trend\n6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News\n6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News\n6.4.3 New Product Development and Launch\nChapter 7 Water Filtration Systems Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data\n7.1 GE\n7.1.1 Company profile\n7.1.2 Representative Water Filtration Systems Product\n7.1.3 Water Filtration Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of GE\n7.2 3M\n7.2.1 Company profile\n7.2.2 Representative Water Filtration Systems Product\n7.2.3 Water Filtration Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of 3M\n7.3 Culligan\n7.3.1 Company profile\n7.3.2 Representative Water Filtration Systems Product\n7.3.3 Water Filtration Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Culligan\n7.4 Pentair\n7.4.1 Company profile\n7.4.2 Representative Water Filtration Systems Product\n7.4.3 Water Filtration Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Pentair\n7.5 Brita\n7.5.1 Company profile\n7.5.2 Representative Water Filtration Systems Product\n7.5.3 Water Filtration Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Brita\nContinued…….\nCONTACT US:\nNORAH TRENT\nPartner Relations & Marketing Manager\nsales@wiseguyreports.com\nhttp://www.wiseguyreports.com\nPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)\nPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)", "A water filtration plant in Hawkesbury, Ont., flooded Sunday night, leading to boil water advisories for Hawkesbury in eastern Ontario.\nThe flood caused significant pressure loss and the plant is unable to filter water for the approximately 13,500 businesses and residences it serves. But water that was already in the system's tanks is still flowing out of taps.\nThe Township of Champlain is advising residents to moderate water consumption.\nThe following schools are closed due to the lack of drinkable water:\nÉcole élémentaire catholique Paul VI.\nÉcole élémentaire catholique Saint-Grégoire.\nÉcole élémentaire catholique Saint-Jean-Baptiste.\nÉcole secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury.\nÉcole élémentaire publique Nouvel Horizon.\nÉcole secondaire publique Le Sommet.\nCEFEO Hawkesbury.\nVankleek Hill Collegiate Institute.\nPleasant Corners Public School.", "Only one in five children's playgrounds in the lower North Island have drinking fountains, say researchers concerned about access to drinking water in public places.\nDrinking fountain (file picture). Source: istock.com\nAs the country emerges from the recent heatwave, Otago University researchers have revealed the results of their survey of drinking fountains from Gisborne down to Wellington.\nThey looked at 54 children's playgrounds and found only 11 had drinking fountains. Eight of the 17 councils had no fountains in any of the playgrounds looked at, while only one council had fountains in each playground.\nProfessor Nick Wilson, in the study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday, says in the era of climate change awareness, drinking water is an important civic investment.\n\"Good access to drinking water in outdoor public places is also becoming recognised internationally as a health issue, due to the need to provide healthy options in contrast to sugary drinks, which contribute to obesity and rotten teeth,\" he said.\nWellington City Council Deputy Mayor Jill Day says the reality is that council have worked hard to make sure there are water fountains at the many public locations around the city where Wellingtonians like to spend their time.\n\"However, last year we also recognised in our play spaces policy that installing drinking water at or near our community and destination play areas should be considered when undertaking development.\"\nCouncil are in the process of installing five fountains, which are not specifically just near playgrounds, but at the waterfront and in Waitangi Park to cater for everyone.\nMeanwhile, researchers found in their study that the fountain quality varied greatly. Three fountains had discolouration around the drinking nozzle.\nSome fountains did not properly collect the waste water from the drinking nozzles and some did not have suitable surfaces for the water to drain away, resulting in soft, wet or muddy ground.\n\"We even found a fountain with grass growing out of the drainage sink part,\" Prof Wilson said.\nThere appeared to be a need for a systematic requirement for drinking water in public places, he said.\nCouncils also needed to ensure they maintained, repaired and replaced drinking fountains.", "LAHORE - High concentration of arsenic has been detected from a water filtration plant at cattle market Shahpur Kanjran, exposing people in nearby localities to serious health hazards.\nThe laboratory of Ministry of Science and Technology - Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) - has confirmed alarmingly high concentration of this heavy metal in sample-144.4 microgram per litre, more than 14 times higher than the prescribed standards of World Health Organization (WHO).\nSources at PCRWR revealed that the sample for analysis of arsenic concentration was submitted by a private party and not the management of the cattle market.\n“The sample was submitted by local people and not the management. They (local people) have told the PCRWR that the sample has been taken from filtration plant at Shahpur Kanjran. PCRWR can only confirm arsenic concentration in the sample. We can’t confirm the location from where sample is taken,” said an official at PCRWR who wanted not to be named.\n“The cattle market management has submitted samples for microbiology analysis. These samples also failed. The management has not got analysed any sample for arsenic concentration. It was submitted by private client while giving information about the site,” he added.\nOfficials at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also raised question not about authenticity of the report but the sample’s location.\n“I don’t know who has taken the sample and for what purpose. There is need of taking fresh sample from Shahpur Kanjran cattle market as per set criterion for sampling and its analysis from PCRWR and some other laboratories of good repute. The situation is really alarming if same arsenic concentration is found in fresh and properly taken sample,” EPA Director Naseem-ur-Rehman Shah told The Nation.\n“EPA will definitely intervene to assess the real situation. We will get a fresh sample for evaluation of arsenic concentration in underground water of Shahpur Kanjran,” he added.\nAnother official at EPA, seeking anonymity, termed the report horrible, saying such high concentration of arsenic could put health and even life of people at risk. “We know concentration of arsenic in Lahore aquifer is higher than the WHO standards. But such a high concentration (144.4 milligram per litre) has never been detected from anywhere in Lahore.\n“There is need of getting verification by taking fresh sample and analysis from quality laboratory,” he urged.\nHe further said that more than 150 factories, from Thokar Niaz Baig to Maraka, were disposing hazardous waste either in irrigation channels or by digging wells.\n“Definitely these factories are polluting underground water. But high concentration of arsenic could not be attributed to activities of these factories. Arsenic is little or not a part of waste of these factories. As such there is need of first assessing the real situation by analysis of fresh sample and then detailed investigation to determine causes of high arsenic concentration.”\nMedical experts are alarmed at detection of high concentration of arsenic in underground water of Lahore, saying consumption or even exposure to this water could cause severe complications including cancer in the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney.\n“There is risk of lung and bladder cancer, skin changes when concentration of arsenic in drinking water is 50 milligram/litre or lower. But here arsenic concentration is 144.4 milligram/litre. It means people in the area are at much higher risk of getting diseases,” said Dr Abdul Rauf, a leading family physician, adding, even continuous inhalation of arsenic could cause lung cancer.\n“Consumption of arsenic can cause severe vomiting, disturbances of the blood and circulation, damage to the nervous system, and eventually death. When not deadly, it can reduce blood cell production, break up red blood cells, enlarge liver, color skin, loss of sensation in limbs and brain damage,” Dr Rauf added.", "I’ve been following this issue as it pops up. It's getting rather worrying as I see the developers having their way again.\nGuelph is a great place to live. We want it to grow, but in a great way! Unless Guelph’s city council and city planners have the courage to step in and substantially revise the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan so that Guelph’s unique habitat and water quality resources are properly emphasized in the revised plan, Guelph loses on June 25.\nThe developers’ naturally profit-driven ambitions are running against the careful and creative planning needed for the Clair-Maltby area. This plan needs substantial revision! Let’s take the time to make it great!\nOver the last decade, 1,300 acres of this land have been bought by local developers as a very lucrative high density investment.\nOn March 27 in the Guelph Mercury Tribune, Mike Marcolongo raised warning flags about this area being Guelph’s largest urban expansion. The Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan was presented April 12. At it stands, it ticks all the boxes... on the developers’ list. It bulldozes over and cuts roads through unique natural habitats that would affect our water quality by damaging the filtration aspects of a large portion of the Paris-Galt moraine and Hanlon Creek and Mill Creek sub watersheds. Hall’s Pond is Guelph’s second-largest provincially significant wetland; an essential home of species-at-risk and a place where Guelphites can appreciate the beauty of nature.\nRobert Pavlis’ column on May 22 in the Guelph Mercury Tribune explains the importance of the sand and gravel hummocks of the Paris-Galt moraine that begins at Clair Road. They filter the precipitation that becomes Guelph’s drinking water as it seeps down through the sand and gravel to the aquifers deep underground. Because of this moraine, our water is of such world-class quality that international companies like Nestlé Waters are here to bottle it up!\nRobert Pavlis notes that as the most sensitive land Guelph will ever develop, Guelph’s city council needs to put a pause on this process on June 25 and take the needed time to plan it right; for the great place Guelph is now and in the future!\nSusan Hersey", "April 15, 1992: Community leaders in Chamita north of Espanola have tried for years to convince their neighbors to invest in a water system because of polluted private wells, but now they fear federal officials have sunk their efforts. They're not alone in their fears.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Santa Fe New Mexican.", "Salem city officials issued a do-not-drink advisory Tuesday following the detection of low levels of toxins in city drinking water pulled from the North Santiam River.\nThe advisory affects children under 6 years old and vulnerable populations, such as nursing mothers and dialysis patients. Officials are urging them to drink bottled water.\nIs there something that can be done to treat the water so it is safe to drink?\nDavid Farrer, a public health toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority, said there really isn't anything to be done to treat the water.\nBoiling the water doesn't work; camping filters don't work; nor do the filters that attach to faucets. Farrer said it's best for children and others in vulnerable populations to not drink the water until the advisory is lifted.\nWhat are cyanotoxins?\nA common bacteria called cyanobacteria sometimes produces a natural poison called cyanotoxins. In mammals, exposure to cyanotoxins can cause allergic reaction and respiratory issues, and cause acute illness, including liver and kidney damage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With extreme exposure, symptoms may include organ failure, paralysis and even death.\nToxins in water: Salem drinking water contaminated, children shouldn't drink tap water\nHow long are the drinking water restrictions expected to last?\n\"I cannot give you a definitive answer,\" Lacey Goeres-Priest, Salem's water quality supervisor, told the Statesman Journal.\nCity officials said in an advisory posted online, \"City of Salem is working closely with local and state public health and emergency response agencies to address the situation and to quickly reduce Cyanotoxin levels in tap water.\"\n\"City of Salem will post an updated advisory when: the Cyanotoxin levels are less than or equal to the national drinking water Health Advisories, this Do Not Drink Advisory is lifted and/or if there are any changes to the conditions of this Do Not Drink Advisory.\n\"Updates will be provided Thursday, May 31, 2018 via the City of Salem web page, CityofSalem.net; City of Salem Alert System; local media; City of Salem social media. Residents can sign up on CityofSalem.net to receive emergency alerts from the City.\"\nThe health advisory for Detroit Lake was issued last week. When did officials learn that the river water was a problem?\nWater was sampled late last week and officials received the results of testing the water on Saturday, said Goeres-Priest. The results showed toxin levels were higher than a health advisory level for vulnerable communities and children, but remained below safe levels for adults.\nThe city has been coordinating with the Oregon Health Authority over the weekend.\nAfter consulting with the OHA and Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, Salem issued the advisory based on the data.\n\"We wanted to be proactive because we're coming up on the 10-day exposure period — if people are exposed to it for 10 days that's when the probability of health issues increases,\" said Greg Walsh, emergency manager for City of Salem.\nMay 23 health advisory: Health advisory issued for Detroit Lake after discovery of toxic algae\nDetroit Reservoir has algae blooms every year. Why is it so bad this year?\n\"Every bloom is different,\" Goeres-Priest said.\nShe said it depends on, among other factors, the level of toxins being produced in the watershed and whether toxins are making their way all the way down the river to the water treatment facility.\n\"It's hard to say exactly why this year is different than last year,\" Goeres-Priest said. \"We just know that based off the sample results that it is.\"\nThree toxic blooms were identified in locations around Detroit Lake — at Blowout Arm, Heater Creek Arm and near the dam. That's more than in the past.\nThe bloom in Blowout Arm had a particularly high concentration of toxins, officials said. A liver toxin called \"microcystin\" was tested on May 23 at 48.21 parts per billion in that location. A health advisory is triggered when levels are just 4 parts per billion.\nWhat is recommended for expectant or nursing mothers?\nFarrer said he didn't know of good data on whether toxins can transfer from a nursing mother to her baby. But officials definitely do not want mothers drinking the water — they should stick with bottled water.\nHe said breast feeding in this case is preferred to preparing formula with tap water.\nCan I use my water filtration system to purify the water?\n\"Most water filters and purifiers will not remove this toxin from drinking water,\" the advisory states. \"See manufacturer's recommendation for water filtration capabilities.\"\nWhat is Salem-Keizer Public Schools doing for water for students and staff?\nKindergarten and younger children, as well as other at-risk children (such as those who are medically fragile) will be provided bottled water, said Joel Smallwood, manager of maintenance and construction services with Salem-Keizer Public Schools.\nSchools on Keizer's water system are not affected.\nFood services will use bottled water for all food prep throughout the district that’s fed by Salem water, he said.\n\"We’ve got a team delivering right now,\" Smallwood said.\nBottled water: Officials hands-off as Salem runs out of bottled water during supply contamination\nWhat cities outside of Salem are affected by the drinking water restrictions?\nStayton and Turner are falling in line with Salem's water advisory.\n\"We do test our water,\" said Keith Campbell, Stayton's city manager. \"I don’t know if it’s as frequent as Salem, but our tests hadn’t come up with anything.\"\nStill, \"we're going with just following the advisories with the city of Salem,\" he said.\nDavid Sawyer, Turner's city administrator, said Salem officials contacted his city last week and told them about the concern.\n\"All of the water that comes into Salem, basically we tap into those lines as they come down the canyon. It’s the same system,\" Sawyer said. \"Because of the size of our distribution system, we’re testing for E coli and we’re testing for chlorine and things like that, just to make sure.\"\nWhat about restaurants?\nFarrer said that restaurants that use city water should not use the water to serve customers.\nHealth officials also are advising against using the water for cooking and washing food, he said.\nWhy is it considered safe to bathe and wash dishes with the water?\nCity officials said the water is OK to use to clean, bathe and wash dishes, as well as cleaning laundry, washing your hands and flushing toilets.\n\"However, infants and young children under the age of six should be supervised while bathing and during other tap water-related activities to prevent accidental ingestion of water,\" the advisory states.\nFarrer said these toxins are not absorbed through the skin and the only way for them to get into people is if they are swallowed.\nAlert confusion: Prepare for action': Vague emergency alert alarms Oregon residents\nHealth officials are recommending that children who are being bathed be supervised to make sure they don't drink the water, Farrer said.\nEven so, a small amount of consumption is not going to be a harmful, such as the amount you swallow when washing your face or the a little bit of water that gets into your mouth when you shower, Farrer said.\nSupport our journalism: Become a Salem Statesman Journal subscriber today and get unlimited digital access to support stories like this one.\nEmail jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach.\nEmail bpoehler@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6701 or follow on Twitter @bpoehler.\n© 2018 KGW", "By Vaughan Elder\nThe Dunedin City Council has warned people not to drink water across large parts of the city.\nThe warning\nThe Dunedin City Council this morning issued a boil water notice, warning residents in a large swathe of the city to avoid drinking water from the tap, or boil it, because of a water quality issue.\nThe council has activated its emergency operations centre (EOC) as it races to flush potentially contaminated water from the city's drinking water supply.\nAdvertisement\nWho is affected\nThe affected area stretches across much of the north of the city, including the CBD, North Dunedin, Leith Valley, Woodhaugh and any area in the central city between the town belt and the harbour.\nHow long is the warning expected to last\nThe boil water notice was expected to remain until tomorrow afternoon.\nThe risks\nCouncil infrastructure and networks general manager Ruth Stokes said there was no certainty about the level of risk associated with the affected water.\n\"In some parts it would have been reasonably diluted, but you're basically drinking water that's the equivalent of drinking it straight out of a stream or lake.\"\nThe cause\nThe council says it appeared untreated raw water released from the Ross Creek Reservoir on Sunday had been able to enter the city's drinking water network.\nWorkers had begun releasing water from the reservoir into the Lindsay Creek on Sunday, in preparation for work set to begin in the area.\nComplaints were received Monday night and this morning, prompting an investigation which found an old pipe - no longer recorded on council plans - just below the reservoir.\nThe pipe connected to the city's drinking supply, allowing raw water back into the network.\nWhere to get drinkable water\nEight water tankers have been dispatched to parts of the city, including to George St Normal School and Logan Park High School, both in the affected area.\nA rush means finding bottled water at supermarkets may be difficult.\nHere are the locations and times water tankers will be available:\n• Cnr Dundas & Montgomery Ave, from about 2pm.\n• Outside Otago Museum (Main Entrance) from about 2pm.\n• Outside George Street Normal School from about 2pm.\n• Oval BP forecourt from about 2pm.\n• The Octagon from about 12pm.\n• Outside Hunters Furniture Cumberland St from about 2pm.\n• Dunedin Hospital\n• The council says Dunedin Hospital has also activated its own EOC, and is relying on water tankers arranged by the council to supply fresh drinking water.\n• The Southern District Health Board said Dunedin Hospital is operating as normal.", "Ujjain: Mayor Meena Jonwal approved the revised DPR and tender rates presented during the Mayor-in-Council (MiC) meeting on Monday, for construction and development of Chakor Park.\nThe mayor after inspecting the DPR presentation of Chakor Park thrice, suggested amendments each time. The DPR presented this time was approved for being attractive and well organised. According to the approved DPR, approximately Rs 3 crore will be spent on the park which is expected to include an Appu ghar, cafeteria, open gym, sports arena, library, fountain, etc.\nThe mayor also instructed PHE officials to prepare an action plan to deal with possible water crisis. She accepted PHE’s proposal of a drinking water system and validation of illegal tap connection. Mayor authorised commissioner Vijay Kumar J to take action against Taapi Company for not completing work on time. A proposal of Rs 5 crore to install solar pumps in water filtration plants was also approved.\nThe mayor accepted proposals for giving water bills every two months, removing illegal occupation from UMC owned buildings and shops, approving an additional amount for construction of transfer stations near Jantar Mantar and MR5, giving the Yog Bhavan building on rent, vehicle parking tender, approving temporary madhushalas, mutation of various shops and increased duration of temporary workers.", "Tuesday, 12 December, 2017 - 13:51\nQueenstown Lakes District Council will begin proactive disinfection of all community water supplies under its control by the end of next week.\nThis will see the water supplies in Glenorchy, Arthurs Point, Luggate and Glendhu Bay commence chlorination over the busy summer period. Wanaka and Queenstown’s water is already permanently chlorinated, while Arrowtown and Hawea remain under temporary chlorination after high coliform counts were detected in their supplies earlier this year.\nQLDC Chief Executive Mike Theelen explains this is being done to protect residents and visitors at a time when the water system is under increased pressure. \"The proactive chlorination of these supplies is being done to ensure the water remains safe to drink across the district while the large increase in visitors to the region creates extra demand on the water network.\"\nThis comes on the back of Stage 2 of The Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry, which calls for a major overhaul of water supplies and strongly recommending mandatory treatment.\nDuring the Havelock North event some 5,500 of the town’s 14,000 residents were estimated to have become ill with campylobacteriosis. 45 were subsequently hospitalised and it’s possible that the outbreak contributed to three deaths.\nWhile all water supplies will be chlorinated over summer, a decision as to whether it remains as a permanent measure after summer will rest with Council early next year.\n\"Our staff will provide a report to Council on the risks, benefits and implications of how we can best protect the safety of all of our drinking water supplies, along with their recommendations as to how we can best achieve this,\" says Mr Theelen.\n\"The Stage 2 Report on Drinking Water makes some unequivocal recommendations to the Government, which the Minister has already drawn to the attention of Councils around the country. We expect Government to formally respond early in the New Year, and these directions will certainly be reported to and considered by Council when it addresses this issue in detail.\"\nFor more information on why QLDC chlorinates its water supplies please see http://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/water-services/chlorination/", "ATHENS, Ala. – A real world solution to a real world problem, that assignment at Athens High School led to two rising seniors getting first place in a state competition for an invention that could help people worldwide.\nUnder the guidance of Athens High teacher Michael May, Andrew Ross and Spencer Durm spent weeks on end researching ways to purify water, focusing on countries thousands of miles away.\n“1.1 billion people are without clean water in this world, which is 15% of the population,” explained Ross. “In central Africa it’s the worst because they don’t have a stable government but they do have a lot of rainfall so we had to find a way to get that rain and filter it with our system.”\nWeeks later, their double barrel filtration system was born, and they received first place in the Technology Student Association (TSA) of Alabama conference in Birmingham.\nBut before they took it down there, they did their due diligence.\n“We saw it was actually working and cleaning the water and wanted to know if it was clean enough to drink,” said Durm. “So we took our water to the water treatment facility. The iron and manganese levels were low enough to drink and our water was completely drinkable.”\nPlus, at the competition, they made themselves the guinea pigs to prove it works.\n“We even drank the water straight out of our device,” said Ross. “It was nasty river water that we put straight in and came out perfectly clean. The judges really liked that.”\nBoth say it gives them a will to continue a career in engineering, and hopefully help others along the way.\n“In a country like the United States, everyone has clean water and access to clean water,” said Durm. “We don’t know what kind of struggle it is to not have clean water and it would be great to help provide that.”\nThe two teens want to take their filtration system to the national competition. But really want to see a company come in and take it to third world countries to help people.", "Oct 6 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.\n- Honeywell International Inc is pursuing an acquisition of water-filtration company Evoqua Water Technologies, which is laying the groundwork for an initial public offering. http://on.wsj.com/2z3empU\n- Netflix Inc is raising prices for its streaming-video services in the U.S., betting that subscribers will tolerate higher monthly fees and help fuel the company's big investments in TV and movie programming. http://on.wsj.com/2z2w5hh\n- Facebook Inc cut references to Russia from a public report in April about manipulation of its platform around the presidential election because of concerns among the company's lawyers and members of its policy team, according to people familiar with the matter. http://on.wsj.com/2z2ygl1\n- Boeing Co on Thursday said it plans to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences Corp, a maker of aerial drones and pilotless flying systems in a move the company said could pave the way for fleets of small flying taxis. http://on.wsj.com/2z2yhp5\n- Firearm and ammunition maker Vista Outdoor Inc tapped the former head of recreational-vehicle company Arctic Cat Inc, Christopher Metz, to be its next CEO. http://on.wsj.com/2z1zRaI (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)", "Duke Energy said Friday it will offer private well owners who live near coal ash ponds up to $53 million in cash and expenses as it moves to connect them to alternative water supplies.\nThe offer includes “goodwill” payments of $5,000 to each of the approximately 960 homeowners or businesses within a half-mile of the ponds, which contain metals that can contaminate water. Those accepting the money would agree not to sue Duke; many residents have hired lawyers.\nDuke said it will pay stipends of $8,000 to $22,000, depending on local water rates, to cover future water bills for well owners who agree to connect to public water lines. It would also make up the difference if homeowners sell their homes below fair market value over the next three years.\nAn attorney for most of the well owners near Duke’s power plants in Gaston and Rowan counties called the offer inadequate.\nDuke released the figures after North Carolina’s environment department gave initial approval to the company’s plan to connect power plant neighbors to municipal water lines or filtration systems.\nState law orders Duke to provide alternative water to people who live within a half-mile of coal ash ponds clustered at 13 power plants in the state. Duke denies that its ash is the source of contaminants found in hundreds of wells.\n“We hope these homeowners will perceive the packages to be generous and meaningful, and allow them to move forward,” company spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said.\nState officials tested wells near Duke’s power plants in early 2015 and found hundreds with contaminants that might come from ash. Health officials advised homeowners not to drink their water before reversing course a year later.\nBelmont resident Amy Brown, one of hundreds of Duke neighbors who have relied on bottled water for 21 months, said she was “pleased to see that Duke is making an effort to acknowledge that this is a real problem for their neighbors. This has impacted us in so many ways, and not just with the water.”\nBut Brown said the $5,000 offer seemed low as she recounted her family’s life: Twisting the caps off 48 bottles of water to cook Christmas dinner; refilling a backyard pool that’s been unused for two summers; and expecting her kids’ childhood memories to be that of pallets of bottled water.\n“That sounds like you smacked me in the face, is what it sounds like,” she said.\nDuke said in December that it plans to connect 702 homes and businesses near its ash ponds to public water lines, including most neighbors near the Charlotte-area plants – Allen on Lake Wylie, Marshall on Lake Norman and Buck on the Yadkin River in Rowan County.\nDuke will offer water filtration to communities around three plants that are far from municipal lines: Belews Creek in Stokes County and Mayo and Roxboro in Person County.\nDuke’s shareholders would cover the $22 million the goodwill packages would be estimated to cost, Sheehan said. Duke plans to ask the state Utilities Commission to let it charge customers for the $31 million cost of extending water lines and installing filtration systems.\n“We view the goodwill package as a meaningful investment for these neighbors and their communities, but it will also benefit all customers and help protect their electric bills,” Sheehan said. “Once we complete the water projects, we will have the full range of closure options to safely close ash basins, including capping them in place. That option protects the environment, minimizes disruption to communities and is much more cost effective than full excavation with disposal again at a new location.”\nA state law passed after Duke’s 2014 ash spill into the Dan River ordered Duke to close all 32 of its ash ponds across the state. Duke hopes to cover ponds that hold about two-thirds of its 111 million tons of ash instead of excavating the ash as environmental advocates prefer.\nDuke’s offer falls short, said a lawyer for most of the well owners near Duke’s Allen plant in Belmont and the Buck plant in Rowan County, as well as neighbors of other power plants.\n“We believe that Duke’s announcement is too little, too late,” Salisbury lawyer Mona Lisa Wallace said in a statement. “Duke’s monetary offer does not begin to compensate the worst-affected homeowners. Many individuals have had their property value severely damaged and they are entitled to greater compensation that what Duke is now promising. In addition, these families should have received clean water hookups at no cost to themselves, many months ago, as this crisis has dragged on far too long. We continue to review our legal options for our many affected clients.”\nWith initial state approval, Duke now has until April 15 to contact affected residents or businesses and learn their preferences. State law requires Duke to supply the alternative water by October 2018, although Duke could seek one-year extensions.\nThe Department of Environmental Quality said it will grant final approval to Duke’s plans when it’s proven that alternative water sources or filtration meets safety standards.\n“We are pleased to see progress on providing people who live in affected areas with a safe drinking water supply,” Jay Zimmerman, director of the N.C. Division of Water Resources, said in a statement.", "More than a year after it was revealed that its water supply was tainted by the chemical PFOS, Newburgh is getting a new water filtration plant. Erica Byfield reports. (Published 4 hours ago)\nMore than a year after it was revealed that its water supply was tainted by the chemical PFOS, Newburgh is getting a new water filtration plant. See More", "The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs is hoping to see residential sprinkler systems installed in new homes.\nIn recent years, fires have been cutting through homes more quickly, Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block told 630 CHED’s Afternoon News on Wednesday, noting sprinklers would help keep them contained.\nBlock said new construction materials play a factor in the increase in fire volatility.\n“Really what’s changed over the last 15 to 18 years is the materials that are used to construct homes, and the materials that are used to make furniture coverings, floor coverings and everything we put in those homes.”\nREAD MORE: Edmonton fire chief discusses overdoses, terror attacks in year-end interview\nBlock said those new materials are made from synthetics, rather than natural materials used in decades past.\nHe also said a shift towards open-concept homes also plays a part in the escalation of fire damage to homes.\nBlock added that sprinklers are not a perfect solution but would help firefighters move more quickly through homes that are on fire, since the flames would be subdued.\nBut he also said that he’s heard pushback from new home builders over the idea.\n“I think there’s some tunnel vision there,” Block said. “I would like to think that we could sit down and have a fulsome discussion. The costs, as the National Fire Protection Association measures it, is around $1.35 per square foot.”\nREAD MORE: Fire chief says Edmonton needs to put more into emergency preparedness\nBlock said that most current fire codes need to be updated, as they relate to houses from the 1960s, when homes were smaller and made from natural materials.\nLISTEN: Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block advocates for sprinkler systems in new homes\nView link »", "The Horizons Region and Manawatu District councils want government to take more action on the contamination of groundwater by firefighting chemicals around Ohakea air base.\nGovernment ministers were scheduled to meet on February 2 to work through the \"cascading\" issues, Health Minister David Parker said.\nThe contamination was announced in December, and since then 23 properties there have been sampled. Five have groundwater used for drinking that contains chemical levels that exceed drinking water guidelines.\nOne of those, currently unoccupied, belongs to Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie.\nAdvertisement\nManawatu Mayor Helen Worboys has talked to those affected. They told her the information they are getting is inconsistent and unclear.\n\"In addition to water use, residents have concerns about the future of their farms, and are asking for further testing of the soil. Those on untested neighbouring properties are also concerned,\" Ms Worboys said.\nShe was told of headaches, illness and animals performing poorly. She has talked to the Minister for the Environment about the matter.\nHorizons Regional Council learned of the contamination in December, chief executive Michael McCartney said. It has provided technical information on ground and surface water, and will continue to do so.\nHe was concerned about the many unknowns, and urged government to sample more widely, even on the southern side of the Rangitikei River and in Sanson and Bulls. It should also ensure the health of the residents, he said.\nHe has rung the Defence Minister to raise concerns, and said Horizons is formally investigating the contamination. He can't comment on the investigation or its possible outcomes until it is over.\nOfficials from the councils, government and Air Force were to meet on February 2 to talk about what to do next.\n\"The councils are correct to be concerned for the interests of their ratepayers and people and to be making sure central government are moving through these issues as quickly as possible,\" Health Minister David Parker said.\nThe response to the issue had started with drinking water.\n\"Today I have asked for a draft list of those further 'cascading' issues for discussions with the mayors, including indications of dates and who is responsible.\n\"I want to have that information to farmers and others affected as soon as possible.\"", "City to Sea campaign says we must rethink bad habits and only flush ‘three Ps: pee, paper and poo’ as study finds blockages cost UK £100m a year\nBaby wipes are causing hundreds of thousands of blockages in the UK sewer system and costing the country £100m every year, according to a new report.\nThe study from Water UK, the trade body representing all of the main water and sewerage companies in the country, found that wipes made up about 93% of the material causing the sewer blockages.\nWater UK’s director of corporate affairs, Rae Stewart, said the findings proved that sewer blockages that cost £100m a year are “a problem we can all do something about”.\n“There are things that water companies can do, such as improve education about what should and shouldn’t be flushed. There are things manufacturers can do, such as make labelling clearer on non-flushable products. And, of course, there are things individuals can do – which is bin the wipes rather than flush them.”\n'Total monster': fatberg blocks London sewage system Read more\nThe report said there are approximately 300,000 sewer blockages every year, costing the country £100m – money which Water UK says could be taken off bills or spent on improving services.\nEarlier this year a fatberg weighing the same as 11 double decker buses and stretching the length of two football pitches was found blocking a section of the sewer system in east London.\nNatalie Fee, from the plastic pollution campaign group City to Sea which has been running a campaign about not flushing wipes and other single-use plastic down the toilet, said people should rethink their flushing habits and only flush “the three Ps: pee, paper and poo”.\nFee also called on manufacturers to do more to label wipes properly. “Most people still don’t know that baby wipes contain plastic, and they would be a lot less likely to flush them if it was listed as an ingredient on the pack.”", "An emergency alert that was sent out Tuesday evening was supposed to alert people about a drinking water advisory in Salem, but instead sent much of the state into a panic.", "According to self-help guru Dr. Deepak Chopra, there is an undeniable link between one’s habitat and health. “I have always seen the natural environment as an extension of our bodies,” says Chopra. “Residences that are in harmony with nature help to create harmony within our bodies and minds.” Inspired by this belief, Chopra joined forces with Property Markets Group and Delos to create seven health-conscious residences at Muse Residences Sunny Isles in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. Spread across 4,355 square feet, the two- to five-bedroom layouts are equipped with state-of-the-art wellness technology that centers on air, water, and light.\nAn elaborate air purification system utilizes advanced filtration techniques to remove allergens, toxins, and other pollutants from the air. The best-in-class water filtration system reduces chlorine, lead, and other traces, resulting in fresh, clean water. And the Circadian lighting system creates lighting conditions that mirror natural sunlight throughout the day, keeping one’s circadian rhythm in check. Residents can use mobile apps to control the light and window shades.\nAll of the wellness technologies were created by Delos during an eight-year research and development period. Chopra focused on the design aspect, choosing natural colors and furnishings that would have a calming, positive affect on residents’ moods. The fully furnished units feature 12-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, private elevators, and marble and wood floors. Outside, large terraces equipped with summer kitchens and weather-resistant entertainment systems overlook the ocean. Located less than an hour from Miami, the dwellings provide ready access to Florida's beaches and bustling cities.\n“As people today spend the majority of their time indoors, there is a clear need for living spaces that positively impact them,” says Chopra. “Wellness real estate recognizes this connection and removes the division between humans and the environment.” The units will be available for move-in at the beginning of 2018. (museresidences.com)", "Less than $3 per month per household will buy Manatee County residents nearly $238 million worth of improvements to the county’s potable water and wastewater systems over the next five years.\nManatee County commissioners on Feb. 7 approved a 4% increase for the next two years, effective April 1 and April 1, 2018. The increase will take the average bill for 6,000 gallons a month, from $70.13 per month to $72.94 initially.\nIn 2007, 6,000 gallons of usage cost $54.80. That’s about a 33% increase in the past 10 years.\n“Overall, this allows us primarily to continue the level of service that exists with our customers,” said Mark Simpson, Manatee County's Water Division manager. “With any mechanical structure, as it ages, you have to reinvest in order to avoid system failures. On the distribution side, that’s pipes, pumps and tanks. At the treatment plant, there’s maintenance and rehab.”\nMore than 53% of Manatee’s water distribution systems are more than 20 years old.\nOne of the largest projects in the Manatee County Utilities Department’s five-year capital improvement program is a new filtering system at the water treatment plant, at the Lake Manatee Dam site. County staff members have invested about two years in testing, piloting and the pre-engineering of the new filtering system. About one more year of engineering remains.\nConverting the filtering system from its current granular model, which uses sand and other materials to filter the water, to a new membrane system, will take about two years.\nThe project cost is about $46 million.\nSimpson said the new filtration process is needed because water quality standards have changed. Although the county has always met state and federal guidelines for water purification, there have been instances in which water from the past would not comply with newer standards.\nThe remainder of the $91.7 million for potable water will go toward other maintenance and rehabilitation needs.\nOn the wastewater side, there are about $146.1 million in needed improvements, including maintenance and replacement of lift stations, underground infrastructure and plant improvements. Manatee County has three wastewater treatment facilities, including one at the Lena Road landfill site. Projects at the Lena Road wastewater treatment facility are minimal, but there will be some repairs made to lakes used for storing treated wastewater, said Jeff Goodwin, Manatee’s Wastewater Division manager.\nAs with potable water, wastewater funding is primarily for upkeep of aging infrastructure. However, the corrosive nature of wastewater treatment requires more frequent repair and maintenance on the system.\n“It’s mostly all repair and rehabilitation,” Goodwin said. “We’re fixing things.”\nAll revenue from water and wastewater systems come from user fees. An impact fee pays for constructing pipelines to new developments, so growth pays for itself, county staff said.", "After years of severe drought, Cape Town officials are preparing to shut off mains water supplies to a million homes. Residents have also been asked to limit their use to 50 litres a day as 'day zero' approaches", "Ofwat will assess whether firms are doing enough after they submit their business plans in September\nThe decisions some water companies have made on dividends, financial structures and top executive pay have damaged customer trust\nChief executive, Rachel Fletcher, said: “The decisions some water companies have made on dividends, financial structures and top executive pay have damaged customer trust.\n“We have looked in detail at the incentives we give water companies.\n“Through the measures we’ve announced today, we are strengthening the incentive on companies to improve their performance for customers and cutting the rewards that come from financial engineering.\n“This is an important step in making sure water companies put customers’ interests, and those of future generations, at the heart of all the decisions they take.”", "When a heavy rain hits New Orleans, residents move their cars to higher ground for fear of fast-rising street flooding. Knee-deep potholes can eat a car's fender. When pressure drops in the city's aging water delivery system, restaurants and cafes have to boil water to feed customers.\nBattered by nature and neglect, New Orleans is one of the best examples of what President Donald Trump calls the country's \"crumbling infrastructure.\" But when looking at the billion-dollar needs of this 300-year-old city, two things become apparent: The rebuilding task is immense and it's not clear the president's new plan will help.\nThe city needs about $11.6 billion to bring key parts of its infrastructure into \"this century,\" said city official Katie Dignan. That means repairing the roads, the infrastructure under them — sewer, water and drainage — as well as other parts of the drainage system that empties the city of water when it rains.\nDignan said the city has about $2 billion available, some from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to mitigate Hurricane Katrina damage and some from other sources. Now, the city faces choices on how to come up with the remainder.\nMayor Mitch Landrieu, who calls the aging sewer, water and drainage system a \"prime example\" of needed infrastructure work, has doubts about Trump's proposal.\nTrump called on Congress to produce a bill that generates \"at least $1.5 trillion\" for infrastructure investment. But he hasn't detailed how much money the federal government would actually supply and has suggested that much of the money would come from state and local governments or private sector investments.\n\"What the president is really proposing is not HIS infrastructure plan but basically saying to the states and the cities: 'Build it on your own and find another way to pay for it through raising taxes or cutting services,' \" Landrieu, a Democrat and the current president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said Thursday.\nFinding more money is a challenge in a financially strapped Louisiana — and in a city that was facing a major budget deficit when Landrieu took office eight years ago.\nLandrieu said public-private partnerships can work on some types of projects where there's money to pay back the partner, but poorer cities — often those with the biggest infrastructure problems — are going to have a harder time. Forcing cities like New Orleans to pay for the infrastructure means taking money away from other local priorities, such as housing homeless veterans, he said.\nThe precariousness of the city's infrastructure was on full display last August when a massive downpour overwhelmed the pumping system and inundated many neighborhoods.\nThe Broad Theater was still recovering from a previous rainstorm when the August storm hit. Moviegoers evacuated waist-high waters by boat. Manager Michael Domangue lost his car to the flood. The theater closed for seven days and had to refund tickets.\nAnd this damage all happened within sight of a pumping station that's part of the drainage system. Of the $11.6 billion, an estimated $2 billion is needed for long-term repairs and upgrades to the city's pumping system, Dignan said, although she cautioned that figure could change. The other $9.6 billion would go toward fixing the roads and the infrastructure under them. That includes a drinking water system plagued by wasteful leaks and occasional power failures and pressure drops that can let contaminants in — requiring residents to boil water.\nRenee Blanchard owns the Church Alley Coffee Bar. She bought a $3,500 reverse osmosis water filtration system so that she can still make lattes and cappuccinos when the water pressure drops. Blanchard is frustrated that a small business in a big city has to deal with such expensive problems.\n\"That's ridiculous,\" she said. \"I'm so small. I work most of the hours. I started off with a tiny bit of savings.\"\nAll cities have potholes, but the New Orleans streets are in another category. Locals put traffic cones or tires into especially deep potholes to warn other drivers.\n\"If it rains the day before and it's filled with water, you don't know the pothole's there. You could tear up your car, your front end,\" Kenny Buras said of his street.\nResidents try to take it in stride. During the summer flooding, people canoed through the streets, sometimes with a drink in hand. In May 2016, there was a \"Sinkhole de Mayo\" party after a massive sinkhole opened up at the foot of Canal Street.\nBut there's also a real frustration about how problems in New Orleans and elsewhere will be fixed.\nResident James Jensen noted mudslides and fires in California and rising seas in Miami: \"There's many New Orleans out there.\"", "Residents should be prepared in case of flooding concerns and develop their own emergency plans according to the Cariboo Regional District.\nDepending on weather, flood-related emergencies could occur in the coming weeks and months.\n“This weekend, we were actively monitoring higher than normal stream flows in the region and we are prepared to respond to any flood-related emergencies,” said John MacLean, the CRD’s EOC Director and Chief Administrative Officer in a release.\n“High stream flows are just one example of some of the impacts we could see from spring melt in the Cariboo. We could also experience flooding, debris flows, high water tables or landslides during freshet, which is why we are encouraging residents to make sure they are prepared.”\nThe Cariboo Regional District is also asking people to use caution around rivers, streams, and culverts and urge children not to play in those areas.\nThe snow basin index or the amount of snow on the ground within a drainage area is currently at 110 percent of normal for the Cariboo region.\nTemperature variations and precipitation events are also significant contributors to how the snow melts and runs off each spring.\n“Disturbances such as fire affect the hydrologic response of streams, rivers, and lakes relevant to potential flooding,” says the B.C. River Forecast Centre.\n“Specifically, flows from snowmelt-dominated watersheds impacted by fires tend to be greater and peak earlier as compared to undisturbed areas, even under normal weather conditions. Many of the regions affected by burns last summer have above normal snow packs this year.”", "MIL OSI – Source: Bay Of Plenty Regional Council – Press Release/Statement\nHeadline: Flood repairs taking time – Bay of Plenty Regional Council\nWednesday, 14 June 2017 10:00 a.m.\nNow two months since the major flooding events of April, Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Rivers and Drainage Manager reminded the rural community that flood works would take time and repairs were moving as quickly as possible.\nThe two major storm events in April, particularly the high rainfall and river flows of ex-cyclone Debbie, saw the flood protection network in the Bay of Plenty pushed beyond its design limits and significant damage along most river systems.\nCouncil staff are currently working to assess that damage and prioritise repair works with more than 600 sites investigated so far and repairs likely to cost in the millions of dollars. Rivers and Drainage Manager, Bruce Crabbe explained.\n“We have around 250km of stopbanks across the region and other flood protection assets, many of which were hard-hit by the two storm systems in April. In the weeks since the events, we have been very busy with emergency repairs, assessing the damage to the systems and working to pull that information into a restoration plan. That plan will give us a good picture of the damage, put dollar figures next to repairs, and prioritise works.\n“We are now well into the wet-weather months and as always, it can be difficult to get a window for construction at this time of year. Some works may have to wait until ground conditions improve to get machinery working at those sites.\n“For urgent repairs, we may also be working on our rivers during periods that we would normally prefer to keep out of the waterways, for example whitebait spawning season or eel migration. Where repairs are urgent, we may still need to carry out the work but we will ensure we do so in line with the Regional Land and Water Plan and with as little impact as possible,” Mr Crabbe said.\n—\n© Multimedia Investments Ltd Terms of Use/Disclaimer.", "COMPOSTABLE tableware made from eggshells and a state-of-the-art filtration unit that cuts water use in manufacturing are just two of the innovative products that earned fledgling companies and entrepreneurs top honours at Edinburgh Napier University’s inaugural innovation and enterprise competition Bright Red Sparks.\nThe five winners, chosen from 18 finalists, were announced at an awards dinner at the Hub on the Royal Mile on Saturday and will now share £12,000 prize money and £17,000 of legal support from the law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn.\nAndy McGoff (Edinburgh Napier University), Martina Zupan (Alterwaste)\nThe keynote speaker at the awards was Edinburgh Napier alumnus Kevin Dorren, former chief executive of one of Scotland’s first listed tech companies, Orbital Software, and one of the founders and entrepreneurs behind Move Fresh, an investment company for e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods brands.\nThe winners were chosen in the following categories: Bright Ideas, Going for Growth, Staff Superhero, Business for Good, and Innovative Intrapreneur. Shepherd and Wedderburn supported the Bright Ideas, Business for Good, Staff Superhero and Going for Growth categories and John Morrison, an associate in the firm’s corporate finance team, joined the judging panel in the Going for Growth category.\nThe winners in each category were: Going for Growth – uFraction8, a Heriot Watt University spin-out, which has developed a niche filtration system that reduces water usage and increases efficiency in the production of pharmaceuticals, food additives and other products across a wide range of sectors.\nBusiness for Good – Alterwaste, an Edinburgh-based start-up developing a range of eco-friendly products from waste by-products. The company is currently developing disposable tableware made from industrial eggshell waste under the Colleggtion brand name.\nBright Sparks – Campar, a concept online booking tool for camper vans and camp sites, developed by Madalina Dichiu.\nInnovative Intrapreneur – Alex Porter-Smith, founder of video production company High Tide Media, which specialises in providing online visual content for clients including Edinburgh Beer Factory, Hidden Door Festival, Creative Scotland and Rettie & Co.\nStaff Superhero – Maria Gauci, founder of Partem Astra training & consulting. Gauci has developed industry-led MSc modules and standalone, intensive lab skills courses to help university graduates secure industry jobs.\nSpokesman John Morrison, of Shepherd and Wedderburn, said: “The quality of entries in the Bridge Red Sparks competition was extremely impressive.\n“All the finalists deserve to be commended.”", "KARACHI - Mayor Wasim Akhtar Wednesday said the city was passing through acute water crisis, government must take notice of water shortage and the water distribution and supply system in the city should be justified by controlling hydrants and tanker mafia. The chief minister should call the meeting to solve the water problem on priority basis.\nHe expressed these views while talking to media after provision of water to residents of New Karachi Allahwali and Yousuf Goth through water tankers.\nVice chairman of DMC Central Shakir Ali, Izhar Ahmed Khan, area councillors, KWSB officials, director Municipal Services Masood Alam, and other officers were also present on this occasion.\nThe mayor had been requested by residents of this area for providing water when he went there on Tuesday for inauguration of a school building. The mayor considering their problems contacted the KWSB officers who had given assurance for providing water in this area on preferential basis however in order to fulfill the needs of the area on immediate basis, emergency water tanker service was used to provide water to those people who cannot buy water.\nThe mayor said water supply was not our responsibility but problems of every area in Karachi are our problem and we are making all efforts to solve them at every level.", "Grays Harbor Water District No. 1 in Grayland will be Chlorine Shocking the local water system, which includes homes in the area as well as the Grayland Beach State Park.\nAccording to the utility, the Department of Health indicated, based on routine water samples, that small amounts of coliform in the system must be eliminated through the shock treatment.\nThe procedure will be done twice, once on Tuesday August 15 and again two weeks later on Tuesday August 29.\nInstead of the standard 1 part per million (PPM) of chlorine that the District has used in the past, the shock will be a much higher concentration of chlorine, and with each treatment the elevated levels of Chlorine will be noticeable for 2-3 days.\nThere is no boil water requirement in effect, but customers should not drink or cook with the water as it may have quite a strong taste during the treatment and a few days after.\nAnyone who uses water containing elevated levels of chlorine could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink water containing elevated levels of chlorine could experience stomach discomfort.\nThe utility says that customers can use a Britta filter or other filtration system to eliminate the chlorine smell and flavor from the drinking water.\nCampers are being notified and encouraged to bring sufficient water for their stay during each treatment period.\nAnyone with questions is asked to call the water district at (360) 267-2411.", "Only half of households notified about water leaks on their property have responded to requests for repairs to be carried out by Irish Water.\nIrish Water managing director Jerry Grant said that the average leakage found under driveways amounted to six tonnes of wasted water a day, equal to amounts used by over 20 households.\nThe committee also heard that some 5% of households were responsible for almost a third of water used, mainly due to leaks.\nTDs and senators on the Oireachtas Water Committee yesterday sought answers about the installing, use and practicality of water meters in Ireland. Members must agree recommendations for the future of water charges by the middle of next month, before a Dáil vote follows.\nMr Grant said only 50,000 out of an estimated 100,000 households had replied or agreed to repairs for water leaks. In some cases, two to three letters were sent to households to get access to fix leaks. Up to 28,000 of those properties have had leaks repaired to date.\n“6,500 or nearly 7,000 of those are under gardens and driveways, 21,000 in homes. The total amount of water that is no longer recorded by those 28,000 meters is 77 million litres per day,” Mr Grant said.\nHe told members that Irish Water repairs from its free first fix policy for households had saved this amount. This equated to the entire amount used by Galway City and county in a day.\nUp to 893,000 meters have now been installed in households. But the process of meter installation has been frozen while the pros and cons of the charging system are debated by the Oireachtas. Mr Grant said there were 4,407 district meters across the country, including 750 in Dublin, which assess usage for whole communities.\nThe committee heard from Scottish Water last week which said most of its metering was through district charging, where a general charging system was applied.\nIrish Water has been given €118m over a ten-year period to address leaks, improve its metering system, part of which has gone to upgrading the district metering.\nHowever, Mr Grant admitted to TDs that the benefits of specific household meters without charges or ancillary conservation methods would be “marginal” when it came to cost saving. Fixing of leaks “dwarfed” all other conservation methods, he added.\nThe committee, though, also heard that the fixing of broken water meters cost between €2m and €3m over two years. This is likely to increase in the coming years." ]

[ "Hollywood actors marched Monday morning as contract talks resumed between the Screen Actors Guild and the major studios.Both sides say they want to avoid another work stoppage like the costly writers guild strike." ]

[ "The Screen Actors Guild began contract talks Tuesday.At the new offices of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, members of the SAG bargaining team arrived early Tuesday morning to begin the bargaining talks.", "Contract talks continue for National City teachers in an effort to avert a teachers strike called for Friday.", "Electricity workers from across Queensland have stopped work to march on state parliament to protest against stalled pay talks.", "Hollywood producers sent the clearest sign yet yesterday that they won't lock out actors if they are unable to agree on a contract before the current pact expires early tomorrow.", "Public sector pay talks will resume on Monday afternoon, unions and the public service ministry confirmed.", "Thousands of engineering sector workers gathered in Durban on Tuesday morning ahead of a march in demand of higher wages.", "Arauco has resumed production at the Valdivia pulp mill on Sunday, 21 March.", "Workers in the freight sector belonging to the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union march through the Durban central business district, demanding an increase in salary September 26, 2012.", "NATO and Russia will resume their formal political talks Wednesday with a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the ambassadorial level.", "Russian and US defense chiefs during a phone conversation on Monday, March 25 agreed to resume missile defense talks at the deputy minister level, the office of the Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement, according to RIA Novosti.", "The NHL and the NHL Players' Association are set to resume labor talks on Wednesday at the league offices in New York.", "SAG members on Thursday voted for change, electing members of a faction that has promised to unite the union as it faces its toughest challenge in negotiating a new contract with the major studios and production companies.", "VICTORIAN nurses have called off their industrial action after the union and employers agreed to resume talks.", "Casting directors and associates have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract with studios and networks, endorsing the deal by a vote of 168-4.", "Hollywood actor Richard Gere led a candlelight march in Bodh Gaya, during a five-day teaching session by the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.", "Amid the town's growing consensus that the Screen Actors Guild is not going to strike, SAG is staying in stall mode.", "At 6.15am on 24 January, Burslem postal workers marched proudly behind their banner back into work more united than when they walked out on strike six weeks before.", "Actor Matt Damon rallied teachers Saturday at a march in Washington decrying the widespread use of standardized testing to judge how well teachers, students and schools are performing.", "Pakistan and India will resume their peace talks next week, said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Sadiq on Thursday.", "Tertiary students chanting 'No tolerance, better conditions' as they marched in central Thessaloniki yesterday demanding an increase in government spending on technical colleges.", "US carrier AT&T will offer the iPhone without a contract as of March 26.", "Reports which were published on Sunday suggest that India and Pakistan may resume their talks via backdoor channel diplomacy.", "The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly ended contract talks with free-agent Lamar Odom, upset with the forward's decision to continue pushing for an extended contract.", "Hawker Beechcraft workers and their supporters staged a rally Tuesday to drum up support to strike if current contract negotiations don't go their way.", "Actor Jon Lovitz talks to CNN's Piers Morgan about the 1% and the economy.", "THE DUP and Sinn Féin will resume talks today after ``useful progress'' was made over the weekend on the devolution of policing and justice powers.", "Afghan President Hamid Karzai held talks with Qatari leaders in Doha on March 31 to discuss possible peace talks with the Taliban.", "Farmers march with a cow during a demonstration in front of the national assembly in central Seoul September 12, 2012.", "Two prominent Taiwanese movie directors are calling on the public to join an anti-nuclear march this Saturday.", "Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch is reportedly in talks to play the code-breaker Alan Turing.", "With scores of wounded men and women returning from combat, New York veterans groups will march on the state Capitol today to demand action on what they say are outstanding health and work issues.", "The veteran legend further argued that no contract can stop an actor from marrying and having kids." ]

[ "9 Irrefutable Reasons You Should Start a Business Today. 1 1. They don't make choices--they create choices. 2 2. The voice in their head is louder than any other voice. 3 3. They believe that getting to play the game is more important than winning or losing. 4 4. They enjoy succeeding with others." ]

[ "Ok, honestly I don't even know where to start on this review, but if you read it all the way to the end you will understand why you should NEVER take your business with this dealership, I'll tell... more.", "3 Reasons You Should Start Studying for Your AP Exams by the Midpoint of the Year. The way I see it, there are three reasons why you should start studying for you AP exams in earnest by the midpoint of the school year.", "Signs are important to attract customers to your business. Before starting the operation of your business, you should plan on your signage. Here are the main reasons why signage is so necessary for your business.", "I'm 17 years old and want to start a dropshipping business but I have no idea what niche I should pursue? How do I choose a niche? How do you start a successful business as a 15-year-old?", "If you want to start a smog business, you should learn what it takes to become a smog technician. Why would a person buy a car if the person does not know how to drive. Most of you are talking nonsense. Learn the trade and learn what it takes to run a business.f you want to start a smog business, you should learn what it takes to become a smog technician. Why would a person buy a car if the person does not know how to drive. Most of you are talking nonsense. Learn the trade and learn what it takes to run a business.", "Business Startup and Fiscal Year. The year in which the business starts is the first tax year of the business. That can be important in the future for purposes of moving business losses into previous years. In this case, the actual date isn't as important as the year. If I had had business activity last year (major expenses or a client), I should have filed a tax return for that year, just to establish the start date to take a business tax loss for that year. Business Start Date and Startup Costs", "Why A Partnership? June 21, 2010 / in Capital Business Advisors / by Capital Business Advisors, Inc. There are two primary reasons why one should have a partner. Either you need someone to share the work load or you need someone to share the cost and the i Call Us:", "Making the world better, one answer at a time. The first paragraph of any business or academic letter should tell the recipient why you are writing. In the case of writing on someone else's behalf, you should open with this fact at the start of the first paragraph.", "Soulja Boy Tell Em. 5 hrs ·. Reasons Why You Should Start Making Love Every Night. Reasons Why You Should Start Making Love Every NightTHIS is why making love EVERY night is so GOOD for you!souljaboyvisuals.co. Reasons Why You Should Start Making Love Every Night. THIS is why making love EVERY night is so GOOD for you!", "What's the Maker Movement and Why Should I Care? We're glad you asked. The coauthor of Invent to Learn explains how to start one in your schools and why making is the most powerful way for kids to learn.", "Why and When to use Groovy. I have just started learning Groovy few days back.The first thing that I have asked myself and searched for is 'Why should i use groovy over java and When I can use Groovy. I am following the book 'Programming Groovy'. Simplicity : Groovy syntax is simple and easy.", "Yes, of course…. but there is a reason why the date your policy cover starts from is important. Let’s say I set up a business, Newman’s Widget Consultancy, and run my business happily for a year – adding clients and growing my revenue as I do.", "50 Favorites: and July 2013 index of supplement to Evening Light Songs #20. His Eye Is on the Sparrow. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come. [Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come]", "@Jennifer, great job on taking the decision to open a smog check business. In my upcoming website I will walk people and guide them on ways to open a smog check business, I will include an upsale for my course to tech people and how to make real big money running a successful smog check business.f you want to start a smog business, you should learn what it takes to become a smog technician. Why would a person buy a car if the person does not know how to drive. Most of you are talking nonsense. Learn the trade and learn what it takes to run a business.", "10+ items -- The Starting a Business channel helps you navigate the ... How to Start a Business With No Money. It's possible to start a business with no ... How to Start a Consignment Store. You want to start your own retail business ... I would like to start a retail business but my credit is bad and i ...", "This is why your business should have a timeline outlining all the necessary actions you will have to go through, even before the start your business. It is a step-by-step tool that you can regularly look at and check off when you're done. Completing this timeline signifies your business is ready to begin.", "I started wearing makeup at 16, and I think that's a much better age. 6 years. I think little girls (and boys!) should be allowed to play with it at home when they want. They shouldn't wear it out until they can understand the reasons why people wear it, and can voice why they want to wear it.", "In this case, the actual date isn't as important as the year. If I had had business activity last year (major expenses or a client), I should have filed a tax return for that year, just to establish the start date to take a business tax loss for that year. Business Start Date and Startup Costs. The date a business starts can be important when considering whether startup costs are deductible. The IRS says you can deduct startup costs for ...amounts paid or incurred for: (a) creating an active trade or business; or (b) investigating the creation or ...", "See a list of those industries that best fit the City of Floydada and why we think they work well for you. Start a Business. Learn how to get started with a new business in Floydada, Texas and make a formal request for incentives.ee a list of those industries that best fit the City of Floydada and why we think they work well for you. Start a Business. Learn how to get started with a new business in Floydada, Texas and make a formal request for incentives.", "Bplans can certainly help you with your business plan, which is a crucial step in starting a successful company. You should be able to use all the advice and information found right here on Bplans.com to get a pretty good idea of what a business plan looks like and what should be included. I recommend that you start at our “How to write a business plan” page here: http://articles.bplans.com/writing-a-business-plan.", "Being 22 years old at the time, having a low aversion to risk, no obligations, and the drive to be very successful like Ron, I came back the next morning, and started my business. I had only lived in Texas for less than two years, and had no business connections. So I really had to start from the bottom. It was a rocky, rocky first three years. I really learned just why most businesses fail in the first few years – the pain can be too much for some to overcome.", "#1 bloop, Aug 14, 2009. I'm sorry if I'm not much help bloop since I don't know a thing about the gas station business. Anyway, why not go talk with gas station owners around your area. Start talking about their business and how their business is doing.", "You can find it by clicking this link http://www.reallifeaccounting.com/pubs/pub_dn.pdf. In the book I try to give the reader a heads up as to the pitfalls of starting a new business without adequate planning. You may be wondering why anyone would simply liquidate the business instead of selling it.", "I would tell them to have it read “Mura, Muri, Muda.” (Although the mother wouldn’t be any less bewildered.) And I have the same advice for managers -- especially senior managers -- trying to create lean businesses: Take a careful look at your Mura and your Muri as you start to tackle your Muda. Ask why there should be any more variation in your activities than called for by customer behavior.", "Why shred? What should I shred? How long should I keep sensitive documents? Can I recycle shredded paper? Suggested items to shred. Why shred?", "Why should I set up a small business in Ireland? There are many advantages of business setup in Ireland including i) low tax rates ii) an excellent labor force and iii) tax holiday of up to 3 years.here are many advantages of business setup in Ireland including i) low tax rates ii) an excellent labor force and iii) tax holiday of up to 3 years.", "If your goal is to start a tire recycling and disposal business, you should investigate whether there are good franchise opportunities available that might make sense for you.t's almost always preferable to buy a tire recycling and disposal business than to pursue a tire recycling and disposal business startup. You'll want to conduct a comprehensive due diligence process, but here are three arguments why you should think about buying instead of a startup. 1 Proven Profitability.", "2 www.lumendata.com www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/data-integration/enterprise-data-quality/overview/index.html Why should I care about data migration? The only constant in business today is that change is inevitable. This change can manifest in many forms in a business such as", "Business Information Systems & Economics, Berlin School of Economics and Law (2014) In this answer I will outline why I am convinced, that the PTE is much easier than IELTS and why everyone attempting to receive “superior” English results in an English proficiency test should stay away from IELTS and go for PTE instead.", "18 thoughts on “How to Start a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Business”. 1 I would like to start a business ,non emergency wheelchair services there is s need in my community thank for the info how do I build a website thank you. 2 What kind of driver license should i use for nemt, im planning to put up a business about nemt.", "Note: This is part two in a series of strength training from NF Team Member Staci. Check out part one, which goes over the reasons why you should start strength training. I have a confession to make. When I first decided I was going to start lifting, I was scared to death of the weight section of the gym.", "Quotes About Business Success. Quotes tagged as business-success (showing 1-30 of 81). “I don't know where we should take this company, but I do know that if I start with the right people, ask them the right questions, and engage them in vigorous debate, we will find a way to make this company great.”.― James C. Collins.Like.uotes About Business Success. Quotes tagged as business-success (showing 1-30 of 81). “I don't know where we should take this company, but I do know that if I start with the right people, ask them the right questions, and engage them in vigorous debate, we will find a way to make this company great.”." ]

[ "I would recommend any LED headlamp, it's a huge difference to old school flashlights (much brighter and batteries last much longer). Headlamp because you want to have your hands free if you got to carry something or if the path is slippy after rain. I would make sure it has at least two light modes (dimmed and full) to be flexible and use it for reading too. Almost all of them take AA/AAA batteries, if you just plan to use it for short walks between cabin and car only the batteries probably will last for months.\n\nPersonally I have good experiences with Petzl but any other brand probably will do too (just look into reviews if the promised brightness and battery life is real)." ]

[ "Well, there's a lot that would go into that effect, especially if the girl's hand is moving. Here's the basics so that you can better know what kinds of tutorials to search for.\n\nTo create the light you'd probably use what's called a \"particle generator\" combined with a star glow or shine effect (e.g., Trapcode Starglow.) If you don't want to shell out for that plugin, search for how to do \"light streaks effect\" or \"shine effects\" in AE \"without plugins.\"\n\nTo make it look like it's within her hand (i.e., sandwiched between her fingers and her palm) you'd need to understand how to \"animate mask paths\" (in order to mask her fingers into their own separate layer.)\n\nTo make the light follow her hand around you'd need to learn about \"motion tracking.\"", "This is always going to be a matter of opinion but here are some reasons why I think the answer is \"yes\":\n\nCornering: you don't have to be cornering hard for a bar-mounted light to point the wrong way, and cornering is a time when you really don't want to hit a pothole. \n\nSignaling to others: if a bus starts indicating out while you're alongside, lifting your head to flash their mirror is quite effective. \n\nIf you come off in the dark: you don't want someone to swerve round the bike towards your head. (my head torch has a rear light as well, thanks to my modifications). \n\nI also like the fact that when riding with my bar light quite dipped (e.g. on a busy, two-way but unlit bike path), I have hands-free control of how far in front the road is illuminated, and can avoid dazzling people coming the other way while still illuminating the road ahead. I use a head torch with a narrow beam.", "I noticed three potential problems. First, this bit of code looks suspicious:\n\nVector r = new Vector(PRNG.nextDouble(), PRNG.nextDouble(), PRNG.nextDouble()).normalize();\nVector v = r.cross(w);\nVector u = v.cross(w);\nVector wi = u.scale(sample.x).add(v.scale(sample.y)).add(w.scale(sample.z));\n\n\nThe vectors v and u are not normalized, so the construction of wi will be distorted. (Also, using a random vector r to construct the basis is really more work than necessary; you might take a look at this paper for a faster way of doing that.)\n\nSecond, you have a getAmbientReflection() in your direct lighting code—that should not be there for path tracing, where \"ambient\" light is properly calculated by the recursive trace.\n\nFinally, I think the result of your direct illumination path ought to be scaled by $1/π$. This is because the Lambert BRDF is equal to $c_d/π$ where $c_d$ is the diffuse color. The direct illumination path needs to evaluate the full BRDF, including that $1/π$ factor, using the irradiance sample coming in from the light source.\n\nHowever, the cosine-weighted recursive trace does not need a $1/π$, as it is cancelled out by the cosine PDF. That one should just use $c_d$, like you have it.\n\nYou can check that the $1/π$ factors are correct by checking that the average brightness is equal with and without next-event estimation (keeping the path length the same).\n\nBTW, note that the image getting somewhat brighter as you increase the path length is to be expected, as longer paths = more bounces = more illumination. (Russian-roulette path termination fixes this.) Longer paths will also give stronger global illumination / \"color-bleeding\" effects. That seems to be what's happening in your images—look at the color of the shadow under the sphere; it gets progressively more influenced by the color of the walls and sphere as you increase the path length.\n\nIf this is undesirable, try reducing the diffuse reflection factors of all the materials in the scene; they might be unrealistically high, and cutting them down will reduce the bounce light and color-bleeding.", "The key here is how much light will be hitting sensor during flash, and how much during the rest of exposure. The sensor does gather light during the whole exposure; all of it is blended into one static image.\n\nIn case the ambient light is much lower, it won't have nearly as much effect on the total light that reaches the sensor, and therefore only surfaces lit by flash will stand out.\n\nOn the other hand, if the sensor gathers illumination provided by ambient light in similar or even higher amount than illumination caused by flash, it will show in the resulting image. \n\nCombining areas lit by flash and areas lit by continuous light is most notably used for slow-sync technique. Example by Robin, 1/10 seconds:\n\n\n\nTo capture ambient light in addition to flash, you'll need to change the ratio between them. You could reduce flash power and/or increase ambient light (stronger lighting or longer shutter time). Note that changes in aperture or ISO would affect both kinds of light similarly, i.e. they don't affect ratio.", "The Light path node allows you to make shaders do different things based on where the incoming light ray was before. When thinking about where \"before\" is, keep in mind that cycles is a backwards path-tracer.\n\nThe Ray Depth output of the light path node gives the number of bounces the ray went through before hitting the lamp (or whatever is using the shader).\nSo when tracing backwards from the camera to the lamp, surfaces which are directly illuminated (1 bounce away) will hit a lamp with a corresponding strength of 1:\n\n\n\nSurfaces illuminated by indirect lighting (2 or more bounces before hitting a light source) will \"see\" a correspondingly stronger light source:\n\n\n\nTo see it in action:\n\n\n\nAs to why it appears \"more realistic\", I think this really just an artifact of the lamp being way too bright in the first example (it looks fine when the strength in the light falloff node is then set to 1). In fact the setup with the ray depth is less technically realistic, as explained above.\n\nNormally the light falloff node is plugged into the strength, not the color. Then with the default strength of 100 it looks just fine:", "As Alan and trichoplax mention in the comments, the effect that ambient occlusion simulates is not the occlusion of a surface from the camera but the surface’s occlusion from its surroundings.\n\nThink of it this way: say you have even illumination coming from every direction, so that the total incoming light at any point sums up to a value of 1. If you place a flat plane in that environment and look at one side of it, that side is going to receive 50% of that illumination, or 0.5, because the other half is blocked by the plane itself. In other words, any point on the plane’s surface can only “see” the light coming from half of the environment, so it’s half as brightly illuminated. If you fold that plane towards your viewpoint (a “valley” fold), then you decrease the incoming illumination to that side of the plane further, to some value below 0.5, because, again, each point on the plane “sees” a bit less of the light coming from the surroundings.\n\nScreen-space ambient occlusion works more or less by looking for these “folds”—areas where the depth changes sharply, as defined by comparing the depths of neighboring pixels—and darkening them to simulate the decreased illumination from the points’ environment.", "Presumably you are using a lighting system already, let's say Lambert shading for simplicity..\n\nSo we have a texture which is going to be illuminated by some light source. The following psuedo/shader code will do lambert shading as normal..\n\ndiffuseIllum = lightColour * dot(normal, lightDir);\noutputColour = textureColour.rgb * diffuseIllum;\n\n\nBut we want certain parts of our texture to emit colours instead of being illuminated by only our light source.\n\nOne method would be to use an extra channel in the input texture, say the Alpha channel, to control which pixels are emissive\n\ndiffuseIllum = lightColour * dot(normal, lightDir);\noutputColor = mix(textureColour.rgb * diffuseIllum, textureColour.rgb, texture.a);\n\n\nUnfortunately this won't work so well if you want say a dark red glow because the output pixel will either be the emissive colour (dark red) or the lit texture colour, which could be much brighter. In effect our emissive areas could end up darker than the surrounding illuminated areas.\n\nWe could add the emissive colour to the illuminated texture but that limits how much control over final colour we have.\n\ne.g.\n\noutputColour = textureColour.rgb * diffuseIllum + textureColour.rgb * textureColour.a;\n\n\nA more correct method would involve using 2 textures, one for diffuse illumination and another for purely emissive. These would be added together in the pixel shader.\n\ne.g. \n\n outputColour = textureColour.rgb * diffuseIllum + emissiveTextureColour.rgb;", "First of all, you can get caustics just by Path Tracing. Caustics isn't a difficult phenomenon in computer graphics. Almost any global illumination algorithm can render it. It's just a matter of the converging speed.\n\nWhile (naive) Path Tracing can render caustics, it takes a long time to clean the rendered image due to how the algorithm works. Photon Mapping makes the converging speed faster by doing some tricks on how light paths are interpolated. Bi-Directional Path Tracing on the other hand tries to make some difficult-to-sample light paths easier.\n\nBesides the two algorithms, Metropolis Light Transport can render caustics efficiently by finding the most significant light path in the scene and exploring other possibilities around it.\n\nHere are some good lectures on:\n\n\nRay based rendering algorithms\nPath Tracing\nPhoton Mapping\n\n\nThere is the original paper of BDPT. It's not too difficult if you can implement explicit light sampling and multiple importance sampling by your self.\n\nAlso, I recommend the book Physically Based Rendering: From Theory to Implementation. It talks about all the algorithms above and more. It is basically a must have if you want to dive deep into computer graphics.", "To summarize my discussion below: I believe this patent is even broader and effectively covers ANY rendering technique combining pre-computed light maps with any other form of illumination calculations. It must however be noted that the priority date is in 2004.\n\nStill, links such as the following illustrate that light maps were already common in real-time applications before that time:\n\nhttp://joshbeam.com/articles/dynamic_lightmaps_in_opengl/\n\nhttp://www.bigpanda.com/trinity/article1.html\n\nThe second link is actually from 1998 (cf. http://www.bigpanda.com/trinity/) and explicitly mentions combining light maps with other advanced forms of lighting (middle of page). To be more specific, see \"Each bump map is the light map for the polygon as dynamically lit from a particular range of angles.\" and \"The pixel color is equal to the static light map plus the dynamic bump maps, multiplied by the texture map\". The presence of multiple locations / levels with their own light maps is implied by the mention of Quake 3. IMHO this pretty much anticipates claim 1.\n\nOriginal discussion to follow:\n\n\n\nFrankly, I believe the patent is even a lot worse than you think. Claim 1 does not even specify anything relating to wavelets. In addition to this, it contains lots of vague and non-standard terminology. \"Framing abstraction\", \"minor/major lights\", \"n-sides\", \"ambient value\", \"value related to\", \"associating values with\" etc.\n\nIn fact, aside from \"light\", \"model\", and \"pixel\", there is not a single standard computer graphics term in the entire claim - despite the fact that well-established terminology existed at the priority date for the concepts alluded to in the claim.\n\n\n\nA computing system for displaying a graphical model comprising:\na processor that employs instructions to perform actions, including:\n\n/* we have some sort of containers, e.g. cube maps or general textures (\"n-sides\" - whatever that means. 2D? 3D?), for pre-baked lighting */\n\ndetermining a plurality of framing abstractions in a virtual environment, wherein the framing abstractions having n-sides with n being an integer value greater than two;\n\n/* some lights get baked into the light maps, and some others are not */\n\nfor each framing abstraction, determining major and minor lights from a plurality of lights incident to the framing abstraction;\n\n/* baking the effects of some light sources into the light maps */\n\nfor each framing abstraction, calculating ambient values, each ambient value being related to an aggregate light illumination at a respective side of the framing abstraction by the minor lights, and associating the ambient values with the framing abstraction;\n\n/* selecting a light map */\n\nselecting a framing abstraction based on a location of the model;\n\n/* combining per-pixel illumination using the \"major lights\" and the pre-baked values in the light map (\"minor lights\") */\n\ndetermining the light illumination caused by the major lights for a pixel of the model; and\nmodifying the determined light illumination by a value related to one or more of the ambient values associated with the selected framing abstraction; and\n\n/* display on screen */\n\na display screen arranged to display the model based on the modified light illumination.\n\n\n\nIn summary, no wavelets in the claim. In effect, the claim pretty much covers any rendering technique which combines any sort of pre-baked light maps with any sort of per-pixel lighting. Regardless of what part of the rendering pipeline (if any) is real-time and what part (if any) is an offline pre-process.\n\nMany existing 3D computer graphics systems, from real-time game engines to movie VFX, likely fall under the scope of the claim.", "1) Why does the EyePath have one more vertex?\n\n\nCompared to what ? I'm guessing you're talking about the half path starting from the eye being one vertex longer than the half path starting from the light source? If so, that is could be done because that very first ray starting from the eye is completely constrained (it must go from the camera through a particular pixel), so it isn't random. To keep the randomization &amp; computation \"balanced\" between both half paths, this ray is considered additional. In general if you have several bounces, it won't matter either way.\n\n\n 2) When I compute the direct illumination during the EyePath creation, do I need to take account of the value of the previous vertex?\n\n\nWhat value is that? if it's the direct/indirect illumination computed on that previous vertex, then no, this light flow has no business going to the next vertx and then back up to the eye. If however you were talking about the weighting and filtering accumulated from the eye to to thet point, then yes those transfer funtion should be carried over all the way through.\n\n\n 3) I don't understand very well how to connect both paths. Randomly? Everyone with everyone? For the moment I randomly connect one vertex with another one.\n\n\nThere are many strategies, but the goal is to link both half-paths with visibility path. You could chose a point randomly in your geometry and attempt to link both half-paths through that point, but then the generated points will have no guarantee of being in visibility from either half-paths, and uniformly sampling the surface of your entire geometry would be a tough task.\n\nRather, you should generate your links so you have at least some guarantee. For instance, you could generate points by sampling the hemisphere of the end of either half-paths and raycasting it into your geometry - this way the visibility to that half-path at least is guaranteed. \n\nIf you do it from both sides sequentially you may even reduce variation due to one geometry being in a more pathological configuration - don't put all your eggs in the same basket!\n\nThe ideal of course would be to chose a junction point C so that it is in visibility of both half-path ends everytime, that is typically impossible in non-trivial geometries.\n\nFinally the Everyone with everyone strategy is not good if I understood your meaning. If you meant sample both hemispheres, project both samples into the geometry to obtain many couples and attempt to join those couples with a visibiltiy test, then you're back to square one - you've only lenghtened both paths by 1 ray.\n\n4) Our PBRT book implements a contribution according to Eyepath and LightPath length. Do I need to do it, given that all the objects in my scene geometry are diffuse?\n\nI don't really understand what that contribution is but I'm guesing this:\n\nTo reduce variance, the path length is left free, typically using russian roulette. Every time your path survives the roulette, its contribution is amplified (divided) by the change of surviving. Normally the length (accumulated distance is of no concern because light does not dim along a ray (it only dims in density along a widening one of light, but we're samppling rays here). \n\n\n 5) Are new rays randomly generated in a hemisphere at every bounce?\n \n All objects are diffuse.\n\n\nWith diffuse objects the light coming in from any direction will have the same contribution to the outgoing radiation (apart from the cosine factor, I'll come back to it) by the sheer definition of a \"diffuse\" surface. The stratified sampling theory tells us the optimal sampling strategy is uniform, so yeah, randomly generating rays in the hemisphere is what works best for diffuse surfaces.\n\nThat said, If we come back to my note about the cosine factor, there is a better sampling strategy, which is the cosine sampling. Instead of sampling uniformly, then dividing by the cosine factor, you could cosine-weighted sample the hemisphere, and ommit the division altogether. This would bring denser ray where the constribution will be greatest (so lower variance) and remove a division and cosine operation. This is typically done almost all the time, to the point that many people even forget to bring back the cosine division for non-diffuse surfaces!\n\n\n For the moment I get this result with 15 samples:\n \n 6) Do you have any idea what's going on ?\n\n\nThis looks like the first iteration of a fine-looking image. What is bothering you, exactly?\n\nTo me the graining is because you may need more samples. The only thing I find odd is that your light doesn't seem to be sampled by the direct rays from the camera (it is 'invisible' to the eye). This could mean some of your intermediate rays might also miss it, resulting in wrong lighting and artifacts.", "I will not answer your questions directly, but will try to change your mindset a bit. I hope got your intentions reasonably well... \n\nThe usual way the path tracing is implemented is that the reflection integral is split into direct and indirect illumination and they are estimated separately.\n\nThe direct illumination can be estimated using more sampling strategies which are combined together using the multi-sample multiple importance sampling method by Veach. Typically, there is just BSDF sampling and light sampling used, but you can also add things like light portals sampling and other more sophisticated stuff. I guess this is where you are headed.\n\nThe indirect illumination is usually estimated by just one sampling strategy (typically BSDF sampling) because you want to avoid exponential growth of recursive paths count. That's the reason why path tracing has poor performance for indirect illumination reflected/refracted through glossy/specular materials.\n\nA nice thing about the split integral is that you can share samples between the direct and indirect integral. If you have two integrals over the same domain and have a sampling strategy that can be used for both, then you can generate a sample to estimate the first integral and then use the same sample for the second integral as well. There is no problem with correlated samples here because we have two separate computations. In practice you generate a BSDF sample with some PDF, shoot a ray in that direction and use the intersection point to estimate both direct and indirect integral separately.\n\n\n\nPS: I guess that for indirect illumination estimator you could possibly use the one-sample multiple importance sampling method by Veach to incorporate the light portals and other sampling strategies, but I have some doubts about the efficiency of the resulting estimator, especially when reusing the samples for the direct illumination integral.", "Red light preserves your night vision.\n\nRed lights are used in photography dark rooms, military bunkers, submarines, and anywhere you might find yourself working in the dark. It gives you light to see by, while at the same time keeping your eyes adjusted for the dark.\n\n\n\nI use my red light mostly when I'm when I'm around a camp fire, in the middle of the night when I'm in my tent, or when I have to go out to do my business in the pitch black. It's also excellent to use when there's a bright moon.\n\nUsing your red light in the tent is great because you won't blast your eyes out, or disturb anyone else in the tent, your eyes don't need to adjust to it like they need to adjust to white light. This is exactly why digital alarm clocks have red numbers. @Olin explains some of the science in his answer, and @radpin's comment to the OP links to this question on biology.SE.\n\nUsing your red light outdoors in the dark gives you much more peripheral vision. When you're using your white light; your eyes adjust to the light so you can only see what's being illuminated by your headlamp. When your eyes are adjusted to the dark, you can use the red light to illuminate the trail, but you will also be able to see everything that's being illuminated by the moon in the distance. \n\nTry it out next time you're in the dark, give your eyes enough time to adjust to the dark, then turn on your red light. You'll be surprised how much you can actually see.", "Here you have a full repository with a lot of papers about light transport. There's also a folder named 'theory' where you can get both intro and advanced refs regard light physics. And much more. I'm personally curating this and keeping up to date with latest advancements. \n\nhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16A6Yj2esRTk0FP-ALr6XfxkGQvTb_1dD?usp=sharing\n\nHowever here are the main books/papers I suggest to read :\n\n1985 - Physically Based Lighting Calculations For Computer Graphics\n\n1986 - The Rendering Equation\n\n1997 - A Framework for Realistic Image Synthesis\n\n1997 - Robust MonteCarlo Methods For Light Transport Simulation\n\n2011 - The State of the Art in Interactive Global Illumination\n\n2014 - The Path to Path-Traced Movies", "A mathematically perfect point light that shines in exactly straight rays doesn't cast soft shadows.\n\nImagine you're a tiny bug crawling along the shadow-receiving surface. From each spot you crawl to, you can either see the point light (and your eye is fully illuminated by it), or you can't (and your eye is fully shadowed).\n\nThe light source doesn't have any thickness for it to be partly occluded, or shining at partial strength. That leaves its shadows hard as can be, if we're following the mathematical model strictly (ie. not imitating atmospheric or diffraction effects that could bend a fraction of the light into non-straight rays)\n\nSo by setting out to render soft shadows, you're already implicitly stating \"I'm going to treat this light like it has some area\" so that some spots on the shadow receiver see 50% of the light, and get illuminated to 50% brightness, for instance.\n\nSo this:\n\n\n Can I still use PCSS on omnidirectional lights by \"cheating\" and applying a tweaked constant value as the light area parameter?\n\n\nsounds like a valid way to implement that intention.", "Consider a 2D cross section ABCD straight through a cell of the grid, parallel to (and containing) the lighting axis. AD = BC is the depth of the cell and AB = CD is the length of the opening (horizontally, vertically, or even at an angle).\n\n\n\nIn this diagram light can come anywhere from the left in any direction (created by your softbox or otherwise). The illuminated subject is represented abstractly as the line JL. Three of the possible light rays passing completely through the cell are shown: BL, AJ, and HK (a ray in a \"generic\" position). Evidently all rays emanating from the cell (without any intermediate reflection) must land between J and L on the subject. (This is obvious if you start at the subject and trace the light path back through the cell: only by starting between J and L will you be able to find some line that makes it back through the cell to the light source.) The angle subtended by the lit portion of the subject is the angle JGL--the left tip of the yellow triangle--which is identical to the angle CGD. You can compute it trigonometrically if you like: the tangent of half this angle equals (CD/2) / (AD/2) = CD/AD. But it may be good enough to note that the extreme rays, BL and AC, intersect in the center of the cross-sectional rectangle at G. That gives you an effective way to visualize the angle of the beam and also shows that it's twice the angles you would measure across the cell at CBD or CAD. In short, the beam angle is (at most) what would be observed were a tiny light source placed exactly in the (3D) center of each cell of the grid and it's (approximately) twice the angle you would estimate by going from any single point on the back of the cell through the cell's opposite opening. This justifies your understanding--as the cell gets deeper, the angle at G must get smaller--and also quantifies it.\n\nThis reasoning is enough to recover the entire 3D angle by considering different possible orientations of cross sections along the axis of the cell (the lighting axis).\n\nThat's not the whole story. The quality of the light depends slightly on the quality and extent of the source. Most importantly it won't be uniform: even when the source is uniform and diffuse, the emitted light falls off substantially towards the edges (approximately linearly). That should not be noticeable (except at the very edges of the total illumination) because the actual light is the composite of beams from all the grid cells, not just from one of them. And the source won't always be uniform, either. Lack of uniformity will tighten the beam angles, especially among the grid cells furthest (off-axis) from the light.", "As noted in the comments, this answer applies to things like sun-bathing and solar panels, but it does not apply so much to a specific point-receptor like an eyeball. If all objects in question are pointing directly at the sun, then the angle of incidence is equal for all of them and this answer does not apply.\n\nFor an optic facing its target, the amount of atmosphere that the light passes through is a very large influencer. At higher latitudes, the sun is not directly overhead, and so the light is not coming straight down through the path of least atmosphere. Instead, it comes in at an angle, passing through more of the atmosphere before it gets to you.\n\nFor sun-bathers, solar panels, and the ground in general, the sunlight absorbed and reflected does depend very much on what is described in this answer. For that reason, more expensive solar panels are mounted on devices which alter their angle to face the sun for increased light exposure. And a sun-bather could likewise increase their exposure by mounting their platform at an angle. This is the direction the rest of the answer will take.\n\nThe answer is similar to the answer to some other questions, such as \"Why does the solar power intensity change with the season?\" and \"Why does the solar intensity change with the height of the sun in the sky (ie: with the time of day)?\"\n\nThe very short, non-technical version (tl;dr)\n\nEach unit (think \"beam of sunlight\") is spread over a larger area.\n\nThat might not seem intuitive at first, but that is the answer in a nutshell. To see why, continue to the long version.\n\nThe mechanics of the situation\n\nThe sun is huge, but at great distances it can be thought of as a point-source of light. The sun emits light in every direction, so its energy, the electromagnetic radiation, can be thought of as beams of sunlight coming out from it in every direction. However, the farther away you get, the fewer of those sunlight beams cross your path, and if you get far away you can see, from the below illustration, that the lines which cross your path are becoming ever more parallel and directional.\n\n\n\nHowever, the sun is very, very, very far away - many millions of miles (and kilometers) away. At this distance, the electromagnetic radiation is all arriving at roughly parallel trajectories. That is, the light reaching us can be viewed as coming from a directional light source; it's all going in the same direction. You will see my crude illustration of that coming up after the next picture, but first...\n\nWhen this happens, the angle at which the light arrives relative to the surface of the earth that it is arriving at, known as the angle of incidence, is what makes all the difference here. In the image below, we have light arriving from the left, perhaps from a flashlight(s), and two objects we want to see. The surface of the object below will be illuminated more, but the surface of the object above will be illuminated less.\n\n\n\nNotice the object above gets 2 units of light to illuminate its entire surface, whereas the object below gets 5 units of light for its surface.\n\nLooked at another way, the object above has to spread 2 units of light across its entire surface, where the object below gets that same amount of light concentrated on only a smaller part of it.\n\nNow back to Earth\n\nWe see the same thing happen. Notice in the below picture that I have labeled the diameter of the area covered by my arbitrary unit of light. The distance is literally measured in image pixels. Near the equator, 1 unit of light illuminates 27 pixels, but closer to the pole the same amount of light needs to be spread out over 61 pixels of Earth's surface, so it's illuminated less.\n\n\n\nAnd that is the answer to the question, and the related questions mentioned in my introduction.\n\nSome specific calculations\n\nThe specific ratio of illumination difference for the two areas in the above image would be (approximately) simply the division of the two numbers.\n\nThe area closer to the pole is getting 27/61 as much light per longitudinal unit cross-section (a north/south strip of land) as the area closer to the equator, or 0.4426 times as much light.\n\nOr, in the other direction, the area at the equator is getting 61/27 as much light, or 2.26 times as much light. So the equator area is getting more than twice as much light.\n\nWe can easily see from this why the sun might appear very much brighter or dimmer depending on the angle, and therefore depending on the latitude. This also explains the temperature difference: the equator is receiving a lot more energy, so it gets hotter.\n\nAnswer applied to seasons\n\nI said earlier that this also answers the question about the illumination change for the seasons. The only extra bit of information that we need to understand that is this: Earth's pole around which it revolves is not perfectly perpendicular to the direction that the light is arriving from. Because of this, the specific angle changes as Earth orbits around the sun. The orbit around the sun takes a year (That's what a year is, by definition), so this change of angle over time has a yearly cycle during which the angle of incidence (the fancy term from above again, which just means \"the difference of angle of the light to the object it is hitting\") changes. This change is large enough to further change the sunlight that we receive, in the exact same way as discussed above.\n\nFurther notes about temperature\n\nJust like before, this also affects temperature. The temperature, however, cannot be calculated by a simple ratio of area coverage. The temperature is affected by multiple other complicated systems. One of the major temperature influencers is the weather. Another of which is the difference between energy absorbed and energy lost (a physics thing: Earth is not a \"black body\" radiator).\n\nWeather affect on temperature is very complicated and would require its own post much longer than this one, but to sum it up super succinctly: stuff like the wind and rain and such change the temperature and also move it around.\n\nThe physics black-body thing likewise would require its own long post, but again, super succinctly: Earth is also putting out its own energy into space at the same time it is receiving energy from the sun, and the affect this has on temperature is a fine balancing act. Once that balancing act tips to one side, the temperature swings way over in that direction: during the spring when temps are rising the energy absorption is enough higher than the energy radiation that the temperature rises, and the opposite is true for autumn when temps are falling.\n\nThe above descriptions for both weather and block-body radiation are way oversimplified.\n\nThat's it\n\nAnd now the answer applies fully to seasonal changes as well, and it applies not only to illumination but also to temperature. I will leave it as an exercise for the reader to think about the daily affect (Why is it so much easier to look at the sun when it is low on the horizon just before it sets?)\n\nAnd, as stated before, there are other influencers for these things; this just happens to be the biggest one.", "The physics of why the heated metal glows like a black body has already\nbeen thoroughly covered in the previous answers. However, in order to\ncompletely bridge the gap with the physiology of color perception (which\nhas been alluded to in some answers), it is worth showing a picture of\nthe Planckian locus:\n\n\n\nPlot by PAR, from Wikimedia Commons\n\nThis is the set of all the colors a black body can have, plotted in a\nchromaticity diagram. It is computed by combining the black body\nemission formula with the color matching functions, which\nare a mathematical model of our color vision.\n\nThis graph clearly shows the path of a black body going hotter: red\n→&nbsp;orange →&nbsp;yellow →&nbsp;white →&nbsp;blue. Now, one may\nwonder by which coincidence it hits right into the white, rather than\ngoing slightly above (through the greens) or below (through the\npurples). That question, however, is backwards. The good question would\nbe “Why have we chosen to name ‘white’ a color from the Planckian\nlocus”. This is the question of the definition of white, and it is not\nstraightforward.\n\nIn the physicists jargon, the name white is often used to mean a “flat\nspectrum”, i.e. one in which the power per unit frequency does not\ndepend on the frequency. When talking about actual visible colors,\nhowever, it has a completely different meaning:\n\n\nA surface is said to be white if it bounces back almost all the\nvisible light that is shed to it.\nLight is said to be white if it looks like the light typically\ncoming from a white surface.\n\n\nThis leaves the notion of while light ill defined: the light coming\nfrom a white surface has the same spectrum as whatever illuminant\n(meaning: light source) was shined to it. Then the light from any\ntypical illuminant could be considered, in some sense, to be “white\nlight”.\n\nIn practice, in the realm of color science, there are some so called\n“standard illuminants” which are deemed white. Most notably D65 and\nD55. These are meant to model natural daylight. The choice of daylight\nas a reference light source is obvious given that our species has\nevolved in a world where daylight has always been the standard light\nsource, and thus our natural white reference.\n\nThe spectrum of daylight varies with the weather and with the height of\nthe sun above the horizon, but it is never too far from a black body\nspectrum. Which is probably not very surprising given that the Sun\nitself is a pretty good black body.", "General wisdom is that you use studio strobes if you need more power/light. You use speedlights if you want portability and your lighting needs are modest.\n\nMost of us start with speedlights because of the Strobist website. It's where a lot of us learned to light. And the reason speedlights are central to this style of lighting is because most folks already had one, and they're very small, portable (battery-powered), and cheap. And unlike a studio strobe, you can use one both on and off the camera. So that same light you're setting up for a studio product shoot can also be used on the camera for a run'n'gun event or social shoot, and are easier to take on location.\n\nIn addition, if you're shooting small still lives, with relatively small subjects, then you can actually work in much closer, and you'll need less light. So, speedlights are probably going to be more than sufficient for what you want to do in your other post. The question is what else are you going to need the flashes for?\n\nIt's when you need to shoot, say, a family of five, outdoors in bright sunlight, that a speedlight might not cut it, power-wise.\n\nOTOH, getting two $70 manual speedlight and finding out they're not powerful enough at the highest setting is not nearly as much of a mistake as getting two $300 studio strobes and finding out they're too powerful on the lowest setting. :)", "The AIM gives good advice, but that is really all it is. It is acceptable methods of complying with the regulations, but you are not required to comply with what the AIM says. In questions of what you are required to do, especially in questions of whether you might be at risk for a violation, we want to look at the regulations in 14 CFR.\n\n14 CFR 91.209 states, in pertinent part:\n\n\n No person may:\n \n (a) During the period from sunset to sunrise [...]—\n \n (1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;\n \n (2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a night flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft—\n \n (i) Is clearly illuminated;\n \n (ii) Has lighted position lights; or\n \n (iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;\n \n (b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to turn the lights off.\n\n\nNote:\nPosition Lights are commonly called Nav Lights\nAnticollision Lights can include what are more commonly called Strobe Lights and Beacon Lights (See AIM 4-3-23)\n\nLets first look at what the above regulation says about operating requirements. Is your given scenario (engine off, etc.) an example of operating the aircraft? 14 CFR 1.1 gives the following definition of operate:\n\n\n Operate, with respect to aircraft, means use, cause to use or authorize to use aircraft, for the purpose (except as provided in §91.13 of this chapter) of air navigation including the piloting of aircraft, with or without the right of legal control (as owner, lessee, or otherwise).\n\n\nBy that definition I would argue that towing, pushing, or otherwise moving an unoccupied aircraft with engine(s) shut off would not be operating that aircraft anymore than leaving the aircraft parked overnight would be operating it, since you are not using the aircraft for the purpose of air navigation. Thus I would say that you are not required to follow any rules that pertain to operating the aircraft, such as that any installed anticollision light be lighted.\n\n(This is in contrast to an airliner pushing back with a load of passengers, flight crewmembers at their stations, electrical power on, APU running, etc., which would be operating, since the aircraft is being used.)\n\nThis leaves us with the Park or move paragraph. This paragraph specifically pertains to \"in, or in dangerous proximity to, a night flight operations area of an airport\".\n\nWhat is a night flight operations area? Absent any proffered definition, the plain reading of the phrase—as I read it—would be an area used, or subject to use, for flight operations at night. In other words, any public use airport with an apron or taxiway that is open to flight operations at night could and should be considered—by my reading—a night flight operations area. Whether the area is a movement or non-movement area shouldn't matter. Could someone else reasonably taxi past you (or into you!) at night? That's probably a night flight operations area.\n\nThus, for your given scenario, if you are pushing your aircraft back into a tie-down spot on an apron that is open to night flight operations, by regulation it must be either:\n\na) clearly illuminated;\nb) have lighted position lights; or\nc) be in an area that is marked by obstruction lights.\n\nI typically see airport ramps clearly illuminated by large overhead lights. This clearly meets the first requirement. Another means of compliance would be to turn on an internal hanger light to clearly illuminate the airplane when you push an airplane in off a taxiway into a hanger.\n\nYou are also good to go if you are in an area that is marked by obstruction lights. I don't think I have ever seen these demarcating an area where you would be pushing or towing an airplane (I'm thinking of those lighted construction barriers), but if you saw them I suppose you would know.\n\nIn the absence of clear illumination or an area marked by obstruction lights, if you are going to park or move the airplane at night, you had better turn on the position lights. And this, I think, is where you could be at risk for a violation.\n\nNote that, even in that case, the requirement is for position lights, not the beacon. Unless the aircraft is being operated, there is no requirement that any installed anticollision light be lighted.", "I don't know how harmful the exposure to a camera flash could be to organisms that live in complete darkness. However, since the animals that live in this conditions are usually blind, and the time of exposure is quite short, it's reasonable to assume that the damage produced should be minimal. \n\nIn the case of caves, permanent artificial illumination is very destructive to the environment, but the effect is due mainly to temperature changes and the introduction of organisms coming from more illuminated parts of the cave (cave organisms are usually slow and react poorly to light, so they are an easy prey if they're under light). In fact, for tourist activity, the use of lanterns or miner helmets is highly recommended.\n\nIn the case of abyssal ecosystems, ecological invasions are less likely, since there still exist a vertical barrier based in temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration and pressure. However, in this ecosystems there exist many animals which are very sensitive to light, due to the prominence of bioluminescence. Some of this animals could be damaged by the kind of light you describe. However, it's very unlikely that the main functioning of this ecosystems could be affected because of its extensive size. Moreover, the low population densities it has implies that even very long submersions would encounter only a few samples (with the exception of volcanic vents and some other geological curiosities which, in fact, are even more isolated from the rest of the biosphere by physical and chemical barriers), so the global effect should be negligible.", "What you are looking for does not yet exist as a product. You should expect to pay much more than that if you want a professional system that works with smarthome devices. \n\nThis system is very close to what you are asking for but it is not smart home compatible. \n\nHowever, that doesn't mean you can't put something together yourself. You could use a waterproof mount with budget smart bulbs, or use colored outdoor lights paired with a smart power switch. (Recommendations for each inline.)", "I'm doing some palaeobiology-landscape rendering; so I'm thinking if I want to add the sun in such pictures; should I draw it just like present day ?\n\n\nAlthough the Sun was less luminous 4.5 billion years ago (about 70% of it's current luminosity, it is thought), and while this would affect it's color, making it perhaps a little more orange than yellow, the effect is small.\n\nThe Sun is still going to be a blazing near-white object in the sky of roughly the same size.\n\nAlthough there was probably a color shift to a slightly more orange tint, the composition of the Earth's atmosphere was radically different (see for example this page on Paleoclimatology) and this would have had a much more significant effect on the appearance of the Sun (and the lighting of the landscape) than any minor change in the Sun's appearance.\n\nThere are some issues relating to the development of life and this change in the Sun's luminosity (like the Faint Young Sun Problem) but these won't make much difference to your rendering, I think, compared to the atmospheric and climate issues.\n\nHowever the climate changes are not fully understood and it's rather speculative to try and make specific claims about what the overall effect would have been on the illumination levels and color of light reaching the surface in these periods.", "How I usually see this ruled:\n\n1) The Darkness spell causes the area in which it is placed to be limited to Dim Light, as you spell out clearly. It is, however, not a [light] effect and furthermore does not add to the lighting level, rather setting the cap on illumination in the area to Dim Light. This is usually equivalent to creating a region of pitch-black magical darkness in the situations where the spell is likely to be cast, because the spell also prevents lower level spell-based magical lighting from working at all so there's usually no viable source of light functioning in the area of effect. Mundane light sources, however, are merely limited to not being able to raise the light level above dim. Most adventurers don't bother carrying any mundane light sources past about level 2, however.\n\n2) No, you'd need a light source for that.\n\nRAW, as I understand it:\n\n1) Yep! \n\n2) Yep!", "This is because light scatters from the surface rather than reflecting in only one direction. This kind of scattering is often called 'diffuse reflection', as opposed to 'specular reflection' which is what a mirror does (approximately: even a mirror will scatter some light of course). Really good mirrors can be rather hard to see if illuminated by point sources of light against a very dark background, unless you are looking at such an angle that you see the specular reflection, and even then you may think you are seeing another point source of light.\n\nWikipedia has quite a good article on diffuse reflection, and in particular this quote is notable:\n\n\n The visibility of objects, excluding light-emitting ones, is primarily caused by diffuse reflection of light: it is diffusely-scattered light that forms the image of the object in the observer's eye.", "The phenomenon you are referring to is color constancy: The apparent hue of a reflective surface remains constant even when changes in the spectral power distribution of the illuminant alter the wavelengths reflected from it (Mather, 2008). In other words, despite substantial changes in illumination, we usually experience the color of an object as being constant.\n\nThe spectrum of wavelengths that enter our eyes is jointly determined by 1) the spectrum of the illuminating source (a variable), and 2) The spectral reflectance properties of the object (a constant).\n\nTo achieve color constancy, an object's spectral reflectance is the constant color parameter that needs to be evaluated.\n\nAny information that better characterizes an object's spectral reflectance is a cue to colour constancy. This includes (Mather, 2008):\n\n\nLocal color contrast. Cone excitation levels of one surface relative to another remains constant when both surfaces experience the same change in illumination. Relative cone excitation levels are invariant ratios useful for achieving colour constancy.\nColor adaptation. Adaptation reduces the contribution from the source illumination by lowering activity in the most highly active cone classes.\nGlobal contrast. Global spectral changes generally represent changes in the illuminant; localised differences usually correspond to reflectance differences.\nLuminance highlights. Glossy surfaces offer near-perfect reflections of the illuminant, which can then be factored from the rest of the scene.\nMutual reflections. The pattern of reflections that arise from different surfaces, under the same illumination, carries valuable information about the reflectance properties of each surface.\nRange of reflected spectrum. This gives an indication of the breadth of the illuminating spectrum.\n\n\nA graphical example of the effect of lighting conditions is found below (Fig. 1.)\n\n\nBowl of fruit photographed under artificial daylight (left), hazy day light (middle) and clear blue skies (right. Source: Mather (2008)\n\nThe most powerful cue to constancy is thought to be local color contrast (Mather, 2008). In other words, the relative contribution of the different cone classes stays constant, despite differences in the spectrum of the illuminant. \n\nIn your example, the object (paper) is not represented by a reflectance, but as an image; a representation taken out of its context, and it will appear yellow. Even if the ambient lighting is the same, as in your example, the monitor displays a 'real' yellow color, which has a different spectrum, because it is not a reflectance, but it is generated by a light source: your monitor; as mentioned in the excellent comment of @AMR. The real sheet of paper will have a different reflectance spectrum. Hence, both photo and real sheet will be interpreted as a function of ambient lighting by your visual system and they will appear different. \n\nEven when your image was printed as a photo, the color is obviously different from the white sheet of paper. So the ambient light has a different effect on the reflectance spectrum of the photo and the real sheet.\n\nAlso the global contrast is different: the photo with a different spectral content than the real sheet is re-placed into the context of ambient lighting. Hence, the photo it is out of context and will be re-interpreted. \n\nReference\n- Mather, Foundations of perception and sensation 2nd ed. Psychology Press 2008", "The most obvious thing is an emergency blanket. It will add a lot of extra insulation per gram. It'a good to have one in you bag on any trip.\n\nHowever, a mere blanket is definitely not enough for all seasons, elevations and weather conditions. When planning at home, you should ask yourself a question: \"What will happen to me if I have to be on the route overnight?\" Than take this much insulation that will make the answer not worse than \"no permanent injury\".\n\nWhile at home, think of where (at which points of your route) would you sleep if something happens. Good shelter is very important, because wind and elements take a huge amount of heat from you. On top of the mountain is the worst, near a wall is better, between 3 walls (rocks) is even better, snow cave is the best (so learn how to dig one, if you are going very high up or in winter).\n\nAnother lifesaver is water boiling gear (I'd recommend JetBoil), it also has a very high rate of heating per gram (compared e.g. to clothes). Of course you'll need water to boil, so know where you can find it or take some extra.", "When a scene combines ambient light and light from a flash this is a way to control the balance between the two.\n\nThe difference between the ambient light and the flash is this: The flash is a very short burst of light much shorter than the time the shutter is open (assuming you are shooting at or below your camera's flash sync speed). The ambient light, on the other hand, is constant over the entire time the shutter is open.\n\nThe changes you make to aperture and sensitivity (ISO) will affect both the objects illuminated by the ambient light and the objects illuminated by the flash. But any changes you make to the shutter speed will only affect the objects illuminated by the ambient light. To adjust the exposure of the object or person illuminated by the flash, you adjust the power level of the flash instead of adjusting the shutter speed.\n\nTo understand how the shutter speed is irrelevant to exposure in terms of the flash, imagine that you are in a totally dark room. If the flash is illuminated for 1/1000th of a second, it doesn't matter if the shutter was open for 1/200 second or for 200 seconds - the same amount of light will be captured in both cases: the light that was present for only 1/1000 second. (With digital, there might be additional noise generated by the heat produced by the sensor staying energized for that length of time. With film there would be absolutely no difference.)\n\nNow, back outside to our portrait subject. If you want to shoot manually, first meter to determine the proper exposure of the background and set your camera's ISO, Aperture, and Shutter speed to match that exposure value. Then meter to determine the proper exposure of the subject, compute the number of stops difference between the two and add enough flash to make up the difference. What power level you will need to use for the flash will depend upon several variables: The flash's Guide Number that indicates how powerful it is, the distance from the flash to the subject, and the aperture and ISO you selected when metering the background.", "There are several menu settings that affect when the red illumination of focus points is activated.\n\n\nBy default, the red indicator lights will only illuminate over the active focus points when focus is achieved and the brightness of the scene in the viewfinder is low. You can modify this in the menu settings. Under the AF 5 (purple) tab, select VF display illumination. The Auto option is the default setting. Select Enable to have the points light up regardless of the brightness of the scene. Select Disable if you do not want them to light up. It is explained on page 103 of the 5DIII user manual. \nThe red lights will only blink over whatever black indicators are visible. This may be all, some, or none of the focus points depending on the setting chosen under AF point display during focus. To change which focus points are displayed and when they are displayed in the viewfinder, see page 102. This adjusts the black non-illuminated display of the focus points.\nTo turn on the red illumination when focus has not been achieved, Press the AF point selection button. This is useful for checking and changing the AF focus points/zones when shooting in a dark environment. What is illuminated will depend on the AF Area Selection Mode. See pages 72-77 for how to select an AF Area Selection Mode and how to manually select AF points or AF zones.\n\n\nFocus confirmation is also communicated by the beep (if it is turned on under the Shooting 1 (Red) menu) and the green focus confirmation light in the lower right of the viewfinder. See page 23 of the 5DIII user manual.", "AMOLEDs power the pixels individually; LCDs use a single backlight source to illuminate all pixels from behind. Only until recently that some manufacturers are beginning to implement more granular LCD backlight sources (multiple blocks of light source that illuminates a chunk of pixels each).\n\nWhat you want to achieve is simply not what LCD is designed for.", "This is a very good question. There is a common misconception that Monte Carlo, or integration is applied \"recursively\" on the rendering equation. That is not what's happening. Numerical integration methods are tailored to problems of the form:\n\n$$I = \\int_{\\Omega}{f(x)d\\mu(x)} \\approx \\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}w(x_k)f(x_k)$$\n\nNote that this is not the case for the rendering equation. Namely the fact that it is an equation, and the unknown radiance function $L$ shows up on both sides. In order to apply numerical integration techniques (such as Monte Carlo), one has to bring the rendering equation to the above form. Fortunately this is a well studied problem. The rendering equation is a specific case of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. If one can show that the scattering operator in that equation is a contraction $||T||&lt;1$ (which holds if brdfs are energy conserving, there are cases where this is not required but that goes outside the scope of my answer), then we may perform a Neumann expansion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liouville%E2%80%93Neumann_series).\n\nThe commonly used form of the rendering equation is the solid angle formulation (here $\\sigma$ is the solid angle measure, $\\sigma(\\omega) = \\sin\\theta\\,d\\theta d\\phi$):\n\n$$L(x,\\omega_o) = L_e(x,\\omega_o) + \\int_{\\Omega}{f(\\omega_o,x,\\omega_i)L_i(x,\\omega_i)\\cos\\theta_i\\,d\\sigma(\\omega_i)}$$\n\nIn order to perform the expansion, I will rewrite this in the area formulation (here $\\mu(x)$ is the Lebesgue area measure):\n\n$$L(x_1 \\rightarrow x_0) = L_e(x1 \\rightarrow x_0) + \\int_{M}{f(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1 \\rightarrow x_0)L(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1)\\cos\\theta_{x_1}\\frac{\\cos\\theta_{x_2}}{||x_2-x_1||^2}V(x_2,x_1)\\,d\\mu(x_2)}$$\n\nWhere $M$ is the set of all surface points in the scene, $V(x,y)$ is the visibility function which is $1$ if there is nothing between $x$ and $y$ and $0$ otherwise. If the normals of the surfaces at point $x_1$ and $x_2$ are respectively $N_{x_1}$ and $N_{x_2}$, then $\\cos\\theta_{x_1} = N_{x_1} \\cdot \\frac{x_2-x1}{||x_2-x_1||}$ and $\\cos\\theta_{x_2} = N_{x_2} \\cdot \\frac{x_1-x2}{||x_2-x_1||}$. As for the radiance, $L(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1)$ gives the radiance arriving at $x_1$ from the direction of $x_2$. And the brdf notation relationship is: $f(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1 \\rightarrow x_0) = f(x_1 \\rightarrow x_0, x_1, x_1 \\rightarrow x_2)$ (that means $\\omega_o = x_1 \\rightarrow x_0$ and $\\omega_i = x_1 \\rightarrow x_2$).\n\nI will rewrite the above for simplicity and conciseness as:\n\n$$L(x_1 \\rightarrow x_0) = L_e(x1 \\rightarrow x_0) + L_r(x_1 \\rightarrow x_0)$$\n\nLet us now split the incoming radiance into direct illumination arriving at $x_1$ and indirect (at least one bounce) illumination. The direct illumination is obviously due to direct light source rays arriving at $x_1$:\n\n$$L(x_1 \\rightarrow x_0) = L_e(x1 \\rightarrow x_0) + \\int_{M}{f(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1 \\rightarrow x_0)(L_e(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1) + L_r(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1))\\cos\\theta_{x_1}\\frac{\\cos\\theta_{x_2}}{||x_2-x_1||^2}V(x_2,x_1)\\,d\\mu(x_2)} = \nL_e(x1 \\rightarrow x_0) + \\int_{M}{f(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1 \\rightarrow x_0)L_e(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1)\\cos\\theta_{x_1}\\frac{\\cos\\theta_{x_2}}{||x_2-x_1||^2}V(x_2,x_1)\\,d\\mu(x_2)} + $$\n\n$$\\int_{M}f(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1 \\rightarrow x_0)\\Bigg[\\int_{M}f(x_3 \\rightarrow x_2 \\rightarrow x_1)L(x_3 \\rightarrow x_2)\\cos\\theta_{x_2}$$\n\n$$\\frac{\\cos\\theta_{x_3}}{||x_3-x_2||^2}V(x_3,x_2)\\,d\\mu(x_3)\\Bigg]\\cos\\theta_{x_1}\\frac{\\cos\\theta_{x_2}}{||x_2-x_1||^2}V(x_2,x_1)\\,d\\mu(x_2)$$\n\nAll I did here was separate the sum $L_e(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1) + L_r(x_2 \\rightarrow x_1)$ into two integrals, and then I additionally expanded $L_r$ into the corresponding integral using the recursive definition. You can expand this until infinity. For conciseness, I will rewrite the integration as an operator: $L_r = TL$. Now we can see the relationship to the Neumann expansion. Since the rendering equation can be written as:\n\n$$L = L_e + TL$$\n\nThe solution is formally given as: \n\n$$(I-T)L = L_e$$\n$$L = (I-T)^{-1}L_e$$\n\nApplying the Neumann expansion yields:\n\n$$L = \\sum_{i=0}^{\\infty}T^iL_e$$\n\nNote that each term of the sum is an increasingly dimensional integral. The first term is obviously just $L_e(x_1 \\rightarrow x_0)$, the second term $TL_e$ is the integral for $L_e(x_2 \\rightarrow x_2)$ that I wrote when I split $L_e$ and $L_r$, and so on. What each term gives you is the energy coming from a light source after $i$ bounces. The first term gives you the radiance emitted from $x_1$ towards $x_0$ (paths of length 0), the second term gives you the radiance that is due to direct illumination of $x_1$ scattered towards $x_0$ (paths of length 1), then you have the radiance due to lights two bounces away (paths of length 2) etc. With each bounce each new integral in the sum gains two dimensions (if we are just integrating over incoming directions). I would also like to emphasize that the integration variable $x_2$ in $TL_e$ is not the same $x_2$ as the one in $T^iL_e$ (this means that in the example with integration, $x_2$ in the first integral is not the same as in the second one - they are just integration variables). Another important fact is that within each sum each path starts at the film $x_0$ and ends at a light source ($L_e(x_2\\rightarrow x_1)$ is non-zero only for points $x_2$ lying on light sources).\n\nNow that we have a sum of integrals, we can apply our numerical techniques to each integral to estimate the sum. An obvious optimization, is reusing the samples used to compute $T^iL_e$ to compute $T^{i+1}L_e = T(T^iL_e)$. This yields a formulation where we can formally write out the sum of integrals as one integral with integration over all paths that start at the camera film and end at a light source. This also illustrates why Monte Carlo is a preferred technique: since we want to estimate an infinite dimensional integral, and Monte Carlo's convergence doesn't depend on the dimensionality unlike standard quadrature rules (there's also the point that it doesn't care about the smoothness of the integrand, but that's a double edged sword). \n\nAs you may have noticed, with the path integration formulation an exponential path count growth is not required. Splitting a path into multiple new ones is a technique known as splitting. While it is beneficial for high energy paths, on average with each bounce the energy gets lower due to attenuation, so this is in most cases counterproductive. On the other hand early path termination (for low energy paths) is more often than not beneficial in terms of efficiency (that's simply cutting off the sum at some point and not computing the remaining infinitely many terms, because you deem they have a contribution that is too low), and that's where Russian roulette comes in. \n\nAll of this is actually contained in Kajiya's paper on the rendering equation, even though he doesn't go into the details I went. He just refers to Rubinstein's book: https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=539488 (note - the first edition, later editions do not have the part he is referring to). In this book how to solve Fredholm integrals of the second kind is described (what I explained above, but more formally).\n\nI hope my explanation was useful, and will continue being useful for future readers.", "First, the amount of light you use is (close to) the minimum for the task - you're already doing far better than most. It may still be a concern as you seem to be in an area that's otherwise dark, but a good bike light is mounted fairly low and pointing down (equivalent to shading the light appropriately as mentioned in the Guardian article).\n\nThe article mentions that LEDs allow better wavelengths to be selected, but also say that blue-white lights are worse than others. A white LED is a blue LED with a yellowish broadband phosphor coating, so it's fairly strong in the blue region of the spectrum, which is less good. However to see where you're going and avoid hazards you need a broad spectrum. To test, and don't do this while riding, set up a view of something like a branch covered in green leaves, lying on a dark road, and illuminate that with your red rear light. You'll find it's much less visible with this narrowband source than with a white light. Switching to yellow or green just means other hazards disappear. You can get round this by using multiple wavelengths, but may well need more total light than with your well-designed white LED lamp; you'll certainly illuminate a bigger area. The journal paper and the citations in it state that several diverse species of insects are more sensitive blue and green light than to longer wavelengths. As you need these wavelengths to see well enough to ride, a wavelength-optimised source isn't a solution.\n\nLED bike lights flicker (too fast for human perception) when run at reduced power (and sometimes at full power). This is because the power output is regulated by pulse-width modulation. Potential Biological and Ecological Effects of Flickering Artificial Light, Inger et al., 2014, cited in the paper linked in the question goes into some detail on flicker frequencies. Unfortunately it's a little old when considering the prevalence of LED sources, and concentrates on lower frequencies, however it's reassuring as figure 1B shows a few hundred Hz as the upper limit for insect sensitivity to flickering. A rough estimate of the flicker rate of my bike light is a few kHz, which is too fast to be an issue. This estimate is based on the streak length of water drops thrown off my front wheel, my speed, a lot of assumptions and mental arithmetic; I really ought to check with a photodiode, but this is a reasonable (or even low) value for LED PWM.\n\nThe methodology for assessing whether a given light is problematic is inherently a little complex, but as a rule of thumb, dimmer, redder, more specific to the need, and either steady (DC incandescent) or flickering at >1kHz are all good.\n\nThe paper also states that some modern LED fixtures emit ultrasonic frequencies that could have compounding effects on insect fitness. This would be due to switch-mode power supplies, used in most high-brightness LED lamps as they're more efficient than linear regulation. One small source passing by fairly quickly isn't going to be much compared to LED streetlights.", "If you want to reduce your visual impact on the other people in the area, choose a tent with colors that match the landscape you're going to camp in. Green in forest or other vegetated areas, brown for the desert, white for winter camping.\n\nHowever, if you are in trouble and want to be found, it helps to have a very bright tent that stands out. A tent you can see from kilometers away. A tent that is going to annoy that other backpacker who was just having the illusion to be alone in the world, and now he or she isn't. Such a tent might save your life if rescue agencies are looking for you.\n\nSo, to reduce visual impact: choose camouflage. To quicken rescue in emergency: choose anything BUT camouflage." ]

[ "Visit the Manhattan Public Library this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon for games, trivia, and activities for all ages during Star Wars Reads Day!\nCrafts and activities will include trivia, Jedi training with bubbles, and a cosplay panel discussion. Costumes are encouraged and participants are invited to join the cosplay/costume parade which will take place at 11:15 AM. Door prizes will be awarded to several lucky attendees! You must be present at the time of the drawing to win.\nAt 12:00 PM, enjoy a movie screening on the auditorium’s recently updated audio visual system courtesy of Capital Federal Savings Bank and Reddi Systems.\nFor more information visit the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, call (785) 776-4741 or visit the library’s website at www.MHKLibrary.org. Find the library on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, too." ]

[ "The Montecito Library will host its first-ever Star Wars Origami Workshop for those age 8 or older from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 27.\nCome learn paper-folding projects from a galaxy far, far away. We will supply the paper and instruction to help you learn to transform paper into star fighters, light sabers, Yoda, R2-D2 and more.\nAll skill levels welcome. Pre-registration is required and may be done by calling the library at 805.969.5063. The Montecito Library is located at 1469 East Valley Road in Montecito.\nThis program is sponsored by the Friends of the Montecito Library.\nClick here for more information about programs and services through the Santa Barbara Public Library System. All library programs are free and open to the public.\n— Jody Thomas is a supervisor for the Montecito Library.", "Parents and kids filled Winnipeg public libraries Saturday to celebrate the joys of a good book — and to fill the often quiet stacks with a little noise.\n\"Our kids are so used to coming to the library, trying to be quiet and very serious, so coming here today is a nice way to mix reading and pleasurable and fun activities together,\" Nathalie Pambrun said during Take Your Child to the Library Day festivities at the St. Boniface Library.\nNathalie Pambrun reads with her child at the library. (CBC/Radio-Canada)\nThe special event promoted literacy through games, crafts, story stations and more at public libraries across the city.\n\"The activities of Take Your Child to the Library Day spark learning through reading and creative play, making it an ideal time to discover all the library has to offer,\" Ed Cuddy, manager of library services with the city.\nGisele Normandeau brought her four-year-old granddaughter to the St. Boniface Library Saturday. Normandeau said the times have changed a lot since her kids were young, and so have libraries.\nGisele Normandeau and her granddaughter play a game at the library Saturday. (CBC/Radio-Canada)\n\"It's a variety that they're offering, which we didn't have when our kids were small, and so this is great for our grandchildren,\" she said. \"I think the grand parents are having as much fun as the grand children.\"\nShe said lifting the no-noise rule a every now and then, and offering kids the chance to take part in playful activities, can only serve to encourage young readers to develop a love for libraries.\n\"The kids can learn that you can come to the library and have fun. It's not just books and you have to be serious.… We don't have to be quiet all the time,\" she said.\n\"And probably if you start when they are young it will initiate them to come to the library when they're older, when they're adolescents, and they'll know that a lot of things are happening at the library.\"", "At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 kids of all ages can celebrate Earth Day with a story about a special baby bison living in Kansas. Author Jill Haukos will read her ch ildren’s picture book, “The Autumn Calf,” which follows the true story of a calf born on the Konza Prairie late in the season. Haukos is the KSU Director of Education for the Konza Prairie Biological Station, and she wrote the book as a way to show the unique aspects of the Konza Prairie environment, how the animals and plants relate to each other, and what this ecosystem means to us.\nThe book’s illustrator, Joyce Turley, will also speak and show some of the original artwork she created for the book.\nChildren in attendance will receive a free copy of “The Autumn Calf.” Haukos and Turley will be available after the reading to visit and sign books. This event is co-Sponsored by the Friends of the Konza Prairie and Manhattan Public Library.\nFor more information, please contact the Manhattan Public Library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, (785) 776-4741 ext. 125, or www.MHKLibrary.org.", "The Pontiac Public Library will hold its Summer Reading Kick-Off from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 17.\nThe event serves as the starting line for the library’s summer reading program, which includes programs for all ages throughout the summer and a chance to win prizes for reading completed between June and August. Children under five could win toys while teens and adults will have a shot at one of three e-readers from the library.\nSaturday’s kick-off will feature events and vendor booths inside the library and outside on its grounds, such as:\n• Drop-in crafts\n• A local authors expo\nAdvertisement\n• A video game, arcade-style truck for children and teens\n• Prizes for registering for the summer reading program\n• A bounce house\n• Refreshments and barbecue\n• Bike giveaways from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department\n• A book sale\n• A bake sale\nSome of the activities this year are paid for with a $5,000 grant the library received from Michigan Legacy Credit Union in 2016.\nThe library held 48 special summer programs last year with 685 attendees while 187 people registered for the summer reading program.\nThe Pontiac Public Library is located at 60 Pike St. in downtown Pontiac.", "The Greenville Public Library is combing commemorative holidays for a two-day promotion this week.\nLibrary Director Jo Keillor said Friday, July 6 is International Kissing Day and Saturday, July 7 is chocolate day, so the library will combine the two to hand out chocolate kisses to library patrons each day.\nClick below to hear more:\nFriday library hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the library is open Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.\nIt is located at 414 West Main Street in Greenville.", "In a galaxy not very far away at all, Star Wars fans can hop on board the famed Millennium Falcon.\nThe latest flick in the Star Wars Saga, Solo: A Star Wars Story, opens in theaters May 25, but Northern Kentucky University is already feeling the force.\nThe university is hosting a replica of the ship that made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs beginning April 27 lasting through April 29.\nThe exhibit is to promote the latest Star Wars prequel movie and will be constructed by skilled Jedi, we mean builders, to recreate the Falcon's cockpit and all the details seen in the movie.\nSpace scoundrels can grab their best Wookie pals and experience the free exhibit from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.\nAfter leaving NKU, the exhibit will jump into hyperdrive and jet off to Atlanta, Dnver, Salt Lake City, and L.A.\nNKU says tickets will be served on a first-come first serve basis, but beware of Jedi mind tricks.\nCopyright 2018 WXIX. All rights reserved.", "Author Frank Lavin will share the story of his father's World War II journey during the next Lunch and Learn program at the Eisenhower Presidential Library. This free public program begins at noon Thursday, June 15, in the Visitors Center Auditorium and will include a light lunch as part of the Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation Speaker Series.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.", "By mtjulietintern\nCommunity Calendar\nPOLICY: Items for the Community Calendar may be submitted via email at editor@lebanondemocrat.com, in person at The Democrat’s office at 402 N. Cumberland St., by mail at The Lebanon Democrat, 402 N. Cumberland St., Lebanon, TN 37087 or via fax at 615-444-0899. Items must be received by 4 p.m. for the next day’s edition. The calendar is a free listing of nonprofit events, community club and government meetings. The Democrat reserves the right to reject or edit material. Notices run on an as space is available basis and cannot be taken over the phone. Include a name and phone number in case of questions.\nJune 27\nStorytime at the Library\n10 a.m.\nMrs. Nancy will read to young children on Wednesday, June 27 at 10 a.m. at the Lebanon-Wilson County Public Library. This program is recommended for children ages 5 and under. The library is located at 108 S. Hatton Ave. in Lebanon. Call 615-444-0632 for more information.\nFlower Decorating at the Library\n10 a.m.\nThe Watertown-Wilson County Public Library will welcome a hands-on flower decorating workshop Wednesday, June 27 at 10 a.m. The event is part of the library’s summer reading program. The library is located at 206 Public Square in Watertown. Call 615-237-9700 for more information.\nGod and Country Rally\n7 p.m.\nThe God and Country Rally will be Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. at the Wilson County Veterans Plaza on East Main Street in Lebanon. It’s sponsored by Music City Baptist Church at 7104 Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet. There will be patriotic music, a stirring message and a time to honor past and present members of the military. For more information, call 615-491-2073.\nJune 28\nTennessee Wildlife Resource Agency at the Library\n10 a.m.\nThe Lebanon-Wilson County Public Library will welcome the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency on Thursday, June 28 at 10 a.m. only as part of the summer reading program. This program is designed for children of all ages. The library is located at 108 S. Hatton Ave. in Lebanon. Call 615-444-0632 for more information.\nMr. Rich Super Science at the Library\n10 a.m.\nThe Mt. Juliet-Wilson County Public Library will welcome Mr. Rich Super Science on Thursday, June 28 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The event is part of the library’s summer reading program and will take place in the children’s area at the library, 2765 N. Mt. Juliet Rd. in Mt. Juliet. Contact amy.mj@wilsoncolibrary.org or jerekay.mj@wilsoncolibrary.org or call the library at 615-758-7051.\nWatertown Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours\n5:30 p.m.\nVance Law Office will be featured as a business of the month Thursday, June 28 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the office at 224 W. Main St. during the Watertown Chamber of Commerce business after hours. Refreshments will be served.\nGen. Robert H. Hatton Camp No. 723 Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting\n7 p.m.\nThe Gen. Robert H. Hatton Camp No. 723 Sons of Confederate Veterans will meet Thursday, June 28 at 7 p.m. at the Cato Industrial Building at 212 S. Maple St. in Lebanon. Brenda Jackson-Abernathy with Belmont University will present the program on “Adelicia Acklen and the Great Cotton Rescue of 1864.” Jackson-Abernathy is professor of history and department chair at Belmont University. She is a well-known and published author, and much of her research focuses on 19th century American women, particularly in the eras of the Civil War and expansion into the American West.\nTennessee Sixth Congressional District Tea Party meeting\n7 p.m.\nThe Tennessee Sixth Congressional District Tea Party will meet Thursday, June 28 at 7 p.m. in the School House at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon. Bobbie Patray, state president of the Tennessee Eagle Forum, will be the guest speaker and will speak on present topics of the General Assembly. Patray is a pro-family and conservative values advocate and a political activist for 40 years. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call chairman Rob Joines at 615-305-5455.\nAudience of One presents “Seussical Junior”\n7 p.m.\nAudience of One productions will present “Seussical Junior” on Thursday, June 28 and Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 30 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon. Tickets are $20 for adults and $13 for children 3-11 years old and seniors 60 and older. To buy tickets or for more information, visit capitoltheatretn.com.\nCelebrate Recovery\n7 p.m.\nCelebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered 12-step recovery support group for overcoming hurts, hang-ups and habits, meets each Thursday from 7-9:30 p.m. at Fairview Church at 1660 Leeville Pike in Lebanon. For more information, call ministry leader Tony Jones at 615-972-6151.\nJune 29\n615 Rocks at the Library\n10 a.m.\nThe Watertown-Wilson County Public Library will welcome rock decorators, 615 Rocks for a rock painting workshop on Friday, June 29 at 10 a.m. The event is part of the library’s summer reading program. The library is located at 206 Public Square in Watertown. Call 615-237-9700 for more information.\nAudience of One presents “Seussical Junior”\n7 p.m.\nAudience of One productions will present “Seussical Junior” on Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 30 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon. Tickets are $20 for adults and $13 for children 3-11 years old and seniors 60 and older. To buy tickets or for more information, visit capitoltheatretn.com.\nJune 30\nHonor Ride for Veterans\n8 a.m.\nThe sixth annual Honor Ride for Veterans will be Saturday, June 30 with registration at 8 a.m. and kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. at Fiddlers Grove at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center at 945 E. Baddour Pkwy. in Lebanon. It will feature entertainment, food vendors, and all motorcycles and riders will be welcome. The cost is $25 per rider and $10 per passenger and will include a T-shirt. For more information, call 615-444-2460.\nPlay Day Kids Expo\n11 a.m.\nThe Play Day Kids Expo will be Saturday, June 30 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet. It will be a fun day for all ages.\nAudience of One presents “Seussical Junior”\n1 p.m.\nAudience of One productions will present “Seussical Junior” on Saturday, June 30 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon. Tickets are $20 for adults and $13 for children 3-11 years old and seniors 60 and older. To buy tickets or for more information, visit capitoltheatretn.com.\nGladeville Political Rally\n2 p.m.\nThe Gladeville Political Rally will be Saturday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at the Gladeville Community Center. Homemade ice cream and cakes will be served while voters listen to the candidates. For more information, call Mabel Beazley at 615-243-2664 or Debbie Ray 615-604-5736.\nThe People’s Agenda\nPOLICY: Items for the Government Calendar may be submitted via email at editor@lebanondemocrat.com, in person at The Democrat’s office at 402 N. Cumberland St., by mail at The Lebanon Democrat, 402 N. Cumberland St., Lebanon, TN 37087 or via fax at 615-444-0899. Items must be received by 4 p.m. for the next day’s edition. The calendar is a free listing of government meetings and government-related events. The Democrat reserves the right to reject or edit material. Notices run on an as space is available basis and cannot be taken over the phone. Include a name and phone number in case of questions.\nJuly 2\nWilson County Budget Committee meeting\n5 p.m.\nThe Wilson County Budget Committee will meet Monday, July 2 at 5 p.m. in conference room 1 at the Wilson County Courthouse.\nLebanon Planning Commission meeting\n5 p.m.\nThe Lebanon Planning Commission will meet Monday, July 2 at 5 p.m. in the Town Meeting Hall at 200 N. Castle Heights Ave.\nJuly 3\nWilson County Budget Committee meeting\n5 p.m.\nThe Wilson County Budget Committee will meet Tuesday, July 3 at 5 p.m. in conference room 1 at the Wilson County Courthouse.\nWilson County Cable TV Committee meeting\n5:30 p.m.\nThe Wilson County Cable TV Committee will meet Tuesday, July 3 at 5:30 p.m. in conference room 1 at the Wilson County Courthouse.\nJuly 5\nJoint Economic and Community Development Board Executive Committee meeting\n7:45 a.m.\nThe Joint Economic and Community Development Board Executive Committee will meet Thursday, July 5 at 7:45 a.m. at the JECDB office at 200 Aviation Way, Suite 202, in Lebanon.\n– Staff Reports", "Click here for more information about these Early Reader events and other children’s programs at the public library. All library programs are free and open to the public.\nChildren and parents will enjoy stories, crafts and more from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 in the Faulkner Gallery of the Santa Barbara Central Library , 40 E. Anapamu St.\nAsk\nVote\nInvestigate\nAnswer\nWelcome to Noozhawk Asks, a new feature in which you ask the questions, you help decide what Noozhawk investigates, and you work with us to find the answers.\nHere’s how it works: You share your questions with us in the nearby box. In some cases, we may work with you to find the answers. In others, we may ask you to vote on your top choices to help us narrow the scope. And we’ll be regularly asking you for your feedback on a specific issue or topic.\nWe also expect to work together with the reader who asked the winning questions to find the answer together. Noozhawk’s objective is to come at questions from a place of curiosity and openness, and we believe a transparent collaboration is the key to achieve it.\nThe results of our investigation will be published here in this Noozhawk Asks section. Once or twice a month, we plan to do a review of what was asked and answered.\nThanks for asking!\nClick Here to Get Started >", "Over 600 children, parents, and Disney fans of all ages flocked to Bossard Memorial Library in Gallipolis on Saturday to meet special characters and to enjoy many other Disney-themed crafts, stories, and games during the Summer Reading kick-off event. Activities were held throughout the library grounds and included Disney bingo, story time with princesses in the \"castle\" area, Disney trivia quizzes, create-your-own princess and prince crowns in the crafting area, inflatables, and water balloon games.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Tri-County News.", "Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Indianapolis' Central Library celebrates one hundred years on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, from 11am-2pm. Robert Scheer/IndyStar\nBuy Photo 1928 photo of the Indianapolis Central Library on land donated by James Whitcomb Riley at St. Clair between Pennsylvania and Meridian Streets. (Photo: Indianapolis Star)Buy Photo\nHoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley never lived to see the Central Library built on the land he had donated. He died in July 1916. So, it was fitting that the dedication ceremonies were held on his birthday, Oct. 7, 1917 - in appreciation and gratitude for his gift.\nSaturday, the Indianapolis Public Library marks the 100th anniversary of Central Library with the opening of a time capsule, musical performances, programs and birthday cake.\n“We are met to dedicate a beautiful temple of the book,” said guest speaker and St. Louis librarian Dr. Arthur Bostwich, at the 1917 festivities. “We are met on the birthday of a man who did more than any other American, perhaps to bring the book to the hearts of the masses.”\nThe dedication also introduced new librarian Charles Rush, while it praised retiring library director Eliza Browning who led the expansion of the library to 12 branches and oversaw construction of Central Library.\nCentral Library: 7 secrets that are hidden inside one of Downtown's most public buildings\nEast Washington branch: Indy library's first update in 107 years\nThe Indianapolis Public Library was located at the southwest corner of Meridian and Ohio Streets circa 1905. (Photo: Detroit Publishing/Library of Co)\nThe Indianapolis Public Library or City Library opened April 8, 1873, in two rooms filled with 12,520 books at High School Hall at the corner of northeast corner of Michigan and Pennsylvania streets (now the Minton Capehart Federal Building). In 1876, the library was moved to the second floor of the Sentinel Building on Governor’s Circle, now known as Monument Circle. The Alvord Mansion at Ohio and Pennsylvania streets served as the library’s third home.\nFrom 1883 to 1917, the library was at 120 S. Meridian St. The bronze sculpture \"Arts, Science and Letters\" by Richard W. Bock, was commissioned for the building. When Central Library was completed in 1917, the sculpture was left on the old building. In 1967, the building was demolished and the statue was moved to Crown Hill Cemetery. It was damaged by vandals and the weather. The remains were returned to the library, which had it restored in 2002. The statue was placed in the north vestibule of Central Library in 2007.\nBy 1913, the library was outgrowing its Meridian and Ohio facility. The time had come for a larger and more permanent home and the gift from Riley was just the push it needed.\nPhiladelphia architect Paul Cret’s classic Greek Doric design was selected in a juried competition in 1914. Cret enlisted in the French Army during World War I and had to wait until April 1919 to see his creation.\nThe Indiana limestone exterior and carved cornices give the building a stately appearance that could be easily mistaken for the grandest of government buildings.\nSkip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Mike Williams explains why kids funded Central Library's Penny Gate, Indianapolis, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. Robert Scheer/IndyStar\nThe “Riley gates” or “penny gates” are made of hand-wrought iron doors and purchased with pennies contributed by Indianapolis school children. Each gate bears a small tablet with the words, “These gets are the gift of children of Indianapolis in remembrance of their friend, James Whitcomb Riley.” The interior includes Indiana limestone, white oak and walnut trim. The ceiling mural, designed by C.C. Zantzinger of Philadelphia, is unique in that it consists of 100 oil canvas paintings that tell the story of Indiana.\nDuring the cornerstone laying ceremony on March 24, 1916, a time capsule was placed inside the cornerstone containing mementos of the day including copies of The Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News, coins, postage stamps and other historical artifacts. A last-minute photo of Riley and Gov. Samuel Ralston by Star photographer Lon Burton was not included in the box but was placed on the lid of the capsule. Those items will be revealed during the centennial celebration Saturday.\nCentral Library Centennial Concert and Commemorative Program\nWhen: Saturday, 11 a.m.\nWhere: Central Library, Simon Reading Room\nInformation: All ages are invited to performances by a quintet from the Philharmonic Quintet of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Children's Choir, and the Freetown Village Singers. In addition, there will be a special presentation by the Mayor's Office and the unveiling of a 100-year time capsule implanted during the Library's construction. A celebration with exhibits, family-focused programs, period characters, souvenirs and birthday cake, begins at noon.\n.\nSkip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE The Indianapolis Public Library celebrates the centennial of the Central Library.\nRead or Share this story: http://indy.st/2yMAdRR", "The following FICTION books are now available for checkout at the library:\nAmanda Quick – The Girl Who Knew Too Much\nSherrilyn Kenyon – Dead Men Walking\nDennis Lehane – Since we Fell\nJoanna Trollope – City of Friends\nRichard Paul Evans – The Broken Road\nHari Kunzru – White Tears\nDeb Caletti – What’s Become of Her?\nMaisey Yates – Slow Burn Cowboy\nFredrick Backman – Bear Town\nStephanie Powell Watts – No One Is Coming\nCarolyn Hart – Walking On My Grave\nLincoln Child – Full Wolf Moon\nElizabeth Strout – My Name Is Lucy Barton\nStephen King – Gwendy’s Button Box\nMichael Crichton – Dragon Teeth\nWalter Mosely – Black Betty\nScott Turow – Testimony\nDiane Ackerman – The Zookeeper’s Wife\nJo Nesbo – The Thirst\nDee Henderson – Threads of Suspicion\nThe following NON-FICTION BOOKS are now available for checkout at the library:\nWomen Who Work – Ivanka Trump\nMake Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World –\nAdmiral William H. McRaven\nEat Complete – Drew Ramsey, MD\nThe Secrets Of My Life – Caitlyn Jenner\nBe Anxious For Nothing – Joyce Meyer\nDemocracy – Condoleezza Rice\nThe Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers In “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and\nWeight Gain – Steven R. Gundry MD\nShattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign – Jonathan Allen & Amie Parns\nThe American Spirit – David McCullough\nOption B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy – Sheryl Sandberg\nThe Radium Girls: The Dark Story Of America’s Shining Women – Kate Moore\nPrince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes Of An Improbable Life – Sally Bedell Smith\nThe Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama Bin Laden and My Years As A Seal\nTeam Warrior – Robert O’Neill\nGuinness World Records 2017 Gamer’s Edition\nThis Fight Is Our Fight – Elizabeth Warren", "First Fridays are always a fun time in downtown Sioux Falls and this event adds even more activities for families to share. The Downtown Library at 200 North Dakota Avenue, is throwing a bash to celebrate their summer reading programs for children and teens on Friday, June 1, from 6 to 8 PM.\nThey'll have two food trucks there, so you can plan to make an evening of it, starting with supper. There will live entertainment from the Hanson Family, 5 kids plus mom and dad, who do amazing unicycle tricks and the \"Juggling Tornado of Doom\"!\nThey'll also have some water games, (so you may want to bring some extra clothes in case you get wet) rock-painting, and music. Teens can sharpen their puzzle-solving skills by participating in a Stranger Things escape room (on-site registration required; first-come, first-served). Of course there will be plenty of information about their \"Libraries Rock\" music-themed summer reading programs.\nThe programs for young kids and teens runs from June 1 through July 31. There are some really nice gift basket prizes to be won just for doing something you'll love, reading. The more books you read the better your chances of winning some great stuff, like:\nA Disney prize basket - coloring book, dvd and more\nA Lego prize basket - Lego kit, books and more\nAn Art gift basket - colored pencils, paints, sketch book and more\nA Slime gift basket - Everything you need to have Slime fun\nA cooking gift basket - cookbook, pans, spatulas and more\nAnime, Harry Potter, Fantasy, DC Comics gift baskets and lots of others!\nFor more information call 605-367-8700m go to Siouxland Libraries and follow them on Facebook.\nSee Also:", "Stratford Library, 2203 Main Street; Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10-8; Friday-Saturday, 10-5; Sunday, 1-5; 203-385-4162, stratfordlibrary.org.\nReader’s Theatre Summer Showcase\nThe library’s annual festival of live, script-in-hand readers theatre continues with titles from Broadway and off-Broadway Thursdays, through July 27, at 7 p.m., in the Lovell Room. The readings are held in conjunction with the Library and Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. Doors open at 6:30 for open seating. No reservations. Free and open to the public, but recommended for adult audiences.\nRising Stars @ SLA\nTeens are invited to perform music, poetry, prose, display photography, artwork, film work and more in this annual celebration Saturday, June 17, noon-5. Call the Teen Department for more information: 203-385-4167.\nSummer storytimes\nSummer storytimes begin June 19 and end Aug. 11. Storytimes are free and open to the public. No registration required; arrive 5 minutes early to make a name tag. On Mondays at 10:30 a.m. Toddler Time meets for ages 1-3. On Thursdays at 10:30, parents with children up to 18 months may enjoy Baby Time. On Fridays at 10:30, Friday Fun meets for children ages 2-5.\nPete & Toshi Seeger memorial concert\nPre-recording screening of the live concert from Lincoln Center featuring performances by Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow, Leon Redbone, Tom Chapin and many more Monday, June 19, 7 p.m., Lovell Room. Free and open to the public.\nArt exhibit\nOriginal paintings in watercolors, acrylics and oils by late Milford artist Joseph Barber will be display through June. July and August exhibit will feature original watercolor paintings highlighting Connecticut area landscapes by Stratford artist Mark Dittmar. The exhibit is free and open to the public.\nCareer coach\nFree services to low-wage workers and job seekers age 16 and older in Southwestern Connecticut who are unable to get the services at local career centers due to lack of transportation, childcare or employment schedules Mondays, from 10-3, June 19 (Resume class), July 31, Aug. 28, Sept. 25 (Excel class), Oct. 30, Nov. 27 (Resume class) and Dec. 18.\nWizard Art workshops\nWizard Art Workshop will be held on Tuesday, June 20. Preschoolers-grade 1 meet at 2; grades 2-6 at 3. The artwork created will be displayed at the Library’s Bookfair at Barnes & Noble of Milford on Friday, July 21. Registration underway.\nKids yoga\nKids yoga runs in the Lovell Room on Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. for ages 4-8. Bring a yoga mat or a towel.\nHarry Potter book group\nAges 8-adult discuss Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the first half) Thursday, June 22, 6:30. Craft, discussion and snack provided. New members welcome. Registration opens two weeks in advance.\nLibrary LEGO Club\nChildren ages 5-12 meet Saturday, June 24, 1:30. Register on the events page at stratfordlibrary.org or call 203-385-4165 two weeks before the event.\nMonday Matinees\nFilm series continues twice monthly, on Mondays, at noon, in the Lovell Room. Free showings of recent, popular films, shown uncut on widescreen. Schedule is as follows: Hidden Figures, June 26, PG; La La Land July 10, PG-13; Patriot’s Day, July 24, R; Beauty and the Beast, Aug. 7, PG.\nAdult summer reading\nEighth annual Adult Summer Reading Program begins in June. Adults may register through Aug. 12 by visiting the Stratford Library’s Adult Reference Desk. There are no meetings to attend, no required booklists to follow. Participants are simply asked to fill out reading slips and share the titles of whatever books, fiction or nonfiction, they currently are reading. Readers will then be eligible for prize drawings of Barnes & Noble gift cards after Aug. 12.\nAspiring Authors\nChildren ages 8-12 who love to write meet on Monday, June 26 at 4. Bring a notebook and pencil.\nArt storytime\nKids ages 3-8 are inspired by stories to make their own art Tuesday, June 27 at 2:30.\nRead to therapy dogs\nChildren may read to certified therapy dogs Siena and Drago on Wednesday, June 28, 11-12:30. Call 203-385-4165 for a reading time.\nBooks Over Coffee\nMonthly book discussion program looks at Fannie Flagg’s The Whole Town’s Talking June 28, noon, Board Room. Discussion leader: Kathleen Faggella. Bring a bag lunch; coffee and tea served.\nYouth review board\nMonthly group of middle and high school teens who read, review and recommend books and discuss current teen issues meets Wednesday, July 5, 3:30-4:30, Lovell Room.\nAnime club\nTeens are invited to discuss anime and manga, view movies and share their artwork at this monthly club Wednesday, July 12, 4-5 p.m., Lovell Room.\nTeen volunteer program\nThe Stratford Library Children’s Department is looking for responsible, self-motivated volunteers entering grades 8-13 to assist with the Library’s summer reading activities for children ages 0-12. Volunteers help with crafts, displays, and special events for children. The Library also needs teen volunteers interested in building and decorating items for summer programs and reporting on Library events. Volunteers schedule their own hours and should plan to work at least five hours during the summer. To inquire about the program, teens may call 203-385-4165. Applications will be accepted no later than June 16 or until program is full.\nPasses to area attractions\nStratford Library currently offers its patrons discounted and free passes to a variety of state museums and aquarium attractions including Mystic and Maritime Aquariums, Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, New Haven’s Peabody Museum of Natural History and Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.", "by\nJoin us for a community celebration of African-American authors!\nThe National African-American Read-In is the nation’s oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English in order to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.\nKent County Public Library is planning an interactive, multigenerational program that will include readings from a wide variety of authors shared by members of the community. You can come just to listen or plan to step up to the mic and take part as a reader.\nReadings may include short essays, passages from novels, poetry, children’s books, or other types of writing. A selection of readings will be available the day of the program, but those interested in reading are encouraged to plan ahead, choose a selection that resonates on a personal level, and practice reading their pieces out loud. To accommodate as many readers as possible, selections should be no more than 2-4 minutes when read aloud.\nIn order to allow for a wide variety of selections and encourage participation by all ages, the readings will be broken into two sets:\n10am – Readings that are family-friendly for all ages\n11am – Readings may contain more mature themes\nAfter the readings, stay for a slice of pizza and conversation.\nQuestions about the program? Please call 410.778.3636.\nSaturday, February 10 | 10am\nKent County Public Library | Chestertown Branch", "Tuesday, the city's annual \"Read to Me\" book drive kicked off Downtown at the Main Library. They are trying to collect 60,000 new and gently used children's books.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at KRQE Albuquerque.", "Explore life, death and family history in Scranton Reads’ latest book selection and a month of accompanying events.\nThe organization selected Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Gilead” for this year’s community reading initiative and will kick off its activities with a First Friday gathering on Oct. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Albright Memorial Library, Scranton. Guests can pick up free copies of the novel, enjoy light refreshments and hear readings from “Gilead” and local historical letters, which ties into the book’s setup as a series of messages from a dying pastor to his 7-year-old son. Local letters include one from John J. Albright in which he discussed donating money for the library that now bears his name.\n“I’m always happy about the kickoff because it’s kind of the big to-do and everybody gets the book, and (you can) see the excitement,” said Elizabeth Davis, Scranton Reads chairwoman.\nA joint venture between Scranton Public Library and the city started in 2002, Scranton Reads annually selects a book it encourages the community to read and plans book discussions and other events around the story.\n“You really learn something about someone else when you share that common experience,” Davis said. “It’s just really great to see how people interpret things.”\nSet in Gilead, Iowa, this year’s book follows a father passing on “everything he’d ever want to tell his son,” she explained.\n“It’s very relatable,” Davis said. “Everyone kind of has these experiences that they can recall with fond memories, like, ‘Oh, I want to make sure I tell them about this.’”\nBook discussions run over the next few weeks at several Lackawanna County Library System branches, Marywood University and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Scranton. Several activities draw on the book’s life and death focus, including “Exit Strategies: End of Life Care in the United States,” a presentation by U of S alumnus Dr. Christopher A. Jones, now with the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, at U of S, and “Good Life, Good Death from Gilead to Today” at Marywood.\nOther events focus on family history, such as beginners’ genealogy workshops and Family Documents Scan Day, both at Lackawanna County Children’s Library in Scranton. People can bring family photos and letters — up to 10 per person — for Scranton Reads to scan. Owners will receive the digital files on a flash drive, but Scranton Reads also will share the scans on the public PA Photos and Documents website.\nDavis said events encompass “tons of different things.”\n“(We’re) kind of going at it all in different directions, which is really great,” she said.\nContact the writer: cwest@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5107; @cheaneywest on Twitter\nScranton Reads events\nFirst Friday Kickoff\nWhen: Friday, Oct. 6, 6 to 8 p.m.\nWhere: Albright Memorial Library, 500 Vine St., Scranton\nDetails: Hear readings of historical letters from local groups plus selections from this year’s book, “Gilead.” Free copies of the book and light refreshments will be available.\nGenealogy workshops\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, Oct. 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.\nWhere: Computer Learning Lab, Lackawanna County Children’s Library, 520 Vine St., Scranton\nDetails: Reference librarians and Lackawanna Historical Society representatives lead a beginners’ workshop on local resources to use when researching your family tree. Call 570-348-3000, ext. 3038, to register.\nExit Strategies: End of Life Care in the United States\nWhen: Sunday, Oct. 15, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.\nWhere: Pearn Auditorium (Room 208), Brennan Hall, University of Scranton\nDetails: University of Scranton alumnus Dr. Christopher A. Jones of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine discusses medical and practical end-of-life issues.\nGood Life, Good Death\nfrom Gilead To Today\nWhen: Monday, Oct. 16, 8 to 9:30 p.m.\nWhere: Rooms 331/337, third floor, Learning Commons, Marywood University, Scranton\nDetails: Discussion explores issues of what it means to have a “good life” and “good death” and what readers can learn from the book.\nMarilynne Robinson’s\nAmerican Vision:\nA Lecture and Discussion\nwith Joseph Kraus, Ph.D.\nWhen: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 12:15 p.m.\nWhere: Room 201, Hawk Lecture Hall, Business Building, Penn State Worthington Scranton, 120 Ridge View Road, Dunmore\nDetails: Joseph Kraus, University of Scranton professor of English, discusses traditions drawn upon in “Gilead.”\nWar on the Home Front\nWhen: Friday, Oct. 20, 5 p.m.\nWhere: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library, 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton\nDetails: Learn about the home front during the Civil War and then explore the museum.\nFamily Stories —\nTheir Value and Persistence\nin Our Lives Today\nWhen: Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m.\nWhere: Rooms 331/337, third floor, Learning Commons, Marywood University, Scranton\nDetails: Discuss the value of family stories, who dominates them and why they stick around.\nFamily Documents Scan Day\nWhen: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 to 4 p.m.\nWhere: Computer Learning Lab, Lackawanna County Children’s Library, 520 Vine St., Scranton\nDetails: Have your family photos and letters scanned and then receive a flash drive containing the digital files. Copies will be shared on the PA Photos and Documents website. Limit 10 items per person. Call 570-348-3000, ext. 3038, to RSVP.\nGrown-up Spelling Bee\nWhen: Thursday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.\nWhere: The Bog, 341 Adams Ave., Scranton\nDetails: Test your knowledge for a prize. Watch for free or participate for $3. Advance registration not required. Ages 21 and up only.\nBook discussions\nAbington Community Library, 1200 W. Grove St., Clarks Summit: Monday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m.; call 570-587-3440 to register.\nAlbright Memorial Library, 500 Vine St., Scranton: Mondays, Oct. 9, 16 and 23, 6 p.m.; call 570-348-3000, ext. 3050, to register.\nCarbondale Public Library, 5 North Main St.: Thursday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m.; call 570-282-4281 to register.\nDalton Community Library, 113 E. Main St.: Thursday, Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m.; call 570-563-2014 to register.\nMarywood University, Learning Commons, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.; call 570-961-4707 to register.\nNancy Kay Holmes Branch Library, 1032 Green Ridge St., Scranton: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.; call 570-207-0764 to register.\nNorth Pocono Public Library, 1315 Church St., Moscow: Monday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m., and Thursday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m.; call 570-842-4700 to register.\nSt. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Ave., Scranton: Sunday, Oct. 8, 11:15 a.m.; call 570-342-7654 to register.\nTaylor Public Library, 710 S. Main St.: Thursday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.; call 570-562-1234 to register.\nValley Community Library, 739 River St., Peckville: Wednesday, Oct. 25, and Thursday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.; call 570-489-1765 to register.\nAll events are free unless otherwise noted. Visit scrantonreads.org for more information.", "Assistant Historic Sites Director Jessica Sowell in front of a set drawing from the 2010 Coen Brothers True Grit movie on display at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot. (Source: KTRE Staff)\n'True Grit', by Charles Portis is the selected novel for One Book, One City. Free copies are available at the Nacogdoches Public Library. (Source: KTRE Staff)\nAssistant Library Director Crystal Hicks plans to make the One Book, One City an annual October program at the Nacogdoches Public Library. (Source: KTRE Staff)\nIn Nacogdoches, you'll find lots of residents reading the same book during the month of October.\nThey're participating in, “One Book, One City,” a literacy initiative for all ages. It’s also why John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn character popping up all over town.\n\"We looked at 'True Grit' as something that would appeal to a wide audience,” said Crystal Hicks, the assistant library director. “We've gotten a lot of great feedback.\"\nThe Nacogdoches Public Library is giving away free copies of Charles Portis' novel. Throughout October numerous events will coincide with the city-wide read.\n\"The notion is that no two people read the same book, so everybody brings their own interpretation to what they're reading and what they're experiences are,” Hicks said.\nUndoubtedly, someone will ask, “Is the book better than the subsequent two movies?”\n\"This is my favorite,” said Jessica Sowell, the City of Nacogdoches’ assistant historic site manager. “This is the final sketch of Rooster Cogburn's room.”\nSowell started with a Google search that led her to Gregory Hill, the set illustrator on the 2010 Coen brothers “True Grit.” She e-mailed him and before long had what it takes for a month-long “True Grit” exhibit at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot.\n\"He was very gracious, said yes,” Sowell said. “He contacted the production company for us and said, 'Here's all our sketches, make a display, and let us know what you need.'\"\nAdditional One Book, One City collaborations will take place Saturday at the annual Pioneer Day at the Durst Taylor House, but watch out for the ornery Rooster Cogburn.\n\"Rooster Cogburn has been spotted a lot of places around town, so we are hoping he will be there tomorrow,” Sowell said.\nOn Saturday, “True Grit” spottings will show up at the Nacogdoches Farmers Market Fall Fling,\nPioneer Day and possibly even the Stephen F. Austin State University Plant Sale. Then Saturday night, a “True Grit” deal me in card night with period dress and food will take place at the Stone Fort museum, which was formerly a saloon back in the day.\nClick here for a link to all the \"True Grit” events that happen during October. You can also go to the Nacogdoches page which lists the events for the month of October.\nCopyright 2017 KTRE. All rights reserved.", "GREENE COUNTY — The Greene County Community Libraries will hold a variety of programs for the month of May. Some programs require registration contact the local library to register. The following library programs are planned:\nBellbrook\nWinters-Bellbrook Community Library is located at 57 W. Franklin St. To register for programs call 937-352-4004.\nMay Day Craft Day for all ages, all day Tuesday, May 1. It’s a day to celebrate Spring and flowers. Stop by and make a craft to take home.\nTuesday Crochet & Knit Group for adults, 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. Bring a project and drop in to crochet or knit.\nFirsties Book Club for grade 1, 4:30-5:25 p.m. Wednesday, May 2. This book club is for boys and girls in first grade.\nWednesday Morning Story Time for ages 2-4, 10-10:50 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, from 10-10:50 a.m.\nAttack the Stack: Organizing Your Paperwork for adults, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Paper can overwhelm your desk and counter space, creating mental stress and chaos. Lori Firsdon of Fore Organizers will show you how to reduce the amount of paperwork and how to organize. Registration required.\nBabies & Books for ages 6-24 months, 10-10:50 a.m. Thursday, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.\nAll Day Mother’s Day Craft for all ages, all day, Friday, May 4. Stop by and make something special to give her as a gift.\nRock, Paper, Scissors with Raspberry Pi for adults, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 7. Learn the basics of the Python programming language, and use Python and a Raspberry Pi to create a Rock, Paper, Scissors game. Registration required\nrate the end of the school year with karaoke, food, games, and prizes. Registration required.\nCedarville\nCedarville Community Library is located at 20 S. Miller St. To register for programs call 937-352-4006.\nTech Assistance for adults, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, May 1. Stop in with your tablet, ereader, or laptop for an informal help session.\nNeedlework Circle for adults, 6-7:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 1. Bring your own project and supplies and enjoy working in the company of other yarn crafters. Beginners are welcome and participants are always willing to share their expertise.\nFood for Thought for adults, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 5. Trying new recipes, and sharing food with others, then join us for a potluck meal using recipes from a pre-selected library cookbook, cookbook author, or theme.\nCedarville Community Library’s Trivia Night for adults, 7-8 p.m. Thursday, May 3, Beans-n-Cream, 65 N. Main St.\nCedarville Friends of the Library Meeting for adults, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8. Friends, Cedarville Community Library’s volunteer group, as they raise funds and do special projects for the library.\nJamestown\nJamestown Community Library is located at 86 Seaman Drive. To register for programs call 937-352-4005.\nCrafters Night Out for adults, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. Stop by the library and join other crafters as they work on various projects, from knitting to scrapbooking, and everything in between.\nWalking and Talking for adults, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. Morning walk on the bike path approximately 2.5 miles.\nStar Wars Day Celebration, 3 p.m. Friday, May 4. Showing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Refreshments will be provided and there will be themed activities for all ages.\nFascinators and Top Hats, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5. Decorate our own fascinators and top hats to celebrate. All supplies provided.\nYellow Springs\nYellow Springs Community Library is located at 415 Xenia Ave. To register for programs call 937-352-4003.\nPlant a Craft for age 7 and up, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 1. Make your own Chia Character. Snacks provided.\nBaby Song & Rhyme Time, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 9, 23, 30. Songs, simple stories, and rhymes to enjoy with your little one.\nAnime Club for grades 6 and up, 4-5 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Anime fun and treats.\nPlanner Enthusiasts Unite for adults, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Bring your supplies and enjoy time to make your life pretty and functional.\nPreschool Story Time, 10:30-11:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, 11.\nUnderstanding Islam for adults, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, May 5. Dr. Khurshid Ahmad will talk about Is Islam a Religion of Peace and other subjects. There will be time for questions.\nMake Surrealistic Art Without Using Graphics Software for adults, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 7. Yellow Springs artist Carla Steiger will teach you how to make surrealistic art without using graphics software. All supplies provided. Registration required.\nFor a complete schedule of activities, stop by your local library or log on to the library website at www.greenelibrary.info.", "This show is sold out. We are not taking names in advance, but will begin a waitlist at 6 p.m. at JDHS on the day of the event.\nTICKETS\nKTOO is honored to host NPR humorist and award winning author, David Sedaris this May 14th at Juneau Douglas High School. He’ll read new, original pieces for an hour, and will sign books before and after the performance. We’re told the book signings are just as much a part of the event as the readings, and he sticks around until the last person wanting to connect has a chance. Hearthside Books will be on hand selling his latest.\nMATURE CONTENT: Adult Language and Themes.\nBABIES – Discouraged. Ticket required for all ages.\nCHILDREN – Recommended for ages 13 and older.\nWith sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.\nSedaris is the author of “Barrel Fever” and “Holidays on Ice,” as well as collections of personal essays, “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” and his most recent book, “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls,” each of which have become immediate best sellers. The audio version of “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls,” is a 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album. Sedaris is the author of the New York Times best-selling collection of fables, titled “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary (with illustrations by Ian Falconer.) He was also the editor of “Children Playing before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories.” Sedaris’ pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “the Best American Essays.” There are a total of ten million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 29 languages.\nAn Evening with David Sedaris is made possible with support from:\nTICKETS", "WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is rolling out the welcome mat after “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill tweeted about wanting to visit.\nGov. Jeff Colyer suggested Monday in a tweet that Hamill come on May 4, which fans call Star Wars Day for the wordplay on “May the Force be with you.”\nKansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner responded with “I only let Jedi Warriors drive my patrol car.” The state’s transportation touted its roads in a tweet that included a video clip of Batman’s archenemy, the Joker, whom Hamill has voiced.\nThe love fest began after Hamill was asked in Twitter where he’d never been but wanted to go. He responded with the one-word answer of “Kansas.” One fan Photoshopped the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Dorothy into the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit.", "The J. Joel Edwards Public Library in Zebulon will host children's author and illustrator Jose Lucio on Saturday, May 27 at 1 p.m. Lucio will read his latest book, Free Rain, and present a workshop in which the participants will learn to draw the hilarious chickens from the book. Through a series of exciting but difficult changes, a group of six chickens embark on their transition from their life in the coop to roaming around the farm as free range chickens.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Pike County Journal and Reporter.", "The OC Zoo is tapping another fan favorite for a day of fun for all ages.\nStar Wars characters will mix with the animal residents of the zoo at Irvine Park.\nThe celebration will also feature crafts for kids, games and photo opportunities.\nThe first 100 children younger than 12 dressed in Star Wars costumes will get a special gift and a free train ride ticket to the nearby Irvine Park Railroad.\nVisitors are encouraged to wear Star Wars attire.\n– Denisse Salazar\nIf you go\nWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17\nWhere: OC Zoo, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange\nCost: $2, ages 2 and under free; parking is $5\nInformation: ocparks.com/zoo", "Learn how to protect and preserve your family collections! Conservation specialist Donia Conn will talk about the steps you can take to preserve your family photos, letters and other treasures for generations to come. This workshop will be run concurrent with a World War I Digitization Day, which will be held on Saturday, March 25 at the Pequot Library. This workshop has been made possible in part by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.", "Tuesday, Jan. 3\nToddler Storytime, 10 a.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Simple stories, songs and fingerplays with plenty of parent and child interaction. For toddlers and their grown-ups. 928-777-1500.\nIntroduction to Computers, 10 a.m. to noon at Prescott Valley Public Library, PC lab on the second floor. Learn basic computer skills, including using the mouse and keyboard, working with Microsoft Windows 7 and 10, using Microsoft Word, surfing the Internet and using email. First session of a four-week class on Tuesdays through Jan. 24. Free, but registration is required. Michele, 928-759-6196.\nLonesome Valley Quilt Guild class, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Yavapai Hills Clubhouse. Mary Lou Masters will teach the New York Beauty foundation-pieced star. Patsy, 928-925-3845.\nHamburger Lunch, noon to 2 p.m. at the Humboldt American Legion Post 78, 2201 N. Highway 69, Humboldt. Public welcome. $5 per person. 928-632-5185.\nTeen Books and Bites, 4 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. For teens, grades 7-12. In this month’s pick, James Dashner’s “The Eye of Minds,” one boy’s hacking skills lead to murderous results. First eight teens to register will receive a free copy of the book. Register online, at the Youth Desk or by phone at 918-777-1537.\nThursday, Jan. 5\n“The Four Elements” Exhibit, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery, 208 N. Marina St. On display through Feb. 11. The classical four elements are earth, water, air and fire. The main elements of art include form, shape, line, color, space and texture. Artists represent one or all of the classical four elements in all mediums, using the main elements of art to create their pieces. Gallery hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 928-445-3286.\n“Movement Options – Senior Exercise to Fit Your Lifestyle,” noon to 1 p.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 1202 Green Lane in Prescott. Presenter Mary Heller, of BeMoved and Gentle BeMoved, will explain and demonstrate the different movement practices from which you can choose how to stay motivated, the benefits and a brief history of each. RSVPs appreciated to Debbie@seniorConnection.us or 928-778-3747\nPopcorn and Pages Book Club, 4 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. For children in grades 2-4. This month’s book: “The Chicken Squad” by Doreen Cronin. Register online, at the Youth Desk or by phone at 928-777-1537.\nArizona Humanities Lecture: “The Life and Times of Tom Jeffords, Friend of Cochise,” 5 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Retired Army officer Doug Hocking discusses the many adventures of Tom Jeffords, which included scouting for the Army during the Civil War, and a friendship with Cochise that eventually fostered peace negotiations with General O.O. Howard. 928-777-1500.\nFriday, Jan. 6\nLapsit Storytime, 9:30 a.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Bring your baby for some cozy activity time on your lap. Storytime lasts about 20 minutes, but you’re invited to linger and play. 928-777-1500.\nConversational Spanish, 10 a.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Check your English at the door and brush up on your Spanish with conversation and camaraderie. Sessions may include targeted grammar discussions, subject-specific vocabulary practice and handouts. Basic Spanish skills needed. 928-777-1500.\nIntroduction to Facebook, a three-week class, 10 a.m. to noon at Prescott Valley Public Library. Learn all about Facebook, become a member of the free website and post messages and photos online, all from your desktop or laptop computer. Class meets the first three Fridays in January, Jan. 6, 13 and 20. Free, but registration is required. Michele, 928-759-6196.\nPreschool Storytime, 10:30 a.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Thirty minutes of stories, songs and fingerplays especially for children ages 3-5 and their grownups. Siblings always welcome. 928-777-1500.\nOnline Job Searching, 1 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Find the best websites for local job openings in this 90-minute presentation. Learn how to navigate and submit online applications with ease. Register online, at the Ask a Librarian desk or by phone, 928-777-1526.\nIt’s a Mystery Book Group, 2 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St. Read selected mystery books while enjoying the company of like-minded readers. This month: “Nine Days” by Minerva Koenig (2014). 928-777-1500.\nFish Fry, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Humboldt American Legion Post 78, 2201 N. Highway 69, Humboldt. $10 per person. 928-632-5185.", "By Jolene Kronschnabel, Library Director\nMake Father’s Day Cards through Thursday, June 16. We have lots of supplies for construction and decorating.\nHawkins Memorial Library will be closed for regular library business on Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17, for Festival of Trails.\nOur free Festival of Trails event at the library is a Magic Show on Saturday, June 17, featuring comedy Magician Rick Eugene at 1 PM. This show takes place rain or shine.\nExplore compositing activities and the worm bins when Waste Trac leads the Monday Summer Science program on June 19. Sessions are from 1-2 PM for K-2nd grade and 2:30-3:30 PM for 3rd-5th grade.\nSnap bricks with your friends from 2-4 PM and put your “bugs” on display for everyone to see at the Tuesday, June 20, LEGORAMA program.\nGrab a friend and explore adult coloring, a popular form of art and relaxation. Color and Connect is 6-8 PM on Tuesday, June 20.\nBeauty and the Beast is the 1:15 PM movie on Wednesday, June 21. An adaptation of the fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman who fall in love. Rated PG/ fantasy/musical, plays 2 hrs. and 9 min.\nHawkins’ Handcrafters meet on Thursday, June 22, from 1-3 PM.\nA free Monday afternoon Science program is provided by the Black Hawk County Extension Service on June 26. This is an entertaining, hands-on learning lab. Sessions are 1-2 PM for preschool-2nd grade and 2:30-3:30 PM for grades 3rd-5th\nDigging to America by Anne Tyler, is the June Book Club selection. Join this group on Tuesday, June 27, at 1 PM for the discussion. Stop at the library to sign up and grab the book.\nRock Dog is the movie on Wednesday, June 28, at 1:15 PM. When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician. Rated PG, animation/adventure/comedy, plays 1 hr. and 30 min.\nThe 2017 library summer reading program is Build A Better World. Attend our special programs and complete the reading log to earn prizes all summer long. This program is for ages preschool through 5th grade. Register now!", "December sees the release of the much-anticipated new Star Wars film The Last Jedi.\nThe film’s official UK release date is Friday, December 15, but avid Star Wars fans can catch showings of the latest instalment of the sci-fi franchise the day before in Corby and Kettering.\nThe Last Jedi\nAt the Odeon, Kettering, the first screening takes place at just after midnight on Thursday, December 14, as part of a double bill with Episode VII.\nIt is then on at numerous other times throughout the day and evening in both 3D and 2D, and then showing daily up until at least December 28.\nThe situation is the same at the Savoy in Corby, when Episodes VII and VIII will be screened back to back from 9.20pm on the Wednesday (December 13), with the latest film starting at about midnight.\nBookings are currently being taken for performances in 2D and 3D no further on than Sunday, December 17, at the moment.\nWellingborough fans of the sci-fi franchise will have to wait until January to see the film, when the Castle has evening screenings on January 29 and 30 and February 1.", "The early bird may get the worm — but the early bookworm will get the best bargains, at the 35th annual Friends of the Plano Public Library Book Sale, Friday through Sunday, August 3-5, 2018 at the Plano Event Center, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano.\nThis year, Friends members will enjoy early admission from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, August 3, affording them two hours of private bargain shopping. That’s twice as long as previous years, when members were admitted one hour before the sale opened. The Book Sale will then open to the public at 6 p.m. on Friday, and run through Sunday, August 5.\n“We decided to move early admission up one hour this year, as an added incentive to our members,” said Scott Johnson, President of the Friends of the Plano Public Library. “Shoppers always find great bargains at any time during the sale, but those first few hours offer the best selection.”\nAlmost 100,000 hardbacks, paperbacks, DVDs, CDs and records are available at prices ranging from 25¢ to $2. Net proceeds from the Book Sale benefit the Plano Public Library System.\nAnother new attraction at this year’s sale: shoppers will have a chance to tour the library’s new outreach van, purchased with funds raised by the Friends, including last year’s Book Sale. The 2018 Ford 350 HR cargo van is tricked out with an external smart TV, a retractable awning and a bubble machine.\nThe Friends of the Plano Public Library is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to supporting the libraries in Plano. Anyone may purchase a membership online at www.friendsofplanolibrary.org or at the sale. Yearly memberships are $20 for individuals and $35 for families. (Higher membership levels are available for those who’d like to donate more.)\nIn addition to free, early admission on Friday night, members enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases on any day of the Book Sale, as well as year-round exclusive early access to author events at Plano libraries.\nPublic hours for Book Sale are from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, August 3, with an admission fee of $5 for individuals and $10 for families. Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. An extra Sunday incentive includes special pricing for all merchandise at $10 for a bag of books (and the Friends supply the bags)!\nRead more: A Sister Act: The Kingrey’s 32-Year-Long Family Tradition with the Annual Friends of the Plano Public Library Book Sale", "The Hanna Library is helping those who are looking for stocking stuffer suggestions by listing the top five books in a variety of categories to satisfy all the readers in your life.\nThose looking for suggestions can find the list below.\nAdult Fiction\nGlass Houses by Louise Penny.\nCross the Line by James Patterson.\nWhen All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Anne Krentz.\nDon’t Let Go by Harlan Coben.\nCamino Island by John Grisham.\nAdult Non-Fiction\nOh She Glows Every Day: Quick and Simply Satisfying Plant-based Recipes by Angela Liddon.\nThe Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls\nRising Strong by Brene Brown.\nRun, Hide, Repeat: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Pauline Dakin.\nYa Ha Tinda: A Home Place: Celebrating 100 Years of the Canadian Government’s Only Working Horse Ranch by Kathy Calvert.\nYoung Adult (Teen) Fiction\nTurtles All the Way Down by John Green.\nThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.\nLady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.\nTower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas.\nThe Elite by Kiera Cass.\nYoung Adult (Teen) Non-Fiction\nThe Key Student Study Guide: Science 10 by Sandy Grewal.\nA Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg.\nClose to the Hell by Norah McClintack.\nLast Message by Shane Peacock.\nJuvenile (0-12 years) Fiction\nPopeye: Classic Comics by Bud Sagendorf.\nBoo! by Robert N. Munsch.\nHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.\nCabin Fever by Jeff Kinney.\nDouble Down by Jeff Kinney.\nJuvenile (0-12 years) Non-fiction\nRipley’s Believe It of Not! Special Edition.\nLEGO the Batman Movie: the Essential Guide by Julia March.\nFatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton.\nMinecraft: Beginner’s Handbook by Stephanie Milton.\nStar Wars, the Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia.\nUnsure of what your reader likes to immerse themselves in? Why not give the gift that keeps on giving by presenting them with not one, not 10 but an unlimited number of books in the form of a Hanna Library membership?\nJIrwin@postmedia.com", "Other special activities include the \"Superhero Boot Camp,\" where little good guys can learn how to use their own super powers for heroic feats. Superhero Saturday featuring Captain America and Spider-Man is included with paid zoo admission.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at Grainger Today.", "Close Get email notifications on Alia Conley daily!\nYour notification has been saved.\nThere was a problem saving your notification.\nWhenever Alia Conley posts new content, you'll get an email delivered to your inbox with a link.\nEmail notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.", "2016 underlined pop culture as a dominant communication tool, played out in memes, reaction GIFs and countless essays comparing one fictional universe of good and evil to the very real one as a substitute for smart cultural criticism. The high-est-grossing films of the year were largely from the massive Disney triumvirate: Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars. Now, everyone gets to be a \"nerd.\" But the comic book convention is the last refuge for the real freaks and geeks.\nWizard magazine closed in 2011 to focus on its ever-expanding con-vention circuit, a traveling roadshow of celebrity meet and greets, towers of obscure merchandise and immersive catwalks for dedicated fans in detailed costumes. It's become a temple for all pop culture, including hyperspecific comic characters, '70s B-movie stars, professional wrestling and the most successful film and TV franchises of all time. Wizard World returns to New Orleans Jan. 6-8.\nAmong its guests are stars of The X-Files, whose characters have gone on to live second and third lives not just with a one-off return season in 2016 but in the crevices of the internet, where Mulder is a moody sex symbol and Scully is a feminist meme, all framed with alien and crystal ball emoji. (David Duchovny double-dips into the millennial cultural zeitgeist as a Twin Peaks alumnus.) Duchovny is joined by X-Files co-star Mitch Pileggi, aka FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner.\nOther celebrity sci-fi and fantasy stars at this year's convention in-clude the stars of Guardians of the Galaxy, Back to the Future, Harry Potter and Star Wars, among others, including dozens of artists and comic creators in the rows of colorful tables under character-filled banners and supersized comic book panels. Here are some of the panel highlights:\nFor Star Wars fans\nExperts debate whether the latest saga is in good hands and forecast their impact in Star Wars fandom (\"Is this the 'Golden Age' of Star Wars?,\" 6 p.m. Friday, Room 238). Immediately following that panel is \"Star Wars Psychology: Jedi Mind Tricks,\" inviting actual psychologists and university professors to discuss the brain science of the galaxy far, far away, and consider the larger social psychology at play in its popularity.\nAspiring screenwriters may be interested in \"Writing Plot Using Star Wars,\" looking into Episode IV's construction with author Sean Hoade (11:30 a.m. Saturday, Room 343). And Chewbaccas Joonas Swotamo (12:30 p.m. Saturday, Room 243) and Peter Mayhew (1:30 p.m., Room 243) discuss their roles in the franchise.\nFor single fans\nSince 2010, Sci-Fi Speed Dating has hooked up several dozen engagements and marriages. Come in your finest, cleanest cosplay outfits and maybe meet the next Mr. or Mrs. Impressive LaserDisc Collection. Events are 6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m.-2:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Saturday; and noon-12:45 p.m. Sunday. LGBT dating events are 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. All are in Room 232 and for ages 18 and up.\nFor fans of the classics\nThere are panels on pop culture history and theory (\"The Evolution of the Strong Female Protagonist,\" 11 a.m. Saturday, Room 238; \"A History of Censorship in Comic Books,\" 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Room 240; an exhaustive, illustrated tour of Marvel at 3 p.m. Saturday, Room 238), dipping even further into the obscure with a panel on zines and counterculture publishing (12:30 p.m. Sunday, Room 240), hosted by the New Orleans Public Library.\nFor \"I'm here to see celebrities\"\nGuardians of the Galaxy stars Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn sit on a panel at 1 p.m. Saturday on the mainstage. The X-Files' Duch-ovny and Pileggi follow at 2 p.m. And Back to the Future's Christopher Lloyd and Tom Wilson appear on the mainstage at 2 p.m. Sunday." ]

[ "The total impedance, Z of a parallel RLC circuit is calculated using the current of the circuit similar to that for a DC parallel circuit, the difference this time is that admittance is used instead of impedance. Consider the parallel RLC circuit below." ]

[ "A parallel circuit acts as a current divider as the current divides in all the branches in a parallel circuit, and the voltage remains the same across them. The current division rule determines the current across the circuit impedance.", "This is an RLC circuit, which is an oscillating circuit consisting of a resistor, capacitor, and inductor connected in series. ... The voltage in the capacitor eventually causes the current flow to stop and then flow in the opposite direction. The result is an oscillation, or resonance.", "The opposition offered to the flow of current in an AC circuit because of resistance, capacitance and inductance is known as Impedance. Resistance occurs in both AC and DC circuit, whereas Impedance takes place only in an AC circuit. ... Resistance is denoted by (R) whereas impedance by (Z).", "RLC circuits have many applications as oscillator circuits. Radio receivers and television sets use them for tuning to select a narrow frequency range from ambient radio waves. In this role, the circuit is often referred to as a tuned circuit.", "The total resistance decreases if loads are added in parallel and increases if loads are removed. When one branch of a parallel circuit is short circuited, all other paths are also short circuited. The current capacity of a battery is decreased by connecting cells in parallel.", "Two 16 Ohm speakers wired in parallel results in a nominal 8 Ohm impedance. I say nominal because no moving coil driver maintains a fixed impedance. Driver impedance changes with frequency. Make sure driver polarity are the same (+ connected to +, — connected to —).", "noun. A circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel, having values chosen such that the combination offers a very high impedance to signals of a particular frequency.", "The impedance of capacitors and inductors in a circuit depend on the frequency of the electric signal. The impedance of an inductor is directly proportional to frequency, while the impedance of a capacitor is inversely proportional to frequency.", "At resonance, the voltage across the inductor and the voltage across the capacitor are the same at any instant but they are 180 0 out of phase with each other. They cancel each other out so that the voltage drop across RLC circuit is due to just the voltage drop across the resistor alone.", "Impedance. Impedance (symbol Z) is a measure of the overall opposition of a circuit to current, in other words: how much the circuit impedes the flow of charge. It is like resistance, but it also takes into account the effects of capacitance and inductance. Impedance is measured in ohms ( ).", "When identical cells are in parallel with each other the total potential difference supplied to the circuit is equal to the potential difference of just one of the cells. So if three 2V cells are connected in parallel with each other the potential difference supplied to the circuit is 2V.", "Voltage is the same across each component of the parallel circuit. The sum of the currents through each path is equal to the total current that flows from the source. You can find total resistance in a Parallel circuit with the following formula: 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 +...", "RLC circuits have many applications as oscillator circuits. Radio receivers and television sets use them for tuning to select a narrow frequency range from ambient radio waves. ... An RLC circuit can be used as a band-pass filter, band-stop filter, low-pass filter or high-pass filter.", "High impedance circuits are low current and potentially high voltage, whereas low impedance circuits are the opposite (low voltage and potentially high current).", "In parallel circuits, the electric potential difference across each resistor (ΔV) is the same. ... In a parallel circuit, the voltage drops across each of the branches is the same as the voltage gain in the battery. Thus, the voltage drop is the same across each of these resistors.", "You can find total resistance in a Parallel circuit with the following formula: 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 +... If one of the parallel paths is broken, current will continue to flow in all the other paths.", "Since the circuit is at resonance, the impedance is equal to the resistor. Then, the peak current is calculated by the voltage divided by the resistance. The resonant frequency is found from Equation 15.6. 5: f0=12π√1LC=12π√1(3.00×10−3H)(8.00×10−4F)=1.03×102Hz.", "A parallel circuit has two or more paths for current to flow through. Voltage is the same across each component of the parallel circuit. The sum of the currents through each path is equal to the total current that flows from the source.", "Answer: Explanation: An ammeter is connected in series because the function of ammeter is to measure the current through the circuit. Since metre is a low impedance device if we connect it in parallel it can cause damage to the circuit .", "A Parallel circuit has certain characteristics and basic rules: A parallel circuit has two or more paths for current to flow through. Voltage is the same across each component of the parallel circuit. The sum of the currents through each path is equal to the total current that flows from the source.", "Voltage drop in alternating-current circuits: impedance Electrical impedance is commonly represented by the variable Z and measured in ohms at a specific frequency. Electrical impedance is computed as the vector sum of electrical resistance, capacitive reactance, and inductive reactance.", "An ammeter is connected in series with the circuit because the purpose of the ammeter is to measure the current through the circuit. Since the ammeter is a low impedance device, connecting it in parallel with the circuit would cause a short circuit, damaging the ammeter and/or the circuit.", "The main difference between series and parallel resonance is that series resonance occurs when the arrangement of the components creates the minimum impedance, whereas parallel resonance occurs when the arrangement of components creates the largest impedance.", "Resistance is simply defined as the opposition to the flow of electric current in the circuit. Impedance is opposition to the flow of AC current because of any three components that is resistive, inductive or capacitive. It is a combination of both resistance and reactance in a circuit.", "When viewed as a simple electronic circuit, the impedance of the audio source may be written as output (or source) impedance, while the impedance of the headphones may be considered load impedance. Headphone impedance is typically rated between 8-600 ohms, with a standard around 32 ohms becoming increasingly common.", "Components connected in parallel are connected along multiple paths so that the current can split up; the same voltage is applied to each component. A circuit composed solely of components connected in series is known as a series circuit; likewise, one connected completely in parallel is known as a parallel circuit.", "The equivalent resistance of a 4-Ω and 12-Ω resistor placed in parallel can be determined using the usual formula for equivalent resistance of parallel branches: 1 / Req = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 + 1 / R3 ... Now the Ohm's law equation (ΔV = I • R) can be used to determine the total current in the circuit.", "Parallel circuits use branches that have different circuit elements, be them resistors, inductors, capacitors or other electrical elements, among them. Series circuits, by contrast, arrange all of their elements in a single, closed loop.", "In a parallel circuit, the voltage drops across each of the branches is the same as the voltage gain in the battery. Thus, the voltage drop is the same across each of these resistors. ... Thus, the voltage drop across all three resistors of the two circuits is 12 Volts.", "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.", "Distinguish between a parallel and series circuit. A series circuit lets electricity flow along one path only. A parallel circuit lets electricity flow along multiple paths.", "The reason for making high input impedance is that “The circuit can be driven by any source” to avoid any loading effect. This ensures maximum current is provided by source. The reason to ensure low output impedance is that “The circuit can drive any load”, even the load impedance is small in magnitude." ]

[ "Groups representing small shareholders argue they should be involved in ensuring good corporate governance.\nInvestors hope RBS will serve as a test case so other companies will consider installing a shareholder committee.\nRBS said it had not seen full details but pledged to \"look closely\" at it once it had.\nThe way companies are managed - and how much bosses are paid - has been been under particular scrutiny this year following the collapse and loss of 11,000 jobs at BHS and the revelations about pay and working conditions at Sports Direct.\nChief executives of FTSE 100 companies have a median pay package of £4.3m, according to the High Pay Centre, which works out at 140 times that of the average worker.\nIn November, the government issued a Green Paper to explore improving how companies are run.\nIt proposed that a shareholder committee could be set up \"to scrutinise remuneration and other key corporate issues such as long term strategy and directors' appointments\".\nThe UK Individual Shareholders' Society (ShareSoc) and the UK Shareholders' Association (UKSA), who represent retail (individual) investors, said: \"We suggest that this initiative will significantly benefit corporate governance at RBS, and represents a valuable opportunity for RBS to lead the way in exploring a concept which works well in other countries.\"\nShareSoc and UKSA will present RBS with a resolution for the proposal to be included on the agenda at the bank's annual general meeting in May, where investors would then be given the chance to vote on the measure.\nA spokesman for RBS, said: \"We have not yet received the final draft resolution. Once it has been delivered we will look closely to ensure that it complies with all corporate governance and listing guidelines.\"" ]

[ "The RBS Shareholders Action Group has voted to accept a 82p a share offer.\nThe amount is below the 200p-230p a share that investors paid during the fundraising in 2008, when they say RBS lied about its financial health.\nA settlement means that the disgraced former chief executive of RBS, Fred Goodwin, will not appear in court.\nA spokesman for the RBS Shareholder Action Group said: \"The directors met last night to consider the legal advice and took the decision that this matter will not now go to court.\"\nHe declined to comment on whether the decision was unanimous.\nShares in RBS fell 1.1% to 256.85p.\nShortly after the rights issue in 2008, RBS was bailed out with £45bn taxpayers' money. The state still owns more than 70% of the bank.\nIn contrast, the government recently sold its last remaining stake in Lloyds, which took over HBOS during the crisis before receiving £20bn of rescue funds from the state.\nRBS declined to comment.", "The 9,000-strong RBS Shareholders Action Group has confirmed that it has accepted 82p a share.\nIt is almost double the original offer made by RBS.\nThe case will now go back to the High Court on Thursday where Mr Justice Hildyard will hear if it will proceed.\nThe RBS Shareholders Action Group sent a letter to its members over the weekend recommending the offer - which is less than the 92p a share compensation some investors had hoped to secure.\nIt is also below the 200p-230p that investors paid to buy shares in the rights issue nine years ago.\n\"Having carefully considered the merits of the current offer... we have decided to accept the offer of 82 pence per share on behalf of our membership,\" the action group said in a letter dated 27 May that was published on Monday.\"\nIt added: \"This is a decision which is fully supported by our legal advisers.\"\nThe settlement is worth about £200m in total.\nThe case had been due to start on Monday, 22 May, and had been scheduled to last for 14 weeks.\nHowever, it was adjourned and the parties began discussions over reaching a settlement.\nThe dispute centres on RBS's decision, during the financial crisis, to ask shareholders for billions of pounds worth of funds after it bought Dutch rival ABN Amro.\nShortly afterwards, the government was forced to prop up the bank with £45bn of taxpayers' money to save it from collapse. The state still owns a 72% stake in RBS.\nThe bank and former directors deny any wrongdoing.\nThe bank has already settled the majority of claims over the issue, but has not admitted liability.", "The group claims the bank deliberately misled shareholders into believing it was in good financial health just before it collapsed in 2008.\nMore than 12,000 private shareholders and 100 institutional investors have raised a class action against the bank.\nFormer chief executive Fred Goodwin is among those named in the action.\nEx-chairman Sir Tom McKillop is also being sued, along with Johnny Cameron and Guy Whittaker, who were senior figures at the bank in 2008.\nRBS has declined to comment on the development.\nThe institutions involved in the claim are understood to include 20 charities as well as churches, pension funds, hedge funds, fund managers and private client brokers. Collectively they manage in excess of £200bn.\nThe bank has 30 days to respond to the claim, which relates to a £12bn rights issue by RBS in 2008 to shore up its balance sheet after its disastrous acquisition of Dutch bank ABN Amro.\nIt is the second in recent days to be lodged against RBS.\nLast week a group of 21 claimants launched a multimillion-pound lawsuit, also over its 2008 cash call.\nThe latest claimants said in a statement on Wednesday: \"The action group maintains that the bank's directors sought to mislead shareholders by misrepresenting the underlying strength of the bank and omitting critical information from the 2008 rights issue prospectus.\n\"This means that RBS will be liable for the losses incurred on shares subscribed in the rights issue, by reason of breaches of Section 90 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.\"\nThe action group estimated that the final claim may be as much as £4bn.\nA spokesman for the investors said: \"Today represents a giant step forward for the many thousands of ordinary people who lost money as the result of inexcusable actions taken by banks and their directors in the financial crisis.\n\"Now, for the first time, some of these directors will have to answer for their actions in a British court.\"\nThe class action has been raised with High Court of Justice's Chancery Division in London.\nRBS was saved from collapse in 2008 by a UK government bailout and is now 82% taxpayer-owned.", "They also proposed to keep total board pay at the same level as 2015 and 2016.\nThe move follows pressure from Swiss lawmakers and the bank's shareholders to address excessive executive pay.\nThe Swiss bank has posted two straight years of losses but its top 12 executives were awarded 78m Swiss francs ($77m;£62m) in pay this year.\nMr Thiam, who used to head insurance giant Prudential, was awarded 12m Swiss francs in total pay in 2016.\nHe said the decision to reduce top executives' variable compensation reflects \"the total confidence\" they have in fixing the bank's fortunes.\n\"My highest priority is to see through the turnaround of Credit Suisse which is under way,\" he wrote in a letter to shareholders.\n\"I hope that this decision will alleviate some of the concerns expressed by some shareholders and will allow the executive team to continue to focus on the task at hand.\"\nCredit Suisse investors are set to meet on 28 April. Under Swiss law they get a binding annual vote on executive pay.", "RBS has been trying to reach a last-minute settlement with thousands of investors who say they were misled over the bank's financial health in the run-up to its near-collapse in 2008.\nThe civil case was due to begin on Monday.\nBut it was adjourned to allow settlement talks to continue.\nOn Tuesday, Mr Justice Hildyard granted a second 24-hour adjournment after being told discussions between the parties were making significant progress.\nThe claimants are demanding £520m from the bank and four former directors, including former RBS boss Fred Goodwin.\nRBS has now offered the investors 82p a share, almost double its previous offer.\nJonathan Nash QC, for the claimants, told the judge: \"The present position is that the majority of claimants have indicated their willingness to accept the latest offer from the defendant.\n\"There now appears to be a good prospect that within the course of today the remaining claimants, or nearly all, will confirm they will also agree in principle so as to bring a practical end to the proceedings.\"\nThe judge, in granting the further adjournment, said: \"There is obvious interest in the court in seeking to facilitate a full and final settlement agreeable to the parties.\"\nBut he pointed out it was also important that the court's time was not was not taken up idly with adjournments and there had to be a \"realistic timetable\".\nHe said: \"There will come a time when the claimants must simply realise that it is incumbent on them to make up their minds whether to continue with the litigation.\"\nMr Nash said, barring \"unforeseen developments\", an adjournment of a day would be sufficient.\nHe also said if the trial had to go ahead the parties were confident the case could be heard within the allotted time.\nThe case centres on a rights issue aimed at funding a multi-billion-pound deal to buy Dutch rival ABN Amro at the height of the financial crisis in 2007.\nIt involved asking existing shareholders to pump £12bn into the bank in exchange for discounted extra shares.\nThe bank and former directors deny any wrongdoing.\nThe bank has already settled the majority of claims over the issue, but has not admitted liability.", "RBS said it had reached a \"full and final settlement\" with the three, and would now seek to agree terms with the two remaining groups.\nInvestors argued they were misled over RBS's health, and so bought shares just months before it was bailed out.\nRBS has set aside a total of £800m to settle all the claims.\nRBS - which is still 73%-owned by the government following its 2008 bailout - said the three shareholder groups it had settled with represented 77% of the total claims by value.\nIt added it would now seek to agree final terms with the remaining shareholder groups, but said that \"any claims for which settlement is not achieved will... continue to be vigorously defended\".\nRBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: \"We have been very clear that we wanted to deal with as many of our legacy litigation issues as possible during 2015 and 2016.\n\"We are pleased to have reached this agreement and hope that it will be accepted by the remaining claimant groups so that this long course of complex and costly litigation can now be concluded.\"\nSince its bailout by the government in 2008, RBS has continued to struggle. It reported a loss of £1.98bn for 2015, its eighth consecutive year of annual losses.\nLast week, stress tests run by the Bank of England found that RBS was the worst prepared of the UK's biggest lenders to cope with another financial crisis.\nThe results forced RBS to devise plans to bolster its balance sheet by £2bn through cost cuts and shedding assets.", "Ed Miliband will make his plan public in a major speech on Friday which will argue that what the party calls a \"living standards crisis\" can only be addressed by making long term structural changes to the British economy.\nLabour see this as a follow up to their proposal for an energy price freeze.\nParty officials will not confirm the details of their banking package although one source told me they had been discussing the possibility of a cap on the market share which any retail bank can have drawing on a similar scheme in the United States.\nIn a separate development, the party will tomorrow call on Chancellor George Osborne to block Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) from paying staff bonuses worth twice their salaries.\nThe Financial Times reports that RBS intends to ask its shareholders - in effect the British government - to approve bonuses set at twice the normal level permitted by a new EU law which limits bonuses to the same amount as annual salary in the previous year.\nThe paper reports all major European banks are expected to follow suit.\nThe shadow chief secretary, Chris Leslie, has tabled a Commons motion on Wednesday saying the government \"as a majority shareholder should not approve any request to increase the cap\".\nHe says that \"at a time when families face a cost-of-living crisis, it cannot be right for George Osborne to approve a doubling of the bank bonus cap\".\nThe chancellor is likely to call on RBS to exercise restraint as he has in the past.\nThe government has passed new laws to force regulators to produce greater competition in banking, acting on recommendations of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards and the Vickers Commission.\nLabour will use their proposals to claim that the prime minister \"stands up for the wrong people\" whilst they challenge the big five banks just as they challenged the big six energy companies\nNOTE\nIn a speech in July 2012, Ed Miliband said the banking industry had become \"economically damaging and socially destructive\" and set out his aim of increasing banking competition and forcing the \"big five\" banks to sell branches. He is expected to unveil the detail of this on Friday.", "The government spent £20.3bn to acquire a 43% stake in Lloyds at the height of the financial crisis.\nIt has already said it wants to return the bank to full private ownership during the course of 2017.\nThe biggest shareholder in Lloyds is now Blackrock, the world's largest asset manager.\nRoyal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is still about 71%-owned by the government. In the aftermath of the 2008-2009 banking crisis the UK government had to spend a total of £115bn to rescue Lloyds Banking Group and RBS from imminent collapse.\nUK Financial Investments, which manages the government's stake, stopped selling Lloyds' shares last January because of financial market volatility.\nIn October, it resumed sales to institutional investors, but because of continued volatility, the shares were not made available to member of the public.\nAs a plain vanilla UK savings and lending bank, Lloyds was always going to be an easier bank to fix than RBS which is still about 71% owned by the taxpayer.\nAs a global bank with fingers in most of the pies that got burnt during the crisis, RBS has paid out over £50bn pounds in fines and compensation and has its biggest reckoning yet to come.\nIt is still facing a bill from US authorities which could end up in the double digit billions for its role in the subprime mis-selling scandal that started the whole financial crisis in the first place.\nWhile those negotiations could come to a head as early as this week (watch out for separate blog on this), RBS won't reach the point Lloyds did today for many, many years to come. Read more from Simon here\n\"Returning Lloyds to the private sector and recovering all of the cash the taxpayer injected into the bank during the financial crisis is a priority for the government,\" said Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.\n\"Confirmation that we are no longer the largest shareholder in the bank and that we've now recouped over £18bn for UK taxpayers is further evidence that we are on track to recover all of the £20bn injected into the bank during the financial crisis.\"\nNicholas Hyett, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: \"Retail investors had the disappointment of being denied involvement in a Lloyds share sale, although there is still time and plenty of opportunity to rectify this with the remaining circa £2bn stake.\"", "Separate factions within the shareholder group are understood to be unable to agree whether to accept an improved offer to settle claims they were misled about the strength of the bank's finances when asked to pump in more money in 2008, months before RBS nearly collapsed.\nJudge Robert Hildyard adjourned the case until 7 June, but warned this would be the final chance to reach an out-of-court settlement. He said the two sides must inform him whether a settlement has been reached by 1 June.\nThe judge said he understood that it was \"an exceptional case with exceptional logistical problems\", but added: \"We must have certainty one way or the other. The court must know whether the matter is to proceed or not.\"\nHe had already expressed his impatience at the delays.\nIn a brief hearing on Wednesday, Jonathan Nash QC, for the claimants, told the judge that \"progress towards a settlement remains good\".\nBoth sides will attend court on Thursday for a short hearing to update the judge on further progress.\nThe majority of shareholders have agreed to accept the deal.\nHowever, groups representing some of the smaller claims are thought to be keen to fight the case, which would involve seeing disgraced former boss Fred Goodwin give evidence on his role in the bank's near-collapse.\nThe cost of the legal action already exceeds £100m and without the backing of the larger shareholders, smaller groups may struggle to find the financial resources to fight a trial scheduled to take 14 weeks.\nA spokesperson for the investor group did not respond to requests for comment, while RBS declined to comment.", "The bank has set out plans to abandon the requirement placed on it by the Commission in 2009 that it should sell a large portion of its business.\nThis is to enable competition to be improved.\nRBS carved out the division now known as Williams and Glyn, with assets of £20bn.\nBut it has failed either to find a trade buyer for the division, or to float it on the stock exchange, at least by the deadline of next December.\nIt has, however, spent more than £1.5bn trying to get it ready for separation, much of that on the complex process of disentangling the IT platform and creating a new one.\nThe divestment was one of several requirements from the European Commission, in giving permission for the government bail-outs of RBS in 2008 and 2009.\nIt also had to sell some overseas operations and divisions, slim its balance sheet substantially, and it was barred from further acquisitions. It has met the other requirements.\nThe plan now is to retain that division with RBS, and instead to help rival banks with a £750m payment into an independent fund.\nThis is to boost switching of small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) customers away from RBS, while the bigger bank would give branch facilities to those smaller rivals.\nRBS funding would also help develop financial technology for the wider banking sector.\nThe Royal Bank plan, put forward by the Treasury for approval by the European Commission, is seen as so unusual that it is difficult to know how or whether it would work.\nThe European Commission has begun a month-long in-depth investigation, inviting the UK government as well as others to submit their views.\nCommissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: \"RBS is the leading bank in the UK SME banking market and received significant state support during the financial crisis.\n\"The commission is now seeking the views of all interested parties on an alternative package proposed by the UK to replace RBS's commitment to divest Williams and Glyn.\n\"We can only accept this proposal if it has the same positive effect on competition as the divestment of Williams and Glyn would have had. This is important for fair competition.\"", "Many people - not only journalists - will be disappointed.\nIn the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Hildyard granted a second 24-hour adjournment after lawyers for both RBS and the thousands of shareholders who feel they were duped into putting extra money into the failing bank told him the two sides were close to a deal.\nBack in 2008, RBS sold £12bn of new shares to investors at £2 each to bolster its finances. It wasn't sufficient and the government was forced to rescue it six months later with £45bn in taxpayers' money which wiped out most of the value of those new shares.\nShareholders big and small cried foul, saying the bank had misled them about how secure the bank's finances were when it asked them to put in their extra money.\nMany of those shareholders, mostly big institutions, have already settled with RBS - accepting between 41 and 43 pence for each share. But thousands of smaller shareholders and some institutions fought on and proceedings were due to start on Monday.\nA last minute offer of 82 pence was offered over the weekend and that was enough for the judge to grant one and now two extra days to try to get a deal preventing an already astronomically expensive case from rumbling on for many more weeks.\nIt seems very likely that the two sides will reach agreement later on Tuesday and that will make it very unlikely that those who lost money will have the satisfaction of seeing Mr Goodwin squirm under a spotlight he has successfully avoided for most of the last decade.\nOne shareholder I spoke to in court said that, while he would go along with any settlement, he was sorry that he would not get to see Mr Goodwin and the other directors face the music.\n\"I just want to see Fred and the directors who waved through his recklessness held to account,\" he told me.\nIn many ways it is a shame that we won't get to relive the sorry tale of the demise of what was once the world's biggest bank.\nThe RBS collapse continues to cast a huge shadow. The bank is expected to lose money again this year - for the 10th year in a row - with total losses for that decade expected to be around £60bn.\nBut more than the colossal sums of money lost, the RBS story is arguably the most significant episode in the way the relationship, the contract if you like, between business, government and society has changed since the financial crash.\nLegendary investor Warren Buffett once famously said, \"it's only when the tide goes out that you see who's swimming naked\". The financial crash and the subsequent scandals like Libor exposed naked greed, vast pay and poor ethical standards.\nThe intense anger at having to foot the bill to clear up the mess may have subsided slightly, but the distrust of business and finance lingers on years later and is evident in the campaign manifestos of all political parties - including the Tories.\nRBS remains more than 70% state-owned. The wider public may feel that entitles them to see the dirty linen of the past washed in open court. That now looks unlikely.", "Norges Bank is currently looking for a company that it considers to be overpaying executives, and will then use that firm as an example in a report to outline the fund's position on pay.\nWith stakes in more than 9,000 companies and worth $870bn (£595bn), Norway's fund has a powerful voice.\nIn the UK, there have recently been a series of shareholder revolts over pay.\nLast week 72% of shareholders in engineering firm Weir Group rejected a proposed pay scheme. That vote was binding and the company will now have to come up with a fresh plan.\nIn the past Norway's wealth fund has not taken a position on executive pay, so its focus on the issue is being seen as significant by the fund management industry.\n\"The Norwegian state sovereign wealth fund has always been quite passive in how it has approached its shareholdings, if a company has done something it hasn't liked it's sold the shares and walked away,\" said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.\n\"I think now it is taking a more active stewardship approach, i.e. debating with the company,\" he added.\nLast month 59% of BP shareholders voted against a 20% pay rise for chief executive Bob Dudley, that would have netted him £14m.\nThe vote against the increase was non-binding, but BP's chairman said at the annual meeting that the sentiment would be reflected in future pay deals.\nThat was a \"remarkable\" moment according to Stefan Stern, a director at the High Pay Centre, a think tank which monitors executive salaries.\n\"I do think there is a feeling that things have been getting out of hand,\" he said.\n\"Shareholders have signed off on pay structures they didn't understand and now we're seeing buyer's remorse,\" he added.\nThree-year cycle\nIn the UK, every three years shareholders receive a chance to vote on the way the formula for executive pay is constructed.\nThat vote is binding, so the board needs the support of a majority of shareholders, to secure the deal.\nVotes between these three-year cycles are not binding, but can create embarrassment for the executives involved.", "In a new report, they say that business must act on pay and diversity to address a \"worrying lack of trust\" among the public.\nThe Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee wants workers to have a say on pay.\nCommittee chairman Iain Wright said recent scandals have exposed flaws.\nThe report says faith in corporate governance has been shaken in the wake of scandals such as Sir Philip Green and the BHS pension fund.\nThe MPs want tough new measures to bring boardrooms back into line. Mr Wright said: \"Executive pay has been ratcheted up so high that it is impossible to see a credible link between remuneration and performance.\n\"Pay must be reformed and simplified to incentivise decision-making for the long term success of the business and to pursue wider company objectives than share value.\"\nThe committee has called for businesses to simplify the structure of executive pay and put an end to long-term incentive plans.\nTheir recommendations include workers on the remuneration committees that decide executive pay, and for the chairs of these committees to be expected to resign if shareholders reject their proposed pay policy.\nThe committee has also backed publishing pay ratios annually. Other recommendations include a target that at least half of all new appointments to senior management positions in the FTSE 350 and listed companies should be women, as well as a new voluntary code of governance for private companies.\nA spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: \"As this report sets out, the UK is already a world-leader in corporate governance, which makes this country an attractive destination to invest and do business.\n\"The corporate governance green paper published last year seeks to build on that reputation and consulted on options to further strengthen corporate governance.\"\nHe said the department would consider responses to the MPs' report \"respond in due course\".", "The scheme is one of the largest ever at a FTSE 100 company outside banking.\nThe biggest beneficiary will be chief executive Jeff Fairburn, who could earn more than £100m.\nMike Fox, from Royal London Asset Management, said the payments were too high \"in all circumstances\".\nHe called on the board to show restraint in the light of the housing crisis and government support for the housebuilding industry.\nWhen the scheme was put in place, the housing market had begun to recover from the 2008 recession. About 150 managers were given the opportunity to earn shares worth up to 10% of the company's total value, provided they hit tough targets on returning money to investors.\nThe company recently said it was running well ahead of those targets, and analysts say it is likely the scheme will pay out in full. Persimmon shares have more than tripled in value since the incentive plan was put in place, rising from £6.20 to about £20.\nDisclosure of the size of the payments is likely to stoke the debate over executive compensation.\nThere has been a string of investor rebellions against pay deals this year, and in April a majority of shareholders voted against a £14m package for BP boss Bob Dudley. Shareholders cannot veto amounts paid, but do have the final say on companies' pay policies.\nPersimmon's scheme has been backed by most shareholders - they have been well rewarded as the share price has risen and the company has handed back cash - but some remain vehemently opposed.\nMr Fox, head of sustainable investment at Royal London Asset Management, which voted against the deal at its inception and every year since, said it gave away too much of the company.\nOther critics of the scheme say Persimmon executives are being handsomely rewarded simply for being in charge during a recovery in the housing market.\nThe company has defended the payouts, saying that since the scheme was put in place. Persimmon has increased the number of new homes it builds by half and invested more than £2bn in new land. Over the same period it has handed back £1bn to shareholders.\n\"This is a long-term plan that runs for almost a decade which is designed to drive outperformance through the housing cycle and to incentivise the management to deliver the capital return, grow the business and increase the share price,\" the company said.", "Investors say they were misled over the bank's financial health in the run-up to its near-collapse and £45bn government bailout in 2008.\nThey are demanding £520m from the bank and four former directors, including former RBS boss Fred Goodwin.\nHowever, the bank has been trying to reach a last-minute settlement.\nRBS has now offered the investors 82p a share, almost double its previous offer.\nThe bank is keen to forestall the case at London's High Court, had been due to open on Monday morning and was expected to last 14 weeks.\nThe adjournment, which was agreed by the claimants and the defendants, was granted at a brief hearing by Mr Justice Hildyard.\nHe was told by Jonathan Nash QC, for the shareholders: \"The parties are currently involved in settlement discussions and are hopeful of making progress. On that basis they have also agreed that the start of the trial should be deferred by 24 hours until 10.30 tomorrow.\"\nMr Goodwin, who was stripped of his knighthood in 2012, oversaw the multi-billion-pound deal to buy Dutch rival ABN Amro at the height of the financial crisis in 2007, which led to the RBS bailout.\nThe case centres on the rights issue aimed at funding the deal, which asked existing shareholders to pump £12bn into the bank in exchange for discounted extra shares.\nThe bank and former directors deny any wrongdoing.\nThe bank has already settled the majority of claims over the issue, but has not admitted liability.\nThe case is being heard by a High Court judge without a jury and will involve the remaining 9,000 individuals and 18 institutions. If they are successful, the final payment could be up to £700m if interest is added.\nMr Goodwin is due to be cross-examined on 8 June, the day of the general election. It will be the first time he has spoken about his role at RBS since 2009 when he told MPs on the Treasury select committee that he \"could not be more sorry\" for what had happened.\nOne shareholder, Stephen Allen, 67, from Sandy in Bedfordshire, said he believed investors were entitled to their day in court.\n\"My particular focus is on the non-executive directors as much as Fred Goodwin,\" he said. \"I believe that these sorts of people take positions of responsibility on behalf of the shareholders ... and I believe the directors should carry the can.\"\nAlthough Mr Allen felt the directors should face some sort of financial penalty, he added: \"I know it's not going to happen. I'm not completely on cloud cuckoo land.\"\nRBS has been loss-making ever since its £45.5bn bailout at the height of the crisis and remains 72% taxpayer-owned.\nIn February, the bank reported a £7bn annual loss for 2016.\nThe bank is also yet to settle with the US Department of Justice over claims it mis-sold toxic residential mortgage-backed securities.\nIn April, Chancellor Philip Hammond said the government was prepared to sell its stake at a loss.", "Mr Osborne said the \"decision point\" had been reached.\nGovernor of the Bank of England Mark Carney said the phased sell-off \"would promote financial stability\" and benefit the wider economy.\nMr Osborne also set out more details of the sell-off of the Government's remaining stake in Royal Mail.\nRoyal Mail employees will share a further 1% tranche in the the firm, while 15% will be placed with institutional investors.\nThe government provided RBS with a £45.5bn bailout in 2008, paying around 500p a share. The share price currently stands at 354.8p.\nThe chancellor argued that the sale must be seen as a whole and the share price will increase in subsequent offerings as confidence grows.\nMr Osborne said: \"It's the right thing to do for British businesses and British taxpayers. Yes, we may get a lower price than that was paid for it - but we will get the best price possible. For the longer we wait, the higher the price the whole economy will pay.\"\nA review from Rothschild investment bank said that, despite this price gap, taxpayers can expect to make £14bn more than it paid out in bank bailouts if the sale of bank assets and fees already received are taken into account.\nRBS has already paid back about £5bn in fees and repayments for insurance systems set up by the government as part of the bailout.\nBut the plan drew criticism from the Unite union, whose members include bank workers.\n\"By selling off the public stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland, George Osborne is short-changing the public and wasting a historic chance to bring needed change to Britain's banks,\" the union said, criticising the risk of selling the stake at a \"knock-down rate to city investors.\"\nCity sources have told the BBC's Business Editor Kamal Ahmed that Mr Osborne wants to take a two-stage approach to the sale.\nFirstly, he wants an inquiry into the options for a sale and how it would be done. This could include a \"Tell Sid\" British Gas-style retail offer to the public or, as is perhaps more likely, a sale to institutions such as pension funds.\nSecondly, he will look at a timetable for when the sale will start to take place.\nRBS's chief executive, Ross McEwan, said, \"I welcome this evening's announcement from the Chancellor and we are pushing ahead with our strategy to build a simpler, stronger, fairer bank that is totally focused on the needs of its customers and centred here in the UK.\n\"When the Government starts selling its shareholding, it will be selling a bank determined to be the best in the country.\"", "It came too late for the Palmerston Park side's annual general meeting this year which was held earlier this week.\nHowever, the council has given its backing in principle to adding the issue to the agenda at a future AGM.\nIt said its support was subject to a meeting being held with members of the board and the Queens Trust.\nThe trust has just over 900 shares in the Dumfries club with 7,500 needed to allow it to add an item to the AGM agenda.\nIt needs the support of the council - which holds more than 6,600 shares - to help secure its goal of discussing a director's role.\nFailing that, the fans group has said it would hope to get a \"non-voting representative\" onto the board.\nThe club said that should the trust get sufficient support to add the item to the AGM agenda then fan representation was something which could be discussed.\nIt added that its door was \"always open\" for an \"open and honest dialogue\" with supporters.", "Shares in the 80%-taxpayer-owned bank dropped 3% on the news.\nRBS boss Ross McEwan said: \"The scale of the bad decisions during that period [the financial crisis] means that some problems are still just emerging.\"\nRBS said its executive committee would not receive a bonus for 2013, Mr McEwan has waived his bonus for 2013-14.\nRBS said on Monday the £3.1bn it planned to set aside would be used to settle claims relating to mortgage products, PPI claims and interest rate hedging.\nIt would allocate:\nRBS chairman Philip Hampton said: \"RBS did suffer more than most banks in the crisis and these charges today represent an extra clearing-up of the mess that was created in the bank in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2008.\"\nBy Robert PestonBusiness editor\nThe announcement of the new provisions came near the end of share dealing in London.\nBusiness Secretary Vince Cable said: \"It's an absolutely shocking story that the British taxpayers are still paying for the excesses of this bank in the boom period before it collapsed.\"\nIan Gordon, from Investec Securities, said the news was not entirely unexpected, but the amounts involved were.\n\"Some of this is a pull forward of future bad news and some of this is additional,\" Mr Gordon said.\n\"Most of the items aren't surprising, but the amounts are at or above the top end of expectations.\"\nThe cumulative amount set aside to cover the mis-selling of PPI, payment protection insurance, alone, is now £3.1bn, said RBS.\nRBS, has also, in common with most of its rivals, been fined for fixing the key Libor interest rate and has suspended traders amid an investigation into alleged rigging of the foreign exchange markets.\nThe BBC learned earlier this month that general discussions about bonuses had taken place with shareholders, including UK Financial Investments, the body that manages the government's shareholding in the bank.\nBut, in an interview with the BBC on Monday, RBS chief executive Ross McEwan explained why the most senior executives would not be receiving bonuses this year.\n\"This is about leadership,\" he said. \"When you look at what we're having to put aside for past activity regarding litigation and conduct, I said to the team, 'I am sorry, I just cannot justify the payment of a bonus.'\"\nHe added most of the current leadership had nothing to do with past wrongdoing, but said they needed to \"set the standards\".\nBut Mr McEwan said that when it came to paying 200% bonuses to attract and keep talented staff, \"We need to make sure that, whatever the market does, we are in a position to follow it.\n\"We are not the leaders on pay, we just need to stay within touching distance of those we have to compete with to get the talent.\"\nThe controversy over bank bonuses flared up in Parliament earlier this month, with Labour demanding Chancellor George Osborne block any attempt by RBS to pay bonuses of up to double its bankers' annual salary.\nIn 2008, the government bailed out RBS with £46bn of public funds, and now owns just over 80% of the giant bank.\nSince then, the bank's share price has tumbled to less than one-third the price the government paid for it.\nThere are questions over whether the government will be able to recoup that money.\nBBC business editor Robert Peston said that investors and politicians had told him they think it is unlikely taxpayers will get all their money back.", "But there's not much doubt that he thinks private banks are preferable. And he can say it more clearly now that he's unshackled from coalition with the Lib Dems.\nIn the same speech, the chancellor announced a sell-off of half the remaining 30% government stake in Royal Mail. We've learned this morning that raised £750m.\nHe offered the \"staggering fact\" that the continued sell-off of Lloyds Banking Group shares - of which the UK government continues to hold just under 20%, having sold off half its stake already - will be the biggest privatisation ever.\nThat's at least until we see the shape of what's going to happen to Royal Bank of Scotland.\nWith 80% of it still in government hands, institutional investors will get a bite at the first tranche, later this year.\nUnless something unexpected happens to the share price - currently trading around 30% below the break even price at which the stake was taken on - then the government will be making a loss.\nTo suggest, as some have, that this is so that its chums in the City can make a profit is to misunderstand what's going on.\nIt was not taken on as an investment. Indeed, the thinking back in 2009 was that we should brace ourselves for a whacking great loss.\nAnd if the institutional investors wish to take on RBS shares at their current price, they'll do so for what they're worth now. Even they have to remember that share prices can go down as well as up.\nThe reasons for the RBS market valuation falling further would be another raft of vast fines for rigging markets, and legal challenges for its involvement in over-risky lending.\nSpecifically, investors are challenging RBS over what Fred Goodwin and his fellow bosses knew about the state of the bank's risks in spring 2008, when they raised £12bn in a share issue a few months before it hit crunch point.\nTo the upside, the reckoning is that the share price should be helped up by the very act of starting this sale. From a market analyst point of view, an 80% government shareholding has a dampening effect on the value of the other 20%.\nThere's no reason, says George Osborne, why there shouldn't be a retail offer to the small investor. They invariably come at a discount. That means sacrificing a bit more of the value of the shares to the taxpayer.\nA more audacious plan, suggested before the election, was for a distribution of shares to every British household. That would reduce takings a lot further, particularly if it were to be on a meaningful scale.\nBut by hook or (dare I say it) by crook, RBS is to be taken out of government hands.\nFor some, that removes the opportunity to use a publicly-owned bank to serve the economy and social purposes. Other countries - and not just leftish ones - have banks which provide branch networks, small business lending, and accounts for the financially marginalised.\nThat assumes privately-owned banks won't or can't provide these services, or that they can only be provided by government diktat.\nThe way Britain has gone is to use regulation and political pressure to reach these objectives, and both the UK and Scottish governments have gone a limited way towards using their own funds to provide lending to growing businesses where the market doesn't.\nThe other option for RBS was to break it up, and it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Not under government control, anyway.\nCritics of the limited actions taken since the 2008 financial crash say that Britain needs smaller regional banks and more competition. The lack of competition became a bigger issue in 2008-09, when foreign banks quickly withdrew from the market.\nMore entrants can be expected, as the financial system returns to something that looks more like normal. This week, a new savings offer was put on the UK market by the financial arm of Renault, the French carmaker.\nBut small banks risk being gobbled up, returning us to Britain's giant bank problem.\nTSB was spun off from Lloyds Banking Group, under European Commission instruction, but within months, it had been bought by Spanish bank Sabadell.\nThe Clydesdale Bank, including the Yorkshire Bank brand, is to be floated by its Australian owner later this year. It's not clear that it will remain independent for long.\nIn exchange for state aid permission from the European Commission, RBS is having to sell a sizeable chunk of its operations, which are soon to be floated under the old Williams and Glyn brand.\nThis, too, could be vulnerable to takeover by a foreign owner. But one lesson from carving that out of RBS in preparation for a sale is that it is fiendishly difficult and expensive to do. Breaking up banks, in the hope they'll function better and be less of a risk in smaller units, is anything but simple.\nSo could RBS, without a controlling government stake, itself be vulnerable to a bid from a rival, if it is felt to be undervalued by the market? Investors or rivals may consider it ripe for break-up, if it reckons the sum is worth less than the parts.\nThat could be painful for its headquarters in Edinburgh. The prospect also raises the question of what protection, if any, the UK government wishes to put round it while it continues its slow recovery.\nAnd the reverse is also true. An RBS in wholly private hands will be able to choose its own destiny, away from Treasury interference and the electoral timetable - perhaps expanding into new markets and acquiring others, though taking a bit more care about doing so than it did under Fred Goodwin. Quite apart from being allowed to pay dividends again, that could unleash a bit more dynamism into its executive suite.\nWithout being further broken up, RBS, including NatWest and Ulster Bank, remains a huge national presence in retail, and even more so in its share of small and medium-scale business lending.\nIt has shed most of its risky investment bank division, its sprawling overseas interests, its aviation finance wing, its commodity trading division, and it's on the way to shedding its Citizens Bank subsidiary in the US. It's now crunching through its branch network, in response to changed consumer behaviour.\nWhatever the price when the shares come on the market, buyers will be taking a stake in a much slimmer Royal Bank of Scotland than the one taken on by the government back in 2008-09.", "David Cumming, head of equities at Standard Life, said his firm \"could not justify\" pay going any higher.\nInvestors must do more to signal their unhappiness, he told the BBC.\nIt comes after Theresa May said corporate pay was excessive, and issued a green paper with ideas to curb it.\nMr Cumming told the BBC's Today programme: \"We continue to see too many proposals that would bring a substantial increase [in pay], and we have to signal that we are not happy with that.\"\nBlackrock, the giant American investment fund, has already written to public company bosses saying it would vote down proposals for excessive pay or pension perks.\nFund manager fires fat cat warning shot\nTop pay under fire on 'Fat Cat Wednesday'\nThe BBC understands that, last month, 13 of the City's top fund managers met to discuss the issue.\nPrevious attempts to enforce boardroom restraint have foundered because shareholders have not been able to speak with a single voice.\nBut Mr Cumming said that this time round there was likely to be a more united front.\n\"We do speak to each other, and there is a general view that there are too many chairman who take too obsequious a view of their chief executive and their pay,\" he said.\nMr Cumming also hinted that the City was fearful of what might happen if it did not succeed in bringing pay to heel.\n\"If we don't succeed, then we might have much more draconian action from the government, which would be much less flexible and worse overall for shareholders,\" he said.\nHis warning was echoed by another fund manager, Colin McLean, managing director of SVM Asset Management.\nHe said that anger over large financial rewards could come to a head this year, with nearly half of FTSE 100 companies facing binding votes on pay.\n\"2017 could finally be a year for change in executive pay, with both investors and politicians ready for a fight,\" Mr McLean said.\nHe added: \"Some long-term incentives were put in place before the 2012 reforms, with binding shareholder votes only required every three years.\n\"This year almost half the FTSE 100 face binding votes on pay, and we will see changes bite. The shareholder revolt seems less likely to fizzle out this time.\"", "Supporters hope to secure a seat on the board at Queen of the South.\nDumfries and Galloway Council has already agreed in principle to back the bid by the Queens Trust.\nIt is now being asked to use its shareholding in the Dumfries club to allow the issue to be discussed at the AGM next year.\nThe Queens Trust has just over 900 shares in the club, with 7,500 needed to allow it to add an item to the agenda.\nIt needs the support of the council - which holds more than 6,600 shares - to help secure its goal of discussing a director's role.\nThe club has said that its door is \"always open\" for an \"open and honest dialogue\" with supporters.\nA report for the Dumfries common good sub committee early next year outlines progress on the idea since it was first suggested last year.\nA meeting took place in August to discuss the possibility with the club.\nThe Dumfries side has since appointed a supporter liaison officer to improve the relationship between fans and directors.\nFans are still keen to take on a director's role or a place as a non-voting representative on the board.\nThe council will consider whether or not to provide the votes necessary to get the issue discussed at the AGM when it meets on 9 January.", "Rakesh Kapoor will receive £14.6m for 2016, down from £25.5m in 2015.\nIt also said it would be reducing his share awards for 2017 if RB's proposed acquisition of Mead Johnson went ahead.\nThe firm has previously been accused of having excessive pay levels.\nJudy Sprieser, chair of RB's remuneration committee, said: \"[We have] taken action in respect of both of these one-off events... following extensive engagement with our shareholders throughout the year.\"\nLast May, RB apologised for selling a humidifier disinfectant that killed 93 people in South Korea between 2001 and 2011.\nThe firm apologised and set up a fund to compensate victims, however the tragedy led to one of its South Korean executives being jailed.\nOn Friday, RB said it had also cut Mr Kapoor's pay in light of the events, even though they happened before he started his job.\nIt also said it had taken \"feedback\" from RB's major shareholders over the proposed takeover of Mead Johnson, maker of infant formula.\nEarlier this year, some shareholders suggested Mr Kapoor had pursued the £14.2bn tie-up to ensure he hit lucrative bonus targets.\nMr Kapoor said the deal was in line with company strategy and would generate £200m of cost savings after three years - although it would not generate a return for about five years.\nLast year, some 17.7% shareholders voted against his 2015 remuneration package, while the firm faced criticism from lobby groups over its pay levels.\nMr Kapoor, who became chief executive in 2011, was Britain's third highest-paid chief executive in 2015.", "Fidelity International said Mrs May's proposal to make shareholder votes binding would help investors to influence company policy.\nThe firm manages assets worth almost $250bn (£185bn) worldwide.\nFidelity has long called for companies to adopt incentive plans for top executives that encouraged longer-term thinking.\nMrs May has proposed making shareholder votes on executive pay binding, rather than advisory.\nThe prime minister also wanted more transparency about bonus targets and for companies to reveal the ratio between chief executive pay and that of its average worker.\nDominic Rossi, Fidelity's global chief investment officer of equities, said: \"We first called for an annual binding vote in 2012. Extending shareholder powers even further will add significant momentum to our efforts to better align executive pay rewards with shareholder interests.\"\nIn 2013 Fidelity said it would start voting against boardroom pay plans unless companies forced executives to hold shares more than three years before cashing them in.\nJust four companies on the FTSE 100 had holding periods of five years or more in 2013, with periods of between three and five years for another 13, the firm said.\nIts campaign had helped increase the number with five-year long-term incentive plans (LTIPs) to 48, with another 17 having period between three and five years.\nFidelity has continued to challenge companies that have not extended the holding periods for their LTIPs to five years or more.\nThe fund manager has voted against at least one remuneration proposal at 55% of annual meetings of FTSE 350 companies this year.\nBig companies including WPP, BP and others have come under fire from shareholders for their executive pay arrangements at recent annual meetings.", "There was a three-to-five year plan put in place to turn it around, with the non-core fifth of the bank to be axed.\nSeven years later, and the colour of the ink remains the same, the tale of woe a bit like Groundhog Day. The eighth successive loss is smaller, but it's still a whopper and still in the billions - very nearly £2bn, to be more precise.\nThe recovery plan has stretched to 10 years. And while Lloyds Banking Group has dug itself out of its nightmare, and most of its government shareholding, RBS is far behind in that process, still 73% Treasury-owned with no dividends payable yet.\nEven though much of the pain had been signalled, the 2015 results triggered a 7% fall in the share price (against a rising market on Friday), to 226p. That's less than half the amount the taxpayer paid for them in 2008 and 2009.\nThe Lloyds results on Thursday showed the chief executive receiving pay and bonuses totalling £8.8m for last year, while at RBS, Ross McEwan felt obliged to forego some bonus and give another part to charity. Humility remains a trapping of his office.\nThe underlying activities of the bank aren't that bad, for instance in the UK mortgage market, and this remains the biggest player in lending to Britain's businesses.\nBut that's a bit like saying the eurozone economy has been in great shape, apart from all its problems.\nPayment Protection Insurance, for instance: on this score, RBS is nowhere near the scale of Lloyds' problems, but the Royal has had to find another £600m for last year, taking its total cost to £4.3bn.\nHaving exited its overseas private wealth bank, to focus on Coutts and Adam & Co in Britain, it is taking a £500m impairment charge on that division.\nAn enormous amount has been set aside by RBS for unresolved US litigation over its pre-crash handling of toxic financial products pre-crash.\nIt was always going to be time-consuming and expensive to unravel its American problems (BP knows the feeling, having reached $55bn in costs for the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill).\nBut this is not all about unwinding the spectacular over-reach of the pre-crash Fred Goodwin era.\nThe rigging of markets has happened since then, and the litigation risks (which every company ought to declare) make for quite a read. So to recap, from page 338 and 390 of a stable-door-stopping 424-page annual report:\nScanning the litigation horizon, apart from the claims on mis-selling mortgage-backed securities, there are:\nReturning to the core area of banking in Britain, RBS can see \"headwinds\" (a favourite word of bankers) from general uncertainty about the world economy, as it affects the bank's customers.\nSo growth in target areas may slow up, while big turnaround costs still hang heavy. The cost of restructuring RBS between 2015 and 2019 is put at £5bn, with £1.5bn losses as it disposes of assets.\nThis year is expected to see more than £1bn of the restructuring costs (and don't be surprised if that involves quite a lot of jobs), as it tries to match outlays with its much diminished operations. The ratio doesn't currently look good by industry standards. RBS is also on track for about £1bn of those disposal costs.\nThe bank is having a tough time slewing off Williams & Glyn's, the retail and business arm it has carved out with a view to a float, under instruction from the European Commission. Untangling the governance and technical IT end of this has been causing difficulties for years.\nThe sale is now being put back further, towards the end of next year. Total cost of the process so far: £1.2bn.\nThat's while a lot of management time is taken up with ring-fencing the bank, as required by government and regulators by 2019, to protect the core parts from the risky ones.\nYou can see, from this, why chief executive Ross McEwan longs to contract the Royal Bank's reach, so that it behaves like a normal bank, focused on the UK and Ireland, and loved by its customers.\nOn that front, he has put an increased emphasis on customer satisfaction, based on two questions put to customers: would you recommend RBS, and do you trust it to do the right things?\nAccording to the annual report, those numbers are going in the right direction. But it remains clear that the NatWest brand is much less sullied in England and Wales than RBS is in Scotland.\nRetail and business customers of RBS are still, on balance, minded not to recommend it. Both those brands are far ahead of Ulster Bank in Ireland.\nNo doubt that is because companies with financial difficulties are not too happy when the RBS \"relationship manager\" calls with bad news.\nWhile loan impairments in the property sector have seen a marked rise in the past year, quite a few of the companies getting a chilly reception from RBS seem to have been in the oil and gas sector.\nThe annual report discloses that RBS has cut sharply back on exposure to resource-based companies, with 70% less lending to oil and gas firms. Environmental campaigners have been pushing for that over several years.\nBut what is also striking is a change in tone around this year's results.\nFor years, the humility has come with a promise to provide a bedrock of lending support for the British economy. As the British public are majority shareholders, those interests have been aligned.\nBut with a sale of that stake afoot (eventually), there's a bit less of that from Ross McEwan.\nRather than portraying the Royal Bank as a sort of public service utility, divisions of RBS are being focused on higher value customers. That's about better return on capital and lower risk, which is the language shareholders like to hear.\nSenior bank figures talk rather less patiently these days about corporate customers that fail to understand the products they're buying, and about retail customers who fail to protect their private data.\nMaybe being somewhat more ruthless, and a bit less humble, seems to be part of that process of normalisation.", "But there are big fines, and BIG fines, and RBS is about to be hit by the biggest one in its troubled history.\nRBS is one of the last big banks to settle with US authorities over its role in mis-selling risky mortgages, the scandal at the very heart of the great financial crisis of 2008/9.\nAccording to RBS shareholders the BBC has spoken to, if the US Department of Justice (DoJ) slaps a fine around the $10bn mark, there will be drinks all round at RBS HQ and the share price will probably go up.\nRBS itself is loath to offer an estimate as it's worried it may antagonise the very regulators with whom it is in tense and high stakes negotiations.\nIt has good reason to be cautious. Deutsche Bank tried to create a consensus around a figure of $5bn for its own settlement, only to see the Department of Justice get the hump and hit them with a bill for $14bn.\nThat riposte saw Deutsche Bank's share price tumble as a fine of that size was nearly 85% of the bank's market value at that time. The two sides eventually settled on a figure of $7.2bn.\nRBS had a much bigger share than Deutsche of the sub-prime mortgage market and analysts estimates of the ultimate bill cluster around the low teens of billions. If it is much higher than that, some shareholders think RBS should refuse to settle and instead take the matter to court.\nThat was the approach taken by Barclays who balked at a figure (thought to be around $5bn) for their comparatively small role in the market, feeling that foreign banks were being disproportionately punished by US regulators compared to American banks. For example, Goldman Sachs was a much bigger player than Barclays in this market and settled for just over $5bn.\nA Barclays insider told the BBC: \"If the gap between what the DoJ was asking and what we thought reasonable could have been bridged, we would have done it but the gap was just too wide.\"\nBarclays decided it would take its chances fighting the US regulator in court - an option no bank takes lightly. We won't know if that was the right call for many weeks or months.\nThat is the same dilemma facing RBS. If the DoJ comes back with a number in the high teens of billions - should it pay or fight?\nMany shareholders agree that foreign banks are being unfairly punished and would back the bank if it refused to cough up.\nOne told the BBC: \"Justice is not the guiding star for the Department of Justice. You might as well call it the Department of legalised extortion. The US authorities are shaking down the only investment banking competitors to the big US banks.\"\nThe Department of Justice declined to comment.\nBut remember, the DoJ is about to get a new boss appointed by a new President. His preferred choice is Republican Senator Jeff Sessions who has courted controversy for his hardline views on immigration but is fairly inexperienced in financial regulation.\nSo the gamble is this. Settle with this lot - who have shown themselves to be tough on European banks - or hope you get an easier ride with the new administration who may - or may not - look more favourably on UK institutions.\nWhatever choice RBS takes, it will be a massive body blow to a bank already punch drunk with its various regulatory maulings. It was the only UK bank to fail the Bank of England's stress tests in November - in part because of the cloud of this imminent fine.\nThe Bank of England was satisfied that RBS had a credible plan to bolster its finances further but a particularly vicious upper cut from the US won't help.\nThis is the last big impediment between RBS and its attempts to return to normality. Just today we saw Lloyds announce that the UK government was no longer its biggest shareholder.\nRBS is still 73% owned by the government and is years away from that, but putting all the misconduct and litigation to one side, this is a bank capable of making a billion pounds a quarter in profit.\nMany may find banks making profits unpalatable but the truth is economies function better with healthy banks that can get on with the job of being their bloodstream, delivering credit to where it is needed.\nGetting this matter settled will be like having a tumor (size TBC) removed. The operation may well be painful, but only when it's done can RBS truly begin to heal.", "The fact that the government is no longer even the biggest shareholder marks an important return to near normality.\nSince 2013, the government stake has been sold off at first in a couple of big chunks and then in a gradual trickle and so this moment was bound to happen at some stage.\nThe government still owns nearly 6%, but global investor Blackrock now eclipses that and Lloyds is on trajectory to return to full private ownership later this year when taxpayers should recoup all the money they put in.\nIt hasn't been an easy ride. The huge compensation costs of PPI mis-selling and intermittent market turbulence have hampered and delayed the process, but Lloyds, while not risk-free, can be considered pretty much out of the woods.\nAs a plain vanilla UK savings and lending bank, Lloyds was always going to be an easier bank to fix than RBS which is still about 71% owned by the taxpayer.\nAs a global bank with fingers in most of the pies that got burnt during the crisis, RBS has paid out over £50bn in fines and compensation and has its biggest reckoning yet to come.\nIt is still facing a bill from US authorities which could end up in the double digit billions for its role in the subprime mis-selling scandal that started the whole financial crisis in the first place.\nWhile those negotiations could come to a head as early as this week (watch out for separate blog on this), RBS won't reach the point Lloyds did today for many, many years to come.", "The majority of the RBS Shareholders Action Group of 9,000 investors have agreed to accept a £200m settlement relating to a £12bn bailout in 2008.\nBut 13% of shareholders have still not accepted the deal, which was double the initial offer, the High Court heard.\nThey are unlikely to pursue further action due to the high costs.\nLawyers had been expected to tell the court that the matter was over - with shareholders getting 82p-a-share, compared with the 200p-230p they paid.\nHowever, Jonathan Nash QC, acting for the shareholders, said 13% have yet to make up their minds.\nHe added that he was hopeful a \"significant\" number would eventually accept the offer.\nJust one investor with 2,000 shares said he was \"dissatisfied\", versus most of the 13% who claimed \"they intend to accept the settlement proposal\", the court heard.\nThe case had already been adjourned as the state-controlled bank and the claimants edged closer to a deal.\nA group of \"die hard\" investors were reported to be keener on seeing Fred Goodwin and other executives from the bank's darkest days in 2008 in court, rather than settling.\nThere had been suggestions that these investors could continue to pursue the case, supposedly raising £7m to fund it.\nHowever, Mr Nash told the court: \"I wish to make it crystal clear the legal team has seen no evidence that funding is available.\"\nJudge Robert Hildyard said the minority of rebel shareholders could apply for the trial to resume if they could prove they had sufficient funding by the end of July.\n\"In a difficult and novel situation, the process of bringing an end is not as easy as might be thought,\" Mr Hildyard told the court.\nRBS said in a statement the decision was a \"positive outcome\".\nThe bank added: \"87% of the remaining claimants by value have accepted the settlement offer and the trial has now been vacated. This includes the Action Group, which represents the individual retail claimants.\n\"The offer remains open for acceptance for a short period to the further 13%. It was made clear today in court that this delay is the result of procedural issues. None of the outstanding claimants have indicated any intention to continue the claim.\"\nThe case had been due to start on Monday, 22 May, and had been scheduled to last for 14 weeks.\nHowever, it was adjourned and the parties began discussions over reaching a settlement.\nThe dispute centres on RBS's decision, during the financial crisis, to ask shareholders for billions of pounds worth of funds after it bought Dutch rival ABN Amro.\nShortly afterwards, the government was forced to prop up the bank with £45bn of taxpayers' money to save it from collapse. The state still owns a 72% stake in RBS.\nThe bank and former directors deny any wrongdoing.\nThe bank has already settled the majority of claims over the issue, but has not admitted liability.", "But \"glitch\", when it involves payments to individuals and businesses likely to total many millions of pounds, does not do the issue justice.\nRBS needs another technical malfunction leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without a proper understanding of their bank balance like it needs another chief executive called Fred Goodwin.\nThat is, not at all.\nRBS insists the problem, which involves RBS itself as well as NatWest, Ulster Bank and Coutts (banks RBS owns), will be resolved by Saturday.\nWhich appears a relatively relaxed timetable, to put it mildly.\nAndrew Tyrie, the chairman of the Treasury select committee, described the four-day delay as \"unacceptable\".\n\"Restoration of payments should be a top priority,\" he said.\n\"It is crucial for those in the greatest financial need and also those who find it difficult to go to a branch.\n\"These failures should concern both the conduct and prudential regulators.\"\nThe regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), will certainly be taking a close interest.\nIn November last year, RBS faced the biggest fine in retail banking history when the FCA and the PRA hit the bank with a £56m bill.\nIt was punishment for a major computer meltdown two years earlier - again described as a \"glitch\" - which affected 6.5 million customers.\nSimilar to today, in that case payments were not processed, meaning that wages were not paid and bills were left outstanding. Individuals and businesses were affected.\nAt its most basic, customers did not know how much money they had and were locked out of their accounts.\nOn top of the fine, RBS had to pay more than £70m in compensation.\nAdmittedly, today's problem is not of the same magnitude, and the affected 600,000 payments should been seen in the context of the 20 million transactions a day processed by RBS.\nBut after the major failure of 2012, which dragged on for weeks, again RBS has revealed that its technological processes lack essential robustness.\nIt has long been a problem across banking - archaic computer systems bolted together through a series of mergers and acquisitions which are out-of-date and too complicated to run.\nA senior executive at RBS once described the bank's computer systems as resembling \"15 different types of spaghetti\".\nIt has been an under-resourced area for far too long, out of the public glare and too easily dismissed as a problem to be fixed \"tomorrow\".\nWell, tomorrow came and went a long time ago, and RBS now insists that it is giving its technology the attention and the resources it deserves.\nBut with the government looking to start selling its 80% stake in RBS, the bank will need to reassure investors that it can service the, frankly, pretty simple banking needs of its customers without a \"glitch\".", "It accuses the bank of \"misleading shareholders\" for saying before the 2014 annual general meeting (AGM) that Sir John would step down from the role to give way to Crawford Gillies.\nSir John is still in the post 11 months later, the LAPFF says.\nBarclays said there had been no breach of promise and that Mr Gillies would succeed Sir John on 23rd April.\n\"There has been no breach of 'promise' and nor has Barclays acted in a way which is contrary to any statement we have made,\" a Barclays spokesperson said.\n\"Barclays made clear in an RNS [official announcement] on 15 April 2014 that Crawford Gillies would be joining the Board Remuneration Committee with effect from 1 May 2014, and would succeed Sir John Sunderland as Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee 'at a date to be agreed, consistent with ensuring a smooth transition',\" the bank added in a statement.\nBarclays was widely criticised by shareholders for its pay policy at the 2014 AGM.\nIn a strongly worded statement, LAPFF chair Kieran Quinn said: \"It is inexplicable how Barclays can have gone back on its promise to the 2014 AGM that Sir John would step down.\n\"Having messed up remuneration for 2013 Sir John has in fact stayed on as chair and presided over another year of still unacceptably high pay for 2014, and is still in place in March 2015.\n\"It's nothing short of misleading shareholders.\"\nMr Quinn went on to say that Sir John's involvement in awarding \"grossly excessive bonuses\" and his support for former chief executive Bob Diamond, amongst other things, had been \"disastrous for shareholder returns and the reputation of the bank\".\nThe LAPFF, which represents 64 public sector pension funds with combined assets of approximately £160bn, has been a strong critic of high levels of executive pay and the bonus culture.\nLast week, Barclays reported a 21% fall in 2014 pre-tax profits to £2.26bn.\nThe bank also increased its provision to cover any fallout from a probe into currency market manipulation by £750m to £1.25bn.\nBoss Antony Jenkins was awarded a £1.1m bonus - his first as chief executive.", "RBS, which is still 73% government-owned, said it had paid the Treasury £1.2bn to end an arrangement giving the government priority over dividends.\nThe payment puts a stop to the Dividend Access Scheme (DAS), which came into being in 2009 after RBS was bailed out.\nThe government intends to sell most of its RBS stake in the next five years.\nIt bought an 84% stake to save the bank at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, but has since reduced its holding.\nRBS group chief executive Ross McEwan said the step was being taken \"on the back of progress we have made in strengthening the bank's balance sheet in recent years\".\nThe bank reported a loss of £1.98bn for 2015, its eighth year of annual losses.\nAt the time, it said that it did not expect to pay a dividend to shareholders in 2016, saying: \"We now consider it more likely that capital distributions will resume later than Q1 2017.\"", "The Queens Trust needs the support of the local authority to meet share levels needed to take the issue to the Doonhamers' annual general meeting.\nTheir goal is to secure a director's role at the Dumfries club.\nFailing that they have said they would hope to get a \"non-voting representative\" onto the board.\nThe Queens Trust has just over 900 shares in the Palmerston Park outfit with 7,500 needed to allow it to add an item to the AGM agenda.\nIt has written to Dumfries and Galloway Council to seek the backing of the Dumfries Common Good Fund which holds more than 6,600 shares.\nTogether they could ensure the issue of fan representation on the board was added to the agenda.\nIt would then be up to shareholders to decide whether the move should go ahead.\nA statement from the club said: \"Supporters having a say in the running of clubs is a fast-growing thing across Britain.\n\"Should the Queens Trust gain enough backing to have the subject added to the agenda for the AGM, then of course it is something that can be discussed.\n\"Successful or not, although it's not something we have at Palmerston, our door is always open and we encourage supporters, be it individuals or groups, like the Queens Trust to share their thoughts with us as we believe an open and honest dialogue is important between the club and its supporters.\"", "Senior figures within the bank have told me that the government body responsible for the public's 80% stake, UK Financial Investments, has been approached about exploring a series of small stake sales to kick start the process.\nThe bank believes that the government should sell an initial tranche of shares worth about £5bn to test the market.\nAlthough the sale would be at a loss on the amount the government originally paid to bail out the bank, it would automatically boost the share price - RBS believes - as institutional investors would take the prospect of future sales more seriously.\nSenior figures insist that the core bank, which is profitable, is attractive to the market.\nThey point out that the initial sale of the government's then 40% stake in Lloyds Banking Group in 2013 led to a spike in the share price.\nOver the year, Lloyd's share price rose by 65%. The sale also had the not unwelcome effect of raising £3.2bn for the Treasury's coffers.\nThe government bailed out RBS in 2008 at around 500p a share. That price dropped to an average 407p over subsequent weeks - a price the Treasury could argue is \"break even\". RBS also paid billions of pounds in fees to the government for a continuing insurance facility.\nToday, RBS shares are trading around 340p, a figure little changed from six months ago.\nI asked one senior figure intimately involved in the discussions when RBS would like to see the stake sale commence and he answered, only half in jest: \"Tomorrow.\"\nThe source said that UKFI was very sympathetic to a sale, as it understood that a bank outside direct political control was likely to perform more strongly.\n\"Shareholders dislike the present arrangement, clients dislike it and I'm sure ultimately the government dislikes it,\" the source said. \"This arrangement was never supposed to last this long. As an enduring model, it is very tough to make it work.\n\"The question is, is it acceptable to sell initially at a loss? Well, that is the economic reality.\n\"You don't need to make your money back on all the tranches. If you did 10 tranches, do you have to make a profit on every one? Any sensible investor would say the important thing is, make money over the whole process.\"\nRBS is now working on giving investors confidence that remaining risks in the bank are understood and accounted for.\nThe first area of concern is litigation costs, the billions of pounds of misconduct payments still working their way through the system.\nThese include legal actions connected to the financial crisis rights issue, legal actions by the US mortgage providers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac over the manipulation of the interbank lending rate and costs associated with allegations concerning the foreign exchange market.\nRBS sources point out that both Barclays and Deutsche Bank raised capital, despite concerns over possible misconduct fines.\nThe second issue is RBS's own capital position. That will be helped by two events - the sale of RBS's American retail bank, Citizens, and the Bank of England's own stress tests.\nBoth are likely to be completed by the end of the year. The sale of Citizens will mean that RBS can repatriate capital held in America back to the UK.\nRBS believes that the Citizen's sale could improve the bank's key Tier 1 capital position by two and a half percentage points to 12%.\nWill a stake sale happen this side of a general election? The government has certainly sent out very negative signals on that, saying in January that it was \"not part of any timetable\".\nThe Liberal Democrats are also looking at putting a mass RBS share giveaway in their manifesto, an idea that has been backed by Nick Clegg.\nRBS will certainly have an up-hill battle convincing politicians that a sale is a good pre-election idea. Sir Philip Hampton, the chairman, made an attempt to get the idea off the ground last year, but has made little progress since.\nGeorge Osborne would probably like a \"period of silence\" about banks - a story that dos not often play well for the government. Vince Cable has suggested any sale could be five years away.\nBut RBS will keep plugging away, as their latest efforts reveal. Politicians, as we know, are not always noted for their consistency." ]

[ "Il presidente messinese Pietro Franza conferma il tecnic: 'Bruno Giordano non e' mai stato in discus..." ]

[ "L'Armani Milano ha battuto a Bologna la VidiVici 81-78 (21-18, 45-43; 60-62) in gara 2 della semifin...", "Test in 5 citta': Torino, Padova, Milano, Roma e Messina", "La Lega Calcio &egrave; riunita a Milano, in via Rosellini, per discutere della ripartizione delle r...", "Cessione entro mese,Franza: \"Sal 1,7%, Popolare Vicenza 2%\"", "Il presidente bianconero Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, a Milano per la riunione della Lega Calcio, spiega ...", "Aldo Spinelli, presidente del Livorno, oggi a Milano per la riunione della Lega Calcio, ha confermat...", "Lutto nell'Inter e nel mondo del calcio. Oggi a Milano all'et&agrave; di 64 anni &egrave; morto l'ex...", "MILANO - Fumata nera in Lega calcio. L&#39;assemblea, composta dai rappresentanti di 42 società di calcio di AeB, non ha eletto il nuovo presidente. Adriano Galliani, presidente uscente e unico candidato, non", "Combinazione vincente 1 - 16 - 18 - 43 - 47 - 78 - Jolly 59", "Il presidente della Lazio, Claudio Lotito, al suo arrivo in Lega Calcio a Milano, ha ribadito la sua...", "Jacopo Sarno, 18 anni, di Milano, ne sara' il protagonista", "Ecco i risultati e la classifica della 18/a giornata del campionato di serie A di calcio a 5.", "Riunita oggi a Milano, l'assemblea generale dei club di calcio di serie A e B ha ratificato le indic...", "Parma e Milan hanno pareggiato 0-0 nell'anticipo delle 18 della 23a giornata della serie A di calcio...", "Milano, 25 agosto 2004 - Sentenza morbida con possibilità di ulteriori sviluppi d&#39;indagine. Dopo tre giorni di camera di consiglio la Commissione disciplinare della Lega Calcio ha emesso il suo verdetto sul processo per il calcio scommesse.", "Milano, 18 ott. (Adnkronos) - Con 41 voti e un astenuto l&#39;Assemblea della Lega calcio di serie AeB ha rinviato al 5 novembre l&#39;elezione del suo presidente e dei vice, nonche&#39; dei vari consiglieri. 41 voti favorevoli su 42.", "Lario: 'Siamo come Duomo Milano', lavori non finiscono mai", "Essence Carson scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures and help No. 23 Rutgers rout Cincinnati 85-43 on Saturday.", "La Lega Calcio (oggi si &egrave; riunito il Consiglio) ha fissato due importanti date: il 18 agosto ...", "Jessica Davenport had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 11 Ohio State to an 80-43 win over Yale on Saturday.", "MILANO - Il Procuratore federale Emidio Frascione ha calcato la mano, invocando pene severissime nel processo sul calcio scommesse in corso a Milano. Terminata la fase dibattimentale, ieri mattina l&#39;accusa ha chiesto 6 punti di penalizzazione per il Siena ...", "L'Armani Jeans ha perso in casa 83-63 (16-18; 43-28; 65-48) contro il Le Mans. (G.Boi) (31...", "La Juve ha chiesto alla Lega Calcio di posticipare al 18 ottobre la sfida di campionato con il Bresc...", "Giordano, superfluo il richiamo di Prodi al sindacato", "L'Armani Milano ha battuto la Benetton Treviso 85-65 (18-16, 39-36; 64-50) nell'anticipo del mezzogi...", "Carnell Williams ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and Ronnie Brown added 147 yards rushing to lead No. 18 Auburn past Mississippi State 43-14 on Saturday.", "Shawntinice Polk had 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead No. 24 Arizona past Rice 68-43 Sunday in the preseason WNIT, the Wildcats' 29th straight win at home.", "Antonio Giordano, 20 anni, bloccato dai carabinieri", "MILANO - L&#39;Inter vince e convince in Champions League contro l&#39;Anderlecht. Dopo il 5 a 0 rifilato in campionato al Messina, i nerazzurri fanno tre gol all&#39;Anderlecht senza subirne nessuno. Il tecnico Mancini", "Franco Carraro rompe il silenzio e torna a parlare. ''Non opererò mai più nel mondo del calcio - ha ...", "Roma, una svastica e le parole 'Giordano Raus'", "Nella residenza di Silvio Berlusconi le esequie alla madre in forma privataMesse di suffragio in Sant'Ambrogio a Milano e nella chiesa vicino a Montecitorio Arcore, l'ultimo saluto a Mamma Rosa Commossi politici e mondo del calcio" ]

[ "Bursting, an important communication activity in biological neurons and endocrine cells, has been widely found in fast-slow dynamical systems. In this paper, a modified second-order generalized memristor, memristive diode bridge cascaded with LC network, is presented and its fingerprints of the pinched hysteresis loops are analyzed. By replacing the parallel resistor with the modified generalized memristor, a novel memristive Wien-bridge oscillator is constructed and its mathematical model is established, from which the dynamical behaviors of symmetric chaotic and periodic bursting oscillations are observed and the corresponding bifurcation mechanisms are explained. Based on a hardware realization circuit, experimental observations are performed, which verify the numerical simulations." ]

[ "In this paper, experimental realisation of synchronisation of strange nonchaotic attractor in unidirectionally coupled Wien-bridge oscillator is presented. Preliminary work of chaotic and strange nonchaotic dynamics with diode as the nonlinear element is published in J. Nonlinear Dyn. 2015, 1 (2015). In this work, two Wien-bridge oscillators are coupled at the aperiodic dynamics for application in secure communication. The dynamics of the coupled system is explored by experimental and numerical studies. Employing the simple communication masking method with aperiodic dynamics offers some advantages rather than using chaotic attractors, i.e., the range of control parameter value is smaller than the range for which the system exhibits chaotic behaviour. The performance of the system is evaluated and it is found that experimental result agrees with numerical results.", "This paper implements two kinds of memristor-based colpitts oscillators, namely, the circuit where the memristor is added into the feedback network of the oscillator in parallel and series, respectively. First, a MULTISIM simulation circuit for the memristive colpitts oscillator is built, where an emulator constructed by some off-the-shelf components is utilized to replace the memristor. Then the physical system is implemented in terms of the MULTISIM simulation circuit. Circuit simulation and experimental study show that this memristive colpitts oscillator can exhibit periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic behaviors with certain parameter’s variances. Besides, in a sense, the circuit is robust with circuit parameters and device types.", "Chaotic bursts are observed in a single-mode microchip Nd:YVO$_4$ laser with fiber feedback. The physical characteristic of the instability is a random switching between two different dynamical states, i.e., the noise-driven relaxation oscillation and the chaotic spiking oscillation. As the feedback strength varied, transition which features the strong interplay between two states exhibits and the dynamical switching is found to be non-stationary at the transition.", "Intermittent chaotic phenomena caused by the current-driven ion acoustic instability are experimentally observed using a Double Plasma device, in which two mesh grids are installed to excite the instability. When a dc potential is applied to one of the two mesh grids and exceeds a certain threshold, the system suddenly transits from a periodic state to a chaotic state. At the same time, the signals picked up as perturbation components of a current exhibit intermittent turbulent bursts. The calculations of the correlation dimension and the Lyapunov exponent indicate that the system reaches a chaotic state. Furthermore, it is found that the results of mathematical and statistical analysis of observed signals agree with the theoretical properties of the type-1 intermittency: the occurrence of 1/f-type low-frequency noise and the probability distribution of the duration between two bursts. Therefore, it is concluded that the present system reaches a chaotic state via the type-1 intermittency.", "A circuit consisting of two triggers coupled by a capacitance is studied. The equations of motion are presented with a cubic approximation for the nonlinear terms. It is shown by numerical analysis that chaotic oscillations can be excited. A mechanism for the transition of the oscillations to chaos is described.", "Abstract The chaotic behavior in a nonlinear electric circuit containing a ferroelectric crystal(Rochelle salt) is investigated. Multiplication of the frequency of the driving signal (bifurcation) was observed in a Rochelle salt crystal. The bifurcation and chaotic phenomena are analyzed by a computer simulation.", "Previous theoretical results on feedback control of non-linear self-oscillating systems are extended experimentally to a Wien bridge oscillator. This theory predicts a variation of the oscillator frequency as a function of the gain and the phase angle in the feedback loop. Good agreement between the theory and the experimental results gives a new possibility of frequency adjustment of the oscillator.", "We consider the dynamics of arrays ofN-series coupled Josephson junctions, under pure resistive and capacitive loads. In the limit of the junction capacitance becoming large, we prove the existence of semirotor solutions. These are periodic solutions in which the phase difference across the gap ink of the junctions oscillates with small amplitude while the remainingN—k phase differences increase by 2π radians per period. We investigate the stability of these solutions and report observations of chaotic behavior associated with these solutions.", "The paper presents a numerical analysis of the characteristic of regular motion besides the chaotic behavior in an asymmetrical Duffing's oscillator. By making use of a computer simulation and approximate analytical method, it is shown that compared with the standard Duffing's system, the resonance curves become quite complex, and then there exist the isolated subharmonic vibrations of the 1/2 and 1/3 order, jump phenomena and chaotic phenomena in the frequency region of ultraharmonic oscillations. In addition, the system exhibits chaotic phenomena in the frequency zone of 1/2 subharmonic resonance. Chaotic behavior is discussed with regard to the Poincare mapping and Lyapunov exponent. Furthermore, the basin of attraction of chaotic and regular motions is determined by means of cell mapping.", "In this study, we have observed dynamic switching behaviors in a memristive device. There are only a few atoms in the resistive switching reaction which enables the high-speed resistive switching characteristics, which was analyzed dynamically by real-time analyzing tools. From fundamental conductance considerations, the resistance of the conductive path in HfOx memristor is found to be due to barriers which are atomically incremented during the RESET process. Simultaneously, we have demonstrated the quantized switching phenomena at ultra-cryogenic temperature (4 K), which are attributed to the atomic-level reaction in metallic filament.", "The dynamics of a damped pendulum with a quasiperiodic external perturbation is investigated. It is shown that in contrast to a pendulum with a periodic perturbation, a quasiperiodic perturbation leads to chaos in the weakly nonlinear limit when the peak-to-peak amplitude of the oscillations of the pendulum is small. This effect is attributed to the appearance of saddle states induced by the external perturbation. The analytical conditions for the appearance of chaotic oscillations are obtained by the method of running Lyapunov exponents and by the repeated-averaging technique.", "Abstract The nonlinear dynamics of a series resonance circuit containing purified Rb2ZnCl4 shows period doubling cascades and chaotic behaviour and displays poling and ageing processes of the ferroelectric domain structure.", "The proper function of s cells is characterized by a spiking-bursting activity in their membrane potential. These cells are electrically coupled within the Langerhans islets of the pancreas, the topology of their interactions induce synchronization and the activation of switchoff cells. This fact is relevant to the processes of insulin production and release, as such these phenomena are relevant in the mechanisms of glucose homeostasis in the body. However, not much is known about the topology of s-cell network in the real-world, nor about conditions of their synchronization. In particular, about the conditions for the emergence of chaotic bursting activation in networks of inhibited s-cells not much is known.We investigate these phenomena in terms of complex network theory, and numerically show under what conditions synchronization and chaotic bursting emerges for s-cell network models.", "The origin of spike adding in bursting activity is studied in a reduced model of the leech heart interneuron. We show that, as the activation kinetics of the slow potassium current are shifted towards depolarized membrane potential values, the bursting phase accommodates incrementally more spikes into the train. This phenomenon is attested to be caused by the homoclinic bifurcations of a saddle periodic orbit setting the threshold between the tonic spiking and quiescent phases of the bursting. The fundamentals of the mechanism are revealed through the analysis of a family of the onto Poincaré return mappings.", "Abstract Universal power laws typical for the on-off intermittency are observed experimentally in an electronic circuit of two bidirectionally coupled autonomous chaotic oscillators. It is shown that an exponential falloff in the distribution of the laminar phases appears due to a small mismatch of the nearly identical oscillators. The dispersion of the local transverse Lyapunov exponents is estimated from the exponential falloff.", "This paper presents a rigorous and comprehensive nonlinear circuit-theoretic foundation for the memristive Hodgkin–Huxley Axon Circuit model. We show that the Hodgkin–Huxley Axon comprises a potassium ion-channel memristor and a sodium ion-channel memristor, along with some mundane circuit elements. From this new perspective, many hitherto unresolved anomalous phenomena and paradoxes reported in the literature are explained and clarified. The yet unknown nonlinear dynamical mechanisms which give birth to the action potentials remain hidden within the memristors, and the race is on for uncovering the ultimate truth.", "The combination-combination synchronization scheme is based on combination of multidrive systems and combination of multiresponse systems. In this paper, we investigate combination-combination synchronization of hyperchaotic complex memristor oscillator system. Several sufficient conditions are provided to ascertain the combination of two drive hyperchaotic complex memristor oscillator systems to synchronize the combination of two response hyperchaotic complex memristor oscillator systems. These new conditions improve and extend the existing synchronization results for memristive systems. A numerical example is given to show the feasibility of theoretical results.", "The dynamic behavior of two unidirectional coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neurons under different initial conditions were numerically studied.The results show that coupling strength has important influence on synchronization between the two neurons.When control parameters are different,that is,the drive system and the response system are both chaotic and the drive system is periodic oscillating while the response system is chaotic,under these two cases,the firings of the drive system and the response system both can transition from asynchrony to phase synchronization,and then to almost complete synchronization with the increase of coupling strength.", "Coexisting periodic solutions of a dynamical system describing nonlinear optical processes of the second-order are studied. The analytical results concern both the simplified autonomous model and the extended nonautonomous model, including the pump and damping mechanism. The neighborhood of periodic solutions is studied numerically, mainly in phase portraits. As a result of disturbance, for example detuning, the periodic solutions are shown to escape to other states, periodic, quasiperiodic, or chaotic. The chaotic behavior is indicated by the Lyapunov exponents. We also investigate selected aspects of synchronization (unidirectional or mutual) of two identical systems being in two different coexisting states. The effects of quenching the oscillations are shown. The quenching seems very promising for design of some advanced signal processing.", "Two methods of controlling chaotic oscillations are considered: with feedback and without feedback (destochastization). The process of continuous mass crystallization of dibasic lead phosphite (at the expense of chemical reaction) is considered. The mathematical model of such a process forecasts as periodic so and chaotic oscillations. The feedback algorithm of Ott-Grebogi-Yorke (OGY) was modified for stabilization of period-2 cycle. It was shown that the main equations of the mathematical model could be resulted in the logistic type equations. The correlation was found between the bifurcation parameter of the mathematical model (flow rate) and the bifurcation parameter of the logistic equation. The periodic perturbation was built for the bifurcation parameter (flow rate), which regulate the chaotic oscillations to the period-6 cycle (destochastization algorithm).", "Abstract A system of periodically coupled nonlinear phase oscillators—submitted to both additive and multiplicative white noises—has been recently shown to exhibit ratchetlike transport, negative zero-bias conductance, and anomalous hysteresis. These features stem from the asymmetry of the stationary probability distribution function, arising through a noise-induced non-equilibrium phase transition which is re-entrant as a function of the multiplicative noise intensity. Using an explicit mean-field approximation we analyse the effect of the multiplicative noises being coloured, finding a contraction of the ordered phase (and a re-entrance as a function of the coupling) on one hand, and a shift of the transition from anomalous to normal hysteresis inside this phase on the other.", "Considering two identical, coupled Rossler systems, the paper first examines the bifurcations through which low-periodic orbits embedded into the synchronized chaotic state lose their transverse stability and produce the characteristic picture of riddled basins of attraction. The paper hereafter addresses the issue of the robustness of the synchronized chaotic state to a mismatch of the parameter values between the two subsystems. It is shown that the synchronized state is shifted away from the symmetric manifold, and the magnitude of this shift is expressed in terms of the coupling strength and the mismatch parameter. Finally, the paper illustrates how similar phenomena can be observed in a system of two coupled chaotic oscillators describing the spiking behavior of biological cells.", "Chaotic oscillation is an undesirable phenomenon in power system and it can destroy the stability of power system. The objective of this paper is to propose variable speed synergetic control to eliminate chattering phenomenon in sliding-mode control and avoid undesirable phenomena when suppressing chaotic oscillation in power system. The prominent advantage of proposed control scheme is that it can adjust convergence speed according to the system response thus avoiding undesirable phenomena in the control process. Simulation results show that our control scheme avoids undesirable phenomena in the control process and speeds up convergence rate.", "Capacitance is measured in terms of the period of a marginal oscillator and two accurately known fixed resistances in what is essentially a Wien bridge. Three similar capacitors with values within 10% of each other are required and then the three individual capacitances can be measured to within 0.01%.", "Abstract In this paper, we investigate the complete synchronization and anti-synchronization (AS) of double-scroll chaotic attractor exhibited by an extended Bonhoffer–van der Pol (BVP) oscillator, using active control technique. In both synchronization schemes, the oscillators show good transient performance; while the AS state is further shown to correspond with complete inverse synchronization. Numerical simulations are also presented to verify the theoretical results.", "There are some systems that they contain some stable states separated by the energy barriers. The movement between those states is able to complicate their dynamics. One of the simple man-made systems which is able to show a complicated and chaotic behavior is the Forced Duffing Oscillator. In this paper, we introduce the differential equation which describes the Forced Duffing Oscillator, and also, we focus our attention on the chaotic mood. Finally, we apply the OGY method in order to control the chaotic behavior in the system. We regulate the system's unstable poles using a new approach which is based on the Generalized Routh-Hurwitz criterion in discrete dynamical systems point of view.", "The chaotic time oscillations in an incompressible fluid driven into motion by a harmonic time‐varying pressure gradient is examined. Special attention is given to centrifugal destabilization of the viscous boundary layer. The basic flow is shown to be linearly unstable. For increasing modulation amplitude, the flow exhibits chaotic oscillations. The energy exchange between subharmonics and superharmonics of the least‐stable spanwise wave number is considered. The presence of subharmonic Fourier modes are shown to accelerate the transition to temporally chaotic motion.", "A novel nonlinear model is presented for the occurrence of current fluctuations at low temperatures in extrinsic semiconductors. It is based on impact ionization of shallow impurities and structure-forming processes leading to a current filament. Numerical investigations reproduce the current-voltage characteristics and reveal regular, quasiperiodic, and frequency-locked spontaneous current oscillations and a Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse transition to chaos in agreement with experimental observations in n-type GaAs.", "We have shown that at certain parameters of the avalanche InSb p-n junctions has the regime of self-oscillation. The frequency of self-oscillation is flight and is determined by attitude of speed of satiation of charge carriers toward the effective width of layer of increase. It changes in the range of 0,2-0.5 THz. The amplitude of self-oscillation depends on the coefficient of multiplication of p-n junction, amplitude of injection current and concentration of impurity atoms. Its size is limited by the charge of mobile carriers. We showed that self-oscillation of current in p-n junctions took place at voltages of the reversed bias, exceeding voltage of avalanche breakdown and initiation of impact ionization in it by the current of satiation. To our knowledge this first time, when such effects were observed in avalanche p-n junctions. It is possible to use this effect for creation of semiconductor generator in the microwave waveband.", "To examine the non-linear oscillation and period change of white dwarf variables, ZZ Psc is discussed observationally. As a result of data reduction we found two major periods, 680 seconds and 860 seconds, but could not find chaotic behavior of ZZ Psc.", "Regimes of wideband chaotic microwave generation have been studied in a self-oscillating ring system with a nonlinear delay line, in which magnetostatic backward volume waves (MSBVWs) are excited. It is established that a change in length of the delay line influences on its amplitude and phase nonlineartity, thus making it possible to control the characteristics of the chaotic microwave signal generated in the ring. It is demonstrated for the first time that a wideband chaotic microwave signal with a continuous spectrum and a nearly Gaussian probability density distribution can be generated by exciting MSBVWs in a self-oscillating ring system with a nonlinear delay line based on single ferromagnetic film.", "Considered is the chaotic behavior of a physically weak-nonlinear beam constrained by the unilateral reaction from a rheological foundation. The chaotic oscillation of the beam can be detected in the first mode phase subspace by means of Shilnikov method. Some sufficient conditions for occurrence of the chaotic oscillation are given as subregions in a 2D space spanned by the combinatorial parameters." ]

[ "In addition to the obvious fossilized skeletons, many other kinds of fossilized dinosaur remains have been discovered. In particular, there are a number of fossilized imprints that give broader hints to what dinosaurs looked like. E.g., see [this](_URL_0_) picture of a Sinosauropteryx, with clear feathers along its spine and tail. There were two papers in Science and Nature last year (one about Sinosauropteryx) where various pigments (actually eumelanin and pheomelanin, unsurprisingly) were identified. In the [Science paper](_URL_1_) they published [this reconstructed image](_URL_2_) of *Anchiornis huxleyi*." ]

[ "We know tons about the brain. There are literally tens of thousands of papers on the brain. Neurosurgeons exist. We can even tell what parts of the brain do what. However, we don't know the most important stuff. What is consciousness? Where does it come from, and how does it work? How do elements from our conscious mind imoact the mechanical functioning of the brain? We know what neurotransmitters like dopamine and seratonin do, but how do the cells that release them when we look at our crush know what we're looking at? So on.", "We really have no idea since no one was there to see, but what we can do is observe modern long neck animals and try to come to a conclusion on how they may have done it. Giraffes sleep by curling their necks and using their own bodies as pillows. Like this _URL_0_ Ostriches do it differently. They keep their heads upright and look like they are wide awake but are actually fully asleep. _URL_1_ Since birds are descended from dinosaurs we might say this is a more appropriate analogue but there is the possibility they slept like giraffes or in some other way.", "The problem with that is that, by definition, we don't know what unimaginable life would look like, so we wouldn't know how to find it. We do know what at least some examples of carbon based life are so we spend our time looking for things like that because that's our only option.", "We don't know that it is. What we do know is that life *as we know it* exists with liquid water as a necessity. Therefore, we look for places with water because those are the only places we'll find life *as we know it*. If you then think, why don't we look for life that is not like life as we know it, the question becomes, \"ok, what do you look for?\" Since we don't know what this other form of life would be, we wouldn't know where to start, or how to tell if we've actually found it.", "A follow-up or tag-along question. How do reptiles display affection or bonding? Do we know how to determine or measure a reptile's bond? We know and recognize a dog or cat's bond based on the similarity in their affection style to ours, eg., touching, cuddling, vocalizing, etc. What does a display of affection look like for a reptile?", "I asked a similar question a few months ago. My question was, \"Why do we assume dinosaurs roared? How do we know they didn't speak some sort of language\"", "> I'm wondering why scientist do not consider They absolutely do consider this. But tell me, how would you search for \"Life that we don't know what it looks like or what it does or anything else\" ?", "Hi, not discouraging other contributions, but fyi there have been some interesting threads on this subject. From the FAQ: * [What did Ancient Roman accents sound like?](_URL_2_) by /u/keyilan * [How do we know the pronunciation of extinct or very old languages?](_URL_0_) featuring /u/keyilan * [How do we know Latin *V* was pronounced like /w/?](_URL_1_) Here's a fun one that looks at a single word in excruciating detail: * [Original pronunciation of \"Ceasar\"?](_URL_4_) - **look particularly for the gilded reply by /u/thatfool**, about 3/4 of the way down, which breaks it down letter by letter This one has links for Ancient Egyptian, and to a collection of posts on various ancient languages: * [Do we know what ancient Egyptian sounded like?](_URL_3_)", "> How do we know all forms of life require the same nutrients we do? We don't. In fact, it's very *un*likely that **all** forms of life are like us. The problem is that, while we know that life can evolve in environments like earth, we have no idea what conditions are or are not conducive to life that is nothing like us. That is, we cannot look at two non-earth-like planets and say \"planet A can support bizarre alien life, but planet B can't\", because we don't know what can and can't support completely alien life. So we stick to those conditions that we know with a 100% certainty are capable of supporting life: Earth-like conditions.", "We know what life looks like that requires water. We know the signs, we know it is possible, and it is something we can look for at a distance. Could there be an alien species out there that views water as acid and ammonia as clean air? Sure. But we have no idea if life can do that, and we have no idea what to look for if it does. So we go with what we know, at least until making planetfall onto distance planets is an option.", "We do know how long our specimens lived, that's at least true. Like trees, the bones of dinosaurs have rings in them because there's less available food in the winter months. However, as the Guardian article says, we've had to re-think how dinosaurs grew. We now know they grew quickly and then their growth slowed down, which makes them younger than we originally would have thought. . Here are some numbers I got from some papers (a fairly quick search). T. rex only lived about 28 years we think Psittacosaurus (an early, small ceratopsian, like Triceratops) lived only 12 years. In contrast, Janeschia, a sauropod (the long necks) could have lived 38 years and some sauropods could have taken 20 years just to become adults. . However, this is an area where a lot of research is being done, and there are even now palaeontologists suggesting that dinosaurs that we think are all different dinosaurs are actually the same dinosaur, just at different ages. Hope that answers some of your question!", "You could probably draw a pretty good picture of the room you're in right now - and you could probably even draw what it would look like from a different perspective. It's similar with the Milky Way - we can see what it looks like from here, so we can draw what it looks like from other perspectives too. There are no photos of this... Only drawings / computer modeled images. In terms of looking back in time - you're right, we don't know what space actually looks like right now. We only know how it looked when the light left those stars. But we know how fast things were moving back then - so we can calculate where they should be now, even though we cant see them there yet.", "Are you asking how we know what the composition of materials is? I.e. how we know it's CaCO3 and not CaCO2? Or how do we know it has Ca in it? Or do you mean how do we know what minerals are present in a rock? These all have different answers, and I can do my best to answer what you want to know!", "I don't know to what extent we have preserved genetic material from how many dinosaurs, but even if we had a sample of DNA from every possible dinosaur that had existed, it would be difficult to take DNA from blood in such an old mosquito, get a white blood cell or some other cell in the blood (as RBCs don't have DNA) with any DNA and get enough and without any damage to be able to make a proper comparison. I dont think we have enough of a sample size to say to any extent what dinosaur it would be from at the moment.", "The only life *we know to exist* requires water. So, we look for water as a shortcut to look for life as we know it. Is it possible life *as we don't know it,* that does not use water, exists? Sure maybe. But how do you look for \"I don't know what\"? You can't, effectively. Worse still, if it *doesn't* exist, then most of your searching is a waste of time.", "There's no way of knowing for sure, however, evidence suggests that [all Jurassic dinosaurs had feathers](_URL_0_). The fossil discovery was from the *ornithschian* branch of dinosaurs; we already knew that *saurischian* branch dinosaurs had feathers. Therefore, a common ancestor of both must have had feathers. Since birds don't shed their skin, it's likely that dinosaurs, at least from the Jurassic Period and later, did not shed skin either. Edited to add: Dinosaurs descend from archosaurs, which are more closely related to crocodiles, who also do not shed skin.", "There's a lot of people gettting downvoted for saying the simple truth; there really is no way to put an accurate number on it. Fossil preservation is exceedingly rare, and only happens in certain environments. Those are not good datapoints to extrapolate continent-wide populations from. As well as this we don't know what proportion of the dinosaur fossil record we have discovered. Have we identified 0.5% of dinosaurs or 50%? The error bars are big. The only way to get anything like a sensible number out is to look at modern equivalents and compare what their frequency is like in modern environments. Unfortunately, there are very few modern equivalent environments as the biota has changed so phenomenally (the development of grasses in the last 65 million years being the prime example). We also don't have any pristine environments with large predators that we can accurately draw numbers from.", "> Obviously there are ancient myths and tales in history of \"dragons\" and \"cyclops\" but we can basically chalk those up to dinosaur fossils and genetic mutations which weren't understood at the time. No, we actually can't. For one, there is not one whit of evidence for dinosaur fossils in an ancient context, either literary, artistic, or archaeological. For another, it doesn't actually explain the origin of dragon myths, as dinosaurs do not, ultimately, look much like dragons (and are very rarely found in complete form) and moreover are not frequently known to take flight or breath fire. So it is basically an unsupported theory that tells us nothing. EDIT: Harshness not directed at you, but at how far those theories have been accepted in popular culture.", "First, a nomenclature nitpick: there are no underwater dinosaurs. Dinosaurs by definition are land-dwelling (or amphibious at best) reptiles with a certain physiology. Aquatic reptiles are technically not dinosaurs, but we all know that you mean \"large, extinct aquatic reptiles.\" Let's look at a few of them! * Ichthyosaurs are what people generally think of when they think \"aquatic dinosaur.\" Pretty dolphin-like. They were diverse, and survived up until the cretaceous period. Their numbers slowly declined over a long period of time due to climate change and decreased oxygen. * Plesiosaurs are another classic \"aquatic dinosaur.\" Big fuckers, apex predators with long necks. They died out after the famous meteor impact event due to lack of prey to eat. * Cyamodus looked like a fucked-up turtle. Died out in the mid-Triassic because the water basin in Europe dried up. Other descendant species may have survived though. Etc. etc. It's a different story for every species.", "They didn't all go extinct. We just call them birds now. If you're asking about what if all the other dinosaurs that went extinct hadn't, well, first off, that's pretty much impossible, because the vast majority of lineages that have ever existed (something like 99%, I think) have gone extinct, so most of them would have at some point, even if the K-T extinction event had never happened. Secondly, if we were to posit for a moment that representatives of all six sub-orders of dinosaurs did survive to modern day, then we have absolutely no way to describe what the world would look like. The entire course of earth history would have been altered, and we cannot make statements about what it would look like, *and* claim that we are not purely guessing.", "We simply don't know. We don't know how many dinosaur fossiles there are in total, we only know the ones we found. Also, we don't know the proportion of dinosaurs that end up being fossiles comparated with all that existed. Another point is that they existed for millions of years, so the ciphres of dead dinos that could en up fossilizing are huge. Only the dinosaurs that died and ended up buried became fossiles, so every dead dino, if on the right place and time could became a fossil. There's people that say that fossiles are common because of the huge number of animals, not because it's easy to get some dino to fossilize, while others say that it was easy for them fossilize, but we haven't find them yet. So as a TL;DR: We can't really know, but I would say that a low number, meaning we would never know all the dinos that existed back then", "Jurassic park = not scientifically accurate. There's a reason why there's a lot of throwaway lines in Jurassic World like \"we've always spliced in genes from other species. From the very beginning you always said 'more teeth' etc.\" Many dinosaurs actually had feathers, for instance. Also, a velociraptor is pretty similar in size to a turkey IRL. The dinosaurs in the movies look and act the way they do because \"movie monster\", not because \"realism\". Dinosaurs almost certainly vocalized to some extent (their surviving descendants, birds, sure as hell do). However, AFAIK we don't really have too much evidence to suggest what those vocalizations may have been or what purposes they may have served.", "How do you know we do? You haven't even asked me what kind of music I like.", "Well to be honest there are some movies that are just one big special effect ( Gravity or Life of Pi ) that look extremely realistic. CGI is basically an art form you can think about it like painting a picture. If you rush an artist and only pay him little money your picture will look stupid even with the newest tools like Photoshop. With CGI this problem is even bigger you need to perfectly fit to the movie scene (shadows, color, size, clipping, ...). And that isn't even enough to make effects look right you need to know about physics and construction to make your imaginary effects look like they could be real. If you want a realistic dinosaur your artist needs to learn the anatomy of a dinosaur, he needs to learn how dinosaurs move and he needs to make very detailed model (every pump in the skin has to be there to make it look real). And you usually need additional footage from the movie scene to make any reflections perfect. So basically you get what you pay for.", "Well, I suppose [a lot like this Dinosaur Comics T-shirt](_URL_0_). Here's the description from the site: > You're amazing. But how precisely amazing are you? This shirt lets everyone know. > Written in consultation with my Actual Doctor friend, this shirt has fully-accurate information how how amazing you really are. We really did do all the research and calculate all the math. Did you know that if someone ate you they'd gain about 110,000 calories of awesome with over 73000% of their recommended daily intake of Vitamin A? Did you know you come complete with about 6L of air contained in a matching set of meaty carrying cases, 1000 different species of bacteria on your skin alone, one (1) SPOOKY SKELETON, and one (1) liver, uncooked? Because you do! Look, you're amazing. We all know it. NOW.", "For most of history there was an English word dedicated to violet, it was just called royal blue. I don't remember why we got the word violet, but the rhyme didn't use violet because violet didn't exist as a word. It's like how dinosaurs weren't called dinosaurs before we invented the word dinosaurs.", "I think you are asking \"What did the ancients think of the dinosaur fossils they found, since they didn't know about dinosaurs?\" It is likely that the stories of giants, cyclops, dragons, and many other various regional folklore are tied to finding some kind of fossils (dinosaur, or prehistoric \"mega\" beasts like the mammoth). It is easier to explain what you see in comparison to what you know around you. This is only speculation, as it is something that is nearly impossible to prove barring some kind of new information, but seems more likely than the giants and cyclops of Greek mythology, or dragons (pretty much everywhere has a dragon myth).", "Basically, while we know that it is theoretically possible for non-water-based life to exist, we have no idea at all how that would work, and thus can't actually look for it. We don't have Star Trek-style \"scan for life signs\" devices. We don't know how to look for life that doesn't at least partially resemble that found on Earth, so we focus on looking for water because that is something we know how to do.", "The statement \"dinosaurs evolved into birds\" is very misleading. It's kind of like saying \"mammals evolved into whales\". It's better to think of it this way. Birds *are* dinosaurs. They are the one group of dinosaurs that survived the KT extinction event. All the dinosaurs you know of (T-Rex etc.) have no living descendants. These did not \"evolve into\" birds. As far as how flight evolved, there is no consensus yet. [Wikipedia](_URL_17_) is a good place to start. We are not sure when powered flight started (as apposed to simply gliding). It may be that feathers initially evolved for display and then later evolved for use in gliding and eventually flight.", "We know what tools and supplies are used to do that, and some of them you can easily identify in spy satellite photos. Coupled with radiological readings from the area, because we know how to enrich uranium, we know what it looks like when someone doing it. Some times, intelligence services have discovered shipments or orders of that equipment or supplies, or have plants inside the other country's government that alerted them, or there was a whistleblower of some sort. Other times, it's just wild guesswork and poorly founded accusations being made for political reasons.", "Data science is figuring out how to extract useful information from giant piles of data. You know how Netflix recommends movies? They know everything that you've watched and liked, and they know everything that everyone else has watched and liked, and they figure out what other people who like the same movies as you have watched and enjoyed that you haven't seen yet. That's data science. Similarly with Amazon. They look at everything that everyone buys and then recommend more things that you might want to buy. How do they do it? Basically it's lots of math. A related name is ”big data\". Up until recently we didn't have enough computer power to make correlations across such giant piles of data about so many people, but now we do.", "Its like figuring out how many brands of beer there are by combing through one landfill. Its just too hard to make a fossil, 99.99999999999% of dinos didn't die in a marsh or tarpit or whatever. Fossilized remains are a fluke, any extrapolation we do is 100% guesswork. Even assigning demographics based on the fossils we have found is faulty, perhaps these are just the dinosaurs that lived around areas prone to producing fossils. Dinos are fun, but if you think we know what colors they were, you watched Jurassic Park too many times." ]

[ "If you have suffered a miscarriage, your doctor may recommend starting an exercise routine both for improved physical condition and as a way to spend some time focused on yourself.Below are three ways to safely exercise if you have just suffered a miscarriage.f you have suffered a miscarriage, your doctor may recommend starting an exercise routine both for improved physical condition and as a way to spend some time focused on yourself. Below are three ways to safely exercise if you have just suffered a miscarriage." ]

[ "If you've had a miscarriage, you've probably wondered why it happened. Some women even blame themselves for miscarriage. But miscarriage is rarely caused by something the pregnant woman did. Having sex, exercise, a mild fall, and most medications do not cause miscarriage.", "Your Care Instructions. A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks. Miscarriages are very common. Most happen because the fertilized egg in the uterus does not develop normally. Stress, exercise, or sex does not cause a miscarriage. While many miscarriages pass on their own, some do not. These are called incomplete miscarriages because all of the tissue related to pregnancy is not shed from the uterus. An incomplete miscarriage often requires treatment. Medicine or a procedure call dilation and curettage (D&C) is used to clear the tissue from the uterus. If your blood type is Rh negative, ask your doctor or midwife if you need a shot of Rh immune globulin (WinRho) to prevent problems in future pregnancies.", "1 You should not exercise if you have certain health conditions, a low placenta, a history of miscarriages, or a weak cervix. 2 It is important to remember that each type of exercise (aerobic, anaerobic, core muscle, etc.) needs to be used in conjunction with the others.", "When a D&C is performed, evaluating the cause of miscarriage through an examination of the fetal tissue will be easier. Resuming normal activities after a miscarriage. Whether or not you had a surgical procedure to treat your miscarriage, your doctor will let you know when it’s OK resume normal activities (like exercise and sex).", "Factors that are not proven to cause miscarriage are sex, working outside the home (unless in a harmful environment) or moderate exercise. For women in their childbearing years, the chances of having a miscarriage can range from 10-25% , and in most healthy women the average is about a 15-20% chance.1 An increase in maternal age affects the chances of miscarriage. 2 Women under the age of 35 yrs old have about a 15% chance of miscarriage. An increase in maternal age affects the chances of miscarriage. 2 Women under the age of 35 yrs old have about a 15% chance of miscarriage. 3 Women who are 35-45 yrs old have a 20-35% chance of miscarriage. 4 Women over the age of 45 can have up to a 50% chance of miscarriage.", "Now is not the time to exercise for weight loss, however, proper exercise during pregnancy will likely help with weight loss after the delivery of your baby. Exercise does not put you at risk for miscarriage in a normal pregnancy. You should consult with your health care provider before starting any new exercise routine.", "If you are new to Yoga and have a history of miscarriage, you should not start Yoga until you are 14 weeks pregnant. If you have no history of miscarriage, do all the poses fully until the third month. Then cut out all the exercises in which you lie on the stomach and thus put a lot of pressure on the abdomen.", "Taking Aleve while Trying to Conceive. sbf. October 10, 2007. I have chronic back problems and I was just wondering if taking 2 aleve while trying to conveive will cause me to have a miscarriage if it is taken around the time that I ovulate.", "While it's true that I was happy about my subsequent pregnancy, I was still grieving. When someone you know has a miscarriage, it can be hard to know what to say. We have some tips for responding sensitively in this difficult situation.", "Taking Leave After a Miscarriage. Suffering a miscarriage is a devastating loss for any woman. If you have suffered from a miscarriage or recurrent miscarriages, you know how difficult and painful a pregnancy loss can be.aking Leave. Women in the United States can use a combination of sick leave, short-term disability and vacation days if they require time off after suffering from a miscarriage. Additionally, many large employers, unions and states offer short-term disability for illness or injury, which could include miscarriage.", "There is a lot of variation in the symptoms of a miscarriage. If you suspect that you miscarried, you should definitely see your doctor. Sometimes, women have partial miscarriages and need a D & C. I bled slightly for 2 days when I had a miscarriage and then started to hemorrage.", "Yes | No Thank you! I had a miscarriage at 9 weeks and have been trying for nine months after that and have still been unable to conceive. I definitely think that listening is the best thing to do, but I also think that people don't realize what emotional strain a miscarriage is.", "Baby aspirin question! hi all, does anyone have experience taking baby aspirin while pg?? I have had two early weeks miscarriages and a chemical in the past 6 months, I am 42 & have read many women being told by their dr. to try baby aspirin to prevent miscarriage. I have usually very clotty periods so I wonder if this may help me.", "It is a wonderful way to prepare your body for getting pregnant after a miscarriage. Uterine massage can be preformed by a uterine massage therapist or you can learn to do it for your self in the Self Fertility Massage DVD.", "Miscarriage and Orgasm. I have had several miscarriages in the last year. I am pregnant agin, early on only 4 weeks. A fried of mine said tonight that I should not have sex or an orgasm because of my miscarriages. The thing is I masturbated before she came over.", "Surviving a pregnancy loss can be very difficult. After a miscarriage you may experience a roller coaster of emotions, as well as physical symptoms, as your body recovers.", "What can I do to get pregnant faster after a miscarriage? My husband and I really want to have a baby. Back in March 2011 I had a miscarriage at about 10 weeks along, and we have been trying ever since. No luck what so ever.", "As someone who has experienced two early miscarriages, I can say having a miscarriage is really, really hard. Not only did I have to deal with the feeling of loss, confusion, and sadness – I also had to work through the resentment towards my pregnant friends that would “fall” pregnant every time they sneezed.", "Getting Pregnant Fast After Miscarriage. I f you have recently had a miscarriage, you are probably either anxious about getting pregnant fast after miscarriage-or too upset to even consider another attempt.Couples struggling with this dilemma should consider the emotional and physical damage incurred with the loss of a baby.etting Pregnant Fast After Miscarriage. I f you have recently had a miscarriage, you are probably either anxious about getting pregnant fast after miscarriage-or too upset to even consider another attempt.", "You can tell your having a Miscarriage by spotting/bleeding. i had a a miscarriage on the 24 of Sept and it started out by just spotting than when i went to the hospital it got worse!! BUT in some pregnancies people spot so if you spot just go to the doctor to check it out!", "Conceiving too quickly after a miscarriage could affect the chances of the next pregnancy being successful. So keep taking your folic acid (to reduce the chance of having a baby with spina bifida) and wait to try to conceive until you get your period. Good luck. And sorry for your loss.", "Has anyone experienced all of the symptoms of miscarriage but the pregnancy test was negative? I have already had one miscarriage about 4 years ago and my recent symptoms were almost identical. However, with the previous miscarriage (appx 10 weeks along) I had a positive test.This time I suspect it was a chemical pregnancy, but the test was negative.as anyone experienced all of the symptoms of miscarriage but the pregnancy test was negative? I have already had one miscarriage about 4 years ago and my recent symptoms were almost identical. However, with the previous miscarriage (appx 10 weeks along) I had a positive test.", "I have regretted not sending a miscarriage sympathy card several times. It can can seem overwhelming to know what to say. I think many people do not quite know what to do and many people do not even realize that people send sympathy cards for miscarriages.", "Mentally, you’re probably feeling distracted and unable to handle simple tasks the way you used to. Physically, you may be exhausted and you may have trouble sleeping. You may still be dealing with the aches and pains of a delivery or miscarriage. In other words, you’ve got a lot going on after your pregnancy loss. With all that you're coping with, negative ways of thinking about and dealing with your loss won't help matters. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to ease up on yourself after a miscarriage.", "What Should I Do if I Think I Am Having a Miscarriage? If you think you are having or may have had a miscarriage, contact your health care provider as soon as possible. Your health care provider may do a pelvic exam or other tests. There are five kinds: Threatened miscarriage — You bleed, with or without mild cramps, but your cervix is closed.", "I had a miscarriage the first week of February 2008. We were heartbroken. I didn't have a D&C-I passed tissue and bled for a week. On March 11th, I had my first period after my miscarriage. It was a typical cycle for me-lasting 5 days. had a miscarriage the first week of February 2008. We were heartbroken. I didn&#39;t have a D&C-I passed tissue and bled for a week. On March 11th, I had my first period after my miscarriage.", "1 I had brown spotting when I was pregnant this year, it was a sign of early miscarriage. 2 Last year, I didn't have a brown spotting when I was two months pregnant but I had another miscarriage. 3 Some women can have implantation bleeding during pregnancy, which is normal.", "The pain can also go into the lower back, buttocks, and genitals. The woman may no longer have signs of pregnancy such as nausea or breast swelling/tenderness if she has experienced a miscarriage. Pregnancy Loss", "Trying to conceive again after a miscarriage can be a very emotional experience. You may feel hopeful and optimistic one minute, and anxious, afraid and stressed the next. Talk with your partner about your emotions and seek counselling if necessary.", "I was diagnosed with PID that resulted in a miscarriage a year and a half ago. I now have sudden vaginal bleeding more I was diagnosed with PID that resulted in a miscarriage a year and a half ago. I now have sudden vaginal bleeding between my period.", "How Long Does Early Miscarriage Bleeding Last? A miscarriage refers to the loss of your baby prior to the twentieth week of your pregnancy. In most cases, this occurs in the first 12 weeks. About 15% of miscarriages are of recognized pregnancies, while 50% of all pregnancies end up in a miscarriage. If you have miscarried there is no need to worry as almost 85% of women have had pregnancies that are healthy post a miscarriage. Early miscarriage symptoms are bleeding or spotting blood.", "A blighted ovum is one type of miscarriage that often occurs before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. Molar pregnancies, chemical pregnancies and embryo toxic factor (ETF) are some other reasons for miscarriage to occur, while a threatened miscarriage refers to the increased possibility that a woman may have a miscarriage." ]

[ "U.S. expectancy in 2011 was 78.7 years, which is slightly below the OECD average of 80.1. For U.S. men, the average life expectancy is 76, while it's 81 for U.S. women. (At five years, this gap in life expectancy between men and women is smaller than the OECD average of six years). The U.S. life expectancy comes in just behind Slovenia, at 80.1 years, and Denmark, at 79.9 years." ]

[ "The following table summarizes how to convert horse years to human years, and is based on the Equine-Human Maturity Evaluation. The above table is an average of different horse breeds, based on a well-kept domestic horse. It uses an average horse lifespan of 24 years and an average human lifespan of 70 years. Wild horses and poorly kept horses have a much shorter lifespan, while some breeds (e.g. Arabian and many pony breeds) have a longer lifespan. To allow for different breed lifespans, simply use the following calculator:", "21 to 70 years. After 4th year, each horse year = 2.5 human years. The above table is an average of different horse breeds, based on a well-kept domestic horse. It uses an average horse lifespan of 24 years and an average human lifespan of 70 years.", "average lifespan of whales the beluga whale has an average lifespan of 40 60 years the blue whale has an average lifespan of 70 90 years the bowhead whale has an average lifespan of 100 200 yearsthe fin whale has an average lifespan of 60 100 yearsthe gray whale has an average lifespan of 50 70 years the humpback whale has an average lifespan of 40 100 yearshe bowhead whale has an average lifespan of 100 200 years the fin whale has an average lifespan of 60 100 years the gray whale has an average lifespan of 50 70 years the humpback whale has an average lifespan of 40 100 years", "Cat lifespan varies from breed to breed; however, the average lifespan of a free-roaming cat is less than 3 years, whereas the lifespan of an indoor cat averages 15 to 18 years.Spayed and neutered cats live longer because they do not develop ovarian or testicular cancers.ats and humans age differently but the typical 1-year old cat is equivalent to a 16 to 17-year old teenager. Between the ages of 1 and 9, each year equates to 5 to 6 years in humans. A 25-year age cat is 108 years old in human terms.", "In terms of rate of maturity, a dog’s 1st year is more like 15 years for humans. A good approach to convert dog-years to human-years is to find out the average lifespan of the breed and the average life expectancy of humans in your country.", "A rabbit's lifespan is influenced by breed, living conditions and healthcare but the average lifespan is likely to be around 8 to 9 years. It can be helpful to think of one year in a rabbit's life as ten years in a human's life, so an 8 year old rabbit could be thought of as approximately 80 years old in human terms.", "Everyone wants their pet to live a long and healthy life. By now, the lifespan of cats and dogs is fairly common knowledge. Rabbits, on the other hand, are a little trickier, though they do have an average lifespan just like other animals.", "How long do most horses live?What is their average lifespan? Many horses live to be over thirty years old and that seems to surprise people. Now, a thirty-year-old horse isn’t so rare as it once might have been. So how long do horses and ponies live? Advances in the understanding of care and veterinary medicine have increased the lifespan of horses, just as improved medical and nutritional knowledge has benefited humans.", "What is the average lifespan of a cat? Quick Answer. The average lifespan of a domesticated cat ranges from 12 years to 18 years. Cats aged 20 years and older are not uncommon. The oldest recorded cat was Creme Puff, a female cat who lived to be 38 years and 3 days old, or the equivalent of 168 human years. Continue Reading.", "Under favorable conditions, beavers will produce their first litters at two or three years of age. The average lifespan of a beaver in the wild is 10 to 20 years. While its size saves it from most predators, a beaver's lifespan can be cut short by predators, most commonly humans, wolves, and coyotes.Parasites and disease also play a factor in mortality.nder favorable conditions, beavers will produce their first litters at two or three years of age. The average lifespan of a beaver in the wild is 10 to 20 years. While its size saves it from most predators, a beaver's lifespan can be cut short by predators, most commonly humans, wolves, and coyotes.", "The English Setter has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. Their lifespan is about average for large breeds. Find out how old your English Setter is in human years!", "What is the lifespan of a gorilla? Gorillas live an average lifespan of about 35 years in the wild, but in managed care like Busch Gardens ® Tampa Bay they may live up to 50 years. Are orangutans endangered? Yes, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are endangered due to habitat loss and human encroachment.", "Kitsune (狐) is the Japanese word for fox. In Japanese folklore, foxes that have lived for very long lifespans develop above-average human intelligence and supernatural powers.", "With the advance in medicine followed by care has increased the lifespan of the horses similar to humans. Now, they are living above the normal age of the horses. According to the studies, it is evident that the horses with the good medical care will live up to 30 years but on an average the horse age is 28 + 5 years. This implies an average lifespan of a horse lies between 25 to 30 years, but some of them even go beyond this particular age criteria. Many of the ponies do live for longer, and they would become masters to the young ponies in their 30s. One of the oldest horses was recorded to be 52 years old.", "That means you have a water heater that is 4 years past the end of an average lifespan of about 14 years, an air conditioner that is 2 years past an average lifespan of 16 years, and a roof that is at or near an average lifespan, depending of type of roof covering.", "In humans, the heart is a fist-sized muscle located slightly to the left of center in the chest. It acts as an engine for the circulatory system, pumping blood through the blood vessels. It will beat approximately three billion times in an average human lifespan.", "What is the gestation period for a giraffe? The average gestation period for a giraffe is 15 months or 453-464 days. In the wild, the average lifespan of a giraffe is 10-15 years. In human care, they've been known to live longer, 20-27 years on average.", "According to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the average life of a $1 bill is now 42 months. Improvements in the production process have increased that from a previou … s 18 to 24 month lifespan.4 people found this useful.ccording the Bureau of Printing & Engraving, the average lifespan of a $100 bill is about 22 years.", "Cat lifespan varies from breed to breed; however, the average lifespan of a free-roaming cat is less than 3 years, whereas the lifespan of an indoor cat averages 15 to 18 years.", "However individual breeds may have shorter or longer average lifespans depending upon their breed. For example an Irish Wolfhound has a lifespan that is on average between 6 and 7 years of age whereas a toy poodle or Lhasa Apso is going to have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years of age.A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an average life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years.owever individual breeds may have shorter or longer average lifespans depending upon their breed. For example an Irish Wolfhound has a lifespan that is on average between 6 and 7 years of age whereas a toy poodle or Lhasa Apso is going to have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years of age.", "The Labrador Retriever has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Their lifespan is somewhat shorter than average for large breeds. Find out how old your Labrador Retriever is in human years!", "These improvements will give the average backyard chicken at least a 5 year lifespan and with some protection from predators and care you should expect 7-8 years. Let’s now take an in-depth look at some of the factors which affects your hen’s lifespan.", "The average lifespan of a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) is about 10-15 years.he average lifespan of a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) is about 10-15 years.", "Under natural conditions the average lifespan is 8 to 18 years old, though most squirrels die before they reach adulthood. 1 Range lifespan. Status: captivity. 2 Average lifespan. Status: wild.", "What is the average lifespan of a saanen goat and a nubian goat. kgb answers » Science & Technology » Animals » What is the average lifespan of a saanen goat and a nubian goat. The average lifespan of Saanen goat is about 15 years, while the Nubian goat's lifespan is 8-12 years. Tags: lifespan, life expectancy. Sunday, February 05 2012.", "As of 2010, the average pension for an Illinois teacher is $43,164. It compounds annually for life at 3% per year. Now it's time to do some math and make some assumptions. Assume that the lifespan of the teacher is no different than the average American, 78 years.", "Among different parts of circulatory system, heart is considered the chief organ. Beating about 1.6 billion times in the average lifespan of a human being, it never gets tired or stops working for a moment till death.", "Hi keimloesch, the average lifespan for our EasyTurf artificial grass is between 15 to 20 years. FieldTurf has been manufacturing artificial grass for 25 years now and they also manufacture artificial turf for football fields which have a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years (hence their involvement in recycling fields).", "What is the average life span of a tiger fish? The average lifespan of a tiger fish in captivity is between 10 and 15 years. In the wild their lifespan is shorter due to predators and fishing.", "What is the average lifespan of a housefly? 15-25 days Two weeks The average lifespan of an adult housefly is approximately 15 to 25 days.", "Where can I find information on the average engine lifespan of a car per make and model? Does using the brakes of a car harshly decrease its lifespan through wear and tear? What is the lifespan of a new car battery? How can the lifespan of the average car battery be prolonged?", "· just now. Report Abuse. Actually, the average lifespan of a goldfish is about 15-20 years. 7 years is under care, but not the greatest. Most dont even make it to a year because people are idiots. know the average lifespan for a household goldfish is about 7 yrs, but is it shorter for a fish that has been in a tank with about 50 other fish and has to fight for its food? Update: its in a little fishbowl." ]

[ "Paint Gallon Coverage. 1 One gallon of paint typically covers a small room, such as a bathroom. 2 Two gallons of paint typically cover an average-sized bedroom. 3 Three gallons of paint typically cover large rooms, such as a great room." ]

[ "New washer and dryer: the average cost is $350 for a washer $300 for a dryer. Paint: most paint averages $30-$50 per gallon. The amount you'll need depends on how much of the room is getting new paint. Plan on one to three gallons for a standard 80 square foot laundry room.", "I charge $1.75+ a sq.ft to do interior painting to cover cost of materials and man hours...those pervious statements about flat hourly rate works into the sq.ft. price by figuring out how many men you need and how long it should take to paint the job..now asking what the hourly rate is depends on the company used.", "RE: how much does paint cost? how much is a usual gallon of paint? and how many gallons does it take to paint a small bedroom, ceilings and walls? and how much are the usual extra costs? (ie, brushes, rollers, pans, etc.).E: how much does paint cost? how much is a usual gallon of paint? and how many gallons does it take to paint a small bedroom, ceilings and walls? and how much are the usual extra costs? (ie, brushes, rollers, pans, etc.).", "Reader George wants to paint a chain link fence. Specifically, he wants to figure out how much paint he'll need: H ow can I f} DUPipeline_QISnippet_FirstGoodLong_Snippet_v1: {},{-1|-1|1|Here's a question that came to us on the Apron Blog. Reader George wants to paint a chain link fence.Specifically, he wants to figure out how much paint he'll need: How can I find out how much paint I need to paint a 4 ft high by 272 ft long chain link fence?. George asks.eader George wants to paint a chain link fence. Specifically, he wants to figure out how much paint he'll need: How can I find out how much paint I need to paint a 4 ft high by 272 ft long chain link fence?.", "When you hire Jalapeno to do your interior painting, you can count on spectacular results! How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Small Room? A typical small bedroom, office or loft in the Chicago area measures approximately 12×12. The cost to paint the walls would be about $265, and the ceiling would be an additional $80.How Much Would It Cost to Paint a Medium-Sized Room? Here in the Chicago region, many dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms are around 13×15. This size room would cost about $290 to paint, and the ceiling would be $110.How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Large Room? The largest room in the house is often the kitchen, family room or master bedroom. For a room about 16×20, the cost to paint would be $400, and the ceiling would add $180.hen you hire Jalapeno to do your interior painting, you can count on spectacular results! How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Small Room? A typical small bedroom, office or loft in the Chicago area measures approximately 12×12. The cost to paint the walls would be about $265, and the ceiling would be an additional $80.", "Containers. There are several factors that dictate just how long latex paint will last in a container after it has been opened. Latex paint is typically purchased in quarts cans, gallon pails and 5-gallon buckets.Keep the lids as clean as possiblebecause paint containers will seal tightly with clean lids.torage. Paint will last longer if you store it in a room that does not get colder than 50 degrees. It is best if you do not allow paint to freeze, but latex paint can go through a freezing and thawing cycle a few times before it can no longer be used.", "1 For an idea of how much your home will need, check out MyHomeIdeas.com Exterior Paint Calculator. 2 Labor will be the biggest expense of painting a house (up to 85%). 3 You will be billed approximately $20-$50/hour depending on the quality of the contractor. For a rough estimate of how much house painting will cost you visit CertaPro Painters Exterior House Painting Estimator. . 2 Paint will cost from $20-$50 per gallon.", "Calories Burned - Painting. Find out how many calories you burn for Painting. The number of calories you burn while exercising is dependent on the exercise you do, your weight, and the time spent doing the exercise. Use the calories burned calculator below to see how many calories you burned during your workout. Calculate.", "Home Articles Painting How to Paint a Vinyl Fence. To paint vinyl fence, you need not be an expert. All you need is clear understanding of how it is done. Generally, vinyl fence do not even require to be painted as vinyl fencing is durable and can withstand all the elements and not lose its luster. However, if you are bored with the colour then you can paint vinyl fence.", "Today I'm going to paint the trim in this room, and I'm going to show you how to do it. You are going to need painters tape, some rags, a dust pan and brush. You are going to do some cleaning. You are also going to need your 5-in-1 scraper. You are going to need a stirrer to stir the paint, a 2 inch trim brush -- you can see how the bristles are angled. Then, of course, you've got your paint. The paint you want to use for your trim should be semi-gloss. Semi-gloss gives it a nice little shine that separates it from the paint that's on the wall.", "Your walls are prepped and primed. Now, it's time to paint your ceiling, walls and trim with your topcoat. In this video you'll learn how to paint a room. We'll show you how to paint your ceilings, how to paint your walls and how to paint your trim. Watch how painting parts of your room in the right order contributes to superior results and how applying paint in the right pattern can ensure a seamless look once your paint has dried.", "You can paint metal mailboxes in no time when you learn how to do it. All you need are some common supplies and a bit of metal paint. The following article will show you how to correctly paint metal mailboxes in no time at all. Step 1 - Prepare the Mailbox for Painting. When you paint metal you need to do so in a well ventilated area and with a drop cloth in place. Always use a drop cloth regardless if you are inside working or in your yard. The paint can easily destroy a floor and kill a lawn. In order to paint the mailbox, you need to remove it from the ...", "In order to figure out the proper doses of many chemicals for your pool, you often need to determine approximately how many gallons of water it holds. Also when adding a Pool Heater, Heat Pump or Solar Heater to your pool, you will also need to know how many gallons you are dealing with.", "Project Overview. When you need to paint a room, it’s important to get the preparation right. This will ensure that you get the best results possible. We’ll take you through all the steps in preparing to paint a room, including the cutting in and how to choose the right paint and tools.", "How many gallons of paint can you spray in a day(8hrs) from a lift? 30ft high straight walls. Just a friendly competition.", "Hi Everyone, I purchased 1 gallon of pale yellow paint at Home Depot today. It iway too light I need to make it a much darker yellow? I have so many different colors of unused paint ....What colors and how much of each color do I add to my gallon of paint to make it a deep sunflower yellow? HELP !!!!!", "This diamond pattern living room painting how-to is easy and FAST! We took a 90 inch wide by 104 inch high section of my living room and painted this Do It Yourself diamond pattern on it in 2 hours. That includes the drying time for the paint! You can easily do this painting DIY over the weekend with a friend. I chose a wall in my living room to paint. I already liked the color that was there, but I wanted to add a blue/grey paint to it. I like the contrast of the tan/blue. If you do not already like the color of the wall you will be painting, paired with the color of the diamonds that you want, this will take longer.", "Another way to figure your fuel to oil ratio is to determine how much fuel you want, say 2.5 gallons. To figure the ratio 40:1 for 2.5 gallons, you will need to figure out how many ounces of gas is in 2.5 gallons. 320 ounces is in 2.5 gallons. Now divide your desired Ratio (40) into 320 ounces.", "There are many paints not to use when deciding how to paint your vehicle. First of all, spray paint or other paints that come in similar cans will require massive amounts and will not provide you with a smooth, even appearance. It would take about 30-40 cans to apply one coat. mid-size vehicle can take a professional about 3 quarts of paint to paint. If you are inexperienced, two or three coats of paint on a car would require you to use about a gallon.", "16:1 = 8.0 oz oil to 1 US gallon of mid grade gasoline. Another way to figure your fuel to oil ratio is to determine how much fuel you want, say 2.5 gallons. To figure the ratio 40:1 for 2.5 gallons, you will need to figure out how many ounces of gas is in 2.5 gallons.", "It is not easy to show people how to paint a straight line on a wall but it is easy to do. In order to Paint a straight line on a wall you can watch this video on how to paint a straight line on a wall and it should be easy after that.You will need to have some tape, caulking, a paint brush and paint.ou just have to do it a couple of times to get the hang of painting a straight line on a wall. Thank you, for watching How to paint a perfectly straight line. http://phoenix-handyman-phoenix.com/. http://solar-screens-phoenix.com/.", "Re: How much paint to paint my truck. To do it correctly, you take the truck COMPLETELY apart. That means glass out, bed, doors, hood, fenders, everything apart and spray everything individually. That's the ONLY way to do a REAL paint job.ow much paint to paint my truck. So I've always wanted a black colorado with the ideas I got going on i think it would look better. Exactly how much paint do I need to do a solid paint job on the truck.", "This Site Might Help You. RE: How much paint would I need to paint or stain a wood fence that is about 6ft tall and 175ft long? I am going to build a fence at my new house, and I am trying to see how much it will cost. It is going to be 175 ft or so, and about 6 ft tall.It is going to be a wood fence and I am trying to figure out how much paint or stain would I need to calculate in my planning.Source(s): paint paint stain wood fence 6ft tall 175ft long: https://shortly.im/9ciBr. Maud · 2 months ago.t is going to be 175 ft or so, and about 6 ft tall. It is going to be a wood fence and I am trying to figure out how much paint or stain would I need to calculate in my planning. Source(s): paint paint stain wood fence 6ft tall 175ft long: https://shortly.im/9ciBr.", "Then divide this mileage figure by your car's MPG rating to find out how many gallons of fuel you'll need on your trip. For instance, if you plan to drive 500 miles in a car that gets 25 MPG, you'll need about 20 gallons of gasoline.hen divide this mileage figure by your car's MPG rating to find out how many gallons of fuel you'll need on your trip. For instance, if you plan to drive 500 miles in a car that gets 25 MPG, you'll need about 20 gallons of gasoline.", "To figure the ratio 40:1 for 2.5 gallons, you will need to figure out how many ounces of gas is in 2.5 gallons. 320 ounces is in 2.5 gallons. Now divide your desired Ratio (40) into 320 ounces. This will give you 8.", "Figure out how much light you need in each room and how many fixtures you'll need. If the idea of doing a lighting calculation is a bit off-putting, trust me. It isn't difficult. I promise. On this page you can find out what lighting levels you'll need in different rooms in your home and for different activities.", "Painting a room can be a task that takes a couple of hours, a half day, or more. It all depends on what and how much you decide to paint. You can freshen up a room by giving a door or cabinet a new coat of paint in just a few hours. Or you can break it into smaller jobs and spread them out over a week or more.", "Unfortunately, if you want to use enamel paint but you don't want the high-sheen gloss finish, you won't see many options at the paint store. However, you can make your enamel paint look dull if you know the proper technique. Things You'll Need. Pour two gallons of the enamel paint into a five-gallon bucket. Add one gallon of white enamel undercoat. Stir the contents of the five-gallon bucket for 10 minutes with a wooden stir stick. Continue adding enamel paint until you reach the desired color.", "Cost of Interior Painting. Inside paint costs in depth. Interior Cost Per Square Foot. For painting the house. Cost to Paint Rooms. Prices by room dimensions. House Painting Costs. Find out how much it costs and factors involved.", "Painting your kitchen walls is one of the quickest, and easiest ways to re-do a kitchen. Before you rush out and buy gallons of paint, think carefully about what your dream kitchen looks like. Experts agree that it's not just the color on the walls that determine how a kitchen looks and feels.", "Best Answer: When you talk car paint, you can talk about gallons of paint, or sprayable gallons. You'll be adding an activator (hardener) to the paint, as well as a reducer. Figure about $275 for a gallon of paint, with the reducer and activator, which will make 1.5 - 1.75 sprayable gallons depending on mix ratio (they vary by manufacturer). Clear should be a bit less, but around the same price." ]

[ "Britain was handing out around £60million a day in foreign aid towards the end of the year in order to meet David Cameron's target, a report has found. Taxpayers funded £11.5billion of overseas development projects in 2013 – the first time the Coalition's aim to hand out 0.7pc of GDP to developing countries has been achieved. But a report has found this involved a major effort by civil servants at the Department for International Development (DfID), who had to increase their spending by a third compared with the previous year. Taxpayers handed out £60million per day for overseas development projects towards the end of 2013 to meet David Cameron's target . In November and December of that year alone, they had to spent more than £3.7billlion in a last ditch attempt to meet the target – which works out at around £60million every day for those two months. The National Audit Office, which scrutinises government spending, warn that the strict target could leave civil servants 'feeling pressure' to hand out money to projects which are not needed. In a report published today, they explain that a shortfall towards the end of the year 'constrained choice' and meant officials 'could only choose activities where funds could be paid out during 2013'. 'It may therefore have missed opportunities to get the best outcomes from this spending', they said. DfID did significant preparation work to deal with the increased budget, boosting its workforce, business processes and the ways in which it measures the benefits of aid, the report found. In the end, money which was intended to be given to international aid organisations in early 2014 for long-term projects was able to be brought forward and this was within the rules. The report found there was a major effort by DfID officials, under International Development Secretary Justine Greening (pictured), to increase their spending . But the authors said: 'The need to hit a hard calendar year spending target could increase the risk of staff feeling pressure at year end to payments which are in advance of need. 'The reasons for such payments should be properly documented and authorised. If payments are in advance of need, they are irregular and contrary to HM Treasury rules'. In 2014 there was also a rush to spending £12billion by the end of year, with a last minute rise required when the economy grew faster than expected. A DFID spokesman said: 'In 2013 the UK became the first G7 country to meet the UN target to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA. 'Investing in overseas development is creating a world that is healthier, more stable and increasingly prosperous and that is something Britain can be proud of. UK aid goes only where it is most needed and where it will deliver the very best results for taxpayers' money. 'Using available GNI estimates, DFID sets a clear strategy each year to deliver its ODA target and works with HMT to monitor and manage this through the year. It is normal practice and good financial management for organisations to take stock of priorities and emerging pressure through the year. 'The nature of issues that DFID deals with, including humanitarian emergencies, means it is important to retain this flexibility.'" ]

[ "Town halls have spent tens of millions of pounds rehiring staff they had made redundant, it was reported last night. Much of the cash has gone on agency social workers but an increasing amount is paid to interim managers and consultants, who can earn £1,000 a day. Some have returned after receiving big redundancy packages. Birmingham City Council headquarters: The local authority topped the list of councils who spent the most on agency and consultancy workers since 2010-2011, with £155million spent since that financial year . An investigation by The Times revealed that dozens of authorities have spent more than £50million on agency and consultancy workers since 2010-11, with five spending more than £100million. The total figure spent on such workers over that period is £5billion. The peak was in 2013-14 when more than £1.2 billion was spent. Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of Taxpayers Alliance, said: ‘This [£5billion] is a scandalous figure and one that needs to be justified. 'Scandalous': Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of Taxpayers Alliance, said the councils must stop the revolving door of rehiring redundant workers . ‘There have been all sorts of promises about bringing the cost of administering down. Taxpayers will be particularly concerned at the number of former employees re-employed on more expensive contracts. The lucrative revolving door needs to rapidly come to a halt.’ A freedom of information requested by The Times revealed that the biggest councils, the counties and London boroughs were among the worst offenders. Birmingham City Council topped the list, spending £155 million since 2010-11, followed by Essex County Council on £133.5million and Kent County Council on £127million. Seventeen London boroughs also spent between £50million and £125million on agency and consultancy staff. Louise Tibbert, president of the Public Sector People Management Association and head of HR at Hertfordshire county council, said that social workers often went back to councils where they had worked before, but this was also the case for higher-paid staff. She said: ‘Many go to the private sector for better pay in legal, finance and HR or general management roles. There is a big chance that local government will pay the same for them to come back as consultants.’ Over the past five years councils have had their budgets slashed by more than £20billion and lost more than 400,000 jobs. Some councils have been forced to close or reduce a range of services including road maintenance, street cleaning and home care for elderly after having their central funding slashed by almost 40 per cent since 2010. Tony Travers, local government expert at the London School of Economics, said that too many jobs were cut too quickly in search for early big savings and councils had found that they could not provide their services without bringing the staff back.", "Nigeria is spending millions to put a man into space – as Britain hands it more than £1billion in foreign aid. The oil-rich country, which has accepted £300million this year alone, has set in train ambitious plans to launch its own rockets. And the first Nigerian astronauts are being trained to join Russian, Chinese or American missions within the next two years. Space race: A Nigerian engineer at work on one of the country's satellites developed in a British laboratory . Last night critics asked why Britain was, in effect, subsidising a space programme for a nation where 70 per cent of people live below the poverty line. This latest controversy came just two days after Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom ignited a fierce debate by saying it was folly to give billions in aid to ‘Bongo Bongo land’. Big spending: Nigeria has already launched these surveillance rockets from Russia as part of its plans to join the space race . Yesterday David Cameron said the remarks were offensive and accused Mr Bloom of being guilty of a ‘stop the world I want to get off’ approach to foreign aid. The £1.14billion Nigeria will receive over the five years of the Coalition is double the £500million set aside to prop up struggling accident and emergency departments at our own hospitals. Backbench Tory MP Philip Davies said it was ‘totally unjustifiable and unaffordable’ for Britain to give this money to Nigeria, given the scale of its ‘grandiose’ space programme. ‘We cannot go around the world saying “don’t worry, we will feed your public for you while you waste your money on all sorts of other projects”,’ he said. ‘We have got to say to these countries “you have got to spend that money on your people where it’s most needed not on some grandiose space programme”. We are against welfare dependency at home but at the same time we are encouraging welfare dependency abroad.’ The row surrounding Mr Bloom flared when he insisted that sending aid to Africa was tantamount to treason. He added: ‘How we can possibly be giving a billion pounds a month, when we’re in this sort of debt, to Bongo Bongo land is completely beyond me.’ He claimed foreign leaders frittered the money away on ‘Ray-Ban sunglasses, apartments in Paris and Ferraris’. Poverty: Millions of Nigerians are living in poverty, despite the country earning huge profits from its oil deposits . Resources: Nigeria generates millions in oil revenue every year but much of the population lives in poverty . He was widely criticised for using the term ‘Bongo Bongo land’ but many commentators believe he was right about the building resentment over spiralling foreign aid. The Department for International Development’s budget is rising by 35 per cent in real terms by 2015. But while aid costs are ballooning, spending on the military, the police, border control and care homes is being slashed. Britain . is also spending about £280million a year on aid to India, another . country with its own space programme. Despite Nigeria having the . second-highest national income of all African countries, most of its . people still live in poverty. It is also mired in corruption. The most . modest estimates suggest between £2.5 and £5billion is stolen from the . state’s coffers every year by corrupt officials and politicians. Debate: UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom has reignited the issue of Britain's foreign aid contributions with his infamous 'bongo bongo land' comments . Jonathan Isaby from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘When budgets are tight both for families and the Government alike, people cannot understand why ministers are sending more and more of our hard-earned cash overseas. ‘Taxpayers find it especially unacceptable when their money is sent abroad as aid to developing countries which then somehow find sufficient cash to fund the likes of a space programme. ‘It is totally unacceptable that British taxpayers’ money is effectively subsidising Nigeria’s efforts to send an astronaut into space.’ Nigeria’s space programme started in 2003 but its first satellite lost power and disappeared from orbit. It now has three in space, NigComSat-1R, NigeriaSat-2 and Nigeria-Sat X, the first to be constructed by Nigerian engineers. Although it has bought its own . satellites and launched on Russian rockets, Nigeria has built . laboratories which it hopes will produce its own space craft by 2028. The . National Space Research and Development Agency confirmed Nigerian . astronauts should be trained and ready for space travel within two . years. In July this . year, NASRDA’s director general, Professor Seidu Onailo Mohammed, . declared: ‘By our road map we are supposed to have astronauts prepared . by 2015. Before the end of the year, the recruitment of astronauts will . begin so that we have them handy and as soon as we get the nod we can . pick from that number.’ The . Nigerian government has not released detailed figures on how much it is . spending on its space programme, but it is thought to be hundreds of . millions of pounds a year. British aid to Nigeria will increase by 116 . per cent under the Coalition government, from £141million in 2010/11 to . £305million in 2014/15. It amounts to a total of £1.14billion over five . years. Response: The Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr Bloom's remarks showed a 'stop the world I want to get off' approach to foreign aid . The country has also been criticised for failing to crack down on corruption. The only senior figure from Nigeria to have been prosecuted over corruption in recent years was jailed by a British court. James Ibori, the former governor of the country’s oil-rich Delta state, was sentenced to 13 years for money laundering, forgery and fraud totalling nearly £50million. He used the money to live a lavish lifestyle, buying a house in London worth £2.25million and luxury cars worth over £650,000. Last night a spokesman for the Department for International Development said spending aid money in Nigeria would help cut crime and illegal immigration in Britain. ‘No UK aid money goes through the Nigerian government,’ she said. ‘Our investment goes into specific health, education and poverty reduction programmes. Nigeria is home to a quarter of the poorest people in Africa, and supporting their development will benefit our own trade and security.’", "Gloomy prediction: Jacques Attali says the euro has a 'one in two' chance of collapsing in the coming month . Britain was last night planning for the collapse of the eurozone as Spain weighed up a bailout that could cost UK taxpayers £5billion. The Government is preparing for the biggest mass default in history and the break-up of the single currency bloc. Analysts warned that euro meltdown would wreak havoc in the banking system and plunge the global economy back into recession. Whitehall sources said contingency plans are being drawn up – and indicated that the longer the euro limps on, the more time Britain has to prepare. Fears are mounting that Greece will be forced to default on its debts as the crisis threatens to sink Spain and Italy. The storm hit Belgium last night as the country’s credit rating was cut from AA+ to AA by Standard & Poor’s amid tumbling confidence in the region. And a leading French economist, Jacques Attali, the former president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, said there was only a 50-50 chance of the euro surviving until Christmas. Sources in Madrid said the new Spanish government is considering applying for international aid to shore up its battered finances. It is thought a bailout of around £340billion would be required to keep the country afloat – with as much as £5billion coming from Britain through the International Monetary Fund. The long-term debt ratings for the eurozone, the U.S. and Japan . United Kingdom                    2.22% . France                                  3.71% . Germany                               2.21% . Greece                                27.97% . Italy                                       7.21% . Borrowing costs in Italy raced to record highs as the new government in Rome was hammered on the financial markets. In a move that raises the pressure on . Italian prime minister Mario Monti, investors demanded a punitive 6.5 . per cent interest rate on a short-term loan. ‘The pricing is awful,’ said Padhraic Garvey, an analyst at ING bank. Benchmark borrowing costs in Italy soared above 7 per cent – the level which triggered bailouts in Greece, Portugal and Ireland. The alarming developments in Spain and Italy threaten to cripple the eurozone. Credit rating agencies have warned . that France’s coveted AAA debt score is under threat. Germany was rocked . this week by the worst bond auction since the launch of the single . currency more than a decade ago. Investors bought only 60 per cent of . debt on offer from Berlin in a sign that the crisis is spreading to the . core of the eurozone. The debt storm has triggered panic in Britain and America amid fears that it will tip the global economy into recession. The euro fell nearly 1 per cent . against the U.S. dollar to little more than $1.32 and was down half a . per cent against sterling, making a euro worth 85.6p. Brendan McGrath, a senior analyst at . Western Union, said: ‘Confidence in the region diminishes while the . outlook for a solution to the eurozone crisis seems as far away as it . has ever been.’", "British taxpayers are funding waste collections in communist Cuba, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The EU has given £1.6 million to fund bin rounds on the Caribbean island as part of an environmental regeneration project – at a time when many UK collections are being cut. Although the EU’s trade embargo against the communist regime ended in 2008, the Foreign Office still regards Cuba as a ‘country of concern’ because of its appalling human rights record. Funded: The EU has given £1.6 million to fund bin rounds to regenerate the Caribbean island of Cuba . Last night, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the project revealed the ‘breathtaking hypocrisy’ of Brussels bureaucrats. The scheme, called Recycle For A Better Life, aims to increase ‘collection of municipal solid waste for households and non-residential in the Caribbean islands of Cuba and Dominican Republic’ as well as ‘making new generations aware about the environment’. It is co-funded by the European Commission, part of the EU responsible for providing aid through programmes around the world. The recycling project – agreed in April – is based around the historical centres of Havana and Santo Domingo, with cash funnelled through EuropeAid, part of the European Commission’. In Havana, ‘non-domestic users’ such as hotels, restaurants and offices, are required to separate their rubbish into paper, plastic, aluminium and tinplate, the project’s website states. The collections will also ‘be extended to home users’. EU cash – including UK contributions – paid for 75 per cent of the three-year scheme, which is part of the €86 million (£68.7 million) in international development funding Brussels has given to Cuba since 2008. 'Breathtaking hypocrisy': The project comes as the UK faces dramatic cuts to waste collections . A European Commission spokesman confirmed the EU was contributing €2 million (£1.6 million) to projects in Cuba and Dominican Republic. ‘Waste production is a continually increasing problem, especially in developing countries,’ she added. ‘Helping our partner countries get a proper waste management system is the main idea behind this project.’ But Mr Pickles said: ‘This is an example of breathtaking hypocrisy by the Eurocrats, wasting taxpayers’ cash on supporting extensive bin collections in communist Cuba while at the same time bullying councils into axeing weekly collections in Britain. 'In contrast, this Government is working to improve the quality and frequency of recycling and rubbish collections, and supporting weekly collections. ‘The EU bin bureaucrats should be held to account for this appalling waste of taxpayers’ money.’", "Take That have come under fire after it emerged the pop stars have still not repaid the £20million they owe the taxman - one year after they were ordered to do so. Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, who embark on their latest UK tour tomorrow, were told to pay back the cash 11 months ago after the 'investment' scheme they put millions into was ruled invalid. It is understood the trio are dealing directly with HMRC but have yet to stump up the cash. Scroll down for video . Fury: Take That members (from left) Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have still not paid back the £20million they owe the taxman, one year after they were ordered to. The band begin their UK tour tomorrow . A source close to the band said: 'They are not appealing the decision, they are dealing directly with HMRC.' The delay has been criticised by The Taxpayers' Alliance, with pressure mounting further by the fact that TV sports presenter Gabby Logan has already fulfilled her promise to pay back all the money she owed from the 'tax shelter' scheme, according to the Sunday Mirror. Andy Silvester, campaign director, said: 'Everyone should play by the rules, and that means paying back on time if HMRC say so. 'However, the real moral of this story is that we desperately need to simplify the tax code to get rid of the loopholes that those with clever accountants can drive a Take That tour bus through. 'Politicians make an awful lot of noise about tax evasion and avoidance but are addressing the symptom rather than the cause.' The Take That trio have not appealed against last May's tax tribunal ruling that the Icebreaker scheme they paid millions of pounds into was created as a way of exploiting legal loopholes. Repaid: Other well-known clients who used the Icebreaker 'investment' scheme include TV sports presenter Gabby Logan (pictured right). Unlike Gary Barlow (left), she has already repaid everything she owed . Prime Minister David Cameron used a Take That lyric during Prime Minister's Questions, directed at Barlow, where he said 'We want your money back for good' as part of a pledge to get tax avoiders to return £5billion . Money poured into Icebreaker, which used investment in the music industry to gain tax reliefs aimed at boosting the UK's creative industries, did not attract income tax. Icebreaker officials claimed that the initiative was funding music, supporting little-known artists to famous names such as Sinead O'Connor. But it was ruled by Judge Colin Bishopp that the scheme was mainly for tax avoidance rather than investments. Many of the 1,000 clients who invested in Icebreaker claimed they did not know the scheme broke any rules. David Cameron has previously used a Take That lyric during Prime Minister's Questions, directed at Barlow, where he said 'We want your money back for good' as part of a pledge to have £5billion returned by tax avoiders. There is no suggestion Robbie Williams or Jason Orange took part in the Icebreaker scheme, which saw more than 7,000 repayment notices, totaling £1.6billion, issued by HMRC as part of a crackdown. A spokesman for Barlow, Owen and Donald said: 'I can confirm that Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald have now received confirmation from HMRC that their tax affairs are fully up to date.'", "British funding for green projects overseas is going to major economies such as India, Brazil and South Africa, a report reveals. The world’s poorest countries are being ‘left behind’ as richer nations scoop up most of the cash, according to the Overseas Development Institute. The British think tank calculated that booming economies have received the lion’s share of climate finance from Western nations – including at least £1.6billion from the UK – over the past decade. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, insists that the UK must fund green projects abroad because the world’s poorest nations are the ones set to be hit the hardest by global warming . The money has funded wind farms, solar panels, flood defences and forestry schemes. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, insists that the UK must fund green projects abroad because the world’s poorest nations are set to be hit the hardest by global warming. However, the new analysis reveals that the ten most vulnerable nations benefited from only seven per cent of climate aid. The Overseas Development Institute released its report at the United Nations climate change summit in Peru. The money has funded wind farms, solar panels, flood defences and forestry schemes in many countries . Funding for poor countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to global warming is a key part of the negotiations, with the UN trying to raise £64billion a year from 2020 onwards. The report analysed a decade of loans and grants going into international funds set up to tackle climate change. Of the £4.8 billion that the ODI looked at, the UK was the biggest contributor, putting in £1.6billion. Half the money went to just ten countries, each of them major economies. The remaining half was divided between 125 nations. Smita Nakhooda, lead author of the report, called for money to be directed to the areas where it is most needed. ‘The lives of millions of people in poor countries affected by climate change depend on getting this right,’ she said. Conservative MP Peter Bone (pictured) called for a fundamental rethink of Britain’s green aid scheme . ‘The UK contributions to multi-lateral funds are pooled with other sources of finance and contributions from other countries, and so one cannot distinguish the UK contributions from those of others. ‘But the UK does have significant influence in decision-making over how the funds allocate their resources, alongside other countries.’ However, even one of the world’s poorest countries admitted that the UN is asking too much of western nations by insisting on huge financial contributions for green projects. Bangladesh’s environment minister Anwar Hossain Manju told reporters in Lima: ‘We are probably expecting too much from the industrialised and developed countries, because today all countries are suffering from social, political, economic problems.’ Conservative MP Peter Bone called for a fundamental rethink of Britain’s green aid programme. ‘My constituents expect overseas aid to go where it is really needed,’ he said. ‘It is completely bonkers that we are giving money to major economies to fund climate change projects.’ The UK is committed to spending £3.9billion for green projects abroad between 2011 and 2016. That sum is likely to rise in the coming years. Schemes funded with UK cash in recent years include £25million to restore forest and low-carbon agriculture in Brazil and £6million for solar panels in India – a nation prosperous enough to have its own £328million-a-year overseas aid programme. A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said last night: ‘It is right we work with the international community to provide targeted support to countries where we know emissions are predicted to grow rapidly. 'This will help stop climate change and reduce its impact on the poorest and most vulnerable.’", "Sending billions in aid to poor countries is not always the most 'appropriate' way for the UK to help them, MPs warn. The number of recipient states in dire need is falling and sending handouts to rapidly growing economies such as India is no longer a 'sufficient response', they say. In a report published today, MPs call for reform to Britain's overseas aid programme, saying taxpayers' money would be better spent on 'co-operation'. Sending billions in aid to poor countries is not always the most 'appropriate' way for the UK to help, according to MPs (pictured relief goods are unloaded in Pakistan) Efforts should be diverted to 'beyond aid' projects – using UK expertise to encourage trade and helping to overhaul tax collection and public services such as health, schools and the justice systems. The document, compiled by a cross-party group of MPs on the Commons international development committee, follows official figures that show the number of 'priority countries' has fallen from 28 to 22. Although the report endorses the much-criticised target to allocate 0.7 per cent of Britain's GDP to poor countries, it calls for a 'new approach'. Tanzania and Kenya (pictured), should be moving to 'beyond aid' programmes within five years, according to Jeremy Lefroy, a Tory MP on the committee . It says: 'The nature of international development is changing... aid remains essential for poor countries, and for some purposes in middle income countries. 'However overall, a new approach is needed which reflects the changing situation. As grants of aid become less appropriate in some countries, so new forms of development co-operation are necessary.' The committee said aid remained vital for 'fragile' countries fighting infectious diseases such as ebola or those embroiled in conflict or humanitarian crises. But it called for more focus on 'beyond aid' policies that address the underlying causes of poverty, a 'modest' investment in which has an impact 'much larger than can be brought about through aid'. Such a move would benefit UK households, who pay about £430 a year towards overseas aid to countries including India – which last year received £169million despite having its own space programme. Jeremy Lefroy, a Tory MP on the committee, said aid recipients such as Tanzania and Kenya, should be moving to 'beyond aid' programmes within five years. He added: 'DfID must make sure that countries which no longer require our cash are instead benefiting from British expertise and helped to run their own public services.' Committee chairman Sir Malcolm Bruce said aid has a role to play in 'building new partnerships' with emergent countries like India, China and Brazil. 'However the number of poor countries is falling, and those that remain often suffer from conflict, so need multiple interventions... that is why development in the future will not just be about aid,' he said. The Department for International Development backed the committee's findings and said the Government needs to 'find new ways of working with emerging powers'. A spokesman said it has already diverted funds away from traditional aid 'with the aim of ending aid dependency once and for all'. Many Tory MPs oppose the 0.7 per cent target and its link to GDP – national wealth – which led to an extra £1billion in aid added last year because of better than expected economic growth.", "The Union Flag is to be plastered across big money projects paid for by the UK taxpayer to show the public where their taxes are spent. Ministers will announce tomorrow the plan to brand roads, flood defences and broadband hubs with the message 'Funded by the UK Government. It will be used on projects across the UK, but will prove provocative in Scotland where the move to highlight UK spending will be seen as a challenge to supporters of independence. The new logo will be unveiled by ministers tomorrow, and will be used on any project funded by the UK taxpayer . Treasury minister Danny Alexander, who is a Scottish MP, will unveil the logo which will spring up in every area 'from Cornwall to Caithness' Treasury minister Danny Alexander, who is a Scottish MP, will unveil the logo which will spring up in every area 'from Cornwall to Caithness'. Under the plan, any firm who wins a UK government contract will have to agree to display the logo on the finished work. Treasury insiders insist that the logo is not designed to challenge Scottish nationalists, but promote the need for investment across the UK. 'It is just a reminder to people that this is where their money is going.' a source said. The use of the logo will seek to emphasise that major investment in big money projects is only possible thanks to the strong economic growth, and Scotland as a result of remaining in the UK. However, some areas of infrastructure are devolved, so will not apply in Scotland. The logo will also draw comparisons with a similar image used on foreign aid sent around the world funded by Britain. It copies a long-standing Brussels agreement which sees the EU flag displayed on infrastructure which it has funded. The Treasury says that there is £466billion of new projects in the pipeline, which the Government is helping to fund using public money. Mr Alexander said: 'I've prioritised infrastructure in this government because only long-term investments will support UK businesses and get the public finances and economy on a firm footing. 'It's only right that we recognise the contribution of the UK taxpayer in supporting this economic growth, which is why I'm delighted to launch these Union Jack plaques, which will proudly adorn infrastructure investments from roads in Cornwall to broadband in Caithness.' The move will draw comparisons with a similar logo used on foreign aid sent around the world funded by Britain . The plan has been drawn up with Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who said: 'As part of our long term economic plan, this government is investing in our nation's physical and digital infrastructure. 'Whether it's High Speed 2 investment in the Northern Powerhouse or superfast broadband connecting Cornwall and Wales, all future infrastructure projects funded for by UK taxpayers will carry this simple UK flag branding.' In 2012 a similar logo was introduced for foreign aid funding, which included the Union Flag and the words: UK aid from the British people'. Under official rules, its use is not optional but 'is a condition of accepting funding from DFID'. Despite the insistence that the logo is not designed to counter Scottish independence calls, ministers are understood to be concerned about the rise in support for the SNP since voters in Scotland rejected independence in the historic referendum held in September. The use of the logo is seen as a small step in shoring up support for the UK north of the border, with the SNP set to make big gains in May's general election. In the event of a hung Parliament, Labour could be forced to depend on nationalist MPs for support, raising the prospect of a second referendum on independence. SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie described the plaques as a 'silly gimmick' which did not disguise the coalition's cuts to overall infrastructure spending and Scotland's capital budget. He said: 'Putting a sticker on projects is a silly gimmick by Danny Alexander and his Tory bosses, which can't cover over the fact that his government at Westminster has slashed infrastructure spending - destroying jobs and delaying economic recovery - including cutting Scotland's capital budget by a quarter. 'Despite this, the Scottish Government is delivering over £11 billion of investment over the three years to 2015-16. Instead of the huge cuts imposed by Danny Alexander and the Tories, people across the UK would prefer more infrastructure investment, and fewer gimmicks.'", "Schools will be pushed to breaking point as they struggle to find room for almost a million more pupils within the next decade, council leaders warned yesterday. The squeeze will reach ‘tipping point’ as schools lack the space or money to expand further, according to the Local Government Association. It said council taxpayers alone could not absorb the £12billion cost of an extra 900,000 primary and secondary places needed – and accused the Government of failing to make up the shortfall. Scroll down for video . Around 900,000 extra pupils in England's schools over the next decade is set to squeeze schools to breaking point, Town Hall chiefs have claimed . The Association urged the Government to ensure that all school places are fully funded and to enable councils to open new schools according to the needs of the local community. The warning triggered a political row last night as the Tories blamed Labour for previous spending cuts while allowing immigration to get ‘out of control’. Labour in turn accused Education Secretary Nicky Morgan of ‘shocking complacency’ by suggesting it was acceptable for class sizes to rise above 30. Population projections suggest that the 7.14million children in England’s schools will rise above 8million by 2023. Many schools are already going to extraordinary lengths to find more room, converting old offices, shops and police stations – and even a double-decker bus. Central First School in Ashington, Northumberland, bought the vehicle for £5,000 on eBay instead of forking out ‘astronomical’ sums of up to £150,000 to expand the school. Conservative Minister Nick Gibb blamed the school places squeeze on the last Labour government's failure to plan for the future . The Local Government Association's call comes just days before the January 15 deadline for mums and dads to apply for primary school places for this September. The organisation has warned that councils need extra help with funding ‘before time runs out’ Applications are expected to be made for around 370,000 three and four-year-olds who are due to start school in the autumn. The LGA said town halls were ‘pulling out all the stops’ to ensure every child has a place but the scale of the crisis was ‘too much for council taxpayers to pay for alone’. There have been ongoing concerns about pressure on school places, particularly for primary-age children, fuelled in part in recent years by a rising birth rate. Councillor David Simmonds of the LGA said: ‘We fear a tipping point could soon emerge when councils and schools can no longer afford the massive costs for the creation of places, nor find the space necessary for new classes, if this crisis is not properly dealt with. ‘Additionally, councils face a challenge creating places on time and in the right places when their hands are tied by red tape.' Around 90,000 places were created in 2012/13 by councils, and more are being established - but the scale of the problem is too big to be solved at a local level, the Association insisted. A survey by Labour suggests almost one in five primary schools is already full to bursting. But Tory schools minister Nick Gibb accused the last Labour government of failing to ‘plan for the future’ during a baby boom by cutting school place funding while allowing unchecked immigration. The Coalition, he claimed, had put an extra £5billion into new places and spent £18billion improving buildings. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is under pressure to provide more school places amid a squeeze on the schools budget . Mrs Morgan told Radio 4’s Today show that spaces would be provided by academies and free schools. ‘By the time we get all the free schools in the pipeline up and running, they will be providing over 200,000 new places across the country,’ she said. The minister said she had visited a school that had ‘more pupils than expected’ but which was happy to absorb the increase. Class size was important but so was the quality of education, she added. In 2013, a study by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned that by September 2014 an estimated extra 256,000 primary and secondary school places would be needed to meet demand. Of these, 240,000 were required in primary schools, with more than a third (37%) needed in London alone. Separate research conducted by the Times Educational Supplement last year concluded that hundreds of thousands of pupils could end up with less room to play outside because a squeeze on school places has meant classrooms are being built on playgrounds and playing fields. Information on school expansions from 82 local authorities suggests that just over a third (35%) of primary schools that have grown or are due to grow in size will end up with less outdoor space for youngsters. A further 54 per cent are not due to lose space, but will have more pupils using the same area, the research found. Sir David Attenborough has warned that pupils could be ‘disconnected’ from nature if playing fields are built on to ease the school places crisis. The veteran broadcaster, 88, warned against sacrificing grounds because they may be the only place children encounter the natural world – which he said is essential to the ‘human spirit’. In a campaign film for charity Learning through Landscapes, Sir David said pupils must grow up to know and appreciate nature to understand why it needs to be protected. He added: ‘And if they do not protect it – who will?’", "The cost of renovating the Olympic Stadium ahead of West Ham’s 2016 move will rise by £35.9million but the extra funding will not be paid for by either the Hammers or the taxpayer. The iconic venue in Stratford is due to host five matches at next year’s Rugby World Cup before becoming West Ham’s permanent home for the 2016/17 season. The original stadium cost £429m to build and a fixed conversion fee of a further £154m was agreed with constructor Balfour Beatty. Unforeseen circumstances have seen costs of renovating the Olympic Stadium rise by £35.9million . But West Ham, the stadium's future tenants, will not have to contribute towards the increased cost . The problem involves extending and strengthening the roof of the stadium used for the 2012 Olympics . That figure, however, has now risen by £35.9m to £189.9m due to the complexity of extending and strengthening the roof, but neither West Ham nor the taxpayer will be covering the added cost. 'Providing adequate support for the new roof has required significantly more strengthening work to the main roof truss, which was originally designed to be taken down after the Games,' a statement on queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk read. 'We have therefore today agreed to increase the value of the Balfour Beatty contract by £35.9m to £189.9m. 'We will meet these costs from the project contingencies and additional income we will generate from our other developments. 'There will therefore be no additional call on the taxpayer and no impact on our current programme.' The taxpayer will not be forced to shell out for the additional cost, it comes from project contingencies . 'Additional income from other developments' will also help to fund the increased costs of the build . Measuring approximately 45,000 square metres and 84m at its deepest point, the new roof will be the longest cantilevered roof in the world, with construction experts consulting similar technology to that used on North Sea oil rigs. Despite the total bill for the stadium now amounting to £618.9m, West Ham will contribute only £15m for a 99-year lease together with annual rent and a share of income as was agreed last year with the London Legacy Development Corporation, chaired by London mayor Boris Johnson. The renovated venue will have 50,000 seats and will also serve as the national competition stadium for athletics in the UK, hosting regional and international events. West Ham will leave their Upton Park home to move across East London into the new 50,000-seater venue .", "By . Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent . A British university is to abandon experiments on baboons in Africa after an undercover investigation exposed ‘terrible suffering and cruelty’. Harrowing pictures revealed by the Mail showed the intelligent and sociable monkeys peering out of their bare wire cages, babies clinging to each other for comfort and adults having pieces of their brain removed on the operating table. One particularly distressing image showed a newly-caught baby baboon suckling its mother as she was given an identification tattoo at the primate research centre in Kenya. Experiments: One of the distressing images of Baboons in Kenya revealed by the Mail following an undercover investigation . Experiments on baboons and other primates caught in the wild are banned in the UK due to concerns about the suffering involved in trapping and transporting them. But an investigation British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection revealed that Newcastle University scientists were flying thousands of miles to Kenya to do work on baboons captured on the African plains. The lead researcher, Professor Stuart Baker, made an impassioned defence of his quest to find vital new treatments for stroke patients. He also denied bypassing British law, saying the welfare concerns behind the ban did not apply to his work in Africa because the baboons are not endangered, are caught humanely and are only transported a short distance. Newcastle University has announced it is to pull the research in Kenya almost three weeks after the images came to light . He said that one of his reasons for going . to the Institute of Primate Research in Nairobi was to improve animal . welfare standards and conditions had improved greatly during his time . there. The use of bare, single cages is being phased out and large split-level compounds with tree ‘climbing frames’ are being built. But now, almost three weeks after the images came to light, the university has announced it is to pull the research in Kenya. Joanna Lumley was one of 22,000 people to sign a petition against the experiments . All other overseas projects will be reviewed. It is unclear what the U-turn will mean for the Professor Baker’s work on stroke. Professor Chris Brink, the vice-chancellor, said the baboon project began before the latest guidelines on overseas animal research were published. He added that Newcastle University is ‘committed to excellent standards of animal welfare’ and to reducing the use of animals in research. The climbdown follows growing public support of the BUAV’s campaign for the taxpayer-funded experiments to be scrapped. Two petitions attracted more than 22,000 experiments, Parliamentary questions were tabled and celebrities including actress Joanna Lumley, comedian Ricky Gervais and wildlife presenter Chris Packham joined the call for the work to be stopped. The BUAV said that concern from other Newcastle University researchers may also have played a role in the project being pulled. Sarah Kite, the charity’s director of special projects, said: ‘We welcome this move by Newcastle University to stop this controversial research in Kenya. ‘The BUAV investigation has caused a public outcry; people have been shocked and repulsed by our findings and it is only right that the University should respond in this way. ‘It makes a mockery of UK law if researchers can use public funds to go overseas to carry out horrific research on wild-caught primates that would not be allowed in the UK.’", "Tory MP Peter Bone, who is a fierce critic of UK aid policy, branded the legal action as 'bizarre' and 'ridiculous' An Ethiopian farmer has won permission to use taxpayers’ money to sue the British Government ... for sending aid to his homeland. The case, branded ridiculous by MPs, will be funded entirely by the public even though the farmer has never set foot in this country. The 33-year-old Ethiopian – granted anonymity to protect his family – says ministers are funding a one-party state in his country that has breached his human rights. He says foreign aid helped the regime inflict ‘brutal treatment’ on thousands of farmers driven from their land, against the International Development Act 2002. Taxpayers will pay for both the farmer’s lawyers and a defence team from the Department for International Development, in a case that could cost tens of thousands of pounds. This is in addition to the £1.3billion Britain has sent to Ethiopia since 2010. The farmer lodged the court papers from Kenya, before Justice Secretary Chris Grayling introduced rules to prevent cases being brought by those who have never set foot in the UK. The changes, which come into force next month, will mean anybody seeking legal aid in civil cases must have been resident in Britain for at least 12 months. A Whitehall source said: ‘Whatever hardships this man has faced, the idea that someone without any connection to this country can get public money to sue the Government borders on the farcical.’ Tory MP Peter Bone, a fierce critic of UK aid policy, said the legal action was ‘bizarre’, adding: ‘This is a ridiculous case and it is ridiculous there is legal aid for it.’ However, he added: ‘If money is going to a corrupt regime and somebody is pointing that out then we should be taking note of it. That is the problem. A lot of the money goes on propping up corrupt regimes.’ It is not clear how the farmer, a father of six identified only as O, came to bring the case. Papers lodged earlier this year state he had to leave his family and flee to a refugee camp in Kenya after being beaten and tortured trying to protect his land. The UK has contributed to a £510million Protection of Basic Services fund which has allegedly ‘contributed’ to the programme of displacing the farmers. O is not personally seeking compensation, but wants the Government to change its aid policies and stop bankrolling brutal regimes. If he succeeds, ministers could be forced to review donations to other nations accused of atrocities, such as Pakistan and Rwanda. Leigh Day has earned vast sums in legal aid by bringing cases against the Government on behalf of overseas clients. Last year the firm won compensation worth almost £20million for 5,200 Kenyans who were tortured and abused during the Mau Mau rebellion in the Fifties and Sixties. It is also heavily involved in the Al Sweady Inquiry, examining claims that troops executed and tortured Iraqis at a camp near Basra in 2004. The hearings have already cost taxpayers £27million, despite evidence linking the men to a ‘terrorist organisation’. Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini’s Italy, it has never been colonised. Drought, war and famine brought millions to the brink of starvation in the Eighties. This inspired rock stars to launch Band Aid. Now led by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, its economy has grown rapidly since civil war ended in 1993. However, it is still one of Africa’s poorest states, with its population of  86.5million earning an average of just £240 a year. O is being represented by Rosa Curling of Leigh Day. Her law firm has already brought a string of human rights-based legal aid cases against the State on behalf of overseas claimants who say they have suffered ill-treatment due to government policies. Ministers had urged the High Court to reject the latest claim, but Mr Justice Warby said yesterday it was ‘reasonable’ for O to believe there was a link between the Department for International development handing aid to Ethiopia and alleged human rights abuses. He said O may launch a judicial review to argue the department had ‘failed to have in place any sufficient process to assess Ethiopia’s compliance with the express conditions for receiving UK aid – or to follow such process’. International Development Secretary Justine Greening, who is named as the respondent on the court papers, denies the claims. A department spokesman said: ‘The UK has never funded Ethiopia’s resettlement programmes. Our support to the Protection of Basic Services Programme is only used to provide essential services like healthcare, schooling and clean water.’", "Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- The imam behind the controversial mosque and Islamic center near New York City's ground zero said Sunday that he hopes the project will develop \"an Islamic approach that allows for harmony and understanding among all religions and other ideas.\" The remarks from Abdul Rauf, who has rarely spoken to the media since his proposal for an Islamic center set off a firestorm of controversy this summer, came while the imam is on a State Department-sponsored trip to the Middle East. Rauf spoke with the newspaper Bahraini Al Wasat before he was scheduled to appear at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Bahrain, the newspaper's editor said. In the interview, to be published Monday, Rauf praised freedoms that Muslims and others enjoy in the United States. \"If we look at the American Declaration of Independence, we see that it speaks of principles that comply with Islam,\" Rauf said, according to Bahraini Al Wasat editor-in-chief Mansoor Al-Jamri. \"The U.S. Constitution protects our rights and what exists in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution is much better than what is found in many Islamic countries.\" Rauf is on his third trip to discuss Muslim life in America and religious tolerance, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said earlier this month. \"We have a long-term relationship with him,\" Crowley said. \"His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well known, and he brings a moderate perspective to foreign audiences on what it's like to be a practicing Muslim in the United States.\" Crowley said the imam's trip would take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Bahrain, an island nation off the coast of Saudi Arabia. His previous trips under the government program were in 2007 to Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Morocco, and earlier this year to Egypt. The trip is one of about 1,200 similar programs of sending experts overseas, Crowley said. Some lawmakers have urged the State Department to rethink plans to sponsor Rauf on trips abroad. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, and Peter King, R-New York, the ranking members of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees, called the State Department's funding of Rauf's current trip \"unacceptable,\" and said American taxpayers should not have to subsidize his tour. In New York on Sunday, opponents of the planned Islamic community center faced off with demonstrators in favor of the facility. Hundreds of critics and supporters of the proposed center in New York showed up despite an overcast and drizzly sky to express their views amid the national debate over the facility. Police estimated that supporters of the center numbered up to 250, and critics numbered about 450 during the demonstration. A banner on the anti-center side said, \"Land of the free. Stop sharia before it stops you,\" referring to Islamic law. Another sign read, \"No mosque here. Preserve the dignity of our loved ones killed on 9/11.\" Others said Americans need to set an example of tolerance to the rest of the world. \"It would be giving in to bigotry and intolerance to demand that it be moved and I think in the end, it makes us less safe because we need to show the world that we are a tolerant, open society,\" supporter Ruth Massie said.", "Anger: Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, pictured in an expensive Savile Row suit yesterday, has sparked outrage by claiming foreign aid will help prevent flooding in the UK . A cabinet minister sparked fury last night after claiming that giving billions of pounds to the Third World would help prevent flooding in Britain. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles rejected demands from Tory MPs that the overseas aid budget be raided to help stricken areas of the West Country, claiming that the money would help curb global warming. His claims prompted anger among residents whose homes are under water and from Conservatives, who branded the claims ‘nonsense’. Sharon Saunders, 45, a barmaid from Bridgwater, Somerset, which is at risk of being overwhelmed by flood water, said: ‘Eric Pickles has lost the plot. Charity begins at home and we need to sort this place out before we doing anything else. ‘He needs to come down here for himself and see what it’s like before diverting money anywhere else.’ Helen Marsell, 47, a retail worker from Bridgwater, said: ‘The Government is very quick to jump on the bandwagon for aid donations when something bad happens in another country, but when a disaster strikes here their attitude is, “Oh, it’s only our country, we don’t need to worry about it”.’ Tory MP Philip Davies said: ‘I’m not convinced these floods are caused by global warming. But even if they were, the biggest contributors to global warming are China and America and we don’t give them aid money. It’s just utter nonsense.’ No escape from the tide: The Kirby family, pictured inside their flooded home in Moorland, have been forced to evacuate. Pictured are Mark Kirby, his wife Kate and their children, Dom, 16, Georgine, 14, and Theo, 10 . Awash: Kate Kirby wades through waist deep flood water outside her home in Moorland, Somerset, as she saves a few possessions from the rising water . The Mail revealed on Saturday that Tory MPs are demanding cash from Britain’s £11billion-a-year aid budget is diverted to help people stricken by the floods. But Mr Pickles rejected that plan as a ‘populist hit’ and added: ‘If it is truly global warming, then aid we’re offering in other parts of the world could well have an effect in terms of the things that happen in this country.’ Britain has already pledged nearly £2.9billion of taxpayers’ money – or around £100 per household – to a climate aid fund for developing countries over four years. Mr Pickles yesterday offered an ‘unreserved apology’ for the failure to dredge the Somerset Levels and signalled that Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith should resign over the ‘mistake’. View: Communities Secretary Eric Pickles (arriving at the BBC studios for The Andrew Marr Show with his wife Irene) said foreign aid spending could ease global warming-linked extreme weather in Britain . Comments: Asked what he made of remarks to deploy foreign aid to help with the floods, Mr Pickles told Murnaghan on Sky News: 'Well, I think it's an easy hit, it's a kind of a populist hit' He pointedly refused to endorse the Labour peer’s leadership of the agency, saying: ‘That’s a matter for him.’ He added: ‘I don’t see myself becoming an advocate of the “Save Chris Smith” campaign or printing “Save the Environment Agency One” T-shirts.’ Lord Smith accused ministers of ‘playing politics’ with the flood crisis. Writing in the Guardian, he said: ‘Politicians need to realise that it’s in fact government rules – laid down by successive governments, Labour and Tory – that are at the heart of the problem.’ Disaster: Moorland in Somerset has been abandoned because all of its streets are completely underwater . Destroyed: The sight of their belongings floating in the brown water proved too much for some families . Ministers rushed to find emergency funds for flood-hit Somerset, but when it comes to tackling extreme weather abroad the pot is apparently deep. Britain has pledged nearly £2.9billion of taxpayers’ money – around £100 per household – in climate aid to help developing countries over four years. It includes £15million to help cattle farmers in Colombia practise ‘green agriculture’, such as adapting cows’ diets to reduce the methane they produce, and £14million to build wind farms and other renewable energy sources in Uganda. When the money was pledged at UN climate talks just over a year ago, energy minister Greg Barker said it was a ‘sensible investment for British people’. ‘If we turn our back on the developing world we will see more failed states … countries struggling and failing to deal with the impact of dangerous climate change and ultimately we pay the price in British lives,’ he said. Britain pays £140million to climate change projects abroad and further funds have been sent to countries hit by flooding, including £42.5million to Pakistan in 2011, £75million to Bangladesh in 2008 and £12million to Mozambique in 2000.", "Foreign aid funds must be diverted to help flood-stricken areas, MPs said last night. With appalling weather set to deepen the crisis in the West Country, politicians of all stripes called for a raid on the £11billion overseas development budget. They said instead of sending the money to increasingly rich countries such as China and India, charity should begin at home. ‘We send money all over the world, now we need to give people down here the hope that they will get what they need,’ said Ian Liddell-Grainger, Tory MP for flood-hit Bridgwater in Somerset. David Cameron visited the flooded areas with Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger (right) during a visit to Goodings Farm in Fordgate, Somerset . The Prime Minister vowed today that the Government will do 'everything that can be done' to help those affected by the floods . Mr Cameron, who arrived by helicopter, said the flooding was 'biblical' as he surveyed knee-deep water surrounding the farm . David Cameron and farmer Tony Davy surveyed the damage to Goodings Farm in Fordgate, Somerset, as he said people in the area faced a very difficult time . Speaking from the flood-affected village of . Stoke St Gregory, Lord Smith (left) said he had no intention of . resigning. Mr Liddell-Grainger (right) said Lord Smith visited the area a . year ago and 'promised he would have this sorted within six months' ‘We should divert some of it down here. We don’t have to divert it for ever, but we need it now.’ The calls came as: . The floodwater surrounding Tewksbury continues to remain following heavy rainfall in the area . Severe flooding in Essex yesterday meant ten people two dogs had to be rescued by Essex Fire by boat in Saffron Walden . Soldiers from Carver Barracks had to put out sandbags to try and protect buildings in Saffron Walden, Essex, from the severe floods . There's more on the way: Winds of 80mph and heavy rain will sweep in from the Atlantic tomorrow, in what forecasters say could be the worst of the dramatic weather so far this winter . Vehicles tackle a flooded road in Great Dunmow, Essex: Flooded areas and sea defences weakened by earlier storms will be bombarded once more . Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money has poured abroad to help those affected by flooding. The Government has set up the International Climate Fund, which will give £3.87billion over five years to help developing countries ‘mitigate and adapt to climate change’. In contrast, dredging the Somerset Levels would cost £4.5million. Britain has given nearly £1.2million to the World Bank’s flood prevention and control scheme, and spent £941,000 on its ‘site preservation’ work.British taxpayers contributed a further £986,000 on protecting the biosphere in developing countries. A further £115million has been spent on preventing floods and other disasters in developing countries. The Government has also donated millions for disaster recovery following particular floods abroad, including £42.5million to aid agencies in Pakistan following floods in 2011. The Department for International Development earmarked £75million for the Bangladesh climate change programme in 2008. When Mozambique was hit by floods in 2000, the Labour government gave £12million extra in aid and dispatched Royal Navy Sea-King helicopters to deliver aid in relief camps. A C-17 military plane was sent to Colombia when it was hit by floods in 2011, carrying 400 aid boxes. The International Climate Fund has spent nearly £80million helping Indonesia, Ghana and others tackle deforestation problems. It has also sent £4.3million to countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Niger to help them study weather forecasts better and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Prime Minister has pledged Britain will spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas aid –  a promise that means the money funnelled abroad will rise from £8billion to £12billion between 2010 and 2015. By contrast, dredging the Somerset Levels, which might have prevented the disaster, would cost only £4.5million. But while the Environment Agency let drainage channels fall into disrepair, Britain has funnelled £1.2million into the World Bank’s flood prevention programme. It has also sent another £115million to disaster prevention schemes in poor countries. Millions more have also been spent in the cases of individual countries hit by flooding. This includes £42.5million for  Pakistan in 2011, £12million to Mozambique in 2000 and £75million in Bangladesh in 2008. The Department for the Environment has also given £140million to an international climate fund destined for developing countries, which also aims in part to prevent flooding. Area: An aerial view of the village of Moorland shows just how much of the area has been flooded . From above: Aerial view of a flooded hamlet near Northmoor Green on the Somerset levels . Evacuated: Aerial view of the flooded village of Moorland which was evacuated last night when flood waters rose further . A submerged caravan in the flooded village of Moorland which was evacuated last night after flood waters continued to rise . Neighbourhood: Rows of houses in the village of Moorland have been flooded following the heavy rain . Homes: Lord Smith's visit to the flood-hit area came as Royal Marines were helping evacuate some 140 properties in the village of Moorland (pictured) Still running: A First Great Western train makes it's way through floodwater on the Somerset levels . Surrounded: The flooded Somerset Levels, where hamlets have been turned into 'ghost villages' after homes were evacuated due to rising flood waters, is expecting a new deluge of torrential rain . Neil Parish, Tory MP for Tiverton and . Honiton in Devon, said: ‘We’ve got to make sure we look after our own at . this stage.  Foreign aid is good, but it  is wasted. ‘We . need to make sure that money comes straight to the West Country. We’ve . got to rebuild coastal defences and railways.’ Jacob Rees-Mogg, Tory MP . for North East Somerset, said: ‘Overseas aid should be a matter for . private charity, rather than taxpayers’ money. ‘The failure of the Environment Agency to dredge the Somerset levels means there is a lot of work to do.’ Labour and Lib Dem MPs also suggested the aid budget should be reconsidered in the light of the crisis. Former . Labour minister Frank Field said the Government should examine what . flood prevention schemes it funded abroad, look at ‘which ones worked, . and divert some of that money to flood prevention and relief at home’. He added: ‘We could then ensure our money is better spent abroad and at home, creating two virtuous circles.’ Drafted in: Royal Marines who had been in the region building sandbag defences were drafted in to assist with the evacuation of residents in the village of Moorland this morning . Building defences: Royal Marines build flood defences in Moorland on the Somerset Levels following serious flooding . Worked through the night: Lieutenant Brendan Ford, of the Royal Navy 40 Commando Royal Marines, said two units had worked through the night to boost flood defences . And . Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming said: ‘If we are not capable of . properly dealing with domestic natural disasters, we should rethink our . financial strategy – including questioning increasing the aid budget.’ Mr Liddell-Grainger said that if the British Government didn’t help out, . locals would have to ask foreign countries for assistance from their . aid budgets. He said: ‘We . need to go and ask Abyssinia for some cash. I’m sure they’ll be happy to . help us because this money is not made available to our own people. ‘It’s . really bad down here. We’ve got people doing amazing things to clean . up. But we need pumps and sluice gates and we’ve got to rebuild railway . lines.’ Ukip leader Nigel Farage first suggested that aid money should . be diverted to the West Country. He . said: ‘Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that a government’s . primary duty is to the well-being of its own citizens. Charity begins at . home and it is not mean-spirited to say that, it is just basic common . sense.’ Damage caused: Flooded areas and sea defences weakened by earlier storms will be bombarded once more. Pictured is a flooded home in Moorland . Storm waning: The flooded Somerset Levels is expecting a new deluge of torrential rain as the Atlantic storm sweeps in this weekend . Rescue: A vehicle drives through the flooded village of Moorland after it was evacuated following severe flooding over night . Help at hand: Emergency services and Marines move in to help people evacuate in Moorland, Somerset, after flood waters rose dramatically over night . During his visit the Prime Minister disputed the idea that more money would help. ‘The . resources are there, the money is there,’ he told residents at a . flooded farm near Bridgwater. ‘It’s a biblical scene. People here have . faced a very tough time and continue to face a tough time and that’s why . we have got to do everything we can to help. ‘We . brought in more pumps, more help from the emergency services, money to . help Somerset get back on its feet, the money is there. ‘I’ve . said when the water levels come down and it’s safe to dredge, we will . be dredging to make sure these rivers can carry a better capacity of . water – there are lessons to be learned.’ Transport: Flood-hit travellers in south west England are to get more flights and coach services and special rail fare offers to help them cope with transport difficulties. Pictured is damage to the Dawlish line . Assistance: The announcement of assistance came as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited Dawlish in Devon where the rail has been wrecked by the severe storms . Arrangements: The Department for Transport has said First Great Western has put in place special ticketing arrangements so rail passengers who are affected by flood disruption do not miss out on cheaper advance fares while revised timetables are put in place .", "A singing doctor has been handed £8,000 of taxpayers' money to make a music video in which he tells people how to use their inhalers. Dr Tapas Mukherjee, who is based at Leicester Royal Infirmary, was praised two years ago for his home-made video, 'Breakfast at Glenfield' - a take on Deep Blue Something's Breakfast at Tiffany's - in which explained guidelines for treating asthma patients. He has now been given a NHS grant to pay for a professional film crew to create a new video to help asthma patients use their inhalers properly. But the Taxpayers' Alliance has labelled the grant 'nonsense', claiming that the funds could be put to better use at a time when the NHS is facing budget freezes. Scroll down for video . 'Singing doctor' Tapas Mukherjee has been awarded an £8,000 grant by the NHS to produce a music video advising asthma sufferers on how to use their inhalers. He is pictured in a previous video he funded himself . Dr Mukherjee, 33, is keeping details of the new song under wraps until it is broadcast next year. He said: 'The aim will be to help educate people about when and how to use inhalers. 'If it helps to change people's behaviour it could lead to fewer hospital admissions and the cost of the project could easily be recovered. 'Research shows that there is a lack of awareness among people as to when and how to use their inhaler. 'The next logical step, having made a video aimed at staff was to create a video to show patients how to manage their condition.' For his previous video, Dr Mukherjee used his mobile phone, a home computer and help from this friends to create what became a YouTube hit. The grant was awarded after Dr Mukherjee was praised for creating a YouTube video about asthma guidelines . The doctor insists the video could cut the number of people going to their doctors or hospital and so will recoup the funding invested in it . He took the lyrics from Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something and turned it into Breakfast at Glenfield, the name of a Leicester hospital, to explain the guidelines medics should follow in treating asthma patients. The video won the British Thoracic Society Innovation in Education Award 2012 and the NHS Expo/Network Casebook II Innovation Award 2013. Although the stars of his new video are all staff at Leicester's hospitals, a professional film crew has been hired to shoot it. The project was one of only 46 out of a total of 600 applications which received a share of a £2.5million NHS England fund to improve care. Dr Mukherjee said: 'This video is a little more serious and while I want it to include humour I don't want to offend anyone and I don't want the video to be patronising. 'We are aiming for hundreds of thousands of views. The last video showed me there was an appetite for this sort of thing.' The doctor won two awards for his previous video, which he made with his mobile phone and home computer . A scene from Dr Mukherjee's previous video. Campaigners have hit out at the funding of his latest project . Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: 'Once again frontline clinicians and NHS managers are proving that, given the chance, the NHS can be one of the most innovative health services in the world.' But Andy Silvester, Campaign Manager for the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers will be baffled that, with finances so tight, the NHS is dishing out recording contracts to its own staff. 'While Dr Mukherjee may well have a delightful singing voice, it's nonsense to prioritise a grant like this when front-line staff are feeling the pinch of a necessary pay-freeze. 'The NHS must cut out this kind of waste, as well as removing layers of middle-management and unnecessary bureaucracy, if it is to remain sustainable as our population ages.'", "By . Jack Doyle, Political Correspondent . Shadow education secretary, Labour's Tristram Hunt, said he had 'real concerns' with pupils being 'crammed' into classrooms . Thousands of primary school children are being taught in giant classes of 50, 60 or even 70 pupils, figures reveal today. Labour said there are nearly 15,000 in classes of 40 or more – but faced an immediate backlash from critics who said the problem was created by the party’s previous policies. Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said he had ‘real concerns’ about children being ‘crammed’ into large classes. However, critics point out that Labour’s ‘out of control’ immigration policy caused much of the pressure on places. As well as direct immigration resulting in growing numbers of children at schools, pressure has also resulted from the so-called ‘migrant baby boom’ as more children are born to mothers arriving in Britain from overseas. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: ‘Tristram Hunt seems to have forgotten it was Labour who cut 200,000 primary school places in the middle of a baby boom – at the same time as letting immigration get out of control.’ Labour published figures showing the number of primary pupils in classes of more than 30 has spiralled in the last four years. In 2010 there were 31,000 such pupils, compared to the current total of 93,665 – a rise of 200 per cent. Of those, nearly 40,000 are in classes of more than 36 pupils. Another 5,817 are in classes of 50 or more, 2,556 are in classes of 60 or more and 446 are in classes of 70 or more. On current trends, Mr Hunt said, by 2020 the number of children in large classes of more than 30 pupils will top 450,000. That would account for around one in four of all primary pupils. Mr Hunt said: ‘In 2008 David Cameron said; “the more we can get class sizes down the better”, but as parents and pupils prepare to begin the new school year, there are real concerns about the number of children in classes of more than 30 infants under the Tories. ‘By diverting resources away from areas in desperate need of more primary school places in favour of pursuing his pet project of expensive free schools in areas where there is no shortage of places, David Cameron has created classes of more than 40, 50, 60 and even 70 pupils. The number of pupils in classes of more than 30 has risen by 200 per cent since 2010 - but critics say it is due to Labour's 'out of control' immigration policy (stock image) ‘Labour will end the Free Schools programme and instead focus spending on areas in need of extra school places. ‘The choice on education is clear: the threat of ever more children crammed into large class sizes under the Tories or a Labour future where we transform standards with a qualified teacher in every classroom and action on class sizes.’ But Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the MigrationWatch think-tank, said: ‘It’s a bit rich for Labour to complain about pressure on primary schools when the major factor in the increase is the result of the mass immigration which Labour promoted and even encouraged.’ And Mrs Morgan added: ‘As part of our long-term economic plan, the difficult decisions we’ve taken have meant we’ve been able to double the funding to local authorities for school places to £5billion, creating 260,000 new places. ‘But Labour haven’t learnt their lesson. Their policy of not trusting headteachers would create more bureaucrats, meaning more resources are spent on paperwork – not places. Children would have a worse future under Labour.’ The British population has risen by five million over the past 12 years, growing faster than anywhere else in Europe. In mid-2013, there were 400,600 more residents than a year earlier, equivalent to a city the size of Bristol. Immigration was directly responsible for 46 per cent of that rise. Migrants also play a major role in the current baby boom, with one in four infants now born to a mother who was born abroad. The National Audit Office has warned that 240,000 extra primary places will be needed by next month.", "(CNN) -- In tiny Bishop, California, Rep. Buck McKeon, R-California, wants to build a museum honoring the mule. Bishop, California, celebrates \"Mule Days\" every Memorial Day weekend. McKeon has requested a $50,000 earmark to explore the possibility of building a museum in the town that every Memorial Day weekend holds the biggest mule celebration in the United States. It might sound preposterous, but McKeon is doing what many of his House colleagues are doing -- appropriating federal funds for pet projects back home. McKeon has requested funds for studying the feasibility of building the museum and providing support for operations. McKeon defended the earmark in a statement sent to CNN as supporting economic development in his district. \"Bishop is a classic western frontier city which survives on tourism. Adding a museum to its community will increase tourism by bringing sightseers and visitors to Bishop year-round, benefiting the area economy,\" McKeon's statement said. \"If CNN chooses to make a mockery of small-town, western heritage, that's its prerogative, but I'm going to remain focused on the economic development of my district.\" According to congressional spending watchdog group Americans for Prosperity, House members this year alone seek to spend $13.7 million in tax dollars on 63 museum-related expenses. And the requests aren't limited to one party. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, whom critics often call the \"King of Pork,\" has asked for $150,000 to restore the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry to a \"key historic property,\" according to a description posted on Murtha's Web site. Watch why taxpayers might be paying for a mule museum » . The Rices Landing foundry in Murtha's economically distressed district is right next to Gary Smith's home. Smith parks his car in front of the building because as he says \"they got a tour in there [only] once a year.\" Murtha declined to talk to CNN about his earmark requests. That is not uncommon. Earlier this year, CNN asked House members to disclose their earmarks. Of the more than 430 members, 47 provided earmark requests, 68 said they would not release their requests and six said they had not made any requests. The others did not return CNN's request for a list of their earmarks. Earmarks have been a political hot button for years. Commonly derided as \"pork,\" pet projects are tucked into spending bills. In 2006, Congress approved a record $29 billion in earmarks. Watchdog groups, citizens and the media have tried to figure out which members of Congress were asking for money to fund pet projects. When Democrats swept into power in January, they vowed a more ethical, open and transparent government. Earmark reform was at the top of the list. But the party leaders have struggled to make the earmark process more transparent. Democrats have agreed to attach names to earmarks -- letting the public know which representative is asking for what -- before votes on bills. That will be a first, and Democrats have touted the move as a sign of their openness. But there is no law or rule that requires senators or members of Congress to release their requests. In his statement, McKeon called himself a \"staunch supporter of earmark transparency and accountability.\" \"A light needs to be shined on the hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars spent on 'bridges to nowhere' and projects that serve no real purpose, unlike our community museum request,\" McKeon said. \"I do not shy away from, nor do I take any issue with, the public knowing that federal dollars went to support the economic development of a small town on the western edge of the country.\" McKeon's and Murtha's requests come at a time when Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the Republican minority leader, is trying to force reforms in how congressional members ask for and receive funding for pet projects. Boehner is gathering signatures in hopes of forcing a vote to make public every earmark in every bill. Boehner said it would be unreasonable to force a vote on each of the 16,000 expected earmarks Congress will approve in this year's spending bills. But he said some amount of exposure will cut down on the more outrageous requests. Boehner recently wrote an editorial urging his fellow Republicans to return to their fiscally conservative roots and stop asking for so many pork-barrel projects. But he admits he has limited power, even among fellow Republicans. \"I'm elected to be their leader,\" Boehner said. \"I'm not elected to be their dictator or lay out all the rules. All I can do is lead by example. I've never asked for one [earmark]. I think there's an incredible amount of waste. I'm doing my best to control it.\" Democratic House leaders, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the Appropriations Committee chairman, declined to answer questions concerning earmark funding. E-mail to a friend .", "The Foreign Office has spent more than £450,000 on media training for ministers, ambassadors and mandarins to look good on TV, it can be revealed. Almost 700 officials working for the government around the world have been given taxpayer-funded lessons in dealing with the media since 2010. Critics condemned the ‘absurd’ waste by Foreign Secretary William Hague's department at a time of deep spending cuts across Whitehall. William Hague's Foreign Office has spent £450,000 on media training since 2010, although the Foreign Secretary himself has no trouble with appearing in front of the cameras . While the amount spent each year has fallen since 2010, the cost per person has risen to an average of £677.92 per person, up 22 per cent on 2012 . Figures released under Freedom of Information shows that in the last four years the Foreign Office has spent £451,573 on media training. The taxpayer has paid to hire firms which have previously worked for food manufacturers Kraft, mobile firm Orange and fashion house Chanel. It includes a course for ambassadors in ‘Strategic Media Skills and Techniques’ and another for press officers called ‘International Communication Skills’. The Foreign Office insists its most senior staff around the world need to know how to deal with the media. But with government departments facing at least two more years of cuts, Labour condemned the ‘vanity spending’. In 2013 alone, 146 people were trained at a cost of £98,977 - an average of £677.92 per person, up 22 per cent on 2012. It has previously emerged that Energy Secretary Ed Davey has received taxpayer-funded media training twice . In July last year, an unnamed minister at the Foreign Office received media training costing £1,150  from Robert Taylor Communications, which promises  to help ‘spokespeople to speak with confidence, authority and effect in TV and radio interviews, press conferences and more’. Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘While families are suffering a cost-of-living crisis Ministers are spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer pounds trying to sell their flawed policies. ‘Instead of wasting money to help them sell bad news Ministers should focus on how to earn our way to higher living standards. ‘To many this will look like vanity spending. Is there no end to this Whitehall waste?’ The prestigious Strategic Media Skills and Techniques is offered to Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Mission – the senior representatives of HMG overseas - to ‘give them the skills they need to act as the senior spokesperson for HMG in their country’. It has been provided by Group K Broadcasting Ltd, which promises help in how to ‘handle the Media and Press confidently, effectively and convincingly’ and has worked for Chanel, Kodak, Goldman Sachs and Kraft Foods. The International Communication Skills course is ‘aimed at members working in our communications teams overseas and in the UK, and it covers the basic skills needed to work as a press or campaigns officer, in an international context, and overseas’. It is provided by Caroline Black Associates, which has also advised the Premier League, British Red Cross and Transport for London. Robert Oxley, Campaign Director of TaxPayers' Alliance said: ‘It's absurd that the Foreign Office is wasting taxpayers' money teaching staff to spin the media. Whitehall needs to cut out waste, not squander cash on making ministers and mandarins look better on TV.’ But the Foreign Office said: ‘It is important that HMG’s workforce receives the right training to carry out their duties. ‘Being skilled in a range of communications techniques, including working with the media is essential to explain and promote British prosperity, security and the interests and welfare of UK nationals across the world.’ In October 2012, MailOnline revealed how eight government departments had spent thousands of pounds on training for at least 19 ministers. Business ministers Matthew Hancock and Jo Swinson are among the latest crop of ministers to receive media training . But new details have emerged revealing that another six ministers, including high fliers like Tory Matthew Hanock and Lib Dem Jo Swinson, have been sent on courses in how to smile for the camera, deliver soundbites and dodge tricky questions from journalists. Transport ministers Baroness Kramer and Robert Goodwill were trained by Angela Coles last year, a cost of £1,907.40. At the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Matthew Hancock, Jo Swinson and Viscount Younger all received media training from Millbankmedia at a total cost of £7,700. The Department of Health spent £500 on media training for minister Earl Howe. The figures are in addition to companies previously hired by the government tell politicians how media interviews are ‘a mixture of opportunity and danger’. One Cabinet minister - Energy Secretary Ed Davey - has been sent on media training twice. In June 2010 when a minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Climate Change Mr Davey had £700 worth of media training. Then in July 2012, the Department for Energy and Climate Change spent another £2,160 on extra training for Mr Davey with private firm Electric Airwaves, which has previously worked with the Disney empire.", "(CNN) -- Florida's decision this week to shun federal funding for high-speed rail has set off an auction house-like frenzy among some states hoping to get a bigger piece of the pie. Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he rejected the rail funds because the risks outweighed the benefits, citing the projected costs to state taxpayers and \"overly optimistic\" ridership and revenue projections. The plan \"would likely result in ongoing subsidies that state taxpayers would have to incur,\" he said in a statement Wednesday. \"I was elected to get Floridians back to work and to change the way government does business in our state,\" Scott said. With his rejection of the highly touted federal money, Scott joined two other Republican governors elected in November -- Wisconsin's Scott Walker and Ohio's John Kasich -- in turning down funds from the White House initiative for national high-speed rail. Florida was offered $2.4 billion to link Tampa and Orlando by rail. Florida officials had hoped the tracks would be the first of a three-part system that would connect the tourist destinations of Orlando, Tampa and Miami. The rail funds are part of the Obama administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail project, which the White House hopes will make high-speed rail accessible to 80% of Americans by 2035. The administration recently proposed $53 billion in additional spending on the national high-speed rail project. The plan represents a significant expansion of the $10.5 billion already allocated for high speed rail, including $8 billion in the 2009 economic stimulus package. Republicans have targeted billions of dollars in cuts from the current year's budget, with high-speed rail one of the targets. Given the momentum the White House hoped to gain from the states' cooperation, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he was \"extremely disappointed\" in Scott's refusal to take the funds. Immediately after Scott's decision, state jockeying to take Florida's share of rail funding began in full force -- including immediate overtures from Illinois, California and New York. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, wrote LaHood acknowledging the more than $1.4 billion sent to Obama's home state. \"But more can be done,\" Durbin said. \"Illinois is ready and willing to put rail dollars to work if other states are not. In fact, the funding dedicated to Florida can accelerate completing other segments of the Chicago Hub high-speed network,\" Durbin said. Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also wrote to LaHood, imploring him to redirect the funds to New York. \"These investments will create jobs, spur economic development and continue to build on the growth of ridership we've seen in recent years,\" she said. \"You are keenly aware of the benefits that high-speed rail development would bring New York and the United States, which is why I respectfully request that these dismissed funds be re-appropriated to New York and the Northeast Corridor.\" The stakes are high: In December, LaHood announced that 14 states would divvy up the $1.4 billion that Wisconsin and Ohio spurned, with California getting the lion's share. Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, wrote to the Obama administration at the time: \"You are more than welcome to redirect that money to California.\" This week, a California lawmaker acknowledged another potential windfall to the state. \"It's a cloudy day in the Sunshine State,\" Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of Walnut Grove said Wednesday. \"But Florida's deep loss is likely to be California's tremendous gain. We're prepared to show the rest of the country what a modern transportation network looks like and will gladly invest every penny the federal government is willing to provide,\" he said. On Friday, Maryland threw its hat in the ring. \"Maryland and the NEC (Northeast Corridor) would benefit greatly from receipt of the federal high-speed rail funds recently rejected by the governor of Florida,\" Democratic Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement addressed to LaHood. In Florida, criticism of the governor's move came from both sides of the political aisle. Some Republican lawmakers wondered if the governor's actions could be sidestepped. \"I don't know constitutionally speaking whether or not this can be rejected by the governor without the consent of the Legislature,\" Republican State Sen. David Simmons told the Orlando Sentinel. Also, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, said they would try to bypass the governor's decision. Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor said Floridians could have used the appropriation to create jobs. The funds were originally sought by then-Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican turned independent. \"Gov. Scott's decision demonstrates a devastating lack of vision for Florida and a lack of understanding of our economic situation,\" Castor said. \"The governor put his own rigid ideology ahead of the best interests of Florida's businesses, workers and families. High-speed rail is projected to create thousands and thousands of jobs in our state.\" The Obama administration has given Florida until February 25 to accept the transit funds, according to CNN affiliate WKMG in Orlando. Nelson said state officials were researching a plan to have a private metropolitan organization take oversight of the rail project without the governor. \"Looks like we are going to have to find another entity that would be something other than the state in order to channel the funds through, along with participation of the private companies that are bidding to build and to operate the high-speed rail,\" Nelson said on his Youtube channel. \"We have the lawyers in the Department of Transportation that are now doing the research.\"", "Premier League chief Richard Scudamore’s reward for delivering another astonishing TV rights deal for the clubs could be the executive chairmanship. A decision on that role is expected before the next PL meeting in March. And the timing couldn’t be better for Scudamore, with the clubs wanting to show their gratitude for £5billion coming their way from domestic deals alone. Scudamore’s promotion is said to have the support of up to 10 clubs already. And the PL’s nomination panel led by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who had been expected to recommend the in-house option at the pre-Christmas clubs’ meeting, have not been in a hurry to appoint anyone else. Premier League chief Richard Scudamore has helped deliver a record £5billion TV rights deal for 2016-19 . Anthony Fry has been unable to fulfil the chairman’s role since suffering a serious stroke last March. And it is not ideal for the interim chairman, Harrogate lawyer Peter McCormick, to stay at the helm much longer when the PL are his prime clients. If Scudamore does become chairman, the PL are expected to appoint a robust independent director — not before time — to ensure King Richard doesn’t get everything his own way. John Inverdale, who presents the BBC’s Six Nations rugby coverage, is in pole position to do the same job for ITV during the World Cup. Inverdale is better known for his BBC work, but also hosts French Open tennis on ITV and looks to have recovered his reputation since the furore around his observation on 5 Live that 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli was ‘never going to be a looker’. John Inverdale (centre) is currently presenting the BBC's coverage of the Six Nations rugby . There has been the utmost secrecy around the Premier League TV rights tender from the start, with confidentiality contracts signed by all involved. But with Sky Sports and BT splitting the rights, how much easier - and vastly cheaper - it might have been if the TV network CEOs, Jeremy Darroch and Gavin Patterson, whose children attend the same school in Weybridge, had agreed a price between them on the school run. The mystery over manager Nigel Pearson’s sacking and reinstatement by Leicester might be a lot more straightforward than reported. Perhaps the Thai owner was intent on dismissing Pearson until he realised it would have left nobody qualified to take charge for Tuesday night’s defeat at Arsenal. Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha shakes hands with manager Nigel Pearson at the Emirates . The FA’s flawed anti-discrimination policy, that saw referee grandee David Elleray only rapped over the knuckles for a racist comment and manager Malky Mackay expected to escape punishment despite an exchange of racist and sexist texts, is also evident at grassroots level. Winchester City Youth were only fined £45 by the Hampshire FA after numerous complaints that the mother of one of their players had yelled ‘shut up you monkey’ at a mixed race youngster from AFC Totton. The mother escaped censure after her son moved to another club. Totton youth manager Shawn Kitcher said: ‘It’s scandalous a parent can get away with making such an appalling racist comment which shocked all who heard it.’ The mother insisted she had called the player a ‘cheeky little monkey’. The FA say spectators at parks are outside their jurisdiction. Former England captain David Beckham at an initiative with children's charity UNICEF in London on Monday . There could be light at the end of the tunnel in David Beckham’s long search for a home for his Miami Major League Soccer franchise. Beckham’s two waterfront proposals have been strongly resisted but the Miami-Dade County commissioner is now backing building a stadium next to the Marlins baseball venue. It is on the site of the former Orange Bowl and could utilise Marlins car parking spaces. The Beckham build will be privately funded, as there is still plenty of resentment in Miami about the amount of taxpayers’ money spent on the Marlins stadium. With everything involving Sepp Blatter under great scrutiny ahead of the FIFA presidential election in May, his nephew Philippe selling sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media to the Chinese for €1bn will be closely analysed - especially as InFront benefit from being FIFA’s broadcast rights agents in 26 Asian territories for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.", "By . Chris Greenwood . Four former employees of scandal-hit welfare-to-work firm A4E admitted swindling taxpayers yesterday. The guilty pleas follow a police investigation into the troubled company which is paid more than £200m by the Government each year. Julie Grimes, 50, Aditi Singh, 30, Bindiya Dholiwar, 27, and Dean Lloyd, 36, admitted dozens of offences of fraud and forgery. (File picture) A police investigation into A4E has resulted in four members of staff admitting deception . All four were arrested after the Daily Mail revealed concerns about taxpayer-funded employment schemes run by A4E two years ago. The company was employed by the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver an employment and training scheme called 'Inspire to Aspire'. It pocketed huge sums from the public purse for getting people off benefits by delivering training and helping people to find work. But Whitehall officials called in police over concerns that staff were billing taxpayers for 'successful' work that was not carried out or for non-existent clients. A whistleblower claimed forged signatures and blank timesheets were 'routine' techniques used for bumping up the numbers of successful job placements. The four former A4E recruiters admitted a total of 32 offences during a hearing at Reading Crown Court yesterday. The A4E controversy began in February 2012 when it was revealed that its founder Emma Harrison had paid herself £8.6 million . Grimes, of Staines, admitted nine charges of forgery. Singh, of Slough, who is seven months pregnant, admitted two counts of forgery and one of fraud. Dholiwar, of Slough, admitted seven counts of forgery. Lloyd, of Milton Keynes, admitted 13 offences of forgery. A fifth former employee was stranded overseas by poor weather and her barrister indicated that she too intended to plead guilty at a special hearing next week. All the offences took place between over four years until February 2013. No date has been set for the former employees to be sentenced. They each face up to 10 years in prison. The A4E controversy began in February 2012 when it was revealed that its founder Emma Harrison had paid herself £8.6 million. Damaging allegations followed that workers at the firm were inappropriately claiming 'success' fees, sometimes for individuals who worked for no more than 24 hours. Officers from Thames Valley Police's economic crime unit searched its headquarters in Slough, Berkshire, as politicians called for a full inquiry. The furore forced Mrs Harrison, worth an estimated £70million, to step down as chairman and resign from her role as David Cameron's 'back to work tsar'. Mrs Harrison remains the majority shareholder after building up the company, formerly called Action For Employment, into an operation spanning 11 countries. Her boasts that she can find jobs for the long-term unemployed have won her a string of lucrative Whitehall contracts over the past 20 years. A4e is one of several contractors which earn payments for helping the out-of-work find a job. Half of its work is subcontracted to charities, generating millions in management fees. A further eight former A4E employees, aged between 25 and 43, are expected to go on trial in October accused of fraud.", "By . Richard Spillett . Council leader John Burden is among the delegation going on a publicly-funded 'fact-finding' mission to US theme parks . A council has been slammed over plans to send nine of its bosses on a £15,500 'fact-finding' trip to a string of Florida theme parks - at taxpayers’ expense. The team from Gravesham District Council in Kent will visit Disney World, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando over four days at Easter. The trip is being organised by . developers London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) as the council prepares . for the arrival of the £2billion Paramount theme park in Swanscombe, Kent in 2018. The officials going on the trip . include council leader John Burden, planning boss Cllr Jane Cribbon and . communities boss Cllr Andrea Webb. Tory . opposition Cllr John Cubitt and shadow planning boss Cllr Robin . Theobald are also packing their bags, along with four senior council . officers. Organisers . said the delegation will benefit from seeing similar-scaled projects . and hearing about the development and running of a 'global attraction'. But . critics question why the group cannot get the same benefits from . visiting a theme park closer to hand - such as Disneyland Paris. Communities boss Andrea Webb (left) and planning chief Jane Cribbon (right) are joining council leaders  on a the trip to three US theme parks . As well as visiting Disney World in Florida (pictured), the group from Gravesham council will be taking in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando . Cllr . Jeremy Kite, leader of neighbouring Dartford District Council, said: 'I . must say, I think it’s an unusual thing for them to be doing. I can’t . see the benefit with it at this time. 'I haven’t been invited and I wouldn’t go if we had been. If you’re going to do this sort of research, I think there’s places closer to home. 'You’ve got Euro Disney across the Channel and other places in Europe which are easier to get to. It seems like an interesting use of taxpayers’ money and not one I’m going to follow.' But Cllr Burden, who is going on the trip, said: 'The programme for this visit is extremely busy being packed with serious business discussions which should provide invaluable insights into the issues surrounding the development of a truly global attraction on our doorstep. The visit comes ahead of the planned £2billion Paramount theme park on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent . Critics say the council could have saved the taxpayer thousands by visiting Disneyland Paris . 'It is entirely right the council examines all these issues fully and we are grateful to LRCH for facilitating these meetings with key people and communities which have had direct experience of facing and overcoming those challenges. 'This is the biggest development project in Europe and has global significance. The impact it will have is life-changing for everyone in the area and possibly far beyond. 'We have to get this right and prepare to be in a position to inform the discussions yet to come.' It is hoped LRCH will reimburse the authority the cost of the trip during the planning process. A council spokeswoman said: 'The council expects the cost of the visit (£15,441 approximately) will be met from the costs to process the planning application with this trip enabling the team to focus on the project specific questions that will need to be resolved by the applicant in due course for a scheme that is outside the normal planning parameters for any council.' The new £2billion Paramount theme park is being planned as a rival to Disneyland Paris. It will create up to 27,000 jobs and transform an 872-acre brownfield site in the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent. Developers plan to build a huge £2billion Hollywood-inspired resort in Kent. Film giant Paramount Pictures has given permission for its name to be used for the proposed development on the Swanscombe Peninsula. Developers hope the project – which would be built on the site of a former cement works near Dartford - will open in 2018. It would be located near Ebbsfleet International station, which is on the Eurostar route between London and Paris. The 872-acre site - nearly twice the size of the Olympic Park in Stratford - will feature Europe’s largest indoor water park, rollercoasters, cinemas, theatres, hotels and live music venues. The site's developer, London Resort Company Holdings, estimates that the project would create up to 27,000 jobs in the area. Announcing the plans in 2012, project leader Tony Sefton said: ‘Our vision is to create a world class entertainment destination, the first of its kind in the UK.' Paramount Pictures films include the Madagascar franchise (pictured). A similar entertainment resort is due to open Spain in 2012, which will feature a Titanic Experience and rides based on Mission Impossible, Star Trek and War of the Worlds.", "British taxpayers are paying to make jails in Jamaica and Nigeria more comfortable in a desperate bid to persuade foreign criminals to serve their sentences at home. Ministers have resorted to the tactic – designed to satisfy the human rights of inmates – after it emerged that the UK’s own prison system has turned into a ‘United Nations of crime’. Research by the House of Commons library, seen by the Mail, reveals how our jails contain inmates from a staggering 156 countries – more than three out of every four member states of the UN. Jos prison in Nigeria: The government wants to deport some of the 594 Nigerians currently in British prisons . Worryingly, the total number of foreign prisoners is rising – despite pledges by David Cameron to fix the mess. By March this year, there were 11,127 behind bars, at an estimated cost to the UK public purse of more than £420million. This is up from 10,778 in 2011. The group, which includes rapists, murderers and burglars, now makes up more than one in every eight convicts. Underfire: The Prime Minister has put aside £3million a year to try and ensure foreign prisons serve their sentences at home . The figures were disclosed as the Prime Minister faced more criticism yesterday over his foreign aid commitments. Mr Cameron was taking part in a radio phone-in when a pensioner called to tell him it was wrong that she was denied a cancer drug while billions were spent on overseas aid. Meanwhile, it emerged that the dire need to create space in our packed jails has prompted ministers to take the extraordinary step of establishing a £3million annual pot to make it easier for convicts to serve their sentences back home. Splashing money on prisons abroad is certain to prove controversial. But officials insist it will be cheaper in the long run than the annual £38,000 bill for keeping a single prisoner locked up here. Currently, money is being spent in Jamaica to ‘assist Jamaican authorities in modernising their prison service and rehabilitation and reintegration activities’. In Nigeria, one project supports the provision of ‘human rights training for prison officers’. A second project will construct new facilities at a women’s prison in its biggest city, Lagos, to reduce overcrowding. Jamaica tops the list of the nations with most prisoners in British jails, with 900 inmates. There are 594 Nigerians. Last night Sir Andrew Green, chairman . of Migrationwatch, said: ‘To some extent, this is the inevitable legacy . of mass immigration of 3.5million people under Labour. ‘The resources necessary to tackle the rising number of foreign prisoners have not been made available.’ Tory . MP Priti Patel said: ‘Prison is always the best place for dangerous . criminals, but our jails should not be used as hotels for foreigners. Ministers need to take action to deport them to serve their sentences in . the countries they come from and then stop them from coming back to . Britain. St Catherine's Prison in Kingston, Jamaica: Money is being spent modernising the Jamaican prison service as well as rehabilitation and reintegration activities . ‘Living in Britain is a privilege and foreigners who come here and flout our laws should be sent packing without delay.’ In . November 2010, the Mail revealed how the Prime Minister had decided to . spearhead a campaign for foreign criminals to serve their sentences back . home. To do this, ministers must be able . to convince the courts that the offenders will not suffer breaches of . their human rights by being made to stay in squalid conditions. The Ministry of Justice said it had . just signed a new agreement which should see a greater number of . Albanian prisoners being transferred from the UK to complete their . sentences. The . compulsory prisoner transfer agreement is the first they have  managed . to agree with a nation with a large number of foreign national offenders . in UK prisons. They now hope to agree more. There are currently around 180 Albanian prisoners in UK prisons, of whom over 100 may be eligible for transfer. Prudent: Prison Minister Crispin Blunt insists the scheme will save taxpayers money in the long term . The agreement also means that British  citizens who are serving prison sentences in Albania may also be compulsorily transferred back to the UK. Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt said: ‘We are already removing thousands of foreign criminals at the end of their sentence, or under transfer agreements to serve the rest of their sentence back home. ‘We believe that, wherever possible, foreign national prisoners should serve their sentences in their own country. ‘Not only will it save money for the UK, it will also mean that these prisoners will be closer to family and friends.This helps to support prisoners’ social rehabilitation and reintegration into society. ‘Transfers also help their home country to put in place any appropriate public protection measures on their release. ‘I hope this compulsory prisoner transfer agreement will be the first of many arrangements to free up prison spaces and reduce the burden to taxpayers of foreign criminals who should rightly become the responsibility of their own country and not the UK.’ The last government tried a string of desperate tactics to reduce the number of overseas inmates. Offenders were offered credit cards pre-loaded with more than £450 - funded by the taxpayer - if they agreed to return home. The perk was part of a package worth up to £5,000 designed to ‘bribe’ them to leave the UK." ]